Abstract: Provided herein are compositions and methods useful for the detection of MTB. In particular, provided herein are kits, reagents, reaction mixtures, and methods involving such for nucleic acid amplification and detection procedures, which specifically and sensitively detect MTB in samples.

Abstract: The optical interferometric sensor device comprises an integrated beam splitter having a first facet and a second facet with optical ports arranged therein. On the beam splitter, the beam splitting junctions as well as the optoelectronics-side ports and the sensing-side port are arranged with a mutual displacement along the direction of the first facet. This displacement reduces undesired interference effects caused by stray light. Also, a quarter-wave retarder is provided in a recess of the beam splitter with layers of soft adhesive adjacent to it in order to reduce stress.

Abstract: A method for inspection of a target object, the method including irradiating a reference surface having a non-flat reference profile with radiation; determining reference response data based on detected radiation having interacted with the reference surface; irradiating a target object with radiation, the target object including a target surface having a non-flat target profile corresponding to the reference profile; determining inspection response data based on detected radiation having interacted with the target object; and determining at least one parameter of the target object based on the reference response data and the inspection response data. An alternative method; a control system for controlling an emitter system and a detector system; and an inspection system including a control system, an emitter system and a detector system, are also provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to optical surveying such as in building construction, road construction, landscaping and similar. A first image sensor obtains in a first wavelength range a first image of a scene within a field of view captured by an optical arrangement such as a telescope. A light emitter emits light in a second wavelength range and a second image sensor obtains a second image of the field of view in the second wavelength range. A target position of a reflecting target is found in the first image by detecting a known image pattern of the reflecting target in the first image. A region of interest in the second image is then a defined based on the identified target position in the first image, for detecting a reflector position of a reflector of the reflecting target in the region of interest. With the invention it becomes possible to improve the identification of a reflective target at reduced processing time, even if reflections from other objects than the reflective target are present.

Abstract: Provided herein are compositions and methods useful for the detection of MTB. In particular, provided herein are kits, reagents, reaction mixtures, and methods involving such for nucleic acid amplification and detection procedures, which specifically and sensitively detect MTB in samples.

Abstract: In order to carry out the polarimetric detection of a measurand, light of two polarization states is passed through a sensing element, where the two states suffer a differential phase shift depending on the value of the measurand. In order to compensate for only imperfections of the device, a method is proposed that is based on calibration values obtained in a low-value regime of the measurand only. Yet the method can still be used for accurately determining higher values of the measurand.

Abstract: Systems and methods for generating labels are described. A label having particular format and content can be affixed to a parcel depending upon its. Barcodes can be positioned adjacent to one or more of the borders of the label. If, during a shipping workflow, one or more of the barcodes cannot be detected, it can be assumed that the label is damaged or obstructed.

Abstract: A fiber optic sensor and related method are described, with the sensor including a cross-coupling element in the optical path between a polarizing element and a sensing element, but separated from the sensing element itself; with the cross-coupling element generating a defined cross-coupling between the two orthogonal polarization states of the fundamental mode of a polarization maintaining fiber guiding light from the light source to the sensing element thus introducing a wavelength-dependent or temperature-dependent sensor signal shift to balance wavelength-dependent or temperature-dependent signal shifts due to other elements of the sensor, particularly signal shifts due to the wavelength dependence of the Faraday effect or the electro-optic effect constant.

Abstract: Provided herein are compositions and methods useful for the detection of MTB. In particular, provided herein are kits, reagents, reaction mixtures, and methods involving such for nucleic acid amplification and detection procedures, which specifically and sensitively detect MTB in samples.

Abstract: A method for producing a rotor cup for an open-end spinning rotor includes forming separating structures on a front-side rim of the rotor cup for breaking up and preparing a yarn end for piecing. The separating structures are formed by a non-mechanical manufacturing method without contact between the front-side rim and a mechanical forming tool. A rotor cup formed in accordance with the method is also provided.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for creating a secure software container. The method comprises providing a first layered software container image, transforming all files, except corresponding metadata, of each layer of the first layered software container image into a volume, the volume comprises a set of blocks, wherein each layer comprises an incremental difference to a next lower layer, encrypting each block of the set of blocks of a portion of the layers, and storing each encrypted set of the blocks as a layer of an encrypted container image along with unencrypted metadata for rebuilding an order of the set of blocks equal to an order of the first layered software container image, so that a secure encrypted software container is created.

Abstract: An interferometric sensor and related methods are provided, with a sensing element whereby a measurand induces a relative phase shift between two waves, at least one detector measuring an interference signal between the two waves, and further including a phase shift detection unit having as input the interference signal and determining a first measure representative of the principal value of the relative phase shift, and a contrast detection unit having as input the interference signal for determining a second measure representative of the cross-correlation between the two waves, and a further a processing unit for converting the first and second measures to a measurand value.

Abstract: A thread guide unit is used for drawing off a thread out of a rotor of a spinning unit of an open-end spinning machine. The thread guide unit includes a draw-off tube, and a compressed air nozzle configured with the draw-off tube. A thread outlet element extends into the draw-off tube. The compressed air nozzle includes a mouth formed as a gap between an inner diameter surface of the draw-off tube and the thread outlet element. A method for operating a spinning unit of an open-end spinning machine having the thread guide unit is also provided.

Abstract: An example loudspeaker arrangement includes a seat configured to support a listener sitting in the seat so that a head of the listener is in a listening position; and a loudspeaker array secured to the seat and disposed in a position in front of a backrest of the seat and to the side of the head when the head is in the listening position. The loudspeaker array includes at least one loudspeaker and has a main broadcasting axis representative of a main broadcasting direction, the main broadcasting direction of the loudspeaker array pointing to the head.

Abstract: Provided herein are compositions and methods for diagnosing and characterizing tuberculosis infection. In particular, provided herein are compositions and methods for identifying drug resistant tuberculosis.

Abstract: Provided herein are compositions and methods for diagnosing and characterizing tuberculosis infection. In particular, provided herein are compositions and methods for identifying drug resistant tuberculosis.

Abstract: There is described an optical fiber current sensor having an opto-electronic module part for detecting an optical phase shift induced by the measurand field in a sensing fiber, a sensor head including the sensing fiber, wherein the sensing fiber is a spun highly-birefringent fiber having a length L=? ds defined by the line integral along the space curve given by the sensing fiber coil such that the length L of the sensing fiber is sufficiently long to suppress thermal signal instabilities due to the spun character of the sensing fiber while the effective number of fiber windings is low enough to maintain a maximum sensitivity over the full measurement range of the fiber-optical sensor.

Abstract: It is proposed to use a spun birefringent fiber for a current sensor or magnetic field sensor. The fiber has a birefringence that increases with temperature. In this case, the temperature dependence of the fiber's sensitivity to magnetic fields counteracts the temperature dependence of the fiber's Verdet constant, which allows to design current and field sensors that have reduced temperature dependence.

Abstract: The invention relates to a cable wrapping tape for wrapping cables in motor vehicles, comprising a tape-shaped carrier and an adhesive coating on at least one side of said carrier, and characterised in that the adhesive coating and/or carrier are provided with an incorporated repellent against, in particular, mammal bites.