Sol-gel derived monolithic silica columns containing entrapped dihydrofolate reductase were used for frontal affinity chromatography of small molecule mixtures. Following placement of the starch-based SAP including a bioactive, growth-promoting additive in proximity to a plant, root, seed, or seedling, growth of the plant, root, seed, or seedling is promoted because availability of beneficial nutrients is increased. This allows the programming time period of the program pulse to be increased to a value that compensates for the increased charge-up time that is required for the higher amplitude program pulses to reach the desired programming voltage. The exercises facilitated by the glove improve an athlete’s ability to grasp an item, such as a ball, bat or an opponent. In other aspects, the invention is a program storage device encoded with instructions that, when executed by a computer, perform such a method; a computer programmed to perform such a method; and a computing system capable of performing such a method.