Abstract: A processor-implemented method for fast floating point simulations with learnable parameters includes receiving a single precision input. An integer quantization process is performed on the input. Each element of the input is scaled based on a scaling parameter to generate an m-bit floating point output, where m is an integer.

Abstract: A processor-implemented method includes bit shifting a binary representation of a neural network parameter. The neural network parameter has fewer bits, b, than a number of hardware bits, B, supported by hardware that processes the neural network parameter. The bit shifting effectively multiplies the neural network parameter by 2B-b. The method also includes dividing a quantization scale by 2B-b to obtain an updated quantization scale. The method further includes quantizing the bit shifted binary representation with the updated quantization scale to obtain a value for the neural network parameter.

Abstract: A processor-implemented method includes retrieving, for a layer of a set of layers of an artificial neural network (ANN), a dense quantized matrix representing a codebook and a sparse quantized matrix representing linear coefficients. The dense quantized matrix and the sparse quantized matrix may be associated with a weight tensor of the layer. The processor-implemented method also includes determining, for the layer of the set of layers, the weight tensor based on a product of the dense quantized matrix and the sparse quantized matrix. The processor-implemented method further includes processing, at the layer, an input based on the weight tensor.

Abstract: Various embodiments include methods and devices for neural network pruning. Embodiments may include receiving as an input a weight tensor for a neural network, increasing a level of sparsity of the weight tensor generating a sparse weight tensor, updating the neural network using the sparse weight tensor generating an updated weight tensor, decreasing a level of sparsity of the updated weight tensor generating a dense weight tensor, increasing the level of sparsity of the dense weight tensor the dense weight tensor generating a final sparse weight tensor, and using the neural network with the final sparse weight tensor to generate inferences. Some embodiments may include increasing a level of sparsity of a first sparse weight tensor generating a second sparse weight tensor, updating the neural network using the second sparse weight tensor generating a second updated weight tensor, and decreasing the level of sparsity the second updated weight tensor.

Abstract: One exemplary embodiment can be an apparatus for contacting a first liquid and a second liquid. The apparatus can include a vessel. The vessel can include a wall and a funnical frustum. The wall may form a perimeter about an interior space and include a first side and a second side forming a passageway communicating at least one of the first and second liquids to the interior space. The funnical frustum may be positioned proximate to the passageway and abut the wall for facilitating contacting of the first and second liquids.

Abstract: One exemplary embodiment can be a process for removing one or more sulfur compounds from a first liquid. The process can include passing the first liquid through a first inlet and a second liquid through a second inlet of a vessel, passing the first and second liquids through the passageway for facilitating contacting of the first and second liquids to extract the one or more sulfur compounds from the first liquid to the second liquid, and passing the first liquid through the first outlet and the second liquid through the second outlet. Often, the vessel has a plurality of vortex contactors, and a first outlet and a second outlet. The plurality of vortex contactors can include a first vortex contactor, in turn having at least one wall forming a perimeter about an interior region and including a first side and a second side forming a passageway communicating the first liquid from an exterior to the interior region, and a frustum positioned proximate to the passageway and abutting the at least one wall.

Abstract: One exemplary embodiment can be a process for removing one or more sulfur compounds from a first liquid. The process can include passing the first liquid through a first inlet and a second liquid through a second inlet, and passing the first liquid through a first outlet and the second liquid through a second outlet of a vessel. The vessel may further have a plurality of vortex contactors. Often, the plurality of vortex contactors has a first vortex contactor, in turn including at least one wall and a frustum. The at least one wall can form a perimeter about an interior space and include a first side and a second side forming a passageway communicating the first liquid from an exterior to the interior space, and a frustum positioned proximate to the passageway and abutting the at least one wall for facilitating contacting of the first and second liquids to extract the one or more sulfur compounds from the first liquid to the second liquid.

Abstract: One embodiment can be an apparatus for contacting a first liquid and a second liquid. The apparatus can include a vessel, which in turn, may include at least one wall, a first member, and a funnical frustum. The at least one wall can form a perimeter about an interior space. Also, the first member can be positioned within the interior space and form a plurality of passageways. Each passageway may be bordered by a first side and a second side from an outer region to an interior surface of the first member. Generally, the funnical frustum is positioned downstream of the first member to facilitate a swirling of at least one of the first and second liquids.

Abstract: One exemplary embodiment can be a process for extracting one or more sulfur compounds. The process may include mixing a hydrocarbon stream containing the one or more sulfur compounds with an alkaline stream in at least one vessel. Often, the at least one vessel includes a member forming a perimeter about an interior space and having a first side and a second side forming a passageway communicating at least one of the hydrocarbon stream and the alkaline stream from an outer surface of the member to the interior space, and a frustum. The frustum can be positioned proximate to the passageway and abutting the member for facilitating contacting of the hydrocarbon stream and the alkaline stream.

Abstract: One embodiment can be an apparatus for contacting a first liquid and a second liquid. The apparatus can include a vessel, which in turn, may include at least one wall, a first member, and a funnical frustum. The at least one wall can form a perimeter about an interior space. Also, the first member can be positioned within the interior space and form a plurality of passageways. Each passageway may be bordered by a first side and a second side from an outer region to an interior surface of the first member. Generally, the funnical frustum is positioned downstream of the first member to facilitate a swirling of at least one of the first and second liquids.

Abstract: One exemplary embodiment can be an apparatus for contacting a first liquid and a second liquid. The apparatus can include a vessel. The vessel can include a wall and a funnical frustum. The wall may form a perimeter about an interior space and include a first side and a second side forming a passageway communicating at least one of the first and second liquids to the interior space. The funnical frustum may be positioned proximate to the passageway and abut the wall for facilitating contacting of the first and second liquids.

Abstract: One exemplary embodiment can be a process. The process can include obtaining a hydrocarbon phase having one or more hydrocarbons and an alkylation catalyst from a first vessel, swirling the hydrocarbon phase to separate the alkylation catalyst, and recycling the alkylation catalyst to an alkylation reactor.

Abstract: One exemplary embodiment can be a process for removing one or more sulfur compounds from a first liquid. The process can include passing the first liquid through a first inlet and a second liquid through a second inlet of a vessel, passing the first and second liquids through the passageway for facilitating contacting of the first and second liquids to extract the one or more sulfur compounds from the first liquid to the second liquid, and passing the first liquid through the first outlet and the second liquid through the second outlet. Often, the vessel has a plurality of vortex contactors, and a first outlet and a second outlet. The plurality of vortex contactors can include a first vortex contactor, in turn having at least one wall forming a perimeter about an interior region and including a first side and a second side forming a passageway communicating the first liquid from an exterior to the interior region, and a frustum positioned proximate to the passageway and abutting the at least one wall.

Abstract: One exemplary embodiment can be a process for removing one or more sulfur compounds from a first liquid. The process can include passing the first liquid through a first inlet and a second liquid through a second inlet, and passing the first liquid through a first outlet and the second liquid through a second outlet of a vessel. The vessel may further have a plurality of vortex contactors. Often, the plurality of vortex contactors has a first vortex contactor, in turn including at least one wall and a frustum. The at least one wall can form a perimeter about an interior space and include a first side and a second side forming a passageway communicating the first liquid from an exterior to the interior space, and a frustum positioned proximate to the passageway and abutting the at least one wall for facilitating contacting of the first and second liquids to extract the one or more sulfur compounds from the first liquid to the second liquid.

Abstract: One exemplary embodiment can be a process for extracting one or more sulfur compounds. The process may include mixing a hydrocarbon stream containing the one or more sulfur compounds with an alkaline stream in at least one vessel. Often, the at least one vessel includes a member forming a perimeter about an interior space and having a first side and a second side forming a passageway communicating at least one of the hydrocarbon stream and the alkaline stream from an outer surface of the member to the interior space, and a frustum. The frustum can be positioned proximate to the passageway and abutting the member for facilitating contacting of the hydrocarbon stream and the alkaline stream.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for imaging a biological specimen using non-linear optical properties of certain materials. The method comprises the steps of providing an aqueous dispersion of ZnO nanocrystals; contacting a biological specimen with an aqueous dispersion comprising ZnO nanocrystals; exposing the biological specimen to input electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength of from 600 to 1500 nm; recording the nonlinear output electromagnetic radiation; and generating an image of the biological specimen based on the nonlinear output radiation.

Abstract: A method of local temperature measurement in a sample is provided. The method comprises the stimulation, at a location in the sample, of anti-Stokes and Stokes emission from fluorophores which are present at the location in the sample, measuring the intensities of the stimulated radiation and calculating the temperature at the location from the measured intensities. The method can be used to obtain a thermal image of the sample.