Abstract: The technology disclosed relates to a method of realistic simulation of real world interactions as virtual interactions between a control object sensed acting in a three-dimensional (3D) sensory space and the virtual object in a virtual space that the control object interacts with. In particular, it relates to detecting free-form gestures of a control object in a three-dimensional (3D) sensory space and generating for display a 3D solid control object model for the control object during the free-form gestures, including sub-components of the control object and in response to detecting a free-form gesture of the control object in the 3D sensory space in virtual contact with the virtual object, depicting, in the generated display, the virtual contact and resulting motions of the virtual object by the 3D solid control object model.

Abstract: A micro-channel pulsating heat pipe, preferably closed loop, includes a plate with micro-channels with obstructions along interior walls to increase surface area, add nucleation sites for the working fluid vaporization, and otherwise enhance fluid movement and heat transfer. Various shapes of obstructions are considered on one or more of the bottom wall, the side walls, and top wall of the channel. Plating may fit over or around the plate to enhance strength and heat transfer. Ribbing, of a thermally conductive material, may set on the exterior surface of the plate and/or plating to enhance surface area to encourage heat transfer and arranged to facilitate air movement across exterior surface.

Abstract: Methods for preparing a layered metal nanocomposite and a layered metal nanocomposite. The method includes mixing a magnesium salt and an aluminum salt to form a Mg2+/Al3+ solution. The Mg/Al has a molar ratio of between 0.5:1 to 6:1. Then a diamondoid compound is added to the Mg2+/Al3+ solution to form a reactant mixture. The diamondoid compound has at least one carboxylic acid moiety. The reactant mixture is heated at a reaction temperature for a reaction time to form a Mg/Al-diamondoid intercalated layered double hydroxide. The Mg/Al-diamondoid intercalated layered double hydroxide is thermally decomposed under a reducing atmosphere for a decomposition time at a decomposition temperature to form the layered metal nanocomposite.

Abstract: The technology disclosed relates to a method of realistic simulation of real world interactions as virtual interactions between a control object sensed acting in a three-dimensional (3D) sensory space and the virtual object in a virtual space that the control object interacts with. In particular, it relates to detecting free-form gestures of a control object in a three-dimensional (3D) sensory space and generating for display a 3D solid control object model for the control object during the free-form gestures, including sub-components of the control object and in response to detecting a free-form gesture of the control object in the 3D sensory space in virtual contact with the virtual object, depicting, in the generated display, the virtual contact and resulting motions of the virtual object by the 3D solid control object model.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes determining a first time interval for rendering pixel values for a first portion of a display, where the first portion of the display is one of a plurality of portions of the display, accessing a representation of virtual objects in a virtual scene, and determining that the first time interval is insufficient for rendering pixel values for the first portion of the display based on the representation of virtual objects. The method further includes, for each of the portions of the display, determining a current viewpoint of a user, rendering, based on the current viewpoint of the user, pixel values for that portion of the display, and sending the rendered pixel values to be output by the display, where the rendered pixel values for the first portion of the display are rendered based on a simplified representation of virtual objects in the virtual scene.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes, generating rays for casting into an artificial reality scene that includes one or more surfaces to determine whether the one or more surfaces are visible from a viewpoint. An origin and a trajectory of each ray are based on the viewpoint. The method includes applying a geometric transformation to the rays to modify their respective trajectory into the artificial reality scene. The geometric transformation is based on one or more distortion characteristics of a display system. The method includes determining, based on the modified trajectories of the rays, points of intersection of rays with the one or more surfaces in the artificial reality scene. The method includes providing, for display by the display system, color values generated based on the determined points of intersection.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system may determine a sampling location within a texture with each texel encoding first and second distance fields and first and second color indices. The system may select, based on the sampling location, a set of texels to use to determine a color for the sampling location. The system may compute first and second interpolated distance fields based on, respectively, the first and second distance fields of the set of texels. The system may select, based on the first interpolated distance field, a subset of the set of texels, and select a texel from the subset of texels based on a distance between the texel and the sampling location. The system may select, based on the second interpolated distance filed, a color index from the first and second color indices of the selected texel and use it to determine the color for the sampling location.

Abstract: The technology disclosed relates to a method of realistic simulation of real world interactions as virtual interactions between a control object sensed acting in a three-dimensional (3D) sensory space and the virtual object in a virtual space that the control object interacts with. In particular, it relates to detecting free-form gestures of a control object in a three-dimensional (3D) sensory space and generating for display a 3D solid control object model for the control object during the free-form gestures, including sub-components of the control object and in response to detecting a free-form gesture of the control object in the 3D sensory space in virtual contact with the virtual object, depicting, in the generated display, the virtual contact and resulting motions of the virtual object by the 3D solid control object model.

Abstract: A masonry unit including a photovoltaic cell for generation of electricity is described herein. More particularly a photovoltaic-clad concrete block that combines the structural attributes of concrete block (or other masonry unit) and the energy production of solar photovoltaics is described herein. Methods for manufacturing, installing, and electrically connecting such photovoltaic-clad concrete blocks are also described herein.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for determining the color for a sample location includes using a computing system to determine a sampling location within a texture that comprises a plurality of texels. Each texel may encode a distance field and a color index. The system may select, based on the sampling location, a set of texels in the plurality of texels to use to determine a color for the sampling location. The system may compute an interpolated distance field based on the distance fields of the set of texels. The system may select, based on the interpolated distance field, a subset of the set of texels. The system may select a texel from the subset of texels based on a distance between the texel and the sampling location. The system may then determine the color for the sampling location using the color index of the selected texel.

Abstract: Oil-based drilling fluid compositions comprising an oil phase comprising a base oil, an aqueous phase comprising water, at least one emulsifier, and one or more additives. The at least one emulsifier comprises an amino amide comprising the formula R—CO—NH—R?—NH—R?—NH2, where R is a fatty acid alkyl and R? and R? are alkyl groups. The one or more additives are chosen from a wetting agent, a rheology modifier, a fluid-loss control additive, and a weighting additive. Methods of making the oil-based drilling fluid compositions and methods of drilling a subterranean well utilizing the oil-based drilling fluid compositions are also provided.

Abstract: A method of preparing and a composition of an oil-based drilling fluid. An oil-based drilling fluid includes a base oil continuous phase, in which the base oil continuous phase includes a base oil, an aqueous dispersed phase, and at least one rheology modifier comprising a modified magnesium/aluminum carbonate layered-double hydroxide (Mg/Al—CO3 LDH) compound.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for computing a color value for a sampling pixel region includes using a computing system to determine a sampling pixel region within a texture. The texture is associated with mipmap levels having different resolutions of the texture. The mipmap levels include at least a first mipmap level defined by color texels and a second mipmap level defined by distance-field texels. The system may select one of the mipmap levels based on a size of the sampling pixel region and a size of a texel in the selected mipmap level. The system may then compute a color value for the sampling pixel region using the selected mipmap level.

Abstract: Methods for preparing a layered metal nanocomposite and a layered metal nanocomposite. The method includes mixing a magnesium salt and a aluminum salt to form a Mg2+/Al3+ solution. The Mg/Al has a molar ratio of between 0.5:1 to 6:1. Then a diamondoid compound is added to the Mg2+/Al3+ solution to form a reactant mixture. The diamondoid compound has at least one carboxylic acid moiety. The reactant mixture is heated at a reaction temperature for a reaction time to form a Mg/Al-diamondoid intercalated layered double hydroxide. The Mg/Al-diamondoid intercalated layered double hydroxide is thermally decomposed under a reducing atmosphere for a decomposition time at a decomposition temperature to form the layered metal nanocomposite.

Abstract: Oil-based drilling fluid compositions comprising an oil phase comprising a base oil, an aqueous phase comprising water, at least one emulsifier, and one or more additives. The at least one emulsifier comprises an amino amide comprising the formula R—CO—NH—R?—NH2, where R is a fatty acid alkyl and R? is an alkyl group. The one or more additives are chosen from a wetting agent, a rheology modifier, a fluid-loss control additive, and a weighting additive. Methods of making the oil-based drilling fluid compositions and methods of drilling a subterranean well utilizing the oil-based drilling fluid compositions are also provided.

Abstract: The technology disclosed relates to a method of realistic simulation of real world interactions as virtual interactions between a control object sensed acting in a three-dimensional (3D) sensory space and the virtual object in a virtual space that the control object interacts with. In particular, it relates to detecting free-form gestures of a control object in a three-dimensional (3D) sensory space and generating for display a 3D solid control object model for the control object during the free-form gestures, including sub-components of the control object and in response to detecting a free-form gesture of the control object in the 3D sensory space in virtual contact with the virtual object, depicting, in the generated display, the virtual contact and resulting motions of the virtual object by the 3D solid control object model.

Abstract: Embodiments are directed to adamantane-intercalated layered double-hydroxide (LDH) particles and the methods of producing adamantane-intercalated LDH particles. The adamantane-intercalated LDH particles have a general formula defined by [M1-xAlx(OH)2](A)x.mH2O, where x is from 0.14 to 0.33, m is from 0.33 to 0.50, M is chosen from Mg, Ca, Co, Ni, Cu, or Zn, and A is adamantane carboxylate. The adamantane-intercalated LDH particles further have an aspect ratio greater than 100. The aspect ratio is defined by the width of an adamantane-intercalated LDH particle divided by the thickness of the adamantane-intercalated LDH particle.

Abstract: A method for preparing a transition-metal adamantane carboxylate salt is presented. The method includes mixing a transition-metal hydroxide and a diamondoid compound having at least one carboxylic acid moiety to form a reactant mixture, where M is a transition metal. Further, the method includes hydrothermally treating the reactant mixture at a reaction temperature for a reaction time to form the transition-metal adamantane carboxylate salt.

Abstract: Methods for preparing a layered metal nanocomposite and a layered metal nanocomposite. The method includes mixing a magnesium salt and a aluminum salt to form a Mg2+/Al3+ solution. The Mg/Al has a molar ratio of between 0.5:1 to 6:1. Then a diamondoid compound is added to the Mg2+/Al3+ solution to form a reactant mixture. The diamondoid compound has at least one carboxylic acid moiety. The reactant mixture is heated at a reaction temperature for a reaction time to form a Mg/Al-diamondoid intercalated layered double hydroxide. The Mg/Al-diamondoid intercalated layered double hydroxide is thermally decomposed under a reducing atmosphere for a decomposition time at a decomposition temperature to form the layered metal nanocomposite.