Abstract: A direct air capture system to remove atmospheric carbon dioxide is provided. The system may include a solid carbon dioxide sorbent and a thermal regeneration module that cycle an exchange fluid. The exchange fluid may include an amine with an affinity for carbon dioxide such that it removes carbon dioxide from the solid sorbent. The exchange fluid may be heated such as with water vapor to remove carbon dioxide from the exchange fluid such that it can be recycled back to the solid sorbent.

Abstract: An energy management system for microgrid systems. The energy management system includes a controller. The controller is configured to receive forecasted weather condition data, predict a power generation profile and/or a power demand profile of a microgrid system in response to the forecasted weather condition data, determine a performance model and/or a degradation model of one or more system components of the microgrid system in response to the power generation profile and/or the power demand profile, derive an energy management optimization strategy in response to the performance model and/or the degradation model of the one or more system components of the microgrid system, and control an operation mode of the one or more system components of the microgrid system in response to the energy management optimization strategy.

Abstract: An electric vehicle (EV) chassis is disclosed that may be a modular platform flexible as a basis for numerous other EV platforms. It is contemplated that the entire electric drivetrain (i.e., powertrain, wheels, steering) may be supplied to an automotive original equipment manufacturer (OEM). The OEM may use the EV chassis for integration within a representative passenger compartment. The chassis may also be reconfigurable with the modularity at various levels that include the energy storage system, the entire chassis system, or any level in-between. The chassis may further be designed to allow connection of multiple modules to enable a larger scale energy storage that may be provided to homes, buildings, or the electric power grid.

Abstract: An electric vehicle (EV) chassis is disclosed that may be a modular platform flexible as a basis for numerous other EV platforms. It is contemplated that the entire electric drivetrain (i.e., powertrain, wheels, steering) may be supplied to an automotive original equipment manufacturer (OEM). The OEM may use the EV chassis for integration within a representative passenger compartment. The chassis may also be reconfigurable with the modularity at various levels that include the energy storage system, the entire chassis system, or any level in-between. The chassis may further be designed to allow connection of multiple modules to enable a larger scale energy storage that may be provided to homes, buildings, or the electric power grid.

Abstract: The use of mucic acid gallate compounds in a non-sugar sweetener such as a steviol glycoside-containing consumable to provide lingering aftertaste specific masking effect is provided.

Abstract: The present invention extends to apparatuses and methods directed to a modular and adjustable swim fin. Some aspects of the invention include a swim fin having one or more interchangeable fin ribs that facilitate adjustment of flexibility characteristics of the swim fin. For example, interchangeable fin ribs having different flexibility characteristics (e.g., durometer, stiffness, rigidity, or hardness) provide desirable performance when attached to a fin blade of a swim fin. In addition, some aspects of the invention include a fin blade with an adjustable fin split that facilitates use of either a solid fin blade when the adjustable fin split is closed or a split fin blade when the adjustable fin split is open.

Abstract: The use of mucic acid gallate compounds in a non-sugar sweetener such as a steviol glycoside-containing consumable to provide lingering aftertaste specific masking effect is provided.

Abstract: A method of forming a battery cell including forming an anode region including a current collector, a porous intercalation material, and an anolyte. The method also includes forming an ionically conductive separator and forming a cathode region including a current collector and a porous intercalation material. The method also includes adding a first lithium reaction product and a first catholyte to the cathode region and applying a charging current between the cathode and anode. The method also includes removing a reduction by-product from the battery cell. An embodiment also includes a battery formed by the method.

Abstract: The toilet bowl separately collects urine and feces for analysis or other uses. The toilet bowl includes a toilet bowl wall with at least two holes in it. The first hole is a fecal collection aperture positioned below a user where a user may defecate into it. The second hole is a urine collection orifice through which a user's urine may flow. The two holes may be separated by a ridge which may act like a dam to inhibit cross-contamination of collected feces and urine. Conduits may connect to the two holes to direct the waste into analytical devices or containers for additional uses including composters and digesters which produce clean energy.

Abstract: The toilet bowl separately collects urine and feces for analysis or use in a composting device, waste digester, or to reclaim water. The toilet bowl includes a toilet bowl wall. Urine flows down the toilet bowl wall into a channel for collection. The channel surrounds an aperture into which feces may be deposited. Consequently, urine and feces are kept separate during collection. Both the channel and the aperture may be connected to conduits which may transmit material into analytical devices. The conduits may transmit material into digesters in appropriate amounts including controlling the amount of liquid added to solid material. Collected urine may be stored for water reclamation. Sensors may confirm the absence of fecal matter in collected urine or detect contamination. After separate analysis, feces and urine may be combined through connecting conduits then disposed of in the sewer system or sent to a composting device or waste digester.

Abstract: The toilet bowl separately collects urine and feces for analysis or other uses. The toilet bowl includes a toilet bowl wall with at least two holes in it. The first hole is a fecal collection aperture positioned below a user where a user may defecate into it. The second hole is a urine collection orifice through which a user's urine may flow. The two holes may be separated by a ridge which may act like a dam to inhibit cross-contamination of collected feces and urine. Conduits may connect to the two holes to direct the waste into analytical devices or containers for additional uses including composters and digesters which produce clean energy.

Abstract: The toilet bowl separately collects urine and feces for analysis or use in a composting device, waste digester, or to reclaim water. The toilet bowl includes a toilet bowl wall. Urine flows down the toilet bowl wall into a channel for collection. The channel surrounds an aperture into which feces may be deposited. Consequently, urine and feces are kept separate during collection. Both the channel and the aperture may be connected to conduits which may transmit material into analytical devices. The conduits may transmit material into digesters in appropriate amounts including controlling the amount of liquid added to solid material. Collected urine may be stored for water reclamation. Sensors may confirm the absence of fecal matter in collected urine or detect contamination. After separate analysis, feces and urine may be combined through connecting conduits then disposed of in the sewer system or sent to a composting device or waste digester.

Abstract: We disclose a toilet system which analyzes solid waste to detect tags which were associated with pharmaceutical or nutritional products and excreted in the solid waste of a user. The toilet system may include a receptacle for receiving solid waste, a liquid dispenser for providing a liquid to assist in dispersing the solid waste, a solid waste dispersing system which may mix the solid waste with the liquid thereby homogenizing the solid waste, and an electromagnetic signature detector which may analyze the tags in the solid waste. The electromagnetic signature detector may include a selective binding surface which may bind tags present in the solid waste and which may be connected to a transducer which senses the presence of bound tags.

Abstract: A piston flush toilet apparatus is disclosed. The piston flush toilet apparatus comprises one or more leaky piston seals which allow lubrication to leak in a predetermined direction. The leaky lubrication keeps waste from entering unwanted areas of the piston drive system while also lubricating the piston and macerated waste. An internal piston maceration system is also disclosed and claimed. Additionally, a microscope and light built into the piston is also disclosed and claimed.

Abstract: A lithium-ion battery cell includes at least two working electrodes, each including an active material, an inert material, an electrolyte and a current collector, a first separator region arranged between the at least two working electrodes to separate the at least two working electrodes so that none of the working electrodes are electronically connected within the cell, an auxiliary electrode including a lithium reservoir, and a second separator region arranged between the auxiliary electrode and the at least two working electrodes to separate the auxiliary electrode from the working electrodes so that none of the working electrodes is electronically connected to the auxiliary electrode within the cell.

Abstract: An animal milking method and apparatus wherein a single milk meter measures the total milk flow from all four quarters of an animals udder, and the data generated by the milk meter is used to detect a departure from a predicted milk flow versus time relationship, indicative of an injured teat or an infected udder quarter, for altering the herdsman to a condition which warrants medical inspection of the animal concerned.

Abstract: An implant and a process of modifying an implant surface, which implant is in particular a hip implant, a tooth implant, a bone screw, fixation pin or a fixation nail (pin-fixation), comprising a metallic base body, which implant has a surface modified by a material containing a tissue-friendly metal, such as tantalum or niobium, for the formation of a surface modification where at least the tissue-friendly metal is alloyed with the surface and constitutes a uniform, diffusion-tight outer zone on the body, which outer zone has a higher ductility than the metallic base body in order to obtain a tissue-friendly implant with increased fatigue strength.

Abstract: A process for electrochemical deposition of tantalum on an article in an inert, non-oxidizing atmosphere, or under vacuum, in a molten electrolyte containing tantalum ions, comprising the steps of: immersing the article into the molten electrolyte heated to a working temperature, passing an electric current through the electrolyte to thereby deposit a tantalum coating on the article, wherein the process of tantalum deposition at least in an initial phase deposits pure ?-tantalum.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for increasing the temperature of a fluid being infused into a patient's body while the infusion is taking place. The present invention also provides for improved monitoring of air in the infusion system such to prevent the introduction of air into the patient's body receiving the fluid infusion. The present invention also provides for a system pump which provides a variable flow rate that serves a vast amount of infusion needs and purposes. A disposable cartridge in accordance with the present invention will allow for the efficient transfer of heat energy to the fluid being infused into the patient's body. The cartridge will further ensure that deleterious amounts of air will not be introduced into the patient's body.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for increasing the temperature of a fluid being infused into a patient's body while the infusion is taking place. The present invention also provides for improved monitoring of air in the infusion system such to prevent the introduction of air into the patient's body receiving the fluid infusion. The present invention also provides for a system pump which provides a variable flow rate that serves a vast amount of infusion needs and purposes. A disposable cartridge in accordance with the present invention will allow for the efficient transfer of heat energy to the fluid being infused into the patient's body. The cartridge will further ensure that deleterious amounts of air will not be introduced into the patient's body.