Abstract: An optical wireless communications receiver includes a set of photodetectors and signal processing circuitry that receive and process optical communications signals to generate receive data. The receiver includes a spatial light modulator (SLM) and associated SLM controller. The SLM receives an incident optical communications signals from remote optical transmitters and selectively directs the received optical communications signals to the photodetectors to realize an SLM pattern according to SLM control signals from the SLM controller. A system controller establishes the SLM pattern and communicates a description of it to the SLM controller for use in generating the SLM control signals. The receiver may be used in a variety of applications, including so-called visible-light communications or VLC, in which data is transmitted over an optical link using light in the visible spectrum.

Abstract: An anode for a Li-ion cell, protected with an SEI by pre-treatment in an SEI-formation cell, is stable for cell cycling even in the presence of substantial water in the cell electrolyte. A method for making the protected anode includes forming an SEI on a lithium electrode by performing multiple charge/discharge cycles on the electrode in a first cell having an SEI formation electrolyte to produce the protected anode. The SEI formation electrolyte includes an ionic liquid having at least one of eight organic cations.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and an apparatus for quantifying vascular fluid motions from digital subtraction angiography (DSA) images, comprising: calculating an optical flow field between two temporal consecutive DSA images; and estimating a displacement of blood or tissue between the two temporal consecutive DSA images from the calculated optical flow field, wherein the optical flow field is calculated by solving a minimization problem of a CLG energy function, wherein the CLG energy function combines the temporally extended variant of Horn-Schunck approach with Lucas-Kanade approach non-linearly in spatiotemporal approach. The present disclosure provides a new optical flow solution significantly reducing the computation cost with a high robustness for quantifying vascular fluid motions from DSA.

Abstract: A method of duplicating texture and pattern of a natural material using a low temperature embossing process is provided. More particularly, in the method of duplicating texture and pattern of a natural material using a low temperature embossing process, a polymer resin having low glass transition temperature is coated on a surface of the natural material and then low temperature embossing process is performed thereon at a specific temperature and a specific pressure to duplicate a distinct texture and a fine pattern of the natural material as they are, thereby improving luxurious and aesthetic properties and achieving a large area and mass production, such that it may be applied to interior and exterior materials of a car, a case of a cellular phone and a laptop, home appliances, or the like.

Abstract: Techniques, systems and apparatus are described for magnetic resonance imaging by modifying the shape/thickness of an excitation/inversion slab. For instance, the inversion slab can be shaped as a wedge to improve temporal signal-to-noise ratio (tSNR) of arterial spin labeling (ASL) experiments by matching the temporal bolus width with the inter-pulse spacing in different feeding arteries. The shape/thickness of the excitation/inversion slab across the X-Y plane can be modified by modulating the movement of the “on-resonance” plane in space by the combination of conventional slice-selective (SS) adiabatic fast passage (AFP) and additional in-plane gradient pulses. Using this method, a computer can generate different shapes of the excitation/inversion slab.

Abstract: In order to substantially reduce friction during drilling operations, specialized lubricants need to be added to drilling fluid recipes. In general, lubricants reduce friction by forming a thin film of liquid that separates the solid surfaces in contact. The primary objective of this research is to evaluate the performance of enhanced activated sludge (EAS) as a lubricant in drilling fluids. EAS is activated sludge rich in lipids. The mixed consortium of microorganism in waste water treatment facilities in grown under a high carbon/nitrogen ratio to trigger lipid accumulation. Performance of EAS as drilling fluid additive was compared with commercial lubricants in terms of lubricity and flow properties. Lubricants were evaluated using water-based drilling mud at lubricant concentrations of 1.78, 3.11, 4.43, and 6.17 pounds per barrel (ppb). Experiments were carried out in a standard lubricity meter. The lubricity meter tests the ability of the lubricant in the drilling mud to reduce friction.

Abstract: A drilling fluid composition comprising an aqueous base fluid, a viscosifier, and a H2S scavenger comprising copper nitrate, wherein the drilling fluid composition has a H2S sorption capacity from about 4.0 to about 6.0 gram per one milliliter of the drilling fluid composition; and a method of drilling a subterranean geological formation using thereof are provided. Various embodiments of the drilling fluid composition and the method are also provided.

Abstract: Methods of detecting, quantifying and/or characterizing the fouling of a device from a combination of pressure and spectroscopic data are provided. The device can be any device containing components susceptible to fouling. Components can include membranes, pipes, or reactors. Suitable devices include membrane devices, heat exchangers, and chemical or bio-reactors. Membrane devices can include, for example, microfiltration devices, ultrafiltration devices, nanofiltration devices, reverse osmosis, forward osmosis, osmosis, reverse electrodialysis, electro-deionisation or membrane distillation devices. The methods can be applied to any type of membrane, including tubular, spiral, hollow fiber, flat sheet, and capillary membranes. The spectroscopic characterization can include measuring one or more of the absorption, fluorescence, or raman spectroscopic data of one or more foulants. The methods can allow for the early detection and/or characterization of fouling.

Abstract: Disclosed are fault-tolerant permanent-magnet vernier cylindrical electric motors with an electromagnetic suspension and a fault-tolerant vector control method for a short circuit of two adjacent phases. The fault-tolerant permanent-magnet vernier cylindrical electric motor with an electromagnetic suspension and the fault-tolerant vector control method for a short circuit of two adjacent phases suppress motor thrust ripples caused by a fault of two adjacent phases of an electric motor. The dynamic performance and the steady-state performance thereof are consistent with those under a normal state, and the switching frequency of a voltage source inverter is constant.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a humidification-dehumidification desalination system. A humidification subsystem of the humidification-dehumidification desalination system includes a thermal element and a bubble column, in series. The thermal element further comprises a thermal energy storage unit including a phase change material and a thermal conductor. The thermal element can be supplemented by a Fresnel lens canopy. The thermal element and the bubble column of the humidification design are arranged in staircase design such that gravity drives the system.

Abstract: Disclosed is a flexible substrate/liquid electrolyte viscous composite material and preparation method therefor. The preparation method includes: adding a particular percentage by weight of a flexible substrate to a liquid electrolyte solution having a particular concentrate; fully stirring the solution at a particular temperature to dissolve and evenly disperse the substrate, so as to obtain a viscous liquid; and then standing the viscous liquid at a particular temperature for a particular period of time to obtain the material. The material has viscosity due to which the material can actively adhere to the surface of tissue of an organ, the mechanical property matching cardiac muscle, biocompatibility and security, and is used for treating acute and chronic myocardial infarction and heart failures, inhibiting the reconstruction, thinning, and fiberization of a ventricular wall, and improving the myocardial function. In addition, the material also features conductivity, in vivo degradability, and the like.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for determining whether a mobile device is located indoors or outdoors. In some embodiments, a mobile device may utilize a fusion of the information from multiple sensors, such as a RGB sensor, a proximity sensor, a light intensity sensor, and a WiFi radio, to determine whether the mobile device is located indoors or outdoors.

Abstract: An authentication system for a computing environment uses physically unclonable functions (PUFs) to authenticate requests to perform an action in the environment. The system receives, from an imaging device, an image of a physically unclonable object associated with the electronic request. The system then obtains from a computer server operating within the system via an encrypted communication channel, a challenge associated with the object. The system uses extraction parameters encoded within the challenge to transform a portion of the image and produce authentication data representing a response to the challenge. The system extracts, using the extraction parameters, the authentication data from the image and determines whether the challenge and response match and the request is authenticated.

Abstract: Cross-linked polymeric resins from anilines linked together with polyamine alkyl chains. A process for producing the cross-linked polymeric resins by Mannich-type polycondensation of anilines and diaminoalkanes linked together by an aldehyde and subsequent basification. In addition, a method for removing heavy metals, such as Pb (II) and As (V) from aqueous solution via contacting and treatment with the cross-linked polymeric resins.

Abstract: Methods for treating a cocaine-related disorder in an individual include administering to the individual a therapeutic amount of an antibody comprising a human immunoglobulin gamma heavy chain and a murine lambda light chain. In another embodiment, the light chain includes a human kappa light chain at least partially derived from 1B3. Other embodiments are directed toward the antibodies themselves and methods of binding the antibodies.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed toward a crossed-loop electron paramagnetic resonance resonator comprising a first resonator having a first resonator axis; and a second resonator having a second resonator axis. The first resonator axis and the second resonator axis can be substantially perpendicular. Either or both the first resonator and the second resonator can be a ribbon resonator having a plurality of metallic ribbons formed in a loop. Each metallic ribbon can include a central axis. The plurality of metallic ribbons can be arranged parallel relative one to another.

Abstract: Disclosed are a scheduling apparatus and method using a virtual slotframe in an industrial wireless sensor network in which devices on the network generate schedules that are efficient with regard to data traffic having various cycles by performing scheduling in a distributed manner through a virtual slotframe scheme, the scheduling apparatus and method including a packet classifier configured to manage, in a list, a point in time when a packet was generated by referring to a packet transmission record, a transmission record analyzer configured to analyze a traffic pattern on the basis of a list indicating the point in time when the packet was generated, a virtual slotframe schedule generation manager configured to generate a virtual slotframe schedule according to the traffic pattern when the traffic pattern is classified, and a schedule converter and aggregator configured to perform a conversion and an aggregation for a direct link schedule to be used for TSCH (Time Slotted Channel Hopping) operation.

Abstract: The invention relates to lipid polymeric patchy particles formed by nanoprecipitation and emulsification processes, utilizing a polymer blend including the polymer, solvent and lipid-PEGylated functional groups. More particularly, the invention relates to synthesizing particles having different or pre-selected morphologies (internal and external) and physicochemical properties. It has been found that the shear stress experienced by the polymer blend during emulsification can impart certain external and internal morphology and physicochemical properties to the resulting particles. Further, the one or more patches of the particles can be functionalized, such as, with gold nanoparticles, for use of the particles, in particular, in photoacoustic and ultrasound imaging.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods for synthesizing cyclic carbonates, glycocarbonates, and polyglycocarbonates by reacting polyol glycans with carbon dioxide. Synthesis can include selective polycondensation of polyol glycan hydroxyl moieties.

Abstract: This invention mainly discloses an EOG-based sleep staging method which is used to improve of an accuracy of automatic sleep judging result. The method may be executed by a processor and comprises steps of reading a to-be-test data having a variation depending on time of EOG generated by a user during a sleep process; acquiring a plurality of eye movement characteristics based on a variation of the EOG of a period, with the characteristics including an eye movement ratio, a blink count, a low frequency power ratio, a high frequency power ratio, an alpha rhythm ratio, a spindle rhythm ratio, a delta rhythm ratio and an average amplitude of eletrooculogram (EOG) signals; and determining a sleep state of the period is a “WAKE stage”, a “REM stage”, a “S1 stage”, a “S2 stage”, or a “SWS stage” based on the EOG characteristics. Furthermore, a computer readable medium with stored programs, and electronic apparatuses are provided.