Abstract: A system and method for a liquid electrolyte used in secondary electrochemical cells having at least one electrode including a TMCCC material, the liquid electrolyte enabling an increased lifetime while allowing for fast discharge to extremely high depth of discharge. The addition of dinitriles to liquid electrolytes in electrochemical cells in which energy storage is achieved by ion intercalation in transition metal cyanide coordination compounds (TMCCC) has the advantage of increasing device lifetime by inhibiting common chemical and electrochemical degradation mechanisms.

Abstract: Payment devices and the systems and methods for securely managing financial transactions using the payment devices are provided. In one implementation, a portable proxy device comprises a memory configured to store a plurality of credentials. Each of the plurality of credentials pertains to one of a financial credential, an identification credential, or contractual credential. The portable proxy device also includes at least one interface, wherein each of the at least one interface is configured to communicate one of the plurality of credentials to an external device to complete one of a financial function, identification function, or contractual function.

Abstract: Embodiments regard determining provenance of digital content. A method of determining the provenance of digital content can include receiving, at processing circuitry, edited digital content and data indicating an entity that edited source digital content to generate the edited digital content, the source digital content, and a destination of the edited digital content, generating, by the processing circuitry, additional data detailing an edit history of the edited digital content, the additional data indicating the entity, an edit identification uniquely identifying the additional data in a ledger, the source digital content, and the destination of the edited digital content, and generating a request to cause the additional data to be stored in the ledger, the ledger operable to be queried so that a user can determine an authenticity of the edited digital content based on the additional data of an edit chain returned in response to a query.

Abstract: Payment devices and the systems and methods for securely managing financial transactions using the payment devices are provided. In one implementation, a portable proxy device comprises a memory configured to store a plurality of credentials. Each of the plurality of credentials pertains to one of a financial credential, an identification credential, or contractual credential. The portable proxy device also includes at least one interface, wherein each of the at least one interface is configured to communicate one of the plurality of credentials to an external device to complete one of a financial function, identification function, or contractual function.

Abstract: A method for predicting an estimated wait time includes receiving a pending support request from a user. The pending support request is associated with a plurality of high-level features that include a number of active support agents, a number of available support agents, and a queue depth. The method also includes predicting an estimated wait time for the user of the pending support request using a wait time predictor model configured to receive the plurality of high-level features as feature inputs. The wait time predictor model is trained on a corpus of training support requests that include corresponding high-level features and a corresponding actual wait time. The method also includes providing the estimated wait time to the user that indicates an estimated duration of time until the pending support request is answered.

Abstract: Embodiments regard determining provenance of digital content. A method of determining the provenance of digital content can include receiving, at processing circuitry, edited digital content and data indicating an entity that edited source digital content to generate the edited digital content, the source digital content, and a destination of the edited digital content, generating, by the processing circuitry, additional data detailing an edit history of the edited digital content, the additional data indicating the entity, an edit identification uniquely identifying the additional data in a ledger, the source digital content, and the destination of the edited digital content, and generating a request to cause the additional data to be stored in the ledger, the ledger operable to be queried so that a user can determine an authenticity of the edited digital content based on the additional data of an edit chain returned in response to a query.

Abstract: A sensing system including in-ground sensors not requiring battery power. A thermoelectric generator sensor rod includes an upper thermal contact and a lower thermal contact at or near its two ends. When the thermoelectric generator sensor rod is buried in the ground with one end buried more deeply than the other, a temperature gradient in the soil produces a temperature difference between the upper thermal contact and the lower thermal contact. The upper thermal contact and the lower thermal contact are thermally connected to a thermoelectric generator, e.g., by heat pipes or thermally conductive rods. Electrical power generated by the thermoelectric generator powers sensors for monitoring conditions in the ground, and circuitry for transmitting sensor data to a central data processing system.

Abstract: A sensing system including in-ground sensors not requiring battery power. A thermoelectric generator sensor rod includes an upper thermal contact and a lower thermal contact at or near its two ends. When the thermoelectric generator sensor rod is buried in the ground with one end buried more deeply than the other, a temperature gradient in the soil produces a temperature difference between the upper thermal contact and the lower thermal contact. The upper thermal contact and the lower thermal contact are thermally connected to a thermoelectric generator, e.g., by heat pipes or thermally conductive rods. Electrical power generated by the thermoelectric generator powers sensors for monitoring conditions in the ground, and circuitry for transmitting sensor data to a central data processing system.

Abstract: Payment devices and the systems and methods for securely managing financial transactions using the payment devices are provided. In one implementation, a portable proxy device comprises a memory configured to store a plurality of credentials. Each of the plurality of credentials pertains to one of a financial credential, an identification credential, or contractual credential. The portable proxy device also includes at least one interface, wherein each of the at least one interface is configured to communicate one of the plurality of credentials to an external device to complete one of a financial function, identification function, or contractual function.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods to produce para-xylene, toluene, and other compounds from renewable sources (e.g., cellulose, hemicellulose) and ethylene in the presence of an acid, such as a Lewis acid. For example, cellulose and/or hemicellulose may be converted into 2,5-dimethylfuran (DMF) and 2-methylfuran, which may be converted into para-xylene and toluene, respectively. In particular, para-xylene can then be oxidized to form terephthalic acid.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods to produce para-xylene, toluene, and other compounds from renewable sources (e.g., cellulose, hemicellulose) and ethylene in the presence of an acid, such as a Lewis acid. For example, cellulose and/or hemicellulose may be converted into 2,5-dimethylfuran (DMF) and 2-methylfuran, which may be converted into para-xylene and toluene, respectively. In particular, para-xylene can then be oxidized to form terephthalic acid.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods to produce substituted furans (e.g., halomethylfurfural, hydroxymethylfurfural, and furfural), by acid-catalyzed conversion of biomass using a gaseous acid in a multiphase reactor, such as a fluidized bed reactor.

Abstract: This is a system/method of clamping or securing or connecting one or more objects together in a wide variety of ways with the main means being a specifically designed bar and mated slot combination. While the main embodiment is the "Handy Table" project, there are many other ramifications of this invention. The bar and slot design can be altered to perform many other tasks where some way of attaching one or more objects to another need be accomplished. The main embodiment is, in my estimation, the most advanced type of work or project surface. The combination of a tri-sectional work surface, adjustable in a variety of ways, in size, in tilting, in multi-angle clamping capability, in precision height adjustment, and in the ability to transport the object being worked on easily, plus the addition of accessaries that enhance the overall capabilities of the "Handy Table", make it useable by many different professions and by the average project worker, be it man or woman, young or old.