Abstract: A process of forming and the resulting nano-pitted metal substrate that serves both as patterns to grow nanostructured materials and as current collectors for the resulting nanostructured material is disclosed herein. The nano-pitted substrate can be fabricated from any suitable conductive material that allows nanostructured electrodes to be grown directly on the substrate.

Abstract: A method and system for recommending online content based upon the predictive value of reviews provided by third party reviewers correlated to the identity of those reviewers. The correlated data is used to predict how a target user would rate an unrated item, and to make recommendations to the target user.

Abstract: Disclosed is an improved system and method for carrying out the petroleum coking process. The improvements provide for recovery of gaseous hydrocarbons from operational units and use of the recovered gaseous hydrocarbons in place of steam during the coking process and during the stripping of volatile compounds from the coke drums.

Abstract: An ambient water condensing apparatus that extracts water vapor from ambient air utilizing a thermoelectric device, a superhydrophobic and/or superhydrophilic radiating condensing surface and a heat sink for providing point of source irrigation or drinking water using conventional and/or sustainable energy supplies. The thermoelectric device is thermally coupled intermediate of the condensing surface and the heat sink, and in particular a cold side of the thermoelectric device is thermally connected to the condensing surface and a hot side of the thermoelectric device is thermally connected to the heat sink. The water condensing apparatus may also include at least one fan element that cools the heat sink and introduces additional air to the condensing surface. The thermoelectric device and the fan element may be powered by any suitable electrical energy source, such as by solar energy, wind energy or grid power.

Abstract: A system and method to preserve the integrity of data being extracted from an electronic data recorder (“EDR”) of an electronic control module (“ECM”) makes use of a forensic link adapter (20) and, optionally, a sensor simulator (10) (when the ECM is out of the vehicle). The forensic link adapter (20) has one or more first microprocessors (23) and associated first software which prevent any message being sent by an external network from corrupting the previously recorded data measurements. The data measurements are then extracted, verified, and stored in a separate file. The sensor simulator (10) has one or more second microprocessors (23), associated second software, and a bank of resistors (21) that mimic sensors normally in communication with the ECM. The simulator “tricks” the ECM into thinking it is still in the vehicle by using the replicating vehicle system values the ECM normally sees when in the vehicle.

Abstract: A system, method and apparatus for network security monitoring, information sharing and collective intelligence between and among at least a first central processing unit and at least a second central processing unit connected together by a network. The system includes a network interface device with hardware-based logic for recognizing and cataloging individual sessions, wherein the network interface card is in communication with the network. The network interface device includes onboard cryptographic key management components with symmetric key algorithms, an onboard packet encryption software module using derived keys to encrypt network packets, and software for storing encrypted copies of network packets as blocks. Third party analyst hardware and software derive keys necessary to retrieve encrypted network packets.

Abstract: The present invention provides for analysis of cyber-physical systems with relation to compliance requirements such as regulatory compliance, maintenance compliance and safety compliance. Generally, the invention provides for a set of paths from an initial state to an end state, and analyzing the paths to determine which ones contain a violation state. Based on the resultant paths test scripts are generated. Additionally, other compliance related procedures can be performed utilizing the path analysis.

Abstract: A process of making magnetic microcapsules and a process of making polymeric material having self-healing properties. The process of making polymeric material having self-healing properties includes the steps of mixing microcapsules containing magnetic nanoparticles in a liquid polymer before curing, and guiding the microcapsules in the liquid polymer before curing by magnetic forces to a desired location or locations. Finally, the liquid polymer with the microcapsules is cured to a solid polymeric material.

Abstract: A filter medium for oil-water separation, the filter medium being a composite, nanofibrous mat formed from electrospinning a single solution of one natural polymer and one synthetic polystyrene polymer together, where fibers of the natural polymer are reinforced by fibers of the synthetic polystyrene polymer. The nanofibrous mat may initially be hydrophobic and oleophilic, making it a suitable filter medium for separating oil from oil-water mixtures. The mat may be treated with one or more surfactants to change the surface wettability of the mat to hydrophilic and oleophobic for separating water from oil-water mixtures or to hydrophobic and oleophobic for separating oil and water droplets from wet gas.

Abstract: An ambient water condensing apparatus that extracts water vapor from ambient air utilizing a thermoelectric device, a superhydrophobic and/or superhydrophilic radiating condensing surface and a heat sink for providing point of source irrigation or drinking water using conventional and/or sustainable energy supplies. The thermoelectric device is thermally coupled intermediate of the condensing surface and the heat sink, and in particular a cold side of the thermoelectric device is thermally connected to the condensing surface and a hot side of the thermoelectric device is thermally connected to the heat sink. The water condensing apparatus may also include at least one fan element that cools the heat sink and introduces additional air to the condensing surface. The thermoelectric device and the fan element may be powered by any suitable electrical energy source, such as by solar energy, wind energy or grid power.

Abstract: A system and method for creating a controlled geyser well with sustained periodical production includes a cap (16) which prevents gas from entering a well tubing (14) while allowing liquid to enter and accumulate in the tubing, means for compressing the gas, and means for injecting the gas in the annulus so that the gas enters the bottom end of the well tubing (14), thereby creating a controlled geyser effect which blows out most of the liquid residing in the well tubing (14). The gas being compressed can be a produced gas or a supplied gas.

Abstract: A system and method to preserve the integrity of data being extracted from an electronic data recorder (“EDR”) of an electronic control module (“ECM”) makes use of a forensic link adapter and, optionally, a sensor simulator (when ECM is out of the vehicle). The forensic link adapter has one or more first microprocessors and a first software means which prevent any message being sent by an external network from corrupting the previously recorded data measurements. The data measurements are then extracted, verified, and stored in a separate file. The sensor simulator has one or more second microprocessors, a second software means, and a bank of resistors that mimic sensors normally in communication with the ECM. The simulator “tricks” the ECM into thinking it is still in the vehicle by using the replicating vehicle system values the ECM normally sees when in the vehicle.

Abstract: A wedge floatation device includes a bottom section and a sidewall positioned around a perimeter of the bottom section to contain a liquid within the wedge floatation device. The bottom section includes an outer portion and a plateau portion centrally positioned in the bottom section. The plateau portion is raised to a height above the outer portion and below a top edge of the sidewall. The plateau portion includes a groove that is substantially concentric with an outer perimeter of the plateau portion. The groove is designed to dampen the velocity of a liquid directed from the outer perimeter of the plateau portion to a center of the plateau portion. The bottom section further includes a transition portion extending between the outer portion and the plateau portion. The transition portion surrounds the outer perimeter of the plateau portion. The outer portion surrounds a perimeter of the transition portion.

Abstract: A process of forming and the resulting nano-pitted metal substrate that serves both as patterns to grow nanostructured materials and as current collectors for the resulting nanostructured material is disclosed herein. The nano-pitted substrate can be fabricated from any suitable conductive material that allows nanostructured electrodes to be grown directly on the substrate.

Abstract: The present invention provides for analysis of cyber-physical systems with relation to compliance requirements such as regulatory compliance, maintenance compliance and safety compliance. Generally, the invention provides for a set of paths from an initial state to an end state, and analyzing the paths to determine which ones contain a violation state. Based on the resultant paths test scripts are generated. Additionally, other compliance related procedures can be performed utilizing the path analysis.

Abstract: A self-stabilizing gas lift valve apparatus for oil and gas production. The apparatus includes a valve body having at least one gas inlet in communication with an elongated gas chamber in the valve body. An impingement disk is moveable in the elongated gas chamber. A conical plug extends from the impingement disk with the conical plug having a valve plug extending axially therefrom. A conical cup terminates in a valve seat wherein the conical cup receives the conical plug therein. A valve closure force mechanism urges the valve plug toward the valve seat. Gas injected through the gas inlet provides a force upon the impingement disk to overcome the force of the valve closure force mechanism in order to open the valve plug. When the gas injected exceeds a predetermined force, the impingent disk is moved and a conical space between the conical plug and the conical cup is reduced.

Abstract: This invention relates to the use of optimal (hyperspeed) paths for command and control (and other high priority) traffic and suboptimal (slower) paths for all other traffic in order to implement sophisticated network service differentiation and defensive techniques. A reaction time window is created to ensure that packets sent along hyperspeed paths can arrive sufficiently in advance of malicious traffic in order to alert network devices and initiate defensive actions. Assortments of defensive options are available to networks employing the invention and the inventive algorithms.

Abstract: A method of determining solid particle surface energy includes placing solid particles in a container made of a very high surface energy material and pouring a liquid into the container. The method further includes tilting the container to drain out from the container a first subset of the solid particles floating at a top surface of the liquid and tilting the container to move the liquid away from a second subset of the solid particles that are below the top surface. The method also includes tilting the container to move the liquid back toward the second subset of the solid particles such that at least a portion of the second subset of particles floats at the top surface of the liquid and tilting the container to drain out from the container the portion of the second subset of the solid particles now floating at the top surface of the liquid.

Abstract: A three-dimensional nanobattery formed by individually wiring nanostructured electrodes and combining them with an electrolyte. Short, capped nanotubes termed ‘nanobaskets’ are formed by sputtering coating onto nanoporous templates. Metallic nanowires are grown by electrochemical deposition from the nanobaskets and through the template, making electrical contact with each nanobasket electrode. The same procedure can be used to fabricate both a battery anode and a battery cathode. A thin layer of electrolyte is placed between the two nanobasket electrodes, and electrical contact is made through the nanowires.

Abstract: The current invention provides a paradigm for securely transmitting messages using an auditable message token and associated protocol for recording information pertaining to events occurring with respect to transmission(s) of a message.