Abstract: Extraction of rare earths from end-of-use machinery having rare earth magnets provides a closed-loop process towards recycling rare earths from commingled devices having embedded magnets such as motors, generators and disk drives. A low temperature process selectively leaches the magnet material from mixed scrap containing shredded fragments of the machinery which includes other metals such as steel and copper. Filtration separates the other metals from the leached, dissolved magnet material, which is precipitated by oxalic acid to form oxalates in powder form, suitable for use in production of new rare earth magnetic material. Leaching acid, such as HCl (hydrochloric acid), is recoverable via pyrohydrolysis, and redirected back to the leaching step for completing the closed-loop aspect.

Abstract: A service provider device includes a controller having a memory and a processor. The controller is configured to receive a device access request from the client device via a residential network, the server provider device being located external to the residential network and detect a communication type identifier associated with the device access request. The controller is configured to establish a secure communication channel between the client device and a middlebox associated with the detected communication type identifier and provide communication between the client device and the server device via the secure communication channel between the client device.

Abstract: Methods and systems for clean-up of hazardous spills are provided. In some aspects, there is provided a system for burning an water-oil emulsion that includes an enclosure configured to hold a water-oil emulsion; one or more conductive rods disposed throughout the enclosure, each rod of the one or more roads having a heater portion to be submerged in the water-oil emulsion and a collector portion to project above the water-oil emulsion, wherein the collector portion is longer than the heater portion; and a delivery system for supplying an water-oil emulsion to the enclosure, the delivery system is configured to maintain a constant level of the water-oil emulsion in the enclosure as the water-oil emulsion is burned. The enclosure may further include one or more adjustable air inlets.

Abstract: The present invention relates, in part, to sutures which promote wound closure and/or healing. In particular, the present invention provides fibrin microthread sutures that mimic the mechanical behavior of a target tissue thereby reducing, for example, scarring, inflammation, and cell death at the ligature site, including monofilament sutures.

Abstract: A three-dimensional (3D) laser-based scan of a façade of a structure is conducted. Based on data of the 3D laser-based scan, a 3D computer model of the façade is generated. Then, a design of insulation to be installed on the façade is determined based on the generated 3D computer model. According to the determined design, insulation is fabricated via an automated fabrication process.

Abstract: A real-time arrhythmia discrimination method is used in smartphones, which can discriminate between NSR, AF, PACs and PVCs using pulsatile time series collected from a smartphone's camera. To increase the sensitivity of AF detection and add the new capabilities of PVC and PAC identification, the arrhythmia discrimination method of these teachings combines Root Mean Square of Successive RR Differences (RMSSD), Shannon Entropy (ShE) and turning point ratio (TPR), with the Poincare plot, and utilizes the features of pulse rise/fall time and amplitude for arrhythmia discrimination.

Abstract: A measurement system includes a plurality of thermocouples, where the plurality of thermocouples is located in a support component and includes at least three groups of thermocouples. The at least three groups of thermocouples can also include one thermocouple shared by the each group of thermocouples. A distance between two thermocouples from each of the at least three groups is selected to enable measurement of temperature/flow field features of a predetermined characteristic length.

Abstract: Decellularized plant tissues and the use of these plant tissues as scaffolds are disclosed herein. Particularly, decellularized plant tissues are functionalized such to allow for human cell adhesion, thereby allowing for their use as scaffolds for human cells. These scaffolds can then be used in a number of applications/markets, including as research tools for tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, and basic cellular biology.

Abstract: An assessment engine includes a definition of inquiry skills being assessed. Assessment models are used to infer skill demonstration as one or more students engage in inquiry within computerized simulations and/or microworlds. A pedagogical agent and/or help system provides real-time feedback to one or more students based on the assessment model outputs, and/or based on additional models that track one or more students developing proficiency across inquiry tasks over time. A pedagogical agent and/or help system for science inquiry tutoring responds in real-time on the basis of knowledge-engineered and data-mined assessment and/or tracking models.

Abstract: Methods and systems for observing/analyzing interactive behavior are presented. In one instance, the method for observing/analyzing interactive behavior includes interacting, using a robot, with a subject and obtaining data from interaction between the subject and the robot, the data from the data acquisition components, the data being used for diagnosis and/or charting progress. In one instance, the robot includes data acquisition components, interaction inducing components (such as, but not limited to, movable eyelids, movable appendages, sound generating components), a control component operatively connected to the interaction inducing components and a processing component operatively connected to the control component and the data acquisition components, the processing component being configured to obtain data from the data acquisition components, the data being used for diagnosis and/or charting progress.

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

Abstract: An electrohydrodynamic (EHD) pump increases refrigerant flow rate and the resulting pressure in a vapor compression based cooling system for permitting reduced compressor sizes and power demands. The EHD pump disposes electrodes in a liquid path of the refrigerant flow, and increases fluid flow and resulting pressure by an induced liquid flow between a pair of asymmetric electrodes. Voltage applied to these electrodes results in a conduction pumping mechanism associated with heterocharge layers in the vicinity of the electrodes based on disassociation of a neutral electrolyte species in the refrigerant fluid and recombination of the generated ions. The induced flow draws the liquid due to a net fluid flow toward one of the electrodes based on the asymmetry of the electrode pair. Electrodes are disposed on an inner surface of a refrigerant vessel, in communication with an annular liquid film that forms around the inner circumference in two-phase fluid systems.

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

Abstract: Drying a planar substrate such as paper sheet goods for packing materials includes layering a phase change material (PCM) on a substrate, in which the substrate has a moisture content and adapted for moisture removal to form a planar medium. A drying process disposes the substrate adjacent to a plurality of rollers and heat the layered substrate to a predetermined temperature based on a specific heat of the PCM. The rollers advance the layered substrate in series through pocket ventilation regions between the heat transfer elements, such that the pocket ventilation regions permit drying of the substrate enhanced by the specific heat of the temperature sensitive material. Upon drying, the layered substrate forms the planar medium suitable for use as a packing medium or other suitable application. The pocket ventilation regions are based on the PCM to facilitate drying and eradication of moisture from the paper planar substrate.

Abstract: In a mobile sensing device, a method of detecting blood alcohol content includes receiving time-series gait data from at least one sensor of the mobile sensing device as a user walks and detecting a set of attributes associated with the time-series gait data, each attribute of the set of attributes related to the user's gait. The method includes comparing the set of attributes with a machine learning classification model learned from a training data set of attributes to determine at least one of a blood alcohol content range of the user and an impairment level of the user and outputting a notification associated with the at least one of the blood alcohol content range of the user and the impairment level of the user.

Abstract: A real-time arrhythmia discrimination method is used in smartphones, which can discriminate between NSR, AF, PACs and PVCs using pulsatile time series collected from a smartphone's camera. To increase the sensitivity of AF detection and add the new capabilities of PVC and PAC identification, the arrhythmia discrimination method of these teachings combines Root Mean Square of Successive RR Differences (RMSSD), Shannon Entropy (ShE) and turning point ratio (TPR), with the Poincare plot, and utilizes the features of pulse rise/fall time and amplitude for arrhythmia discrimination.

Abstract: A ranging and tracking system and method employs a Coherent Array Reconciliation Tomography (CART) approach that benefits from a series of samples gathered from deployed receivers in an area of interest, and applies a sequence of matrix operations and transformations to data defining locations in a Cartesian grid space for summing constructive characteristics in a received waveform for identifying a leading edge indicative of a time of arrival (TOA) from a signal source, and computing a metric based on the distance to the signal source. Sampled waveform information (data) from multiple locations in the area of interest allows computation of a likelihood metric for each location in the grid space of containing the signal source. Rendering of the grid space location having the highest likelihood metric illustrates a position of the signal source, and may be graphically depicted clustering of the locations depicting a high likelihood.

Abstract: A needle steering system and apparatus provides active, semi-autonomous control of needle insertion paths while still enabling a clinician ultimate control over needle insertion. The present teaching describes a method and system for controlling needle path as the needle is inserted by precisely controlling the rotation of the needle as it continuously rotates during insertion. This enables underactuated 2 degree-of-freedom (DOF) control of the direction and the curvature of the needle from a single rotary actuator. Control of the rotary motion is therefore decoupled from the needle insertion. The rotary motion controls steering effort and direction, while the insertion controls needle depth or insertion speed. In one implementation, the proposed method does not require constant velocity insertion, interleaved insertion and rotation, or known insertion position or speed. The insertion may be provided by a robot or other automated method, may be a manual insertion, or may be a teleoperated insertion.

Abstract: Variable stiffness devices and methods of their use are provided. In some embodiments, a variable stiffness device comprises an inner member defining a compartment for receiving an actuating fluid; an outer member disposed around the inner member; and a granular medium disposed between the inner member and the outer member; wherein the inner member is being moveable in a radial direction from a relaxed state to an expanded state by introducing the actuating fluid into the compartment of the inner member to compress the granular medium against the outer member to increase the stiffness of the device.