Abstract: A system for desalting crude oil includes delivering a stream of salty crude oil and wash water into a mixing valve, mixing the stream of salty crude oil and wash water through the mixing valve to create a mixed stream of desalted crude oil and salty wash water, delivering the mixed stream of desalted crude oil and salty wash water to a static mixer, and mixing the mixed stream of crude oil and wash water in the static mixer. Within the static mixer, the mixed stream is mixed in a coalescing regime to coalesce smaller droplets of water into larger droplets of water. The mixed stream is subjected to an electric field to cause additional coalescence before being directed to a desalter where the salty wash water is separated from the desalted crude oil.

Abstract: A method maintaining a fixed QoS for a PCIe device accessed by multiple hosts includes; receiving commands from the hosts in PCIe function queues of the PCIe device, fetching the commands from the PCIe function command queues, queuing the commands according to a command arbitration policy established for the PCIe device, storing the queued commands in an internal memory of the PCIe device, retrieving the queued commands from the internal memory in a sequence determined by applying a calculated QoS to at least one of the queued commands, and allocating PCIe device resources based on payload information corresponding to each one of the retrieved commands.

Abstract: A processing apparatus may include a plasma chamber to house a plasma; and an extraction assembly disposed along a side of the plasma chamber. The extraction assembly may be configured to direct ions from the plasma to a substrate, wherein the ions generate etched species comprising material that is etched from the substrate; and wherein the extraction assembly comprises at least one component having a recess that faces the substrate and is configured to intercept and retain the etched species.

Abstract: An imaging agent for detecting analytes in an environment includes functionalized nanodiamonds and functionalized magnetic particles that can selectively interact with an analyte. Each functionalized nanodiamond contains at least one color center configured emit light in response to illumination. At least one property of the light emitted by the color centers is related to the proximity of the functionalized magnetic particles to the color centers. This property can be detected to determine that the functionalized nanodiamonds are proximate to the functionalized magnetic particles, to determine that the functionalized nanodiamonds and the functionalized magnetic particles are interacting with the analyte, or other applications. Devices and methods for detecting properties of the analyte by interacting with the functionalized nanodiamonds and functionalized magnetic particles are also provided.

Abstract: Optical measurement of physiological parameters with wearable devices often includes measuring signals in the presence of significant noise sources. These noise sources include, but are not limited to, noise associated with: variable optical coupling to skin or tissue, variations in tissue optical properties with time due to changes in humidity, temperature, hydration, variations in tissue optical properties between individuals, variable coupling of ambient light sources into detectors, and instrument and detector noise, including electrical noise, radio frequency or magnetic interference, or noise caused by mechanical movement of the detector or its components. The present disclosure includes devices and methods configured to produce representations of the raw data in which noise, broadly defined, is separated from the data of interest. The disclosed devices and methods may include subtracting or calibrating out these noise sources and other spurious fluctuations in wearable devices with optical sensors.

Abstract: In some example embodiments, a method of organizing an address mapping table of a flash storage device based on Logical Block Address (LBA) size may comprise: identifying an extent of correlation between the LBA and flash page sizes, wherein the extent of correlation indicates greater or lesser extent; computing a total number of entries in each meta page of the table; and/or organizing the table with the total number of entries. In some example embodiments, a method of organizing an address mapping table of a flash storage device based on LBA size may comprise: determining flash page size of the flash storage device; determining the LBA size; and/or comparing the flash page and LBA sizes. When the flash page size is greater, the table may be organized based on flash page size. When the flash page size is less, the table may be organized based on LBA size.

Abstract: Techniques for plasma processing a substrate are disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, the technique may be realized with a method comprising introducing a feed gas proximate to a plasma source, where the feed gas may comprise a first and second species, where the first and second species have different ionization energies; providing a multi-level RF power waveform to the plasma source, where the multi-level RF power waveform has at least a first power level during a first pulse duration and a second power level during a second pulse duration, where the second power level may be different from the first power level; ionizing the first species of the feed gas during the first pulse duration; ionizing the second species during the second pulse duration; and providing a bias to the substrate during the first pulse duration.

Abstract: An imaging agent for detecting analytes in a biological environment includes functionalized, silicon vacancy center-containing nanodiamonds. Individual nanodiamonds of the imaging agent include at least one silicon vacancy center. The at least one silicon vacancy center can emit light having a wavelength in a narrow band in response to illumination having any wavelength in a wide range of wavelengths. The nanodiamonds are functionalized to selectively interact with an analyte of interest. The nanodiamonds can additionally include other color centers, and the imaging agent can include a plurality of sets of nanodiamonds having detectably unique ratios of silicon vacancy centers to other color centers. The silicon vacancy centers in the nanodiamonds can have a preferred orientation enabling orientation tracking of individual nanodiamonds or other applications. A method for detecting properties of the analyte of interest by interacting with the imaging agent is also provided.

Abstract: An engineered particle for detecting analytes in an environment includes an electromagnetic receiver that is configured to preferentially receive electromagnetic radiation of a specified polarization relative to the orientation of the electromagnetic receiver. The engineered particle additionally includes an energy emitter coupled to the electromagnetic receiver such that a portion of electromagnetic energy received by the electromagnetic receiver is transferred to and emitted by the energy emitter. The engineered particles are functionalized to selectively interact with an analyte. The engineered particle can additionally be configured to align with a directed energy field in the environment. The selective reception of electromagnetic radiation of a specified polarization and/or alignment with a directed energy field can enable orientation tracking of individual engineered particles, imaging in high-noise environments, or other applications.

Abstract: Systems and methods that reduce the overall cost of producing a silicon ingot are provided herein. More specifically, one or more surface pieces may be sliced from a silicon boule in relation to a plurality of nodes at a particular orientation. These one or more surface pieces may then be formed into one or more seeds having a specific length, width and thickness usable in a silicon ingot growth process. By utilizing these pieces to form one or more seeds, pieces of a boule which would have been previously discarded may now be used to form high quality seeds for use in a silicon ingot grow process.

Abstract: A process and system for desalting crude oil includes delivering a stream of salty crude oil and wash water into a mixing valve, mixing the stream of salty crude oil and wash water through the mixing valve to create a mixed stream of desalted crude oil and salty wash water, delivering the mixed stream of desalted crude oil and salty wash water to a static mixer, and mixing the mixed stream of crude oil and wash water in the static mixer. Within the static mixer, the mixed stream is mixed in a coalescing regime to coalesce smaller droplets of water into larger droplets of water. The mixed stream is then directed to a desalter where the salty wash water is separated from the desalted crude oil.

Abstract: Techniques for brand scoring for social media users are described. In at least some embodiments, brand-related content that users post to a social media environment (e.g., social media website(s)) is identified and characterized. Based on attributes of a user and brand-related content posted by the user, a brand score for the user may be calculated. In at least some embodiments, a user's brand score provides an indication of the user's perception of a brand and/or the user's influence on perception of the brand in a social media environment.

Abstract: A system for desalting crude oil includes delivering a stream of salty crude oil and wash water into a mixing valve, mixing the stream of salty crude oil and wash water through the mixing valve to create a mixed stream of desalted crude oil and salty wash water, delivering the mixed stream of desalted crude oil and salty wash water to a static mixer, and mixing the mixed stream of crude oil and wash water in the static mixer. Within the static mixer, the mixed stream is mixed in a coalescing regime to coalesce smaller droplets of water into larger droplets of water. The mixed stream is then directed to a desalter where the salty wash water is separated from the desalted crude oil.

Abstract: Vane type mist eliminator segments are arranged in a plurality of tiers at separate vertically spaced locations in a tower, typically of the upright, cylindrical type, with the eliminator at each tier covering only a portion of the cross section of the tower. The eliminator segment(s) in each tier are laterally displaced in the tower from the adjacent vertically spaced eliminator segments to form a staggered configuration for the segments. Each mist eliminator preferably extends over 50-70% of the cross-sectional area of the tower to leave an open flow passage in the tier; the staggering of the segments and the associated flow passages defines an upward tortuous or zig-zag open flow path for vapors ascending the tower through the open flow passages when the eliminator segment(s) become fouled in use.

Abstract: A system for modulating a response signal includes functionalized particles configured to interact with target analytes, a detector configured to detect an analyte response signal transmitted from the body, a modulation source configured to modulate the analyte response signal, and a processor configured to non-invasively detect the one or more target analytes by differentiating the analyte response signal from a background signal, at least in part, based on the modulation. The analyte response signal is related to the interaction of the target analytes with the functionalized particles. In some examples, the system may also include magnetic particles and a magnetic field source sufficient to distribute the magnetic particles into a spatial arrangement in the body. The analyte response signal may be differentiated from the background signal, at least in part, based on modulation of the signals due, at least in part, to the spatial arrangement of the magnetic particles.

Abstract: A method for modulating a response signal includes introducing functionalized magnetic particles configured to interact with target analytes into the body, applying a magnetic field sufficient to draw the functionalized magnetic particles towards a surface of the lumen of subsurface vasculature closest to an internally or externally applied mask having a spatial arrangement, and detecting a response signal, which includes a background signal and an analyte response signal, transmitted from the subsurface vasculature. The analyte response signal related to interaction of the functionalized magnetic particles with the target analytes and is modulated with respect to the background signal due, at least in part, to the spatial arrangement of the mask. The target analytes may be non-invasively detected by differentiating the analyte response signal from the background signal due, at least in part, to the modulation of the analyte response signal.

Abstract: A method for modulating a response signal includes introducing functionalized particles into a lumen of subsurface vasculature, wherein the functionalized particles are configured to interact with one or more target analytes present in blood circulating in the subsurface vasculature; and non-invasively detecting the one or more target analytes. A response signal, which may include a background signal and an analyte response signal related to interaction of the functionalized particles with the one or more target analytes, is transmitted from the subsurface vasculature. A modulation configured to alter the response signal such that the analyte response signal is affected differently than the background signal may be applied to a portion of subsurface vasculature. Analyte detection may be achieved by differentiating the analyte response signal from the background signal.

Abstract: System and method for computing boundary layer properties are disclosed. In one embodiment, a first boundary layer cell that is substantially close to a wall of a structure is selected. A recursive function is then launched for each cell adjacent and around the selected first boundary layer cell to determine a cell having a highest dot product with the normal of the first boundary layer cell. The cell having the highest dot product with the first cell is declared as the second boundary layer cell. The declared cell is selected as the second boundary layer cell. The above steps of selecting, launching and declaring are repeated until a desired number of layers in the boundary layer are completed. The boundary layer properties associated with each selected boundary layer is computed using CFD analysis.

Abstract: A remote control device is provided for controlling an audio playback device. The remote control device includes an input region that is operable to select from a plurality of entities for providing audio content to the audio playback device, and a display for displaying information associated with the entities for providing audio content. The remote control device is configured to request image files from the audio playback device for display on the display. The image files correspond to the entities for providing audio content.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices are described for media synchronization. Multi-stream media processes may include media streams captured with respect to different clock rates. Multi-processor implementations may involve separate clocks associated with different media streams, such as audio and video, respectively. The separate clocks may tend to drift from one another, becoming further out of sync as time passes. Selecting a reference time of one of the processors to function as a “wall clock,” recording frame capture times with respect to the reference time, accounting for propagation delays, and transmitting frame capture times in terms of the reference time may aid in AV synchronization at a device where audio and video streams are received.