Abstract: A method of producing a modified biochar and the use of the biochar as a soil amendment. The modified biochar can be produced by contacting biochar with an acid-containing solution obtained from an acid containing stream produced in a pyrolysis process, which produces biochar. In accordance with one aspect, a cellulose-containing biomass is pyrolyzed to generate a gaseous organic acid-containing stream, which is condensed to produce an organic acid-containing solution. The biochar is then modified by contact with the organic acid-containing solution.

Abstract: An energy-sensitive system includes one or more processors configured to determine spectral attenuation curves for a first basis material and a second basis material, respectively. The one or more processors are configured to substitute a k-edge feature in the determined spectral attenuation curves with an approximation of the determined spectral attenuation curves lacking the k-edge feature. The one or more processors are also configured to construct a material decomposition model based on one of the determined or approximated first and second spectral attenuation curves. The one or more processors are additionally configured to decompose X-ray projection data into basis material projection data comprising first and second line integrals based, at least in part, on the model.

Abstract: Methods and systems for active resonant voltage switching are provided. One active resonant switching system includes a voltage switching system having one or more active resonant modules to provide a switching voltage output. Each of the resonant modules includes a plurality of switching devices configured to operate in open and closed states to produce first and second voltage level outputs from a voltage input. The resonant modules also include a capacitor connected to the switching devices and configured to receive a discharge energy during a resonant operating cycle when switching an output voltage from the first voltage level to the second voltage level, wherein the capacitor is further configured to restore system energy when switching from the second to first voltage level. The resonant modules further include a resonant inductor configured to transfer energy to and from the capacitor.

Abstract: An adjustable surf wake system enhances a wake formed by a watercraft travelling through water. The system may include a flap for deflecting water traveling past the stern of the watercraft, and/or a positioner operably connected to the flap for positioning the flap relative to a longitudinal axis of the watercraft between a neutral position and an outward position. Positioning a port flap in its extended position enhances a starboard surf wake, and positioning the starboard flap in its extended position enhances a port surf wake.

Abstract: A truss chord for use in a light steel truss includes a flange portion, a pair of web portions and at least one wing. The flange portion has an end and an end portion. The end portion has a double thickness. The pair of web portions extend substantially orthogonally from the flange portion and are spaced inwardly from the ends of the flange portion. The at least one wing extends outwardly substantially orthogonally from at least one of the pair of web portions. There is provided an alternate embodiment wherein the wing having a plurality of spaced apart holes formed therein. There is also provided a truss web. As well there is a truss which uses the truss chords and truss webs and a truss system which uses a plurality of trusses. In addition there is a mass customization system for the trusses.

Abstract: A power circuit includes a RF transistor and an input match network coupled to an input to the RF transistor and to an input to the power circuit. The input match network includes a resistor, an inductor and a first capacitor coupled together in series between the input to the RF transistor and a ground, and a second capacitor coupled in parallel with at least the resistor. The value of the second capacitor is selected so that the resistor is bypassed over at least a portion of the high frequency range of the power circuit.

Abstract: A symmetric Doherty amplifier includes a main amplifier and a peaking amplifier of the same size as the main amplifier. The symmetric Doherty amplifier is configured to operate at peak output power when the main amplifier and the peaking amplifier are each in saturation, and at output-back-off (OBO) when the main amplifier is in saturation and the peaking amplifier is not in saturation. Phase shift circuitry is configured to shift the phase at an output of the peaking amplifier at OBO so that a load impedance seen by the main amplifier and efficiency of the symmetric Doherty amplifier both increase at OBO as a function of the phase shift at the peaking amplifier output.

Abstract: A user may accelerate or decelerate the speed of playback of a recorded message provided by an interactive voice response (IVR) system at any time during the course of listening to the recorded message. The user may provide speed control instructions using predetermined keys or buttons on a communications device to modify the speed of the recorded message playback. Alternatively or additionally, the user may speak words to adjust the speed that a recorded message is being played to them. A speed control instruction may cause some or all of the recorded message to be repeated.

Abstract: An energy-sensitive system includes one or more processors configured to determine spectral attenuation curves for a first basis material and a second basis material, respectively. The one or more processors are configured to substitute a k-edge feature in the determined spectral attenuation curves with an approximation of the determined spectral attenuation curves lacking the k-edge feature. The one or more processors are also configured to construct a material decomposition model based on one of the determined or approximated first and second spectral attenuation curves. The one or more processors are additionally configured to decompose X-ray projection data into basis material projection data comprising first and second line integrals based, at least in part, on the model.

Abstract: A method for processing projection data is provided. The method includes acquiring projection data of an object including a high-energy projection value and a low-energy projection value for each of a plurality of measurements, adjusting, for each measurement pair, the high- and low-energy projection values until a projection value difference between the high- and low-energy projection values is within a predetermined range of acceptable projection value differences, and generating an image of the object based on the adjusted high- and low-energy projection values.

Abstract: A power circuit includes a RF transistor and an input match network coupled to an input to the RF transistor and to an input to the power circuit. The input match network includes a resistor, an inductor and a capacitor that are coupled together in series between the input to the RF transistor and a ground. The values of the resistor and the inductor are selected to match an input impedance of the RF transistor to a source impedance at the input to the power circuit over at least a portion of a high frequency range, wherein the value of the capacitor has a substantially negligible contribution to the match at the high frequency range. The value of the capacitor is selected so that the series combination of the resistor, the inductor and the capacitor substantially reduce the magnitude of the impedance presented to the input of the RF transistor in a low frequency range relative to the source impedance at the input to the power circuit.

Abstract: An adjustable surf wake system enhances a wake formed by a watercraft travelling through water. The system may include a flap for deflecting water traveling past the stern of the watercraft, and/or a positioner operably connected to the flap for positioning the flap relative to a longitudinal axis of the watercraft between a neutral position and an outward position. Positioning a port flap in its extended position enhances a starboard surf wake, and positioning the starboard flap in its extended position enhances a port surf wake.

Abstract: An adjustable surf wake system enhances a wake formed by a watercraft travelling through water. The system may include a flap for deflecting water traveling past the stern of the watercraft, and/or a positioner operably connected to the flap for positioning the flap relative to a longitudinal axis of the watercraft between a neutral position and an outward position. Positioning a port flap in its extended position enhances a starboard surf wake, and positioning the starboard flap in its extended position enhances a port surf wake.

Abstract: A truss chord for use in a light steel truss includes a flange portion, a pair of web portions and at least one wing. The flange portion has an end and an end portion. The end portion has a double thickness. The pair of web portions extend substantially orthogonally from the flange portion and are spaced inwardly from the ends of the flange portion. The at least one wing extends outwardly substantially orthogonally from at least one of the pair of web portions. There is provided an alternate embodiment wherein the wing having a plurality of spaced apart holes formed therein. There is also provided a truss web. As well there is a truss which uses the truss chords and truss webs and a truss system which uses a plurality of trusses. In addition there is a mass customization system for the trusses.

Abstract: There is provided a molecular marker CXCR1 for predicting response and survival in subjects afflicted with cancer who would benefit from treatment with and Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) targeted therapeutic.

Abstract: A wideband Doherty amplifier circuit includes a main amplifier configured to operate in a linear mode, a peaking amplifier configured to operate in a non-linear mode and a Doherty combiner directly connected to an output of each amplifier so that no output match devices are in the path between the amplifier outputs and the Doherty combiner. The Doherty combiner is configured to present the same load impedance to each amplifier when both amplifiers are conducting and present a modulated load impedance to the main amplifier when the peaking amplifier is non-conducting so that a variation in the VSWR seen by the main amplifier is less than 5% over a plurality of frequency bands and/or so that the peaking amplifier has an off-state impedance spreading of 20 degrees or less over the plurality of frequency bands.

Abstract: An amplifier circuit includes an RF transistor, a parallel resonator and a series resonator. The RF transistor has an input, an output and an intrinsic output capacitance. The parallel resonator is connected to the output of the RF transistor and includes a first inductive component connected in parallel with the intrinsic output capacitance of the RF transistor. The series resonator connects the output of the RF transistor to an output terminal and includes a second inductive component connected in series with a capacitive component. The series resonator is operable to compensate for a change in impedance of the parallel resonator over frequency.

Abstract: A symmetric Doherty amplifier includes a main amplifier and a peaking amplifier of the same size as the main amplifier. The symmetric Doherty amplifier is configured to operate at peak output power when the main amplifier and the peaking amplifier are each in saturation, and at output-back-off (OBO) when the main amplifier is in saturation and the peaking amplifier is not in saturation. Phase shift circuitry is configured to shift the phase at an output of the peaking amplifier at OBO so that a load impedance seen by the main amplifier and efficiency of the symmetric Doherty amplifier both increase at OBO as a function of the phase shift at the peaking amplifier output.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a steel joist assembly for use in association with a concrete slab and being adapted to form a composite steel joist including a steel joist and a pair of end connectors. The steel joist has a top portion with a generally planar top surface and a planar web generally orthogonal to the generally planar top surface. An end connector is attached at each end of the steel joist. Each end connector has a strut and a diagonal member. The strut has a generally planar bottom surface which is attached to a portion of the generally planar top surface of the steel joist and the diagonal member is attached at one end thereof to the strut and at the other end thereof to a portion of the planar web of the steel joist.

Abstract: An organic electroluminescent device having a plurality of pixels, the device comprising: an anode formed on a substrate; an organic electroluminescent layer formed on the anode in each well of a well-defining layer to form the plurality of pixels; a cathode layer on the electroluminescent layer and a layer of metal on the top surface of the well-defining layer; wherein a conductive layer is deposited over the cathode layer and the metal layer to electrically connect the cathode layer on the electroluminescent layer with the metal layer on the top surface of the well-defining layer.