Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method for covalent immobilization of molecular compounds on a substrate surface, comprising the steps: Providing a substrate surface; Treating the substrate surface with a plasma at atmospheric pressure, thereby generating an activated surface site; Exposing at least the activated surface site, or some fraction of the activated surface site, to molecular compounds, thereby establishing a covalent bond between the molecular compounds and the substrate surface.

Abstract: Fantasy Bingo is a blend of the traditional Bingo game and fantasy sports, whereby the squares of the bingo card are replaced with sports achievements for players to unlock with real-world performance. Embodiments described here within generally relate to systems, methods, and Apparatus for utilizing artificial intelligence and data science to improve probability calculations related to fantasy sports. For example, the NBA 3 pt attempts/game increased from 2.8 to 29 between 1980 to 2018! The AI system can dynamically adjust our probability calculations to best fit with the trends in sports. Fantasy Bingo can also be played over multiple games based on cumulative statistics.

Abstract: The present invention is in the field of manufacturing drug-loaded microparticles, and specifically provides processes for producing approximately homogenously sized drug loaded microparticles with high drug loading and reproducible drug release profiles, and which may be provided in a significantly reduced time period.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a propulsion system comprising: a solid conductive or semiconductive cathode (130); an anode (110) having a potential difference relative to said cathode (130), said potential difference creating an electric field between said anode (110) and said cathode (130); and an insulated trigger (150) adapted to trigger an arc discharge from a point on a upper surface of said cathode (130) in pulses, when said trigger (150) and cathode (130) are substantially in a vacuum, said trigger being bounded within the cathode so that the point at which the arc is triggered is located on the upper surface of said cathode.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a propulsion system comprising: a solid conductive or semiconductive cathode (130); an anode (110) having a potential difference relative to said cathode (130), said potential difference creating an electric field between said anode (110) and said cathode (130); and an insulated trigger (150) adapted to trigger an arc discharge from a point on a upper surface of said cathode (130) in pulses, when said trigger (150) and cathode (130) are substantially in a vacuum, said trigger being bounded within the cathode so that the point at which the arc is triggered is located on the upper surface of said cathode.

Abstract: The invention relates to an activated metallic, semiconductor, polymer, composite and/or ceramic substrate, the substrate being bound through a mixed or graded interface to a hydrophilic polymer surface that is activated to enable direct covalent binding to a functional biological molecule, the polymer surface comprising a sub-surface that includes a plurality of cross-linked regions, as well as to such activated substrates that have been functionalised with a biological molecule and to devices comprising such functionalised substrates. Such substrates can be produced by a method comprising steps of: a.

Abstract: A deformable implantable medical device such as a stent comprising metallic, polymer and/or composite substrate having a columnar structured plasma polymer surface capable of binding functional biological molecules. The polymer surface can be bound to the substrate through a mixed or graded interface formed by a co-deposition process where a substrate material is deposited with carbon containing species while gradually reducing the substrate material proportion and increasing the carbon containing species proportion. The device is able to undergo deformation without substantial delamination of the plasma polymer surface.

Abstract: A compressor wheel (7) is disclosed comprising an array of blades (20) extending from central hub (21) adapted from attachment to a rotatable shaft (8) and a backface (25). A region of the surface of the compressor wheel backface (25) is formed with a layer of residual compressive stress (26, 27).

Abstract: An interactive system for creating, offering and processing a series of partial transactions between one or more nodes in substantially real time to establish a complete transaction between two nodes is disclosed. The system may include a delivery node for offering partial transactions, a central node configured to receive and collate partial transactions from the delivery node and to provide information regarding partial transactions simultaneously to one or more user nodes configured to receive and review partial transactions from the central node, and a parsing module is provided which is configured to amend pre-selected details pertaining to the or each partial transaction delivered to it by the delivery node to generate at least one parsed partial transaction.

Abstract: The present invention is a pet nursing jacket that allows a pet owner to feed puppies, kittens or other baby animals. The pet nursing jacket includes a base jacket that is placed on a feeding animal, a plurality of hook and loop fasteners that are disposed on the base jacket to open and close the base jacket to allow the base jacket to be placed around and removably secured to the feeding animal, a thermostat disposed on the base jacket that indicates a temperature of the feeding animal and a fur coating disposed on the exterior surface of the base jacket. The jacket also includes a baby bag that holds liquid food that includes a plurality of nipples, a fluid gauge that indicates a quantity of the liquid food stored in the baby bag and a heart beat device that generates a simulated heart beat.

Abstract: A compressor wheel (7) is disclosed comprising an array of blades (20) extending from central hub (21) adapted from attachment to a rotatable shaft (8) and a backface (25). A region of the surface of the compressor wheel backface (25) is formed with a layer of residual compressive stress (26, 27).

Abstract: The invention relates to an activated metallic, semiconductor, polymer, composite and/or ceramic substrate, the substrate being bound through a mixed or graded interface to a hydrophilic polymer surface that is activated to enable direct covalent binding to a functional biological molecule, the polymer surface comprising a sub-surface that includes a plurality of cross-linked regions, as well as to such activated substrates that have been functionalised with a biological molecule and to devices comprising such functionalised substrates. Such substrates can be produced by a method comprising steps of: a.

Abstract: A method of controlling a fuel cell system includes applying alternating current (AC) signals to an individual fuel cell. The AC signals have a plurality of different frequencies. A voltage across the individual fuel cell is determined at each of the plurality of different frequencies. An impedance characteristic of the individual fuel cell is determined based at least in part on the voltage across the individual fuel cell at each of the plurality of different frequencies. The individual fuel cell is controlled based at least in part on the impedance characteristic.

Abstract: A system, method and device for power switching and power control, particularly for switching the source of power between two or more power sources are provided. Power control elements testing the availability and stability of alternate power sources and switch loads between these power sources in short periods of time and with advantageous switching characteristics. In a fuel-cell system, the embodiments of the invention may be advantageously deployed to power up balance of plant loads using opto-electronic couplers and electronic relays.

Abstract: The present invention relates to activated polymer substrates capable of binding functional biological molecules, to polymer substrates comprising bound and functional biological molecules, to devices comprising such substrates and to methods of producing them.

Abstract: Compressor wheel (16) and techniques for manufacturing such a wheel are provided. The wheel may include a hub (21) with a counterbore (36) internally treated to impart residual compressive stresses, for enhanced endurance to stress-induced fatigue. The surface treatment allows extending the counterbore relatively closer to a plane (30) of typical maximum stress of the wheel. This design flexibility advantageously allows avoiding or reducing overhang of the compressor wheel, thereby improving rotor dynamics and reducing the axial length of the hub, and the overall foot print of the compressor wheel.

Abstract: A plasma process (5) for modifying at least a region of a surface of a component (1); wherein the component (1) is bombarded by ions from a gas plasma environment (4); and the ions are drawn towards the component (1) by a voltage source applied to a first mesh (3). The first mesh (3) is a stationary non-conformal mesh (3), and the component (1) does not contact the first mesh (3). The component (1) is moved (2) in the vicinity of the first mesh (3) to evenly expose it to ion bombardment (4).

Abstract: A system, method and device for power switching and power control, particularly for switching the source of power between two or more power sources are provided. Power control elements testing the availability and stability of alternate power sources and switch loads between these power sources in short periods of time and with advantageous switching characteristics. In a fuel-cell system, the embodiments of the invention may be advantageously deployed to power up balance of plant loads using opto-electronic couplers and electronic relays.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus (10) for plasma treatment of a substrate surface (16). The apparatus comprises a plasma source (12) for generating a plasma and a plasma-control electrode (14). The apparatus further comprises a drive means for effecting a relative movement between the plasma-control electrode (14) and the plasma source (12) or of the plasma-control electrode (14) and the plasma source (12) relative to the substrate (16). The plasma-control electrode (14) is located adjacent the substrate (16) to facilitate treatment of the substrate surface (16) in a controlled manner.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reformatting a main storage device associated with a computer system. The storage device is reformatted by making use of a secondary storage device on which is stored a copy of the data stored on the main storage device. A reformatting process is run on the secondary storage device while the main computer system continues normal operation. When the reformatting process is completed, the secondary storage device is updated with the updates that were made on the main storage system while the reformatting process was run on the secondary system. Thereafter, the reformatted and updated data is either transferred to the main storage device, or the main storage device is physically replaced with the secondary storage device. In another aspect, non-standard programming techniques are employed to provide access to non-configured disc drives coupled to an AS/400.