Abstract: We describe methods and materials for inhibiting the growth of a microbial pathogen of a plant. The method comprises the steps of applying to the plant a combination of a dye-bearing compound which is a reactive oxygen species photosensitizer; and a copper compound, which increases the microbial lethality of the dye-bearing compound towards the microbial pathogen; and exposing the plant to light to activate the combination of the dye-bearing compound and the copper compound and inhibiting growth of a microbial pathogen of a plant. The combination of the dye-bearing compound and the copper compound may result in a synergistic ability to reduce the growth of a plant pathogen.

Abstract: A system and method for automatically flushing a toilet based on image recognition includes an image capture device having a camera, a wireless communication unit and a controller. The controller includes a machine learning model with a plurality of inferred positions corresponding to a cat defecating or urinating. The camera captures live images of a cat on a toilet, and the controller compares the live camera images to the inferred positions. Upon determining the cat is in one of the inferred positions for a predetermined period of time, a flush command is sent by the wireless communication unit. The system also includes a flush device having a linear actuator, a control switch and a controller. The shaft of the actuator is positioned adjacent to the toilet's flush handle or flush button and selectively depresses the same upon receipt of a flush command from the image device or the control switch.

Abstract: We describe methods and materials for inhibiting the growth of a microbial pathogen of a plant. The method comprises the steps of applying to the plant a combination of a dye-bearing compound which is a reactive oxygen species photosensitizer; and a copper compound, which increases the microbial lethality of the dye-bearing compound towards the microbial pathogen; and exposing the plant to light to activate the combination of the dye-bearing compound and the copper compound and inhibiting growth of a microbial pathogen of a plant. The combination of the dye-bearing compound and the copper compound may result in a synergistic ability to reduce the growth of a plant pathogen.

Abstract: A composition that can decontaminate opioids on surfaces or objects, and in particular decontaminate fentanyls on surfaces using an opioid-active reagent and an opioid-effective solubilizing agent, which is a mixture of an alkyl dimethylamine oxide surfactant, an alkyl dimethylamine oxide surfactant, a C8-18 alkyl polyethylene glycol sorbitan fatty ester surfactant, and a C12-14 secondary alcohol ethoxylate surfactant. Preferably, the opioid-active reagent is chlorine dioxide. Additionally, methods for decontaminating opioids on surfaces using this composition.

Abstract: An independent blood filter device depends on flow geometry to deliver blood serum or plasma free of detrimental levels of hemoglobin. It depends critically on an upstream flow rate or pressure differential limiting control element or device that limits the rate of change of pressure differential across the filter element. Pre-evacuated versions can be used to simultaneously draw blood from a living being and provide pressure differential across the filter element between an evacuated collector and a supply end open to atmosphere. A unit pressurized by hand motion employs the external shape of a partially filled blood collection tube as a piston to produce pressure in advance of the control element or device to create the pressure differential across the filter element to a collector vented to atmosphere. The control element or device is disclosed in numerous forms, including specially sized flow constrictions and compliant arrangements.

Abstract: The present invention provides a humidity tolerant CO2 generator that operates in combination with an arthropod trap. The CO2 generator comprises a means for controllably adding solid pellets to an aqueous acid solution, and optionally includes a sound-based counting system for counting the number of pellets dispensed from a feeder reservoir and into a reaction chamber. The invention also provides a method of using the same.

Abstract: The present invention provides a humidity tolerant CO2 generator that operates in combination with an arthropod trap. The CO2 generator comprises a means for controllably adding solid pellets to an aqueous acid solution, and optionally includes a sound-based counting system for counting the number of pellets dispensed from a feeder reservoir and into a reaction chamber. The invention also provides a method of using the same.

Abstract: The present invention provides a composition and a method of using the composition to decontaminate surfaces or objects that have opioid contamination, and in particular to decontaminate fentanyls on surfaces using an opioid-active reagent and an opioid-effective solubilizing agent. Preferably, the opioid-active reagent is chlorine dioxide.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for treating plant pests or pathogens. The disclosed method of protecting plants against pests includes a plant protection composition, wherein the plant protection composition comprises a water-soluble activator and a benefit active precursor. The composition is applied externally to the plant where a benefit active species is generated in situ, thus mitigating the pest.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a scrubber system for removing material from, or smoothing the surface of, an object. According to an example embodiment, the scrubber system comprises one or more scrubbing disks, spacer disks, and retaining collars configured for interlocking with other cooperatively configured scrubbing disks and spacer disks. The scrubbing and spacer disks are arrangeable end-to-end along a shaft extending therethrough and between opposed retaining collars to form a scrubber custom-configured for a particular application. The scrubbing disks may include one or more types arranged, with or without any spacer disks, in any desired configuration.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a scrubber system for removing material from, or smoothing the surface of, an object. According to an example embodiment, the scrubber system comprises one or more scrubbing disks, spacer disks, and retaining collars configured for interlocking with other cooperatively configured scrubbing disks and spacer disks. The scrubbing and spacer disks are arrangeable end-to-end along a shaft extending therethrough and between opposed retaining collars to form a scrubber custom-configured for a particular application. The scrubbing disks may include one or more types arranged, with or without any spacer disks, in any desired configuration.

Abstract: An independent blood filter device depends on flow geometry to deliver blood serum or plasma free of detrimental levels of hemoglobin. It depends critically on an upstream flow rate or pressure differential limiting control element or device that limits the rate of change of pressure differential across the filter element. Pre-evacuated versions can be used to simultaneously draw blood from a living being and provide pressure differential across the filter element between an evacuated collector and a supply end open to atmosphere. A unit pressurized by hand motion employs the external shape of a partially filled blood collection tube as a piston to produce pressure in advance of the control element or device to create the pressure differential across the filter element to a collector vented to atmosphere. The control element or device is disclosed in numerous forms, including specially sized flow constrictions and compliant arrangements.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for treating plant pests or pathogens. The disclosed method of protecting plants against pests includes a plant protection composition, wherein the plant protection composition comprises a water-soluble activator and a benefit active precursor. The composition is applied externally to the plant where a benefit active species is generated in situ, thus mitigating the pest.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for determining the functionality remaining in a functional fabric, the method comprising the steps of: providing a used functional fabric having a known original functionality, a current wear, and a current unknown functionality, providing a light source, providing a detector, optically measuring the current wear using the light source and the detector, and evaluating the current unknown functionality using a correlation that expresses the current unknown functionality as a function of the current wear, optionally the detector further comprises a digital camera, and wherein the method further comprises the step of: obtaining a magnified image of the functional fabric and quantifying the fractal dimension using a box-method fractal analysis on the image. The method may be applied the insecticide treated fabrics.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for determining the functionality remaining in a functional fabric, the method comprising the steps of: providing a functional fabric having a known original functionality, a current wear, and a current unknown functionality, providing a light source, providing a detector, optically measuring the current wear using the light source and the detector, and evaluating the current unknown functionality using a correlation that expresses the current unknown functionality as a function of the current wear, optionally the detector further comprises a digital camera, and wherein the method further comprises the step of: obtaining an image of the functional fabric and quantifying the fractal dimension using a box-method fractal analysis on the image. The method may be applied the insecticide treated fabrics.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a scrubber system for removing material from, or smoothing the surface of, an object. According to an example embodiment, the scrubber system comprises one or more scrubbing disks, spacer disks, and retaining collars configured for interlocking with other cooperatively configured scrubbing disks and spacer disks. The scrubbing and spacer disks are arrangeable end-to-end along a shaft extending therethrough and between opposed retaining collars to form a scrubber custom-configured for a particular application. The scrubbing disks may include one or more types arranged, with or without any spacer disks, in any desired configuration.

Abstract: An independent blood filter device depends on flow geometry to deliver blood serum or plasma free of detrimental levels of hemoglobin. It depends critically on an upstream flow rate or pressure differential limiting control element or device that limits the rate of change of pressure differential across the filter element. Pre-evacuated versions can be used to simultaneously draw blood from a living being and provide pressure differential across the filter element between an evacuated collector and a supply end open to atmosphere. A unit pressurized by hand motion employs the external shape of a partially filled blood collection tube as a piston to produce pressure in advance of the control element or device to create the pressure differential across the filter element to a collector vented to atmosphere. The control element or device is disclosed in numerous forms, including specially sized flow constrictions and compliant arrangements.

Abstract: A method of lifting a fifth wheel hitch onto the bed of a pickup truck having a rail pocket in a rear corner portion of its bed sidewall, comprising the steps of: a) providing a mounting post for a crane having a lower portion adapted to be closely received within the rail pocket and an upper crane reception portion extending above the bed sidewall; b) providing a crane having i) a mast having a lower portion adapted to slidingly and rotatably receive the upper crane reception portion of the mounting post therein, and an upper portion extending above the sidewall of the bed; ii) a boom having a rope carrying end portion, and, iii) a rope having one end portion wound on a winch carried by the mast, and an opposite end portion configured to lift an attachment means; c) positioning the post within the rail pocket; d) mating the crane on the post; e) attaching the hitch to the lift attachment means; f) lifting the hitch above the truck bed; g) rotating the mast on the mounting post to thereby swing and position t

Abstract: A ladder rack to carry a ladder on a vehicle having a receiver hitch comprises: i) a male hitch member having one end dimensioned for close reception within the receiver hitch and an other opposite end; ii) an upright leg having a lower end portion connected to the other opposite end portion of the male hitch member and an other upper end portion; iii) a ladder supporting fork extending rearwardly and upwardly from the upper end portion of the leg; and, iv) an upper retention member to retain the ladder on the ladder rack when it is bounced, said upper retention member extending rigidly rearwardly from an upper end portion of the leg, so that if the ladder bounces while being carried its upward movement will be limited by the rigid upper retention member, and so that the ladder may be loaded and unloaded from the ladder rack without having to move the ladder retention member. When the male hitch member is received within the receiver hitch and the ladder is thereafter slid over and on the ladder fork.