Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for producing rapid-hardening concrete and a method for producing same, the rapid-hardening concrete being produced by intermixing and dissipating air in normal concrete and adding an early-strength admixture thereto. With respect to forming rapid-hardening concrete, mixed concrete is formed by mixing in a large volume of air bubbles to be discarded, along with an early-strength admixture, to already mixed normal concrete, the early-strength admixture getting evenly dispersed therewithin by means of the ball bearing effect of the air bubbles, and when the mixed concrete is discharged, a rapid-hardening concrete is shotcreted while excess air contained in the mixed concrete is dissipated by means of high-performance air, the slump which was raised due to the large amount of air bubbles having been reduced to the slump range for normal concrete.

Abstract: In some embodiments, the effect of uniformly dispersing carbon nanotubes in the material is achieved by including Ag in the carbon nanotubes to suppress the aggregation of carbon nanotubes when the electrical contacts are prepared.

Abstract: The hybrid desalination system is a desalination system for seawater which uses both filtering and treatment from a reverse osmosis filter system as well as evaporative distillation for the production of potable water. The hybrid desalination system includes a recovery system, which may be a reverse osmosis system, a forward osmosis system, or a combination thereof, for at least partially desalinating a volume of saltwater and outputting a treated fluid. A boiler is in fluid communication with the recovery system for receiving the treated fluid and producing pure water by evaporative desalination. The boiler includes an internal heating coil for passing a heated working fluid therethrough. A collection tank is in communication with to the boiler for receiving the pure water. At least one solar parabolic trough is in fluid communication with the internal heating coil of the boiler for heating the heated working fluid.

Abstract: A system for parallel execution of program portions on different processors permits speculative execution of the program portions before a determination is made as to whether there is a data dependency between the portion and older but unexecuted portions. Before commitment of the program portions in a sequential execution order, data dependencies are resolved through a token system that tracks read access and write access to data elements accessed by the program portions.

Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for cryogenic heat transfer by nanoporous surfaces. In one embodiment, among others, a system includes a cryogenic fluid in a flow path of the system; and a system component in the flow path that includes a nanoporous surface layer in contact with the cryogenic fluid. In another embodiment, a method includes providing a cryogenic fluid; and initiating chilldown of a cryogenic system by directing the cryogenic fluid across a nanoporous surface layer disposed on a surface of a system component.

Abstract: An inventive, new system that measures gas composition and pressure in the headspace of an aqueous electrolyte battery is described. The system includes a microcontroller that can use the composition and pressure information to connect a third electrode to either the anode(s) or the cathode(s) in order to balance the state of charge between the two. Results have shown that such a system can control the gas pressure inside a sealed flooded aqueous electrolyte battery to remain below 20 kPa (3 psi) and greatly extend the useable life of the battery.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are disclosed for coordination of a population of Thermostatically Controlled Loads (TCLs) with unknown parameters to achieve group objectives including bidding and market clearing strategies designed to motivate self-interested users to realize efficient energy allocation subject to a peak power constraint. In one examples of the disclosed technology, a method of operating a load includes estimating a set of values for unmeasured parameters of the load's thermal environment based on output measurements of the thermal environment, determining an energy response based on the estimated set of values for the unmeasured parameters, and transmitting a bid for power for a finite time period based on the determined energy response to the coordinator. A clearing price is received from the coordinator responsive to the transmitted bid and power is sent to the load responsive to the received clearing price.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods of using probiotic arginolytic oral compositions including isolated arginolytic bacterial strains to increase arginolytic activity in the oral cavity, increase ammonia-producing bacteria in the oral cavity, and/or to treat and/or prevent oral disorders, such as caries.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods of inhibiting proliferation of one or more tumor cells comprising contacting the one or more tumor cells with a composition comprising one or more epigenetic drugs that inhibit one or more epigenetic mechanisms of the tumor cells, wherein the one or more epigenetic drugs are encapsulated in a nanogel. The invention is also directed to methods of treating a tumor, metastasis of a tumor or a combination thereof in an individual in need thereof. The invention is also directed to a method of sequentially delivering one or more epigenetic drugs that alter one or more epigenetic mechanisms of a tumor cell and one or more chemotherapeutic drugs to an individual that has a tumor. Compositions which comprise one or more epigenetic drugs that alter one or more epigenetic mechanisms of a tumor cell, wherein the one or more epigenetic drugs are encapsulated in a nanogel.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a non-volatile ferroelectric memory device including a semiconductor active layer, a plurality of memory cells connected in series on the semiconductor active layer, and a control circuit for performing a read operation and a program operation on the selected memory cell among the plurality of memory cells, each of the memory cells comprising a para-dielectric layer on the semiconductor active layer; a dielectric stack including a ferroelectric layer stacked on the para-dielectric layer and a charge trap site for generating a negative capacitance effect of the ferroelectric layer by charges disposed and trapped at an interface between the ferroelectric layer and the para-dielectric layer; and a control gate electrode on the ferroelectric layer.

Abstract: This disclosure describes devices, system, and a method for the prediction and prevention of acute decompensated heart failure or other patient conditions involving fluid accumulation in legs or hands. In one example, a wearable device contains a drift-free leg-size sensor and a tissue-elasticity sensor. Both sensors may be relatively inexpensive and developed using innovative new sensing ideas. Preliminary tests with the sensor prototypes show promising results: the leg-size sensor is capable of measuring 1 mm changes in leg diameter and the tissue-elasticity sensor can detect 0.15 MPa differences in elasticity. In another example, a wearable system includes sensors for measuring a variety of physiological parameters, a processing module, and a communication module. A low-profile instrumented sock, e.g., a wearable device, with multiple sensors can provide an indication of heart failure status for a patient.

Abstract: A system for suppressing vestibular activity of a human subject includes an electronics module configured to generate one or more electrical stimulation signals. A plurality of electrodes each placed proximate a predetermined location on a head of a human subject is configured to deliver the one or more electrical stimulation signals to the predetermined location to suppress vestibular activity of the human subject.

Abstract: Various integrated high quality electronic components and systems, and methods of their manufacture, are presented. In one example, a device includes a glass substrate or interposer including one or more metalized through-glass vias (TGVs). The one or more metalized TGVs can be used to form a substrate integrated waveguide, a complementary split ring resonator, a disc loaded monopole antenna or other device. An array of metalized TGVs can define side walls of the integrated waveguide. A disc coupled to a tip of a metalized TGV can provide capacitive disc loading of the monopole antenna.

Abstract: A photoacid includes a nucleophilic (NuH) moiety having a photodissociable proton, an electron accepting (EA) moiety, and a bridge structure (X) bonded to both the NuH moiety and EA moiety positioned between the NuH and EA moieties. The NuH and EA moieties each include respective structure so that the EA moiety bonds to a proton photodissociated form of the NuH moiety during a reversible photoinduced intramolecular reaction to form a ring, which has been found to significantly increase the lifetime of the proton dissociation state.

Abstract: A controlling of a lighting network based on traffic monitoring comprises steps of determining plurality of coverage areas of set of luminaires, where each luminaire comprises at least one light source. Information related to a presence of users in said coverage areas is received. This may relate both outdoor or indoor areas and activity. A status of at least certain luminaire is then changed to a reserve status, when a last detected user exits the coverage area. Each coverage area or luminaire is providing with an expected value for the time of when the next user is expected to arrive in the coverage area of said luminaire, A set of luminaires [R] of said luminaires with the reserve status to be controlled, such as dimmed, is then defined and information related to demand response requests [D1, . . . , Dn] of an electric power grid is received.

Abstract: Described is a method to make linear alpha olefins. The method includes the steps of contacting a feedstock having a lactone and/or an unsaturated carboxylic acid with a solid acid catalyst having acidic catalytic sites including Lewis acid catalytic sites, for a time and a temperature wherein at least a fraction of the lactone and/or unsaturated carboxylic acid present in the feedstock is converted into a linear alpha olefin. The method may optionally take place in the presence of water. The solid acid catalyst should preferably have at least 50% Lewis acid catalytic sites.

Abstract: An apparatus for transmitting simultaneous multiple beams to targets at near and far fields includes: a communication unit consisting of a plurality of unit cells, and configured to communicate a signal or power via antennas provided in each of the unit cells; and a control unit configured to calculate a phase of a voltage applied to the antennas so as to simultaneously transmit the power or signal to the targets at the near and far fields.

Abstract: Provided herein are laparoscopic tissue removal systems, components, and uses thereof.

Abstract: Described herein are methods, systems, and devices for identifying agents and genetic pathways that modulate the effects of traumatic brain injury (TBI) in invertebrate model systems having a brain, e.g., Drosophila or C. elegans.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for measuring the antimicrobial activity of a gas and a method for measuring the antimicrobial activity of a gas. The present invention can be used as a standardized device for measuring the antimicrobial activity of a gas or as a standardized method for measuring the antimicrobial activity of a gas as the present invention is capable of constantly maintaining the concentration of a gas and identifying the growth and development of microorganisms objectively through a color change of a microorganism culture medium containing a pH indicator.