Abstract: Method and apparatus are provided for efficient metal distillation, and for related primary product process. Vertically stacked and gravity-driven evaporators and condensers are employed to distill metals, such metals having different volatilities. A multiple-effect thermal system of magnesium and other volatile metals is used to efficiently distill and separate metals from multiple metal alloys.

Abstract: Methods are described herein for upgrading ad refining hydrocarbons, and producing at least one petrochemical product, the method including: preparing a reaction mixture by adding at least two of: a quantity of bioethanol, a quantity of hydrocarbon, and a quantity of water to a reactor containment; combining the reaction mixture with a quantity of catalyst in the reactor containment; applying reaction conditions to the reactor containment thereby generating supercritical conditions for the reaction mixture and obtaining a product mixture; and extracting at least one petrochemical product from the product mixture.

Abstract: Cathode material from exhausted lithium ion batteries are dissolved in a solution for extracting the useful elements Co (cobalt), Ni (nickel), Al (Aluminum) and Mn (manganese) to produce active cathode materials for new batteries. The solution includes compounds of desirable materials such as cobalt, nickel, aluminum and manganese dissolved as compounds from the exhausted cathode material of spent cells. Depending on a desired proportion, or ratio, of the desired materials, raw materials are added to the solution to achieve the desired ratio of the commingled compounds for the recycled cathode material for new cells. The desired materials precipitate out of solution without extensive heating or separation of the desired materials into individual compounds or elements. The resulting active cathode material has the predetermined ratio for use in new cells, and avoids high heat typically required to separate the useful elements because the desired materials remain commingled in solution.

Abstract: A fiber optic sensing device includes an optical fiber having a polished end defining a flat sensory portion coated with a lossy-mode-resonance (LMR) coating. A reflective coating on an end face of the optical fiber facilitates propagation of a return signal. An optic circuit for identifies a wavelength attenuated by the LMR coating from the return signal reflected by the reflective coating based on a moisture presence at the sensory portion. Various gaseous parameters may be detected based on the coating on the sensory portion. An LMR coating of tin oxide (SnO2) is employed for moisture sensing.

Abstract: A visual tracking system, comprises an eye-tracking device and a cognitive load detection device disposed in electrical communication with the eye-tracking device, the cognitive load detection device comprising a controller having a memory and a processor. The controller is configured to receive eye-movement data from the eye-tracking device, the eye-movement data comprising pupil dilation event data and at least one of saccade event data and fixation event data, apply a classification function to the eye-movement data to detect a cognitive load associated with the eye-movement data and corresponding to a visual location of a field of view of the user, and output a notification regarding the cognitive load associated with the eye-movement data.

Abstract: A Ring-Arrayed Forward-viewing (RAF) ultrasound imaging and administration device combines an ultrasonic (US) US imager including a plurality of single element transducers arranged in a circular frame to define a ring array, and an instrument posture tracking circuit coupled to the ring array for performing RF (radio frequency) data acquisition with the plurality of ring-arrayed transducers. A needle holster is concentrically disposed in the ring array and is adapted to receive and direct an insertion instrument such as a needle, probe or extraction tool along an axis defined by a center of the ring array directed by the concentric needle holster. The tracking circuit includes a processor having instructions for instrument posture tracking and US imaging.

Abstract: A force absorbing device for a footwear appliance includes a shoe upper and a shoe sole having a planar sole surface, such that forces between the shoe upper and planar sole surface in ground contact are absorbed by force mitigation assemblies disposed in the shoe sole. A force mitigation assembly adapted for an athletic shoe includes a linkage to a wearer interface responsive to movement based on activity of the wearer. An attachment to a sole surface receives ground forces transmitted from frictional contact between the sole surface and a surface against which the sole is disposed, such as for running, turning, etc. A force mitigation assembly absorbs these forces received from the sole surface for directing the received force in a controlled manner. An elastic field in the force mitigation assembly is defined by a resilient material adapted to deform in response to the received force.

Abstract: A microfluidic chip is provided for self-sorting highly motile, morphologically normal sperm cell with high DNA integrity from a fresh semen sample. The sperm self-sorting microfluidic chip has one or more inlet chambers, and sperm collection outlet chamber(s), and the middle of the channel features various micro-fabricated structures in different geometrical shapes and orientations, with varying periodicities and patterns, such as an array of micro-fabricated pillars that facilitate the transport of the active and healthy sperm into the outlet chamber.

Abstract: Embodiments of the innovation relate to a server device, comprising a controller having a memory and a processor, the controller configured to establish a first secure environment with a client device, the first secure environment having an associated server asset policy; provide the asset to the client device via the first secure environment; receive a request from the client device, via the first secure environment, to utilize the asset with a user-selected application according to a user-selected asset policy; establish a second secure environment with the client device, the second secure environment having the user-selected application and the associated user-selected asset policy and the second secure environment isolated from the first secure environment; and provide the asset to the client device via the second secure environment.

Abstract: Embodiments of the innovation relate to, in a webserver device, a method for identifying a logic defect in an application. The method comprises establishing a webserver instance of the webserver device with a client device, the webserver instance of the webserver device having a corresponding set of client device permissions; receiving a content request from the client device associated with the webserver instance of the webserver device; detecting a violation of a permission of the set of client device permissions associated with the webserver instance of the webserver device; identifying at least one webserver function associated with the violation of the permission of the set of client device permissions; and displaying a visual identification of the at least one webserver function associated with the violation of the permission of the set of client device permissions.

Abstract: An articulating, steerable surgical probe includes an elongated, flexible transfer tube adapted for insertion into a surgical region for endoscopic laryngeal laser surgery. A lumen is defined by an interior of the transfer tube, and a laser fiber extends through the lumen for delivering a therapeutic laser signal to a distal end of the laser fiber. An articulating tip at the distal end of the transfer tube is responsive to articulating forces from a retractable tether for directing the treatment probe in a direction of the articulation, and a linkage to the tether from a control module effects controlled retraction of the tether for articulating the tip towards a surgical target, such that the articulating tip imposing a bend radius based on a signal loss through the laser fiber.

Abstract: A ski binding reduces a likelihood of injury to the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and the tibia is accomplished by absorption in the binding to limit loads transmitted through the boot-binding interface. Release based on an injury threshold includes a binding response tower attached to the ski and adapted for selective engagement with the ski, such that the binding response tower permits biased vertical and lateral horizontal displacement, prior to a release threshold. The binding is in communication with the boot heel and is adapted for slideable engagement in response to vertical and lateral forces exerted from the boot heel. The binding response tower adapted to disengage, or release upon reaching at least one a predetermined lateral displacement or a predetermined vertical displacement, such as when the boot heel is forced sufficiently sideways or upwards due to skier movement that would tend to cause an ACL injury.

Abstract: A petroleum refining method for upgrading petroleum products improves the efficiency and reduces the costs of upgrading oils, such as lipids, bitumen, crude oil, fracking oils, synthetic oils, and other feeds, to produce useful fuels and chemical precursor streams. Usage of a specific type of zeolite (ZSM-5) catalyst, supercritical water to control coke formation, and a specific response to phase behavior and other catalytic effects optimize the process. A prescribed set of reactor conditions employing supercritical water increases activity of the catalyst in industrial reactions.

Abstract: A steerable medical device, such as an endoscope of an endoscopic system, including a handle and an elongate shaft extending distally from the handle to a distal tip, a motor control assembly including a motor control housing configured to detachably interface with the handle, wherein the motor control assembly includes a first motor disposed within the motor control housing and a first gear assembly disposed within the motor control housing, and a first drive axle configured to engage the first gear assembly with a first deflection mechanism disposed within the handle, the first deflection mechanism being configured to deflect the distal tip in a first plane.

Abstract: Cathode material from exhausted lithium ion batteries are dissolved in a solution for extracting the useful elements Co (cobalt), Ni (nickel), Al (Aluminum) and Mn (manganese) to produce active cathode materials for new batteries. The solution includes compounds of desirable materials such as cobalt, nickel, aluminum and manganese dissolved as compounds from the exhausted cathode material of spent cells. Depending on a desired proportion, or ratio, of the desired materials, raw materials are added to the solution to achieve the desired ratio of the commingled compounds for the recycled cathode material for new cells. The desired materials precipitate out of solution without extensive heating or separation of the desired materials into individual compounds or elements. The resulting active cathode material has the predetermined ratio for use in new cells, and avoids high heat typically required to separate the useful elements because the desired materials remain commingled in solution.

Abstract: Device, and methods of using or making the device, for engineering cells in vitro are disclosed. In some aspects, a cell culture device comprises at least one glass or polymer surface configured for incubating cells in a culture medium; a charged molecule electrostatically bound to the surface; and a polyelectrolyte multilayer (PEM) electrostatically bound to the charged molecule, the PEM comprising one or more bi-layers of oppositely charged polyelectrolytes, and the PEM having a sufficient thickness to permit release of the charged molecule into the culture medium in a controlled released manner.

Abstract: A modular engineered tissue construct includes a plurality of fused self-assembled, scaffold-free, high-density cell aggregates. At least one cell aggregate includes a plurality of cells and a plurality of biocompatible and biodegradable nanoparticles and/or microparticles that are incorporated within the cell aggregates. The nanoparticles and/or microparticles acting as a bulking agent within the cell aggregate to increase the cell aggregate size and/or thickness and improve the mechanical properties of the cell aggregate as well as to deliver bioactive agents.

Abstract: A force absorbing device for a footwear appliance includes a shoe upper and a shoe sole having a planar sole surface, such that forces between the shoe upper and planar sole surface in ground contact are absorbed by force mitigation structures disposed in the shoe sole. A footwear article includes a split-sole system that redefines a shoe sole as coplanar surfaces having a force mitigating interface for receiving sudden forces and effectively mitigating these forces by storing kinetic energy and releasing it over time. An elastic field in the force mitigation structure is defined by a resilient material adapted to deform in response to the received force. Frictional engagement between the upper and lower sole may also be augmented by surface characteristics such as dimples, voids and lubricants, in addition to interference engagement with an elastic field.

Abstract: Embodiments of the innovation relate to an emotional quality estimation device comprising a controller having a memory and a processor, the controller configured to execute a training engine with labelled training data to train a neural network and generate a classroom analysis machine, the labelled training data including historical video data and an associated classroom quality score table; receive a classroom observation video from a classroom environment; execute the classroom analysis machine relative to the classroom observation video from the classroom environment to generate an emotional quality score relating to the emotional quality of the classroom environment; and output the emotional quality score for the classroom environment.

Abstract: An endoscopic system may include an endoscope including a handle and an elongate shaft extending distally therefrom. The handle may include a non-motorized and non-ratcheting actuation mechanism configured to articulate a distal tip portion of the elongate shaft. The distal tip portion may be articulatable in response to a manually applied force exerted upon the actuation mechanism. Removal of the manually applied force may lock the distal tip portion in its then-current configuration. The non-motorized and non-ratcheting actuation mechanism may include a clutch mechanism actuatable in response to an electrical signal generated in response to sensing a user-applied force to the actuating mechanism by a strain gauge.