Abstract: The disclosure relates to compositions for use in assays, the compositions comprising at least one latent fluorophore including at least one enzyme-reactive quenching group and a conjugative group; and a support connectable to the latent fluorophore by the conjugative group. The disclosure further relates to methods of measuring the presence and/or concentration of an analyte, as well as methods of measuring the relative activity of at least two enzymes.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein provide a system for improving a classifier by computing a statistic for the utility of sharing data with a second party. The system may encrypt a set of class labels based on a public key/private key pair to obtain a set of encrypted class labels. The system may send a public key and the set of encrypted class labels to a second computing device. The system may receive an encrypted value computed by the second computing device based on the public key. The system may decrypt the encrypted value based on a private key to obtain a decrypted value. The system may then send a pair of encrypted values computed based on the decrypted value to the second computing device. The system may subsequently receive an encrypted utility statistic from the second computing device, and decrypt the encrypted utility statistic to obtain a decrypted utility statistic.

Abstract: A method of removing carbon dioxide from an atmosphere and generating hydrogen includes capturing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere in an alkaline capture solution, sending the alkaline capture solution to a series of electrolyzers in a CO2-rich path, wherein each electrolyzer cell raises the acidity of the input CO2-rich solution to produce an acidified CO2-rich solution, removing carbon dioxide from the acidified CO2-rich solution at a carbon removal unit to produce a CO2-poor solution, sending the CO2-poor solution to the series of electrolyzers in a return path, wherein each electrolyzer raises the alkalinity of the return CO2-poor solution to produce a basified CO2-poor solution, wherein a difference in pH between the CO2-rich solution and the CO2-poor solution within each electrolyzer is less than 3, and returning the basified CO2-poor solution to the carbon dioxide capture unit operation.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein provide a system for improving a classifier by computing a statistic for the utility of sharing data with a second party. The system may encrypt a set of class labels based on a public key/private key pair to obtain a set of encrypted class labels. The system may send a public key and the set of encrypted class labels to a second computing device. The system may receive an encrypted value computed by the second computing device based on the public key. The system may decrypt the encrypted value based on a private key to obtain a decrypted value. The system may then send a pair of encrypted values computed based on the decrypted value to the second computing device. The system may subsequently receive an encrypted utility statistic from the second computing device, and decrypt the encrypted utility statistic to obtain a decrypted utility statistic.

Abstract: A method includes receiving a user object specified by a user. A similarity score is computed using a similarity function between the user object and one or more candidate objects in a database based on respective feature vectors. A first subset of the one or more candidate objects is presented to the user based on the respective computed similarity scores. First feedback is received from the user about the first subset of candidate objects. The similarity function is adjusted based on the received first feedback.

Abstract: A system has an alkaline capture stream as an input, an alkaline depleted stream as an output, a carbon dioxide removal unit operation having a return stream as an output, and a series of electrolyzers, each electrolyzer to receive a CO2-rich input stream and produce an acidified output stream that is more acidic than the CO2-rich input stream, and to receive a return stream and produce a basified output stream that is more alkaline than the input return stream. A method of removing carbon dioxide from an atmosphere and generating hydrogen includes capturing carbon dioxide from an atmosphere in an alkaline capture solution, sending the alkaline solution as a CO2-rich input solution to a series of electrolyzers in a CO2-rich path, removing carbon dioxide from the acidified CO2-rich solution at a removal unit to produce a CO2-poor solution, sending the CO2-poor solution to the series of electrolyzers in a return path, and returning the return solution to the alkaline capture stream.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein provide a system for improving a classifier by computing a statistic for the utility of sharing data with a second party. The system may encrypt a set of class labels based on a public key/private key pair to obtain a set of encrypted class labels. The system may send a public key and the set of encrypted class labels to a second computing device. The system may receive an encrypted value computed by the second computing device based on the public key. The system may decrypt the encrypted value based on a private key to obtain a decrypted value. The system may then send a pair of encrypted values computed based on the decrypted value to the second computing device. The system may subsequently receive an encrypted utility statistic from the second computing device, and decrypt the encrypted utility statistic to obtain a decrypted utility statistic.

Abstract: A thermionic sensor is disclosed. The sensor includes a sensor housing at least partially defining an emission chamber in which at least a partial vacuum is maintained; a cathode disposed in the emission chamber; an anode disposed in the emission chamber and spaced apart from the cathode; and an electrically conductive layer disposed in the emission chamber facing the anode and cathode. The thermionic sensor is configured to output a detection signal when the anode and cathode are at substantially the same temperature.

Abstract: A thermionic sensor package and methods of using the same are disclosed. The sensor package includes a substrate, a package housing disposed on the substrate and at least partially defining a package chamber in which vacuum conditions are maintained, a thermionic sensor disposed in the package chamber, and a wireless transmission device disposed on the substrate. The thermionic sensor includes a sensor housing at least partially defining an emission chamber, a cathode disposed in the emission chamber, an anode disposed in the emission chamber and spaced apart from the cathode, and an electrically conductive layer disposed in the emission chamber facing the anode and cathode. The method includes generating a detection signal when the anode and the cathode of the sensor are at substantially the same temperature.

Abstract: A system includes a detection interface that detects signals from which house data and environmental data for at least one house can be collected. The house data includes at least power usage of the heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system of the house as a function of time. An analyzer calculates values of thermal loads of the house based on the house data and the environmental data by solving a stochastic thermal energy balance equation for the house using thermal load estimates. An output interface outputs information about the thermal loads of the house based on the calculated thermal load values.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to compositions for use in assays, the compositions comprising at least one latent fluorophore including at least one enzyme-reactive quenching group and a conjugative group; and a support connectable to the latent fluorophore by the conjugative group. The disclosure further relates to methods of measuring the presence and/or concentration of an analyte, as well as methods of measuring the relative activity of at least two enzymes.

Abstract: A wastewater treatment plant that employs an activated sludge process and a method of operating the same is described. Wastewater influent is provided to a bioreactor configured to perform activated sludge processing to develop mixed liquor suspended solids (MLSS). The MLSS is passed from the bioreactor to a hydrodynamic separator (HDS) system, where separation operations are performed on the MLSS. The separation operations generate a low concentration MLSS stream and a high concentration MLSS stream. The low concentration MLSS stream is passed from the hydrodynamic separator system via a first output to a clarifier, and the high concentration wastewater stream is passed via a second output back to the bioreactor. The clarifier performs clarification operations on the cleaned wastewater stream and then outputs an effluent flow.

Abstract: A method for detecting an enthalpy change includes providing a first mixture and a second mixture to a drop generator. The first mixture includes a ligand. The second mixture contains a target molecule. The method further includes generating a drop in the drop generator. The drop includes the target molecule, a temperature-sensitive reporter compound, and the ligand. The method also includes measuring a property of the temperature-sensitive reporter compound in the drop to determine an amount of enthalpy change that has occurred.

Abstract: A dual compartment bioreactor system includes a heterotrophic bioreactor, an autotrophic bioreactor, and a membrane between the autotrophic bioreactor and the heterotrophic bioreactor. The autotrophic bioreactor includes a transparent outer wall. Each population benefits from the products of the metabolism of the other. Methods for wastewater treatment and algal production utilize the system.

Abstract: A method for detecting an enthalpy change includes providing a first mixture and a second mixture to a drop generator. The first mixture includes a ligand. The second mixture contains a target molecule. The method further includes generating a drop in the drop generator. The drop includes the target molecule, a temperature-sensitive reporter compound, and the ligand. The method also includes measuring a property of the temperature-sensitive reporter compound in the drop to determine an amount of enthalpy change that has occurred.

Abstract: A thermionic sensor package and methods of using the same are disclosed. The sensor package includes a substrate, a package housing disposed on the substrate and at least partially defining a package chamber in which vacuum conditions are maintained, a thermionic sensor disposed in the package chamber, and a wireless transmission device disposed on the substrate. The thermionic sensor includes a sensor housing at least partially defining an emission chamber, a cathode disposed in the emission chamber, an anode disposed in the emission chamber and spaced apart from the cathode, and an electrically conductive layer disposed in the emission chamber facing the anode and cathode. The method includes generating a detection signal when the anode and the cathode of the sensor are at substantially the same temperature.

Abstract: A thermionic sensor is disclosed. The sensor includes a sensor housing at least partially defining an emission chamber in which at least a partial vacuum is maintained; a cathode disposed in the emission chamber; an anode disposed in the emission chamber and spaced apart from the cathode; and an electrically conductive layer disposed in the emission chamber facing the anode and cathode. The thermionic sensor is configured to output a detection signal when the anode and cathode are at substantially the same temperature.

Abstract: There is disclosed an electrochemical cell for treating water comprising at least one water chamber configured to hold water to be treated; at least one redox electrode comprising reactants capable of accepting and having a reversible redox reaction with at least one negative ion in the water; at least one intercalation electrode capable of accommodating and intercalating at least one positive ion in the water, wherein the intercalation electrode is immersed in the water chamber or separated from the water chamber by an optional porous separator; and an anion exchange membrane separating the redox electrode from the water chamber. The cell can be used to desalinate water having a wide range of salinities, including sea water, and brackish water. The cell can also be used to collect salt, which can subsequently used to concentrate industrial brine. Methods for using the electrochemical cell to treat water, such as desalinate saline solutions are disclosed.

Abstract: A dual compartment bioreactor system includes a heterotrophic bioreactor, an autotrophic bioreactor, and a membrane between the autotrophic bioreactor and the heterotrophic bioreactor. The autotrophic bioreactor includes a transparent outer wall. Each population benefits from the products of the metabolism of the other. Methods for wastewater treatment and algal production utilize the system.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for detecting concentration of an analyte in a fluid. A first container includes (i) an optical cavity detection region, (ii) a reservoir for one or more modifiers of one or more optical properties of the optical cavity detection region, and (iii) a set of one or more bounding regions through which objects in the fluid can transfer into the container. The optical cavity detection region and the reservoir define separate areas of the first container. The movement of the one or more modifiers between the reservoir and the optical cavity detection region is responsive to changes in concentration of the analyte. A second container includes an optical cavity detection region, and a set of one or more bounding regions through which objects in the fluid can transfer into the container. Also provided are optical components for guiding light into the optical cavity detection regions of the first and second containers.