Abstract: The present invention generally relates to the composition of particle gels for conformance control, well drilling and well treatments. More particularly, this invention relates to swellable polymer particle gels that can re-crosslink, i.e., reassociate and self-heal, at subterranean conditions. These particle gels can be deployed to improve the conformance of water flooding of especially matrix bypass events (MBEs), that are also known as void space conduits. Moreover, these particle gels can be deployed for controlling the water production and increasing of petroleum recovery. The inventive particles can also be deployed as diverter for well stimulation.

Abstract: A scattering-type scanning near-field optical microscope at cryogenic temperatures (cryo-SNOM) configured with Akiyama probes for studying low energy excitations in quantum materials present in high magnetic fields. The s-SNOM is provided with atomic force microscopy (AFM) control, which predominantly utilizes a laser-based detection scheme for determining the cantilever tapping motion of metal-coated Akiyama probes, where the cantilever tapping motion is detected through a piezoelectric signal. The Akiyama-based cryo-SNOM attains high spatial resolution, good near-field contrast, and is able to perform imaging with a significantly more compact system capable of handling simultaneous demands of vibration isolation, low base temperature, precise nano-positioning, and optical access. Results establish the potential of s-SNOM based on self-sensing piezo-probes, which can easily accommodate near-IR and far-infrared wavelengths and high magnetic fields.

Abstract: A method includes storing a value in data storage so that a third party is prevented from accessing the value, retrieving the value and applying a first transform to the value to form a transformed value having a uniform distribution. Noise is added to the transformed value to form a sum and a second transform is applied to the sum to form a transformed sum having a uniform distribution. An inverse of the first transform is applied to the transformed sum to form a privatized value and the privatized value is provided to the third party.

Abstract: An in-corner modular electric wheel system integrating adjustable king pin and king pin type steering unit includes a wheel assembly, a steering system, a king pin inclination adjusting system and a suspension system. The wheel assembly is configured to support a load of a vehicle, transmit a driving torque and determine a toe angle and a camber angle. The steering system is a king pin type steering system, and is configured for an omni-directional independent wheel steering. The king pin inclination adjusting system is sleeved on the king pin, and is configured to adjust an inclination of the king pin without changing the camber angle. The suspension system has an unequal-length double-wishbone suspension structure, and is provided with a coil spring and a shock absorber to mitigate road impacts and improve ride comfort.

Abstract: The disclosure belongs to the field of visible light communication, and specifically discloses a stripe image processing method and apparatus for camera optical communication. The method includes: obtaining a stripe image data set, the stripe image data set including a stripe image sample and a stripe sequence label corresponding to the stripe image sample and a stripe-free image label; based on the stripe image sample and the stripe sequence label corresponding to the stripe image sample and the stripe-free image label, training a generative adversarial network to obtain an image reconstruction model and a stripe extraction model; among them, the image reconstruction model serves as a generator of the generative adversarial network, and the stripe extraction model serves as a discriminator of the generative adversarial network.

Abstract: A method for power amplification uses circuitry including a main amplifier and an auxiliary amplifier that are constructed and operate such that an input is applied to the main and auxiliary amplifiers via an input network. At low power levels, the auxiliary amplifier is off and the main amplifier sees a large impedance. At maximum power level, both the auxiliary and main amplifiers operate at full power and there is a constant phase shift between them. While transitioning from low to maximum power, systematic AM-AM and AM-PM variations generated due to the phase shift provided by the input network, bias differences between the main and auxiliary amplifiers, and nature of the output combiner to compensate device related distortions.

Abstract: A medical device includes an elongate body and an inflatable balloon attached to and partially surrounding at least a section of the elongate body. The inflatable balloon is selectively inflatable between a deflated state and an inflated state. Engagement between the balloon and a physiological lumen is provided, in part, by multiple protrusions extending from the inflatable balloon and having various physical and functional characteristics. In certain implementations, the balloon may be configured to exhibit various separation forces by applying different strains to the balloon, such as by varying the degree to which the balloon is inflated or deflated.

Abstract: A vortex vibration wind tunnel test model system for a long-span bridge and a test method thereof is disclosed. In the test model system, the base is provided with a plurality of adjustment members, each of the adjustment members is provided with a cantilever rod, and all of the cantilever rods are cantilevered in the same direction; a beam body model is provided on a cantilevered end of all of the cantilever rods; a displacement measuring member is provided below the cantilever rod, and the horizontal distance between the displacement measuring member and the beam body model exceeds 2 times a width value of the beam body model, the displacement measuring member being away from the surface of the beam body model and the position of directly below the beam body model. Therefore, the state response data of the position of the cantilever rod can be collected in real time.

Abstract: A luminescent solar concentrator (LSC) device is provided. The LSC device has an active layer including a modified luminophore having a polymethine component including a plurality of methine groups (?CH—)n, where n is an odd integer greater than 1. A hydrogen atom (H) of one of the plurality of methine groups is replaced by one of -AR1R2 or -DR3, where A is selected from nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), arsenic (As) and antimony (Sb) and D is selected from oxygen (O), sulfur (S), selenium (Se), and tellurium (Te), R1 and R2 are independently selected from H, aliphatic groups, and aromatic groups bound to A through a carbon atom, or R1 and R2 together form an alicyclic ring containing A, and R3 is selected from H, aliphatic groups, aromatic groups, and alicyclic groups bound to D through a carbon atom.

Abstract: Disclosed are a dynamic error measurement apparatus, system, and method for an electricity meter. The measurement apparatus includes a test signal generation unit configured to generate a voltage test signal and two-circuit current test signals, output the voltage test signal to a measurement unit, and output the two-circuit current test signals to the measurement unit and a current summation unit; the measurement unit configured to determine two-circuit electric energy values based on the voltage test signal and the two-circuit current test signals, and output the two-circuit electric energy values to a calculation control unit; the current summation unit configured to determine a combined current signal based on the two-circuit current test signals; and the calculation control unit configured to determine a total electric energy value based on the two-circuit electric energy values. The system includes a standard meter and a measurement apparatus.

Abstract: The invention provides devices and methods for non-invasive monitoring and measuring of intraocular pressure (IOP) of a subject. Embodiments include a lens that is adapted to fit on the subject's eye, a microstructure disposed in or on the lens, the microstructure having at least one feature that exhibits a change in shape and/or geometry and/or position on the lens in response to a change in curvature of the lens. When the curvature of the lens changes in response to a change in IOP, a corresponding change in shape and/or geometry and/or position of the feature may be used to determine the change in IOP. The change in the feature is detectable in digital images of the lens taken with a mobile electronic device such as a smartphone.

Abstract: A novel ROS-responsive prodrug is provided. The prodrug utilizes a unique modified oxalate linker conjugated to 4-aminophenol, which can enhance the reaction kinetics for intracellular ROS within tumor tissues while keeping the modified oxalate backbone stable with amide bond under very low ROS level.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method for UAV path planning in urban airspace based on a safe reinforcement learning (RL) algorithm called shield-DDPG, which combines a shield model with a DDPG algorithm and pertains to the field of UAV technologies. The method takes an attractive force from the destination point into account when an action is selected, which improves the convergence speed of the algorithm and also improve the efficiency of UAV path planning. More importantly, the method provided by the present invention can effectively verify safety of an action in terms of the air collision risk and the ground impact risk, and ensure that a final output of the algorithm is a safe optimal solution. Therefore, the present invention can effectively solve the problem that when the RL algorithm is used for UAV path planning, it is difficult to ensure the safety of the learning or execution process due to the lack of hard constraints.

Abstract: The beverage brewing device, which is configured for use with a beverage brewer having an inlet probe for dispensing water and an outlet probe, includes a body defining a brew chamber configured to contain a dry beverage medium and at least one outlet probe receptacle extending upwardly from a bottom surface of the body. The outlet probe receptacle is sized and configured to receive an outlet probe of a beverage brewer. A lid is removably securable to the body and is engageable with the body to selectively enclose a top opening of the body. An inlet probe opening is defined in the lid for receiving an inlet probe of the beverage brewer. At least one filter is defined within in the body, wherein the filter is configured to retain a dry beverage medium within the brew chamber while allowing a brewed beverage to pass through the brew chamber.

Abstract: Provided herein are compositions and methods for generation of cysteine in microbial systems. Further provided herein are compositions and methods for reducing and eliminating biofilms.

Abstract: The present disclosure includes a multiplexed peptide assay to generate an epitope-resolved view of antibody reactivity across all human coronaviruses (CoVs). PepSeq accurately classifies SARS-CoV-2 exposure status and reveals epitopes across the Spike and Nucleocapsid proteins. Two of these represent recurrent reactivities to conserved, functionally-important sites in the S2 subunit of Spike, regions that we show are also targeted for the endemic CoVs in pre-pandemic controls. At one of these sites, we demonstrate that the SARS-CoV-2 response strongly and recurrently cross-reacts with the endemic virus hCoV-OC43. The disclosed epitope-resolved analysis reveals new CoV targets for the development of diagnostics, vaccines and therapeutics, including a site that may have broad neutralizing potential.

Abstract: A control signal may be modulated on an optical wave. A transmitter may transmit the control signal to a switch/processor location. At the remote node, the control signal is received and converted from an optical signal to an electrical signal to drive the switch/processor. To provide electrical power at the switch/processor location, optical power is transmitted from a distance and converted to electrical power using a series of PDs. Monitoring tones may be sent to the remote node and fed back to the transmitter to realize an operation state and detect a bias drift. Accordingly, an OSP function at a remote node is enabled without using any local electrical power supply.