Abstract: Black mass from disused lithium batteries is leached for recovery of various metals in a process that includes precipitation, solvent exchange, ion exchange, and salt splitting to create multiple product streams for recovery of pure value products. Most typically, the process is a closed-loop process and allows for production of metallic cobalt and nickel, EMD, and a high purity lithium hydroxide or carbonate product with minimal generation of waste streams.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods of simulation of a plurality of processors running on a plurality of cores, to multi-core microprocessor systems in which such methods may be carried out, and to computer program products configured to perform a simulation of a plurality of processors, running on a plurality of cores. According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of running a plurality of simulated processors on a plurality of cores, in which simulation of the processors is performed in parallel on the plurality of cores.

Abstract: An illustrative example method of controlling operation of a fuel cell power plant includes opening a pneumatic valve using pneumatic pressure of pressurized fuel cell reactant, allowing the pressurized fuel cell reactant to flow through the pneumatic valve to a cell stack assembly, determining that shutdown of the cell stack assembly is desired, and control a rate that the pneumatic valve closes by controlling a rate of release of the pneumatic pressure.

Abstract: Described herein are one-component spray foam compositions having a low post post-expansion rate. Also described herein are methods of making and using one-component spray foam compositions having a low post-expansion rate. Also described herein are dispensers for dispensing the one-component spray foam compositions having a low post-expansion rate. Compositions and methods in accordance with the present disclosure are useful in a wide variety of applications, and are particularly useful in construction applications.

Abstract: Described herein is a texture material dispensing system that includes a foldable handle and trigger. The texture material dispensing system may be used for dispensing a texture material onto a target surface, such as a ceiling.

Abstract: An illustrative example fuel cell reactant flow control valve assembly includes a pneumatic valve configured to allow reactant flow when the pneumatic valve is in an open condition and to prevent reactant flow when the pneumatic valve is in a closed condition. A control valve selectively allows a pressure of the reactant to provide pneumatic pressure to maintain the pneumatic valve in the open condition. The control valve selectively vents the pneumatic pressure reservoir to control a rate at which the pneumatic pressure decreases and a rate at which the pneumatic valve changes from the open condition to the closed condition.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods of simulation of a plurality of processors running on a plurality of cores, to multi-core microprocessor systems in which such methods may be carried out, and to computer program products configured to perform a simulation of a plurality of processors, running on a plurality of cores. According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of running a plurality of simulated processors on a plurality of cores, in which simulation of the processors is performed in parallel on the plurality of cores.

Abstract: An apparatus for storing blood plasma separated after fractionation from whole blood within a wrapped hematocrit (capillary) tube. The apparatus is large enough to receive and display a standard laboratory identification label. The apparatus stores plasma from a hematocrit tube that does not include thixotropic gel. The apparatus housing has an intended upright orientation, a central axis, a top end, a bottom end, and side walls defining an internal cavity. A wall with an upper surface and a lower surface divides the internal cavity into an upper cavity and a lower cavity. A reservoir is formed in the upper cavity. A removable cap seals the reservoir. The cap is movable between open and closed positions. A channel within the lower cavity extends axially from the bottom of the housing to the wall. The channel receives and supports the wrapped hematocrit tube while plasma is expelled therefrom and into the reservoir.

Abstract: Described herein is a texture material dispensing system. The system includes a container assembly, an actuator assembly, and an outlet assembly. The container assembly includes a container and a valve assembly. The actuator assembly includes a trigger actuator pivotably attached to an actuator housing. The outlet assembly includes a flexible tube fluidically connected to the trigger actuator and an adjustable outlet opening. The adjustable outlet opening is adjustable between a position that is aligned substantially parallel to a container assembly axis and a position that is aligned substantially non-parallel to a container assembly axis. Also described herein is a method of using the texture material dispensing system for dispensing a texture material onto a target surface.

Abstract: Described herein is a texture material dispensing system that includes a foldable handle and trigger. The texture material dispensing system may be used for dispensing a texture material onto a target surface, such as a ceiling.

Abstract: The multi-section deployable and articulating endoscope is designed with tubing and flat cables that are small enough that the endoscope becomes a thin stick that is minimally invasive and usable with other devices in a common port. The endoscope includes very thin flat cables that are used for electrical connectivity and threaded above and below an articulation and deployment hinge for opening the endoscope passively using an adjustable tension spring, or by pulling on a first cable and closing the endoscope by pulling on a second cable, When in a tubular configuration the endoscope may be inserted into the port and an insufflation membrane inside the port forms an air seal with the endoscope, which aids in insufflation and desufflation. The endoscope includes one or more tubes for creating an air jet stream above the camera to act as a shield for keeping the camera clean.

Abstract: An apparatus for storing blood plasma separated after fractionation from whole blood within a wrapped hematocrit (capillary) tube. The apparatus is large enough to receive and display a standard laboratory identification label. The apparatus stores plasma from a hematocrit tube that does not include thixotropic gel. The apparatus housing has an intended upright orientation, a central axis, a top end, a bottom end, and side walls defining an internal cavity. A wall with an upper surface and a lower surface divides the internal cavity into an upper cavity and a lower cavity. A reservoir is formed in the upper cavity. A removable cap seals the reservoir. The cap is movable between open and closed positions. A channel within the lower cavity extends axially from the bottom of the housing to the wall. The channel receives and supports the wrapped hematocrit tube while plasma is expelled therefrom and into the reservoir.

Abstract: A deep learning computer apparatus and corresponding methods render multiple disparate data type items, along with corresponding feature data, into a single encapsulated file format for neural network processing. Processing overhead is reduced by allowing otherwise disparate data elements to be trained and processed together as a single item in a single processing pass, thereby increasing effective neural processor capacity.

Abstract: A multi-mode powertrain system is described, and includes an internal combustion engine having stop/start capability. A method for controlling the multi-mode powertrain system includes circulating coolant to a heater core via an engine fluidic circuit that includes a water jacket of the internal combustion engine when temperature of the coolant is less than an engine fluidic circuit upper temperature threshold and the engine is in an ON state. Coolant is circulated to the heater core via a bypass fluidic circuit that excludes the water jacket of the internal combustion engine when temperature of the coolant is greater than a bypass fluidic circuit lower temperature threshold when the engine is in an OFF state.

Abstract: In a method of simulating a processor system by running code that simulates the system on a host processor, code is translated at run time to a form required by the host processor. All instructions are mapped to a native instruction set of the host using two or more different code dictionaries: the translated instructions are mapped to multiple and different dictionaries dependent on the execution privilege level or mode of the simulated processor. If an instruction is encountered during runtime that changes the mode of the processor the code dictionary is switched to use the dictionary associated with the new mode. The different modes require different instruction mappings to the native instruction set of the host using different models that more accurately represent the behavior of the system code and hardware in the system being simulated.

Abstract: A multi-mode powertrain system is described, and includes an internal combustion engine having stop/start capability. A method for controlling the multi-mode powertrain system includes circulating coolant to a heater core via an engine fluidic circuit that includes a water jacket of the internal combustion engine when temperature of the coolant is less than an engine fluidic circuit upper temperature threshold and the engine is in an ON state. Coolant is circulated to the heater core via a bypass fluidic circuit that excludes the water jacket of the internal combustion engine when temperature of the coolant is greater than a bypass fluidic circuit lower temperature threshold when the engine is in an OFF state.

Abstract: The multi-section deployable and articulating endoscope is designed with tubing and flat cables that are small enough that the endoscope becomes a thin stick that is minimally invasive and usable with other devices in a common port. The endoscope includes very thin flat cables that are used for electrical connectivity and threaded above and below an articulation and deployment hinge for opening the endoscope passively using an adjustable tension spring, or by pulling on a first cable and closing the endoscope by pulling on a second cable, When in a tubular configuration the endoscope may be inserted into the port and an insufflation membrane inside the port forms an air seal with the endoscope, which aids in insufflation and desufflation. The endoscope includes one or more tubes for creating an air jet stream above the camera to act as a shield for keeping the camera clean.

Abstract: In a method of simulating a multi-processor system by running code that simulates the system on a host processor, a SPECULATE and a COMMIT instruction is used to mark an area of memory, shared across several simulated processors, and the code is translated at run time to a form required by the host processor. All instructions are mapped to a native instruction set of the host using two different code dictionaries: all instructions outside a SPECULATE/COMMIT region are mapped to the first of the two code dictionaries. If a SPECULATE instruction is encountered during runtime by a simulator running the code, the instructions are mapped to a native instruction set of the host using the second code dictionary.

Abstract: In a method of simulating a multi-processor system by running code that simulates the system on a host processor, a SPECULATE and a COMMIT instruction is used to mark an area of memory, shared across several simulated processors, and the code is translated at run time to a form required by the host processor. All instructions are mapped to a native instruction set of the host using two different code dictionaries: all instructions outside a SPECULATE/COMMIT region are mapped to the first of the two code dictionaries. If a SPECULATE instruction is encountered during runtime by a simulator running the code, the instructions are mapped to a native instruction set of the host using the second code dictionary. Within the SPECULATE/COMMIT region are mapped to the native instruction set of the host using a second model that more accurately represents the multi-level memory of the final hardware implementation of the multi-processor system.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling bi-directional fluid flow. The apparatus has a pump that operates in a continuous pump cycle having a pressure phase and a vacuum phase. A conduit connects a common pump port to a utility port. An electrically-controlled valve regulates air flow through the conduit. The valve operates between a first position isolating the pump and the utility port, and a second position connecting the pump and the utility port in fluid communication. A detector continuously detects and communicates a signal identifying whether the pump is operating in the pressure or vacuum phase of the pump cycle. A controller uses the detector signal to synchronize actuation of the valve with the pump cycle to generate either continuous positive or continuous negative pressure at the utility port.