Abstract: Systems for mixing a catalyst precursor with a heavy oil feedstock preparatory to hydroprocessing the heavy oil feedstock in a reactor to form an upgraded feedstock. Achieving very good dispersion of the catalyst precursor facilitates and maximizes the advantages of the colloidal or molecular hydroprocessing catalyst. A catalyst precursor and a heavy oil feedstock having a viscosity greater than the viscosity of the catalyst precursor are provided. The catalyst precursor is pre-mixed with a hydrocarbon oil diluent, forming a diluted catalyst precursor. The diluted precursor is then mixed with at least a portion of the heavy oil feedstock so as to form a catalyst precursor-heavy oil feedstock mixture. Finally, the catalyst precursor-heavy oil feedstock mixture is mixed with any remainder of the heavy oil feedstock, resulting in the catalyst precursor being homogeneously dispersed on a colloidal and/or molecular level within the heavy oil feedstock.

Abstract: A method of cleaning a soiled stitchbonded nonwoven towel, to provide hygienically-clean, odor-free towels having a non-durable soil release polymer agents on the fabrics and stitching. The method has a step of washing soiled stitchbonded nonwoven towels in a first aqueous wash solution formed from a first wash composition comprising a surfactant, a builder, an alkalinity source, and a soil release polymer, at a first alkaline pH, and at a first wash temperature sufficient to clean soil on the towels without redeposition of the soil back onto the towels or into the washing apparatus once the residual wash solution is drained. The method also has a step of treating the washed towels in a treatment solution formed from a post-wash composition comprising a soil release polymer agent, at a temperature and pH sufficient to aid in exhausting soil release polymer from the treatment solution and onto the towels or fabrics.

Abstract: A nuclear reactor protection system includes a plurality of functionally independent modules, each of the modules configured to receive a plurality of inputs from a nuclear reactor safety system, and logically determine a safety action based at least in part on the plurality of inputs; and one or more nuclear reactor safety actuators communicably coupled to the plurality of functionally independent modules to receive the safety action determination based at least in part on the plurality of inputs.

Abstract: A crawfish trap bait guard which, in use, is mounted upon the staking rod of a crawfish trap, inside the mesh of the crawfish trap, above the floor of the trap, and below the water line. The crawfish trap bait guard encloses the bait in such a way as to prevent the access of birds and fish to the bait, while allowing crawfish within the trap to obtain managed portions of the bait by reaching through calibrated open areas distributed around the crawfish trap bait guard so as to allow a large number of crawfish to feed at the same time.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for producing ionized alkaline solutions (e.g. ionized alkaline water) that exhibit long-term stability when stored at room temperature.

Abstract: An improved method and device are provided for forming and/or maintaining a percutaneous access pathway. The device generally comprises an access pathway and attachment device. The provided assembly substantially reduces the possibility of iatrogenic infection while accessing and/or re-accessing a body space.

Abstract: Oral care compositions consisting essentially of a Sea Salt, at least one essential oil, xylitol, and preferably, aloe vera juice and uses of such compositions to whiten teeth, reduce sensitivity of teeth/gums, and reduce xerostomia. In preferred embodiments directed to teeth whitening and xerostomia, the compositions also include coconut oil. Delivery systems for whitening teeth comprised of a strip formed be combining (i) one or a combination of teeth whitening ingredients selected from Dead Sea Salt, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Citrus Limon (Lemon) Peel Oil, and Salvia Officinalis (Sage) Oil and (ii) one or more gelling/thickening agents, wherein the strip is conformable to teeth surfaces and to interstitial spaces between teeth, without permanent deformation thereof, and is removably attached to a release liner. The strips may also contain one or more peroxides, metal chlorites, perborates, percarbonates, and peroxyacids.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are, among other things, systems and methods for providing digital content for multiple venues to mobile devices. In some embodiments, venue location data defining a geographic boundary of each of a plurality of venues and venue content data for a plurality of different attractions associated with the venue is stored. A processing device system may be configured to determine a current location of the mobile device, and provide at least some of the venue content data based at least on an analysis of the venue location data, or attraction location data, and the current location.

Abstract: A combination respiratory therapy management system creates a combined respiratory therapy prescription that can be executed by a combined respiratory therapy device to provide multiple coordinated respiratory therapies to a patient. The system can update the combined respiratory therapy prescription and implement the updates while the combined respiratory therapy device is in use. Some versions of the system provide additional features that allow the combined respiratory therapy prescriptions to be created, accessed, shared with other users, and performed by the combination respiratory therapy device in a customizable user-friendly and non-threatening way.

Abstract: System and methods for machine learning are described. A first input value is obtained. A second input value is also obtained. A decision to use for generating a cycle output is selected based on a randomness factor. The decision is at least one of a random decision or a best decision from a previous cycle. A cycle output for the first and second inputs is generated using the selected decision. The selected decision and the resulting cycle output are stored.

Abstract: A collector used to collect bone includes: a container body defining an interior containment space for receiving and retaining collected bone, and having at least one open end for access and removal of collected bone from the interior containment space; and a cap in covering relation to the open end of the container body such that access to the interior containment space for removal of collected bone is inhibited. The collector includes an intake port defining an opening for receiving therein a distal end of a kerrison rongeur for collecting cut bone from a cutting area thereof, and the cap includes at least one scraper for engaging and dislodging cut bone from the cutting area of a distal end of a kerrison rongeur when received within the intake port. The collector preferably is used with a kerrison-type rongeur for collecting cut bone therefrom.

Abstract: Methods of reducing gingivitis and plaque buildup by administering an oral care product (a dentifrice or a mouthwash) that consists essentially of a sea salt, preferably Dead Sea salt, and xylitol. In mouthwash and dentifrice embodiments, the oral care product contains aloe vera leaf juice.

Abstract: A medical instrument includes a tubular cutter extending along an axis and having a windowed outer sleeve and a moveable inner cutting sleeve. An ultrasound transducer is operatively coupled to the inner cutting sleeve in order to induce motion in the inner cutting sleeve to enhance cutting or resection of tissue by the inner cutting sleeve as it is reciprocated or otherwise moved past the cutting window. The instrument typically will include a motor drive configured to reciprocate and/or rotate the inner cutting sleeve relative to the windowed outer sleeve, usually at a reciprocation rate between 1 and 10 Hz.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for enabling removable coupling of conducting lines in a powerline assembly is disclosed. In one embodiment, a dead-end shoe apparatus is disclosed that comprises a capping mechanism, coupling mechanism, and connection clamp, the connection clamp facilitating the removable coupling of conducting lines of variable diameters to the apparatus. In another embodiment, a method of selectively transmitting electricity in a powerline assembly is disclosed, wherein conducting lines are removably coupled to dead-end shoe apparatuses to facilitate the transmission.

Abstract: A mattress topper for fitting to a mattress may include a lower layer, a side layer configured to extend down along a side of the mattress, and an upper layer overlaying the lower layer and at least partially disposed between the lower layer and the side layer. The mattress topper may also include a seam including threads and extending along peripheral edges of the lower layer and the upper layer and extending through the lower layer, upper layer, and side layer, the lower layer and side layer bearing the threads of the seam. An air table may include a top panel including a plurality of vents extending through the top panel. A method of making a mattress topper with an air table may include lifting the mattress topper with the air table while performing sewing procedures on the mattress topper.

Abstract: A provisioning system of a first party provisions a mobile software application to one or more remotely-located mobile computing devices, each mobile computing device running a same device-native mobile operating system (OS). The mobile software application comprises an application bundle comprising computer program code and computer code libraries that together comprise at least one component used to: adapt an abstraction layer to the same device-native mobile OS, receive data from said device-native OS, generate modification data objects, process modification data objects, generate a change list of modification data objects, translate modification data objects into a list of instructions for execution, and send a list of instructions to said same device-native operating system for execution.