Abstract: Described herein are systems and methods for treating an aqueous input stream comprising at least one suspended and/or emulsified immiscible phase (e.g., oil, grease) and, in some cases, one or more additional contaminants, such as solubilized bicarbonate (HCO3?) ions, solubilized divalent cations (e.g., Ca2+, Mg2+), solubilized trivalent cations (e.g., Fe3+, Al3+), organic material (e.g., humic acid, fulvic acid), hydrogen sulfide (H2S), and/or suspended solids. According to certain embodiments, the aqueous feed stream is supplied to a water treatment system comprising a chemical coagulation apparatus and a suspended solids removal apparatus (e.g., a clarifier). Within the chemical coagulation apparatus, an amount of an inorganic coagulant (e.g., aluminum chlorohydrate, polyaluminum chloride), an amount of a strong base (e.g., sodium hydroxide), and an amount of a polyelectrolyte (e.g., polyacrylamide) may be added to the aqueous input stream to form a chemically-treated stream.

Abstract: A multi-stage bubble-column vapor mixture condenser comprises at least a first stage and a second stage. Each stage includes a carrier-gas inlet and a carrier-gas outlet, as well as a condenser chamber containing a condensing bath in fluid communication with the carrier-gas inlet and the carrier-gas outlet. The carrier-gas inlet is positioned to bubble carrier gas from the carrier-gas inlet up through the condensing bath, overcoming a hydrostatic head of the condensing bath. The carrier-gas outlet is positioned with an opening for carrier-gas extraction above the condensing bath, wherein the first-stage carrier-gas outlet is in fluid communication with the carrier-gas inlet of the second stage to facilitate flow of the carrier gas through the condensing bath in the condenser chamber of the first stage and then through the condensing bath in the condenser chamber of the second stage.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein generally relate to humidification-dehumidification desalination systems, including apparatuses that include a vessel comprising a humidification region (e.g., a bubble column humidification region) and a dehumidification region (e.g., a bubble column dehumidification region), mobile humidification-dehumidification (HDH) desalination systems (e.g., systems having a relatively low height and/or a relatively small footprint), and associated systems and methods. Certain embodiments generally relate to methods of operating, controlling, and/or cleaning desalination systems comprising a plurality of desalination units (e.g., HDH desalination units).

Abstract: Water treatment systems and associated methods are generally described. Certain embodiments of the water treatment systems and methods described herein may be used to treat water comprising one or more contaminants (e.g., oil, grease, suspended solids, scale-forming ions, volatile organic material) to remove at least a portion of the one or more contaminants. In some embodiments, at least a portion of the treated water may be used directly in certain applications (e.g., oil and/or gas extraction processes). In some embodiments, at least a portion of the treated water may undergo desalination to produce substantially pure water and/or concentrated brine.

Abstract: The invention is based, in part, on a system and method designed to be able to easily and automatically scale up to millions of cameras and users. To do this, this discourse teaches use of modern cloud computing technology, including automated service provisioning, automated virtual machine migration services, RESTful API, and various firewall traversing methods to facilitate the scaling process. Moreover, the system and method described herein teaches scalable cloud solutions providing for higher though-put camera provisioning and event recognition. The network may segregate the retrieval server from the storage server, and by doing so, minimizing the load on any one server and improving network efficiency and scalability.

Abstract: An osmotic membrane comprises an active layer and a composite support layer. The active layer selectively allows passage of water molecules but rejects at least some dissolved ions. The composite support layer includes a side that is bonded to the active layer and comprises an electrospun-fiber sub-layer and a phase-inversion sub-layer.

Abstract: A counter-flow simultaneous heat and mass exchange device is operated by directing flows of two fluids into a heat and mass exchange device at initial mass flow rates where ideal changes in total enthalpy rates of the two fluids are unequal. At least one of the following state variables in the fluids is measured: temperature, pressure and concentration, which together define the thermodynamic state of the two fluid streams at the points of entry to and exit from the device. The mass flow rate of at least one of the two fluids is changed such that the ideal change in total enthalpy rates of the two fluids through the device are brought closer to being equal.

Abstract: The present invention provides compounds having formula (I): and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein Cy1, Cy2, Cy3, R, R1, R2, R3, A1 and A2 are as described generally and in classes and subclasses herein, and additionally provides pharmaceutical compositions thereof, and methods for the use thereof for the treatment of any of a number of conditions or diseases in which inhibiting ROCK1, ROCK2, or ROCK1/2 has a therapeutically useful role.

Abstract: Described herein are systems and methods for removing boron from water. According to certain embodiments, an aqueous input stream comprising boron and at least one suspended and/or emulsified immiscible phase is supplied to a water treatment system comprising a chemical coagulation apparatus, a suspended solids removal apparatus, and a boron removal apparatus. Within the chemical coagulation apparatus, an amount of an inorganic coagulant, an amount of a strong base, and an amount of a polyelectrolyte may be added to the aqueous input stream to form a chemically-treated stream. In some embodiments, the chemically-treated stream, which may comprise a plurality of floes, may be directed to flow to the suspended solids removal apparatus. Within the suspended solids removal apparatus, at least a portion of the floes may be removed from the chemically-treated stream to form a contaminant-diminished stream having a lower concentration of contaminants than the aqueous input stream.

Abstract: Selective scaling in water treatment systems in which desalination is performed is generally described. According to certain embodiments, the location of the formation of solid scale within a water treatment system is controlled by adjusting one or more system parameters, such as the temperature and/or flow velocity of a saline stream within the water treatment system.

Abstract: Systems and methods related to desalination systems are described herein. According to some embodiments, the desalination systems are hybrid systems comprising one or more first desalination units and one or more second desalination units. In some embodiments, the one or more second desalination units, which may form a fluidic circuit that is located downstream from the one or more first desalination units, may be configured to desalinate higher salinity liquid streams than the one or more first desalination units. In certain embodiments, the one or more first desalination units are operated under steady-state conditions and/or configured to operate under steady-state conditions. In certain embodiments, the one or more second desalination units are transiently operated and/or configured to facilitate transient operation.

Abstract: A counter-flow simultaneous heat and mass exchange device is operated by directing flows of two fluids into a heat and mass exchange device at initial mass flow rates where ideal changes in total enthalpy rates of the two fluids are unequal. At least one of the following state variables in the fluids is measured: temperature, pressure and concentration, which together define the thermodynamic state of the two fluid streams at the points of entry to and exit from the device. The flow rates of the fluids at the points of entry and/or exit to/from the device are measured; and the mass flow rate of at least one of the two fluids is changed such that the ideal change in total enthalpy rates of the two fluids through the device are brought closer to being equal.

Abstract: Provided herein are osmotic desalination methods and associated systems. According to certain embodiments, multiple osmotic membranes may be used to perform a series of osmosis steps, such that an output stream having a relatively high water purity—compared to a water purity of an aqueous feed stream—is produced. In some embodiments, multiple draw streams can be used to produce aqueous product streams having sequentially higher purities of water. Certain embodiments are related to osmotic desalination systems and methods in which forward osmosis is used to produce a first product stream having a relatively high water purity relative to an aqueous feed stream, and reverse osmosis is used to perform a second step (and/or additional steps) on the first product stream. In some embodiments, multiple reverse osmosis steps can be used in series to perform a net desalination process.

Abstract: The invention is based, in part, on a system and method designed to be able to easily and automatically scale up to millions of cameras and users. To do this, this discourse teaches use of modern cloud computing technology, including automated service provisioning, automated virtual machine migration services, RESTful API, and various firewall traversing methods to facilitate the scaling process. Moreover, the system and method described herein teaches scalable cloud solutions providing for higher though-put camera provisioning and event recognition. The network may segregate the retrieval server from the storage server, and by doing so, minimizing the load on any one server and improving network efficiency and scalability.

Abstract: Systems and methods related to desalination systems are described herein. According to some embodiments, the desalination systems are transiently operated and/or configured to facilitate transient operation. In some embodiments, a liquid stream comprising water and at least one dissolved salt is circulated through a fluidic circuit comprising a desalination system. In some embodiments, a portion of the desalination system (e.g., a humidifier) is configured to remove at least a portion of the water from the liquid stream to produce a concentrated brine stream enriched in the dissolved salt. In certain cases, the concentrated brine stream is recirculated through the fluidic circuit until the concentrated brine stream reaches a relatively high density (e.g., at least about 10 pounds per gallon) and/or a relatively high salinity (e.g., a total dissolved salt concentration of at least about 25 wt %).

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for treating polycystic kidney disease by administering a compound or pharmaceutical composition thereof having the general structural formula (I) and pharmaceutically acceptable derivatives thereof, as described generally and in classes and subclasses herein.

Abstract: Provided herein are osmotic desalination methods and associated systems. According to certain embodiments, multiple osmotic membranes may be used to perform a series of osmosis steps, such that an output stream having a relatively high water purity—compared to a water purity of an aqueous feed stream—is produced. In some embodiments, multiple draw streams can be used to produce aqueous product streams having sequentially higher purities of water. Certain embodiments are related to osmotic desalination systems and methods in which forward osmosis is used to produce a first product stream having a relatively high water purity relative to an aqueous feed stream, and reverse osmosis is used to perform a second step (and/or additional steps) on the first product stream. In some embodiments, multiple reverse osmosis steps can be used in series to perform a net desalination process.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein generally relate to humidification-dehumidification desalination systems, including apparatuses that include a vessel comprising a humidification region (e.g., a bubble column humidification region) and a dehumidification region (e.g., a bubble column dehumidification region), mobile humidification-dehumidification (HDH) desalination systems (e.g., systems having a relatively low height and/or a relatively small footprint), and associated systems and methods. Certain embodiments generally relate to methods of operating, controlling, and/or cleaning desalination systems comprising a plurality of desalination units (e.g., HDH desalination units).

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions and formulations of compounds having formula (I): and pharmaceutically acceptable derivatives thereof, wherein p, R1, R2 and B are as described generally and in classes and subclasses herein, and additionally provides pharmaceutical compositions thereof, and methods for the use thereof for the treatment of any of a number of injuries, conditions or diseases in which HGF/SF or the activities thereof, or agonists or antagonists thereof have a therapeutically useful role. In addition, methods are provided for treating such diseases or diseases starting at a time after the onset of the injury, condition or disease.

Abstract: Systems and methods related to desalination systems are described herein. According to some embodiments, the desalination systems are transiently operated and/or configured to facilitate transient operation. In some embodiments, a liquid stream comprising water and at least one dissolved salt is circulated through a fluidic circuit comprising a desalination system. In some embodiments, a portion of the desalination system (e.g., a humidifier) is configured to remove at least a portion of the water from the liquid stream to produce a concentrated brine stream enriched in the dissolved salt. In certain cases, the concentrated brine stream is recirculated through the fluidic circuit until the concentrated brine stream reaches a relatively high density (e.g., at least about 10 pounds per gallon) and/or a relatively high salinity (e.g., a total dissolved salt concentration of at least about 25 wt %).