Abstract: The technology as disclosed herein includes systems, methods, and compositions for detection of disease in a subject using spectroscopy and includes more effective detection of muscular myopathies in commercially farmed animals using infrared spectroscopy, and includes detection of Wooden Breast, White Striping, and/or Spaghetti Meat in broiler chickens utilizing near infrared spectroscopy. Implementations of the systems, methods, and compositions provided herein include and/or utilize and/or provide for detection of Wooden Breast, White Striping, and/or Spaghetti Meat in broiler chickens utilizing near infrared spectroscopy of breast area of live birds for prediction of taurine levels in the muscle.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the training of a convolutional neural network by a set of automatically generated simulated training data for use in a machine vision system for identifying fiducial tags associated with entities. Four-character fiducial tags are randomly generated or selected and then randomly transformed and superimposed on images to generate a set of simulated training data to be fed into a convolutional neural network to train the network model. The trained convolutional neural network is used to identify fiducial tags disposed on entities in real-world images and video.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the automated monitoring of animals, in particular livestock animals such as swine, for the identification or determination of particular physical characteristics or conditions that may be used to predict one or more phenotypes or health outcomes for the each of the animals. Systems and methods are provided for the non-subjective and automatic identification or prediction of one or more phenotypes, such as weight or gait, based on computer-vision system analysis of video or image data capture of an animal retaining space in a commercial farming operation. The predicted or identified phenotypes are used to predict one or more health outcomes or scores for an animal.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to methods for using porcine sex-sorted sperm cells for the efficient dissemination of desirable traits in multi-level swine production systems. The methods include using sex-sorted sperm cells for skewing offspring gender at the commercial farm level, producing porcine herds having improved growth performance traits, producing pathogen-resistant porcine herds, and disseminating desirable traits from a genetic nucleus to commercial farms using low dose artificial insemination techniques. The methods also provide a means for reducing costs at the production level by increasing the ratio of female offspring and improving animal welfare at all levels of production by reducing or eliminating male castration. In addition, the methods of the present technology may be employed to develop production flows for specialized pork products.

Abstract: A spray device for use as a supplementary fluid output, having a mixing chamber for receiving and mixing fluid from two input supplies which supplies mixed fluid to a spray head through a flexible conduit. The relative proportions of input supplies received in the mixing chamber is controlled by a mix controller having a mix actuator which is connected to a mix valve associated with the mixing chamber by an upstanding rotatable sleeve. The spray device is mounted on a hole in a work surface by mounting means. The flexible conduit and the upstanding rotatable sleeve pass through the hole in the work surface and a bore in the mounting means. The mix controller may control the rate of fluid flow through the device.

Abstract: A mixer tap assembly is shown which has a mixing chamber for mixing fluids from two inputs, and a mix controller to control the ratio of fluid flow into the mixing chamber from the inputs. The mix controller includes a mix actuator which operates a mix control apparatus, such as a rotatable sleeve, which is connected to a mix valve apparatus associated with the mixing chamber. The mix actuator and a fluid outlet are mountable on or above a work surface via a mounting apparatus, while the mixing chamber is mountable below the work surface. Furthermore, the mix control apparatus and an output conduit, between the fluid outlet and the mixing chamber, pass through a bore in the mounting means, so minimising the footprint of the mixer tap assembly on the work surface.

Abstract: A mixer valve is shown which has two valves controllable by a mix controller to determine the ratio of fluid entering the mixer valve from two respective inputs, such as a hot fluid input and a cold fluid input, and a third valve controllable by a flow controller to determine the flow rate of fluid out of the mixer valve. Thus, the mixing proportion of the input fluids and the output flow rate are independently controllable. The mixer valve is suitable for incorporation into a mixer tap.

Abstract: A plug which is insertable into a outlet from a vessel, to seal the vessel so that it may hold liquid. To prevent overflow, the plug has an in-built valve which automatically opens when it experiences a predetermined threshold pressure. The threshold pressure can be adjusted to cater for vessels of differing size.

Abstract: A postage metering system for applying indicia including postage value on mail items, the system including: a keyboard for inputting information; a printer for printing indicia; an accounting module for accounting for postage value applied to mail items; and a security module for requiring a user to input an operating code prior to further operation of the system, the security module being configured to compare the input operating code with at least one stored valid operating code and cause the printer in a printing operation to print an indicium having a zero postage value where the input operating code and any stored operating code do not match and printing of an indicium is requested.

Abstract: A postage metering system for applying indicia including postage value on mail items, the system including: a keyboard for inputting information; a printer for printing indicia; an accounting module for accounting for postage value applied to mail items; and a security module for requiring a user to input an operating code prior to further operation of the system, the security module being configured to compare the input operating code with at least one stored valid operating code, and, where the input operating code and any stored operating code do not match, one or both of log data relating to such use and report such use to a security center.

Abstract: A process of making an improved sheet/card laminate for packaging, signage, displays, transaction cards, ID cards and the like. The process comprises registering flat sheets to a film and then laminating the film or transferring coating(s) from the film to the individual, generally flat sheets via an adhesive. The film or coating(s) may include layered security, functional and/or decorative features.

Abstract: Systems and methods for treating waste water containing biological wastes such as animal waste generated in livestock-raising operations, wherein the waste water is subjected to a series of operations to separate solids from the liquid phase of the waste water and to biologically treat the waste water to break down organic components. The separated solids are stored for further treatment or conversion into useful materials. The treated liquid phase can be put to various uses. In one embodiment, the treated liquid is recycled as flush water for flushing animal waste from an animal barn, whereby little or no liquid phase escapes the system into the surrounding environment.