Various examples are provided that are related to boundary control in membrane distillation (MD) processes. In one example, a system includes a membrane distillation (MD) process comprising a feed side and a permeate side separated by a membrane boundary layer; and processing circuitry configured to control a water production rate of the MD process based at least in part upon a distributed heat transfer across the membrane boundary layer. In another example, a method includes determining a plurality of estimated temperature states of a membrane boundary layer separating a feed side and a permeate side of a membrane distillation (MD) process; and adjusting inlet flow rate or inlet temperature of at least one of the feed side or the permeate side to maintain a difference temperature along the membrane boundary layer about a defined reference temperature based at least in part upon the plurality of estimated temperature states.

Various examples are provided that are related to boundary control in membrane distillation (MD) processes. In one example, a system includes a membrane distillation (MD) process comprising a feed side and a permeate side separated by a membrane boundary layer; and processing circuitry configured to control a water production rate of the MD process based at least in part upon a distributed heat transfer across the membrane boundary layer. In another example, a method includes determining a plurality of estimated temperature states of a membrane boundary layer separating a feed side and a permeate side of a membrane distillation (MD) process; and adjusting inlet flow rate or inlet temperature of at least one of the feed side or the permeate side to maintain a difference temperature along the membrane boundary layer about a defined reference temperature based at least in part upon the plurality of estimated temperature states.

The present invention relates to a device for the discrimination of biological tissues, such that it is capable of carrying out the discrimination of tissue under complicated operating conditions, for example due to the presence of contaminating elements given off by a cutting operation, due to the presence of moisture in the biological tissue, or due to the presence of a non-controlled atmosphere that interferes with the results of the readings. The invention allows building more complex devices, including cutting instruments, such that it is possible to carry out a surgical intervention in a safe manner by preventing cutting into tissues that are to be avoided during said cutting operation.

The present invention relates to a device for the discrimination of biological tissues, such that it is capable of carrying out the discrimination of tissue under complicated operating conditions, for example due to the presence of contaminating elements given off by a cutting operation, due to the presence of moisture in the biological tissue, or due to the presence of a non-controlled atmosphere that interferes with the results of the readings. The invention allows building more complex devices, including cutting instruments, such that it is possible to carry out a surgical intervention in a safe manner by preventing cutting into tissues that are to be avoided during said cutting operation.

A method of determining activity of a target enzyme of a grain material is described. The method comprises providing a fluid extract sample of the grain material using a preselected extraction procedure, providing a dyed and/or chromogenic substrate for the target enzyme, subjecting the fluid extract sample to the substrate for a preselected incubating time, and determining the target enzyme activity of the grain material. The extraction time is relatively short while still obtaining high accuracy.

The present invention relates to a novel azole derivative as an apelin receptor agonist and a method for treating cardiovascular disease, diabetic disease, renal disease, hypertension, and arteriosclerosis, etc., using the same. The present invention provides a compound represented by formula (I) or a pharmacologically acceptable salt thereof wherein X.sup.1 represents —N═ or —CH═, X.sup.2 represents —CH═ or —N═, R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 each represent a C.sub.1 to C.sub.6 alkoxy group or the like, R.sup.3 represents a heteroaryl group (the heteroaryl group is optionally substituted by a methyl group or the like) or the like, and R.sup.4 represents a C.sub.1 to C.sub.6 alkylthio group or a C.sub.2 to C.sub.6 alkenyl group (the C.sub.1 to C.sub.6 alkylthio group and the C.sub.2 to C.sub.6 alkenyl group are each optionally substituted by one carboxy group or the like) or the like.

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The present invention relates to a novel azole derivative as an apelin receptor agonist and a method for treating cardiovascular disease, diabetic disease, renal disease, hypertension, and arteriosclerosis, etc., using the same. The present invention provides a compound represented by formula (I) or a pharmacologically acceptable salt thereof wherein X.sup.1 represents —N═ or —CH═, X.sup.2 represents —CH═ or —N═, R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 each represent a C.sub.1 to C.sub.6 alkoxy group or the like, R.sup.3 represents a heteroaryl group (the heteroaryl group is optionally substituted by a methyl group or the like) or the like, and R.sup.4 represents a C.sub.1 to C.sub.6 alkylthio group or a C.sub.2 to C.sub.6 alkenyl group (the C.sub.1 to C.sub.6 alkylthio group and the C.sub.2 to C.sub.6 alkenyl group are each optionally substituted by one carboxy group or the like) or the like.

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One aspect of the present disclosure relates to a method of quantifying soil carbon in a unit of land. The method generally comprises the steps of (i) obtaining an estimated spatial distribution of carbon content in the unit of land, (ii) stratifying the unit of land into a plurality of strata based at least partly on the spatial distribution of carbon content, (iii) selecting one or more locations from each of one or more of the plurality of strata, the one or more locations being selected with randomness, (iv) determining sample carbon content associated with the one or more first locations and (v) determining total carbon content in the unit of land based at least partly on the sample carbon content. In another aspect, this method may be used to quantify soil carbon sequestered in a unit of land by repeating steps (iv) and (v) at a second time and thereafter determining the amount of carbon sequestered. Furthermore, in quantifying the soil carbon sequestered, steps (ii) and (iii) may also be repeated at the second time after re-stratification of the unit of land based on sample carbon determined at the first time.

One aspect of the present disclosure relates to a method of quantifying soil carbon in a unit of land. The method generally comprises the steps of (i) obtaining an estimated spatial distribution of carbon content in the unit of land, (ii) stratifying the unit of land into a plurality of strata based at least partly on the spatial distribution of carbon content, (iii) selecting one or more locations from each of one or more of the plurality of strata, the one or more locations being selected with randomness, (iv) determining sample carbon content associated with the one or more first locations and (v) determining total carbon content in the unit of land based at least partly on the sample carbon content. In another aspect, this method may be used to quantify soil carbon sequestered in a unit of land by repeating steps (iv) and (v) at a second time and thereafter determining the amount of carbon sequestered. Furthermore, in quantifying the soil carbon sequestered, steps (ii) and (iii) may also be repeated at the second time after re-stratification of the unit of land based on sample carbon determined at the first time.

A synthetic, cognitive cell, system, and method for automatically generating an output based on an environmental input is disclosed. The cognitive cell includes an operator including chemical agents, and a coded chemical including polymers. Each of the polymers includes a sequence of affinity blocks of molecular groups arranged in predetermined patterns to define a multi-layered base code. Each of the affinity blocks includes a monomer with a sidechain, the sidechains having affinities to each other. At least a portion of the affinity blocks forming a gate switch defining a bridge between the environmental inputs and the chemical agent whereby, upon exposure to the environmental inputs, the gate switches trigger the chemical agent to perform an operation. The coded chemical and at least one chemical agent are contained within a natural or synthetic membrane.