Abstract: Data is stored in a multi-level MRAM (MLC MRAM) cell in a manner that reduces transition states that require high energy. A new data block is received, and the new data block is divided into one or more sub-groups of bits, with each sub-group comprising at least two bits. Each sub-group is assigned data bit locations in a memory store. The received bits are compared with sub-groups present at the data bit locations to determine subgroups of hot bits. For each subgroup of hot bits, an encoding flag value is determined by XORing their most significant bits. The most significant bits of each subgroup of hot bits are complemented and the encoding flag is SET. A data block is generated to establish a data group for each subgroup of hot bits including the subgroup of hot bits and the encoding flag for that subgroup.

Abstract: The method of treating delayed healing of a wound associated with diabetes includes administering to the wound a composition comprising an anti-senescence compound and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. The anti-senescence compound may be 18?-Glycyrrhetinic acid, a Caveolin-1 (Cav-1) inhibitory compound, or a Polymerase I Transcript Release Factor (PTRF-1) inhibitory compound. The anti-senescence compound may be effective in preventing and/or reversing premature cellular senescence. The anti-senescence compound may be effective in promoting healing of a wound, e.g., delayed or incompletely healed wound. The anti-senescence compound may be effective in promoting healing of a delayed healing wound or chronic wound of a diabetic patient, such as a diabetic ulcer or venous ulcer.

Abstract: The heuristic fuzzy controller for gantry cranes provides for controlling the position of the cart of a gantry crane while suppressing the swing angle of the payload. The rules of the controller are obtained taking into account the knowledge of an experienced crane operator. The controller uses only one fuzzy system to achieve the two control objectives.

Abstract: The method of recycling brine from a multi-stage flash desalination plant recycles the high-salinity, high-temperature brine output from a multi-stage flash desalination plant to produce diluted brine suitable for reinjection back into the multi-stage flash desalination plant as a makeup stream. The high-salinity, high-temperature brine output from the multi-stage flash desalination plant is diluted with water extracted from treated wastewater effluent output from a wastewater treatment plant, thus providing further recycling of the treated wastewater effluent. Following osmotic transfer of the diluting water from the treated wastewater effluent to produce the diluted brine, the remaining concentrated treated wastewater effluent passes through a secondary filtration system to yield a solid product and a volume of permeate water. The volume of permeate water may be further mixed with the diluted brine.

Abstract: The belt drive assembly includes a frame having a first plate including an inner surface, an outer surface, a first end, and a second end, a second plate including an inner surface, an outer surface, a first end, and a second end, and a shaft disposed between the first plate and the second plate. The belt drive assembly also includes a first pair of idler pulley wheels positioned coaxially at one end of the first plate, a second pair of idler pulley wheels positioned coaxially at one end of the second plate, a drive pulley wheel rotatably mounted onto the outer surface of the first plate, a driven pulley wheel rotatably mounted onto the outer surface of the second plate, and an endless belt trained on the drive pulley wheel, on each idler pulley wheel, and on the driven pulley wheel.

Abstract: The method for determining risk of metastatic relapse in a patient diagnosed with colorectal cancer (CRC) can include detecting a level of at least one indicator of metastatic potential in a biological sample from the patient, comparing the level of the indicator of metastatic potential with a control, and identifying the patient as one who is at risk of metastatic relapse and a candidate for chemotherapy if an aberrant level of the indicator of metastatic potential in the biological sample compared to the control is detected. The at least one indicator of metastatic potential can include at least one metastasis-inducing gene and/or at least one metastasis suppressor gene. An aberrant level of the at least one indicator of metastatic potential can include a copy number gain of the metastasis-inducing gene and/or a copy number loss of the metastasis-suppressor gene.

Abstract: The method of preventing reperfusion injury in reperfusion therapy is a medical technique for prevention of reperfusion injury in a patient where reperfusion therapy is necessary, such as following myocardial infarction (MI) or heat transplant in the patient. The patient is treated with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) prior to an ischemic event or, alternatively, following the ischemic event, with the intravenous immunoglobulin providing cardio-protective effects to the patient for preventing reperfusion injury. The treatment with the IVIG may be used with any suitable type of reperfusion therapy, such as thrombolytic therapy, coronary angioplasty or coronary artery bypass surgery.

Abstract: The planter system using waste materials repurpose waste materials to construct a self-irrigating planter that promotes plant growth in a protective environment. The planter system includes a water reservoir constructed from scrap tire defining a hollow interior serving as water storage, the reservoir being buried in soil. A condensation funnel having a sloped condensation skirt extends into the center opening of the scrap tire to direct condensate into the water reservoir. A root ball cover made from scrap newspaper covers the root system of a plant, and the plant is buried in the center opening of the scrap tire. A soil protection cover is placed atop the root ball cover to protect the soil of the root ball, and a support tube extends therefrom to protect the stem of the plant from environmental conditions. A valve regulates delivery of water to the reservoir. Most components are made from scrap plastic.

Abstract: The cooling system for patients with fever is a mechanical, fluid-based system for cooling patients suffering from fever. The cooling system for patients with fever includes a reservoir for containing a cooling fluid, which is maintained at a desired temperature. A temperature sensor is received in the reservoir. The temperature sensor is immersed in the cooling fluid for measuring the temperature thereof. A chiller is also received in the reservoir for selectively cooling the cooling fluid when the temperature thereof, measured by the temperature sensor, is above a pre-set temperature threshold. The reservoir communicates with a cooling pad, which is formed from a padded layer having at least one channel embedded therein. At least one pump and tubing is provided for circulating the cooling fluid through the reservoir and the cooling pad. In use, the cooling pad is applied to the skin of a patient with a fever.

Abstract: The system and method for determining the feedback capacity of information distributed in a complex network determines feedback capacity as information is received and diffused throughout the network. Traditionally, real networks, such as computer networks, were used in determining network feedback. However, current complex networks typically incorporate graphing models for network analysis. The system and method provide a process to determine the quality of a complex network with respect to feedback capacity, such as can be determined by a corresponding Belief Propagation algorithm and a corresponding entropy equation. The system and method can also determine the cyclic entropy per penetration in a complex network, the depth penetration for nodes in the complex network and a plurality of cycle counts per node in the complex network based on a source node.

Abstract: The odd/even invert coding for phase change memory with thermal crosstalk devises a cost model that captures Phase Change Memory (PCM) SET/RESET write asymmetries, as well as write disturbs caused by thermal crosstalk. The cost is computed by counting the different types of transitions between the old and the new data to be written to PCM. An Odd/Even Invert data encoding/decoding algorithm makes intelligent decisions based on a cost model by taking into account the number of bit flips, write asymmetry, as well as write disturbs. The data encoding algorithm recodes the data on the fly based on selective inverting (even, odd, or full invert) to search for a minimum cost solution with aim at reducing write activities and extending the PCM lifetime. A hardware architecture for the present encoding/decoding algorithm is presented that requires only two bits storage overhead for coding, regardless of the width of data.

Abstract: The positionable towing hitch includes a first beam supporting a movable housing assembly and a second beam assembly movable in the housing. The first beam protrudes out of the housing for mounting to a hitch receiver of a vehicle. A first beam driver assembly is coupled to the first beam to selectively extend and retract the housing with respect to the first beam in a horizontal direction. A second beam driver assembly is coupled to a second beam to selectively raise and lower the second beam with respect to the housing in a vertical direction. A ball mount bracket is fixed to the second beam for mounting a ball mount thereon to move with the second beam. The movements of the housing and the second beam facilitate positioning of the ball mount for connection to a trailer to be hitched.

Abstract: The drive system for wind turbine with contra-rotating generator includes various embodiments of belt drive pulley systems for a direct drive contra-rotating wind generator. The generator has a magnetic rotor and an armature mounted on a shaft configured to rotate in the opposite direction from the magnetic rotor. In some embodiments, a belt extends across two pairs of coaxially mounted idler pulleys between a pulley on the magnetic rotor shaft and a pulley on the armature shaft. In other embodiments, the pulleys on the magnetic rotor and armature shafts are double sheave pulleys, and a first belt extends across one or two coaxial pair(s) of idler pulleys between an inner and outer sheave, and a second belt extends across one or two coaxial pair(s) of idler pulleys between an inner and outer sheave. Either the magnetic rotor or the armature shaft or both are coupled to a wind turbine rotor.

Abstract: The combined pump and energy recovery turbine includes at least one fluid flow pressurizing a sliding vane pump and a sliding vane energy recovery turbine that recovers energy from a second fluid flow, such as the brine discharge from an RO seawater desalination system. A cylindrical rotor has two sliding vanes in respective slots, the rotor being concentrically disposed within an oval-shaped enclosure defining two mirror image crescent-shaped chambers, each chamber having inlet and outlet passageways. The first chamber pressurizes the first fluid flow, and the second chamber functions as a second outflow-driven energy recovery turbine, thus enabling the single rotor device to operate as a pressurizing pump on the first fluid flow, and second outflow-driven energy recovery turbine recovering energy from the pressure drop in the second fluid flow.

Abstract: A thermal barrier panel with selectable phase change materials includes a thermal panel and a plurality of containers movably positioned within the thermal panel to correspond to a heat load at a corresponding ambient temperature. Each of the plurality of containers includes a plurality of receptacles that include a plurality of different phase change materials. Each of the plurality of different phase change materials absorbs thermal energy produced by heat from the heat load at a corresponding ambient temperature. Each of the plurality of different phase change materials are positioned in a corresponding receptacle within a corresponding container, and each of the plurality of receptacles in a corresponding container include one of the plurality of different phase change materials. Corresponding ones of the plurality of receptacles are movably positioned to place a corresponding phase change material in facing relation to the heat load based upon the corresponding ambient temperature.

Abstract: The method of treating diabetes-related impaired wound healing includes the step of administering an effective amount of estrogen replacement therapy to a patient in need thereof to promote wound healing. Alternatively, the method of treating diabetes-related impaired wound healing includes the step of administering an effective amount of a TNF-? inhibitor to a patient in need thereof to promote wound healing. The method of treating diabetes-related impaired wound healing may also include both the step of administering an effective amount of estrogen replacement therapy and administering an effective amount of a TNF-? inhibitor to a patient in need thereof to promote wound healing.

Abstract: The method for measuring the properties of petroleum fuels by distillation relates to a measuring method for predicting the property values of complex hydrocarbon fuels, such as the property values of gasoline, by distillation. Compensation of boiling point distribution measurements used for the prediction of physical properties of hydrocarbons is further performed.

Abstract: A thermal barrier panel with selectable phase change materials includes a thermal panel and a plurality of containers movably positioned within the thermal panel to correspond to a heat load at a corresponding ambient temperature. Each of the plurality of containers includes a plurality of receptacles that include a plurality of different phase change materials. Each of the plurality of different phase change materials absorbs thermal energy produced by heat from the heat load at a corresponding ambient temperature. Each of the plurality of different phase change materials are positioned in a corresponding receptacle within a corresponding container, and each of the plurality of receptacles in a corresponding container include one of the plurality of different phase change materials. Corresponding ones of the plurality of receptacles are movably positioned to place a corresponding phase change material in facing relation to the heat load based upon the corresponding ambient temperature.

Abstract: The method for fluorescent staining of cellular and intracellular membranes includes contacting a cell sample, such as a cell culture, with a fluorescent probe including Zn(II) meso-tetrakis(N-n-hexylpyridinium-4-yl)porphyrin tetrachloride (ZnTnHex-4-PyPCl4). The fluorescent probe is an amphiphilic, water-soluble compound. The fluorescent probe does not interfere with cell culture media components or other staining products. The fluorescent probe is not harmful to cells.

Abstract: The apparatus for determining coefficients of friction collects data required for determining static and dynamic coefficients of friction between various materials. The apparatus includes a ramp with adjustable slope and a plurality of test masses for placement on the ramp. Upslope lights and sensors, downslope lights and sensors, and a digital angle meter are installed on the ramp. The apparatus has a timing device having a display to show the elapsed time between a test mass passing the upslope sensor and the downslope sensor. The operator can determine the static coefficient of fraction from the tangent of the angle displayed on the digital angle meter when a test mass first begins to slide, and can compute the kinetic coefficient of friction from the angle displayed on the digital angle meter and the elapsed time shown on the timing device.