Abstract: The present application is directed to a sensor for detection and/or concentration determination of metal ions in a fluid comprising a complexing agent suitable for binding the metal ions to be detected, detection means and a linker moiety, wherein the detection means comprises a polymer membrane with nanopores. The sensor according to the present application can be used for fast, highly selective and ultrasensitive detection of metal ions in a fluid, in particular of Cu2+ ions. With such a sensor a qualitative and/or quantitative detection of metal ions can be achieved, which can be useful in the diagnosis and/or monitoring of diseases linked to abnormal metal ion concentrations such as for example Alzheimer's disease.

Abstract: A method may comprise operations for expanding a cement mixture with an alkali-silica reaction. The method may include positioning a cement mixture around a casing string downhole in a wellbore. The cement mixture may include a cement material and a silica material. The method may include curing the cement material to cause the cement material to contract. The silica material and alkali in the cement material may undergo an alkali-silica reaction to produce a gel that expands the cement mixture. The rate of expansion of the cement mixture from the gel may be equal to or greater than the rate of contraction of the cement mixture from curing.

Abstract: In some implementations, an utterance that requests a voice call is received, the utterance is classified as spoken by a particular known user, the particular known user is determined to be associated with a personal voice number, and in response to determining that the particular known user is associated with a personal voice number, the voice call is initiated with the personal voice number.

Abstract: A bioproduct manufacturing system is disclosed. The system comprises a hollow-fiber primary membrane gas absorber comprising a shell side and a lumen, wherein the primary membrane gas absorber is configured to receive a carbonate salt-based solvent on the shell side and a gas mixture comprising oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon dioxide in the lumen, at least one runway algal cassette reactor-photobioreactor, and a growth medium circulating between the primary membrane gas absorber and the at least one runway algal cassette reactor-photobioreactor. The at least one runway algal cassette reactor-photobioreactor comprises at least one growth chamber coupled to and in fluid communication with a headspace channel so as to define and interior volume, a first condenser coupled to and in fluid communication with the headspace channel, and a harvest line in fluid communication with the at least one growth chamber and coupled to a filter.

Abstract: According to various embodiments, a tunable optical device comprises a tunable optical metasurface on a substrate with an integrated driver circuit. In some embodiments, the tunable optical device includes a photon shield layer to prevent optical radiation from disrupting operation of the driver circuit. In some embodiments, the tunable optical device includes a diagnostic circuit to detect and disable defective optical structures of the metasurface. In some embodiments, the tunable optical device includes an integrated heater circuit that maintains a liquid crystal of the metasurface above a minimum operating temperature. In some embodiments, the tunable optical device includes an integrated lidar sequencing controller, a steering pattern subcircuit, and a photodetector circuit.

Abstract: An engagement mechanism associated with a reciprocally movable piston of a fluid injector is configured for releasably engaging an engagement portion at a proximal end of a rolling diaphragm syringe having a flexible sidewall configured for rolling upon itself when acted upon by the piston. The engagement mechanism has a plurality of engagement elements reversibly and radially movable relative to the engagement portion of the syringe between a first position, where the plurality of engagement elements are disengaged from the engagement portion of the syringe, and a second position, where the plurality of engagement elements are engaged with the engagement portion of the syringe. The engagement mechanism further has a drive mechanism for moving the plurality of engagement elements between the first position and the second position.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure enable system(s) and method(s) for creating and deploying an electronic skill-based activity, including implementing a matchup tool to determine a projected performance score for participants in real-world events based at least in part on historical performance data of each participant. The matchup tool creates suggested matchups for inclusion in a skill-based game by selecting, for each suggested matchup, at least two components, formed from one or more participants, expected to produce substantially similar scores in the skill-based game based on the projected performance score of each participant. The matchup tool renders for display to a game operator the suggested matchups to enable the game operator to interactively select suggested matchups for inclusion within the skill-based game.

Abstract: An assembly includes a housing and a sensor supported by the housing. The assembly includes a deflector supported by the housing forward of the sensor. The deflector and the sensor define a spacing therebetween. The spacing is open to an ambient environment external of the housing. The deflector includes transparent material that permits light to pass through the deflector.

Abstract: Memory devices, memory systems, and methods of operating memory devices and systems are disclosed in which a memory device can asynchronously indicate to a connected host that information in a mode register has been changed, obviating the need for repeated polling of the information and thereby reducing both command/address bus and data bus bandwidth consumption. In one embodiment, a memory device comprises a memory; a mode register storing information corresponding to the memory; and circuitry configured to, in response to the information in the mode register being modified by the memory device, generate a notification to a connected host device.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention include a thruster system comprising a thruster and a pulsing power supply. The thruster may include a gas inlet port; a plasma jet outlet; and a first electrode. In some embodiments, the pulsing power supply may provide an electrical potential to the first electrode with a pulse repetition frequency greater than 10 kHz, a voltage greater than 5 kilovolts. In some embodiments, the pressure downstream from the thruster can be less than 10 Torr. In some embodiments, when a plasma is produced within the thruster by energizing a gas flowing into the thruster through the gas inlet port, the plasma is expelled from the thruster through the plasma jet outlet.

Abstract: A database system and a computer implemented method for managing functions in the database system is provided. The method, implemented using instructions that may be stored in the database system, involves obtaining first data representing a set of one or more operations to be performed on data in the database system. Second data, representing a function definition, is derived from the first data and the function definition includes the set of one or more operations and a set of state variables. A function is generated according to the second data. Generating the function includes storing a set of one or more values for respective ones of the state variables. The set of values are stored in an isolated computing environment in the database system and the function is configured to operate on the values in the isolated computing environment.

Abstract: The disclosed optical lens assemblies may include a deformable optical element including a substantially transparent transducer configured to deform, and thus change at least one optical property of, the deformable optical element. At least a portion of the substantially transparent transducer may be positioned within a substantially transparent optical aperture of the optical lens assembly. Various head-mounted displays incorporating such an optical lens assembly, and methods of fabricating the same, are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a data transmission device and method thereof. A data transmission system includes: an electric device generating an input message; a Natural Language Processing (NLP) engine connected to the electric device, receiving the input message, and judging whether an output message corresponding to the input message is available on a real-time basis or on a non-real-time basis; a plurality of third-party servers; a service cloud framework connected to one of the NLP engine, the electric device, and the plurality of third-party servers to obtain a real-time information; and a buffer cloud framework connected to one of the NLP engine, the electric device and the plurality of third-party servers, proactively downloading at least one updated data from the plurality of third-party servers once in a predetermined period of time, automatically saving the at least one updated data therein, and obtaining a non-real-time information therefrom.

Abstract: A method for rapid data analysis includes receiving and interpreting a first query operating on a first dataset partitioned into shards by a first field; collecting a first data sample from a first set of data shards; calculating a first result to the first query based on analysis of the first data sample; and partitioning a second dataset into shards by a second field based on the first result.

Abstract: A paving and lighting system for lighting a pathway includes a plurality of frame members which are arranged with respect to each other to define a framework. The framework lies substantially on a plane and defines a plurality of paver receiving cells. Each one of a plurality of paver tiles is positioned in an associated paver receiving cell of the plurality of paver receiving cells. Each one of a plurality of light strips is coupled to and positioned atop an associated frame member of the plurality of frame members. A processor is operatively coupled to each light strip of the plurality of light strips. The processor selectively operates the plurality of light strips to emit a selected light pattern.

Abstract: A light source emits excitation light to discharge gas that flows through a dielectric tube. A ground electrode unit includes a first ground electrode and a second ground electrode arranged at a distance from each other in an axial direction of the dielectric tube. A high-voltage electrode is provided between the first ground electrode and the second ground electrode. A first distance between the first ground electrode and the high-voltage electrode is shorter than a second distance between the second ground electrode and the high-voltage electrode. A cover is provided on an outer wall of the dielectric tube at a position between the first ground electrode and the high-voltage electrode. The light source is arranged to emit excitation light such that an optical axis thereof is directed toward a position where the cover is not provided on the outer wall of the dielectric tube.

Abstract: An image prediction method and device are disclosed. The method includes: obtaining a first reference unit of an image unit, where respective predicted images are obtained for the image unit and the first reference unit by using a same affine model; obtaining motion information of basic motion compensation units at two or more preset positions in the first reference unit; and obtaining motion information of a basic motion compensation unit of the image unit according to the motion information. In this way, motion information of the first reference unit using a same affine motion prediction model is reused, and a more accurate motion vector of a current image unit is obtained, improving prediction accuracy and maintaining encoding and decoding complexity, thereby improving encoding and decoding performance.

Abstract: An assembly includes a housing defining a pressurized chamber. The assembly includes a sensor supported by the housing. The assembly includes a shell enclosing the sensor and rotatable relative to the housing, the shell enclosing a second chamber in fluid communication the pressurized chamber, the housing and the shell defining a gap therebetween. The assembly includes a ring supported by the housing, the ring defining an internal passage having an exhaust vent at the gap.

Abstract: Techniques for buffering data over high bandwidth networks are provided. A first portion of data is downloaded, by a device, into a buffer at a first download speed via a first network connection. Upon determining that the device is downloading data via a second network connection, at a second download speed greater than the first download speed, a second portion of data is downloaded, via the second network connection, into a cache.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for assigning blocks of memory systems are described. Some memory systems may be configured to initiate an operation to characterize a plurality of blocks of a memory system; identify a first quantity of complete blocks of the plurality of blocks and a second quantity of reduced blocks of the plurality of blocks based at least in part on initiating the operation; determine, for a block of the second quantity of reduced blocks, whether a quantity of planes available for use to store the information in the block satisfies a threshold; and assign the block as a special function block configured to store data associated with a function of the memory system based at least in part on determining that the quantity of planes available for use to store the information in the block of the second quantity of reduced blocks satisfies the threshold.