Abstract: An Optical Add/Drop Multiplexing (OADM) device forming a degree in an optical network includes one or more traffic switch ports configured to interface with occupied traffic signals; and a channel holder port configured to interface with one or more channel holder sources for unoccupied spectrum or traffic signals; wherein the OADM device is configured to receive a bandwidth intent for a media channel on the degree and the media channel includes any of the occupied traffic signals and the unoccupied spectrum or traffic signals, and to switch the one or more traffic switch ports and the channel holder port for spectrum in the bandwidth intent accordingly.

Abstract: A ropeless fishing gear retracting-and-releasing device has a casing, a buoyancy changing device, a power-supplying device, and a controller. The casing has a top cover mounted on a top opening, a bottom cover, and a through hole through the bottom cover. The buoyancy changing device has an upper seat and a lower seat in the casing, multiple fixing rods, a driver, and a piston. Two ends of each of the rods are respectively mounted on the upper seat and the lower seat. The driver is mounted in the casing. An end of the piston is connected to the driver. An accommodation space is formed between another end of the piston and the bottom cover and fluidly communicates with the through hole. The power-supplying device is mounted in the casing and electrically connected to the driver. The controller is mounted on the casing and electrically connected to the power-supplying device.

Abstract: Provided is a system, method, and computer program product for determining a needle injection site. The method includes segmenting, with at least one computing device, an image of a sequence of images into at least one object based on a machine-learning model configured to estimate its uncertainty for each segmentation, generating, with the at least one computing device, a 3D model of the at least one object, and determining, with the at least one computing device, an insertion location of the at least one object based at least partially on an output of the machine-learning model.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for performing a loopback test in a pre-provisioned multi-channel optical network. A controller determines actual spectral availability within an optical spectrum, irrespective of reserved or pre-planned channel allocations, and overrides spectrum reservation limits to define an effective loopback-test bandwidth. The controller configures a selected network-management channel (NMC) and associated modem for the loopback test based on the determined availability, enabling loopback operation even within an occupied or partially utilized spectrum. The system dynamically adjusts modem transmission parameters and establishes spectral guard bands or deadbands as needed to preserve integrity of in-service traffic and mitigate filter roll-off effects. The approach allows flexible, non-disruptive photonic loopback testing in deployed Reconfigurable Optical Add/Drop Multiplexers (ROADMs) or other multi-channel optical environments without re-provisioning the existing channel plan.

Abstract: A Reconfigurable Optical Add/Drop Multiplexer (ROADM) includes degree components where there are one or more Media Channels (MCs) configured thereon; multiplexer and demultiplexer components; and a controller configured to, responsive to a request for a loopback test on Network Media Channel (NMC) that is part of a configured Media Channel (MC), determine whether there are neighboring channels to the NMC, configure deadbands on optical spectrum based on the determining, cause configuration of a modem for the loopback test, and cause performance of the loopback test with the modem.

Abstract: A vascular graft and method of fabricating the same are provided. The vascular graft includes an elongated tube fabricated from a material having a plurality of nodes interconnected by a plurality of fibrils. The elongated tube extends along an axis and has been previously stretched along the axis from an initial length to a desired length. Each of the plurality of fibrils has a length, and first and second ends separated by a linear distance. After the second stretching, the length of each of a majority of the plurality of fibrils is greater than the linear distance between the first and second ends of each of the majority of the plurality of fibrils, thereby allowing the vascular graft of the present invention to exhibit higher elastic compliance than prior synthetic, vascular grafts.

Abstract: Provided are methods, devices, and systems for measuring aquatic biomass in an aqueous liquid, optionally for the cultivation, growth optimization, and harvest of an aquatic biomass for plant protein production. In particular, measurements of aquatic biomass density are based on light absorption of the aquatic biomass. The aquatic biomass includes an aquatic organism such as Lemna, including Lemna minor. The plant protein isolates include a RuBisCO protein.

Abstract: An automatic vending machine has a control unit controlling a payment unit. The payment unit is configured to receive payment from a user. The refrigeration unit is a chest freezer having a top lid and a hinge. The top lid is controlled by the control unit. The top lid moves between an open position and a closed position. A food package is stored in the refrigeration unit. A picking arm is mounted on a picking arm swivel. The picking arm has a pick suction tip that is vacuum driven. The picking arm is controlled by the control unit. The control unit is configured to control the picking arm to pick a food package from the refrigeration unit and move it to the microwave heating unit for heating.

Abstract: Provided is a method of training a machine-learning-based artificial intelligence (AI) model to handle diverse types of motions occurring during image acquisition, including capturing image data including motion between an imaging device and tissue, modifying the captured image data, resulting in modified image data, by at least one of: altering an amount of time between any two frames; removing a subsequence of frames from the captured image data; and adding a subsequence of one or more new frames to the captured image data, and training a machine-learning-based AI model based on the modified image data. Other systems and methods are also described.

Abstract: An Optical Add/Drop Multiplexing (OADM) device forming a degree in an optical network includes one or more traffic switch ports configured to interface with occupied traffic signals; and a channel holder port configured to interface with one or more channel holder sources for unoccupied spectrum or traffic signals; wherein the OADM device is configured to receive a bandwidth intent for a media channel on the degree and the media channel includes any of the occupied traffic signals and the unoccupied spectrum or traffic signals, and to switch the one or more traffic switch ports and the channel holder port for spectrum in the bandwidth intent accordingly.

Abstract: A Reconfigurable Optical Add/Drop Multiplexer (ROADM) includes degree components where there are one or more Media Channels (MCs) configured thereon; multiplexer and demultiplexer components; and a controller configured to, responsive to a request for a loopback test on Network Media Channel (NMC) that is part of a configured Media Channel (MC), determine whether there are neighboring channels to the NMC, configure deadbands on optical spectrum based on the determining, cause configuration of a modem for the loopback test, and cause performance of the loopback test with the modem.

Abstract: Provided are methods, devices, and systems for measuring aquatic biomass in an aqueous liquid, optionally for the cultivation, growth optimization, and harvest of an aquatic biomass for plant protein production. In particular, measurements of aquatic biomass density are based on light absorption of the aquatic biomass. The aquatic biomass includes an aquatic organism such as Lemna, including Lemna minor. The plant protein isolates include a RuBisCO protein.

Abstract: Systems and methods include, responsive to provisioning a media channel (52) on a degree, wherein the media channel (52) is a contiguous portion of optical spectrum supporting N channels, N is greater than 1, causing allocation of optical filter bandwidth in an optical multiplexing/demultiplexing device for M channels (56) in the media channel (50), where M is less than N; causing provisioning of the M channels (56) in the media channel (50); and causing configuration of channel holders in the media channel from a channel holder source (20) for a part of the portion of the optical spectrum unoccupied by the M channels (56).

Abstract: Provided is a system, method, and computer program product for determining a needle injection site. The method includes segmenting, with at least one computing device, an image of a sequence of images into at least one object based on a machine-learning model configured to estimate its uncertainty for each segmentation, generating, with the at least one computing device, a 3D model of the at least one object, and determining, with the at least one computing device, an insertion location of the at least one object based at least partially on an output of the machine-learning model.

Abstract: Systems and methods for conducting various types of Connection Validation (CV) are provided for reducing the overall CV scan time of regular CV scans. A Reconfigurable Optical Add/Drop Multiplexer (ROADM), according to one implementation includes at least one degree component; at least one add/drop component; a plurality of fibers interconnecting the at least one degree component and/or the at least one add/drop component; and a controller configured to, responsive to any of ongoing operation and connection of one or more fibers of the plurality of fibers, cause a Connection Validation (CV) scan in the ROADM that cycles through the one or more fibers, attain a desired cycle time for the CV scan through one or more techniques, and determine one or more of connectivity and whether fiber loss is within expectations, based on the CV scan.

Abstract: Systems and methods for resolving control conflicts in trunk protection links are provided. A head-end node includes a first line-mux controller and a second line-mux controller, first actuator components for a first fiber span, and second actuator components for a second fiber span, wherein the first line-mux controller and the second line-mux controller are configured to control the first actuator components and the second actuator components, respectively, and a trunk protection switch configured to connect an input to each of the first fiber span and the second fiber span.

Abstract: Provided is a method of training a machine-learning-based artificial intelligence (AI) model to handle diverse types of motions occurring during image acquisition, including capturing image data including motion between an imaging device and tissue, modifying the captured image data, resulting in modified image data, by at least one of: altering an amount of time between any two frames; removing a subsequence of frames from the captured image data; and adding a subsequence of one or more new frames to the captured image data, and training a machine-learning-based AI model based on the modified image data. Other systems and methods are also described.

Abstract: Differentiating traffic signals from filler channels in optical networks includes obtaining power measurements of optical spectrum on an optical section in the optical network; analyzing the power measurements to differentiate signal type between traffic signals and Amplified Stimulated Emission (ASE) channel holders; and applying appropriate treatment to the optical spectrum based on the signal type. The analyzing is performed locally without any notification from upstream nodes of the optical spectrum.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are provided for signaling the presence of a fault in a multi-band optical network or other communication system. In response to a detected fault in a multi-band communication system impacting a specific band of the multi-band communication system, a method, according to one implementation, may include a step of creating a fault signal corresponding to the detected fault. The method may also include the step of conveying the fault signal to at least one of an upstream controller and a downstream controller of the multi-band communication system to trigger an action for handling the fault on the specific band. The action may be handled independently of other actions associated with one or more other bands of the multi-band communication system.

Abstract: Systems and methods for resolving control conflicts in trunk protection links are provided. A method, in one implementation, includes identifying control conflicts among Network Elements (NEs) in an Optical Multiplex Section (OMS). The OMS may have a plurality of trunk protection links arranged in parallel and a plurality of Trunk Protection Switches (TPSs). Also, the trunk protection links and TPSs are configured to create a distributed 1:N trunk protection arrangement. The method also includes resolving the control conflicts by auto-negotiating a primary instance associated with enabling a first set of control actions to be conducted along a primary path in the OMS and auto-negotiating one or more follower instances associated with enabling a second set of control actions to be conducted along one or more secondary paths in the OMS subsequent to the first set of control actions.