Abstract: One variation of a system includes: a mount defining an inlet configured to couple to a water supply; a body defining a fluid circuit and coupled to the mount; and a pressure regulator interposed between the inlet and the fluid circuit and configured to regulate water supplied at the inlet over a range of inlet pressures to a range of internal pressures less than and narrower than the range of inlet pressures. A set of nozzles arranged on the body and coupled to the fluid circuit are configured to, in response to the pressure regulator regulating a first inlet pressure down to a first internal pressure, discharge water droplets: exiting the body with kinetic energies in a range of kinetic energies; exiting the body in a first spray pattern defining a first width at a target distance below the body, and exhibiting a first volumetric ratio of water to air.

Abstract: One variation of a system includes: a mount defining an inlet configured to couple to a water supply; a body defining a fluid circuit and coupled to the mount; and a pressure regulator interposed between the inlet and the fluid circuit and configured to regulate water supplied at the inlet over a range of inlet pressures to a range of internal pressures less than and narrower than the range of inlet pressures. A set of nozzles arranged on the body and coupled to the fluid circuit are configured to, in response to the pressure regulator regulating a first inlet pressure down to a first internal pressure, discharge water droplets: exiting the body with kinetic energies in a range of kinetic energies; exiting the body in a first spray pattern defining a first width at a target distance below the body, and exhibiting a first volumetric ratio of water to air.

Abstract: A new approach to graphene-enabled plasmonic resonant structures in the THz is demonstrated in a hybrid graphene-metal design in which the graphene acts as a gate-tunable inductor, and metal acts as a capacitive reservoir for charge accumulation. A large resonant absorption in graphene can be achieved using the metal-graphene plasmonic scheme, and the peak can approach 100% in an optimized device, ideal for graphene-based THz detectors. Using high mobility graphene (?>50000 cm2V?1s?1) will allow anomalously high resonant THz transmission (near 100%) through ultra-subwavelength graphene-filled metallic apertures at a resonance frequency that is gate tunable. This metal-graphene plasmonic scheme enables near perfect tunable THz filter or modulator.

Abstract: One variation of a system includes: a mount defining an inlet configured to couple to a water supply; a body defining a fluid circuit and coupled to the mount; and a pressure regulator interposed between the inlet and the fluid circuit and configured to regulate water supplied at the inlet over a range of inlet pressures to a range of internal pressures less than and narrower than the range of inlet pressures. A set of nozzles arranged on the body and coupled to the fluid circuit are configured to, in response to the pressure regulator regulating a first inlet pressure down to a first internal pressure, discharge water droplets: exiting the body with kinetic energies in a range of kinetic energies; exiting the body in a first spray pattern defining a first width at a target distance below the body, and exhibiting a first volumetric ratio of water to air.

Abstract: A new approach to graphene-enabled plasmonic resonant structures in the THz is demonstrated in a hybrid graphene-metal design in which the graphene acts as a gate-tunable inductor, and metal acts as a capacitive reservoir for charge accumulation. A large resonant absorption in graphene can be achieved using the metal-graphene plasmonic scheme, and the peak can approach 100% in an optimized device, ideal for graphene-based THz detectors. Using high mobility graphene (?>50000 cm2V?1s?1) will allow anomalously high resonant THz transmission (near 100%) through ultra-subwavelength graphene-filled metallic apertures at a resonance frequency that is gate tunable. This metal-graphene plasmonic scheme enables near perfect tunable THz filter or modulator.

Abstract: A plasmon-enhanced terahertz graphene-based photodetector exhibits an increased absorption efficiency attained by utilizing a tunable plasmonic resonance in sub-wavelengths graphene micro-ribbons formed on SiC substrate in contact with an array of bi-metallic electrode lines. The orientation of the graphene micro-ribbons is tailored with respect to the array of sub-wavelengths bi-metallic electrode lines. The graphene micro-ribbons extend at the angle of approximately 45 degrees with respect to the electrode lines in the bi-metal electrodes array. The plasmonic mode is efficiently excited by an incident wave polarized perpendicular to the electrode lines, and/or to the graphene micro-ribbons. The absorption of radiation by graphene is enhanced through tunable geometric parameters (such as, for example, the width of the graphene micro-ribbons) and control of a carrier density in graphene achieved through tuning the gate voltage applied to the photodetector.

Abstract: A life support system for providing a growth medium for at least one photosynthetic micro-organism and for converting CO2 to O2, with reduced water use that is as low as about 4 percent of the corresponding amount of water normally required for conventional micro-organism growth. The system includes a liquid transport capillary channel, a mixed culture photosynthetic biofilm and a liquid transport substrate that is positioned between and contiguous to the capillary channel and the biofilm, where the liquid transport rate is adjustable by adjustment of the local humidity. Approximately uniform radiation is received by the biofilm and contributes to microorganism growth.

Abstract: A plasmon-enhanced terahertz graphene-based photodetector exhibits an increased absorption efficiency attained by utilizing a tunable plasmonic resonance in sub-wavelengths graphene micro-ribbons formed on SiC substrate in contact with an array of bi-metallic electrode lines. The orientation of the graphene micro-ribbons is tailored with respect to the array of sub-wavelengths bi-metallic electrode lines. The graphene micro-ribbons extend at the angle of approximately 45 degrees with respect to the electrode lines in the bi-metal electrodes array. The plasmonic mode is efficiently excited by an incident wave polarized perpendicular to the electrode lines, and/or to the graphene micro-ribbons. The absorption of radiation by graphene is enhanced through tunable geometric parameters (such as, for example, the width of the graphene micro-ribbons) and control of a carrier density in graphene achieved through tuning the gate voltage applied to the photodetector.

Abstract: A processor-implemented method for a concurrent software service upgrade is provided. The processor implemented method may include receiving a type of service request corresponding to the software service upgrade, determining, by the processor, the type of service request and then generating a plurality of subpartitions corresponding to a hypervisor. The method may further include applying the service request to at least one subpartition within the plurality of subpartitions, wherein the service request is applied to the at least one subpartition based on the type of service request and balancing the system resources among the plurality of subpartitions upon the applying of the service request to the at least one subpartition.

Abstract: A processor-implemented method for a concurrent software service upgrade is provided. The processor implemented method may include receiving a type of service request corresponding to the software service upgrade, determining, by the processor, the type of service request and then generating a plurality of subpartitions corresponding to a hypervisor. The method may further include applying the service request to at least one subpartition within the plurality of subpartitions, wherein the service request is applied to the at least one subpartition based on the type of service request and balancing the system resources among the plurality of subpartitions upon the applying of the service request to the at least one subpartition.

Abstract: A technique is provided for identifying time context in a media object to embed meta tags for the time context in the media object. Input is received of the media object including time relevant expressions. Each of the time relevant expressions in the media object are identified for display to a user. The time relevant expressions in the media object are displayed with an option for the user to enter values for each of the time relevant expressions. The values are respectively included in meta tags. The meta tags are assigned to the time relevant expressions in the media object, such that the meta tags include the values respectively corresponding to each of the time relevant expressions. The meta tags having the values for the time relevant expressions are embedded in the media object, such that the meta tags in the media object are available for searching and indexing.

Abstract: Sending communications to incorrect recipients is minimized. Recipients that have ambiguous names or other designations are marked as ambiguous. Then, in response to including one of those names or designations in a communication, the originator of the communication is automatically warned of the ambiguity. This enables the originator to re-confirm that the communication is being sent to the intended recipient.

Abstract: A training system that provides web-based distribution, centralized control of pedagogy consistency and content customization, and efficient and economical resource utilization via group oriented training in which a plurality of trainees can be trained without the overhead of providing each trainee with an individual PC. Because the proven education delivery method includes entertaining situational modeling videos, game playing, and a high degree of interactivity, it assures high trainee comprehension with a minimum investment in hardware and instructor overhead.

Abstract: Sending communications to incorrect recipients is minimized. Recipients that have ambiguous names or other designations are marked as ambiguous. Then, in response to including one of those names or designations in a communication, the originator of the communication is automatically warned of the ambiguity. This enables the originator to re-confirm that the communication is being sent to the intended recipient.

Abstract: A system, method and program product for the shortcomings of the prior art are overcome and additional advantages are provided through a system, method and program product for initializing a speech recognition application for a computer. The method comprises recording a variety of sounds associated with a specific text; identifying location of different words as pronounced in different locations of this recorded specific text; and calibrating word location of an input stream based on results of the pre-recorded and identified word locations when attempting to parse words received from spoken sentences of the input stream.

Abstract: A method and system for establishing and maintaining a connection in a client/server environment is disclosed. A client requests a connection from a server, and the client and server negotiate environment options to establish the connection including a recovery location comprising, in one example, an IP address and port. The server stores the recovery location received from the client in a recovery information file. In response to losing the connection with the server, the client checks the recovery location for a recovery notification sent by the server. When the server is re-started, a recovery notification is sent by the server to the recovery location that was stored in the recovery information file. The client receives this recovery notification, and the connection between the client and the server is re-established without the need for the client to query the server.

Abstract: A computer system and associated method is disclosed for distributing electronic communication. The electronic communication is originated from a first originating destination and is to be sent to a distribution of recipient(s). The distribution can simply consist of one or a plurality of intended recipients. When delivery information is verified, any errors leading to delivery failure of the communication is corrected to be used in subsequent response communication originated by one or more of these recipients.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and method for distributing information. The system can include one or more set top boxes that can function as normal set top boxes, but can also conduct two way communications with other set top boxes. Users can send text, audio, and/or video messages to other users. The set top boxes can include provisions that permit two way communications, using video cameras, microphones and other inputs that can receive keyboard or text information.

Abstract: A method and system for establishing and maintaining a connection in a client/server environment is disclosed. A client requests a connection from a server, and the client and server negotiate environment options to establish the connection including a recovery location comprising, in one example, an IP address and port. The server stores the recovery location received from the client in a recovery information file. In response to losing the connection with the server, the client checks the recovery location for a recovery notification sent by the server. When the server is re-started, a recovery notification is sent by the server to the recovery location that was stored in the recovery information file. The client receives this recovery notification, and the connection between the client and the server is re-established without the need for the client to query the server.

Abstract: A training system that provides web-based distribution, centralized control of pedagogy consistency and content customization, and efficient and economical resource utilization via group oriented training in which a plurality of trainees can be trained without the overhead of providing each trainee with an individual PC. Because the proven education delivery method includes entertaining situational modeling videos, game playing, and a high degree of interactivity, it assures high trainee comprehension with a minimum investment in hardware and instructor overhead.