Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of producing polymer fibers and polymer fiber products and materials recovery from these processes. It is an object of this invention to produce polymer fibers and products that include these fibers using selective dissolution of multicomponent fiber and to recover the dissolved polymer and solvent for subsequent use.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and articles of manufacture to securely share data stored in a blockchain. A contactless card may receive a request to provide a data element from a device. An applet of the contactless card may encrypt the data element and a wallet address. The applet may generate a signature for the request, and transmit, to a mobile device, the signature and the encrypted data. The mobile device may transmit, to a verification service, the signature and encrypted data. The verification service may verify the signature based on a public key. A node in a blockchain may generate a block in the blockchain, the block comprising indications of the verification of the signature, the requested data element, and the wallet address. An encrypted data element corresponding to the data element may be decrypted using a public key. The device may receive the decrypted data element from the wallet address.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to skin care and, in particular, to systems and methods for treating and/or preventing acne. Acne is believed to be caused by a combination of factors, including Propionibacterium acnes bacteria, excess sebum production, and inflammation from the immune response (e.g., in response to P. acnes). Certain aspects of the invention are thus directed to one or more compositions that collectively target these factors, although it should be understood that a single composition may target more than one factor at a time. For instance, in one set of embodiments, a treatment may include a first composition that cleans the skin, a second composition that contains growth inhibitor of P. acnes (e.g., for use during the day), and a third composition that inhibits sebum production (e.g., for use during the night). One or more of these may contain other components, such as anti-inflammatory agents, moisturizers, topical anti-microbial agents (e.g., salicylic acid), or the like.

Abstract: Paraffin compositions including mainly even carbon number paraffins, and a method for manufacturing the same, is disclosed herein. In one embodiment, the method involves contacting naturally occurring fatty acid/glycerides with hydrogen in a slurry bubble column reactor containing bimetallic catalysts with equivalent particle diameters from about 10 to about 400 micron. The even carbon number compositions are particularly useful as phase change material.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a process for preparing a sulfurized non-overbased calcium phenate detergent having a reduced content of un-sulfurized alkyl-substituted phenol and its salt. The process steps involve adding an organic solvent to the detergent, wherein the organic solvent has a boiling point of equal or above the boiling point of the un-sulfurized alkyl-substituted phenol. Distilling the organic solvent from the detergent to reduce the content of the un-sulfurized alkyl-substituted phenol.

Abstract: An apparatus for video decoding includes processing circuitry. The circuitry can be configured to determine whether to apply the PROF to an affine coded block, and responsive to a determination to apply the PROF to the affine coded block, perform a PROF process. For example, during the PROF process, a prediction sample I(ij) at a sample location (ij) in the affine coded block can be generated. Spatial gradients g_x (i,j) and g_y (ij) at the sample location (ij) in the affine coded block can be generate. A prediction refinement ?I(ij) based on the spatial gradients g_x (ij) and g_y (i,j) can be generated. The prediction refinement ?I(ij) can added to the prediction sample I(ij) to generate a refined prediction sample. The PROF for affine prediction can be enabled according to a syntax element received at the decoder, or can be enabled by default.

Abstract: Implementations relate to relate to interface elements for directed display of content data items. In some implementations, a method includes causing a subset of content elements to be presented in a display view of a graphical user interface on a device, the set of content elements corresponding to a collection of content data items. Search topics are identified based on one or more content characteristics associated with content elements that are within a threshold distance of the subset of content elements in the display view. Topic elements are displayed in the interface, corresponding to the search topics. In response to a selection of a particular topic element based on user input, the collection of content data items is searched to identify resulting content data items that have content characteristics corresponding to the selected search topic. The display view is updated to present resulting content elements.

Abstract: Intravascular blood pressure monitoring devices and methods that include an indwelling portion and a pressure transducer. The indwelling portion may include a tubular member, at least a portion of the tubular member configured to transmit fluid pressure from blood that is external to the tubular member to a fluid disposed within the tubular member, and the tubular member may be adapted to isolate the fluid from the blood, with the fluid within the tubular member being in pressure communication with a pressure transducer. The devices may include a stiffening member interface adapted to releasably interface with a stiffening member to stiffen at least a portion of the indwelling portion while delivering the indwelling portion to a position within the subject, and causing the indwelling portion to be less stiff after its removal.

Abstract: Orally administrable compositions comprising calcium, methods of administration, and methods of making the same.

Abstract: Aggregated, submarine cable system information is securely stored, accessed and managed. Security is assured through the use of multi-factor authentication that is compliant with National Institutes of Standards And Technology and US. Government Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation requirements. Further, real-time audit logs are generated as end-users access controlled unclassified information.

Abstract: The invention encompasses methods for reducing the proportion of sperm cells with abnormal morphology, and unviable sperm cells, in a sperm cell population.

Abstract: An aerosol-generating system may include a liquid storage portion, a vaporizer, and a pump. The liquid storage portion may be configured to store a liquid aerosol-forming substrate. The vaporizer may be configured to volatilize the liquid aerosol-forming substrate. The pump may be configured to pump air into the liquid storage portion so as to push out a volume of the liquid aerosol-forming substrate from the liquid storage portion and to supply the volume of the liquid aerosol-forming substrate to the vaporizer. A method for generating an aerosol may be performed with the system.

Abstract: A method is provided for preventing back injuries related to sport motions or swings that includes setting an attachment height of a distal end of an elastic of a warmup and training device, the attachment height set to define an angle ? backwards from vertical above center of a practice motion specific to a sport to be practiced, attaching a handle to a proximal end of the elastic where a type of the handle corresponds to the sporting activity to be performed, performing the practice motion while holding the handle and stretching the elastic, and returning to the beginning of the practice motion to repeat the activity.

Abstract: A wheel assembly includes a wheel having a surface and defining a plurality of slots and a cap having a cap surface. The cap includes a plurality of positioning posts extending from the cap surface, each positioning post including a pillar and a stop fixed to the pillar. The pillar extends farther from the cap surface than the stop. The stop has a distal end. Each pillar is received by one of the slots of the wheel and the distal end of each stop is engaged with the surface of the wheel.

Abstract: An external protective interface is provided for intravenous infusion lines, drive lines, vacuum lines, and monitoring lines for percutaneous access. The interface acts as an airtight seal in concert with a vacuum line to promote accelerated tissue healing to reduce and prevent infection at insertion sites for infusion lines, drive lines, and medical devices. The interface provides additional mechanical stability to an implanted tube or PAD or so as to speed healing around a semi-permanent implanted tube or PAD, as well as connection points for vacuum lines and at least one drive line for the insertion of medical devices. The dense fibroblast ingrowth encouraged by the interface acts to strengthen barriers to infection at the insertion site.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for inspecting oilfield infrastructure components. Methods include methods of identifying a micro-annulus outside a casing in a cemented wellbore. Methods may include transmitting an acoustic pulse incident on the casing; making a measurement of a first acoustic impedance property value from pulse-echo information generated responsive to an echo of the acoustic pulse reflected from the casing; propagating a circumferential guided wave in the casing; making a measurement of a second acoustic impedance property value from propagating wave information generated responsive to the propagating acoustic wave; and determining from the first acoustic impedance value and the second acoustic impedance value a presence of a micro-annulus between the casing and the cement.

Abstract: An apparatus for use in a drill string configured for use in a subterranean formation includes a drive shaft coupled to a drill bit, the drill bit configured to continuously rotate and penetrate within the subterranean formation, a drill string housing that houses the drive shaft, the drive shaft continuously rotating within the drill string housing relative to the drill string housing, and a bearing assembly configured bear the drive shaft within the drill string housing, the bearing assembly comprising a first bearing surface having a first curvature.

Abstract: Aspects of the subject technology relate to a method for using a voice command for multiple computing devices. First voice input data is received from a first computing device associated with a user account, where the first voice input data comprises a first voice command captured at the first computing device. Second voice input data is received from a second computing device associated with the user account where the second voice input data comprises a second voice command captured at the second computing device. An intended voice command is determined based on the obtained first and second voice input data. Based on the intended voice command, a first target computing device is determined. First instructions associated with the intended voice command are provided to the first target computing device for execution.

Abstract: A technique for processing patient-specific image data for computer assisted surgical navigation. A database is provided including multiple first data sets of two- or three-dimensional image data. Each first data set is representative of first shape data or first biometric data of a skin surface of at least one patient. The method further comprises obtaining, by an optical camera system, a second data set of two- or three-dimensional image data of a skin surface of a particular patient and deriving second shape data or second biometric data of the skin surface from the second data set. By comparing the second shape data or second biometric data with the first shape data or the first biometric data of one or more first data sets, a similarity score is calculated. A signal generated based on the similarity score triggers one of selection and de-selection of a first data set.

Abstract: A strut may be interposed between a first floor plate and a second floor plate of a multi-story building, wherein the first floor plate is disposed overtop of the second floor plate. The strut includes a first post section and a second post section. The first post section includes a first portion that is coaxial with, annular to and slidably disposed within a second portion of the second post section. A damping actuator is interposed between the first post section and the second post section, and is arranged to dynamically control a position of the first post section in relation to the second post section. The strut also includes an accelerometer. A controller is in communication with the accelerometer and the damping actuator, and controls the damping actuator to control the position of the first post section in relation to the second post section.