A shovel with measurement markings for digging a hole that includes a handle portion, a blade portion, and an elongated shaft portion interconnecting at opposite ends thereof the blade portion and the handle portion. The blade portion includes plurality of uniformly distributed notches arranged substantially along at least one side of the blade portion and configured to indicate the vertical depth of the hole.

A biological sterilization indicator (BI) and a method of using same for assaying the lethality of a sterilization process. The BI can include a housing, which can include a first portion, and a second portion, which can be movable with respect to the first portion between a first and second position. The BI can further include a frangible container comprising a liquid. The BI can further include a spore reservoir and a projection positioned in the housing. The projection can be configured to fracture the container when the second portion of the housing is moved from the first position to the second position. The method can include maintaining a minimal cross-sectional area of space around the container when the second portion of the housing is in the first position, and fracturing the container in response to moving the second portion between the first and second positions.

A blade is provided having runners on the blade that extend forward of the blade's leading edge. These runners traverse surface irregularities allowing the blade to avoid colliding with surface irregularities.

Nutritional formulas comprising long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFAs) are provided, along with methods and devices for preparing and/or administering nutritional formulas. In some embodiments, a percentage of the LC-PUFAs in the nutritional formula are in the form of monoglycerides and/or free fatty acids. In some embodiments, the nutritional formulas do not comprise added lipase. Also provided are methods for providing nutrition to a subject, methods for improving fat absorption, methods for improving cognitive ability, methods for preventing chronic lung disease, and methods for reducing the length of time a patient requires total parenteral nutrition.

A digging tool has a pair of handles, each with a hand-grasping portion that provides comfortable manipulation, and each with a lower handle member that couples into a shovel assembly. Each one of the pair of shovel assemblies has a shovel blade and is provided with a suitable foot ledge. Each shovel assembly is formed with the shovel blade on one end, and on a second end distal to the blade a channel encompasses and reinforces a handle contained therein. A pair of plate and fastener combinations cooperate with at least one longitudinally extensive slot in each channel, to allow each shovel assembly to independently reciprocate longitudinally parallel or co-axially with respect to the associated handle. A hinge is provided between and couples each of the two handles together pivotally, preferably relatively more closely to the blade than the hand-grasping portion to provide good mechanical advantage.

This invention relates to processes and systems for converting fresh food waste into nutrient rich hydrolysates and particulate compositions. The invention also relates to the hydrolysates and compositions useful, for example, as fertilizers, feedstock or other nutrient supplements.

A microorganism evaluation system for analyzing microorganisms within a fluid flow, comprising a microorganism stimulation section comprising a means for inducing a motive response in a living microorganism within the fluid flow passing through the microorganism stimulation section, and a viewing section in fluid communication with the microorganism stimulation section, the viewing section comprising a body having formed therein a body cavity defining a viewing port visible through a cavity first opening formed in the body so as to be in communication with the body cavity, the viewing section further comprising an optical system mounted relative to the body for viewing the fluid flow within the viewing port through the cavity first opening, whereby image data relating to the fluid flow and microorganisms therein is acquired via the optical system for analysis.

A shovel assembly for coupling a shovel to a forearm includes a shovel that may be coupled to a forearm of a user. Thus, the shovel may be manipulated to shovel material. A support is coupled to the shovel. The support may to be secured to the user's forearm. Thus, the shovel is retained on the user's forearm.

Hand tools having a hand guard for protecting a user's working hand are provided. In one embodiment, the hand tool may be a hand rake that includes a rake body having a proximal end and an opposite distal end and including a handle portion and a rake portion. The handle portion may extend from the proximal end of the rake body and include a finger opening configured to receive a user's fingers therethrough. The rake portion may extend from the distal end of the rake body to the handle portion and include a plurality of tines. A hand guard may be attached to the rake body and positioned over a top surface of the handle portion and may include a plurality of walls defining an interior space configured to receive the user's hand therein. In other embodiments, the hand tool may be a grabber or a paint roller.

A multi-functional folding shovel for assisting a user to regain traction under vehicle wheels includes a bifurcated body having a centrally registered longitudinal axis extended along an entire length thereof. Such a bifurcated body includes a proximal end and a distal end opposed therefrom. A coupling is intermediately disposed between the proximal end and the distal end wherein the coupling has a fulcrum axis registered orthogonal to the centrally registered longitudinal axis. Advantageously, a refillable reservoir is extended from the proximal end and affixed to the coupling. In this manner refillable reservoir is adapted to receive and discharge an existing friction-inducing agent therefrom. An implement having an adjustable shape is affixed to the coupling and extended to the distal end wherein the implement is selectively articulated about the fulcrum axis relative to the refillable reservoir.