Abstract: A seed transportation system and method for using the same, the seed transportation system including a rotatable wheel with at least one seed supports for holding a seed, wherein the at least one seed support has one or more fixed support structures configured to restrict movement of the seed in a circumferential direction relative to the rotatable wheel and in a direction away from an axis of rotation of the rotatable wheel, and wherein the at least one seed support has an access opening in its radially outer side, the access opening permitting access to the seed for creating an opening in the seed.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a photonic integrated circuit, comprising a first waveguide on a first waveguide substrate, and a second waveguide on a second waveguide substrate. The photonic integrated circuit further comprises a resonator device with a first mirror, comprising a first layered structure on a first mirror substrate, wherein the first mirror substrate is provided by or fixed to the first waveguide substrate or the second waveguide substrate. The resonator device further comprises a second mirror that comprises a second layered structure on a second mirror substrate. The second mirror substrate is provided by or fixed to the first waveguide substrate or the second waveguide substrate. The first mirror and the second mirror form end mirrors of an optical resonator. At least a portion of the first waveguide is within the optical resonator.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of scalably producing microorganisms by propagating them within plant tissues and introducing them into agricultural seeds to improve their shelf-life during long-term storage, to produce substances of interest, and to create libraries of microbes.

Abstract: The disclosure provides materials and methods for conferring improved plant traits or benefits on plants. The materials can include a formulation comprising an exogenous endophytic bacterial population, which can be disposed on an exterior surface of a seed or seedling, typically in an amount effective to colonize the plant. The formulations can include at least one member selected from the group consisting of an agriculturally compatible carrier, a tackifier, a microbial stabilizer, a fungicide, an antibacterial agent, an herbicide, a nematicide, an insecticide, a plant growth regulator, a rodenticide, and a nutrient.

Abstract: A method for automatically preparing seeds with an additive to be deployed together with the seeds. The method includes conveying a plurality of seeds into an opening position, creating an opening in each of the seeds by cutting each seed with a fixed blade or a laser device when each seed is in the opening position, introducing an amount of additive into the seed through the opening and continuously conveying the plurality of seeds while creating the opening and introducing the amount of additive into the seeds.

Abstract: This application relates to methods and materials for providing a benefit to a seed, seedling or plant by producing seeds that are internally colonized with endophytes. Beneficial endophytes with particular characteristics are provided. These may be used in the methods described to provide a benefit to a seed, seedling or plant.

Abstract: A method determines the time required for a timed up and go test and for verifying an ascertained result. A distance measuring device is provided which continuously measures the distance from a subject located in front of a chair to the backrest of the chair and which forwards the distance to a control unit. The chair is positioned in particular at a specified distance to a wall, an obstacle, or a marking. The measured distance values recorded by the distance measuring device are continuously recorded. The subject is instructed to stand up from the chair, walk forwards, in particular towards the wall, the obstacle, or the marking, and then turn around, in particular in front of the wall, the obstacle, or in the region of the marking, and sit back down on the chair. The subject carries out these instructions to the best of their ability.

Abstract: The invention discloses a method for producing plant seed containing endophytic microorganisms characterised in by the following steps: contacting a flowering plant with a preparation of endophytic microorganisms, whereby the endophytic microorganisms enter the plant via the flowers and are conveyed to seed produced by the plant; and obtaining the plant seed containing endophytic microorganisms from the plant.

Abstract: A method creates and distributes cryptographic keys for securing communication at two terminals. Signals for creating correlated values in the two terminals are distributed via a first communication channel burdened with error, and the correlated values are present as keys. A checksum is formed on the basis of the first key present in the first terminal and the checksum is transferred to the second terminal via a second communication channel. A second checksum is formed on the basis of the second key present, and information derived from the two checksums is transferred via the second communication channel to a server. Based on the information derived from the checksums, the server determines a correction value, which, when applied to one or both keys, brings the keys into correspondence. The correction value is transferred to one or both terminals via the second communication channel and is applied to one or both keys.

Abstract: The disclosure provides materials and methods for conferring improved plant traits or benefits on plants. The materials can include a formulation comprising an exogenous endophytic bacterial population, which can be disposed on an exterior surface of a seed or seedling, typically in an amount effective to colonize the plant. The formulations can include at least one member selected from the group consisting of an agriculturally compatible carrier, a tackifier, a microbial stabilizer, a fungicide, an antibacterial agent, an herbicide, a nematicide, an insecticide, a plant growth regulator, a rodenticide, and a nutrient.

Abstract: An arrangement for determining the moisture of an object, in particular the moisture of human skin, has an electrically insulating carrier layer onto which the following units are applied: at least two electrodes, in particular interdigital electrodes, which are arranged on a first face of the carrier layer; a digital capacitance measuring device, to which the electrodes are connected; an NFC transponder which comprises an antenna and to which the measurement results of the capacitance measuring device are supplied in order to be forwarded wirelessly via the antenna, wherein the NFC transponder and the capacitance measuring device are arranged in the same chip in particular; and a shielding, which lies on the carrier layer face opposite the first face and which is connected to system ground of the capacitance measuring device in particular.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for automatically preparing seeds with an additive to be deployed together with the seeds, wherein the seeds are opened and a predefined amount of additive is introduced into the seeds through the opening.

Abstract: A method for receiving a modulated receive signal, with a transmission unit having a laser and an electro-absorption modulator. The received optical receive signal is directed towards the laser; due to the irradiance of the optical receive signal onto the laser, the optical frequency of the light radiated from the laser is adapted to and/or aligned with the optical frequency of the received optical receive signal; the light radiated from the laser and the optical receive signal received via the optical waveguide are overlapped in the electro-absorption modulator; the thus-created overlapping signal from the electro-absorption modulator is converted into an electrical receive signal, in particular into an electrical current signal; and a receive signal is provided which corresponds to the electrical receive signal or is derived from same.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for detecting one or more pathogens in one or more biological samples. The biological sample may be a food sample, a sample of a body fluid, a cell suspension, water, or a combination thereof. The present invention relates also to methods of diagnosing or predicting a disease in an individual.

Abstract: A method detects discontinuities in an optical channel using two laser units that respectively have a laser and an electroabsorption modulator. The reference frequencies of the two lasers have a predetermined reference frequency difference. The optical ports of the electroabsorption modulator are fed to the two inputs of a polarization beam splitter and the output of the polarization beam splitter is connected to the optical channel. A test pulse is applied simultaneously to the two electroabsorption modulators and laser light from the lasers is thus transmitted through the respective electroabsorption modulators during the time of the test pulse. The test pulse is divided into two time periods, and during the first time period the lasers are operated with their respective reference frequency, and during the second time period the emission frequencies of the lasers are detuned with respect to the reference frequencies, by a predetermined detuning frequency difference.

Abstract: A system for data transmission has a transmitter and a receiver connected by an optical channel. The transmitter has a transmitter laser and a transmitter-side electroabsorption modulator with an optical output. An electrical data input of the transmitter is connected to an electrical modulation terminal of the transmitter-side electroabsorption modulator. The receiver has a receiver laser and a receiver-side electroabsorption modulator with an optical output forming the input of the receiver. An electrical data output of the receiver is connected to the electrical modulation terminal of the receiver-side electroabsorption modulator. The transmitter and receiver lasers are detunable by specification of a physical variable, each provided by a respective control unit. The control units are synchronized and they specify the same signal at their outputs for establishing the physical variable for establishing the laser frequency.

Abstract: A method for checking the availability and integrity of a data object stored on a plurality of servers and having a number N of data words. For the distributed storage on the servers, the data object is fragmented. Each fragment is transmitted to and stored on one server. To check the availability and integrity of the fragments stored on the servers, the same random number is sent from an auditor unit to the servers. A checksum is created by the servers, in each case modified by application of the random number to the data of the respective fragment, and the checksum is transmitted to the auditor unit. The auditor unit uses the consistency check to determine whether the individual checksums sent by the servers are consistent and, if this is the case, establishes the availability and integrity of the data.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method of generating subsets of methylation specific markers from a set, having diagnostic power for various diseases, e.g. cancer of thyroid, breast, colon, or leukemia, in diverse samples; identified subsets of that set, as well as methods for the prognosis and diagnosis of diseases.

Abstract: The invention relates to the emulation of a radio channel between moving transmitters and receivers with antennas. The relative position and relative movement and also the environment are used to ascertain propagation paths (P0, P1, . . . , PP?1) running between the antennas, for which propagation paths a damping factor (?p), a delay a delay (?p) and a Doppler frequency (vp) are separately ascertained. For each propagation path (P0, P1, . . . , PP?1), table lookup for the delay and the Doppler frequency is used to produce a respective path matrix (?p) that is weighted with the respective damping (?p) of the propagation path (P0, P1, . . . , PP?1), and all the path matrices are summed. The summed matrix (?) produced in this way is taken as a stating point for using a linear transformation to ascertain a transfer matrix (Y), the transformation reducing the dimension of the transfer matrix (Y) in comparison with the summed matrix (?) which corresponds to the coefficient vector (??p) of the delay.

Abstract: A medication injector for dispensing liquid medications to people includes a container which is filled with the liquid and which has an opening at one end for dispensing the liquid and at least one pair of capacitive measuring electrodes disposed opposite each other in the outer region of the container, in particular on the wall, for determining the permittivity of the respective medium in the intermediate region between the measuring electrodes. The measuring electrodes are used by the injector to determine the fill level of the container. A shielding surrounds the measuring electrodes in the manner of a sheath, is disposed around the container, and reduces possible external interfering influences on the capacitive measurement, such as those resulting from contact, for example. Additionally, a contact sensor is provided which can indicate the measurement as invalid.