Abstract: An aspect of the present disclosure relates to a solar humidifier. The solar humidifier includes a solar collector comprises perforations, wherein the solar collector exhibits an absorptance in the range of 0.70 to 0.95 when dry. The solar humidifier also includes a frame on which the solar collector is mounted, wherein the frame provides at least one opening for supplying brine to a surface of the solar collector. The solar humidifier further includes a collection box, wherein the collection box includes an interior volume and is enclosed on a side by the solar collector.

Abstract: This invention relates to peer-to-peer transparent clocks and methods of estimating skew in peer-to-peer transparent clocks. Embodiments of the invention relate to techniques for estimating clock skew between a free-running clock in a transparent clock and a master clock, in particular by using the timing information embedded in timing messages passing through the transparent clock. Further embodiments of the invention set out uses of these estimates to modify the residence times computed by the transparent clock and a synchronization network including such transparent clocks.

Abstract: A method for secure device-to-device communication using multilayered ciphers is provided. A selected cipher is employed to generate a pair of encryption/decryption keystreams for enabling multilayered encryption/decryption on a pulsed-index communication (PIC) packet(s). In examples discussed herein, a first layer encryption/decryption is performed by encrypting/decrypting a PIC data(s) (PD(s)) in the PIC packet(s) based on a first of the pair of encryption/decryption keystreams. In addition, a second layer encryption/decryption is performed by encrypting/decrypting selected control information (e.g., information related to encoding/decoding the PD(s)) in the PIC packet(s) based on a second of the pair of encryption/decryption keystreams.

Abstract: Structures for a wavelength-division multiplexing filter and methods of fabricating a structure for a wavelength-division multiplexing filter. The structure includes a first waveguide core, a second waveguide core laterally spaced from the first waveguide core, and a ring resonator arranged in a vertical direction over the first waveguide core and the second waveguide core. The ring resonator is also arranged in a lateral direction between the first waveguide core and the second waveguide core. The first and second waveguide cores are composed of a semiconductor material, such as single-crystal silicon, and the ring resonator is composed of a dielectric material, such as silicon nitride.

Abstract: A delayed-activation sensor system includes at least one microsensor. The microsensor may include at least one sensor module for sensing a condition in an environment and a dissolvable coating encapsulating at least a portion of the at least one sensor module such that the dissolvable coating prevents the at least one sensor module from sensing the condition in the environment. The dissolvable coating may be dissolvable in a fluid in the environment such that the sensor module is activated after being located in the environment for a period of time. The microsensor may also include at least one energy harvester module to generate electrical power for the microsensor from the environment.

Abstract: Superhydrophilic and antifogging non-porous TiO2 films for glass substrates and methods of providing the TiO2 films are provided. The TiO2 films may maintain a water contact angle less than 5° in the dark for five days after an annealing treatment, and the water contact angle of the TiO2 films may stabilize at less than 20° after ten days from the annealing treatment. The TiO2 films may have a thickness of about 20 nm and may be transparent. The methods may include depositing a TiO2 film on a glass substrate using e-beam evaporation. The methods may further include annealing the TiO2 film after depositing the TiO2 film on the glass substrate. The methods may not include UV radiation.

Abstract: A hydrocracking catalyst for petroleum hydrocracking is provided, the hydrocracking catalyst provided in a form of at least one fiber, and the at least one fiber comprising at least one zeolite and at least one metal oxide. Methods are also provided to form the hydrocracking catalyst in the form of at least one fiber, particularly electrospinning.

Abstract: Disclosed is an energy mixer having a first active diode coupled between a first input node and an output node, and a second active diode coupled between a second input node and the output node. A first capacitor is coupled between the first input node and a dynamic node, and a second capacitor is coupled between the second input node and a third node. Switching circuitry is configured to selectively couple the dynamic node between a fixed voltage node and the second input node in response to a control signal provided by control circuitry. When an output voltage at the output node is within a first range, the dynamic node is coupled to the fixed voltage node and when the output voltage is within a lower voltage second range, the dynamic node is coupled to the second input node such that first capacitor and second capacitor are coupled in series.

Abstract: Sono-chemical reactors and methods of using the same are provided. The sono-chemical reactors may include a plurality of sections that are sequentially connected along a longitudinal direction of the sono-chemical reactor. The plurality of sections may include a sono-reactor section that includes a reactant inlet through which reactants are supplied into the sono-reactor section and a static mixer section that is configured to receive a first reactant/product mixture from the sono-reactor section and is configured mix the first reactant/product mixture therein for reaction between unreacted reactants. An inner space of the sono-reactor section may taper along the longitudinal direction of the chemical reactor away from the reactant inlet. The plurality of sections may also include a product separation section that is configured to receive a second reactant/product mixture from the static mixer section and is configured to separate a product from the second reactant/product mixture.

Abstract: A method of treating a liquid for removal of organic acid anions which comprises contacting a liquid containing organic acid anions with an adsorbent comprising calcium alginate-kaolinite or calcium alginate-quartz and a method of treating a liquid for removal of organic acid anions, heavy metal ions and thermally degraded organic products which comprises contacting a liquid containing organic acid anions, heavy metal ions and thermally degraded organic products with an adsorbent comprising calcium alginate-activated carbon are described.

Abstract: Data compression using a memristive crossbar is enabled. Conductances of memristors may be set such that the memristors of the crossbar act as coefficients of a wavelet transformation coefficient matrix with respect to voltage signals applied to input rows of the crossbar. The memristors may act as coefficients of the transpose of the wavelet transformation coefficient matrix when voltage signals are applied to input columns of the crossbar. Hence, the memristive crossbar may be used to implement a two dimensional (2D) discrete wavelet transform (DWT) on two dimensional data (e.g., image data) encoded in the voltage signals. The resulting currents in the columns of the memristive crossbar may be integrated and converted to voltage signals that are fed back into columns of the memristive crossbar such that the rows of the memristive crossbar output electronic signals that correspond to the image data compressed in accordance with Haar 2D-DWT image compression.

Abstract: A single-skinned composite lattice sandwich structure includes a face sheet, fiber stringers, and at least one fiber tow arranged in a lattice structure separating the face sheet and fiber stringers. The face sheet and at least the fiber tow(s) forming the lattice may be interfused with a matrix to form a contiguous composite structure. The fiber stringers may be formed of various materials for imparting different structural properties to the sandwich structure, including carbon fiber for tensile strength and lightness, metallic or other rigid material for imparting overall structural rigidity, shape-changing material or actuated material for providing actuated deformation of the structure, and may also include sensors.

Abstract: The location and morphology of an electrostatically manipulated flame can be controlled through the action of an electrostatic field on the flame, virtually independently of overall mixture composition and imposed strain rate. An electrostatically controlled burner can manipulate a position of a flame between an oxidizer source and a fuel source by way of one or more electrodes configured to produce an electrostatic field proximate to one of the fuel source and the oxidizer source.

Abstract: A method for estimating the weight of a subject while moving includes attaching one or more force sensors to the subject such that the force sensors measure a force exerted between each foot of the subject and a surface on which the subject is positioned, monitoring the one or more force sensors while the subject is moving to obtain a moving force measurement, processing the moving force measurement to determine a peak level of the moving force, a valley level of the moving force measurement, and a force range of the moving force measurement, determining an acceleration of center of mass of the subject from the force range, and estimating the weight of the subject while moving from the valley level and the acceleration of center of mass.

Abstract: A two dimensional charge pump and control circuitry is disclosed. The two dimensional charge pump includes a group of parallel-coupled charge pumps coupled between a DC power source and a first output connection node via a corresponding group of charge pump connection nodes. The group of parallel-coupled charge pumps has a corresponding group of clock connection nodes. Each of the group of parallel-coupled charge pumps includes a corresponding group of series capacitive elements coupled between a corresponding one of the group of charge pump connection nodes and a corresponding one of the group of clock connection nodes.

Abstract: A switched capacitor DC-DC converter, which includes a pulse frequency modulation circuit, a multiplexing pulse-width modulation circuit, and a switched capacitive element, is disclosed. The switched capacitive element is coupled between the pulse frequency modulation circuit and the multiplexing pulse-width modulation circuit. The pulse frequency modulation circuit uses a DC source signal to charge the switched capacitive element. The pulse frequency modulation circuit provides a group of output signals by multiplexing the switched capacitive element and reduces reverse current to the switched capacitive element when updating each of the group of output signals.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a photovoltaic (PV) device includes forming a release layer comprising a two-dimensional (2D) material on a first substrate having a first lattice constant and epitaxially growing a first PV layer on the release layer using the first substrate as a seed. The first PV layer has a second lattice constant substantially equal to the first lattice constant of the first substrate. The method also includes removing the first PV layer from the release layer and epitaxially growing a second PV layer on the release layer.

Abstract: A multi-axis accelerometer may include a proof mass, a first electrode set, and a second electrode set. The first electrode set may detect acceleration along a second axis of the accelerometer, and may include a first electrode (C1) and a second electrode (C2). The second electrode set may detect acceleration along a first axis of the accelerometer that is orthogonal to the second axis, and may include a third electrode (C3) and a fourth electrode (C4). Application of a force along only the second axis may result in the exhibition of a non-zero change in differential capacitance between at least C1 and C2, but a zero net change in the differential capacitance between at least C3 and C4. As such, the accelerometer may exhibit little or no cross axis sensitivity in response to the applied force.

Abstract: This invention relates to methods and devices for timing synchronization. The invention has particular application where timing is being carried out over packet networks using, for example, the IEEE 1588 Precision Time Protocol (PTP). Embodiments of the invention make use of estimated forward and reverse path delay asymmetries directly in the estimation algorithm (for example a Kalman filter). This can allow the variation in the timestamps which have been compensated for the delay asymmetry to be significantly reduced, which can reduce the complexity of the phase offset estimation algorithm.

Abstract: A method for designating a class of data content for determining how the content will be handled by a content delivery network (CDN) into one of: a transport designation by which content is transported from an entrance node to one or more edge nodes; a caching designation by which the content is stored at one or more edge nodes; and a hybrid designation by which content is stored at a node in the CDN for subsequent transport to one or more edge nodes in the CDN, the method comprising: determining a set of one or more transport designation options; determining a set of one or more caching designation options; determining a set of one or more hybrid designation options; determining a normalised measure resource requirement for each of the transport, caching and hybrid designation options; and selecting one designation option for the class of content from all of the transport, caching and hybrid designation options by an optimisation function for selecting the designation option based on the determined normalise