Abstract: Disclosed herein are devices, systems, and methods of use thereof for magnetic separation. For example, disclosed herein is a device for separation of a mixture comprising a magnetic solid and a non-magnetic solid. The device comprises a separation chamber extending from a proximal end to a distal end; the proximal end defining an inlet; the distal end defining a first outlet and a second outlet. The separation chamber having a region that is configured to subject the fluid flowing through said region to a magnetic field to thereby separate the mixture into a first portion and a second portion; the first portion being enriched with the non-magnetic solid relative to the second separated portion; and the second portion being enriched with the magnetic solid relative to the first separated portion.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method of training one or more event models for use in identifying events of interest proximal to the sensing optical fibre, from a distributing acoustic sensing signal representing acoustic vibration at positions along a sensing optical fibre. A distributed acoustic sensor is provided and arranged to form a distributed acoustic sensing signal. A calibration defining the mapping between the distributed acoustic sensing signal and positions along the sensing optical fibre is obtained. Events of interest of one or more different event categories are implemented at measured positions along the sensing optical fibre. The distributed sensing signal is formed during the implemented events of interest. For each event of interest, one or more training data subsets of the distributed acoustic sensing signal are defined.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for estimating a position of a boundary of a queue of traffic are disclosed, the queue extending along a roadway. Distributed acoustic sensing is used to generate, as a function of time and of position along the roadway, a signal representing acoustic vibration at a sensing optical fibre that extends along the roadway. A queue signature is detected in the signal of either the slowing down of a plurality of vehicles as they approach the boundary of the queue, or speeding up of a plurality of vehicles as they advance from the departed boundary of the queue. A position of the boundary of the queue is then estimated from the detected queue signature.

Abstract: A protective clip for an edge of an article of clothing. The clip includes a plate having an inwardly facing surface, an outwardly facing surface, at least three sides, and an outer perimeter extending around the at least three sides. The plate also has (a) a lip depending from only one side of the plate or (b) two lips each depending from a respective side of only two of the sides of the plate to form a protective strip or strips for the clothing when mounted to the clothing.