Abstract: A system and method for treating reverse-osmosis (RO) concentrated water with high temporary hardness. The system includes a crystallization unit, a precipitation unit, a dewatering unit, and a programmable logic controller (PLC) system. The crystallization unit, precipitation unit and dewatering unit are connected in series, and the PLC system is configured to control pumps, valves, and displays in the crystallization unit, precipitation unit and dewatering unit. The crystallization unit includes a storage tank and a crystallization reactor communicated therewith. The crystallization reactor is provided with a pH meter, a liquid-level gauge, and a stirrer. A connection pipe between the crystallization reactor and the RO concentrated water is provided with an inlet pump and a inlet valve. A connection pipe between the crystallization reactor and the storage tank is provided with a feeding pump and a feeding valve.

Abstract: A system and method for treating reverse-osmosis (RO) concentrated water with high temporary hardness. The system includes a crystallization unit, a precipitation unit, a dewatering unit, and a programmable logic controller (PLC) system. The crystallization unit, precipitation unit and dewatering unit are connected in series, and the PLC system is configured to control pumps, valves, and displays in the crystallization unit, precipitation unit and dewatering unit. The crystallization unit includes a storage tank and a crystallization reactor communicated therewith. The crystallization reactor is provided with a pH meter, a liquid-level gauge, and a stirrer. A connection pipe between the crystallization reactor and the RO concentrated water is provided with an inlet pump and a inlet valve. A connection pipe between the crystallization reactor and the storage tank is provided with a feeding pump and a feeding valve.

Abstract: A dosing control method for micro-flocculation in ultrafiltration, including: calculating a preset value of a first differential pressure before an initial backwash and a preset value of a second differential pressure before a final backwash in each chemically enhanced backwash cycle; calculating a preset value of a third differential pressure between the first differential pressure and the second differential pressure according to the preset value of the first differential pressure and the preset value of the second differential pressure; obtaining a predicted value of the third differential pressure according to a differential pressure curve plotted based on online filtration differential pressure data; and comparing the preset value of the third differential pressure and the predicted value of the third differential pressure to determine whether to dose. A dosing control system is also provided.

Abstract: A dosing control method for micro-flocculation in ultrafiltration, including: calculating a preset value of a first differential pressure before an initial backwash and a preset value of a second differential pressure before a final backwash in each chemically enhanced backwash cycle; calculating a preset value of a third differential pressure between the first differential pressure and the second differential pressure according to the preset value of the first differential pressure and the preset value of the second differential pressure; obtaining a predicted value of the third differential pressure according to a differential pressure curve plotted based on online filtration differential pressure data; and comparing the preset value of the third differential pressure and the predicted value of the third differential pressure to determine whether to dose. A dosing control system is also provided.

Abstract: A method for breeding a new variety of a ratoon rice crop and a cultivation method for the new variety of a ratoon rice crop. The method comprises: breeding a photosensitive variety of a rice crop; growing a ratoon rice crop under conditions of a long photoperiod; and taking corresponding cultivation measures to extend the growth duration of the ratoon rice crop. The invention increases grain yield while also permitting more uniform maturity of a ratoon rice crop. When compared to existing methods for cultivating ratoon rice crops, the invention greatly improves the grain yield and quality of a ratoon rice crop, and has economic and social benefits.

Abstract: Retrieval of images of objects from a large-scale database of object images, based on a query image. The database may, for example, contain images of objects such as faces, vehicles, people and luggage. Semantic attributes such as doors or windows in the case of vehicles are used as high level semantic cues to determine identities of objects in the images. Salient visual characteristics of the images are labeled with attribute information, and a transformation is learned so as to transform the labeled visual characteristics into a discrimination vector that discriminates between the labels. A similarity metric is learned using the discrimination vectors, such that different images depicting the same object are determined to be close while those having different objects are determined to be far apart. Candidates are retrieved based on a query image, and a re-ranking step may be applied to improve results. Validation experiments are described.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for generating attribute scores obtain a plurality of object images; generate a respective first attribute score of a first attribute for each object image in the plurality of object images based on the object images; calculate a respective pairwise object-similarity measure for pairs of object images in the plurality of object images; and refine the first attribute score of an object image in the plurality of object images based at least in part on the attribute scores of other object images in the plurality of object images and on the object-similarity measures of the pairs of object images in the plurality of object images.

Abstract: Retrieval of images of objects from a large-scale database of object images, based on a query image. The database may, for example, contain images of objects such as faces, vehicles, people and luggage. Semantic attributes such as doors or windows in the case of vehicles are used as high level semantic cues to determine identities of objects in the images. Salient visual characteristics of the images are labeled with attribute information, and a transformation is learned so as to transform the labeled visual characteristics into a discrimination vector that discriminates between the labels. A similarity metric is learned using the discrimination vectors, such that different images depicting the same object are determined to be close while those having different objects are determined to be far apart. Candidates are retrieved based on a query image, and a re-ranking step may be applied to improve results. Validation experiments are described.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for generating attribute scores obtain a plurality of object images; generate a respective first attribute score of a first attribute for each object image in the plurality of object images based on the object images; calculate a respective pairwise object-similarity measure for pairs of object images in the plurality of object images; and refine the first attribute score of an object image in the plurality of object images based at least in part on the attribute scores of other object images in the plurality of object images and on the object-similarity measures of the pairs of object images in the plurality of object images.

Abstract: Systems and methods for organizing images extract low-level features from an image of a collection of images of a specified event, wherein the low-level features include visual characteristics calculated from the image pixel data, and wherein the specified event includes two or more sub-events; extract a high-level feature from the image, wherein the high-level feature includes characteristics calculated at least in part from one or more of the low-level features; identify a sub-events in the image based on the high-level feature and a predetermined model of the specified event, wherein the predetermined model describes a relationship between two or more sub-events; and annotate the image based on the identified sub-event.

Abstract: There is provided a novel approach for automatic human face authentication. Taking a 3D triangular facial mesh as input, the approach first automatically extracts the bilateral symmetry plane of the face surface. The intersection between the symmetry plane and the facial surface, namely the Symmetry Profile, is then computed. By using both the mean curvature plot of the facial surface and the curvature plot of the symmetry profile curve, three essential points of the nose on the symmetry profile are automatically extracted. The three essential points uniquely determine a Face Intrinsic Coordinate System (FICS). Different faces are aligned based on the FICS. The Symmetry Profile, together with two transversal profiles, namely the Forehead Profile and the Cheek Profile compose a compact representation, called the SFC representation, of a 3D face surface. The face authentication and recognition steps are finally performed by comparing the SFC representation of the faces.

Abstract: There is provided a novel approach for automatic human face authentication. Taking a 3D triangular facial mesh as input, the approach first automatically extracts the bilateral symmetry plane of the face surface. The intersection between the symmetry plane and the facial surface, namely the Symmetry Profile, is then computed. By using both the mean curvature plot of the facial surface and the curvature plot of the symmetry profile curve, three essential points of the nose on the symmetry profile are automatically extracted. The three essential points uniquely determine a Face Intrinsic Coordinate System (FICS). Different faces are aligned based on the FICS. The Symmetry Profile, together with two transversal profiles, namely the Forehead Profile and the Cheek Profile compose a compact representation, called the SFC representation, of a 3D face surface. The face authentication and recognition steps are finally performed by comparing the SFC representation of the faces.

Abstract: A method of tuning an electroabsorption modulator (EAM). A reference average power loss factor for light having a reference peak wavelength that is modulated by the EAM is provided. This loss factor is based on operation of the EAM using a reference bias voltage, a reference temperature, and a reference modulation signal which has a predetermined duty cycle. Input light is coupled into the EAM and modulated using a modulation signal which has the same duty cycle as the reference modulation signal. The input power of the input light and the average output power of light emitted from the EAM are measured. These input and average output powers are used to generate an average power loss factor. The average power loss factor is compared to the reference average power loss factor and the bias voltage and/or the temperature of the EAM are adjusted to reduce differences between these loss factors.

Abstract: In a telecommunications network, such as an optical mesh network, satisfying a demand from a start node to an end node, the network is automatically provisioned from a service path to a restoration path after a failure occurs in the service path. Each affected node in the network eventually receives an indication of the occurrence of the failure in the service path. If the node is an intermediate node of the service path, then the node transmits a failure message to its next node along the service path. If the node is the end node of the service path, then the node transmits a restore message to its previous node along the restoration path. If the node is an intermediate node of the restoration path, then the node transmits a restore message to its previous node along the restoration path. In addition, the node reconfigures its cross-connect for the transition from the service path to the restoration path.

Abstract: In a telecommunications network, such as an optical mesh network, satisfying a demand from a start node to an end node, the network is automatically provisioned from a service path to a restoration path after a failure occurs in the service path. Each affected node in the network eventually receives an indication of the occurrence of the failure in the service path. If the node is an intermediate node of the service path, then the node transmits a failure message to its next node along the service path. If the node is the end node of the service path, then the node transmits a restore message to its previous node along the restoration path. If the node is an intermediate node of the restoration path, then the node transmits a restore message to its previous node along the restoration path. In addition, the node reconfigures its cross-connect for the transition from the service path to the restoration path.

Abstract: A method of tuning an electroabsorption modulator (EAM). A reference average power loss factor for light having a reference peak wavelength that is modulated by the EAM is provided. This loss factor is based on operation of the EAM using a reference bias voltage, a reference temperature, and a reference modulation signal which has a predetermined duty cycle. Input light is coupled into the EAM and modulated using a modulation signal which has the same duty cycle as the reference modulation signal. The input power of the input light and the average output power of light emitted from the EAM are measured. These input and average output powers are used to generate an average power loss factor. The average power loss factor is compared to the reference average power loss factor and the bias voltage and/or the temperature of the EAM are adjusted to reduce differences between these loss factors.

Abstract: A method of modeling erbium doped fiber (“EDF”) for use in erbium doped fiber amplifiers (“EDFA”). The EDF has a length and a fractional population density of erbium ions in an excited state. Since the EDF supports N channels, the power propagation along the EDF is characterized by N+1 differential equations as a function of the direction of propagation, z, of the channels along the length l of the EDF and the time t. By applying an average inversion model to a spatially averaged inversion level of the erbium ions in the fiber, the N+1 partial differential equations are reduced to a single ordinary differential equation. This allows an analytical solution at the boundary and initial conditions of the fiber so that an expression for the power of the signal propagating along the fiber can be obtained. With this expression, the single equation can be solved analytically for the inversion level at any point along the EDF.

Abstract: A wavelength conversion apparatus and method uses four wave mixing of a first wavelength and a control wavelength in an optical fiber to convert the first wavelength to a desired wavelength. Four wave mixing is produced by operating the optical fiber at a predetermined input power density and by using a fiber length which provides substantial Raman gain. The first wavelength is converted to a higher wavelength by using the higher wavelength four wave mixing signal and converted to a lower wavelength by using the lower wavelength four wave mixing signal.

Abstract: A chromatic dispersion measurement technique for optical components using baseband amplitude response of RF modulated optical signals and a dispersion reference in providing a measurement both of the magnitude of the dispersion and whether the dispersion is positive or negative.

Abstract: In a telecommunications network, such as an optical mesh network, at a node along a service path satisfying a demand from a start node to an end node, the node can detect a failure in the service path by any of three different ways: (a) by monitoring incoming payload signals from its previous node along the service path for a loss-of-signal (LOS) condition; (b) by monitoring the incoming payload signals from its previous node along the service path for an in-band alarm indication signal; and (c) by monitoring an out-of-band signaling channel for a failure message transmitted from its previous node along the service path. The node then determines appropriate actions as part of a distributed restoration procedure depending on whether the node is an intermediate node or the end node along the service path. If the node is an intermediate node, then the node passes the out-of-band failure message to its next node along the service path.