Abstract: A device is provided that comprises a first pillar disposed in a first region and overlying a base structure, and a second pillar disposed in a second region and overlying the base structure and being spaced apart from the first pillar by a device region. A bridge is disposed in the device region with a first end connected to the first pillar and a second end connected to the second pillar. The bridge includes a top, sides, and a bottom. The bridge is formed from one or more heterostructures with an undercut opening extending from the bottom to an underlying structure. A four-sided conductive contact wraps around and substantially surrounds the bridge around its top, its sides, and its bottom along at least a portion of its length between the first and second end.

Abstract: A system and method for providing mobile or temporary water treatment involving ion exchange resins includes a service centre, one or more treatment vehicles, a resin transfer hub and one or more resin transport vehicles. The service centre can be used to regenerate one or more types of ion exchange resins. The treatment vehicle carries water treatment equipment including a tank holding ion exchange resin. The resin transfer hub facilitates moving resin between a treatment vehicle and a resin transport vehicle. The resin transport vehicle is adapted for carrying resin by one or more of land, sea and air between the resin forwarding centre and the service centre. In operation, a treatment vehicle brings resin requiring regeneration to the resin transfer hub, where it is emptied and then re-filled with regenerated resin. Resin requiring regeneration is transferred to a resin transport vehicle for transport to the service centre.

Abstract: A system and method for providing mobile or temporary water treatment involving ion exchange resins includes a service center, one or more treatment vehicles, a resin transfer hub and one or more resin transport vehicles. The service center can be used to regenerate one or more types of ion exchange resins. The treatment vehicle carries water treatment equipment including a tank holding ion exchange resin. The resin transfer hub facilitates moving resin between a treatment vehicle and a resin transport vehicle. The resin transport vehicle is adapted for carrying resin by one or more of land, sea and air between the resin forwarding center and the service center. In operation, a treatment vehicle brings resin requiring regeneration to the resin transfer hub, where it is emptied and then re-filled with regenerated resin. Resin requiring regeneration is transferred to a resin transport vehicle for transport to the service center.

Abstract: A system and method for providing mobile or temporary water treatment involving ion exchange resins includes a service centre, one or more treatment vehicles, a resin transfer hub and one or more resin transport vehicles. The service centre can be used to regenerate one or more types of ion exchange resins. The treatment vehicle carries water treatment equipment including a tank holding ion exchange resin. The resin transfer hub facilitates moving resin between a treatment vehicle and a resin transport vehicle. The resin transport vehicle is adapted for carrying resin by one or more of land, sea and air between the resin forwarding centre and the service centre. In operation, a treatment vehicle brings resin requiring regeneration to the resin transfer hub, where it is emptied and then re-filled with regenerated resin. Resin requiring regeneration is transferred to a resin transport vehicle for transport to the service centre.

Abstract: Increased efficiency and lower cost job scheduling is provided by a system and method that optimizes for cost instead of makespan, and minimizes fluctuations in resource utilization. A schedule is constructed using a workflow scheduling system that includes a load leveler, a cost minimizer, and a manpower planner. The load leveler minimizes makespan, subject to resource limits, and then lowers the resource limits, repeating the process in order to create a flatter schedule. The cost minimizer generates an initial solution, and then incrementally improves it, using the manpower planner to evaluate the different possible solutions. The manpower planner calculates, for a given schedule, the optimal hire/fire decisions to minimize total cost.

Abstract: Increased efficiency and lower cost job scheduling is provided by a system and method that optimizes for cost instead of makespan, and minimizes fluctuations in resource utilization. A schedule is constructed using a workflow scheduling system that includes a load leveler, a cost minimizer, and a manpower planner. The load leveler minimizes makespan, subject to resource limits, and then lowers the resource limits, repeating the process in order to create a flatter schedule. The cost minimizer generates an initial solution, and then incrementally improves it, using the manpower planner to evaluate the different possible solutions. The manpower planner calculates, for a given schedule, the optimal hire/fire decisions to minimize total cost.

Abstract: Glow discharge apparatus comprises a light-transmissive body (101) defining a cavity (102) containing neon or xenon gas. The glow discharge is powered by one or more electrodes (103) external to the cavity. The apparatus also comprises a secondary light source (104) for illuminating the neon gas to provide electrons in the cavity, thereby assisting discharge initiation in intermittent use, for example when controlled by a pulse time modulation drive circuit (107).