Abstract: Disclosed are methods to produce a high purity biogas from a lignocellulosic biomass. The methods can include inoculating a feedstock mixture comprising the lignocellulosic biomass with a mixed microbial community; contacting the feedstock mixture with effective amount of a soluble pH adjusting agent to increase a pH of the feedstock mixture to an alkaline pH; incubating the feedstock mixture anaerobically at a thermophilic temperature of at least 45° C.; collecting the high purity biogas. In other embodiments, the method comprises inoculating a feedstock mixture comprising the lignocellulosic biomass with a mixed microbial community; anaerobically digesting the feedstock mixture at a pH, temperature, and retention time effective to afford at least 30% carbohydrate conversion of the lignocellulosic biomass to produce high purity biogas having at least 85% methane by volume.

Abstract: The invention discloses a method for preparation of spray dried solid dispersions (SDD) comprising an active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) and a dispersion polymer (DISPPOL), wherein the spray drying is done with a supersaturated solution of API in a solvent mixture comprising two solvents, this supersaturated solution further comprising DISPPOL.

Abstract: Systems for identifying the composition of aerosol particles, particularly that of non-biological aerosol particles or biological aerosol particles including surface-bound water. A continuous timing laser triggers an IR ionization laser to fire when each particle enters the beam of the continuous trigger laser and determine optical properties of the aerosol particles in association with one or more laser scattering devices and generate optical data. The continuous laser beam and the pulse ionization laser beam are disposed as overlapping beams. Ionized fragments produced when each particle is struck by the ionization laser are analyzed using a TOFMS detector. A data analysis system is configured to compile the optical data with unique mass spectral data associated with each particle using data fusion and compare the compiled optical data with a training data set comprising of a knowledge base of known aerosol particles to predict composition.

Abstract: Embodiments include an apparatus and method for building courses. For example, one embodiment of a course builder apparatus comprises: a course builder application to retrieve data from a database, the data usable for constructing one or more online courses; a graphical user interface (GUI) of the course builder application for designing an online course, the GUI comprising: a template region in which one or more published classroom activity templates and/or step templates are graphically displayed; an editing region into which a designer of a course may select and drag one or more of the published classroom activity templates or step templates, the editing region comprising one or more fields or other graphical elements to allow the designer may edit the one or more published classroom activity templates or step templates.

Abstract: A virtual conferencing system is described which tracks events during a virtual conference, provides a user interface for reviewing the events, and allows a moderator and/or other participant to provide feedback related to the events.

Abstract: A virtual conferencing system is described which implements an interactive timeline.

Abstract: A virtual conferencing system is described for implementing a speaker queue.

Abstract: A scalable virtual conferencing system which implements a hub and spoke architecture. For example, one embodiment of a scalable virtual conferencing system comprises: a participant management module to logically group each participant in the virtual conferencing system into a hub or one of a plurality of spokes; and a data flow management module to control communication of information between participants in the spokes and participants in the hub, the data flow management module to limit intercommunication from the spokes to the hub in accordance with the manual user input and/or participant management policy; wherein at least one participant in a first spoke is designated as a spoke leader for the first spoke, the spoke leader logically grouped into both the hub and the first spoke, the data flow management module to allow information generated within the first spoke to be propagated into the hub based on input from the spoke leader.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for portraying physical visual attention cues or visual cues normally present in a conventional physical world in a virtual conference or class. The visual cues can be emulated by electronic signals in a video environment through physical interactions with the computer input by the user or participant of the virtual conference or image recognition algorithms provided by the video conferencing system.

Abstract: A virtual conferencing system is described which tracks events during a virtual conference, provides a user interface for reviewing the events, and allows a moderator and/or other participant to provide feedback related to the events.

Abstract: Embodiments include an apparatus and method for building courses. For example, one embodiment of a course builder apparatus comprises: a course builder application to retrieve data from a database, the data usable for constructing one or more online courses; a graphical user interface (GUI) of the course builder application for designing an online course, the GUI comprising: a template region in which one or more published classroom activity templates and/or step templates are graphically displayed; an editing region into which a designer of a course may select and drag one or more of the published classroom activity templates or step templates, the editing region comprising one or more fields or other graphical elements to allow the designer may edit the one or more published classroom activity templates or step templates.

Abstract: A virtual conferencing system is described which tracks events during a virtual conference, provides a user interface for reviewing the events, and allows a moderator and/or other participant to provide feedback related to the events.

Abstract: A virtual conferencing system is described for implementing a speaker queue.

Abstract: A virtual conferencing system is described for implementing breakout groups.

Abstract: A virtual conferencing system is described for implementing a speaker queue.

Abstract: A virtual conferencing system is described which tracks events during a virtual conference, provides a user interface for reviewing the events, and allows a moderator and/or other participant to provide feedback related to the events.

Abstract: A data collection system for surfing which includes a data collection device mounted on the upper torso of the surfer or on the surf board. The device includes a clock, GPS unit, three dimensional accelerometers, three dimensional gyroscopes, and a microprocessor and data store for processing the signals from the GPS unit, three dimensional accelerometers and three dimensional gyroscopes. The microprocessor is programmed to identify and collect signal data to derive information identifying one or more parameters including number of waves passed up, power of each wave, size and frequency of the waves, time when a wave is caught, number of paddles required to catch a wave, time between catching the wave and the surfer standing up, distance travelled and speed during ride, time when rider exits the wave, acceleration during each manoeuvre during the ride, g force and speed during turns.

Abstract: A virtual conferencing system is described which tracks events during a virtual conference, provides a user interface for reviewing the events, and allows a moderator and/or other participant to provide feedback related to the events.

Abstract: A virtual conferencing system is described which provides discussion support services such as during a debate between virtual conference participants.

Abstract: A virtual conferencing system is described for implementing a speaker queue.