Abstract: A distillation unit for producing potable water using solar radiation is disclosed. The distillation unit includes a heating chamber defining an interior chamber adapted to contain a non-potable liquid for distillation, and a dome-shaped condensing portion having an inner surface and an outer surface, with the condensing portion disposed over the heating chamber such that the heating chamber and the inner surface of the condensing portion are provided in fluid-transfer communication. The distillation unit also includes a pre-heat jacket having a first surface and a second surface and an interior defined therebetween adapted to receive non-potable liquid for distillation therein. The first surface is disposed adjacent the outer surface of the condensing portion, and the pre-heat jacket defines an access entry for introducing non-potable liquid for distillation into the interior of the heating chamber. The distillation unit also includes a trough adjacent for receiving a potable liquid therein.

Abstract: This disclosure describes, in part, an audio/video (A/V) device that includes a first camera for generating first image data and one or more second cameras for both motion detection and generating second image data. For instance, the A/V device may generate and then store the second image data in one or more buffers. The A/V device may then detect an event, such as possible motion of an object. Based on detecting the event, A/V device may cause the one or more second cameras to cease generating the second image data and cause the first camera to begin generating the first image data. The A/V device may then process the second image data and send the processed second image data to a computing system. Next, the A/V device may process the first image data and send the processed first image data to the computing system.

Abstract: A distillation unit for producing potable water using solar radiation is disclosed. The distillation unit includes a heating chamber defining an interior chamber adapted to contain a non-potable liquid for distillation, and a dome-shaped condensing portion having an inner surface and an outer surface, with the condensing portion disposed over the heating chamber such that the heating chamber and the inner surface of the condensing portion are provided in fluid-transfer communication. The distillation unit also includes a pre-heat jacket having a first surface and a second surface and an interior defined therebetween adapted to receive non-potable liquid for distillation therein. The first surface is disposed adjacent the outer surface of the condensing portion, and the pre-heat jacket defines an access entry for introducing non-potable liquid for distillation into the interior of the heating chamber. The distillation unit also includes a trough adjacent for receiving a potable liquid therein.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a composition comprising an aqueous dispersion of first polymer particles functionalized with structural units of t-butyl methacrylate or t-butyl acrylate, and imbibed with a catalyst of Structure (I), where R, R1, R2 and R3 are as defined herein, and a process for making the composition. The present invention also relates to an aqueous dispersion of core-shell polymer particles, wherein the first polymer particles are encapsulated in a shell having a high Tg. The imbibed first polymer particles and the core-shell polymer particles can be expanded in the dry state at significantly lower temperatures than reported in the prior art.

Abstract: Provided is a method of modifying polycarbonate comprising blending the polycarbonate with composite particles, wherein the composite particles comprise (I) a crosslinked polyolefin core, and (II) a full or partial shell comprising polymerized units of one of more vinyl monomers.

Abstract: Provided is a process for making a dispersion of composite particles comprising (i) providing a dispersion of crosslinked polyolefin particles in an aqueous medium, (ii) performing emulsion polymerization on one or more vinyl monomers in the presence of the crosslinked polyolefin particles to produce the dispersion of composite particles.

Abstract: An apparatus includes an input interface, a processor, and a transmitter. The input interface is configured to receive user input associated with a design and to receive a user request indicating a selection of a website type of a plurality of website types. The processor is configured to update the design based on the user input. The updated design includes one or more design pages. The processor is configured to select, based on the website type, a specific set of website generation tasks. The processor is configured to perform the specific set of website generation tasks to generate one or more webpages of a website of the website type. The webpages correspond to the design pages. The transmitter is configured to send a web output to at least one of a data storage device, a publishing endpoint, or a client device. The web output corresponds to the webpages.

Abstract: Provided is a dispersion of composite particles in an aqueous medium, wherein the composite particles comprise (I) a crosslinked polyolefin core, and (II) a full or partial shell comprising polymerized units of one of more vinyl monomers.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method comprising the steps of a) contacting under emulsion polymerization conditions vinyl acetate; a cyclic ketene acetal monomer; and a monoethylenically unsaturated acid monomer or a salt thereof; to form an aqueous dispersion of copolymer particles comprising structural units of vinyl acetate, the cyclic ketene acetal, and the monoethylenically unsaturated acid monomer or a salt thereof; wherein the cyclic ketene acetal monomer is characterized by following structure: where n and the R groups are as defined herein. The method of the present invention provides a water-borne dispersion that is substantially free of volatile organic solvents and that provides a readily degradable polymer that is useful, for example, in the manufacture of biodegradable packaging products.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a composition comprising an aqueous dispersion of copolymer particles comprising structural units of vinyl acetate, a cyclic ketene acetal monomer, and a monoethylenically unsaturated acid monomer, or a salt thereof; wherein the cyclic ketene acetal monomer is characterized by following structure: where n and the R groups are as defined herein. The composition of the present invention provides a water-borne dispersion that is substantially free of volatile organic solvents and that provides a readily degradable polymer that is useful, for example, in the manufacture of biodegradable packaging products.

Abstract: This invention provides slippery liquid-infused porous surfaces (SLIPS) using nanoporous or microporous and chemically reactive polymer multilayers. This approach permits fabrication of slippery anti-fouling coatings on complex surfaces and provides new means to manipulate the mobilities of contacting aqueous fluids. The results expand the range of tools that can be used to manipulate the behaviors of SLIPS and open the door to new applications of this emerging class of soft materials.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods of making polymer-based multilayer thin films, and polymer-based multilayer thin films made thereof, using controlled hydrolysis of functional side groups, such as azlactone groups, to obtain desired levels of roughness, porosity, and chemical reactivity.

Abstract: Techniques for transcoding a video with frame-synchronous metadata are described. A portion of a digital video transmission is obtained, the portion including a first sequence of video frames, a plurality of metadata values, and a first set of timing data relating the plurality of metadata values to the first sequence of video frames. A rendition of the first sequence of video frames is encoded, the rendition including a second sequence of video frames based on the first sequence of video frames. A plurality of segment files for the rendition is generated, each segment file including a group of frames from the second sequence of video frames and a group of metadata values, each metadata value in the group of metadata values having a correspondence to a frame in the group of frames based on the first set of timing data.

Abstract: This invention provides slippery liquid-infused porous surfaces (SLIPS) using nanoporous or microporous and chemically reactive polymer multilayers. This approach permits fabrication of slippery anti-fouling coatings on complex surfaces and provides new means to manipulate the mobilities of contacting aqueous fluids. The results expand the range of tools that can be used to manipulate the behaviors of SLIPS and open the door to new applications of this emerging class of soft materials.

Abstract: The present invention provides multilayer polymer films, materials and coatings which exhibit robust underwater superoleophobicity and have remarkable structural functional tolerance to a broad range of physical, chemical, and environmental challenges encountered by surfaces deployed in aqueous or aquatic environments. These materials can be fabricated on surfaces of arbitrary shape, size, and composition and provide straightforward means to manipulate surface chemistry and fine-tune other useful features of the interfacial behavior (e.g., underwater oil-adhesiveness). These materials address key obstacles to the application of non-wetting surfaces and anti-fouling ‘super-phobic’ materials in practical, real-world scenarios.

Abstract: This disclosure describes voice-enabled modular devices that act as functional, voice-controlled endpoints at which users may provide voice commands. The voice-enabled modular devices may include a power unit which may be installed into a wall permanently to serve as a power source, and a front-panel module which detachably couples to the power unit via a hardware interface. The hardware interface may allow the front-panel module and power unit to communicate with each other, and may further allow the power unit to provide power to the front-panel module. The power unit of the voice-enabled modular device described herein may be configured to provide power to multiple front-panel modules having different capabilities, and potentially different power requirements, thereby supporting multiple front-panel modules to increase the functionality of the voice-enabled modular devices.

Abstract: A vehicular safety restraint inflator device, the inflator device includes a tubular housing to provide inflation gas to inflate an associated inflatable restraint device and a toroidal clamp stop positioned on the tubular inflator housing. The clamp stop serves to provide a hard stop for an inflator attachment clamp to secure the inflator device within an airbag module and thus to minimize or avoid undesired lateral movement of the inflator device within a module assembly.

Abstract: The present invention provides multilayer polymer films, materials and coatings which exhibit robust underwater superoleophobicity and have remarkable structural functional tolerance to a broad range of physical, chemical, and environmental challenges encountered by surfaces deployed in aqueous or aquatic environments. These materials can be fabricated on surfaces of arbitrary shape, size, and composition and provide straightforward means to manipulate surface chemistry and fine-tune other useful features of the interfacial behavior (e.g., underwater oil-adhesiveness). These materials address key obstacles to the application of non-wetting surfaces and anti-fouling ‘super-phobic’ materials in practical, real-world scenarios.

Abstract: This invention provides slippery liquid-infused porous surfaces (SLIPS) using nanoporous or microporous and chemically reactive polymer multilayers. This approach permits fabrication of slippery anti-fouling coatings on complex surfaces and provides new means to manipulate the mobilities of contacting aqueous fluids. The results expand the range of tools that can be used to manipulate the behaviors of SLIPS and open the door to new applications of this emerging class of soft materials.

Abstract: A vehicular safety restraint inflator device, the inflator device includes a tubular housing to provide inflation gas to inflate an associated inflatable restraint device and a toroidal clamp stop positioned on the tubular inflator housing. The clamp stop serves to provide a hard stop for an inflator attachment clamp to secure the inflator device within an airbag module and thus to minimize or avoid undesired lateral movement of the inflator device within a module assembly.