Abstract: A data center for executing a data processing application includes processing units, sub-units or servers. Each of the processing units, sub-units or servers can execute a part or all of the data processing application. The processing units, sub-units or servers are electrical disjoint with respect to data communications, but can communicate with each other over free space optical links.

Abstract: A method of controlling a Casimir-effect device includes applying a voltage to a field-effect gate of the Casimir-effect device. The Casimir-effect device includes a conducting material and a semiconductor. The conducting material and semiconductor are separated by a gap to form the field-effect gate over at least a portion of the semiconductor facing the gap. The method further includes altering, in response to the applied voltage, a density of free charge carriers in the portion of the semiconductor facing the gap to control a nanoscale Casimir force between the conducting material and the portion of the semiconductor facing the gap.

Abstract: A nuclear fission reactor fuel assembly and system configured for controlled removal of a volatile fission product and heat released by a burn wave in a traveling wave nuclear fission reactor and method for same. The fuel assembly comprises an enclosure adapted to enclose a porous nuclear fuel body having the volatile fission product therein. A fluid control subassembly is coupled to the enclosure and adapted to control removal of at least a portion of the volatile fission product from the porous nuclear fuel body. In addition, the fluid control subassembly is capable of circulating a heat removal fluid through the porous nuclear fuel body in order to remove heat generated by the nuclear fuel body.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to camouflaged systems and related camouflaging methods. The camouflaged systems can include at least one camouflaged object, including but not limited to transmission lines and transmission towers. One or more pluralities of lights may be disposed on or otherwise coupled to a surface of the camouflaged object. Each of the one or more pluralities of lights can be configured to emit light having a characteristic that appears like (e.g., matches, mimics, simulates, corresponds to, or otherwise blends with) an environmental condition, which can include any variety of background environmental landscapes.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate to a garment system including at least one muscle or at least one joint activity sensor, and at least one actuator that operates responsive to sensing feedback from the at least one muscle or the at least one joint activity sensor to cause a flexible compression garment to selectively compress against or selectively relieve compression against at least one body part of a subject. Embodiments disclosed herein also relate to methods of using such garment systems.

Abstract: A digital memory device includes a moveable element that is configured to move between a first stable position and a second stable position, where the moveable element comprises a first conducting area. The digital memory device further includes a second conducting area on the surface of a substrate. At the first stable position of the moveable element, a first gap exists between the first conducting area and the second conducting area. At the second stable position of the moveable element, a second gap that is smaller than the first gap exists between the first conducting area and the second conducting area. In at least the second stable position, an attractive Casimir force between the moveable element and the substrate holds the moveable element in the stable position.

Abstract: A drill for excavating a bore in the earth includes a steerable boring tool configured to excavate a bore and sensors coupled to the boring tool. The sensors are spaced apart from one another at multiple azimuthal locations around the steerable boring tool and the sensors are configured to detect a mineral property in the earth adjacent the steerable boring tool.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for monitoring an individual and facilitating a motion regimen of the individual. In an aspect, a system includes, but is not limited to, a deformable substrate; a sensor assembly to generate sense signals based on detection of a movement of the body portion and a physiological parameter of the body portion during a motion regimen executed by the individual; a processor including circuitry configured to identify a pain state of the individual based on at least one of the movement or the physiological parameter, and to compare at least one of the pain state, the movement, or the physiological parameter to threshold target values; and a communicator configured to generate communication signals responsive to instruction by the processor, the communication signals associated with comparison between at least one of the pain state, the movement, or the physiological parameter to threshold target values.

Abstract: Illustrative methods are provided for annealing nuclear fission reactor materials, such as without limitation, a nuclear fission reactor core or fuel assembly or components thereof within the nuclear core. Annealing a metallic component of a nuclear fission reactor within the reactor core may include determining an annealing temperature for at least a portion of at least one metallic component of a nuclear fission fuel assembly of the reactor. The temperature of the core may be adjusted to affect the determined annealing temperature, which in some cases may be greater than the predetermined operating temperature range of the nuclear fission fuel assembly. The portion of the at least one metallic component of the nuclear fission fuel assembly is annealed within the core at the annealing temperature range.

Abstract: A heating apparatus includes a gas supply for providing a base gas, a generator configured to excite the base gas to produce a metastable gas mixture that includes a metastable gas, and a housing. The housing includes a wall shaped to contain the metastable gas mixture and selectively enclose a reactive element of a target component. Interaction between the metastable gas and at least one of a coupling material and the reactive element transfers energy to selectively heat the at least one of the coupling material and the target component.

Abstract: Described embodiments include a system and method. A system includes a first and second digital imaging devices. Each digital imaging device is configured to capture digital images of a surface traveled by a vehicle. A digital image correlator is configured to (i) correlate a first digital image of the surface captured by a first digital imaging device at a first time and a second digital image of the surface captured by a second digital imaging device at a subsequent second time, and (ii) determine a correlation vector. The first and second imaging devices are separated by a known distance. A kinematics circuit is configured to determine in response to the correlation vector an incremental translation and rotation of the vehicle. The system includes a navigation circuit configured to combine at least two instances of the incremental translation and rotation into data indicative of travel by the vehicle.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for monitoring an individual subject and facilitating a motion regimen of the individual subject. In an aspect, a system includes, but is not limited to, a deformable substrate; a sensor assembly configured to generate one or more sense signals based on detection of at least one of a movement of the body portion or at least one physiological parameter of the body portion; a processor configured to receive the one or more sense signals, the processor including circuitry configured to identify a physiological state of the individual subject based on at least one of the movement of the body portion or the at least one physiological parameter of the body portion; and an effector operably coupled to the processor and configured to effect at least one predetermined motion of the body portion corresponding to a motion regimen responsive to control by the processor.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein relate to a garment system including a flexible compression garment, at least one sensor, and at least one therapeutic stimulation delivery device operable responsive to sensing feedback from the at least one sensor, effective to provide therapeutic radiation to a body part of a subject. Embodiments disclosed herein also relate to methods of using such garment systems.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein relate to a garment system including a flexible compression garment, at least one sensor, and at least one therapeutic stimulation delivery device operable responsive to sensing feedback from the at least one sensor, effective to provide therapeutic radiation to a body part of a subject. Embodiments disclosed herein also relate to methods of using such garment systems.

Abstract: Embodiments include a gain system and method. The system includes a gain medium with a plurality of plasmonic apparatus. Each plasmonic apparatus includes a substrate having a first plasmonic surface, a plasmonic nanoparticle having a second plasmonic surface, and a dielectric-filled gap between the first plasmonic surface and the second plasmonic surface. A plasmonic cavity is created by an assembly of the first plasmonic surface, the second plasmonic surface, and the dielectric-filled gap, and has a first fundamental wavelength ?1 and second fundamental wavelength ?2. Fluorescent particles are located in the dielectric-filled gap. Each fluorescent particle has an absorption spectrum at the first fundamental wavelength ?1 and an emission spectrum at the second fundamental wavelength ?2. An excitation applied to the gain medium at the first fundamental wavelength ?1 produces an amplified electromagnetic wave emission at the second resonant wavelength ?2.

Abstract: A nuclear fission reactor fuel assembly and system configured for controlled removal of a volatile fission product and heat released by a burn wave in a traveling wave nuclear fission reactor and method for same. The fuel assembly comprises an enclosure adapted to enclose a porous nuclear fuel body having the volatile fission product therein. A fluid control subassembly is coupled to the enclosure and adapted to control removal of at least a portion of the volatile fission product from the porous nuclear fuel body. In addition, the fluid control subassembly is capable of circulating a heat removal fluid through the porous nuclear fuel body in order to remove heat generated by the nuclear fuel body.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for monitoring, treating, and preventing a pain state of an individual. In an aspect, a system includes, but is not limited to, a deformable substrate; a sensor assembly coupled to the deformable substrate, the sensor assembly including a motion sensor and a physiological sensor, the sensor assembly configured to generate one or more sense signals based on detection of a movement of the body portion by the motion sensor and a physiological parameter of the body portion by the physiological sensor; a processor including circuitry configured to identify a physiological state of the individual subject based on at least one of the movement of the body portion or the physiological parameter; and an effector operably coupled to the processor and configured to affect the body portion responsive to control by the processor.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for monitoring, treating, and preventing a pain state of an individual. In an aspect, a system includes, but is not limited to, a deformable substrate; a sensor assembly coupled to the deformable substrate, the sensor assembly including a motion sensor and a physiological sensor, the sensor assembly configured to generate one or more sense signals based on detection of a movement of the body portion by the motion sensor and a physiological parameter of the body portion by the physiological sensor; a processor including circuitry configured to identify a physiological state of the individual subject based on at least one of the movement of the body portion or the physiological parameter; and an effector operably coupled to the processor and configured to affect the body portion responsive to control by the processor.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods for storing, reading, and writing data using particle-based acoustic wave driven shift registers. The shift registers may physically shift particles along rows and/or columns of wells through the interactions of two parallel surfaces. A transducer may generate an acoustic wave to displace one or more of the two parallel surfaces. The particles may be transferred to and/or otherwise constrained by a buffer surface during at least a portion of the acoustic wave, such that the particles may be shifted during one or more cycles of the acoustic wave. In various embodiments, the amplitude of the acoustic wave may correspond to the spacing distance between each of the wells. The wells may be physical and/or potential wells.

Abstract: Disclosed embodiments include nuclear fission reactor cores, nuclear fission reactors, methods of operating a nuclear fission reactor, and methods of managing excess reactivity in a nuclear fission reactor.