Abstract: The present disclosure describes devices useful for microscale fluid purification, separation, and synthesis devices. Generally, such devices comprise a fluid membrane that separates two or more fluids flowing through plural microchannels operatively associated with the membrane. The fluids can both be liquids, gases, or a liquid and a gas, such as may be used for gas absorption into a liquid. Often, the membrane is a semipermeable membrane, such as might be used with a filtration device, such as a dialyzer. Devices of the present invention can be combined with other microscale devices to make systems. For example, the devices may be coupled with one or more microchemical microfactories, one or more micromixers, one or more microheaters; etc. Examples of devices made according to the present invention included an oxygenator, a dialzyer, microheat exchangers, etc. Particular materials had to be developed for use with certain embodiments of the device disclosed herein.

Abstract: Photochromic materials that are useful for a variety of applications, including for making various unit functions of fluidic devices, particularly microfluidic devices, such as microchannels, valves and gates, using spiropyran materials, such as a polymeric composition comprising a spiropyran. In certain disclosed embodiments the spiropyran is admixed with a polymeric material. For example, the spiropyran may be intercalated into a polyalkylene or polyalkylene phthalate. The spiropyran also may be polymerized with at least one additional monomer to form a heteropolymer, such as by polymerization with styrene, styrene derivatives, acrylate and acrylate derivatives. The spiropyran compositions can be used to make, for example, a photoactuatable valve, a fluidic channel, etc. The valve may be associated with a microchannel, including photochromic microchannel. In certain disclosed embodiments, the valve, at least one microchannel, or both, are re-patternable by light exposure.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes devices useful for microscale fluid purification, separation, and synthesis devices. Generally, such devices comprise a fluid membrane that separates two or more fluids flowing through plural microchannels operatively associated with the membrane. The fluids can both be liquids, gases, or a liquid and a gas, such as may be used for gas absorption into a liquid. Often, the membrane is a semipermeable membrane, such as might be used with a filtration device, such as a dialyzer. Devices of the present invention can be combined with other microscale devices to make systems. For example, the devices may be coupled with one or more microchemical microfactories, one or more micromixers, one or more microheaters; etc. Examples of devices made according to the present invention included an oxygenator, a dialzyer, microheat exchangers, etc. Particular materials had to be developed for use with certain embodiments of the device disclosed herein.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes devices useful for microscale fluid purification, separation, and synthesis devices. Generally, such devices comprise a fluid membrane that separates two or more fluids flowing through plural microchannels operatively associated with the membrane. Often, the membrane is a semipermeable membrane, such as might be used with a filtration device, such as a dialyzer. Devices of the present invention can be combined with other microscale devices to make systems. For example, the devices may be coupled with one or more microchemical microfactories, one or more micromixers, one or more microheaters; etc. Particular materials had to be developed for use with certain embodiments of the device disclosed herein. For example, a new composite material was made comprising nanocrystalline cellulose filler and a polysulfone polymeric material. A dialyzer comprising the composite membrane also is disclosed.

Abstract: Presented are a system and method for providing a graphical user interface (GUI) based modular platform having educational content. The method includes providing an interactive GUI on a computing device accessible by a user, receiving a first indication of a language being studied, displaying a GUI layer presenting a selection of level, unit, activity, and/or lesson, receiving a lesson selection, and computing a rating or score of the user's performance for the lesson. The system includes a control module, a language parser accessing content within repositories and providing language specific content, a syntax rule base providing language specific rules to the language parser, a lesson format base providing a lesson style to the control module, and a speech recognition system evaluating a user's utterance for pronunciation and sentence structure accuracy.

Abstract: Embodiments of an apparatus, system, and method for chemical synthesis and/or analysis are disclosed. One embodiment of a disclosed apparatus comprises a laminated, microfluidic structure defining a reactor and a separator. Such apparatuses, or portions thereof, generally have dimensions ranging from about 1 micrometer to about 100 micrometers. To implement synthetic processes, disclosed embodiments of the apparatus generally include at least one valve, and often plural, selectively actuatable valves. Detectors, including optical detectors, also can be used to detect product and other materials as they flow by, or are otherwise presented to, the detector. Individual apparatuses may be coupled both in series and in parallel to form a system for making chemical compounds. The apparatus is particularly useful for making compounds requiring iterative reaction schemes, and further can be used to make compounds having morphological structures that resemble the morphology of the apparatus itself, such as dendrimers.

Abstract: The utilization of a specific load transfer device for the purpose of allowing for reliable connection and adhesion of composite wood boards during edifice manufacture therewith is provided. Such a device is configured for containment within slots cut into the peripheral edges of such wood boards and cut into a shape therein that is complementary to that of the device itself. In such a manner, the device, when introduced within the properly shaped slot, permits separation of adjacent wood boards that are sequentially applied to the frame of the target edifice, as well as, ultimately, sufficient load bearing strength for the overall construction (such as a roof) within which such connected wood boards are utilized.

Abstract: The utilization of a specific load transfer device for the purpose of allowing for reliable connection and adhesion of composite wood boards during edifice manufacture therewith is provided. Such a device is configured for containment within slots cut into the peripheral edges of such wood boards and cut into a shape therein that is complementary to that of the device itself. In such a manner, the device, when introduced within the properly shaped slot, permits separation of adjacent wood boards that are sequentially applied to the frame of the target edifice, as well as, ultimately, sufficient load bearing strength for the overall construction (such as a roof) within which such connected wood boards are utilized.

Abstract: Disclosed is an I joist including a first and a second flange interconnected by a webstock; the first flange has a first major surface upon which is formed a groove, so that the groove faces and receives the webstock; and a reinforcing aluminum sheet material disposed in the groove.

Abstract: Disclosed is a floor structure comprising: an upper surface arranged in parallel to a lower surface; and one or more channels disposed vertically between upper and lower surfaces and longitudinally extending along the upper and lower surfaces, each of the one or more channels having a top and a bottom.

Abstract: A wood composite board comprising paulownia strands is disclosed.

Abstract: A random sampling of a subset of a data population is taken and the sampled data is used to build a predictive model using a cubic or multiquadric radial basis function, and then “scores” (i.e., predictions) are generated for each data point in the entire data population. This process is repeated on additional random sample subsets of the same data population. After a predetermined number of random sample subsets have been modeled and scores for all data points in the population are generated for each of the models, the average score and variation for each predicted data point is calculated. The data points are subjected to rank ordering by their variance, thereby allowing those data points having a high variance to be identified as outliers.

Abstract: “Microbins” are established to be used for automatic data-point-by-data-point sorting of outcomes of a model. These microbins have much finer “resolution” than standard decile bins. The predicted values are mapped to their respective microbins. As an actual outcome is obtained, it is automatically inserted into the microbin associated with its predicted value. By limiting the predicted score values to three decimal places (or rounding them to three decimal places), each predicted value will have a single microbin in which to be placed, rather than bunching a range of predicted values into a decile bin. To establish the decile bins needed to prepare a standard 10-bin lift chart, the first {fraction (1/10)}th of the actual outcomes are grouped in a first bin, the second {fraction (1/10)}th of the actual outcomes are grouped in a second bin, etc. In this manner, the actual outcomes are “sorted” on the fly rather than after the fact.

Abstract: Business intelligence techniques and well-understood sales processes and techniques are utilized to allow the operator of an interactive sales medium, e.g., a web seller, call center operator, intelligent vending machine operator, etc., to gather information pertaining to a user of the web site from as many sources as possible, including from the user's input at the “touch-point” (the PC, kiosk, PDF connected to the Web; an ATM; an intelligent vending machine). Content is selected and displayed that, in a less-than-apparent manner, elicits information from the user regarding his/her proclivities, purchasing habits, demographics, etc., and this information is combined with other data from other sources (call-center records, survey information, store purchases, etc.).

Abstract: Lap beam connectors for allowing two beams to be joined together without having to use external fasteners such as screws. Each beam has at least one internal pair of receptacles for slidably receiving each end of a plate therein. The plate can be secured to inner walls of the beams by a crimping tool, and the like. The plate allows the weight of the beams and any structure being built to be distributed over the length of the beam instead of just being directly on the ends of the beams. The receptacles can be substantially U-shaped with triangular shaped sidewalls. Another part of the invention allows for attaching two U-shaped beam half sections together by having a nesting ledges/receptacles on at least one of the legs of one beam half sections. While the legs of each beam half overlapped against each other, the nesting ledges/receptacles hold the beam half legs to be held to fixed locations.

Abstract: A random sampling of a subset of a data population is taken and the sampled data is used to build a predictive model using a cubic or multiquadric radial basis function, and then “scores” (i.e., predictions) are generated for each data point in the entire data population. This process is repeated on additional random sample subsets of the same data population. After a predetermined number of random sample subsets have been modeled and scores for all data points in the population are generated for each of the models, the average score and variation for each predicted data point is calculated. The data points are subjected to rank ordering by their variance, thereby allowing those data points having a high variance to be identified as outliers.

Abstract: A dynamic content management method, system, and computer program product by which interactive content is analyzed and scrutinized on a “real time” basis as users interact with the content presentation is disclosed. This is accomplished by, among other things, utilizing a rules engine or other known selection processor to facilitate dynamic decision making, whereby the selection processor “qualifies” the user for membership in a particular content-testing campaign; content (e.g., an offer or particular web design elements) to be presented to the user is selected and delivered; and the selection of the content, the failure to select the content, and the possible outcome of selecting the content is recorded in an operational database for that user so that it may be used to modify the content presented to that user in the future.

Abstract: Lap beam connectors for allowing two beams to be joined together without having to use external fasteners such as screws. Each beam has at least one internal pair of receptacles for slidably receiving each end of a plate therein. The plate can be secured to inner walls of the beams by a crimping tool, and the like. The plate allows the weight of the beams and any structure being built to be distributed over the length of the beam instead of just being directly on the ends of the beams. The receptacles can be substantially U-shaped with triangular shaped sidewalls. Another part of the invention allows for attaching two U-shaped beam half sections together by having a nesting ledges/receptacles on at least one of the legs of one beam half sections. While the legs of each beam half overlapped against each other, the nesting ledges/receptacles hold the beam half legs to be held to fixed locations.

Abstract: An interface apparatus includes a base element, an interface element, and an attachment mechanism for attaching the interface element to the base element. The attachment mechanism is pivotable within a plurality of degrees of freedom. The interface element is an extensible member which is, in two of its embodiments, pivotally mounted so as to be rotatably adjustable about a pivot point with respect to a primary member. The primary member may be a base member or another display member. These members may be computer keyboards or displays, such as liquid crystal displays (LCDs), audio speakers, or the like such as are used in desk top or lap top computers and terminals.