215results about "Flower preserving apparatus" patented technology

Nanoporous silicone resins and silicone resin films having low dielectric constants and a method for preparing such nanoporous silicone resins. The silicone resin comprises the reaction product of a mixture comprising(A) 15-70 mol % of a tetraalkoxysilane described by formula where each R1 is an independently selected alkyl group comprising 1 to about 6 carbon atoms,(B) 12 to 60 mol % of a hydrosilane described by formula where each X is an independently selected hydrolyzable substituent,(C) 15 to 70 mole percent of an organotrialkoxysilane described by formula where R2 is a hydrocarbon group comprising about 8 to 24 carbon atoms or a substituted hydrocarbon group comprising a hydrocarbon chain having about 8 to 24 carbon atoms and each R3 is an independently selected alkyl group comprising 1 to about 6 carbon atoms; in the presence of(D) water,(E) hydrolysis catalyst, and(F) organic solvent for the reaction product.The silicone resin is cured and heated in an inert atmosphere at a temperature sufficient to effect thermolysis of carbon-carbon bonds of the R2 groups thereby forming a nanoporous silicone resin.

A method of managing resources of a histological tissue processor, the tissue processor comprising at least one retort (12, 14) selectively connected for fluid communication to at least one of a plurality of reagent resources (26) by a valve mechanism (40), the method comprising the step of: nominating resources according to one of: group, where a group nomination corresponds to a resource's function; type, where a type nomination corresponds to one or more attributes of a resource within a group; station, where a station nomination corresponds to a point of supply of a resource.

The invention allows cool rooms or sea containers designed for frozen goods to handle produce requiring more precisely controlled temperatures and conditions, e.g., vegetables and fruits requiring temperatures in the chilling range and often also needing control or modification of the atmosphere. Each load of produce (100) (e.g. of pallet size) is held in the sea container or cool room but is sealed from the air of the refrigerated environment by, for example, a plastics bag (56). The atmosphere within the bag is then circulated by a fan (12) (or by convection currents from a heating element) so as to pass through the load and around it via ducts (30) provided adjacent the bag (56). Heat exchange (50) between the circulating gas and the refrigerated environment, via the plastics film, serves to cool the load. However, if cooling is excessive a heating element can be used to raise the temperature of the circulating atmosphere. Gas composition of the atmosphere can be controlled by scrubbing, flushing, etc. via pipes from a central unit or at each load individually or by choosing semi-permeable plastic for the sealing bags.

A process for coating seed which comprises applying a mixture comprising a particulate solid and a binder; then a singulating substance; then drying the seed to a point wherein the seeds are substantially separated one from another. Also a coated seed wherein the coating comprises a first layer which comprises a binder and a particulate solid, a second layer which comprises a singulating substance, and a third layer which comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of a biological material and a phytoprotection product.

A plurality of semiconductor nanoparticles having an elementally passivated surface are provided. These nanoparticles are capable of being suspended in water without substantial agglomeration and substantial precipitation on container surfaces for at least 30 days. The method of making the semiconductor nanoparticles includes reacting at least a first reactant and a second reactant in a solution to form the semiconductor nanoparticles in the solution. A first reactant provides a passivating element which binds to dangling bonds on a surface of the nanoparticles to passivate the surface of the nanoparticles. The nanoparticle size can be tuned by etching the nanoparticles located in the solution to a desired size.

In general the present invention provides various embodiments of an encapsulated seed article and a method for encapsulating a seed to form an encapsulated seed article. The encapsulated seed article may comprise one or more seeds that are encapsulated by a compressible encapsulation medium. In various embodiments, the encapsulated seed article may include a surface coating and / or an intermediate coating. In some embodiments, the encapsulated seed article may include an additive. In some embodiments, a characteristic or a combination of characteristics of the encapsulated seed article may be configured to identify a feature of encapsulated seed article. The present invention also provides various embodiments for a plurality of encapsulated seed articles having uniform seed article sizes or seed article shapes and a method for encapsulating a plurality of seeds to form a plurality of seed articles having uniform seed article sizes or seed article shapes.

An object of the present invention is to provide a medium; a specimen; a method for preparing the specimen; a method for observing the specimen; a sample cell; and an electron microscope capable of easily solving the problem of charge-up and further capable of observing a real shape or the like of a sample with a SEM, a TEM or the like. For the purpose of achieving the above-described object, the present invention uses an electrical conductivity-imparting liquid medium, for use in a microscope, which includes an ionic liquid as an essential component thereof and is impregnated into the entirety of a SEM or TEM sample or applied to the observation surface of a SEM or TEM sample to impart electrical conductivity at least to the observation surface of the sample. According to the present invention, the charge built up on the sample surface can be released simply by impregnating or coating the sample with the ionic liquid, and hence the problem of charge-up can be easily solved. Further, even when a sample impregnated or coated with the ionic liquid is placed under vacuum, the ionic liquid is not evaporated from the sample, and hence a biological sample can be observed as it is in an original shape.

Improved systems and methods for tissue processing are described here. The chemical process and the construction of the apparatus are simplified by using only two different solutions in two separate reaction modules. They are compatible with processing of tissue specimens for genetic analysis, histology, in situ antibody binding and hybridization, archival preservation of morphology and nucleic acids, and combinations thereof.

Systems and methods are described for barriers on laser capture microdissection samples. A method of processing a biological sample for laser capture microdissection, includes: providing the biological sample; and applying a substance to the biological sample so as to provide a barrier between the biological sample and a surrounding environment. The systems and methods provide advantages because non-specific pick-up is reduced, visualization is improved, sample degradation is reduced, and contamination is reduced.

A method of identifying the orientation of a tissue sample is provided. The method includes the use of a single-use tissue marking system for use in marking a tissue sample. A first surface of the sample is marked with a first ink defined by a first color; a second surface of the tissue is marked with a second ink defined by a second color; and a third surface of the sample is marked with a third ink defined by a third color.

A seed treatment system having a central computerized data store, a user interface, and network connections from the data store to a plurality of retail facilities and a plurality of agricultural produce suppliers. Each retail facility having a seed treatment system configured to uniformly treat batches of seeds with any of a variety of precisely measured chemical formulations. The seed treatment apparatus having a treatment applicator coupled to a plurality of dispensing stations. Each dispensing stations having a pump in fluid communication with a container disposed on a scale. The pump and scale of each dispensing station coupled to a system controller. The system controller is coupled to the data store, configured to provide on-demand agricultural seed treatments to the applicator and chemical usage data from each station to the data store. The data store configured to provide centralized remote monitoring inventory control, supply chain monitoring, and container recycling compliance.

A seed treater provides enhanced seed coating capabilities and performance. The seed and / or treatment fluid may be heated for improving vaporization and absorption by the seed. Air may be injected in the seed treater to provide heat, dehumidified air, and to provide vaporization enhancement, and component cleaning functions. The functions may be controlled by a control processor based on recipes and may be changed dependent upon sensed or input environmental conditions such as temperature and humidity.

An apparatus and method for treating a least a portion of one or more initial seed samples to create one or more treated seed samples for use in research applications is provided. In various embodiments, the apparatus and method utilize two or more seed treaters operating in parallel to increase throughput for treating a portion of one or more initial seed samples. The apparatus and method may also include a metering station configured to distribute at least a portion of the one or more initial seed samples to the two or more seed treaters. As a result, the apparatus and method are configured to efficiently and accurately treat seed samples.

Apparatuses and methods for applying a coating to an ear of corn are disclosed. An enclosure having a user accessible workspace and a motor to turn an ear of corn therein to apply a coating to the ear of corn rotated by the motor is also disclosed. The method includes providing an enclosure with a user accessible workspace for housing a motor assembly having a motor with a grip, releasably securing the ear of corn to the grip, rotating the ear of corn with the motor, and spraying the coating on the ear of corn with the coating applicator associated with the workspace. Each ear of corn has an identifier to track and index the ear corn during coating and drying.

The present invention is directed to a composition adapted to be applied to coat a surface area of a vegetable in order to retard environmental degradation thereof. The composition comprises a film-former, a fungicide and a thickener distributed in a carrier liquid. The fungicide may be present in less than one percent (1%) by weight. The composition may include a pH buffer operative to maintain the pH of the mixture between 8.5-10.5. The film-former is operative to coalesce to form a film covering the surface area of the vegetable which is operative to retard dehydration thereof. The fungicide is entrapped throughout the film and is operative to inhibit mildew and fungus growth thereon. The present invention also provides a method of formulating a composition according to the present invention, as well as a method of protecting a decorative vegetable material using a composition according to the present invention.

A method of preserving freshness of a harvested crop includes irradiating the harvested crop with blue light and misting the harvested crop with water mist while irradiating the harvested crop with the blue light.

An automated seed treatment system is adapted for on-site operation at a retail seed distributor. A sealed seed-treater vessel is configured to apply a plurality of chemical treatments to a batch of seed based on a recipe. A programmable system controller is electrically coupled to pump controllers of pump-stations. The controller is configured to receive a material transfer indication from each pump-stations and control the pump controllers in accord with the seed treatment recipe. The programmable system controller is configured to collect operational data representing at least consumption of chemical from the chemical container at each of the pump-stations based on the corresponding material transfer indication during seed treatment and to provide the operational data to a remotely hosted information system located remotely from the site of the retail seed distributor and accessible to at least one third party that is distinct from the retail seed distributor.

In accordance with the present invention, various types of seeds are coated with a coating comprising a) a base buildup layer comprising a porous composition such as pumice; b) an intermediate build up layer comprising a silicate composition such as talc or mica; and c) an outer layer comprising a carbon-based composition such as graphite. A binder is optionally added to one or more layers. Preferably, each layer is applied to a seed in either a batch or continuous process using conventional methods of coating. Hybrid corn and sunflower seeds may be coated in accordance with the present invention resulting in a substantially uniform size seed.

A method of controlling the release rate of an agricultural active ingredient from a seed that has been treated with that active includes providing a seed that has been treated with the active ingredient, applying to the treated seed a film that includes an emulsion of a polymer in a liquid in which both the agricultural active ingredient and the polymer have low levels of solubility, and then curing the film to form a water insoluble polymer coating on the surface of the treated seed. Seeds that have been treated by this method are also provided.

This invention provides a way to keep flower fresh in transport. The character is precold process after flowers reaped, let the flower soaked in liquor in the same time, then package the flowers with membrane and put into the wrap box with harmful gas absorbent, cryogen, and ethane clap board. This way decreased the depletion of flowers in transport, solved the problem of long distance transport, promote the development of flowers commerce in our country and other nations.

Described is a method for treating wood, in which the wood is brought into contact with a mixture of liquid or water-soluble organic ammonium carboxylate and an active ingredient which repels invertebrates, characterized in that the organic ammonium carboxylate has the formula (1):[NR1R2R3R4]+n[R5(COO)n]−n  (1),in which R1, R2 and R3 are selected from hydrogen, substituted and unsubstituted alkyls containing 1-6 carbon atoms, R4 is a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl containing 1-6 carbon atoms, R5 is hydrogen, a substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbon containing 1-6 carbon atoms and n is an integral 1-6 and whereby wood-preservative active ingredient contains a chelating agent which repels invertebrate, which chelating agent is selected from an aminopolycarboxylic acid or a salt thereof, a hydroxy acid or a salt thereof or a phosphonate or a salt thereof or a mixture of chelating agents which belong to two of more groups thereof.

An object of the present invention is to provide a medium; a specimen; a method for preparing the specimen; a method for observing the specimen; a sample cell; and an electron microscope capable of easily solving the problem of charge-up and further capable of observing a real shape or the like of a sample with a SEM, a TEM or the like. For the purpose of achieving the above-described object, the present invention uses an electrical conductivity-imparting liquid medium, for use in a microscope, which includes an ionic liquid as an essential component thereof and is impregnated into the entirety of a SEM or TEM sample or applied to the observation surface of a SEM or TEM sample to impart electrical conductivity at least to the observation surface of the sample. According to the present invention, the charge built up on the sample surface can be released simply by impregnating or coating the sample with the ionic liquid, and hence the problem of charge-up can be easily solved. Further, even when a sample impregnated or coated with the ionic liquid is placed under vacuum, the ionic liquid is not evaporated from the sample, and hence a biological sample can be observed as it is in an original shape.

A device and method that uses the application of light to retard the wilting and spoilage of cut flowers. The lamps used can direct focused illumination in the targeted wavelengths known to positively and optimally affect the viability of different types of cut flowers, hi the most preferred embodiment, an LED light source is positioned to direct light upwardly toward the flowers, either from a base structure upon which a vase holding the flowers and having a transparent bottom surface is placed, or from a position within an opaque vase holding flowers that is substantially below the flower stems. Optionally, light can be directed from the side or overhead, but such a configuration is not optimal. Side-by-side testing confirms that flowers exposed to the light lasted more than a week longer than those not having the added illumination.

The invention relates to a method for producing a protective layer on a surface of a plant, to a protective layer for a surface of a plant, to a plant coated with said protective layer, to a composition for carrying out the method and for producing the protective layer, and to uses of said composition. According to the invention, a method is proposed, wherein at least one sol gel having nano-scale particles is formed by the hydrolysis of at least one precursor in water and at least one nano-scale layer of the sol gel is applied onto the surface of the plant. The protective layer according to the invention comprises a nano-scale SiO2 layer, and the composition according to the invention comprises at least one SiO2-producing substance.

The invention relates to a composition for coating fruits, vegetables, fowl eggs, and especially for organically-grown produce for protection and extension of the shelf life of said fruits, vegetables and fowl eggs, wherein said composition is an aqueous dispersion comprised of: (a) a hydrophobic component comprising at least one member of the following group consisting of natural wax, or vegetable oil; (b) an alkali agent; (c) water, wherein components (a) and (b) are derived from natural biological sources. The invention also relates to a method for application of the composition.