Abstract: A drinking straw may include an outer layer defining an exterior of the drinking straw and an internal space of the drinking straw. The drinking straw may also include an upper end and a lower end. Each of the upper end and the lower end may define a respective opening. The drinking straw may further include a movable cover disposed within the internal space at the lower end covering the opening at the lower end.

Abstract: A data storage method includes partitioning a data into an array having a plurality of data blocks and storing the data blocks across a plurality of storage nodes. Parity blocks are encoded based on the data array by performing a shift operation on the data array to produce a shifted array and performing an exclusive OR (XOR) operation on the elements in each row of the shifted array to produce a parity block. The method further includes storing the parity blocks across a plurality of the storage nodes. Systems are configured to recover data from a data array in the event that the data array is at least partly inaccessible.

Abstract: Provided herein are compounds, compositions, and methods useful for the treatment of breast cancer, particularly triple negative breast cancers. In certain aspects, provided herein are compounds of formula (I): or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof. In certain aspects, provided herein are compositions comprising any of the compounds provided herein. In certain aspects, provided herein are methods for the treatment of cancer in a subject in need thereof comprising administering to the subject an effective amount of any of the compounds or compositions provided herein.

Abstract: Presented herein is a coupling method for the preparation of 1,2-di(thiophen-2-yl)ethane-1,2-diol compounds, including (E)-1,2-di(thiophen-2-yl)ethene-1,2-diol, via a Cu(II) catalyst.

Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for a greenhouse indoor environment controller based on model predictive control (MPC), which can be integrated into existing greenhouse regulatory systems to optimally maintain critical climatic variables, including artificial lighting levels, CO2, indoor temperature, and humidity levels within acceptable limits. The objectives of the MPC may be to maximize the rate of crop photosynthesis while optimizing the use of the available water and energy resources, taking into account the unpredictability and intermittent nature of renewable energies and external atmospheric conditions. Accordingly, certain embodiments may facilitate the management of greenhouses by anticipating control actions for a better quality of production.

Abstract: Certain embodiments may generally relate to structural damage detection. An embodiment may be directed to method for identifying a presence and a location of structural damage. Such method may include training a convolutional neural network (CNN) for a joint of a structure, sending instructions to a modal shaker to induce an input to the structure, receiving, as a result of the induced input, a raw acceleration signal at the joint, computing, based on the trained CNN and the raw acceleration signal, an index value of the joint, and identifying, according to the index value, a presence of a location of structural damage of the structure. In a further embodiment, the index value represents a likelihood of damage at the joint.

Abstract: To prevent accidental needle stick injuries, a syringe has a plunger configured to pull the syringe into the syringe barrel after clinical use. The syringe has an additional safety feature that restricts subsequent movement of the plunger. After the needle has been retracted in its entirety within the barrel of the syringe, movement of the plunger is restricted by a two-part locking mechanism, a notch on the plunger and a T-shaped slot on the barrel with a one-way catch section to prevent the needle tip from being pushed accidentally through the barrel wall.

Abstract: A method may include providing a stator. The method may also include equipping the stator with quadruple three-phase winding sets with concentrated fully-pitched winding. The quadruple three-phase winding sets may be connected in such a way that emulates a six-phase stator. Further, the quadruple three-phase winding sets may have the same conductor cross-sectional area. In addition, the quadruple three-phase winding sets may include a plurality of winding groups.

Abstract: A modular DC-DC converter and a battery charging device are provided. The modular DC-DC converter includes a first converter provided at an input side, a plurality of second converters provided at an output side, and a plurality of high-frequency transformers provided between the first converter and the second converters. The first converter and the high-frequency transformers are connected in series at the input side, and the second converters are connected in parallel at the output side.

Abstract: A system of video steganalyzer is provided. The system includes a display and a processor. The processor is configured to generate a motion vector map from a video, extract a morphological feature from the motion vector map, evaluate the morphological feature of the motion vector map, and determine if the video includes embedded information.

Abstract: An ingestible capsule for detecting cancerous and non-cancerous tissues in a colon of patient is disclosed. The capsule has a radiation source integrated into the capsule body for illuminating tissues within a colon of the patient. Tissues of the colon are irradiated with radiation from the radiation source to elicit a fluorescence response, and a photon detector measures photons of the fluorescence response. Intensity and fluorescence lifetime of the fluorescence response is determined based on measured photons. A system employing the capsule is configured to distinguish cancerous and non-cancerous tissues based on the determined fluorescence lifetime of the fluorescence response.

Abstract: New formulation for pyrite scale removal from oil and gas wells and a method of pyrite scale removal are disclosed. The chemical formulation is composed of K2B4O7-4H2O, in a concentration of about 9-20 wt. % of the composition, preferably about 14 wt. % of the composition. The new formulation has the ability to dissolve pyrite without generation of the toxic H2S. Furthermore, the new formulation is cheaper and has very low corrosion rate compare to 15 wt. % HCl with corrosion inhibitor. The disclose method uses the disclosed new formulation to dissolve iron sulphide scale, performed at about 100-150° C. and about 500-2000 psi.

Abstract: A road marker may include a housing with a cavity and at least one perimeter surface oriented perpendicular to the direction of traffic. Each of the at least two perimeter surfaces containing an opening may be substantially covered with a mesh. Further, each of the openings may form either an air input or an air output, and the air input and air output openings may be located substantially opposite to each other to generate a flow of air through the cavity. In addition, the cavity may include passive electrical components for heating the flow of air.

Abstract: A cancer cell detection device includes a computer with a database and a display and a microscope coupled to the computer. The microscope has a base upon which a biopsy sample can be placed. The device further includes a camera coupled to the microscope and computer. The camera is configured to capture images of the biopsy sample. The device also has a filter configured to attach to the microscope and a connection feature for connecting the computer to the camera and the filter. The computer further includes a processor that processes the images captured by the camera and classifies the images according to known variables stored in the database.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention encompass methods of forming a foamed polyolefin and articles and materials of the foamed polyolefin. The foamed materials and articles may be used in applications requiring thermal insulation.

Abstract: A shallow draft sampling raft including a bow, and a stern, in which the bow is an opposite end of the raft from the stern. The raft also includes a top surface, a bottom surface, and a plurality of longitudinal stringers. The plurality of longitudinal stringers are attached to an inner face the bottom surface and run from the bow to the stern. A top surface is also attached to the longitudinal stringers.

Abstract: This invention relates to a novel palladium catalyst for the substantially complete oxidative removal of methane from exhaust streams at low operating temperatures compared to other current palladium catalysts and to methods of preparing the catalyst. Use of the catalyst to remove methane from vehicle exhaust streams, crude oil production and processing exhaust streams, petroleum refining exhaust streams and natural gas production and processing exhaust streams.

Abstract: A method filtering exhaust gas may include attaching an exhaust tube to an engine at an exhaust gas inlet of the exhaust tube. The method may also include filling an outer tube of the exhaust tube with a liquid. The method may further include filtering the exhaust gas by passing the exhaust gas through an inner gas distributor disposed inside the outer tube, and through a plurality of holes of the inner gas distributor into the liquid of the outer tube. In addition, the method may include expelling filtered exhaust gas through an exhaust gas outlet of the exhaust tube.

Abstract: Provided are multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) decorated with nanospheres of carbon, methods of preparing multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) decorated with nanospheres of carbon, and uses thereof.

Abstract: To prevent accidental needle stick injuries, a syringe has a plunger configured to pull the syringe needle into the syringe barrel after clinical use. The syringe has an additional safety feature that restricts subsequent movement of the plunger. After the needle is pulled entirely into the barrel, movement of the plunger is restricted by a notch on the barrel to prevent the needle tip from being pushed accidentally through the barrel wall.