Abstract: Probiotic compositions that comprise one or more bacteria species in spore form, a thickener to form a stabilized suspension and to preferably act as a prebiotic, one or more acids or salts of acids, and optionally a water activity reducer. A system for delivering probiotic compositions by gravity feed or non-contact pump to a point of consumption by a plant or animal, preferably in conjunction with acidified drinking water, comprising a collapsible container with attachable tubing that prevent contamination of the probiotic composition within the container. Delivery may be actuated in response to a timer, motion detector, fluid level sensor, RFID tag, or other mechanism to periodically or continuously dispense a dosage of probiotic composition directly to the soil surrounding a plant or to the water or feed for an animal. A method for increasing beneficial bacteria in an animal's GIT comprises adding probiotics to acidified drinking water.

Abstract: A chemical meting system to dispense a known or pre-determined amount of cleaning or treating fluid without requiring any moving mechanical parts or power source, for use in fluid tanks having a volume of liquid periodically varying between a high and low level. The system utilizes the pressure changes created by the varying volume of liquid in the tank to push air from a first chamber into a second chamber containing the cleaning or treating fluid to be dispensed. The volume of air displaces a volume of the fluid to be dispensed. Once the pressure in the first chamber is equalized, the dispensing stops until the next cycle when the volume of liquid in the tank changes.

Abstract: Methods are provided for improving the stability and shelf life of film sensors. The film sensors include a combination of polymeric matrix film material, analyte indicator, and solvent which has been heated in a first heat treatment application to volatilize most of the solvent and to solidify the analyte indicator to form the film sensor. The improvement comprises subjecting the film sensor to a second heat treatment to set the film and improve stability and shelf life.

Abstract: An article includes a substrate assembly for use in a detector system. The substrate assembly includes a substrate; a sample reception structure secured to the substrate; a test window extending through the substrate; and a fluid channel defined by a surface of the substrate and extending from the sample reception structure to the test window.

Abstract: A method for evaluating relative bacterial virulence of a biphasic bacteria in environmental systems includes measuring the concentration of DNA in the bacteria, measuring the concentration of RNA in the bacteria, determining a ratio of the concentration of RNA to the concentration of DNA and correlating the concentration ratio with a level of relative pathogenicity, wherein the bacteria is preferentially Legionella pneumophila, Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Listeria.

Abstract: A multiple-component sensor film includes a carrier polymer matrix and film reactants dispersed within the carrier polymer matrix. The carrier polymer matrix includes a carrier polymer, which includes hydroxypropyl cellulose polymer and the film reactants include an indicator and a reactant from the group of a buffer, a stabilizer, a masking agent, a solubilizer and an internal reference dye. Methods for making the multiple-component sensor film and methods for monitoring the concentration of water soluble polymers in aqueous media are also provided.

Abstract: A process for measuring total microbiological content in an aqueous medium includes adding a fluorescent dye to the aqueous medium, measuring the fluorescent signal in the aqueous medium to obtain a baseline fluorescent signal, releasing intracellular content of the microbiological matter into the aqueous medium by lysing the microbiological matter, measuring the fluorescent signal in the aqueous medium with the released intracellular content of the microbiological matter to obtain a second fluorescent signal, subtracting the baseline signal from the second fluorescent signal to obtain a net fluorescent signal and equating the net fluorescent signal with a microbiological content. Methods for measuring biofilm and adjusting for background noise are also provided.

Abstract: Consumers may be rewarded by monetizing downtime in an advertising supported environment. For example, a user may be presented with a message on a wireless or other unit. Including advertising, the message may solicit a response. A trivia question may be presented. During a sporting event, a user may receive a question about the game or players. In responding, the user may earn points toward an award. Users may earn points in other ways such as by providing personal information or preferences, registering or referring other users. Advertising also may be presented to the user when points are awarded or prizes redeemed. The information presented to the user, and when, where or how it is presented, may be based on the user's preferences or demographic information. Real-time or other reports tracking the user's viewing of advertising may be made available to the advertisers or other suppliers of presented information.

Abstract: Methods for applying sensor materials to optical storage media substrates are disclosed. After exposure to a sample of interest, the resulting sensors may be read in optical storage media drives for quantitative analysis of physical, chemical and biological parameters of the sample.

Abstract: An article includes a substrate assembly for use in a detector system. The substrate assembly includes a substrate; a sample reception structure secured to the substrate; a test window extending through the substrate; and a fluid channel defined by a surface of the substrate and extending from the sample reception structure to the test window.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a thin reagent containing film sensor for detecting and measuring free chlorine in water, where components of the film sensor are a polymeric substrate that contains reactive material, an organic polyhydroxy compound, a reagent that creates an associated polymeric matrix, and an indicator; and a method for making the same. The film sensor can be formed to fit a specific dimension or shape. The film sensor swells or dissolves when exposed to aqueous solutions so that said reagent is released so that it can react with free chlorine, or the film sensor swells when exposed to aqueous solutions so that the aqueous solution diffuses into the film sensor and reacts with said reagent contained within the swollen film sensor.

Abstract: A system and method employing optical disc drives for quantitative analysis of physical, chemical and biochemical parameters are provided. The system includes a robotic arm for transmitting a disc including at least one sensor spot through a variety of stations that include dipping the disc into a source of a compound, removing excess amounts of the source, optically scanning the disc, and discarding the disc. The optical drive may be a stand-alone reader in communication with an external computing device. The output of the optical scan may be transmitted from the optical scanner to the computing device via universal serial bus, Ethernet interface, or wireless connection.

Abstract: A system and method employing optical disc drives for quantitative analysis of physical, chemical and biochemical parameters are provided. The system including a disc drive for supporting and rotating an optical disc including at least one sensor spot; a light source for directing light onto the sensor spot; at least one optical pickup for detecting light transmitted from the sensor spot, the transmitted light being indicative of a concentration of a compound; and an analog-to-digital converter for quantifying an intensity of the transmitted light. The method comprising the steps of preparing the optical disc with a plurality of sensor spots, the sensor spots being responsive to a compound; exposing the optical disc to a fluid; measuring intensity of transmitted light from at least one of the plurality of sensor spots; and correlating the measured intensity of transmitted light to an amount of compound exposed to the optical disc.