Abstract: An ethylene copolymer comprising ethylene and at least one alpha olefin having from 4 to 8 carbon atoms has a density f from 0.940 to 0.960 g/cm3, a molecular weight distribution, Mw/Mn of from 9 to 12, and a Z-average molecular weight, Mz of greater than 500,000. The ethylene copolymer is made in a multi-zone reactor system under solution phase polymerization conditions and is useful in the preparation of biaxially oriented polyethylene (BOPE) films.

Abstract: Provided in this disclosure are zirconium and hafnium complexes that contain 1) a cyclopentadienyl ligand; 2) an adamantyl-phosphinimine ligand; and 3) at least one other ligand. The use of such a complex, in combination with an activator, as an olefin polymerization catalyst is demonstrated. The catalysts are effective for the copolymerization of ethylene with an alpha olefin (such as 1-butene, 1-hexene, or 1-octene).

Abstract: A polyethylene homopolymer composition having a weight average molecular weight Mw, of from 75,000 to 95,000; an Mz of from 200,000 to 325,000; a molecular weight distribution Mw/Mn of from 6 to 12 and a melt index, I2 of from 1.5 to 2.8 grams per 10 minutes can be used to prepare films having a good balance of optical properties and resistance to moisture transmission.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to ethylene interpolymer compositions and films prepared therefrom. Specifically: ethylene interpolymer products having: a dimensionless Long Chain Branching Factor, LCBF, greater than or equal to 0.001; a residual catalytic metal of from ?0.03 to ?5 ppm of hafnium, and; a dimensionless unsaturation ratio, UR, of from ??0.40 to ?0.06, wherein UR is defined by the following relationship; UR=(SCU?TU)/TU, where SCU is the amount of a side chain unsaturation per 100 carbons and TU is amount of a terminal unsaturation per 100 carbons, in said ethylene interpolymer product. The disclosed ethylene interpolymer products have a melt index from about 0.3 to about 500 dg/minute, a density from about 0.855 to about 0.975 g/cc, a polydispersity (Mw/Mn) from about 1.7 to about 25 and a Composition Distribution Breadth Index (CDBI50) from about 1% to about 98%.

Abstract: Methods for implementing power delivery transactions between a buyer and a seller of electrical energy supplied to an electrical grid by an integrated renewable energy source (RES) and energy storage system (ESS) of a RES-ESS facility are provided. Estimated total potential output of the RES is compared to a point of grid interconnect (POGI) limit to identify potential RES overgeneration, and the buyer is charged if potential RES overgeneration is less than potential overgeneration during one or more retrospective time windows. The method provides a basis for the RES-ESS facility owner to be paid for an estimated amount of energy that did not get stored as a result of a grid operator not fully discharging an ESS prior to the start of a new day.

Abstract: A method includes generating a time-varying charge/discharge control signal for an electrical storage device, wherein generating the time-varying charge/discharge control signal comprises identifying a prioritization order of a stack of simultaneously operating control modes, the stack of simultaneously operating control modes including a staging mode and at least two additional control modes, each control mode of the stack comprising a plurality of control signal candidate values; identifying an intersection of one or more control signal candidate values from the plurality of control signal candidate values of each control mode of the stack according to the prioritization order; and determining, based on the prioritization order, at least one time-varying charge/discharge control signal for the electrical energy storage device from the intersection of control signal candidate values.

Abstract: A micro utility system. The micro utility system may include a portable container configured to house an energy storage system (ESS) and solar panel storage structures; a portable solar panel structure having two or more solar panels coupled to each other at one end, wherein the two or more solar panels are coupled to at least two wheels at a distal end of the portable solar panel structure; and circuitry configured to receive electrical power from the portable solar panel structure, wherein the circuitry includes a processor configured by machine-readable instructions to direct electrical energy from the portable solar panel structure or the ESS to a load.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods for an operation of an electric power plant comprising a renewable energy resource and an energy storage device. The method may comprise determining, at a first time, a forecast of predicted energy production by the electric power plant over a time period subsequent to the first time based on a forecast for the time period; detecting a current state of charge of the energy storage device; calculating a range of automatic generation controls the electric power plant is capable of satisfying for the time period based on the forecast of predicted energy production and the detected current state of charge of the energy storage device; and signaling, from the electric power plant to a central utility controlling a power grid, the range of automatic generation controls the electric power plant is capable of satisfying for the time period.

Abstract: A method and system are presented for use in X-ray based measurements on patterned structures. The method comprises: processing data indicative of measured signals corresponding to detected radiation response of a patterned structure to incident X-ray radiation, and subtracting from said data an effective measured signals substantially free of background noise, said effective measured signals being formed of radiation components of reflected diffraction orders such that model based interpretation of the effective measured signals enables determination of one or more parameters of the patterned structure, wherein said processing comprises: analyzing the measured signals and extracting therefrom a background signal corresponding to the background noise; and applying a filtering procedure to the measured signals to subtract therefrom signal corresponding to the background signal, resulting in the effective measured signal.

Abstract: In the manufacture of extruded polymers there are a number of surface defects referred to as sharkskin, snakeskin and orange peel which all generally relate to the rheology of the polymer melt. A severe form of surface defect is “melt fracture” which is believed to result when the shear rate at the surface of the polymer is sufficiently high that the surface of the polymer begins to fracture. That is, there is a slippage of the surface of the extruded polymer relative to the body of the polymer melt. The surface generally can't flow fast enough to keep up with the body of the extrudate and a fracture in the melt occurs generally resulting in a severe loss of surface properties for the extrudate. A polymer extension process is disclosed wherein these undesirable surface defects are eliminated.

Abstract: A method includes obtaining a state of charge (SOC) schedule for an energy storage device and a time-dependent forecast of electrical energy production by a renewable electrical energy generation resource; generating a time-varying charge/discharge control signal for the electrical energy storage device based on the time-dependent forecast of electrical energy production, wherein the time-varying charge/discharge control signal is configured to maintain an average SOC of the energy storage device as low as possible while satisfying the SOC schedule; and controlling charging and discharging of the energy storage device with the time-varying charge/discharge control signal.

Abstract: A system and method for measuring the percent fill of a blood sampling capillary includes a chamber for receiving a sample capillary containing a blood sample, an illuminator arranged to illuminate the sample capillary, an imaging lens aligned with the chamber and the sample capillary, an image sensor aligned with the imaging lens wherein the image sensor receives an image of the blood in the sample capillary from the imaging lens and converts the image to image data, a micro-controller circuit electrically coupled to the image sensor, and at least one of a host computer or a user interface electrically coupled to the micro-controller unit where the micro-controller circuit processes the image data into a percent fill result where the percent fill result is passed to the at least one of the host computer or the user interface.

Abstract: A method may include obtaining irradiance data at a first time and a second time from sensors, determining whether one or more solar modules of a plurality of networked power plants will be covered by a shadow or shade at a third time based on the irradiance data, and generating, based on the determination, a power output prediction for each power plant of the networked power plants at the third time. The method may further include receiving power delivery profiles for first and second loads, adjusting a power output of one or more power plants of the networked power plants based at least in part on the power output prediction and the power delivery profiles for the first and second loads, and allocating a combined power output of the power plants to the first and second loads based on first and second load reliability thresholds.

Abstract: Multilayer Films have a first skin layer that is prepared from a high density polyethylene and a second skin layer (also referred to as the sealant layer) that is prepared from a linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) having a density of from 0.90 to 0.92 g/cc and a Dilution Index, Yd, of greater than 0°. Seals can be prepared by placing two pieces of this film against each other such that the sealant layers are in contact with each other, then applying heat to at least one high density skin layer such that heat is transmitted/conducted through the multilayer film in a sufficient amount to melt the sealant layer and form a seal. The use of LLDPE having a Dilution Index of greater than 0° has been found to improve the sealing performance of multilayer films in comparison to multilayer films where the sealant layer is a conventional LLDPE having a Dilution Index of less than 0°.

Abstract: A method may include obtaining irradiance data at a first time and a second time from sensors, determining whether one or more solar modules of a plurality of networked power plants will be covered by a shadow or shade at a third time based on the irradiance data, and generating, based on the determination, a power output prediction for each power plant of the networked power plants at the third time. The method may further include receiving power delivery profiles for first and second loads, adjusting a power output of one or more power plants of the networked power plants based at least in part on the power output prediction and the power delivery profiles for the first and second loads, and allocating a combined power output of the power plants to the first and second loads based on first and second load reliability thresholds.

Abstract: XPS spectra are used to analyze and monitor various steps in the selective deposition process. A goodness of passivation value is derived to analyze and quantify the quality of the passivation step. A selectivity figure of merit value is derived to analyze and quantify the selectivity of the deposition process, especially for selective deposition in the presence of passivation. A ratio of the selectivity figure of merit to maximum selectivity value can also be used to characterize and monitor the deposition process.

Abstract: An apparatus for screening, treatment, monitoring and/or assessment of visual impairments, comprising electronic means for simultaneously applying two separate and unrelated processing methods to images presented to a patient's eyes; a first processing method being applied to an non-amblyopic eye (the eye with the better vision), and a second processing method being applied to an amblyopic eye (the weaker eye, or the impaired eye). A method for screening, treatment, monitoring and/or assessment of visual impairments, comprising: a. defining a starting point, wherein differences between a patient's eyes are completely, or as closely as practically possible, corrected, to enable two identical or similar images to be transferred to the brain from the patient's eyes; b. defining an ending point, wherein there is no correction applied to any of the patient's eyes; c.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods for managing electrical energy generated by a renewable microgrid. One or more processors of a system may store priorities for one or more consumer loads; forecast an amount of available electrical energy for a time period; allocate a first electrical energy amount to a first consumer load to a first energy limit for the time period; determine more electrical energy is forecast to be available from the RES or the ESS for the time period; identify a second consumer load of the one or more consumer loads; allocate a second electrical energy amount to the second consumer load for the time period; and direct electrical energy from the RES or the ESS to the first and second consumer loads according to the allocations.

Abstract: A system and method are presented for controlling measurements of various sample's parameters. The system comprises a control unit configured as a computer system comprising data input and output utilities, memory, and a data processor, and being configured to communicate with a measured data provider to receive measured data indicative of measurements on the sample. The data processor is configured to perform model-based processing of the measured data utilizing at least one predetermined model, and determine, for each of one or more measurements of one or more parameters of interest of the sample, an estimated upper bound on an error value for the measurement individually, and generate output data indicative thereof.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a microsurgical instrument includes a trocar having a rigid, hollow shaft formed with a lumen extending from a proximal end to a distal end of the shaft. The distal end of the shaft may be shaped for tissue penetration. The instrument may further include a composite microcannula slidably engaged with the trocar in the lumen. The microcannula includes a light guide and a flexible hollow tube having an outer diameter less than an inner diameter of the lumen in the trocar. Other embodiments include placing the microcannula in the lumen of the trocar, illuminating the end of the trocar by illuminating the end of the microcannula, advancing the trocar from a selected entry point on an eye into a selected structure in the eye, and extending the illuminated end of the microcannula from the trocar into the selected structure.