A method for processing a fluid includes removably securing a retention member to a vessel that bounds a chamber; inserting a collapsible bag within the chamber of the vessel; securing the bag to the retention member so that the bag is supported within the chamber of the vessel; and dispensing a fluid into a compartment of the collapsible bag supported within the chamber of the vessel. The fluid can be mixed within bag while the bag is disposed within the vessel.

Methods and apparatus for the treatment of animal waste are disclosed, together with a treated animal waste and fertilizer and growth media products derived therefrom.

A method for processing a fluid includes removably securing a retention member to a vessel that bounds a chamber; inserting a collapsible bag within the chamber of the vessel; securing the bag to the retention member so that the bag is supported within the chamber of the vessel; and dispensing a fluid into a compartment of the collapsible bag supported within the chamber of the vessel. The fluid can be mixed within bag while the bag is disposed within the vessel.

An agitating system of an agricultural system includes a brace configured to couple to a sub-hopper of the agricultural system and a support configured to engage the brace and to support a shaft within the sub-hopper. The support includes a support piece having a first portion configured to receive the shaft and the brace has a recess configured to receive the first portion of the support piece while the support is in an installed configuration.

Devices, systems, and apparatuses for heating a liquid are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a heater includes a base comprising a generally planar surface and at least two heater pillars and a sensor pillar configured on the base. The at least two heater pillars each comprise heating elements. The sensor pillar includes a thermal sensor. A mixing element is configured on the generally planar surface of the base and is coupled to a mixing motor. When powered, the heating elements of the heater pillars are configured to generate heat and the mixing motor is configured to cause the mixing element to rotate.

Described are systems and methods of mixing a liquid in a container, while liquid is being added or removed from the container, and with control of the speed of a mixing device that mixes the liquid to prevent an undesired mixing effect such as splashing, formation of a vortex, foaming, and vibration of a shaft of a mixing device used to mix the liquid.

The invention provides a method for producing prion protein having an aggregated conformation by contacting native conformation prion protein with aggregated conformation prion protein in a liquid preparation and subjecting this to at least one cycle or to a number of cycles of application of shear-force for fragmenting aggregates of prion protein, wherein the shear-force applied is precisely controlled. In addition to this process for amplification of aggregated state prion protein from native conformation prion protein, the invention relates to the aggregated state prion protein obtained by the amplification process, which aggregated state prion protein has one conformation, which is e.g. identical within one batch and reproducible between batches, e.g. as detectable by proteinase resistance in a Western blot.

A modular stirrer having a drive unit, a stirrer unit, and a magnetic coupling. The magnetic coupling is arranged between the drive unit and the stirrer unit and has a cylindrical cavity, drive magnets as well as stirrer unit magnets, and the drive magnets are connected to the drive unit and the stirrer unit magnets are connected to the stirrer unit and arranged radially about the cavity. The cavity is open at the opposite end in the opened state of the magnetic coupling, and the drive magnets may be inserted into the cavity of the magnetic coupling for closing the magnetic coupling for coupling of drive unit and stirrer unit and may be arranged in a plane one with the stirrer unit magnets. The magnetic coupling has a quick-release closure, which closes the cavity upon closing the magnetic coupling and creates a connection of drive unit and stirrer unit.

A mixing apparatus and system includes a hub, a plurality of blades, and a respective hinge for each blade to pivotally secure each blade to the hub. Each hinge including a lock having a tab and a detent to secure the respective blade in an operating conformation.

A fluid heating system includes a tank assembly having an interior surface bounding a chamber, the tank assembly including a sidewall encircling the chamber and extending between a first end and an opposing second end, the first end bounding an opening to the chamber, and a lid movable between a first position wherein the opening to the chamber is exposed and a second position wherein the lid is disposed over the opening. A collapsible bag is removably disposed within the chamber of the tank assembly, the collapsible bag bounding a compartment adapted to hold a fluid. A mechanism is provided for controlling the temperature of fluid within the collapsible bag when the collapsible bag is positioned within chamber of the tank assembly.