Abstract: Methods and apparatus for generating ultrashort optical pulses. Pulses of an infrared source are launched into an optical fiber characterized by a zero-dispersion wavelength (ZDW), where the wavelength of the infrared source exceeds the ZDW of the optical fiber by at least 100 nm. A resonant dispersion wave (RDW) is generated in the optical fiber that has a central wavelength blue-shifted by more than 500 nm relative to the pump wavelength, and, in some cases, by more than 700 nm. The optical fiber has a core of a diameter exceeding the central wavelength of the RDW by at least a factor of five. In a preferred embodiment, the infrared source includes a master-oscillator-power-amplifier, embodied entirely in optical fiber, and may include an Erbium:fiber oscillator, in particular.

Abstract: A CMOS logarithmic current generator includes current mode circuitry having a design principle based on a Taylor's series expansion that approximates an exponential function. A MOSFET circuit provides a function generator core cell having a biasing current Ib. The FETs of the circuit are matched and are biased in the weak inversion region. Additional transistors are used to convert a pair of input currents to a pair of voltages to provide an output current based upon a current mode logarithmic function. The biasing current Ib can be varied to provide a variable gain in the circuit.

Abstract: The amplify and forward relay method enhances QOS in wireless networks and is based on the switch-and-examine (SEC) and SEC post-selection (SECps) diversity combining techniques where only a single relay out of multiple relays is used to forward the source signal to the destination. The selection process is performed based on a predetermined switching threshold. Maximal-ratio combining (MRC) is used at the destination to combine the signal on the relay path with that on the direct link.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for lossless LiDAR LAS file compression and decompression are provided that include predictive coding, variable-length coding, and arithmetic coding. The predictive coding uses four different predictors including three predictors for x, y, and z coordinates and a constant predictor for scalar values, associated with each LiDAR data point.

Abstract: The present invention relates to processes for making calcium oxide electrolytically using calcium carbonate as a starting material. In a direct process, the present invention involves heating calcium carbonate to a temperature greater than its melting point or heating a molten mixture containing calcium carbonate; and subjecting the molten calcium carbonate or molten mixture to electrolysis to generate calcium oxide and oxygen, and a reduced carbon product. In an indirect process, the present invention involves heating solid calcium carbonate in a closed container to cause thermal decomposition to calcium oxide, and directing the evolved hot carbon dioxide byproduct into a molten carbonate solution, and subjecting the hot carbon dioxide molten mixture to electrolysis to generate solid carbon and oxygen, and a reduced carbon product.

Abstract: Human body back-scattering inspection systems and methods are disclosed. In the invention, X-rays modulated by the flying-spot forming unit having spirally distributed flying-spots have a distribution having alternating peaks and valleys on the irradiated surface. In this way, scanning starting times can be precisely controlled to cause two devices to have scanning starting times that are different by a half of a cycle. That is, the beams outputted from one device are at maximum when the beams outputted from the other device are at minimum. In other words, even if the ray source of one device emits rays, it will not significantly affect imaging result of the other device. In such way, the two devices may emit rays and perform scanning at the same time, and thus the total scanning time is reduced.

Abstract: A sol-flame method includes 1) forming a sol-gel precursor solution of a source of a dopant; 2) coating a nanostructure or a thin film with the sol-gel precursor solution; and 3) subjecting the coated nanostructure or the coated thin film to flame annealing to form a doped nanostructure or a doped thin film.

Abstract: A character input apparatus comprises a display unit configured to display a graphic zone that displays multiple character groups including one or more characters and a touch zone that senses a touch of an input mean; a display control unit configured to select any one of the multiple character groups depending on a touch type of the input mean sensed by the touch zone and display the selected character at a predetermined position of the graphic zone; and an input unit configured to set the character displayed at the predetermined position of the graphic zone for a predetermined time as an input character. The display control unit selects a character moved to be closest to the predetermined position when the characters displayed on the graphic zone are moved in a sliding direction of the input mean and displays the selected character at the predetermined position of the graphic zone.

Abstract: The guide tube for forming a pneumoperitoneum of the present invention comprising a flexible tube having an inner cavity, has an outer diameter that allows the guide tube to be inserted into a puncture needle, a distal end of the guide tube is closed, the distal end is provided with a tip portion that can be held by holding forceps provided in an endoscope, a proximal end of the guide tube is provided with a connecting portion to an insufflation apparatus, and the guide tube is provided with a side hole region having at least one side hole that can establish communication between the inner cavity of the flexible tube and the outside in a case where the inner cavity is pressurized through insufflation.

Abstract: Described herein are recognition modules that bind specifically to a template nucleic acid and which ligate together in a reducing environment to produce a gamma peptide nucleic acid (?PNA) oligomer. Also provided are methods of synthesizing a ?PNA oligomer on a template using the recognition modules.

Abstract: A method and device for predicting a gas composition, including pre-processing, by non-negative matrix factorization, a set of input parameters related to a fluid mixture of hydrocarbons and non-hydrocarbons fed into a multistage separator, and training an extreme learning machine model to predict the composition of non-hydrocarbons in the fluid mixture.

Abstract: Full-AC load flow constitutes a core computation in power system analysis. A performance gain with a hardware implementation of a sparse-linear solver using a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) is achieved by use of a DC network emulation of the power system bus. Analog Behavioral Models (ABMs)are used in an efficient strategy for designing analog emulation engines for large-scale power system computation. A generator model is also developed using analog circuits for load flow emulation for power system analysis to reduce computation time. The generator model includes reconfigurable parameters using operational transconductance amplifiers (OTAs). The circuit module is used with other reconfigurable circuits, i.e., transmission lines and loads.

Abstract: A time synchronization slave apparatus and a method of determining a time synchronization period are disclosed. In the apparatus, a time synchronization processing unit performs a time synchronization operation and determines an offset and a rate used to correct local time error based on a calculated time error, a timer corrects the local time based on the determined offset and rate, a time error estimation unit estimates a time error in the local time during a present time synchronization period, and generates excess error information regarding an excess point at which the estimated time error exceeds a threshold allowable time error range, a time synchronization period determination unit determines a subsequent time synchronization period based on the excess error information, and a synchronization period information transmission unit transmits synchronization period information regarding the subsequent time synchronization period to a time synchronization master apparatus.

Abstract: A process for determining the quality of a laser weld-seam, whereby a welded plate and a geometrically equivalent non-welded plate are subjected to a physical impact to generate a natural vibration frequency. The natural vibration frequency of the welded plate and the non-welded plate is then measured with an accelerometer and compared. The uniformity of the weld is then determined by the similarity between the natural vibration frequency of the welded plate and the geometrically equivalent non-welded plate.

Abstract: Composite structures composed of a device as a core structure, being a medical device or article, and a porous polymeric coat and designed capable of encapsulating bioactive agents while retaining the activity of these agents are disclosed. Further disclosed are processes of preparing such composite structures.

Abstract: Systems and methods for inhibiting attacks with a network are provided. In some embodiments, methods for inhibiting attacks by forwarding packets through a plurality of intermediate nodes when being transmitted from a source node to a destination node are provided, the methods comprising: receiving a packet at one of the plurality of intermediate nodes; determining at the selected intermediate node whether the packet has been sent to the correct one of the plurality of intermediate nodes based on a pseudo random function; and forwarding the packet to the destination node, based on the determining. In some embodiments an intermediate node is selected based on a pseudo random function. In some embodiments, systems and methods for establishing access to a multi-path network are provided.

Abstract: Reagents and methods for the fast, accurate and early detection of infections in thalassemia major patients. Reagents include a primer pool containing a mixture of primer pairs for the specific recognition and simultaneous amplification of targeted gene sequences of pathogens from a biological sample collected from a patient in a multiplex PCR reaction. Pathogens may include at least one Fungi species, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Candida albicans and Staphylococcus aureus. Subsequent identification of the pathogens is achieved by DNA sequencing analysis.

Abstract: The present invention provides radioactive arsenic complexes useful in diagnostic and therapeutic applications and methods for forming those arsenic complexes.

Abstract: Technologies are described herein for providing dynamic natural language interactions between a user and a computing device. In one aspect, a computing device managing a conversation with a user is enhanced with the identification and management of one or more topics. Using techniques described herein, the computing device can focus on one or more topics, shift between topics and/or introduce new topics. Techniques disclosed herein may also manage and process interruptions that may be introduced during a conversation. Dynamic access of contextual information may assist in the generation of contextually-relevant statements, and the contextual information may be used to balance priorities between various topics. Each topic may also have an associated decay rate so that the lifespan of individual topics may track realistic scenarios. In addition, the priorities of individual topics may be dynamically adjusted so topics may track events created by a user and a computing device.

Abstract: A polymer-dispersed blue-phase (PDBP) liquid crystal film is formed from a polymer-based latex and blue-phase liquid crystals that are combined using an emulsification process or a polymerization-induced phase separation process. The resultant PDBP liquid crystal film includes droplets formed by the polymer-based latex that encapsulate the blue-phase liquid crystals therein, so as to allow the blue-phase liquid crystals to have a blue phase at room temperature. As such, the PDBP liquid crystal film is conducive for use in manufacturing processes, such as LCD (liquid crystal display) manufacturing processes, while providing desirable optical features, such as field-induced birefringence at low switching voltages.