Abstract: A method of manufacturing a concrete product, includes: mixing a composition including a binder, water, and an aggregate to produce a concrete mixture, a major portion of a weight of the aggregate attributed to particles sized to pass through sieve openings of about 2.36 mm; imparting a form to the concrete mixture to provide a formed intermediate; conditioning the formed intermediate to obtain a conditioned intermediate; and curing the conditioned intermediate with a gas containing carbon dioxide to obtain the concrete product.

Abstract: A vapor chamber structure includes an aluminum upper plate, an aluminum lower plate, a working fluid and multiple micron-sized recesses. The aluminum upper plate has a first side and a second side. The aluminum lower plate has a third side and a fourth side. The aluminum upper and lower plates are correspondingly mated with each other to define an airtight chamber. The working fluid is filled in the airtight chamber. The micron-sized recesses are directly formed on the third side. The micron-sized recesses are upward raised and/or downward recessed from the third side in the form of multiple small puddles so as to enhance the boiling efficiency of the working fluid in the airtight chamber and promote liquid-vapor circulation performance of the vapor chamber. In addition, when used in a low-temperature environment, the vapor chamber structure prevents the working fluid in the airtight chamber from freezing.

Abstract: Methods and devices for tissue fixation. A cortical button with a rib between two slotted openings. The rib increases the cortical button structural rigidity without increasing palpability. An adjustable loop construct with two discrete locking passages that provides manageable loop reduction and improved tissue coupling. The adjustable loop construct may be coupled to tissue via a passing construct. An assembly with a reduction bar, a button and an adjustable loop construct, the assembly provided assembled in a first configuration that disassembles to guide steps of tissue fixation. The reduction bar may be assembled to the reduction bar for reducing the adjustable loop construct.

Abstract: A method for detecting a two-dimensional barcode is provided. Binarization processing is performed on an image to obtain a binary image. Whether the binary image has a target pattern is determined, and it is determined that the binary image has a two-dimensional barcode in response to determining that the binary image has the target pattern. An enlarged image of the two-dimensional barcode is obtained, and two-dimensional barcode detection is performed on the enlarged image of the two-dimensional barcode.

Abstract: A method for detecting a two-dimensional barcode is provided. Binarization processing is performed on an image to obtain a binary image. Whether the binary image has a target pattern is determined, and it is determined that the binary image has a two-dimensional barcode in response to determining that the binary image has the target pattern. An enlarged image of the two-dimensional barcode is obtained, and two-dimensional barcode detection is performed on the enlarged image of the two-dimensional barcode.

Abstract: A method for continually controlling the collective behavior of a set of computing devices in a distributed data processing system. A gateway node disseminates a specification request comprising a set of parameters to a set of computing devices. The gateway node may be unaware of the number and identity of individual computing devices. Each computing node receiving the request determines whether its attributes satisfy the predicates expressed in the specification request. If so, the node processes the parameters in the specification request and modifies its own behavior based on the values in the parameters of the specification request. Subsequently, the gateway node may also observe the quality of information (QoI) values communicated from the set of computing devices. The gateway node iteratively modifies the parameters disseminated in subsequent specification requests based on a divergence between a computed quality of information value and a desired quality of information value.

Abstract: A method for continually controlling the collective behavior of a set of computing devices in a distributed data processing system. A gateway node disseminates a specification request comprising a set of parameters to a set of computing devices. The gateway node may be unaware of the number and identity of individual computing devices. Each computing node receiving the request determines whether its attributes satisfy the predicates expressed in the specification request. If so, the node processes the parameters in the specification request and modifies its own behavior based on the values in the parameters of the specification request. Subsequently, the gateway node may also observe the quality of information (QoI) values communicated from the set of computing devices. The gateway node iteratively modifies the parameters disseminated in subsequent specification requests based on a divergence between a computed quality of information value and a desired quality of information value.

Abstract: A method for continually controlling the collective behavior of a set of computing devices in a distributed data processing system. A gateway node disseminates a specification request comprising a set of parameters to a set of computing devices. The gateway node may be unaware of the number and identity of individual computing devices. Each computing node receiving the request determines whether its attributes satisfy the predicates expressed in the specification request. If so, the node processes the parameters in the specification request and modifies its own behavior based on the values in the parameters of the specification request. Subsequently, the gateway node may also observe the quality of information (QoI) values communicated from the set of computing devices. The gateway node iteratively modifies the parameters disseminated in subsequent specification requests based on a divergence between a computed quality of information value and a desired quality of information value.

Abstract: A method for continually controlling the collective behavior of a set of computing devices in a distributed data processing system. A gateway node disseminates a specification request comprising a set of parameters to a set of computing devices. The gateway node may be unaware of the number and identity of individual computing devices. Each computing node receiving the request determines whether its attributes satisfy the predicates expressed in the specification request. If so, the node processes the parameters in the specification request and modifies its own behavior based on the values in the parameters of the specification request. Subsequently, the gateway node may also observe the quality of information (QoI) values communicated from the set of computing devices. The gateway node iteratively modifies the parameters disseminated in subsequent specification requests based on a divergence between a computed quality of information value and a desired quality of information value.

Abstract: A method for continually controlling the collective behavior of a set of computing devices in a distributed data processing system. A gateway node disseminates a specification request comprising a set of parameters to a set of computing devices. The gateway node may be unaware of the number and identity of individual computing devices. Each computing node receiving the request determines whether its attributes satisfy the predicates expressed in the specification request. If so, the node processes the parameters in the specification request and modifies its own behavior based on the values in the parameters of the specification request. Subsequently, the gateway node may also observe the quality of information (QoI) values communicated from the set of computing devices. The gateway node iteratively modifies the parameters disseminated in subsequent specification requests based on a divergence between a computed quality of information value and a desired quality of information value.