Abstract: A tensioning device for a sheet of material that includes a first ring with protrusions, a second ring, and a shaft. The first ring and the second ring are positioned such that the sheet of material can be clamped between the first ring and the second ring. The shaft has an outer diameter, the outer diameter includes a spiral race such that the protrusions of the first ring follow the spiral race, allowing the first ring and the second ring to displace linearly causing the sheet of material to be stretched. The spiral race includes a plurality of notches that correspond to the protrusions.

Abstract: Salt or acid solution is stored inside a frac sleeve instead of being pumped from a surface location. A mechanically-actuated valve releases the stored salt or acid solution into the borehole to electrochemically degrade the frac ball and allow it to pass through the seat. The stored fluid can be immediately released upon mechanical actuation or released after a specified delay using an integrated timer. In multiple sleeve applications a first ball shifts a first sleeve to open treatment ports and a second ball shifts a second sleeve to close the treatment port and open screened production ports while releasing the stored material either between the seated objects or above one of the seated objects to initiate the disintegration that will allow objects on both seats to disintegrate and pass through.

Abstract: A substance deposition and backflow preventing arrangement including a housing having a port therein, a sleeve disposed within the housing and positionable to cover or uncover the port, the sleeve having a first seal at one end thereof presenting a first hydraulic dimension and a second seal at another end of the sleeve having a different hydraulic dimension, a biasing member operably connected to the sleeve and to the housing and configured to urge the sleeve to a position covering the port.

Abstract: An impedance tube and sample tube holder that includes a hollow tube, a first tube, a second tube, and a spool. The hollow tube has two halves which are detachable and can hold spacers and a sample. The first tube includes a first tube speaker end and a first tube spool end. The first tube has a speaker disposed at the first tube speaker end and microphones. The second tube includes an anechoic terminator tube end and a second tube spool tube. The second tube has microphones and an anechoic terminator at the anechoic terminator tube end. The spool holds the hollow tube with the spacers and the sample. The spool is attachable to the first tube spool end and the second tube spool end such that the sample is perpendicularly orientated to an incoming sound wave produced by the speaker.

Abstract: A method of controlling degradation of a degradable material including forming a fluid in a hydration unit, admixing one or more additives to the fluid in a blender, introducing the fluid into a wellbore, injecting a degradation fluid between the hydration unit and the blender. The degradation fluid forms a degradation zone in the fluid. A degradable component formed from a degradable material is introduced into the degradation zone, and the degradable material and the degradation zone is pumped into a wellbore.

Abstract: Salt or acid solution is stored inside a frac sleeve instead of being pumped from a surface location. A mechanically-actuated valve releases the stored salt or acid solution into the borehole to electrochemically degrade the frac ball and allow it to pass through the seat. The stored fluid can be immediately released upon mechanical actuation or released after a specified delay using an integrated timer. In multiple sleeve applications a first ball shifts a first sleeve to open treatment ports and a second ball shifts a second sleeve to close the treatment port and open screened production ports while releasing the stored material either between the seated objects or above one of the seated objects to initiate the disintegration that will allow objects on both seats to disintegrate and pass through.

Abstract: Adsorptive media for chromatography, particularly ion-exchange chromatography, derived from a shaped fiber. In certain embodiments, the functionalized shaped fiber presents a fibrillated or ridged structure which greatly increases the surface area of the fibers when compared to ordinary fibers. Also disclosed herein is a method to add surface pendant functional groups that provides cation-exchange or anion-exchange functionality to the high surface area fibers. This pendant functionality is useful for the ion-exchange chromatographic purification of biomolecules, such as monoclonal antibodies (mAbs).

Abstract: Adsorptive media for chromatography, particularly ion-exchange chromatography, derived from a shaped fiber. In certain embodiments, the functionalized shaped fiber presents a fibrillated or ridged structure which greatly increases the surface area of the fibers when compared to ordinary fibers. Also disclosed herein is a method to add surface pendant functional groups that provides cation-exchange or anion-exchange functionality to the high surface area fibers. This pendant functionality is useful for the ion-exchange chromatographic purification of biomolecules, such as monoclonal antibodies (mAbs).

Abstract: An implantable cuff includes an elastic collar, at least one conductive segment disposed on or within the elastic collar, and at least one conductor in electrical communication with the at least one conductive segment. The elastic collar defines an internal opening configured to receive an internal body tissue. At least a portion of the elastic collar includes a stiffening region having a stiffness greater than a second region of the elastic collar. The at least one conductor is configured to operably mate with an apparatus capable of delivering electrical stimulation to, and/or recording an electrical activity of, the internal body tissue.

Abstract: A method comprises steps for (a) providing a liquid in a container; (b) flowing a gas to a volume within the liquid, wherein the volume is at least partially submerged in the liquid; and (c) repeatedly increasing and decreasing the volume, wherein the cycles of increasing and decreasing generates a pulsed aerated flow, wherein at least one of the pulsed aerated flow is released within the container and the pulsed aerated flow is released outside the container.

Abstract: Methods and systems for producing price assessments are disclosed. In certain implementations, the methods and systems may include establishing an opening price and setting the price assessment to the opening price. An assessment period having a length may be commenced during which pricing input may be received and the price assessment is displayed. The pricing assessment may be updated based on the input. The assessment period length may be modified responsive to determining that a qualifying event has occurred.

Abstract: Adsorptive media for chromatography, particularly ion-exchange chromatography, derived from a shaped fiber. In certain embodiments, the functionalized shaped fiber presents a fibrillated or ridged structure which greatly increases the surface area of the fibers when compared to ordinary fibers. Also disclosed herein is a method to add surface pendant functional groups that provides cation-exchange or anion-exchange functionality to the high surface area fibers. This pendant functionality is useful for the ion-exchange chromatographic purification of biomolecules, such as monoclonal antibodies (mAbs).

Abstract: A method comprises steps for (a) providing a liquid in a container; (b) flowing a gas to a volume within the liquid, wherein the volume is at least partially submerged in the liquid; and (c) repeatedly increasing and decreasing the volume, wherein the cycles of increasing and decreasing generates a pulsed aerated flow, wherein at least one of the pulsed aerated flow is released within the container and the pulsed aerated flow is released outside the container.

Abstract: An implantable cuff includes an elastic collar, at least one conductive segment disposed on or within the elastic collar, and at least one conductor in electrical communication with the at least one conductive segment. The elastic collar defines an internal opening configured to receive an internal body tissue. At least a portion of the elastic collar includes a stiffening region having a stiffness greater than a second region of the elastic collar. The at least one conductor is configured to operably mate with an apparatus capable of delivering electrical stimulation to, and/or recording an electrical activity of, the internal body tissue.

Abstract: A continuous build and test system, method, and computer-readable medium, performed by one or more processors is described. The system includes an input for inputting a test specification that imports an environment manager. An environment manager object is created upon processing of the test specification, and delegates management functions to one or more specialized manager objects. The environment manager includes config data that designate paths to one or more binary files, and token settings specifying resources to be used during testing of the binary files. The environment manager selects a test platform to be used in testing the one or more binary files. The specialized manager objects perform testing, including bringing up the one or more binary files in the selected test platform, creating the data resources based on the token settings, performing the instructed tests, and cleaning up created data resources.

Abstract: Adsorptive media for chromatography, particularly ion-exchange chromatography, derived from a shaped fiber. In certain embodiments, the functionalized shaped fiber presents a fibrillated or ridged structure which greatly increases the surface area of the fibers when compared to ordinary fibers. Also disclosed herein is a method to add surface pendant functional groups that provides cation-exchange or anion-exchange functionality to the high surface area fibers. This pendant functionality is useful for the ion-exchange chromatographic purification of biomolecules, such as monoclonal antibodies (mAbs).

Abstract: A plantation window shutter comprises a frame and a plurality of shutter blades pivotably supported by the frame in a fan configuration. The frame comprises a front surface and a rear surface. The rear surface has a plurality of upper grooves and a plurality of lower grooves, each upper groove being axially aligned with a respective lower groove. Each of the shutter blades has a longitudinal pivotal axis and a top pivot and a bottom pivot aligned along the axis, the top pivot and the bottom pivot being received in respective upper groove and the lower groove for pivotal motion therein. At least one member is attached to the rear surface disposed to bridge over the upper grooves and the lower grooves, thereby to capture the top and bottom pivots within respective the upper grooves and the lower grooves.

Abstract: Modifications of vitamin K-dependent polypeptides that lead to enhanced protein function on a weight or molar basis and/or increase of protein lifetime in the circulation are described. Both objectives are important for using vitamin K-dependent polypeptides for pro- and anti-coagulation therapies, as well as for other uses in the circulation.

Abstract: The shutter drive apparatus is an apparatus adapted such that the movement of any one shutter louver of a tilt-rod-less shutter results in the corresponding movement of all of the louvers of the shutter. The apparatus is preferably mounted within a tilt-rod-less shutter comprising a shutter frame having at least top and bottom horizontal rails, at least a first side stile and a second side stile, and a plurality of louvers rotatably mounted within the stiles such that a first end of the louvers are freely rotatable within the first side stile, and such that a second end of the louvers are drivably engaged to the apparatus. The apparatus includes a plurality of pinion gears, a face strip, opposing drive strips, and a retainer strip. Each louver is drivably engaged to a different pinion gear and each pinion gear is drivably engaged to the drive strips.

Abstract: A plantation window shutter comprises a frame and a plurality of shutter blades pivotably supported by the frame in a fan configuration. The frame comprises a front surface and a rear surface. The rear surface has a plurality of upper grooves and a plurality of lower grooves, each upper groove being axially aligned with a respective lower groove. Each of the shutter blades has a longitudinal pivotal axis and a top pivot and a bottom pivot aligned along the axis, the top pivot and the bottom pivot being received in respective upper groove and the lower groove for pivotal motion therein. At least one member is attached to the rear surface disposed to bridge over the upper grooves and the lower grooves, thereby to capture the top and bottom pivots within respective the upper grooves and the lower grooves.