Abstract: Described is a method for extracting alkali from silicates under carbon neutral conditions. The method involves providing a reaction mixture containing an alkali-bearing aluminosilicate composition and an alkali base composition. The reaction mixture is treated with a combined activation and leaching process to form a concentrated alkali-silicate solution and an alkali aluminosilicate solid residue, where carbon dioxide is produced as a carbon dioxide reusable co-product from the activation. The alkali aluminosilicate solid residue is reacted with a first portion of the carbon dioxide reusable co-product to form an alkali leached aluminosilicate composition, thereby extracting alkali from the alkali-bearing aluminosilicate composition. Also described are methods of making inorganic polymer cement and concrete from the products and/or co-products produced by the method of extracting.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and other embodiments described herein relate to securing wireless communications for passive keyless entry (PKE) to an asset. In one embodiment, a method includes, responsive to acquiring sensor data about at least a surrounding environment of a vehicle that provides access according to wireless communications with a remote device, analyzing the sensor data to define operating conditions identifying security characteristics of the vehicle and interactions of the remote device with the vehicle. The method includes activating a countermeasure from an available group of countermeasures according to at least the operating conditions. The method includes wirelessly communicating, by the vehicle with the remote device, according to the countermeasure.

Abstract: Use of diverse biomass feedstock in a process for the recovery of target C5 and C6 alditols and target glycols via staged hydrogenation and hydrogenolysis processes is disclosed. Particular alditols of interest include, but are not limited to, xylitol and sorbitol. Various embodiments of the present invention synergistically improve overall recovery of target alditols and/or glycols from a mixed C5/C6 sugar stream without needlessly driving total recovery of the individual target alditols and/or glycols. The result is a highly efficient, low complexity process having enhanced production flexibility, reduced waste and greater overall yield than conventional processes directed to alditol or glycol production.

Abstract: The disclosure provides novel silk fibroin coated articles and methods of preparing same.

Abstract: Use of diverse biomass feedstock in a process for the recovery of target C5 and C6 alditols and target glycols via staged hydrogenation and hydrogenolysis processes is disclosed. Particular alditols of interest include, but are not limited to, xylitol and sorbitol. Various embodiments of the present invention synergistically improve overall recovery of target alditols and/or glycols from a mixed C5/C6 sugar stream without needlessly driving total recovery of the individual target alditols and/or glycols. The result is a highly efficient, low complexity process having enhanced production flexibility, reduced waste and greater overall yield than conventional processes directed to alditol or glycol production.

Abstract: A wheel shield includes a central disk having a central wheel hub opening surrounded by annularly spaced stud holes that correspond to a pattern presented by a vehicle. The central disk includes an outwardly open fastening surface such as a channel positioned around an outer diameter of the central disk. The wheel shield includes a radially-compressible ring such as radially extending filaments. The radially-compressible ring has an inner diameter attached in the outwardly open fastening surface of the central disk and sized to engagingly contact an inner diameter of a vehicle wheel rim to restrict movement of brake dust to an exposed outer surface of the vehicle wheel rim while still allowing for the movement of air for cooling.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing a combined mosquito staging and dissection system are disclosed. The system can include a mosquito staging subsystem; a robotic pick-and-place station; and a dissection, extrusion, collection, and disposal subsystem. The subsystems can include one or more stations to provide orientation, decapitation, extrusion of salivary glands, and disposal of carcasses of the mosquitoes. The resident live sporozoites from the salivary glands can be used to produce Plasmodium SPZ-based vaccines.

Abstract: System, methods, and other embodiments described herein relate to securing wireless communications for passive keyless entry (PKE) to an asset. In one embodiment, a method includes, responsive to acquiring sensor data about at least a surrounding environment of a vehicle that provides access according to wireless communications with a remote device, analyzing the sensor data to define operating conditions identifying security characteristics of the vehicle and interactions of the remote device with the vehicle. The method includes activating a countermeasure from an available group of countermeasures according to at least the operating conditions. The method includes wirelessly communicating, by the vehicle with the remote device, according to the countermeasure.

Abstract: A method of verifying encounters used to populate a customer service survey software, the method including issuing an interaction card having an encounter-specific Quick Response (“QR”) code to a user, scanning the QR code by the user using an electronic device, the user accessing and completing a customer service survey on the electronic device, collecting information of the customer service survey of the user by the customer service survey software, and storing the information as data in a non-transitory computer-based memory in a back-end server.

Abstract: System, methods, and other embodiments described herein relate to securing wireless communications for passive keyless entry (PKE) to an asset. In one embodiment, a method includes monitoring operating conditions associated with the asset. The operating conditions identify security characteristics of the asset and interactions of wireless devices with the asset. The method includes selectively activating at least one countermeasure from an available group of countermeasures according to at least the operating conditions. The method includes wirelessly communicating, by the asset with an accessing device, according to the at least one countermeasure.

Abstract: A device mount mounts a display with an aspect ratio greater than or less than 1:1. A camera is integrated into the device mount at a position above a top edge of the display. A hinge of the device mount rotates the mounted display. A mounting plate of the hinge couples the hinge to the device mount, and a shuttle of the hinge couples the display to the hinge to rotate the display between a landscape mode and a portrait mode. The hinge is configured such that rotation of the display from landscape mode into portrait mode translates a center of the display away from the camera on a vertical axis and rotation of the display back to landscape mode translates the center of the display towards the camera on the vertical axis.

Abstract: Embodiments include assay devices within a single use, disposable cassette for biochemical assays with at least one fluid well and at least one capillary valve. The capillary valve in combination with motion of porous sheets within the assay leads to addition of liquid reagents at different times to the assay although a user adds the liquid reagents to the cassette simultaneously.

Abstract: Embodiments include assay devices within a single use, disposable cassette for biochemical assays with at least one fluid well and at least one capillary valve. The capillary valve in combination with motion of porous sheets within the assay leads to addition of liquid reagents at different times to the assay although a user adds the liquid reagents to the cassette simultaneously.

Abstract: A device housing comprises a front panel, a back panel, and a support structure. The front panel further comprises at least one threaded interface position on an edge of the front panel. The back panel further comprises at least one securing interface positioned on an edge of the back panel. The support structure is configured to mount the front panel and the back panel. The support structure further comprises a slot configured to couple the threaded interface on the front panel and a securing to configured to couple the securing interface on the back panel.

Abstract: A display device may include (i) a display panel, (ii) a housing surrounding at least a portion of the display panel, (iii) an audio trench peripherally surrounding at least a portion of the display panel, the audio trench including a trench opening in a front side of the housing between a frame region and a peripheral region, and (iv) at least one speaker driver disposed between the display panel and a back side of the housing, the at least one speaker driver including a sound radiating surface positioned to direct sound waves into an acoustic chamber defined between the at least one speaker driver and the display panel, wherein a chamber opening is located between a lateral periphery of the acoustic chamber and the audio trench. Various other systems, devices, assemblies, and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: Embodiments herein describe a fault tolerant network connected orchestrator which can handle network outages or hardware resets in a work cell. In one embodiment, the orchestrator determines the next task to assign to the work cell depending on whether the previous task was successfully completed. However, a network outage or a hardware failure may prevent the orchestrator from receiving the results of the previous action from the work cell. In one embodiment, the orchestrator recovers from a communication error by requesting the current state of sensors. Using this information, the orchestrator can deduce or determine the current state of the work cell and determine the next task for the work cell. In this manner, the orchestrator is fault tolerant such that it can recover from communication errors.

Abstract: System, methods, and other embodiments described herein relate to securing wireless communications for passive keyless entry (PKE) to an asset. In one embodiment, a method includes monitoring operating conditions associated with the asset. The operating conditions identify security characteristics of the asset and interactions of wireless devices with the asset. The method includes selectively activating at least one countermeasure from an available group of countermeasures according to at least the operating conditions. The method includes wirelessly communicating, by the asset with an accessing device, according to the at least one countermeasure.

Abstract: Embodiments herein describe forming clusters of network connected orchestration components (referred to herein as “orchestrators”) and distributing the management of a plurality of work cells among the orchestrators. That is, each cluster can include a plurality of work cell orchestration nodes which are the compute resources used to host an orchestrator for managing the work cells. Each cluster can be assigned to manage a particular type or version of a work cell. Because managing a work cell may use only a small fraction of the compute resources of the orchestration nodes, each orchestration node can manage multiple work cells. The embodiments herein describe distributing the work cells amongst the orchestration nodes using a work cell table which permits the orchestration nodes to assert ownership over new work cells and enable automated failover in case one of the orchestration nodes fails.

Abstract: Use of diverse biomass feedstock in a process for the recovery of target C5 and C6 alditols and target glycols via staged hydrogenation and hydrogenolysis processes is disclosed. Particular alditols of interest include, but are not limited to, xylitol and sorbitol. Various embodiments of the present invention synergistically improve overall recovery of target alditols and/or glycols from a mixed C5/C6 sugar stream without needlessly driving total recovery of the individual target alditols and/or glycols. The result is a highly efficient, low complexity process having enhanced production flexibility, reduced waste and greater overall yield than conventional processes directed to alditol or glycol production.

Abstract: A building block of six female sides wherein each side of the block is adapted to accept a male side of a second different block. The first block is made up of a cross form comprised of tubular projections, a skeleton block form, and connection components connecting the cross form to the skeleton block form. The second different blocks are made up of at least four generally cylindrical projections extending normally outward from the base plate of the block that may be inserted into any of the six sides of the first block and interconnect by frictional engagement. These blocks can be interconnected and assembled into a block structure that has both a finished outward appearance in which each outermost side of every block is customizable and provides internal passageways for adding structural elements, wiring, lighting or anything else needed to run through the blocks and block structure.