Abstract: A superhydrophobic surface is formed by growing a plurality of etchable, sacrificial structures, and depositing a discontinuous hydrophobic material onto the sacrificial structures. The discontinuity facilitates etching of the sacrificial structures to remove the grown structures while leaving the deposited material intact to result in surface features for achieving superior hydrophobic properties.

Abstract: An equine respiratory detection device provides an inexpensive, portable appliance for evaluating equine health. A muzzle or mouthpiece attaches to the equine mouth region for sealably engaging with the respiratory pathway. The mouthpiece attached to a tubular vessel having a volumetric sensing apparatus for measuring respiratory inflow and outflow rates. The sensing apparatus includes a hot wire anemometer and sensing circuit for sensing flow rates based on changing electrical characteristics of a sensing element resulting from a temperature and humidity of the respiratory gases. Inhaling results in inflow gases having a cooling effect on a thermistor which affects the current flow in the sensor circuit. Similarly, exhaled outflow gases have increased temperature and humidity which allow identification of bidirectional flow and computation of an overall respiration volume to the equine patient subject.

Abstract: In some embodiments, there is provide a method of analysing a bone fracture, comprising; stabilizing a bone having a fracture including a first support point located distal of the fracture and a second support point located proximal of the fracture; applying a force to an area of the bone having the fracture to cause a displacement of the fracture; imaging the bone during the application of force thereto; and comparing the image of the bone during the application of force to an image of the bone without the application of force to determine the state of the fracture.

Abstract: The wound assessing method and system provide a convenient, quantitative mechanism for diabetic foot ulcer assessment.

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: 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: The present disclosure provides devices and methods for cleaning up or burning spills of burnable materials in situ. In some embodiments, a system for burning a burnable material comprises a base having a first side configured for placement on a surface with a burnable material and a second side; and a plurality heat conducting members extending from the second side of the base.

Abstract: An impact absorbing footwear device employs opposed planar sole portions engaged by a selective resistance coupling that biases the opposed planar sole portions in a non-linear manner in response to forces exerted by the wearer against the sole portion in frictional contact with a floor surface. The planar sole portions are disposed in a footwear appliance that takes the form of an athletic shoe sole. The selective resistance coupling includes a plurality of resilient deformation members that engage the planar sole portions in an opposed circumferentially aligned manner, selectively deform in response to pressure exerted by the wearer for preventing ACL and other impact related injuries, and recover to an undeformed rest position without breakaway to allow the wearer uninterrupted usage while dampening forces that surpass an injury threshold from the resilient deformation that allows the planar sole portions to temporarily misalign.

Abstract: A toxic waste incinerator is capable of enhanced combustion of hazardous waste (oil contaminated sand, human waste, garbage, etc.) utilizing immersed non-combustible and thermally conductive objects for increasing heat feedback from the flames to the unburned fuel, while air inlets are used to optimize the air entrainment rate to enhance the burning efficiency. The burning rate of a fluidic mass such as a sand-oil mixture is enhanced using immersed conductive objects (copper rods) which enable rapid heat-up of the flame exposed to the upper surface of the rod and transmits heat back into the sand. Consequent conduction of heat to the porous media through the lower portion of the immersed rod significantly increases vaporization and therefore the burning rate. Incineration may be performed on a transient, exigent basis as with hazardous waste and oil spills, or as part of a permanent fixture for receiving an ongoing waste stream.

Abstract: Embodiments of the innovation relate to a mixed reality device having a mixed reality display and a controller disposed in electrical communication with the mixed reality display. The controller configured to receive topology data associated with a network and three-dimensional (3D) embedded network data associated with the network. The controller is configured to construct a hierarchical data structure from the topology data and the 3D embedded network data. The controller is also configured to display a level of the hierarchical data structure as a virtual object in a 3D space on the mixed reality display, the level of the hierarchical data structure identifying a subset of nodes and a subset of edges of the hierarchical data structure.

Abstract: A mixed reality device includes a mixed reality display and a controller disposed in electrical communication with the mixed reality display. The controller is configured to display a hierarchical data structure as a virtual object in a 3D space on the mixed reality display, the hierarchical data structure constructed from topology data associated with a network and three-dimensional (3D) embedded network data associated with the network; receive a hierarchy traversal command relative to at least one node of a first level of the hierarchical data structure; and, in response to receiving the hierarchy traversal command, display at least one node of the second level of the hierarchical data structure on the mixed reality display.

Abstract: A low-temperature leaching operation employs a raw, red mud slurry directly from aluminum production for an oxalic acid leaching of ferric oxalate. Residual calcium, titanium, aluminum and other rare earths are also recoverable in a secondary stream. Monitoring and control of the pH of the leach solution yields soluble ferric oxalate without high temperatures or specific radiation or light sources. Addition of iron powder results in precipitation of ferrous oxalate, isolated by magnetic separation from the iron powder which recirculates in the solution. Magnetite may then be produced by heating the ferrous oxalate in low pO2 conditions.

Abstract: A molten metal inclusion test apparatus includes a spectroscopic appliance for gathering data indicative of the contents of a quantity of molten metal. Laser induced emissions provide spectral data based on the elements present in the melt. Analysis of a series of samplings, or “shots” of laser induced emissions indicates a presence of elements above a background or expected level. These elements appear as spikes in a graphical rendering of the spectral data, defined by a wavelength of the detected element. Correlation of the elements detected in the same shot indicates a composition of the inclusion, typically a particle of an extraneous compound in the melt. Such spectral analysis provides immediate feedback about melt quality, allowing corrective measures to be taken prior to casting.

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 valuable charge materials such as cobalt, nickel, aluminum and manganese dissolved as compounds from the exhausted cathode material of spent cells. However, LiFePO4 is a waste stream charge material often discarded due to infeasibility of recycling. LiFePO4 is precipitated as FePO4 and remains as a by-product, along with graphite and carbon, which are not dissolved into the solution. FePO4 can be separated from graphite and carbon, FePO4 can be used to synthesize LiFePO4 as cathode materials and graphite can be regenerated as anode materials.

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 system and method for transmission of a signal for a powered assistive device has a sensor node with a wireless transmitter adapted for digitally transmitting a transmitted signal, the sensor node adapted for receiving and monitoring a sensor signal from a sensor attached to a user, and a master node with a controller and a wireless receiver for receiving the transmitted signal from the wireless transmitter. The master node processes the transmitted signal and communicates a control signal to the powered assistive device. The wireless transmitter transmits the transmitted signal at a first rate when the wireless transmitter adapted to transmit the transmitted signal at a first rate when the sensor signal is indicative of the rest state and to transmit the transmitted signal at a second rate when the sensor signal is indicative of the active state, the second rate being greater than the first rate.

Abstract: Embodiments of the innovation relate to a persona development device comprising a controller having a memory and a processor. The controller is configured to receive a research request from a user interaction device, the research request including an attribute related to a persona. The controller is configured to, in response to identifying a correspondence between the attribute of the research request and a persona of a persona database, forward a request response including the persona to the user interaction device. The controller is configured to, in response to identifying a lack of correspondence between the attribute of the research request and a persona of a persona database, retrieve user data from a user data source, create a persona prototype based upon the user data and corresponding to the attribute of the research request, and forward a request response including the persona prototype to the user interaction device.

Abstract: In a text simplification system, a method for replacing text in a field of view of a user, comprises receiving eye movement data from an eye-tracking device, the eye movement data relating to text provided in a field of view of a user and detecting a cognitive load associated with the eye movement and corresponding to a visual location of the field of view of the user. The method comprises, when the cognitive load meets a cognitive load threshold, identifying visualized text provided in the visual location of the field of view of the user and identifying personalization information associated with the user. The method comprises, when the personalization information meets a personalization information criterion, replacing the visualized text provided in the visual location of the field of view of the user with simplified text.

Abstract: An aqueous solution of carbonic anhydrase and calcium chloride is contacted with a cementitious surface defining at least one opening or fissure in the presence of ambient carbon dioxide to thereby cause the calcium chloride and carbon dioxide to react, whereby calcium carbonate precipitate from the solution and seals the opening or fissure.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a biologically-inspired robotic device comprising: a first member; a second member pivotably connected to the first member; one or more actuators; and a coupler/decoupler mechanism (CDC) selectively coupling or decoupling of the one or more actuators to the second member, such that, when the one or more actuators are coupled to the second member, the one or more actuators act to pivot the second member relative to the first member.