Abstract: An improved dog fetch toy product is disclosed. The fetch toy may generally have a bone-like shape, with an elongated middle section and bulbous end sections at either end. Cavities in the bulbous end sections may allow a person to pick up the fetch toy by inserting a finger into a cavity. The fetch toy may then be flung/thrown by the finger.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for a climbing apparatus for pet training and exercise. A hill climbing apparatus for exercising or training pets may include, for example, a first ramp directly coupled to a second ramp at a coupling point located at a peak of the hill, the first ramp and the second ramp having an angle of incline that is substantially similar, thereby forming a substantially symmetrical and triangular structure. The first ramp and the second ramp can include supports projecting from a surface of the first ramp and the second ramp to facilitate navigation of a path that comprises an incline of the first ramp and a decline of the second ramp. In addition, the supports can render the apparatus free-standing and portable.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for a balance beam apparatus for exercising or training pets that may include, for example, a balance beam having a first distal end, a second distal end, and a portion raised from a ground surface, the first distal end of the balance beam being positioned on a first beam base, the second distal end of the balance beam being positioned on a second beam base, where the first beam base comprises a first beam and a second beam stacked vertically to form steps leading up to the balance beam, and where the second beam base includes a third beam and a fourth beam stacked vertically to form steps leading down from the balance beam. The first beam base and the second beam base may have a width substantially similar to a width of the balance beam. The balance beam apparatus may be free-standing and portable.

Abstract: A bovine monitoring system may include a rumination sensor, a motion sensor, a posture sensor. The rumination sensor may detect chewing by sensing jaw motion. The motion sensor may detect motion. The posture sensor may detect orientation of the bovine asset through detection of gravitational acceleration, detection of gyroscopic rotation, or a combination of gravitational acceleration and gyroscopic rotation. Using the recorded rumination, motion, and posture sensors, the bovine asset monitoring system may identify aberrations in the estrous cycle or physical or mental health of the bovine assets. A bovine monitoring system may include a thermal scanning device to detect localized heating of the vulva area of the bovine asset, which may be used to identify aberrations in the estrous cycle or physical or mental health of the bovine assets.

Abstract: A method of monitoring the physiological condition, and/or suitability of animal feed, of ruminant animals, comprising: a. sensing the occurrence of at least a first predetermined type of activity of the animal; b. determining a length of a time period of a first type during which in step a. a sensed first predetermined type of activity has taken place; c. transmitting information about the length of a time period of the first type determined in step b. wherein preferably the transmission starts on a moment in time which depends on the moment in time on which the time period of the first type has ended; d. repeating steps a.-c. for next sensed occurrences of activities of the first predetermined type.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for initiating a monitoring session between a user device and a pet monitoring system including a base station and a plurality of monitoring devices. The base station receives a request to monitor the pet from the user device, activates the plurality of monitoring devices, receives data from the plurality of monitoring devices, locates the pet based on the received data from the plurality of monitoring devices, selects a selected monitoring device of the plurality of monitoring devices based upon at least one of the data from the plurality of monitoring devices and the location of the pet, and transmits the data from the selected monitoring device to the user device.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an aviary is provided, wherein the aviary includes a cage. A resilient platform is positioned adjacent to the cage. In an embodiment, a perch is positioned adjacent to the resilient platform.

Abstract: A U-shaped perch for a bird feeder which is selectively movable between retracted and extended positions with respect to the bird feeder. The perch is horizontally slidably mounted in a support at the lower end of a feed port positioned in a feed opening formed in the bird feeder. The perch is selectively locked in its extended position. The perch and the support cooperate to limit the outward extension of the perch with respect to the support. The perch may also be movably mounted on the bird feeder which does not have a feed port.

Abstract: The invention comprises a system and an optical device (1) to facilitate the counting of objects, e.g. fish and other organisms living in freshwater or sea, especially when using large-scale equipment in fish-fanning. The system makes it possible to diminish the distance between the recording camera and the objects to be counted.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a transgenic pig comprising a mutated IAPP gene and displaying a phenotype associated with diabetes. The invention also relates to a transgenic blastocyst, embryo, fetus, donor cell and/or cell nucleusderived from said transgenic pig. The invention further relates to use of the transgenic pig as a model system for studying therapy, treatment and/or prevention of diabetes.

Abstract: In an aspect, a system for breeding and harvesting insects is provided and includes an egg-producing chamber structure configured to receive insect pupae for pupation and to permit emerged adult insects to mate and oviposit insect eggs, at least one oviposition region in the egg-producing chamber structure configured to receive the insect eggs and apertured to permit at least one of the insect eggs and neonates of the insect eggs to pass therethrough, at least one larvae-growth chamber in communication with the at least one oviposition region so as to be configured to receive the at least one of the insect eggs and neonates of the insect eggs, wherein the larvae-growth chamber is further configured to permit the at least one of the insect eggs and neonates of the insect eggs to transition into larvae and to hold feed material for the larvae, a harvesting receptacle positioned to hold larvae, and an inclined surface positioned to receive larvae from the at least one larvae-growth chamber, and to provide a pass

Abstract: A fish trap includes: a fish trap mesh formed with at least one entrance; at least one frame supporting the fish trap mesh; at least one luring part formed to extend from the entrance of the fish trap mesh in a direction toward the inside of the frame and including a lure opening; and an escape prevention part forming an isolated space and provided with at least one fish passage hole through which fish passes after passing through the luring opening of the at least one luring part.

Abstract: A fishing accessory for several different lures for coupling to a fishing device that can be reeled or trolled in a certain direction in order to catch fish. The fishing accessory includes a first lure, in the form of a main fish, and at least two second lures, smaller in size than the first lure and accompanied by flexible transparent elements attached to a rigid head forming part of a supporting structure of the first lure in the shape of a V, facing either towards a surface or bottom of a fishing area.

Abstract: A concave-type spinner blade and lure body assembly for use with fishing lures that generates mechanical energy to rotate the lure body to attract fish is provided herein. The spinner blade is connected to the lure body by a connector that freely rotates around the lure's spindle. The lure body is suspended from the lure spindle by a plurality of rotational elements that are housed within the lure body. The rotational mechanical energy causes the lure body to rotate thereby producing an effect that attracts fish. The present invention can be used with trolling or casting lures used in bays, rivers, lakes, oceans, and estuaries to catch a wide variety of fresh and saltwater fish.

Abstract: A fishing caddy system which generally includes a rod holder assembly having at least one rod holder which may be rotatable to different angles to suit the user. There are hooks in the rod holder assembly for receiving the fishing line and thereby preventing the wind from blowing the line around, resulting in faster detection of catches. The rod holder assembly can be mounted to a universal mounting receiver which can be placed on any stationary body. Cup holders and other accessories may also be mounted in proximity to the rod holder assembly using other universal mounting receivers. An accelerometer may also be included which detects vibrations caused by the fishing line against the hook, alerting the user via LEDs or a wireless alert sent to the user's wireless computing device, such as a smart phone.

Abstract: An apparatus for trapping flying insect pests, including: a device for diffusing in the surrounding ambient air a gaseous lure the composition of which is suitable for attracting the insects; a device for sucking a flow of surrounding ambient air containing the insects attracted by the diffused gaseous lure, an insect trap arranged with the suction device so the insects sucked by said device are retained in said trap.

Abstract: Disclosed are devices for eliminating airborne and crawling insect pests including a base carrying a membrane ring and insect feeding pool; a stem mounted to the base having a lower portion that covers the membrane ring; a reservoir positioned atop the stem, the reservoir adapted to contain liquid bait; stress duct openings disposed in the stem for metering flow of the liquid bait from the reservoir to the insect feeding pool; and a cover positioned atop the reservoir and extending radially outward therefrom to span and cover the base, the cover housing at least one of a metered bioattractant dispenser, a metered biopathogen dispenser, a light source, and a solar panel. Also disclosed are pest control device cover assemblies configured for attachment to existing pest control device(s) that allow for enhanced elimination airborne and crawling insect pests.

Abstract: A fluid spray apparatus includes an inlet and first and second outlets. A first actuator may communicate the inlet with at least one of the outlets. A second actuator also may communicate the inlet with at least one of the outlets. A passage network of the fluid spray apparatus communicates the first and second actuators with the first and second outlets. A diverter structure is disposed in the passage network. The diverter structure includes a first diverter structure arrangement. In the first diverter structure arrangement, the first actuator communicates the inlet with the first outlet and the second actuator communicates the inlet with the second outlet. The diverter structure also includes a second diverter structure arrangement. In the second diverter structure arrangement, the first actuator communicates the inlet with the second outlet and the second actuator communicates the inlet with the first outlet.

Abstract: An aerial drone includes a pest sensor, an environmental sensor, a drone on-board computer, and a pest abatement mechanism. The pest sensor senses a pest based on emissions from the pest. The environmental sensor detects an environment of the pest. The drone on-board computer identifies a pest type of the pest based on the emission from the pest, and establishes a risk level posed by the presence of the pest based on the pest type and the environment of the pest. The pest abatement mechanism performs a pest abatement of the pest based on the pest type and the risk level posed by the presence of the pest.

Abstract: A system for trapping pests includes a central managing unit and a plurality of pest traps in active communication with the central managing unit. Each pest trap includes one or more detachable cartridges, one or more base elements adapted to releasably hold the one or more detachable cartridges, each base element comprises one or more sensors; each of the one or more sensors is configured to sense a presence of a pest in one of the detachable cartridges, a communication unit and a trap controller configured to receive signals from the one or more sensors and send indications to the central managing unit via the communication unit. The central managing unit is configured to: receive from at least one of the plurality of pest traps an indication that a pest is trapped in at least one detachable cartridge and send an alert to a user device based on receipt of the indication.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are shown for selectively capturing a targeted animal that are directed to capturing an animal in a capture module having a one way capture mechanism and, using instructions executing in a controller, sensing the animal in an identification module and, responsive thereto, capturing an image of the animal, analyzing the captured image to identify whether the animal is a targeted animal, if the animal is the targeted animal, processing the animal, and releasing the animal. Additional examples involve performing chromatic or pattern analysis on the captured image, using the chromatic or patent analysis results, searching a database for machine recognized animal colors or patterns, generating a probabilistic assessment based on color or pattern of whether the animal in the identification module is the targeted animal, and generating a target determination indication based on the probabilistic assessment based on color or pattern.

Abstract: The present disclosure includes an acoustic coupler for combining at least two independent reed game calls. The acoustic coupler has a body including a first length bounded by a first end and a second end. The body includes an acoustic chamber therein and at least one aperture extending into the acoustic chamber. The first end and said second end of the body are in fluid communication with the acoustic chamber. The first reed game call is affixed to the first end of the body. An insert in the first reed game call includes an air passage which is in fluid communication with the acoustic chamber. A second reed game call is affixed to the second end of the body. The insert in the second reed game call includes an air passage which is in fluid communication with the acoustic chamber.

Abstract: A retractable deer stand ladder system for providing a ladder that is efficiently concealed from wildlife. The retractable deer stand ladder system generally includes a support member having an elongated structure, an upper end and a lower end, a plurality of first steps pivotally attached to a first side of the support member, and a plurality of second steps pivotally attached to a second side of the support member. The first steps and the second steps each have an extended state where the steps extend outwardly from the support member for a user to climb upon. The first steps and the second steps also have a retracted state where the steps extend substantially parallel with respect to the support member for concealment.

Abstract: A mechanical waterfowl decoy to be used in water. It has a buoyant body and a motor that rotates a paddlewheel in a circular manner which can provide propulsion and water disturbance for the decoy and can give the appearance of a duck swimming, splashing, and moving its head.

Abstract: New stabilizers for solutions of choline hydroxide and related quaternary trialkylalkanolamines are disclosed. The stabilizers are alkyl hydroxylamines, hydrazines, hydrazides, or derivates thereof, including compounds containing more than one such functionality. The new stabilizers are effective at concentrations less than about 1000 ppm, and choline hydroxide solutions stabilized with the compounds described herein typically have Gardner Color change less than about 2.0 after six months at reasonable temperatures.

Abstract: An anti-microbial composition including: a solvent; a cationic active ingredient; a source of zinc ions, wherein the zinc ions have a concentration from 6.2×10?4 to 8.7×10?3 mol/L; and an amine oxide surfactant. A method of selectively killing Gram-positive bacteria, the method including: exposing bacteria to a formulation including: 0.05 to 0.3 wt. % of benzethonium chloride and/or benzalkonium chloride; a source of zinc ions, wherein the zinc ions have a concentration from 6.8×10?3 to 2×10?2 mol/L; and an amine oxide surfactant.

Abstract: The present specification discloses natural repellent compounds, and isomeric forms, structural analogues and derivatives of the said compounds, having repellent activity against mosquitoes and other blood-sucking arthropods, compositions comprising such repellent compounds, methods of screening for such repellent compounds, methods of reducing mosquito bites on an individual and methods of reducing mosquito infestation to a location.

Abstract: The present invention provides an agrochemical granule comprising: an oil-non-absorbing carrier; and a layer that coats the oil-non-absorbing carrier, wherein the layer comprises a synthetic pyrethroid compound, an organic solvent whose vapor pressure at 25° C. is equal to or lower than 1.0 Pa, an oil-absorbing carrier, a binding agent, a nonionic surfactant and a dodecylbenzenesulfonate, and having an excellent control efficacy against pest.

Abstract: The invention relates to an organic ammonium salt of formula (I), wherein the symbols have the following meanings: A- is an anionic pesticide, R1 is H, C1C4-alkyl, CH2CH2OH or CH2CH(CH3)OH; R is H, CH3 or two adjacent radicals R together form a group —C(R?)— and R? is equal to or different from H or CH3, wherein said salt is suitable for reducing the volatility of active substances in the spray application of anionic pesticides.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and compositions comprising agonist compounds that activate ABA receptors. In one aspect, the invention provides an agricultural formulation useful for inducing ABA responses in plant vegetative tissues, reducing abiotic stress in plants, and inhibiting germination of plant seeds. The compounds are also useful for inducing expression of ABA-responsive genes in cells that express endogenous or heterologous ABA receptors.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method for treating rice. The method comprises the steps of: providing a domestic rice crop plant and at least one ACCase-inhibiting aryloxyphenoxypropanoate herbicide selected from the group consisting of quizalofop or an ester thereof, haloxyfop, fluazifop or an ester thereof, clodinafop, clodinafop-propargyl, diclofop, and diclofop-methyl; applying an effective amount (measured in g Al/Ha) of the at least one aryloxyphenoxypropanoate herbicide to the domestic rice crop plant, post-emergence; thereby creating a treated rice plant; and growing the resulting treated rice plant.

Abstract: The invention relates to a compound or a salt thereof of formula [1], a fungicidal composition containing the compound or a salt thereof, a method for controlling plant disease occurring from phytopathogenic microorganism including the step of applying the fungicidal composition and a production method of the compound.

Abstract: Various embodiments disclosed relate to an antifungal-grafted polyolefin. The present invention provides an antifungal-grafted polyolefin comprising an antifungal-grafted repeating unit having the structure: At each occurrence, -A- can be chosen from —O— and —NH—. At each occurrence, -AF can be an independently selected grafted antifungal compound. At each occurrence, -L- can be independently chosen from a bond and the structure: or a salt thereof. At each occurrence —R can be independently chosen from —H and -AF. At each occurrence, the variable n is independently about 1 to about 100,000.

Abstract: An antimicrobial surface treatment method comprising the step of contacting a stainless-steel surface with an aqueous dispersion of at least one functional-lipid construct where the lipid moiety is a phosphatidylethanolamine and the functional moiety confers the antimicrobial activity.

Abstract: The invention relates to an object having a coating arranged on at least one surface of the object, which comprises at least one antimicrobially active layer having an antimicrobial agent, wherein the agent comprises a copper (I) compound and/or a copper (II) compound.

Abstract: The present work relates to a novel microbe belonging to Bacillus family exhibiting antimicrobial and/or antifungal and plant growth promoting activity. The present work relates to the method of its isolation and identifying extract of the novel microbe exhibiting antimicrobial and/or antifungal, plant growth promoting proteolytic amylolytie activities. In particular, there is provided a novel bacterium Bacillus subtilis ssp. shriramensis having accession number MTCC-5674. The novel bacterium is cultured in the medium to mass produce the antimicrobial and/or antifungal and plant growth promoting agent by the novel microbe and Sin the culture medium. There is provided a composition comprising the novel bacterium or an extract of the novel bacterium, which is agriculturally and pharmaceutically effective. The novel bacterium of the present work is used in the treatment against various pathogenic fungi and/or bacteria and promoting growth plants.

Abstract: Exemplary insect repellent, attractant, knockdown and kill compositions may comprise vanillin and two or more active ingredients selected from: geraniol, rosemary oil, winter green oil, methyl salicylate, linalool, tetrahydrolinalool, cedar leaf oil, thyme oil white, thyme oil red, thymol, mint oil, peppermint oil, linseed oil, sunflower oil, piperonal, piperonyl alcohol, benzyl alcohol, lime oil, d-limonene, eucalyptus oil citridora, eucalyptus oil, cinnamon oil, cinnamic alcohol, cinnamyl alcohol, geranium oil, lavender oil, tetrahydrolinalool, phenethyl propionate, clove oil, safflower oil, eugenol, 1,8-cineol, ?-terpineol, triethyl citrate, isopropyl myristate, white mineral oil, lemon grass oil, lilac flower oil, black seed cumin oil, geranyl acetate, citric acid, citral diethyl acetal, ascorbic acid, canola oil, corn oil, soybean oil, sandalwood oil, isopropyl alcohol (IPA), pheneythyl alcohol, white mineral oil.

Abstract: An oven has a first conveyor, a first burner that directs heat toward the first conveyor from above the first conveyor, and a second burner that directs heat toward the first conveyor from below the first conveyor. A method includes providing foodstuff on a conveyor, exposing the foodstuff to heat directed toward the foodstuff from above the conveyor, and exposing the foodstuff to heat directed toward the foodstuff from below the conveyor. Another oven has a first conveyor and first conveyor insulators that surround the first conveyor and define a first zone. Another method includes introducing foodstuff to a first conveyor belt within a first insulated zone, introducing heat into the first insulated zone, and retaining a portion of the heat within the first insulated zone. Another oven has an insulated cooking zone that closely envelopes a cooking path and an insulated oven zone that substantially envelopes the cooking zone.

Abstract: A cooking aid includes a sheet of flexible burn resistant material and a composition disposed on one face of the sheet. The composition contains a mixture of vegetable or animal oil with a melting point below 20° C., vegetable or animal fat with a melting point above 20° C., and one or more herbs, spices and flavour enhancers.

Abstract: A cake slicer system being a cake slicer assembly having a center post including a blade stabilizing circle and a plurality of detachable cutting members for enabling a user to equally slice desserts of varying sizes. The center post with the blade stabilizing circle allows for the application of a downward pressure upon the cake slicer assembly as to force the detachable cutting members downwardly through a dessert.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a bakery product. In particular the invention relates to a bakery product comprising dough and a filling or topping wherein the bakery product has an exposed dough surface having a coating comprising sodium chloride. A further aspect of the invention is a process for manufacturing a bakery product.

Abstract: A powder for coloring a food product or a food product surface when heated, the powder containing a plant extract, a chemical base, and a carrier. The plant extract contains a compound with at least one aromatic ring having at least two hydroxyl groups borne by two adjacent carbon atoms of that aromatic ring.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to a method for humanely slaughtering animals, and more particularly to a method for slaughtering animals using a low atmospheric pressure system with or without the addition of inert gas. In particular, the animals are placed into a chamber, the chamber is sealed, and the pressure in the chamber is reduced along a predetermined pressure curve to a target decompression pressure, and maintained at the decompression pressure for a period of time until the animal achieves a state of death. The low atmospheric pressure slaughter is more humane than traditional slaughter techniques, and results in excellent meat quality.

Abstract: A sliced jumbo tender of a meat tender or poultry breast resulting in strips having a desired weight and thickness with minimal losses. The sliced tender includes two diagonal cuts across and through the tender to yield three strips which are substantially the same in weight and thickness.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a conveying and distributing apparatus for delivering fish slaughtered by means of a plurality of slaughtering machines to at least one distributing device, comprising longitudinal conveyors downstream of each of the slaughtering machines, which are configured to receive the slaughtered fish longitudinally in a head to tail orientation, wherein each of the longitudinal conveyors comprises a weighing device for detecting the weight of the slaughtered fish, at least one first transfer device is arranged on each of the longitudinal conveyors, which are designed and configured to transfer the slaughtered fish to at least one transverse conveyor, wherein the at least one transverse conveyor is adapted to receive the slaughtered fish transversely with respect to the head to tail orientation, a feed device arranged on the end of the transverse conveyor, which is designed and configured to remove the slaughtered fish from the transverse conveyor and to feed the same to a distributing

Abstract: A rapid method to detect and/or remove mobile insects inside granular material is presented. The core of this method is to heat grain samples to the desired temperatures (about 55 C) using microwave or radio frequency energy to force insects to move out of the granular material.

Abstract: The invention relates to dairy products with strawberry having specific anthocyanins profiles that allow color-related improvements.

Abstract: Process to manufacture edible aerated water-in-oil emulsion comprising: from 0.5 to 50 wt. % of micronized fat powder comprising hardstock fat; from 10 to 85 wt. % of liquid oil; from 10 to 85 wt. % of water-phase; from 2 to 100 vol. % of gas-phase; wherein the gas has an average solubility in water at 20 degrees Celsius and at 1 bar of pressure of at most 0.75 gram gas per kg water; and wherein the gas has an average solubility in sunflower oil at 20 degrees Celsius and at 1 bar of pressure of at most 0.75 gram gas per kg oil; comprising the step of: mixing the fat powder, the liquid oil, the water-phase and the gas-phase to provide the edible aerated water-in-oil emulsion.

Abstract: A method is provided for preserving cooking oil in a food fryer which comprises contacting the oil in situ with at least one oil-permeable cement body which is a stand-alone block and which has been hydraulically hardened from a paste comprising (i) white OPC clinker, (ii) white OPC or (iii) a mixture of white OPC clinker and white OPC, wherein the porosity of the cement body, estimable from the difference between its water-saturated and dry weights, is 30-55%, pores in the body being oil receptive by virtue of low un-bound water content.

Abstract: A system and method for reducing the amount of caffeine in an existing volume of brewed coffee. The brewed coffee contains a predetermined level of caffeine. To reduce the caffeine, a caffeine filter is provided. Furthermore, a coffee receptacle is provided to hold the decaffeinated coffee. A filter chamber is positioned over the coffee receptacle. The caffeine filter is placed in the filter chamber. Brewed coffee is dripped, poured, or otherwise advanced into the filter chamber. At least some of the brewed coffee flows through the caffeine filter and into the coffee receptacle. This reduces the level of caffeine of the filtered coffee entering the coffee receptacle. The system also enables a single source of brewed coffee to produce cups of both regular coffee and decaffeinated coffee, using only one type of regular ground coffee.