Abstract: The method for measuring the thickness of thin films uses diffraction of a polarized light beam through a thin film to indirectly measure its thickness. The thin film is prepared on an optically opaque substrate and the thin film and the optically opaque substrate are sandwiched between a pair of optically opaque walls, in a manner similar to a conventional single-slit diffract setup where the thin film serves as the slit. A polarized light beam with a wavelength ? is diffracted through the thin film such that a diffraction pattern is formed on a surface. A set of light intensities of the diffraction pattern formed on the surface is measured for multiple values of a diffraction angle ?. A thickness, d, of the thin film is then determined by fitting the measured set of light intensities to an equation for normalized intensity, Inor(?, d, ?), given by I n ? o ? r ( ? , d , ? ) = [ sin ? ( ? ? d ? ? ? ) ? ? d ? ? ? ] 2 .

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel peptide for promoting the proliferation and differentiation of myoblasts or inhibiting the proliferation and differentiation of preadipocytes, and use thereof. A novel peptide is designed on the basis of an amino acid site, from among parts of a myostatin (MSTN) protein, binding to a fibromodulin protein, and then: C2C12 cells, which are a mouse myoblast cell line, are treated with the peptide so that cell proliferation and differentiation, muscle regeneration and the like are observed, and it has been identified that the proliferation and differentiation of myoblasts and the regeneration of muscles increase after the treatment with the designed peptide; and 3T3L1 cells, which are mouse preadipocytes, are treated with the peptide so that cell proliferation, fat differentiation, and the like are observed, and it has been identified that the proliferation of preadipocytes and fat differentiation decrease after the treatment with the peptide.

Abstract: The present invention relates to: a novel peptide that promotes the proliferation and differentiation of myoblasts; and a use thereof. The novel peptide was designed around amino acid sites, binding to a fibromodulin protein, in a portion of myostatin (MSTN) proteins, and then cells of C2C12, which is a mouse myoblast line, were treated with the novel peptide to observe the proliferation and differentiation of the cells and the regeneration of muscle, and it was confirmed that the proliferation and differentiation of myoblasts and the regeneration of muscle increases after the myoblasts are treated with the designed peptide.

Abstract: A cement composition includes a curable component in an amount of 10 to 25 wt. %; a fine aggregate (FA) in an amount of 20 to 40 wt. %; a coarse aggregate (CA) in an amount of 40 to 50 wt. %; and an alkaline component in an amount of 5 to 15 wt. %, each wt. % based on the total weight of the cement composition. The curable component includes a cementitious material having an average particle size (D50) of 10 to 17 micrometers (?m), a limestone powder (LSP) material having a D50 of 13 to 19 ?m, a red mud (RM) material having a D50 of 30 to 36 ?m, a silicomanganese fume (SMF) material having a D50 of 28 to 34 ?m, and a natural pozzolan (NP) material having a D50 of 13 to 19 ?m.

Abstract: A piezoelectric sensor for sensing an ovalling mode in a cylindrical structure, a non-destructive testing system for determining the strength condition of the cylindrical structure, and a method for non-destructive testing of the cylindrical structure are provided. The piezoelectric sensor includes an H-shaped caliper with a first and second arm, connected by a crossbar, and has a caliper connector near first end of each arm and a wire connector near second end of each arm. A piezoelectric wire is connected and stretched between the wire connectors and is connected to an electrical terminal to provide electrical signal in response to expansion and contraction as a result of vibrations induced in the cylindrical structure. The system includes a measurement unit connected to the electrical terminal, to receive and perform a frequency analysis of the electrical signal based on the ovalling mode and output a stiffness value of the cylindrical structure.

Abstract: A damage assessment method is provided. The method comprises recognizing a region of interest in an image that corresponds to a visible damage inflicted on a target object. The method further comprises determining a first plurality of feature values for a plurality of image features based on the recognized region of interest. The method further comprises retrieving, from a memory, time-series information that indicates a usage pattern of the target object and determining a second plurality of feature values for a plurality of usage features based on the retrieved time-series information. The method further comprises providing the first plurality of feature values and the second plurality of feature values as input to a trained classifier and predicting a true age of the visible damage based on a classification output of the trained classifier for the first plurality of feature values and the second plurality of feature values.

Abstract: A new class of sensing elements made of a protein pore fused to a programmable antibody-mimetic binder. This modular design expands the utility of nanopore sensors to numerous proteins while preserving their architecture, specificity, and sensitivity. The sensing elements were validated with protein analytes that drastically vary in size, charge, and structural complexity. These analytes produce unique electrical signatures that depend on their identity and quantity and the binder-analyte assembly at the nanopore tip.

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods, and apparatus for a package delivery infrastructure. A server receives a request for a delivery transaction from a requesting device. The server, based on the request, determines a pick-up and drop-off location. The server determines an identity of a selected delivery entity based on request data and current locations of several delivery entities. The server transmits a delivery message to the selected delivery entity, the delivery message including at least one of a pick-up location, a drop-off location, and identity information of a user associated with the requesting device. The server transmits a confirmation message to the requesting device including identity information of the selected delivery entity.

Abstract: Examples described herein may include migration of data associated with a service to a container. An example method includes creating of a user virtual machine associated with a service and an associated virtual disk storing data associated with running the service, and creating a volume group and an associated storage container at a node of a computing system. The example method further includes storing a cloned version of the virtual disk into the storage container, and, in response to discovery of the cloned version of the virtual disk in the storage container, mounting the cloned version of the virtual disk on the volume group to provide access to clients running the service.

Abstract: The endodontic obturator for bioactive material delivery includes a shaft having opposed tip and shank ends, and a fluted portion located adjacent the tip end and having at least one flute spiraling along an axial length thereof. As a non-limiting example, the shaft may be formed from a nickel-titanium alloy coated with polytetrafluoroethylene. The forward portion is tapered toward the tip end, and the tip end is flat, with a fan-like cross-section, defining a plurality of radial lands. As a non-limiting example, three radial lands, each with a neutral rake angle, may be defined on the tip end.

Abstract: Examples described herein may include migration of data associated with a service to a container. An example method includes creating of a user virtual machine associated with a service and an associated virtual disk storing data associated with running the service, and creating a volume group and an associated storage container at a node of a computing system. The example method further includes storing a cloned version of the virtual disk into the storage container, and, in response to discovery of the cloned version of the virtual disk in the storage container, mounting the cloned version of the virtual disk on the volume group to provide access to clients running the service.

Abstract: A photonic sensor system includes: a photodetector; a signal processor coupled to the photodetector; and a sensor structure configured to provide fluid-response selectivity, spatially distribute light, and to receive light from a light source and convey light to the photodetector. The sensor structure includes a plurality of fluid sensitive interferometric nanostructure layers manufactured on a substrate; wherein the plurality of fluid sensitive interferometric nanostructure layers includes alternating high and low porosity layers.

Abstract: A fluid sensor that includes fluid sensitive interferometric nanostructure layers configured into an open-air resonant structure. Another fluid sensor also includes a polarization sensitive photodetector configured to detect optical contributions of different components of a fluid to the structure. A photonic sensor system includes: a photodetector; a signal processor coupled to the photodetector; and a sensor structure configured to provide fluid-response selectivity, spatially distribute light, and to receive light from a light source and convey light to the photodetector. A method of selective measurement of components in fluid in a process area includes: exposing a sensing structure to the fluid; interrogating the sensing structure with light from outside the process area; measuring a change in optical properties of the sensing structure; correlating the measured change to a stored value; and providing quantitative values of levels of the components in the fluid.

Abstract: A sensor system for detection of an analyte in an industrial fluid in the presence of interferences which includes: a multivariable inductor-capacitor-resistor resonant transducer with multiple operationally independent outputs; a sensing material composition configured to provide different response patterns to an analyte in the fluid in the presence of interferences; and a signal processor that quantifies the analyte. Also, a sensor system for detection of an analyte that includes: a transducer with multiple operationally independent outputs; a sensing material compositions configured to provide different response patterns to an analyte in the industrial fluid in the presence of interferences; and a signal processor configured to quantify the analyte in the industrial fluid in the presence of interferences. An embodiment of the sensor system detects methane.

Abstract: In accordance with embodiments, there are provided mechanisms and methods for SNMP based mobile device management. These mechanisms and methods for SNMP based mobile device management can enable embodiments to provide a unified and platform-independent MDM solution having the automated identification and handling of various network and/or mobile device conditions. The ability of embodiments to provide MDM in a platform-independent and automated manner can enable the delivery of reliable, error-free services to mobile device users.

Abstract: In accordance with embodiments, there are provided mechanisms and methods for SNMP based mobile device management. These mechanisms and methods for SNMP based mobile device management can enable embodiments to provide a unified and platform-independent MDM solution having the automated identification and handling of various network and/or mobile device conditions. The ability of embodiments to provide MDM in a platform-independent and automated manner can enable the delivery of reliable, error-free services to mobile device users.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a functional food composition, comprising: a thickening agent in an amount from 0.1 to 50% by weight, preferably 1 to 20% by weight; a raising and/or a bulk enhancing agent in an amount from 0.1 to 10% by weight, preferably 0.5 to 3% by weight; at least one edible oil in an amount from 0.1 to 20% by weight, preferably 2 to 10% by weight; at least one additive selected from the group consisting of flavor, surfactant, sweetener, preservative and coloring agent; and water in an amount from 20 to 90% by weight and the use of said functional food composition.

Abstract: The present specification discloses a processing architecture that has multiple levels of parallelism and is highly configurable, yet optimized for media processing. At the highest level, the architecture is structured to enable each processor, which is dedicated to a specific media processing function, to operate substantially in parallel. In addition to processor-level parallelism, each processing unit can operate on multiple words in parallel, rather than just a single word per clock cycle. Moreover, at the instruction level, the control data memory, data memory, and function specific dath paths can be controlled all within the same clock cycle.