Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for implementing spike-timing dependent plasticity (STDP) using windowing of spikes. One example method for operating an artificial nervous system generally includes recording spike times for a first artificial neuron, recording spike times for a second artificial neuron coupled to the first artificial neuron via a synapse, processing spikes for the second artificial neuron according to a window based at least in part on the spike times for the first artificial neuron, and updating a parameter (e.g., a weight or a delay) of the synapse based on the processing.

Abstract: Certain aspects of the present disclosure support operating simultaneously multiple super neuron processing units in an artificial nervous system, wherein a plurality of artificial neurons is assigned to each super neuron processing unit. The super neuron processing units can be interfaced with a memory for storing and loading synaptic weights and plasticity parameters of the artificial nervous system, wherein organization of the memory allows contiguous memory access.

Abstract: A method generates compact representations of spike timing-dependent plasticity (STDP) curves. The method includes segmenting a set of data points into different sections. The method further includes representing at least one section as a primitive and storing parameters of the primitive. The primitive can be a polynomial.

Abstract: A method for dynamically setting a neuron value processes a data structure including a set of parameters for a neuron model and determines a number of segments defined in the set of parameters. The method also includes determining a number of neuron types defined in the set of parameters and determining at least one boundary for a first segment.

Abstract: The invention relates to the field of solar energy usage and, particularly, to solar systems, which operate on the base of concentration of direct solar radiation. The invention proposes a radiation absorbing metal pipe intended for heating gaseous medium or gaseous-liquid mixture. The proposed radiation absorbing metal pipe is constructed from perforated plates. These plates are provided with inclined or two-stage upright rims. The plates are stacked and sealingly joined with formation of a tubular unit. Such tubular units with absorbing coatings of their external surfaces can be applied in following solar thermal systems: parabolic trough collectors; solar thermal collectors with usage of linear Fresnel reflectors; for a system with an array of tracking mirrors and a central receiver mounted on a tower or on the ground.

Abstract: The invention proposes a concentrating solar power plant, which includes a heat storage unit allowing operation of the power plant for some hours on the base of accumulated heat. An important feature of the plant constitutes its ability to operate with direct steam generation (DSG) immediately in the concentrating solar collectors. Heat charging of the heat storage unit are performed with changing temperature of superheated steam, which circulates via the heat storage unit and a sub-field of the concentrating solar collectors; this sub-field serves solely for temperature elevation of the circulating superheated steam. Heat discharging of the heat storage unit is executed by heating the circulated superheated steam, which is delivering from a mixer-evaporator. This mixer-evaporator serves, in turn, for evaporation of condensate obtained in a condenser of a turbine unit; the evaporation process is based on utilization of sensible heat of the superheated steam.

Abstract: The invention relates to a field of open-flow solar collectors, and specifically to flat solar collectors with wetting the underneath sides of their solar radiation absorbing plates with liquid heat transfer medium. More specifically, the invention proposes the flat solar collector, which operates with relatively low flow rate of the heat transfer medium on the underneath side of the solar radiation absorbing plate, with flow in form of some rivulets. The invention describes some technical solutions, which restrict meandering rivulets' flow. The proposed flat solar collector can be applied for heating water or other liquids and for evaporation and concentration of aqueous solutions.

Abstract: A probabilistic programming current is injected into a cluster of bi-stable probabilistic switching elements, the probabilistic programming current having parameters set to result in a less than unity probability of any given bi-stable switching element switching, and a resistance of the cluster of bi-stable switching elements is detected. The probabilistic programming current is injected and the resistance of the cluster state detected until a termination condition is met. Optionally the termination condition is detecting the resistance of the cluster of bi-stable switching elements at a value representing a multi-bit data.

Abstract: An invention proposes a photobioreactor with a cultivation chamber in the form of a shallow closed trough that is irradiated by the sun light. The bottom section of the shallow closed trough comprises an elongated polymer flexible film, which is arranged with small inclination to the horizontal plane; the middle longitudinal section of the elongated polymer flexible film plays a role of the bottom cover of the shallow closed trough. A bank of translucent or transparent flat rigid members, which are abutted in-line with a small inclination to the horizontal plane, provides required rigidity to the entire photobioreactor. The translucent or transparent flat rigid members are provided with longitudinal bottom spacers and joined with the lateral longitudinal sections of the elongated polymer flexible film. In addition, the translucent flat rigid members serve for closing the shallow trough from above.

Abstract: A method of managing one or more resources allocated to a plurality of guest virtual machines. The method comprises executing a plurality of guest virtual machines in a host platform managing at least one resource, allocating the at least one resource among the plurality of guest virtual machines, separately collecting, from each the guest virtual machine, resource usage data by locally monitoring at least one of an operating system operation, an executed procedure, and an executed tread in each the guest virtual machine, gathering the resource usage data from each the guest virtual machine, and reallocating the at least one resource among the plurality of guest virtual machines according to an analysis of the gathered resource usage data from the plurality of guest virtual machines.

Abstract: Certain aspects of the present disclosure provides techniques for a handshaking protocol, and corresponding circuit elements, for an asynchronous network. The techniques utilize a clock-less delay insensitive data encoding scheme. The proposed network may operate correctly regardless of the delay in the interconnecting wires.

Abstract: Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide a probabilistic analog to digital converter (ADC). The probabilistic ADC may be configured to convert an analog input to a variable-length or variable-amplitude pulse, apply the pulse to a plurality of memory elements as a switching pulse, and determine a digital value based on a number of memory elements that store a value after the switching pulse is applied.

Abstract: An invention relates to the area of cryosurgical equipment. It proposes a cryosurgical system, which incorporates measuring and computing means for estimation of a real time ice ball diameter and operation temperature of a cryotip (the distal section of a cryosurgical probe). The cryosurgical probe of the cryosurgical system operates by blowing in a gaseous medium at cryogenic temperature.

Abstract: Certain aspects of the present disclosure provides techniques for a handshaking protocol, and corresponding circuit elements, for an asynchronous network. The techniques utilize a clock-less delay insensitive data encoding scheme. The proposed network may operate correctly regardless of the delay in the interconnecting wires.

Abstract: Certain aspects of the present disclosure relate to a technique for adaptive structural delay plasticity applied in spiking neural networks. With the proposed method of structural delay plasticity, the requirement of modeling multiple synapses with different delays can be avoided. In this case, far fewer potential synapses should be modeled for learning.

Abstract: Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide a probabilistic analog to digital converter (ADC). The probabilistic ADC may be configured to convert an analog input to a variable-length or variable-amplitude pulse, apply the pulse to a plurality of memory elements as a switching pulse, and determine a digital value based on a number of memory elements that store a value after the switching pulse is applied.

Abstract: The invention proposes a method of destruction of volatile organic and inorganic compounds in wastewater, this method includes following stages: stripping the aforementioned volatile compounds in a stripping-chemisorption column; preliminary heating the gaseous medium containing these volatile compounds in a first heat regenerator; thermal, flare or thermo-catalytic oxidation of the volatile compounds in circulating gaseous medium; cooling the gaseous medium in a second heat regenerator; chemisorption of acidic gases from the gaseous medium in the stripping-chemisorption column with stripping at the same time additional amount of the volatile compounds from the wastewater. After specific period, direction of the gaseous medium flow is alternated. The proposed method can be executed at elevated temperature. The invention includes as well systems realizing the proposed method.

Abstract: An invention proposes a heat sink system for large-size photovoltaic receivers of tower-type solar power stations with application of an array of heliostats intended to concentrate solar radiation on the photovoltaic receiver. The heat sink system is designed as a two-phase thermo-siphon and it can ensure a stable temperature on all photovoltaic cells installed on the large-size receiver with very small deviations of the temperatures from one photovoltaic cell to another.

Abstract: A method of managing one or more resources allocated to a plurality of guest virtual machines. The method comprises executing a plurality of guest virtual machines in a host platform managing at least one resource, allocating the at least one resource among the plurality of guest virtual machines, separately collecting, from each the guest virtual machine, resource usage data by locally monitoring at least one of an operating system operation, an executed procedure, and an executed tread in each the guest virtual machine, gathering the resource usage data from each the guest virtual machine, and reallocating the at least one resource among the plurality of guest virtual machines according to an analysis of the gathered resource usage data from the plurality of guest virtual machines.

Abstract: The invention proposes a novel method of treatment of patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). The method includes two stage transplantations of a patient's kidney: first, one of kidneys of the patient with CKD is transplanted into a young healthy animal recipient (preferably a pig), whereas a kidney of a living person or cadaver or an animal recipient is temporarily transplanted into the body of the patient. Homeostatic factors of the animal recipient will cause the transplanted kidney recovery. In the second stage, the recovered kidney is autotransplantated back to the patient. Up to this time both the animal recipient and the patient are treated by immunosuppressive drugs. If an allogenic kidney is transplanted into the patient's body, the patient's kidney is transplanted into the body of a young healthy pig and after it's recovery the patient's kidney re-transplanted instead of the allogenic kidney.