Abstract: Embodiments of a tensile strength limiting system are provided. The tensile strength limiting system is configured to cause breakage of an optical fiber cable at a predetermined tensile loading below a tensile strength of the optical fiber cable. The tensile strength limiting system includes a force limiter configured for attachment to the optical fiber cable strung on an aerial pole and a restriction clip through which the optical fiber cable is configured to be looped. At the predetermined tensile loading, the force limiter is configured to allow the optical fiber cable to pull through the restriction clip; and the restriction clip is configured to force the optical fiber cable to bend below a minimum bend radius of a strength member within the optical fiber cable such that the strength member breaks.

Abstract: An image encoding/decoding method and apparatus are provided. An image decoding method of the present invention comprises decoding first information indicating whether a maximum of N intra prediction modes are used or a maximum of M intra prediction modes are used for an intra prediction for a current block, in which the M is smaller than the N, deriving an intra prediction mode of the current block, inverse-mapping the derived intra prediction mode on a corresponding intra prediction mode among the maximum N intra prediction modes when the decoded first information indicates that the maximum M intra prediction modes are used for the intra prediction for the current block, and generating an intra prediction block by performing an intra prediction for the current block, based on the inverse-mapped intra prediction mode.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are a high-speed synchronization apparatus and method based on a blockchain unit file. The high-speed synchronization apparatus includes memory configured to store at least one program, a database including unit files having a uniform size in which blocks are to be sequentially stored, and a processor configured to execute the program, wherein the program is configured to perform comparing a size of a block owned by a relevant peer node with a size of a block in use in a blockchain framework, wherein the size of the block owned by the relevant peer node is represented by a peer block size and the size of the block in use is represented by a channel block size, and when the peer block size is less than the channel block size, acquiring blocks from a peer node that owns a block having the channel block size and synchronizing the blocks.

Abstract: Cleaning procedure for anilox including increasing the diameter of the laser spots (4) above the minimum diameter corresponding to focal spot w0 to a working diameter wN, defocusing the pulses of the laser beam (1) using a lens (3) and at the same time, with the help of a galvo mirror (8), redirecting the laser pulses in an organized manner to the cleaning-active zone (19) such that the laser spots (4) that hit the surface of the anilox (9) partially overlap in the linear direction (11) corresponding to the beam advancement and in the circumferential direction (13) corresponding to the direction of the anilox turn, simulating a continuous pulse.

Abstract: A method and device are provided for detecting a target in a biological sample. The target binds to a solid phase substrate. First and second cavities in a plate are filled with an oil. The first and second cavities are in fluid communication with each other. The solid phase substrate is magnetically drawn sequentially from a drop of the biological sample in the first cavity, through the oil, into a drop of the reaction solution in the second cavity. A change in a parameter of the drop of the reaction solution indicates the presence of the target.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to methods of tuning chromatic aberration of the eyes of a subject for the treatment of myopia. Refractive errors of an eye of the subject are assessed in the presence of one or more of red, blue, or green colored light, individually. A hybrid achromatic lens having a refractive portion and a diffractive portion is then designed, with the hybrid lens having a distribution of power varied between the refractive portion and diffractive portion. As such, the hybrid lens produces a state of chromatic aberration for the eyes of the subject capable of reducing or eliminating myopia advancement for the eyes of the subject.

Abstract: Provided herein are microwave pyrolysis-derived biochar materials, biochar-hydrogel composites and methods of making and using. The biochar-hydrogel composites comprising: a hydrogel matrix and a biochar material.

Abstract: A universal insect trap having multiple points of entry is described being capable of capturing various types and sizes of insects. The universal insect trap may be used to capture and preserve target species such that genomes can be analyzed for specimens, which is beneficial in determining infection rates, strains of a vector or a pathogen, identifying associated microorganisms, determining or monitoring natural enemies, etc. The universal insect trap can include a base having a cone-shaped body, where the base includes a sloped surface. Further, the universal insect trap can include a dome portion and a trap portion. The trap portion can include an annular ring, a mounting portion, a vial, and an aggregation pheromone positioned in the trap portion, where the aggregation pheromone is one that emits a predetermined amount of pheromones over time to attract at least one predetermined type of insect.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for non-invasively assessing neuro-inflammation in a subject. The method includes acquiring neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging (NODDI) data of the subject and processing the NODDI data to determine an orientation dispersion index (ODI) component of the NODDI data. The method also includes assessing the ODI component against one of a reference of neuro-inflammation or a prior ODI component acquired from the subject to determine one of an acute assessment or a chronic assessment of neuro-inflammation in the subject. The method further includes generating a report indicating the one of an acute assessment or a chronic assessment of neuro-inflammation in the subject.

Abstract: [Problem to be Solved] Provided is a fluorescence measuring device that suppresses or eliminates fluctuations in a light source, problems of jitter associated with signal processing, and the influence of background light and performs highly sensitive and accurate quantification even when it is difficult to separate fluorescence from scattered light due to time difference or wavelength difference.

Abstract: Various examples are provided related to electrochemical phosphate/pH (P/pH) sensors, systems and related methods. In one example, a P/pH sensor includes a substrate and collocated phosphate (P) electrode and pH electrode formed on a surface of the substrate. The P electrode includes a cobalt (Co) sensing window disposed on a first copper (Cu) sensor pad; and the pH electrode includes an antimony (Sb) sensing window disposed on a second Cu sensor pad. The P/pH sensor can include a reference electrode, and may also include other sensor electrodes such as, e.g., a nitrate electrode.

Abstract: Immunogenic proteins comprising Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides and M. mycoides subsp. capri proteins, encoding polynucleotides, a method for producing said proteins, and use of compositions to prevent M. mycoides subsp. mycoides infections are disclosed.

Abstract: An extracellular vesicle separation method, a colloidal particle, and a preparation method thereof are provided. The colloidal particle is used for extracellular vesicle separation, and includes 2 wt % to 6 wt % of agarose. The colloidal particle has a particle size of 25 ?m to 500 ?m, and is surface-modified with biocompatible molecules. The biocompatible molecules include sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), methyl cellulose (MC), glycine, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, bovine serum albumin (BSA), fetal bovine serum (FBS), or a combination thereof.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for depositing thin films using plasma-enhanced atomic layer deposition (PEALD) with ramping radio-frequency (RF) power are provided herein. Embodiments involve increasing the RF power setting of PEALD cycles after formation of initial screening layers at low RF power settings.

Abstract: There is provided a polymer composition comprising at least one (meth)acrylate monomer or oligomer, a phase separating agent, a photoinitiator and a photosensitizer. There is also provided a method of preparing a polymer resin comprising the step of polymerizing a solution of at least one (meth)acrylate polymer or oligomer, a photoinitiator, a photosensitizer and a phase separating agent in the presence of UV light to form the polymer resin. There is also provided a polymer resin and uses of the polymer composition.

Abstract: A method of estimating a channel of a base station in a communication system using an IRS may comprise: receiving a first signal through a direct path between a terminal and the base station from the terminal and a second signal through an indirect path through the IRS from the terminal; estimating a first angle of arrival of the second signal received from the IRS; estimating a second angle of arrival of a signal transmitted to the IRS by the terminal based on the estimated first angle of arrival; estimating a third angle of arrival of the first signal received from the terminal based on the estimated first angle of arrival; and estimating path gains on the direct path and the indirect path based on the estimated first angle of arrival to the estimated third angle of arrival.

Abstract: Water removal from humidified air and other water-laden gases may be complicated due to the need for large and expensive capital equipment or use of powder-form desiccants that may lead to pressure drops, poor throughput and energy-intensive recovery of water. Reversible water-absorbing constructs may alleviate these difficulties and comprise: a phase change polymer exhibiting a reversible hydrophilic-hydrophobic phase transition, and at least one additional material in contact with the phase change polymer, such as a water-sorptive material. The phase change polymer and the at least one additional material are formed as a plurality of filaments. Filaments formed from the phase change polymer may be generated through an electrospinning process, which may be arranged in various higher level constructs, such as in fibers, fabrics and non-woven filament mats capable of absorbing water from humidified air or other water-laden gases.

Abstract: A wireless power transfer system includes a wireless power transfer device. The wireless power transfer device includes a first transmitting coil oriented along a first axis; a second transmitting coil on the first transmitting coil and oriented along a second axis different from the first axis; and a nonmagnetic material magnetically decoupling the first transmitting coil from the second transmitting coil in an area of overlap between the first and second transmitting coils.

Abstract: A process for producing propylene involves dehydration of isopropanol. The dehydration process includes a step of subjecting a starting material containing isopropanol to a dehydration reaction in the presence of a dehydration catalyst comprising alumina to produce a product containing propylene. The starting material has a water content of 0.1 to 10.0 wt % (relative to 100 wt % of the total mass of the starting material), and the product has a total content of C2 unsaturated impurities and C3-C4 unsaturated impurities of 80 ppm or less (relative to 100 wt % of the total mass of the product).

Abstract: A measurement system including an excitation light source, an image sensor, and a calculator is provided. The excitation light source is configured to emit an excitation light beam. The image sensor is configured to record an image of the excitation light beam passing through a glass substrate having a plurality of vias. The image is a 2D interference pattern. The calculator is electrically connected to the image sensor. The calculator analyzes a 3D geometric-structure image of the vias in the glass substrate according to the image. A measurement method is also provided.