Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method for extracting rare earth elements from industrial waste and other materials. The method includes pre-treating a starting material including but not limited to materials containing coal, coal ash, and mined aggregates, combining the pre-treated starting material with a first aqueous solution comprising one or more ionic salts in a first stage reactor to form a first slurry containing double-salt crystals, separating the first slurry in a first stage separator to obtain a double salt solution and separated impurities, combining the double salt solution with a second aqueous solution in a second stage reactor to form a second slurry, and separating the second slurry in a second stage separator to obtain a purified product and a remaining aqueous solution. The method enables efficient extraction of rare earth elements from industrial waste materials while producing a purified product.

Abstract: A patient monitoring system is provided which includes a platform and one or more monitoring modules. Monitoring modules include parameter modules for monitoring physiological activity of a patient, and utility modules for providing additional functionality to the patient monitoring system. A platform and one or more monitoring modules may be coupled to form a communications bus, allowing communication between any of the plurality of coupled devices. Updates such as software upgrades may be provided by a monitoring module to a platform or other monitoring module to update functionality.

Abstract: A tailorable elastic skin is provided for covering shape-changing, or “morphable,” structures. The skin comprises a two-dimensional “planar spring” embedded in an elastomeric material. The invention provides a smooth aerodynamic covering capable of global elongation exceeding 20% with a low input force. The design can be tailored for light-weight, lightly loaded applications, or for more heavily loaded aerodynamic or hydrodynamic conditions.