Abstract: A single integrated system for recycling used nuclear fuel (UNF) emerging from a reactor has a decladding vessel separating fuel pellets from nuclear fuel rods via oxidation to produce a uranium compound. A fluorination vessel is coupled to the decladding vessel. A fluorinating agent is injected into the fluorination vessel and reacts with the uranium compound to convert the uranium compound to UF6. An electrowinning vessel is coupled to the fluorination vessel removing plutonium and actinides via electrowinning.

Abstract: Stabilizing compositions for stabilizing a post-draw, but pre-analysis sample include, a saccharide, at least one heavy metal salt, and a pH from 5.9 to 8.0. The stabilizing compositions may include an aliphatic aldehyde, a buffer, and a preservative. The stabilizing compositions stabilize a sample for analysis. The analysis preformed on the stabilized cell may determine the state of a condition of interest, quantification of absolute cell counts, cellular activity, and qualitative analysis of cell types. Stabilizing a sample means that cells of the sample retain their biophysical properties, including biophysical properties of cell surface markers, for analysis. Preferably, the stabilizing compositions and methods may stabilize a sample for at least 16 days, and up to 30 days. The stabilizing compositions and methods may stabilize a sample for up to 180 days.

Abstract: A vehicular ladar system includes a ladar sensor with a light source configured to generate modulated light. The ladar may be configured to illuminate in one flash the entire scene in the field of view, or may include a scanning mechanism configured to intercept the light generated by the light source and selectively direct the light into a portion of the field of view. A receiving lens assembly receives light reflected off an object in the field of view. A plurality of quantum dot photodiodes are arranged in an array. Each photodiode is configured to receive light from the receiving lens assembly. A readout circuit and a bias circuit are electrically connected to each photodiode. A number of quantum dot film densification methods and apparatus are also described.

Abstract: A bioreactor system includes a housing configured to house and support a vessel, a stereo camera having first and second imagers secured to the housing, the stereo camera configured to image a surface of a liquid and a foam exposed to a headspace of the vessel. The system further includes a controller operatively connected to the stereo camera and the stereo camera and controller are configured to create an image of the exposed surface and identify foam on the surface based on the image.

Abstract: The inventive disclosures described herein pertain to an improved irrigation-system-coupling device, with a length-adjustment feature, that is designed to provide a coupling between polymeric irrigation-system hosing/tubing and a water-supply valve, such as solenoid-operated control/supply valves commonly used in automated irrigation systems. The length-adjustment configuration allows for easy installation in the field without the need to splice additional lengths of hosing/tubing in situations where various environmental conditions and/or necessitated repairs to or removal of sections of hoses/tubing has caused an extra gap between a supply-valve manifold housing and the end of the existing hose/tubing.

Abstract: An electrified vehicle includes an active discharge system having a plurality of resistors connected in parallel, a switch connected in series with the plurality of resistors with the switch and the plurality of resistors connected across positive and negative legs of a high-voltage DC bus, and a controller coupled to the switch and programmed to close the switch in response to a vehicle shutdown signal, and in response to voltage of the DC bus exceeding a first threshold after a predetermined elapsed time from closing the switch, open the switch. The controller may also open the switch when the voltage of the DC bus is below a second threshold.

Abstract: A load control device may utilize a feedback signal representative of an average magnitude of the load current conducted through an electrical load to control the amount of power delivered to the electrical load. The feedback signal may be generated based on a sense signal that is electrically isolated from the line voltage input of the load control device. Depending on the operational characteristics of the electrical load, the feedback signal may be generated using different techniques. In one example technique, the sense signal may be integrated and filtered to derive the feedback signal. In another example technique, the sense signal may be used in conjunction with an input power of the load control device and an efficiency parameter of the load control device to derive the feedback signal. In yet another example technique, values derived from the foregoing two techniques may be blended together to obtain the feedback signal.

Abstract: An emission enhancement structure having at least one energy augmentation structure; and an energy converter capable of receiving energy from an energy source, converting the energy and emitting therefrom a light of a different energy than the received energy. The energy converter is disposed in a vicinity of the at least one energy augmentation structure such that the emitted light is emitted with an intensity larger than if the converter were remote from the at least one energy augmentation structure. Also described are various uses for the energy emitters, energy augmentation structures and energy collectors in a wide array of fields, especially in the field of solar cells and other energy conversion devices.

Abstract: Apparatuses, systems, and methods for a turf trim strip. The apparatus includes a first panel having first top and bottom surfaces, first and second edges, and first and second ends and a second panel having a second top and bottom surfaces, third and fourth edges, and third and fourth ends. The second top surface is oriented substantially perpendicular to the first top surface and the second edge is adjacent to the third edge. The apparatus includes a plurality of turf tabs that have a first position substantially parallel to the first top surface and a second position that is at an acute angle with respect to the first top surface. In the second position, the plurality of turf tabs extends towards the second top surface and may secure turf to the strip. A plurality of wall tabs may be used with fasteners to connect the apparatus to a wall.

Abstract: Aspects relate to a physiological parameter sensor helmet. The physiological parameter sensor helmet includes at least a helmet including a bone conducting transducer; at least a physiological sensor installed within the at least a helmet, wherein the physiological sensor is configured to measure a plurality of physiological parameters of a user, wherein the plurality of physiological parameters includes at least a plurality of blood oxygenation signals; a computing device in communication with the physiological sensor and including: at least a processor; and a memory communicatively connected to the at least a processor, the memory containing instructions configuring the at least a processor to: receive the plurality of physiological parameters from the physiological sensor; and generate a health profile as a function of the plurality of physiological parameters.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an apparatus for use on a structural member having a longitudinal axis, the structural member being configured to propagate stress wave energy in an operational state, the stress wave energy being characterized by an operational frequency spectrum. The apparatus has a housing assembly including a first end, a second end, and one or more protective enclosures configured to accommodate one or more devices. The housing assembly is configured to be rotationally registered to the structural member when coupled to the structural member, and is characterized by a predetermined housing mass. A spring arrangement is coupled between the structural member and the first end and/or coupled between the structural member and the second end in the operational state. The spring arrangement is characterized by a predetermined force-displacement relationship.

Abstract: A trailer sideswipe avoidance system for a vehicle towing a trailer includes a sensor system configured to detect an object in an operating environment of the vehicle. The trailer sideswipe avoidance system also includes a controller that processes information received from the sensor system to determine whether an object detected in the operating environment of the vehicle is in a forward travel path of the towed trailer as the vehicle turns. The trailer sideswipe avoidance system further includes a visual display that displays bird's eye view representations of the vehicle and the trailer and a collision warning band that extends around at least a portion of the bird's eye view representation of the trailer. A portion of the collision warning band changes color based on the controller determining that the object is in the travel path of the towed trailer.

Abstract: A method includes detecting multiple users, receiving a first query issued by a first user, the first query including a command for a digital assistant to perform a first action, and enabling a round robin mode to control performance of actions commanded by queries. The method also includes, while performing the first action, receiving audio data corresponding to a second query including a command to perform a second action, performing speaker identification on the audio data, determining that the second query was spoken by the first user, preventing performing the second action, and prompting at least another user to issue a query. The method further includes receiving a third query issued by a second user, the third query including a command for the digital assistant to perform a third action, and when the digital assistant completes performing the first action, executing performance of the third action.

Abstract: In an aspect, an apparatus for machine operator feedback correlation is presented. An apparatus includes at least a processor and a memory communicatively connected to the at least a processor. A memory contains instructions configuring at least a processor to receive, through a sensing device, performance data of at least a machine operator. At least a processor is configured to classify performance data to a performance category through a performance classifier. At least a processor is configured to calculate a performance determination. At least a processor is configured to generate a feedback correlation through a machine operator feedback correlation machine learning model. At least a processor is configured to provide a feedback correlation to a user through a display device.

Abstract: A flame retardant polyamide composition comprising a polyamide, a non-halogenated, phosphinate-based flame retardant, an impact modifier comprising an alkene/acrylate copolymer/terpolymer, a flame retardant synergist and an optional reinforcing agent. The flame retardant polyamide composition demonstrates a passing value for a glow wire end product test as measured by IEC 60695-2-11, a passing value for a glow wire ignition test as measured by IEC-60695-2-13:201; a passing value (V0 rating) for UL94 performance at 0.8 mm; and an elongation at break greater than 2.7%, as measured by to ISO Test No. 527:2012.

Abstract: A control system may include a direct-current (DC) power bus for charging (e.g., trickle charging) internal energy storage elements in control devices of the control system. For example, the control devices may be motorized window treatments configured to adjust a position of a covering material to control the amount of daylight entering a space. The system may include a DC power supply that may generate a DC voltage on the DC power bus. For example, the DC power bus may extend from the DC power supply around the perimeter of a floor of the building and may be connected to all of the motorized window treatments on the floor (e.g., in a daisy-chain configuration). Wiring the DC power bus in such a manner may dramatically reduce the installation labor and wiring costs of an installation, as well as decreasing the chance of a miswire.

Abstract: A system of controlling operation of a vehicle includes a lidar unit and a radar unit configured to obtain measured lidar datapoints and a measured radar signal, respectively. A command unit is adapted to receive the measured lidar datapoints and the measured radar signal, the command unit including a processor and tangible, non-transitory memory on which instructions are recorded. The command unit is configured to identify respective objects in the measured lidar datapoints and assign a respective radar reflection intensity to the measured lidar datapoints in the respective objects. A synthetic radar signal is generated based in part on the radar reflection intensity. The command unit is configured to obtain an enhanced radar signal by adjusting the measured radar signal based on the synthetic radar reference signal.

Abstract: A harvester row unit comprises first and second deck plates having first and second stripping edges which are facing and spaced apart for defining a stalk gap therebetween, first and second gathering chains extending over the first and second deck plates and comprising a plurality of sweeping lugs which traverse adjacent to and along the stalk gap, and one or more elastically compressible stalk gap rails mounted to the first and second deck plates adjacent to and extending along the first and second stripping edges. The stalk gap rails include a ramped leading end and a trailing end, and the sweeping lugs climb up the ramped leading end, traverse across the stalk gap rails, and climb down the trailing end, and/or include support pads and pockets between adjacent support pads defining one or more flexible walls which deform when impacted by kernel carriers.

Abstract: A machine segment in an industrial control system, comprising (1) a control system comprising at least a logic controller and safety controller; (2) safety components; (3) motors; and (4) input/output devices. In particular embodiments: (1) the control system is in network communication with a neighboring machine segment via a first network connection; (2) the safety controller is in network communication with a neighboring machine segment safety controller via a second network connection; (3) the logic controller receives input/output data from the input/output devices and transmit it directly to the neighboring machine segment; (4) the logic controller receives second input/output data from the neighboring machine segment; (5) the logic controller receives identifying data for the neighboring machine segment; and (6) the logic controller controls operation of each of the motors based on one or more of the input/output data, the second input/output data, or the identifying data.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for synthetic loading of configurable logic devices. In some aspects, a method includes determining computational elements that are available for configuration in a configurable logic hardware device; executing a compilation process to program the available computational elements with a conditionally-enabled configuration and to program one or more load enable trees to enable a load of the conditionally-enabled configuration at the computational elements; configuring a software interface to enable the load of the conditionally-enabled configuration on portions of the computational elements via the one or more load enable trees based on a percentage enablement parameter; and enabling iteration through different percentage enablement parameter values, via the software interface, to cause the load of the conditionally-enabled configuration to be applied to different portions of the computational elements without recompiling the configurable logic hardware device.