Abstract: An infrared (IR)-based gesture sensing and detection system that includes at least one IR sensor for sensing micro gestures of one or more heat-radiating bodies made within a gesture-sensing region located proximate to the IR sensor. Each unique micro gesture may be used as a control gesture for controlling one or more controllable devices. Non-limiting examples of controllable devices include smart wearable device, handheld computing devices, and smart appliances, among many others. In some embodiments, each IR sensor is a passive IR sensor based on a pyroelectric material, and the IR-based gesture sensing and detection system is configured to consume minimal power to operate.

Abstract: The present invention discloses the Synthesis and application of MOFs/natural polymers composite beads adsorbents. To overcome the drawback of MOFs, in an embodiment, both novel MOFs/sodium alginate (MOFs/SA) and MOFs/chitosan (MOFs/CS) composite beads were prepared and characterized. Each composite beads include one or more of MIL-101 (Cr), MIL-100 (Cr), MIL-53 (Al), MIL-100 (Al), NH2-MIL-101 (Al), UIO-66, ZIF-8, ZIF-68, ZIF-67, and ZIF-9-67 nanoparticles. Adsorption of anionic contaminants onto the two composite beads was investigated and compared with pristine sodium alginate beads (SA) and chitosan beads (CS). The novel MOFs/SA beads all exhibit much higher adsorption capacity than SA beads; the novel MOFs/CS beads all exhibit much higher adsorption capacity than CS beads, which indicates that MOFs played a key role in the adsorption of anionic contaminants. The porous composite beads disclosed herein and related methods and devices may be used in adsorption technologies.

Abstract: The minimization of the amount of power consumed by an electronic device in acquiring or maintaining network connectivity with a network may extend the battery life of the electronic device. When the electronic device has established a communication connection with a wireless access point, the electronic device cycles a network interface controller of the electronic device between a power on state and a power off state without terminating the communication connection. Accordingly, the electronic device powers on a main processor of the electronic device when the network interface controller detects a beacon during the power on state that indicates the wireless access point has a buffered data frame for the electronic device.

Abstract: The minimization of the amount of power consumed by an electronic device in acquiring or maintaining network connectivity with a network may extend the battery life of the electronic device. When the electronic device has established a communication connection with a wireless access point, the electronic device cycles a network interface controller of the electronic device between a power on state and a power off state without terminating the communication connection. Accordingly, the electronic device powers on a main processor of the electronic device when the network interface controller detects a beacon during the power on state that indicates the wireless access point has a buffered data frame for the electronic device.

Abstract: The present invention concerns the replication of data, in particular the replication of data in a peer-to-peer network of mobile devices. Each device stores a plurality of data items. When two devices come into range, a decision as to whether to replicate a data item is made in dependence the extent to which that data item has been requested by other devices, and (b) the extent to which that data item is replicated on other devices. In this way, both the demand and supply of a data item are taken into account.

Abstract: A method of a preparing double-layer antimicrobial coating comprises: placing a plastic substrate into a PVD vacuum equipment for a vacuum process; rinsing and activating the substrate when the vacuum level reaches 10?2; coating a metal film onto the activated substrate by the vacuum process; spraying an antimicrobial intermediate coating onto the metal film; and then coating an antimicrobial metal film by PVD to obtain a double-layer antimicrobial layer. The coating has two antimicrobial layers, and includes bores because the density of the coated film layer produced by PVD is low, so that the antimicrobial agent of the antimicrobial intermediate coating can pass through the bores and move to the surface of the coating and the surface of the antimicrobial coating, so as to kill the bacteria or suppress their grown. The method is very suitable for the sanitary, electronics, electrical appliances and the automobile industry.

Abstract: The present invention concerns the replication of data, in particular the replication of data in a peer-to-peer network of mobile devices. Each device stores a plurality of data items. When two devices come into range, a decision as to whether to replicate a data item is made in dependence the extent to which that data item has been requested by other devices, and (b) the extent to which that data item is replicated on other devices. In this way, both the demand and supply of a data item are taken into account.

Abstract: The minimization of the amount of power consumed by an electronic device in acquiring or maintaining network connectivity with a network may extend the battery life of the electronic device. When the electronic device has established a communication connection with a wireless access point, the electronic device cycles a network interface controller of the electronic device between a power on state and a power off state without terminating the communication connection. Accordingly, the electronic device powers on a main processor of the electronic device when the network interface controller detects a beacon during the power on state that indicates the wireless access point has a buffered data frame for the electronic device.

Abstract: A method of a preparing double-layer antimicrobial coating comprises: placing a plastic substrate into a PVD vacuum equipment for a vacuum process; rinsing and activating the substrate when the vacuum level reaches 10?2; coating a metal film onto the activated substrate by the vacuum process; spraying an antimicrobial intermediate coating onto the metal film; and then coating an antimicrobial metal film by PVD to obtain a double-layer antimicrobial layer. The coating has two antimicrobial layers, and includes bores because the density of the coated film layer produced by PVD is low, so that the antimicrobial agent of the antimicrobial intermediate coating can pass through the bores and move to the surface of the coating and the surface of the antimicrobial coating, so as to kill the bacteria or suppress their grown. The method is very suitable for the sanitary, electronics, electrical appliances and the automobile industry.

Abstract: A correlation-based rate adaptation scheme (CORA) is enabled for practical communication devices that provides for communication data rate adaptation in a complex and/or rapidly changing communication environment. Correlations may be determined between adjustable parameters of a communication scheme and one or more performance metrics and/or communication scheme operating regimes. In the context of the correlation-based rate adaptation scheme, adjustable parameters of the communication scheme may be considered as defining a multi-dimensional parameter space, and the determined correlations may be considered as correlation maps that may be used to guide parameter selection and adjustment. The use of correlation maps enables extraction of information from imperfect and/or incomplete measurements, and the information collected in the correlation maps may be used to tune corresponding communication scheme parameters to enhance communication performance.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides embodiments of a method for characterizing microbial populations. Exemplified by methods for characterizing microbiota in vaginal samples, the methods provided herein are widely applicable to the characterization of microbial communities. Also provided are probiotic regimens and methods for selecting appropriate probiotic regimens based on the normal vaginal microbiota of a subject. Reagents and kits for detecting normal vaginal microbiota and diagnosing pathogenic microorganisms in the vagina are also provided.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides embodiments of a method for characterizing microbial populations. Exemplified by methods for characterizing microbiota in vaginal samples, the methods provided herein are widely applicable to the characterization of microbial communities. Also provided are probiotic regimens and methods for selecting appropriate probiotic regimens based on the normal vaginal microbiota of a subject. Reagents and kits for detecting normal vaginal microbiota and diagnosing pathogenic microorganisms in the vagina are also provided.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods for defining one or more microbial communities. In an example, the method can include providing a plurality of microbial profiles, wherein each microbial profile is established from a sample of microorganisms obtained from an individual subject. The method can also include identifying one or more consensus profiles from among the plurality of microbial profiles. These methods can be used to characterize normal and pathological microflora in vaginal samples.

Abstract: A correlation-based rate adaptation scheme (CORA) is enabled for practical communication devices that provides for communication data rate adaptation in a complex and/or rapidly changing communication environment. Correlations may be determined between adjustable parameters of a communication scheme and one or more performance metrics and/or communication scheme operating regimes. In the context of the correlation-based rate adaptation scheme, adjustable parameters of the communication scheme may be considered as defining a multi-dimensional parameter space, and the determined correlations may be considered as correlation maps that may be used to guide parameter selection and adjustment. The use of correlation maps enables extraction of information from imperfect and/or incomplete measurements, and the information collected in the correlation maps may be used to tune corresponding communication scheme parameters to enhance communication performance.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides embodiments of a method for characterizing microbial populations. Exemplified by methods for characterizing microbiota in vaginal samples, the methods provided herein are widely applicable to the characterization of microbial communities. Also provided are probiotic regimens and methods for selecting appropriate probiotic regimens based on the normal vaginal microbiota of a subject. Reagents and kits for detecting normal vaginal microbiota and diagnosing pathogenic microorganisms in the vagina are also provided.