Abstract: Various implementations include solar thermal energy collection system comprising a solar energy concentrator, a heat transfer fluid, an absorber pipe. The absorber pipe includes a pipe wall and has a central longitudinal axis. The pipe wall has an inner surface and an outer surface. The inner surface has a first contour defining alternating peaks and troughs along a length of the absorber pipe. The outer surface has a second contour defining alternating peaks and troughs along the length of the absorber pipe. The inner surface defines the entire flow path for the heat transfer fluid through the absorber pipe. The first contour, as viewed through an axial cross section of the absorber pipe, forms sinusoidal waves on each side of and spaced apart from the central longitudinal axis. The sinusoidal waves on each side of the central longitudinal axis are symmetrical with respect to the central longitudinal axis.

Abstract: Various implementations include solar thermal energy collection system comprising a solar energy concentrator, a heat transfer fluid, an absorber pipe. The absorber pipe includes a pipe wall and has a central longitudinal axis. The pipe wall has an inner surface and an outer surface. The inner surface has a first contour defining alternating peaks and troughs along a length of the absorber pipe. The outer surface has a second contour defining alternating peaks and troughs along the length of the absorber pipe. The inner surface defines the entire flow path for the heat transfer fluid through the absorber pipe. The first contour, as viewed through an axial cross section of the absorber pipe, forms sinusoidal waves on each side of and spaced apart from the central longitudinal axis. The sinusoidal waves on each side of the central longitudinal axis are symmetrical with respect to the central longitudinal axis.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are real time hydrogen self-supplied alkaline membrane fuel cell that operates with hydrogen produced in situ. The hydrogen self-supplied alkaline membrane fuel cell can comprise (i) a hydrogen generation reactor that provides continuous, on-demand supply of hydrogen, wherein the hydrogen generation reactor produces hydrogen by reacting metal particles with water in the presence of an alkaline catalyst, and (ii) a membrane electrode assembly adapted to receive an oxidant and a fuel stream containing hydrogen produced in the hydrogen generation reactor. The membrane electrode assembly comprises an electrolyte membrane and at least two electrodes. The electrolyte membrane can comprise cellulose and the electrolyte can comprise a base such as aqueous potassium hydroxide. Methods for operating an alkaline membrane fuel cell are also disclosed.

Abstract: A space efficient photo-bioreactor. The bioreactor grows microalgae in a tall array of transparent flooded tubes. A nutrient media is circulated through the tubes. The array is configured to maximize the amount of sunlight falling upon each tube so that growth of the microalgae is as uniform as possible. A vertically-oriented gasser tube is provided. Gas is injected into this gasser tube along with the liquid nutrient medium. A bubble-size limiter is employed in the gas injector. The flow rates are configured so that the liquid nutrient medium and injected gas remain within the vertical gasser tube for 30 seconds or more.

Abstract: A space efficient photo-bioreactor. The bioreactor grows microalgae in a tall array of transparent flooded tubes. A nutrient media is circulated through the tubes. The array is configured to maximize the amount of sunlight falling upon each tube so that growth of the microalgae is as uniform as possible. A vertically-oriented gasser tube is provided. Gas is injected into this gasser tube along with the liquid nutrient medium. A bubble-size limiter is employed in the gas injector. The flow rates are configured so that the liquid nutrient medium and injected gas remain within the vertical gasser tube for 30 seconds or more.

Abstract: Aspects described herein provide various approaches for managing financial commitments for customers of a financial institution. Financial data regarding a financial commitment for a customer of the financial institution may be received from one or more computing devices. An action item for the financial commitment may be determined based on the received financial data regarding the financial commitment. A priority level and one or more due dates may be assigned to the action item based on financial regulations. An interface comprising the action item, the priority level, and the one or more due dates for the financial commitment may be generated and sent to one or more computing devices.

Abstract: A space efficient photo-bioreactor. The bioreactor grows microalgae in a tall array of transparent flooded tubes. A nutrient media is circulated through the tubes. The array is configured to maximize the amount of sunlight falling upon each tube so that growth of the microalgae is as uniform as possible. A vertically-oriented gasser tube is provided. Gas is injected into this gasser tube along with the liquid nutrient medium. A bubble-size limiter is employed in the gas injector. The flow rates are configured so that the liquid nutrient medium and injected gas remain within the vertical gasser tube for 30 seconds or more.

Abstract: A database system is able to receive a query containing a horizontal aggregate function. In response to the query containing the horizontal aggregate function, aggregate values are produced in a horizontal format. In general, the query can contain both horizontal (new) aggregate functions and vertical (standard) aggregate functions.

Abstract: A fuel cell design which incorporates an alkaline membrane. The membrane is preferably made of specially selected commercial filter paper. The membrane is impregnated with a solution of water and potassium hydroxide. The membrane provides a novel, inexpensive method of introducing potassium hydroxide into the cell and containing it in the active area. Flexible carbon fiber films are used as electrodes. These are coated with a catalyzing film of nickel, iron, and/or cobalt, rather than a precious metal such as platinum.

Abstract: System and method for translating statements and expressions within statistical language programs into SQL. These statements include one or more input statements and have a plurality of data rows. These statements include one or more array statements, the array statements having a set of original variables. The method for translating statements and expressions within statistical language programs into SQL includes the step of defining a select statement including a subset of the original variables. The expressions include one or more assignment expressions, the assignment expressions including a set of original variables and a set of new variables affected by the assignment expressions.

Abstract: Dendritic cooling layers for printed circuit boards and method of fabrication thereof. The dendritic cooling layers may have non-intuitive dendritic structures that minimize peak temperature. The dendritic cooling layers may also be compatible with current PCB fabrication techniques. The dendritic cooling layers may have an adjustable tolerance to meet fabrication limits. The current invention also contemplates a method of generating a dendritic high conductivity path suitable for printed circuit boards. The methodology comprises the replacement of low conductivity materials with high conductivity materials such that the optimal ratio can be obtained to minimize heat flow resistance, while also maintaining lower costs of production.

Abstract: Matrices involved in a data analysis are stored in predetermined blocks, where blocks for a first matrix contain respective rows of the first matrix, and blocks for a second matrix contain respective columns of the second matrix. Results for the data analysis are computed using the blocks of the first and second matrices.

Abstract: A space efficient photo-bioreactor. The bioreactor grows microalgae in a tall array of transparent flooded tubes. A nutrient media is circulated through the tubes. The array is configured to maximize the amount of sunlight falling upon each tube so that growth of the microalgae is as uniform as possible. Gassing/degassing systems are attached to the array of tubes at appropriate locations. These introduce carbon dioxide and remove oxygen. Cooling systems are preferably also provided so that the circulating media can be maintained at a desired temperature. Microalgae are harvested from the photo-bioreactor. The microalgae is filtered and dried. Lipids are then extracted from the microalgae. These lipids are made into biodiesel through a trans-esterification process. The lipids may be used to make other products as well.

Abstract: Methods, data structures, and systems for generating customer segmentation models are provided. Basket transactions are analyzed and classified into a first segment type, a second segment type, a third segment type, or a fourth segment type. A number of the basket transaction within a number of the segment types are separately analyzed to determine sub classifications or sub segments within a particular segment type. Each basket transaction is augmented with a segment type that identifies the segment type classification, and a number of the basket transactions include a segment identifier that identifies the sub segment within a segment type that a basket transaction is associated with. The augmented basket transactions represent a customer segmentation model. In one embodiment, daily transactions are monitored by a script and used to dynamically adjust the customer segmentation model.

Abstract: A database system includes a storage to store a table, and a controller to receive a query containing an aggregate function to calculate a percentage. In response to the aggregate function, the percentage is calculated. In one implementation, the controller calculates plural percentage values based on plural groups specified by a group-by clause of the query.

Abstract: A suitable diffusion nozzle (20) for an ultrasounds probe using water as coupling agent between a piece under inspection and an acoustic transductor (13) such that the water is driven towards the surface of the material through a propulsion channel (21) surrounded by a plurality of diffusion channels (23) through which air is injected under pressure, forming an insulating screen capable of repelling the drops of water generated on the jet of water striking the surface of the material.

Abstract: A database includes a storage to store a data set and a controller to use one or more SQL (Structured Query Language) statements to perform computations associated with a clustering algorithm e.g., a K-means clustering algorithm).

Abstract: A database system is capable of clustering data in received transactions. Clustering is based on sparse distance computations and/or simplified sufficient statistics. Each of the received transactions contain attributes or dimensions that are binary data. In some implementations, a summary table is also output to enable convenient viewing of the results of clustering.

Abstract: System and method for translating statements and expressions within statistical language programs into SQL. These statements include one or more input statements and have a plurality of data rows. These statements include one or more array statements, the array statements having a set of original variables. The method for translating statements and expressions within statistical language programs into SQL includes the step of defining a select statement including a subset of the original variables. The expressions include one or more assignment expressions, the assignment expressions including a set of original variables and a set of new variables affected by the assignment expressions.

Abstract: A system and method of evaluating an SQL recursive query having one or more base select statements and one or more recursive select statements. In one technique the query relates to a base table and has a filter condition on one or more columns from a result table returned by the query. The technique includes the steps of receiving the query to be evaluated, evaluating a base step by evaluating one or more of the base select statements, evaluating one or more recursive steps by evaluating one or more of the recursive select statements, evaluating the filter condition prior to evaluating any of the recursive steps, and returning the result of the query.