Abstract: A fever-causing disease outbreak detection system for an early warning of the outbreak of an infectious disease. The system uses an array of infrared detectors to measure the temperatures of individuals in a population. The measured temperatures are used to create a measured population temperature distribution. A central control unit generates a predicted population temperature distribution using environmental data such as local atmospheric conditions and compares the predicted population temperature distribution to the measured population temperature distribution. If an outbreak is detected, an alert is issued.

Abstract: A plate element is disclosed that is capable of use in a wire conveyor belt assembly having multiple spaced rods. The plate element may include a plate body having a planar base surface, one or more engagement elements to engage one or more of the spaced rods, and an interface element that extends away from the planar base surface to form a raised interface surface.

Abstract: A process to fabricate ultra-fine grain metal wire, comprising: inserting a plurality of metal strands into a flexible elastic polyurethane sheath having an accommodating slot for each of the strands of metal to form a sheathed strand assembly; equal channel angular pressing (ECAP pressing) the sheathed strand assembly through an ECAP die having a plurality of die channels corresponding to the plurality of metal strands. The process is designed to improve electric conductance and mechanical properties of elongated metal parts and is especially applicable to optimize the conductance and tensile strength of copper cables, wires, strings, and rods.

Abstract: A DC-DC voltage converter includes an input circuit, a parallel linked leg (PLL), an output circuit and a controller. The PLL includes an active leg switch, a leg inductor, a leg capacitor and a leg diode. The controller is configured to i) turn on the active input switch and the active leg switches while maintaining the active output switch at a turn off state for the first duty cycle period ii) turn off the active input switch and the active leg switches, and turn on the active output switch for a second duty cycle period following the first duty cycle period, and iii) turn off the active output switch while maintaining also turn off states of the active input switch and the active leg switches for a remaining period following the second duty cycle period. A method of controlling the DC-DC converter includes steps of i) to iii).

Abstract: The present disclosure discloses an earthen dam structure including a core wall that includes a homogeneous mixture of clay, sand, powdered tire rubber and Portland cement. Additionally, the core wall contains the powdered tire rubber in an amount sufficient to increase a modulus of elasticity of the core wall to over 10 MPa while keeping a hydraulic conductivity of the core wall under 100 feet/year. The earthen dam structure further includes an upstream embankment portion and a downstream embankment portion, each positioned adjacent to the core wall, and a spillway configured to prevent water from overtopping a crest of the core wall.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer readable media to detect and model a brain tumor in an electronic image and to predict features of the brain tumor based on the model. The method can include classifying one or more magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) images of a brain into one or more of one or more tumorous images containing an image of a tumor or one or more non-tumorous images, wherein the classification is performed using a deep learning CNN system. The method can also include segmenting a tumor region from one of the one or more tumorous images. The segmenting can include a neighboring Fuzzy C-Means (FCM) process. The method can further include classifying the segmented tumor region into one of four classes of brain tumor types. The segmented tumor region is classified as a particular brain tumor type using the deep learning CNN system. The method can also include reconstructing a 3D model of the tumor region and measuring one or more of a location of the tumor, a shape of the tumor, or a volume of the tumor.

Abstract: A fever-causing disease outbreak detection system for an early warning of the outbreak of an infectious disease. The system uses an array of infrared detectors to measure the temperatures of individuals in a population. The measured temperatures are used to create a measured population temperature distribution. A central control unit generates a predicted population temperature distribution using environmental data such as local atmospheric conditions and compares the predicted population temperature distribution to the measured population temperature distribution. If an outbreak is detected, an alert is issued.

Abstract: A method of forming a polyolefin-carbon nanomaterial composite which contains oriented electrically conductive pathways. The method involves milling a polyolefin with particles of a carbon nanomaterial, molding to form a composite plate, and subjecting the composite plate to an AC voltage. The AC voltage forms oriented electrically conductive pathways by partial dielectric breakdown of the composite. The presence of the oriented electrically conductive pathways gives the polyolefin-carbon nanomaterial electrical and thermal conductivity higher than the polyolefin alone.

Abstract: A permeameter apparatus and method of measuring hydraulic permeability of porous samples, that includes multiple tube manometers stacked vertically at equal intervals on the same side wall of a compression cell containing the sample. The levels of the water menisci in the stacked manometers characterize the temporal and spatial profile of hydraulic conductivity, which can be measured in the constant and falling head regimes in the same apparatus. The apparatus is enabled with a sample compression system imitating the geostatic pressure profiles at different depths of the sample extraction. The apparatus and method allow measurement of time-dependent hydraulic conductivity in anisotropic media at variable pressures.

Abstract: A stable rhodochrosite comprising manganese carbonate (MnCO3) and 0.03-0.3 wt % of an anion or ligand of phosphoric acid (H3PO4), pyrophosphoric acid (H4P2O7), an organic acid, or a salt of such acids, or 0.03-0.3 wt % of a mixture of such anions and/or ligands. Also, a method of producing stable rhodochrosite comprising manganese carbonate (MnCO3) in which a rhodochrosite comprising manganese carbonate (MnCO3) is treated by applying an aqueous treatment solution of phosphoric acid (H3PO4), pyrophosphoric acid (H4P2O7), sulfuric acid (H2SO4), an organic acid, or a salt of such acids, or a mixture thereof and the treated rhodochrosite is dried to produce stable rhodochrosite.

Abstract: A permeameter apparatus and method of measuring hydraulic permeability of porous samples, that includes multiple tube manometers stacked vertically at equal intervals on the same side wall of a compression cell containing the sample. The levels of the water menisci in the stacked manometers characterize the temporal and spatial profile of hydraulic conductivity, which can be measured in the constant and falling head regimes in the same apparatus. The apparatus is enabled with a sample compression system imitating the geostatic pressure profiles at different depths of the sample extraction. The apparatus and method allow measurement of time-dependent hydraulic conductivity in anisotropic media at variable pressures.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer readable media to detect and model a brain tumor in an electronic image and to predict features of the brain tumor based on the model. The method can include classifying one or more magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) images of a brain into one or more of one or more tumorous images containing an image of a tumor or one or more non-tumorous images, wherein the classification is performed using a deep learning CNN system. The method can also include segmenting a tumor region from one of the one or more tumorous images. The segmenting can include a neighboring Fuzzy C-Means (FCM) process. The method can further include classifying the segmented tumor region into one of four classes of brain tumor types. The segmented tumor region is classified as a particular brain tumor type using the deep learning CNN system. The method can also include reconstructing a 3D model of the tumor region and measuring one or more of a location of the tumor, a shape of the tumor, or a volume of the tumor.

Abstract: A system and method to dehumidify atmospheric air includes a convergent conduit, a separation unit, and a divergent conduit. A volume of humid atmospheric air enters the convergent conduit through an entry point of a convergent nozzle of the convergent conduit. A swirling process, which generates a centrifugal force, pushes a volume of water droplets towards an internal wall of the separation unit. In particular, the volume of water droplets is produced from the volume of humid atmospheric air. An annular channel of the separation unit is used to extract the volume of water droplets pushed to the internal wall of the separation unit. In particular, a drainage system which is in fluid communication with a transfer channel is used to extract the volume of water droplets from the system. A volume of dehumidified air, which is produced by removing water vapor, exits the system at the divergent conduit.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer readable media for providing computer security analysis are described. In some implementations, a system providing computer security analysis comprises one or more processors coupled to a non-transitory computer readable storage having software instructions stored thereon configured to cause the one or more processors to: perform a Markov Decision Process (MDP) as part of a cyber-attack mechanism and a Discrete Time Markov Chain (DTMC) process as part of a cyber-defense mechanism, preferably, the cyber-attack and cyber-defense system is modeled as MDP whereas the security analyst SA is modeled as DTMC; synchronize the cyber-attack mechanism with the cyber-defense mechanism through an attack-defense synchronization action; and synchronize an update action, wherein the attack-defense synchronization action includes initiating the DTMC process, and wherein the synchronization of the update action results from one or more actions taken by the DTMC process.

Abstract: A method of forming a polyolefin-carbon nanomaterial composite which contains oriented electrically conductive pathways. The method involves milling a polyolefin with particles of a carbon nanomaterial, molding to form a composite plate, and subjecting the composite plate to an AC voltage. The AC voltage forms oriented electrically conductive pathways by partial dielectric breakdown of the composite. The presence of the oriented electrically conductive pathways gives the polyolefin-carbon nanomaterial electrical and thermal conductivity higher than the polyolefin alone.

Abstract: A method of forming a polyolefin-perovskite nanomaterial composite which contains oriented electrically and thermally conductive pathways. The method involves milling a polyolefin with particles of a perovskite nanomaterial, molding to forma composite plate, and subjecting the composite plate to an AC voltage. The AC voltage forms oriented electrically and thermally conductive pathways by partial dielectric breakdown of the composite. The presence of the oriented electrically and thermally conductive pathways gives the polyolefin-perovskite nanomaterial electrical and thermal conductivity and dielectric permittivity higher than the polyolefin alone.

Abstract: A solar distillation system for producing a distillate and providing cooling for a structure or appliance, and a method of using the system to produce a distillate and cool a structure or appliance. The system includes a distillate cooling coil, a secondary cooling coil, an expansion valve which is capable of controlling an amount of a coolant that flows through each of the coils. The system also includes a compressor, a plurality of sensors including a temperature sensor and a distillate flow sensor, and a controller which receives input from the sensors and controls the activity of the compressor and expansion valve. The system is capable of producing distillate at night in the absence of solar radiation.

Abstract: A method of forming a polyolefin-perovskite nanomaterial composite which contains oriented electrically and thermally conductive pathways. The method involves milling a polyolefin with particles of a perovskite nanomaterial, molding to form a composite plate, and subjecting the composite plate to an AC voltage. The AC voltage forms oriented electrically and thermally conductive pathways by partial dielectric breakdown of the composite. The presence of the oriented electrically and thermally conductive pathways gives the polyolefin-perovskite nanomaterial electrical and thermal conductivity and dielectric permittivity higher than the polyolefin alone.

Abstract: A method of forming a polyolefin-perovskite nanomaterial composite which contains oriented electrically and thermally conductive pathways. The method involves milling a polyolefin with particles of a perovskite nanomaterial, molding to forma composite plate, and subjecting the composite plate to an AC voltage. The AC voltage forms oriented electrically and thermally conductive pathways by partial dielectric breakdown of the composite. The presence of the oriented electrically and thermally conductive pathways gives the polyolefin-perovskite nanomaterial electrical and thermal conductivity and dielectric permittivity higher than the polyolefin alone.

Abstract: Control systems, apparatus, and methods for use with thrusters are disclosed. A disclosed propulsion system includes a PPT including circuitry configured to generate plasma from a propellant and a magnetic field that propels the plasma away from the PPT in an expulsion direction. The propulsion system also includes a sensor including a laser receiver and a laser transmitter that are positioned on the PPT. The laser receiver is configured to receive a signal from the laser transmitter. The propulsion system also includes a controller connected to the circuitry and the sensor. In response to the plasma interrupting the signal, the controller is configured to detect an observed parameter of the plasma via the sensor, calculate an observed thrust efficiency of the PPT based on the observed parameter, and modulate, via the circuitry, the magnetic field to maintain the observed thrust efficiency at a target thrust efficiency of the PPT.