Abstract: An embodiment of a system for treating sleep apnea includes a collar, pump, motor, sensor, memory, and controller, which is configured to store, in the memory, information related to sleep-apnea events or sleep-apnea treatment, experienced by the subject. For example, the controller can obtain, and store in the memory, information related to sleep-apnea events, and the controller, or another computing system, can correlate this information with the subject's lifestyle choices, and can recommend lifestyle changes to improve the subject's sleep apnea. Furthermore, the controller can obtain and store, in the memory, information related to usage and settings of the sleep-apnea system, and the controller, or another computing system, can correlate this information with the subject's wellbeing, and can recommend changes in the usage or the settings of the sleep-apnea system that can improve the subject's wellbeing.

Abstract: An embodiment of a system for treating sleep apnea includes a collar, pump, motor, sensor, memory, and controller, which is configured to store, in the memory, information related to sleep-apnea events or sleep-apnea treatment, experienced by the subject. For example, the controller can obtain, and store in the memory, information related to sleep-apnea events, and the controller, or another computing system, can correlate this information with the subject's lifestyle choices, and can recommend lifestyle changes to improve the subject's sleep apnea. Furthermore, the controller can obtain and store, in the memory, information related to usage and settings of the sleep-apnea system, and the controller, or another computing system, can correlate this information with the subject's wellbeing, and can recommend changes in the usage or the settings of the sleep-apnea system that can improve the subject's wellbeing.

Abstract: An embodiment of a system for treating sleep apnea includes a collar, a pump, a motor, a sensor, and a controller. The collar is configured to maintain an airway of a subject open while the subject is sleeping by applying, to a throat of the subject, a negative pressure having a magnitude, and the pump is configured to generate the negative pressure. The motor is configured to drive the pump, and the sensor is configured to generate a sense signal that is related to a degree to which the airway is open. And the controller is configured to vary the magnitude of the negative pressure in response to the sense signal. For example, one or more of the pump, motor, sensor, and controller can be secured to the collar such that the system is self-contained, i.e., the entire sleep-apnea system can be worn by the subject.

Abstract: Various methods for sensing and/or heating that utilize nanostructures or carbon structures, such as nanotubes, nanotube meshes, or graphene sheets, are disclosed. In some methods, at least a pair of contacts are electrically coupled with a given nanostructure or carbon structure to sense a change or to pass a current for heating.

Abstract: A method of pollinating a plant includes receiving, with a processing circuit, plant data regarding a plant having flowers, and controlling, by the processing circuit, operation of an robotic device to selectively pollinate a portion of the plurality of flowers based on the plant data. The robotic device includes sensors configured to acquire plant data, a pollination device configured to pollinate flowers of a plant, a collection device configured to collect pollen, and a pollination prevention device configured prevent a flower from being pollinated.

Abstract: A system can perform the following procedure as part of a plan to treat sleep apnea, according to an embodiment. The system monitors a degree to which an airway of a subject is open, and monitors a condition that is related to the degree to which the airway is open. The system also correlates the condition to the degree to which the airway is open, and generates a data structure that represents the correlation between the condition and the degree to which the airway is open. This system can allow a sleep-apnea-treatment system to operate in a closed-loop mode, i.e., to monitor a level of sleep apnea in a subject by monitoring the correlated condition, and to treat the subject in a manner that the treatment system deems appropriate for the level of sleep apnea that the treatment system determines that the subject is experiencing.

Abstract: Various sensors and arrays of sensors that utilize nanostructures or carbon structures, such as nanotubes, nanotube meshes, or graphene sheets, are disclosed. In some arrangements, at least a pair of contacts are electrically coupled with a given nanostructure or carbon structure to sense a change.

Abstract: A system can perform the following procedure as part of a plan to treat sleep apnea, according to an embodiment. The system monitors a degree to which an airway of a subject is open, and monitors a condition that is related to the degree to which the airway is open. The system also correlates the condition to the degree to which the airway is open, and generates a data structure that represents the correlation between the condition and the degree to which the airway is open. This system can allow a sleep-apnea-treatment system to operate in a closed-loop mode, i.e., to monitor a level of sleep apnea in a subject by monitoring the correlated condition, and to treat the subject in a manner that the treatment system deems appropriate for the level of sleep apnea that the treatment system determines that the subject is experiencing.

Abstract: Various heaters and arrays of heaters that utilize nanostructures or carbon structures, such as nanotubes, nanotube meshes, or graphene sheets, are disclosed. In various arrangements, at least a pair of contacts are electrically coupled with a given nanostructure or carbon structure to pass a current for heating.

Abstract: Various sensors and arrays of sensors that utilize nanostructures or carbon structures, such as nanotubes, nanotube meshes, or graphene sheets, are disclosed. In some arrangements, at least a pair of contacts are electrically coupled with a given nanostructure or carbon structure to sense a change.

Abstract: A turbine blade includes a core element having a base portion, a tip portion, and an intermediate portion extending between the base portion and the tip portion. The intermediate portion includes a non-uniform cross-section and is a high-strength fiber material. The turbine blade further includes a shell disposed around the core element, and the volume between the core element and the shell forms a void.

Abstract: Various sensors and arrays of sensors that utilize nanostructures or carbon structures, such as nanotubes, nanotube meshes, or graphene sheets, are disclosed. In some arrangements, at least a pair of contacts are electrically coupled with a given nanostructure or carbon structure to sense a change.

Abstract: Methods and articles are provided for generating electricity from carbon-based photosynthate produced by a plant. The methods include providing the plant with a composition including CO2 and/or a composition that generates CO2, harvesting a carbon-based photosynthate from the plant, processing the carbon-based photosynthate to produce energy, and converting at least some of the energy into electricity. An apparatus for converting the carbon-based photosynthate into CO2 and heat, and an apparatus for converting the heat of combustion into electricity is also provided. An apparatus is also disclosed for providing the plant with a composition including CO2 and/or a composition that generates CO2.

Abstract: Methods and articles are provided for reducing the amount of water consumed by a plant over a period of time, sequestering CO2, and producing electricity, where each method includes providing the plant with a composition including at least about 0.1 (wt./wt. or vol./vol.) % CO2 and/or at least about 0.1 wt./wt. % of a composition that generates CO2. An apparatus is also disclosed for providing the plant with a composition including CO2 and/or a composition that generates CO2.

Abstract: Methods and articles are provided for reducing the amount of water consumed by a plant over a period of time, sequestering CO2, and producing electricity, where each method includes providing the plant with a composition including at least about 0.1 (wt./wt. or vol./vol.) % CO2 and/or at least about 0.1 wt./wt. % of a composition that generates CO2. An apparatus is also disclosed for providing the plant with a composition including CO2 and/or a composition that generates CO2.

Abstract: A thermal insulator includes a plurality of layers. At least some of the layers include phononic crystals having a phononic bandgap, wherein heat transporting phonons within a selected range of frequencies are substantially blocked by each phononic crystal layer. The plurality of layers thermally isolate a first region from a second region, wherein the first region is at one end of the plurality of layers and the second region is at the other end of the plurality of layers.

Abstract: A method for providing an environmental impact rating for a solar cell includes acquiring power generation data and thermal exchange data regarding the solar cell using a data acquisition device, transmitting the power generation data and the thermal exchange data to a controller, and generating the environmental impact rating based on the power generation data and the thermal exchange data using the controller, wherein the environmental impact rating provides an indication of an environmental impact of using the solar cell.

Abstract: Described embodiments include a system and a method. A system includes an energy storage device configured to store and release energy. The system includes a waveform sensor configured to detect a second harmonic or higher frequency component deviation in a waveform of electric power supplied to the system by an electrical power grid. The system includes a bi-directional switched-mode converter coupled between the energy storage device and the electrical power grid. The switched-mode converter is configured to receive and convert electric power from the electrical power grid into energy stored in the energy storage device and to convert energy released from the energy storage device into electric power and discharge the converted electric power into the electrical power grid. The system includes a waveform correction manager configured to control the bi-directional switched-mode converter in a manner implementing a waveform deviation reduction strategy responsive to the detected deviation in the waveform.

Abstract: A thermal insulator includes a plurality of layers. At least some of the layers include phononic crystals having a phononic bandgap, wherein heat transporting phonons within a selected range of frequencies are substantially blocked by each phononic crystal layer. The plurality of layers thermally isolate a first region from a second region, wherein the first region is at one end of the plurality of layers and the second region is at the other end of the plurality of layers.

Abstract: An embodiment of a system for treating sleep apnea includes a collar, a pump, and a motor. The collar has a vacuum surface and has a sealing surface that is configured to form a seal with a region of a neck of a subject having an airway. The pump is secured to the collar, and is configured to maintain the airway open by drawing a vacuum between the vacuum surface of the collar and a region of a throat of the subject. And the motor is secured to the collar and is configured to drive the pump. As compared to existing systems (e.g., a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) system) for treating sleep apnea, the above-described system may be more portable, more comfortable, may be less likely to require adjustment while a subject using the system is asleep, and, therefore, may be less likely to awaken the subject.