Abstract: A method of treating or remediating contaminated material, such as water or soil, comprises contacting such material with asphaltenes. The asphaltenes are preferably produced as a by-product of petroleum refining and, in particular, a by-product of vacuum residua. An adsorbent material comprising such asphaltenes is also provided.

Abstract: Disclosed is a silent, soft-close compact hinge comprising of a hinge cup pivotally connected to a hinge body via a hinge arm. A set of coil springs biases the hinge to a closed position. A damping mechanism is removably attached to the hinge cup and acted on by the hinge arm. A set of spring sleeves are fitted to the coil springs to insulate the movement of the coil springs on the hinge arm providing the closing bias. The hinge body is comprised of three separate plates adjustably connected to each other with cam screws. The position of the hinge body with respect to the hinge arm is adjustable in three directions without the need for removal or loosening of mounting hardware used to attach the hinge body to a furniture piece.

Abstract: A tracking system (20) for durable assets such as personal weapons (22) is provided. The tracking system (20) includes a durable asset tag (84) including an RFID transponder physically mounted within an externally exposed cavity of the durable asset (22), and an identification card (32) with a machine-readable unique identifier associated with a person. The system also includes first (40) and second (48) databases, each storing information associated with the durable asset (22), and an interface terminal (56) for receiving a unique identifier from the durable asset tag (84) and the unique identifier from the identification card (32), and which communicates with the databases (40, 48) for checking in or checking out the durable asset (22) to the person having the identification card (32). The durable asset tag (84) may be original to the durable asset (22) or retrofitted thereto after manufacture.

Abstract: A plant growth measurement and prediction system uses drone-captured images to measure the current growth of particular plant species and/or to predict future growth of the plant species. For example, the system instructs a drone to fly along a flight path and capture images of the land below. The captured images may include both thermographic images and high-resolution images. The system processes the images to create an orthomosaic image of the land, where each pixel in the orthomosaic image is associated with a brightness temperature. The system then uses plant species to brightness temperature mappings and the orthomosaic image to identify current plant growth. The system generates a diagnostic model using the orthomosaic image to then predict future plant growth.

Abstract: A handcuff design is provided, including a handcuff strand having ratchet teeth with openings formed therein, a ratchet button comprising teeth configured to interface with the openings formed in the handcuff strand, a universal handcuff key receptacle configured to receive a universal handcuff key, a pawl arrangement including a rotatable pawl element configured to be moved in a direction away from the handcuff strand by the universal handcuff key, the pawl arrangement including a spring mechanism, and a lock bar configured to impede movement of the pawl arrangement unless moved to an unlocked position. Unlocking the handcuff requires digitally actuating a first of the pair of ratchet buttons concurrently with digitally actuating a second of the pair of ratchet buttons while simultaneously employing the universal handcuff key, thereby releasing the ratchet teeth of the handcuff strand.

Abstract: The present disclosure broadly relates to a process for recovering vanadium, iron, titanium and silica values from vanadiferous feedstocks. More specifically, but not exclusively, the present disclosure relates to a metallurgical process in which vanadium, iron, titanium and silica values are recovered from vanadiferous feedstocks such as vanadiferous titanomagnetite, iron ores, vanadium slags and industrial wastes and by-products containing vanadium. The process broadly comprises digesting the vanadiferous feedstocks into sulfuric acid thereby producing a sulfation cake; dissolving the sulfation cake and separating insoluble solids thereby producing a pregnant solution; reducing the pregnant solution thereby producing a reduced pregnant solution; and crystallizing ferrous sulfate hydrates from the reduced pregnant solution, producing an iron depleted reduced solution.

Abstract: A pullout cage apparatus is provided which is comprised of a base frame removably mounted to a pair of robust drawer slides. The drawer slides are coupled to each other by a pair of cross braces, which are in turn mounted to the base of a cabinet frame. A retainer cage is rigidly mounted to the base frame. The retainer cage supports a plurality of adjustment brackets, which allow adjustment of a face plate.

Abstract: A tooling inspection and analysis system measures tooling quality of a multi-tip tablet punch having a barrel with a plurality of tips each having a tip cup for forming a tablet. The system comprises a base. A carriage assembly has a cavity for supporting a multi-tip tablet punch, which when in use is aligned with an X-axis. A Y-axis linear slide mounts the carriage assembly to the base for movement relative to the base along a Y-axis. A sensor is adapted to measure distance. A Z-axis linear slide mounts the sensor to the base for movement relative to the base along a Z-axis. A programmable controller is operatively connected to the Y-axis linear slide, the Z-axis linear slide and the sensor. The controller is programmed to move the carriage assembly and the sensor to automatically align the sensor to measure working length of each tip of a multi-tip tablet punch mounted in the cavity.

Abstract: In embodiments, systems and methods may involve using a platform as disclosed herein for applications described herein where the systems and methods involve receiving a dataset in an analytic platform, the dataset including fact data and dimension data for a plurality of distinct product categories. It may also involve storing the data in a flexible hierarchy, the hierarchy allowing the temporary fixing of data along a dimension and flexible querying along other dimensions of the data. It may also involve pre-aggregating certain combinations of data to facilitate rapid querying, the pre-aggregation based on the nature of common queries. It may also involve facilitating the presentation of a cross-category view of an analytic query of the dataset. In embodiments, the temporarily fixed dimension can be rendered flexible upon an action by the user.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for monitoring a digital media receiver (including receivers for television or other type of digital media) to determine whether it is necessary for a receiver to re-connect in order to continue receiving a predetermined channel or stream. This invention is useful in digital media monitoring systems and in situations with many receivers connected to the same signal source and predetermined channels defined to be output by each receiver. One embodiment of the invention uses an auditing receiver that constantly scans the upstream channel-map, guide data, service information or system information to determine if the connection parameters required for receiving each predetermined stream have changed. Some examples of connection parameters include packet identifiers (PIDs), radio frequency (RF) channel and uniform resource locator (URL), depending on the type of broadcast and stream.

Abstract: A handcuff is provided, including a handcuff strand having ratchet teeth, a pair of buttons on opposing sides of the handcuff, and a spring configured to receive rotational force from a key and cause rotation of a first rotating element. Rotation of the first rotating element rotates a second rotating element, releasing the second rotating element from the ratchet teeth of the handcuff strand and allowing release of the handcuff strand when both of the pair of buttons are depressed.

Abstract: A pullout cage apparatus is provided which is comprised of a base frame removably mounted to a pair of robust drawer slides. The drawer slides are coupled to each other by a pair of cross braces, which are in turn mounted to the base of a cabinet frame. A retainer cage is rigidly mounted to the base frame. The retainer cage supports a plurality of adjustment brackets, which allow adjustment of a face plate.

Abstract: A tourniquet having a first elongated member with a buckle on one end, and a second elongated member attached at both ends to the end of the first elongated member but leaving an intermediate portion of the second elongated member otherwise slidable with respect to the first elongated member. A windlass is used to twist the intermediate portion to apply tension to the first longitudinal member. Twisting the windlass produces a lineal component to the force and a torsional component. The buckle includes a first lateral side, a second lateral side and an intermediate bar between and spaced apart from them. The buckle also includes an anti-torsional plate that resists the torsional force. The buckle also has “teeth” the resist movement of the first longitudinal member from the buckle.

Abstract: Systems for extracting hydrocarbons from a crushed hydrocarbonaceous material can include a body of crushed hydrocarbonaceous material. A pipe can be oriented within the body of crushed hydrocarbonaceous material. The placement of the pipe can be such that the pipe is surrounded on top, bottom, and sides by the crushed hydrocarbonaceous material. The body of crushed hydrocarbonaceous material can be made up of portions having different void fractions. An arching control volume of crushed hydrocarbonaceous material can extend upward from the pipe to a vertical control distance. A support portion of crushed hydrocarbonaceous material can be oriented immediately adjacent sides of the arching control volume. The arching control volume can have a higher void fraction than the support portion. Internal friction between the arching control volume and the support portion can reduce stresses on the pipe as the hydrocarbonaceous material subsides.

Abstract: A pullout cage apparatus is provided which is comprised of a base frame removably mounted to a pair of robust drawer slides. The drawer slides are coupled to each other by a pair of cross braces, which are in turn mounted to the base of a cabinet frame. A retainer cage is rigidly mounted to the base frame. The retainer cage supports a plurality of adjustment brackets, which allow adjustment of a face plate.

Abstract: Embodiments of a sink can include a body defining a bowl and a faucet holder, wherein the body is formed of an antimicrobial material, wherein the faucet holder includes at least a faucet hole defined through the faucet holder, and a faucet mounted to the faucet holder at the faucet hole. The anti-microbial material can be an antimicrobial plastic, for example, or any other suitable material.

Abstract: A full extension ball bearing drawer slide assembly comprised of a cabinet rail attached to a cabinet piece, an intermediate rail slidingly engaged with the cabinet rail via bearing runners, a drawer rail slidingly engaged with the intermediate rail via a bearing cage, and a cage hold forward device for advantageously positioning the bearing cage for ease of re-insertion of the drawer rail within the intermediated rail. The cage hold forward device is attached to the intermediate rail and comprises a protrusion for engagement with a flexible trigger mounted on the drawer rail and a flexible clip for releasable engagement with the bearing cage.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for producing high purity hydromagnesite from a source of magnesium chloride. The process involves preparation of a magnesium chloride brine of a specific concentration and reacting with sodium carbonate, while maintaining the reaction at a specific temperature range to form a hydromagnesite precipitate. The product can be calcined to generate high purity magnesium oxide compounds.