Abstract: Provided herein is a system for optimizing the fed-batch hydrolysis of biomass.

Abstract: A probe for traversing a tubular passage includes an introducer to be supported at an entrance to the tubular passage. The probe also includes a probe tip to traverse the tubular passage, and a tube with an inflatable tube segment. In some embodiments, the inflatable tube segment is storable in the probe tip. The inflatable tube segment is configured to be inflated to push the probe tip away from the introducer toward an end of the tubular passage. In some embodiments, the probe includes a sealing mechanism, where the sealing mechanism can be positioned between the inflatable tube segment of the tube and the introducer to maintain the inflatable tube segment in a deflated configuration until inflation of the inflatable tube segment.

Abstract: Systems and methods for a conductive concrete slab having protection against one or more of surface current, ground fault current, and current leakage. A method includes, but is not limited to, introducing an electrical insulation base layer to a ground surface; introducing a plurality of electrodes to the electrical insulation base layer; and casting conductive concrete over the plurality of electrodes and the electrical insulation base layer. An electrical insulation top layer can also be applied to mitigate one or more of surface current and ground fault current.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods for obtaining plants that exhibit useful traits or that are useful for plant breeding by suppression of plastidic MSH1 in the presence of mitochondrial-targeted MSH1 in plants. Methods for identifying genetic loci that provide for useful traits in plants and plants produced with those loci are also provided. In addition, plants that exhibit the useful traits, parts of the plants including seeds, and products of the plants are provided as well as methods of using the plants. Recombinant DNA vectors and transgenic plants comprising those vectors that provide for suppression of plastidic MSH1 in the presence of mitochondrial-targeted MSH1 are also provided.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a fiber optic bolometer device. In an implementation, a fiber optic bolometer device includes an optical fiber and a silicon layer that comprises a Fabry-Pérot interferometer. The silicon layer includes a first surface and a second surface. The fiber optic bolometer device includes a reflective dielectric film disposed over the first surface of the silicon layer where the reflective dielectric film is adjacent to an end face of the optical fiber. The fiber optic bolometer device also includes an absorptive coating disposed over the second surface of the silicon layer (e.g., the surface distal to the end face of the optical fiber).

Abstract: Turbine generator faults can be detected by receiving a current signal from the turbine generator, and synchronously sampling the current signal to obtain a set of current signal samples that are evenly spaced in the phase domain, in which phase differences between adjacent current signal samples in the set of current signal samples are substantially the same. The process includes generating a frequency spectrum of the current signal samples, identifying one or more excitations in the frequency spectrum, and detecting a fault in the turbine generator based on the one or more excitations in the frequency spectrum.

Abstract: This invention relates to methods for increasing lipid accumulation and lipid production in cells. Methods of producing biofuel from cells and preparing nutraceuticals comprising lipids produced according to a method provided herein are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for obtaining plants that exhibit useful traits by transient suppression of the MSH1 gene of the plants. Methods for identifying genetic loci that provide for useful traits in plants and plants produced with those loci are also provided. In addition, plants that exhibit the useful traits, parts of the plants including seeds, and products of the plants are provided as well as methods of using the plants.

Abstract: A live, attenuated HIV vaccine is provided, and methods of making a attenuated HIV vaccine are provided.

Abstract: A method for power management of a multi-cell battery includes identifying a desired power value and voltage value, determining a battery voltage value and a battery current value for a battery, determining a number of battery banks from a plurality of battery banks to use for the battery, where each battery bank includes one or more battery cells (or battery modules), checking availability of each of the one or more battery cells (or battery modules), selecting one or more battery banks from the plurality of battery banks, where the selection of a battery bank is based on the availability of the battery cells (or battery modules) included in the battery pack, and a quantity of the selected battery banks is equal to the determined number of battery banks, and connecting the available battery cells (or battery modules) in the selected one or more battery banks to form the battery.

Abstract: The aging of an electronic component in an electronic power converter can be monitored based on two or more case temperature measurements. A power electronic device is enclosed in a package having a baseplate, in which the power electronic device generates heat during operation and the baseplate transfers heat to a heat dissipating device or a cooling device. Sensors measure temperatures at first and second locations on a surface of the baseplate. A data processor calculates a value for a first parameter based on the temperatures at the first and second locations, in which the first parameter is indicative of an aging process of the power electronic device, and generates a first signal based on a comparison of the calculated value and a first predetermined threshold.

Abstract: Magnetic flux valves can be used in electromagnetic (EM) power converters to electronically control output signals of the EM power converters. An input signal is provided to an EM power converter that includes two or more core sections in which at least one core section includes a magnetic flux valve having an adjustable reluctance. The EM power converter has one or more primary windings and one or more secondary windings wound around one or more core sections. One or more control signals are provided to the one or more magnetic flux valves to control a reluctance or reluctances of the one or more magnetic flux valves, affecting magnetic coupling between the primary and secondary windings. An output signal is generated, in which the output signal is a function of the input signal and the one or more control signals.

Abstract: Provided herein are novel acyltransferases and methods of using such novel acyltransferases in making medium-chain fatty acids.

Abstract: In one implementation, a computer-implemented method can include receiving, at a driver running on a mobile computing device with a local power source, a command from an application for an allocation of volatile memory; allocating, by the driver, memory from a pool of volatile memory for the application; storing data in the allocated memory; detecting, by the driver, that a particular situation currently exists on the mobile computing device that will cause the data to be lost; and performing, by the driver, an operation with regard to the memory and the data that will cause the data to be preserved following a conclusion of the particular situation.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for providing a conductive concrete slab having protection against one or more of surface current, ground fault current, and current leakage. A method includes, but is not limited to, introducing an electrical insulation base layer to a ground surface; introducing a plurality of electrodes to the electrical insulation base layer; and casting conductive concrete over the plurality of electrodes and the electrical insulation base layer. An electrical insulation top layer can also be applied to mitigate one or more of surface current and ground fault current.

Abstract: A monolithic heat-transfer device can include a container wall configured to retain a working fluid, where the container wall is formed of a single material. The container wall also includes an interior surface configured to be in fluid communication with the working fluid. The monolithic heat-transfer device also includes a channel disposed in the interior surface of the container wall, where the channel comprises a microstructure and a nanostructure. The microstructure and the nanostructure are materially contiguous with the single material forming the container wall. In some embodiments, the nanostructure comprises one or more layers of nanoparticles. The monolithic heat-transfer device can be configured as a heat pipe, which can be constructed from the container wall and a second container wall joined together and sealed to one another to contain the working fluid (e.g., using laser welding, electron beam welding (EBW), and so forth).

Abstract: A gait replication apparatus can include a scalable mechanical mechanism configured to replicate different gaits. The scalable mechanical mechanism can include, for example, a four-bar linkage, a pantograph, a cam/Scotch-yoke mechanism, and so forth. In some embodiments, the mechanical mechanism includes a beam rotating about an axis passing proximate to its center, with a foot pedal slidably coupled with the beam, and a timing chain/belt or cable pulley-pair coupled with the foot pedal and looped about the beam. A method can include decomposing a foot path defined by Cartesian coordinates into polar coordinates, and providing a mechanical support for a foot, where a first mechanism controls an angular position of the mechanical support with respect to a reference frame, and a second mechanism controls a radial distance of the mechanical support from the reference frame.

Abstract: Conductive concrete mixtures are described that are configured to reflect, for instance, EM waves propagating from an EM pulser onto the conductive concrete mixture forming a ground plane, rather than absorb or dissipate the electromagnetic energy. The conductive concrete mixtures include cement, aggregate, water, metallic conductive material, and conductive carbon particles.

Abstract: This disclosure describes compliant graspers for use in endoscopic surgeries.

Abstract: A gallium nitride thin film can be formed on a substrate at a low temperature (e.g., not higher than 600° C.) by applying a laser to resonantly excite molecules of a first precursor that contains nitrogen, in which the laser has a wavelength that is selected to match a vibration mode and/or a vibrational-rotational mode of the molecules of the first precursor. A second precursor is provided in which the excited first precursor and the second precursor react to form a nitride that is deposited on the substrate. For example, the second precursor may include gallium, and the nitride may be gallium nitride. Other nitride films can be produced in a similar manner.