Abstract: A fiber optic connector assembly includes a connector housing defining a rotationally-discrete locking portion defined on an outer surface, an adapter assembly selectively coupled to the connector housing, the adapter assembly including an adapter housing defining an adapter front end and an adapter retention member that is positionable between an engaged position, in which the adapter retention member restricts movement of the connector housing with respect to the adapter assembly in an axial direction, and a disengaged position, in which the connector housing is movable with respect to the adapter assembly in the axial direction, and a locking housing positioned between the adapter housing and the connector housing, the locking housing defining a locking front end positionable at least partially within the adapter housing, and a locking retention feature that is engaged with the adapter retention member when the adapter retention member is in the engaged position.

Abstract: Methods for the in vitro production of enucleated red blood cells and the enucleated red blood cells thus prepared are provided. Such enucleated red blood cells may express a sortaggable surface protein, which allows for surface modification in the presence of a sortase. Also described herein are surface modified enucleated red blood cells, e.g., conjugated with an agent of interest such as a peptide, a detectable label, or a chemotherapeutic agent, and uses thereof in delivering the agent to a subject.

Abstract: Methods comprising: evaporating a catalyst source to produce a catalyst gas; condensing the catalyst gas to produce a catalyst vapor comprising catalyst droplets suspended in a gas phase; and contacting the catalyst vapor with a hydrocarbon gas to catalyze a decomposition reaction of the hydrocarbon gas into hydrogen gas and carbon. And, systems comprising: a catalyst source evaporator that provides a first stream to a reactor; a hydrocarbon source that provides a second stream to the reactor; a cooling column coupled to the reactor via a third stream comprising hydrogen, catalyst liquid, solid carbon, optionally catalyst gas, and optionally unreacted hydrocarbon gas such that the cooling column receives the third stream from the reactor; and wherein the cooling column has effluent streams that include (a) a fourth stream that comprises hydrogen and optionally catalyst gas and (b) a fifth stream that comprises catalyst liquid.

Abstract: A method for localization performed by an agent includes receiving a query image of a current environment of the agent captured by a sensor integrated with the agent. The method also includes receiving a target image comprising a first set of keypoints matching a second set of keypoints of the query image. The first set of keypoints may be generated based on a task specified for the agent. The method still further includes determining a current location based on the target image.

Abstract: A composite includes a plastic substrate and an electrical insulator layer formed on the plastic substrate. The electrical insulator layer contains boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs), which may be unmodified or modified BNNTS. The composite is suitable for use in making printed electronic devices. A process includes providing a plastic substrate and forming on at least a portion of a surface of the plastic substrate a layer that contains the BNNTs. A metallic ink trace is formed on a portion of the layer, such that the metallic ink trace is spaced-apart from the substrate. Using photonic or thermal sintering techniques, the metallic ink trace is then sintered.

Abstract: An adaptive multi-view streaming processing method and apparatus for a multi-view stream is disclosed. Specifically, disclosed herein is a method and apparatus for adaptively processing or transmitting adaptive streaming by reflecting network states and changes in transmission environments in a multi-view streaming service environment where several or more multiple videos are simultaneously transmitted at an arbitrary moment. An adaptive streaming processing method for a multi-view stream may comprise selecting and downloading an i-th segment of a main view stream with a first quality level, inferring a size of an i-th segment of downloadable neighboring view streams based on a download time and transfer rate of the i-th segment of the main view stream, and selecting a second quality level corresponding to the inferred size of the i-th segment of the neighboring view streams and downloading the i-th segment of the neighboring view streams based on the selected second quality level.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides msect-4 molecular sieves with OFF and ERI topologies, a preparation method therefor, and applications thereof. An eight-membered ring small pore molecular sieve used as a raw material is dispersed in an aqueous phase. Following that, caustic potash, an aluminum source, and an organic structure-directing agent (OSDA) are added. The pH value is then adjusted to be greater than 10, and a silicon source is introduced to attain the desired silicon-aluminum ratio, followed by stirring reaction, aging, crystallization, filtration, washing, ammonia exchange reaction, drying, and calcination. The msect-4 molecular sieves with OFF and ERI topologies, the preparation method therefor, and applications exhibit excellent hydrothermal stability, a plurality of adsorption sites exposed by a regular bone-like structure, and a large specific surface area.

Abstract: An identification method and an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) detection apparatus are provided. The identification method, as a method for preventing a collision that may occur in a process of detecting and identifying a plurality of UAVs flying in the air, detects a plurality of UAVs in the air and determines a legitimacy of flight of each of the plurality of UAVs using an identification information request message.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include methods of identifying microorganisms and/or diagnosing infections in subjects cause by microorganisms. Embodiments of the invention may also include further characterizing (e.g., determining the presence of one or more antibiotic resistance markers) the microorganisms and determining a strain identity of the microorganisms.

Abstract: An auxiliary screening system and an auxiliary screening method for a hip joint of a baby are provided. The auxiliary screening method includes: collecting plural images of the hip joint; performing an image analysis operation on each of the images of the hip joint to extract plural image features of each of the images of the hip joint and determining whether each of the images of the hip joint is a standard image according to the image features of each of the images of the hip joint; and when at least one of the images of the hip joint is determined as the standard image, plural angle parameters are calculated and the at least one of the images of the hip joint that is determined as the standard image is outputted, in which the angle parameters include values of an angle ? and an angle ?.

Abstract: An aspect of the disclosure includes a communication system and a communication method using reconfigurable intelligent surface and a reconfigurable intelligent surface device. The communication system includes at least one base station, a reconfigurable intelligent surface device, and a control at one least device. The at least one base station respectively transmits at least one beam. The reconfigurable intelligent surface device is coupled to the at least one base station, and measures the at least one beam of the at least one base station to obtain signal measurement results associated with each of the at least one base station. The control device is coupled to the at least one base station. The control device groups the at least one base station and the reconfigurable intelligent surface device into at least one group according to the signal measurement results associated with each of the at least one base station.

Abstract: A method, scheduling server and system for improving automated scheduling are provided. The automated scheduling is at least partially based on user settings input by users includes: obtaining user settings for the users, the user settings defining user preferences and personal constraints of each user, obtaining system boundary conditions from a schedule goal and technical conditions to achieve a desired goal and calculating a schedule. The acceptance probabilities for alternative user settings are predicted. At least one alternative user setting is selected and an alternative schedule for each selected alternative setting is calculated. The alternative schedules are compared to the initially calculated schedule with respect to quality measure. After reading in the user's response to the suggested alternative setting another alternative setting is selected in case the user declined, or the systems proceeds with accepting the alternative setting as obtained user specific setting.

Abstract: Formulations (e.g., solutions) comprising one or more water-soluble polymer(s), liposomes, and an aqueous carrier, are provided. The provided solutions are useful for rinsing, and/or immersing therein, a contact lens and/or in the treatment of ocular discomfort, for example, an ocular discomfort associated with a contact lens. Also provided are kits comprising the solution and a contact lens; articles-of-manufacturing comprising the solution and configured for dispending the solution; and methods utilizing the solution.

Abstract: An encoding method, a decoding method, and a device for point cloud compression are provided. The encoding method includes the following. Point cloud data corresponding to a first frame is obtained, and is distinguished into a global point cloud set and at least one object point cloud set according to a reference frame. The object point cloud set corresponds to at least one reference object point cloud set. A global dynamic model corresponding to the global point cloud set is calculated and an object dynamic model corresponding to the object point cloud set is calculated. A bitstream is generated. The bitstream includes the global point cloud set, the global dynamic model corresponding to the global point cloud set, a serial number of each object point in the reference object point cloud set, and the object dynamic model corresponding to the object point cloud set.

Abstract: A photobioreactor fabrication system is disclosed. According to a first embodiment, the photobioreactor fabrication system includes a first unwinder 10 continuously unwinding a first transparent film 1, a second unwinder 20 arranged parallel to the first unwinder 10 and continuously unwinding a second transparent film 2 such that the second film 2 faces the first film 1, a heat sealer 30 pressurizing and heat sealing the first 1 and second films 2 to a baffle 3 arranged between the first 1 and second films 2 facing each other, and a rewinder 40 simultaneously and continuously winding the first 1 and second films 2 having passed through the heat sealer 30.

Abstract: A receptacle for single-handedly uncapping, recapping and disposing a syringe's needle cap and needle head. The receptacle may include a receptacle unit with first and second ends and a base connected to the second end of the receptacle unit. The receptacle unit may, from its first end to its said second end, a hollow opening. The receptacle unit may, from its first end to its second end, include a wall channel. The wall channel may, at its second end be dimensioned to snugly engage the syringe's needle cap. Additionally, the wall channel may include a device for snuggly engaging a needle cap circumferential ridge and a needle head circumferential ridge.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are an apparatus and method for transmitting a covert message in wireless communication. The apparatus for transmitting a covert message in wireless communication may be configured to, in a covert message in which a data frame is composed of a Start Frame Delimiter (SFD), a header, a payload, and a Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC), transmit the SFD of the covert message corresponding to a first sequence number masked with a preset SFD mask length, transmit the header of the covert message corresponding to a second sequence number masked with a preset header mask length, transmit the payload of the covert message corresponding to a third sequence number masked with a preset payload mask length, and transmit the CRC of the covert message corresponding to a fourth sequence number masked with a preset CRC mask length.

Abstract: The present invention provides kits and compositions for e.g., hypergolic ignition of rocket propellant. The disclosed kits and the compositions comprise inter alia a fuel, a gelling agent, and an ignition agent; wherein the ignition agent is stably dissolved within the fuel.