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The characterization of phase dynamics in coupled oscillators offers insights into fundamental phenomena in complex systems. To describe the collective dynamics in the oscillatory system, order parameters are often used but are insufficient for identifying more specific behaviors. We therefore propose a topological approach that constructs quantitative features describing the phase evolution of oscillators. Here, the phase data are mapped into a high-dimensional space at each time point, and topological features describing the shape of the data are subsequently extracted from the mapped points. We extend these features to time-variant topological features by considering the evolution time, which serves as an additional dimension in the topological-feature space. The resulting time-variant features provide crucial insights into the time evolution of phase dynamics. We combine these features with the machine learning kernel method to characterize the multicluster synchronized dynamics at a very early stage of the evolution. Furthermore, we demonstrate the usefulness of our method for qualitatively explaining chimera states, which are states of stably coexisting coherent and incoherent groups in systems of identical phase oscillators. The experimental results show that our method is generally better than those using order parameters, especially if only data on the early-stage dynamics are available.

Predicting the spatial configuration of gas molecules in nanopores of shale formations is crucial for fluid flow forecasting and hydrocarbon reserves estimation. The key challenge in these tight formations is that the majority of the pore sizes are less than 50 nm. At this scale, the fluid properties are affected by nanoconfinement effects due to the increased fluid-solid interactions. For instance, gas adsorption to the pore walls could account for up to 85% of the total hydrocarbon volume in a tight reservoir. Although there are analytical solutions that describe this phenomenon for simple geometries, they are not suitable for describing realistic pores, where surface roughness and geometric anisotropy play important roles. To describe these, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations are used since they consider fluid-solid and fluid-fluid interactions at the molecular level. However, MD simulations are computationally expensive, and are not able to simulate scales larger than a few connected nanopores. We present a method for building and training physics-based deep learning surrogate models to carry out fast and accurate predictions of molecular configurations of gas inside nanopores. Since training deep learning models requires extensive databases that are computationally expensive to create, we employ active learning (AL). AL reduces the overhead of creating comprehensive sets of high-fidelity data by determining where the model uncertainty is greatest, and running simulations on the fly to minimize it. The proposed workflow enables nanoconfinement effects to be rigorously considered at the mesoscale where complex connected sets of nanopores control key applications such as hydrocarbon recovery and CO2 sequestration.

The connection between visual input and tactile sensing is critical for object manipulation tasks such as grasping and pushing. In this work, we introduce the challenging task of estimating a set of tactile physical properties from visual information. We aim to build a model that learns the complex mapping between visual information and tactile physical properties. We construct a first of its kind image-tactile dataset with over 400 multiview image sequences and the corresponding tactile properties. A total of fifteen tactile physical properties across categories including friction, compliance, adhesion, texture, and thermal conductance are measured and then estimated by our models. We develop a cross-modal framework comprised of an adversarial objective and a novel visuo-tactile joint classification loss. Additionally, we develop a neural architecture search framework capable of selecting optimal combinations of viewing angles for estimating a given physical property.

We present a simple introduction to the decision tree algorithm using some examples from nuclear physics. We show how to improve the accuracy of the classical liquid drop nuclear mass model by performing Feature Engineering with a decision tree. Finally, we apply the method to the Duflo-Zuker model showing that, despite their simplicity, decision trees are capable of improving the description of nuclear masses using a limited number of free parameters.

We live and cooperate in networks. However, links in networks only allow for pairwise interactions, thus making the framework suitable for dyadic games, but not for games that are played in groups of more than two players. To remedy this, we introduce higher-order interactions, where a link can connect more than two individuals, and study their evolutionary dynamics. We first consider a public goods game on a uniform hypergraph, showing that it corresponds to the replicator dynamics in the well-mixed limit, and providing an exact theoretical foundation to study cooperation in networked groups. We also extend the analysis to heterogeneous hypergraphs that describe interactions of groups of different sizes and characterize the evolution of cooperation in such cases. Finally, we apply our new formulation to study the nature of group dynamics in real systems, showing how to extract the actual dependence of the synergy factor on the size of a group from real-world collaboration data in science and technology. Our work is a first step towards the implementation of new actions to boost cooperation in social groups.

Restless multi-armed bandits are a class of discrete-time stochastic control problems which involve sequential decision making with a finite set of actions (set of arms). This paper studies a class of constrained restless multi-armed bandits (CRMAB). The constraints are in the form of time varying set of actions (set of available arms). This variation can be either stochastic or semi-deterministic. Given a set of arms, a fixed number of them can be chosen to be played in each decision interval. The play of each arm yields a state dependent reward. The current states of arms are partially observable through binary feedback signals from arms that are played. The current availability of arms is fully observable. The objective is to maximize long term cumulative reward. The uncertainty about future availability of arms along with partial state information makes this objective challenging. Applications for CRMAB abound in the domain of cyber-physical systems. This optimization problem is analyzed using Whittle's index policy. To this end, a constrained restless single-armed bandit is studied. It is shown to admit a threshold-type optimal policy, and is also indexable. An algorithm to compute Whittle's index is presented. Further, upper bounds on the value function are derived in order to estimate the degree of sub-optimality of various solutions. The simulation study compares the performance of Whittle's index, modified Whittle's index and myopic policies.

Several nonlinear model reduction techniques are compared for the three cases of the non-parallel version of the Kuramoto-Sivashinsky equation, the transient regime of flow past a cylinder at $Re=100$ and fully developed flow past a cylinder at the same Reynolds number. The linear terms of the governing equations are reduced by Galerkin projection onto a POD basis of the flow state, while the reduced nonlinear convection terms are obtained either by a Galerkin projection onto the same state basis, by a Galerkin projection onto a POD basis representing the nonlinearities or by applying the Discrete Empirical Interpolation Method (DEIM) to a POD basis of the nonlinearities. The quality of the reduced order models is assessed as to their stability, accuracy and robustness, and appropriate quantitative measures are introduced and compared. In particular, the properties of the reduced linear terms are compared to those of the full-scale terms, and the structure of the nonlinear quadratic terms is analyzed as to the conservation of kinetic energy. It is shown that all three reduction techniques provide excellent and similar results for the cases of the Kuramoto-Sivashinsky equation and the limit-cycle cylinder flow. For the case of the transient regime of flow past a cylinder, only the pure Galerkin techniques are successful, while the DEIM technique produces reduced-order models that diverge in finite time.

Neural networks have opened up many new opportunities to utilize remotely sensed images in meteorology. Common applications include image classification, e.g., to determine whether an image contains a tropical cyclone, and image translation, e.g., to emulate radar imagery for satellites that only have passive channels. However, there are yet many open questions regarding the use of neural networks in meteorology, such as best practices for evaluation, tuning and interpretation. This article highlights several strategies and practical considerations for neural network development that have not yet received much attention in the meteorological community, such as the concept of effective receptive fields, underutilized meteorological performance measures, and methods for NN interpretation, such as synthetic experiments and layer-wise relevance propagation. We also consider the process of neural network interpretation as a whole, recognizing it as an iterative scientist-driven discovery process, and breaking it down into individual steps that researchers can take. Finally, while most work on neural network interpretation in meteorology has so far focused on networks for image classification tasks, we expand the focus to also include networks for image translation.

The invention relates to radiation curable coating systems on the basis of aqueous polyurethane dispersions, to a method for the production thereof, to the use of the coating systems as paints and/or adhesives, and to objects and substrates provided with said paints and/or adhesives.

A double data rate memory physical interface having self checking loopback logic on-chip is disclosed. Disposed on the chip is a first linear feedback shift register, which is capable of generating a set of test data values that comprise at least two data bits. Also disposed on the chip is a second linear feedback shift register. The second linear feedback shift register is capable of generating a set of expected data values that match the test data values. Further, an internal loopback error check element is disposed on the chip. The internal loopback error check element is used to compare the set of expected data values with the set of test data values.

A data collection unit obtains physiological data from a subject interface on a subject. The subject interface can be connected to the data collection unit. When the subject interface is connected to the data collection unit, subject interface contacts on the subject interface make contact with data collection unit contacts on the data collection unit. Some of the data collection unit contacts are for communicating physiological data from the subject interface to the data collection unit. Some of the contacts are for powering the data collection unit upon the subject interface being connected to the data collection unit and for powering down the data collection unit upon the subject interface being disconnected from the data collection unit.

Systems, devices, processors, and methods are described which may be used for the reception of a wireless broadband signal at a user terminal from a gateway via a satellite. A wireless signal may include a series of physical layer frames, each frame including a physical layer header and payload. The received signal is digitized and processed using various novel physical layer headers and related techniques to synchronize the physical layer frames and recover data from physical layer headers for purposes of demodulation and decoding.

Embodiments of the invention are generally directed to determination of physical connectivity status of devices based on electrical measurement. An embodiment of a method includes discovering a connection of a first device with a second device, and performing an electrical measurement of the second device by the first device via the connection between the first device and the second device, where performing the electrical measurement includes sensing by the first device of an element of the second device. The method further includes, if the sensing by the first device fails to detect the element of the second device and a predetermined condition for the electrical measurement is enabled, then determining by the first device that the connection with the second device has been lost.

A cloud system may create physical resource tags to store relationships between cloud computing offerings, such as computing service offerings, storage offerings, and network offerings, and the specific physical resources in the cloud computing environment. Cloud computing offerings may be presented to cloud customers, the offerings corresponding to various combinations of computing services, storage, networking, and other hardware or software resources. After a customer selects one or more cloud computing offerings, a cloud resource manager or other component within the cloud infrastructure may retrieve a set of tags and determine a set of physical hardware resources associated with the selected offerings. The physical hardware resources associated with the selected offerings may be subsequently used to provision and create the new virtual machine and its operating environment.

Systems, methods and computer program products may provide managing utilization of one or more physical processors in a shared processor pool. A method of managing utilization of one or more physical processors in a shared processor pool may include determining a current amount of utilization of the one or more physical processors and generating an instruction message. The instruction message may be at least partially determined by the current amount of utilization. The method may further include sending the instruction message to a guest operating system, the guest operating system having a number of enabled virtual processors.

A system and method for reconfiguring a computing environment comprising a consumption analysis server, a placement server, an infrastructure management client and a data warehouse in communication with a set of data collection agents and a database. The consumption analysis server operates on measured resource utilization data to yield a set of resource consumptions in regularized time blocks, collects host and virtual machine configurations from the computing environment and determines available capacity for a set of target hosts. The placement server assigns a set of target virtual machines to the target set of hosts in a new placement. In one mode of operation the new placement is nearly optimal. In another mode of operation, the new placement is “good enough” to achieve a threshold score based on an objective function of resource capacity headroom. The new placement is implemented in the computing environment.

A computing section is provided with a plurality of computing units and correlatively stores entries of configuration information that describes configurations of the plurality of computing units with physical configuration numbers that represent the entries of configuration information and executes a computation in a configuration corresponding to a designated physical configuration number. A status management section designates a physical configuration number corresponding to a status to which the computing section needs to advance the next time for the computing section and outputs the status to which the computing section needs to advance the next time as a logical status number that uniquely identifies the status to which the computing section needs to advance the next time in an object code. A determination section determines whether or not the computing section has stored an entry of configuration information corresponding to the status to which the computing section needs to advance the next time based on the logical status number that is output from the status management section. A rewriting section correlatively stores the entry of the configuration information and a physical configuration number corresponding to the entry of the configuration information in the computing section when the determination section determines that the computing section has not stored the entry of configuration information corresponding to the status to which the computing section needs to advance the next time.

This disclosure relates generally to systems and methods for simulating physical active semiconductor components using in silico active semiconductor components. To simulate charge degradation effect(s) in a circuit simulation, a simulated defect signal level is produced. More specifically, the simulated defect signal level simulates at least one charge degradation effect in the in silico active semiconductor component as a function of simulation time and a simulated input signal level of a simulated input signal. As such, the charge degradation effect(s) are simulated externally with respect to the in silico active semiconductor component. In this manner, the in silico active semiconductor component does not need to be reprogrammed in order to simulate charge degradation effects.

Disclosed are methods, systems, and articles of manufactures for implementing physical designs by using multiple force models to iteratively morph a layout decomposition. In addition to attractive force model(s) or repulsive force model(s), the physical implementation also uses a containment force model for grouping multiple design blocks or for confining a node of a cell within the boundary of a container. Another aspect is directed at deriving a first force model at the first hierarchical level from a second force model at the second hierarchical level by directly modifying the second model based at least in part on characteristic(s) of the first hierarchical level and of the second hierarchical level. In a design with multiple hierarchies, a cell-based force model is also used to ensure child nodes of a parent cell stay within a close proximity of the parent node of the parent cell.

A device may include a physical phenomenon detector. The physical phenomenon detector may detect a physical phenomenon related to the device. In response to detecting the physical phenomenon, the device may record audio data that includes speech. The speech may be transcribed with a speech recognition engine. The speech recognition engine may be included in the device, or may be included with a remote computing device with which the device may communicate.

A method uses a firmware interface setup program for a selected compute node (“node”) to cause a firmware interface to enable a trusted platform module (TPM) on the selected node to receive a physical presence (PP) signal. The selected node is selected from a plurality of nodes within a multi-node chassis, wherein each node includes a firmware interface and a TPM. A device within the multi-node chassis is manually actuated to transmit a PP signal to each of the plurality of nodes, such that each node receives the PP signal. The PP signal is asserted to the TPM of the selected node in response to both enabling the TPM of the selected node to be able to receive the PP signal and receiving the PP signal. Still further, the method allows modification of a security setting of the selected node in response to the TPM receiving the PP signal.

An apparatus and method for determining a signal quality of an input signal representing a repetitious phenomena derived from at least one sensor connected to a patient is provided. A detector receives the input signal and determines data representing the repetitious phenomena from the input signal for use in determining at least one patient parameter. A measurement processor is electrically coupled to the detector that determines a first signal quality value by identifying at least one feature of the repetitious phenomena data and compares the at least one feature of a first set of the determined repetitious phenomena data with a second set of the determined repetitious phenomena data to determine a feature variability value and using the feature variability value to determine a stability value representative of the quality of the input signal.

A method and system are provided for determining a condition of a selected region of epithelial and stromal tissue in the human breast. A plurality of measuring electrodes are used to measure the tissue and transepithelial electropotential of breast tissue. Surface electropotential and impedance are also measured at one or more locations. An agent may be introduced into the region of tissue to enhance electrophysiological characteristics. The condition of the tissue is determined based on the electropotential and impedance profile at different depths of the epithelium, stroma, tissue, or organ, together with an estimate of the functional changes in the epithelium due to altered ion transport and electrophysiological properties of the tissue. Devices for practicing the disclosed methods are also provided.

The invention relates to a machine part comprising a first physical component, wherein: the first physical component is configured for moving relative to a second physical component; the first physical component has a first surface with a contact area for physical contact with the second physical component; the first physical component is shaped spatially complementarity to the second physical component at the contact area, and a polyelectrolyte layer is present on the first surface at a location of the contact area. The invention further relates to a machine comprising the present machine part and the second physical component. In addition, the invention relates to the use of a polyelectrolyte layer to reduce the friction between the first physical component and the second physical component, and a rolling-elements bearing.

A prescription paper has reproduction material placed on selected areas of the back side of the paper so that prescription information can be transferred directly onto the patient's records while the prescription writer is writing the prescription. The reproduction material can be a carbonized backing or any other suitable reproduction material. The front side of the prescription paper comprises at least two lines that are separated by a pre-selected distance to match the distance between adjacent lines on the medical record. The prescription writer can align the lines on the prescription paper to the lines on the medical record so that information can be neatly transferred to the space between the lines on the medical record.

A prescription paper has reproduction material placed on selected areas of the back side of the paper so that prescription information can be transferred directly onto the patient's records while the prescription writer is writing the prescription. The reproduction material can be a carbonized backing or any other suitable reproduction material. The front side of the prescription paper comprises at least two lines that are separated by a pre-selected distance to match the distance between adjacent lines on the medical record. The prescription writer can align the lines on the prescription paper to the lines on the medical record so that information can be neatly transferred to the space between the lines on the medical record.

A method for communication between computing devices includes identifying the parameters of a data transfer between a source computing device and a target computing device and identifying communication paths between a source computing device and target computing device, in which at least one of the communications paths is a physical network. A communication path is selected for the data transfer. When a data transfer over the physical network is selected as a communication path, a nonvolatile memory (NVM) unit is removed from the source computing device and placed in a cartridge and the cartridge is programmed with transfer information. The NVM unit and cartridge are transported through the physical network to the target computing device according to the transfer information and the NVM unit is electrically connected to the target computing device.

A data processing system facilitates virtual machine migration with direct physical access control. The illustrative data processing system comprises a software-programmable trap control associated with hardware registers of a computer that selectively vectors execution control of a virtual machine (VM) between a host and a guest. The data processing system further comprises a logic which is configured for execution on the computer that programs the trap control to enable the virtual machine to directly access the hardware registers when the virtual machine is not migrated and to revoke direct access of the hardware registers in preparation for virtual machine migration.

Reliable detection of the configuration of transmit antennas includes obtaining a data for transmission, encoding the data, and modulating the data. During the modulating of the data, the data may be configured in such a way as to convey the configuration of the antennas through the modulation of the data. An antenna configuration is obtained by obtaining a representation of the antenna configuration, and masking the data with an error correcting code, where the mask corresponds to the antenna configuration.

Methods, systems, and devices are described for communicating physical layer wireless parameters over an application programming interface. A wireless modem of a wireless device may measure at least one physical layer wireless parameter. The wireless modem may report the at least one physical layer wireless parameter to an application running on the wireless device over an application programming interface between the wireless modem and the application. A behavior of the application may be adapted to control wireless communications between the application and a network based on the at least one physical layer wireless parameter reported by the wireless modem. Other aspects, embodiments, and features are also claimed and described.

A positive response notification to provide information regarding locate and/or marking operations for underground facilities may include time-stamp information to provide proof of a time at which the locate and/or marking operation was completed by a locate technician, and/or place-stamp information to provide proof of a presence of the locate technician at or near a work site. An electronic manifest image and/or a virtual white line image similarly may be included in a positive response notification. In one example, such images may be bundled together based on respective descriptor files (or descriptor metadata) that associates the corresponding images with a locate request ticket for the operation. In another example, a positive response notification may include environmental information regarding one or more environmental conditions present at or near the work site during the locate and/or marking operation.

A physiological trend monitor has a sensor signal responsive to multiple wavelengths of light transmitted into a tissue site. The transmitted light is detected after attenuation by pulsatile blood flow within the tissue site. A processor has an input responsive to the sensor signal and a physiological parameter output. Features are extracted from the physiological parameter output. Criteria are applied to the features. An alarm output is generated when the criteria are satisfied.

The present invention provides protein hydrolysate compositions, processes for making protein hydrolysate compositions, and food products comprising protein hydrolysate compositions. The protein hydrolysate compositions generally comprise polypeptide fragments having primarily either an arginine residue or a lysine residue at each carboxyl terminus.

Disclosed are various embodiments relating to verifying a printed work comprises a correct number of pages. Associated with a stack comprising one or more pages is an identifier that may be used to obtain an expected thickness of the pages in the stack. A sensor may then measure an actual thickness of the pages in the stack. Before binding the pages in the stack, the expected thickness of the stack may be compared to the actual thickness of the stack in order to verify the stack comprises the correct number of pages.

Aspects and embodiments of the present invention provide a system for obtaining, processing and managing data from an implanted sensor. In some embodiments, a patient or other persons can use a flexible antenna to obtain data from the implanted sensor. The flexible antenna includes at least one transmit loop and at least one receive loop. The transmit loop is adapted to propagate energizing signals to the implanted sensor. The receive loop is adapted to detect a response signal from the implanted sensor. The transmit loop includes a capacitor formed by a discontinuous area. The capacitor is adapted to allow the loop to be tuned. The flexible antenna can communicate with a patient device that collects the data from the implanted sensor, creates a data file and transmits the data file to a remote server over a network. A physician or other authorized person may access the remote server using an access device.

The present invention provides method and apparatus to perform combined cognitive and motor rehabilitation on a computerized non-portable system or on single portable device. A patient can play a variety of games that require the patient to perform a variety of memory exercises which involve physical exertion. The activities of the patient are monitored with pattern analysis software which provides feedback to the patient. The feedback can include voice synthesis, video guidance, progression messages etc. Patient data obtained while the patient is performing each of the memory exercises is stored locally on a database module and then uploaded to a cloud server. A remote psychologist/psychiatrist monitors the patient by logging into the same cloud, and updating cognition exercises. The same therapist can have live chats with the patient for further interaction and coaching.

The present invention relates to a swim chair that allows a mobility challenged individual to be transported across the sand with exceptional ease, to lounge on the chair and enjoy the company and sights, to be pulled into the water and, if able, to slip off the chair to go for a swim, remount the chair and return to shore. The chair includes a main frame, defined by a top frame member and two side frame members; two axle support plates, at or in communication with the side frame members of the main frame, the axle support plates having a plurality of openings to receive a wheel axle and optionally a pull rod axle; a wheel assembly; a drop seat; a footrest and a backrest.

According to an embodiment, a drilling fluid comprises: water and a set accelerator, wherein the drilling fluid has a 10 minute gel strength of less than 20 lb*ft/100 sq ft, wherein the drilling fluid has a density in the range of about 9 to about 14 pounds per gallon, wherein the drilling fluid remains pourable for at least 5 days, and wherein when at least one part of the drilling fluid mixes with three parts of a cement composition consisting of water and cement, the drilling fluid cement composition mixture develops a compressive strength of at least 1,200 psi. According to another embodiment, a method of using the drilling fluid comprises the steps of: introducing the drilling fluid into at least a portion of a subterranean formation, wherein at least a portion of the drilling fluid is capable of mixing with a cement composition.

A process for the physical refining of edible oils and fats, said process comprising three consecutive stages, whereby in a first stage at least 60% by weight of the volatiles are evaporated in a flash vessel, in a second stage some residual volatiles are evaporated by countercurrent steam stripping using a packed column (3), and in a third stage further residual volatiles are evaporated in a cross-flow tray system (2), wherein the pressure in said flash vessel is maintained at a value below the pressure prevailing above said packed column (3); and an apparatus for the physical refining of edible oils and fats comprising a flash vessel, a packed column (3), sparging trays (2) and the means to maintain the pressure in said flash vessel at a value that is below the pressure prevailing above said packed column.

A system and method for interactively producing a 3D representation of a vector graphic is disclosed. A vector graphic representing a 2D graphic having a number of endpoints joined by vector segments is automatically or interactively converted into a triangulated mesh in a form readable by a 3D printer. The conversion from vector graphic to a triangulated mesh is accomplished by generating an n-sided polygon in the vicinity of each endpoint of the vector graphic. Each of the vertices of the polygon are then be joined by a line to a corresponding vertex on the next adjacent polygon. Each vertex is also joined to an adjacent vertex on the next adjacent polygon. The process is continued until all polygons are joined, resulting in a triangulated mesh, which is then converted into a format readable by a 3D printer and sent to a 3D printer to produce the 3D representation.

Provided are a data structure including a header area, and a payload area comprising data, a method of generating the data structure, and extracting information from the data structure. At least one of the header area and the payload area includes at least one sub-area in which one or more signal fields are included. At least one signal field among the signal fields includes information for signalling presence or absence of one or more information fields located at least partly in the data structure, the one or more information fields corresponding to the one or more signal fields.

A web product having at least two plies is disclosed. One of the at least two plies has a continuous pillow area disposed upon a surface thereof. A first portion of the continuous pillow area has a first width, W1, and a length, L1, and a second portion of the continuous pillow area in contacting engagement and in fluid communication with the first portion has a second width, W2, and a length, L2, wherein, W1≠W2 and L1=L2. The web product has a Basis Weight, BW, value greater than 51.6 gsm and a Dry Bulk, DB, value greater than 15.5 cc/g.

A web product having a machine direction and a cross-machine direction orthogonal thereto is disclosed. The web product has at least one ply having a first plurality of pillow regions having a first total area in the machine and cross-machine directions and a second plurality of pillow regions having a second total area in the machine and cross-machine directions where the first and second total areas have a different value. The web product has a Dry Bulk, DB, value greater than 15.5 cc/g and a Total Tensile Strength, TT, value greater than 2000 g/25.4 mm.

A physical layer network interface module (PHY-NIM) adaptation system provides a PHY-NIM device and an attachable media access control (MAC) device. The PHY-NIM device interconnects with the attachable MAC device and the attachable MAC device interconnects to a network appliance to provide at least one of network switch capabilities and MAC device capabilities for use by the network appliance. The PHY-NIM device interconnects directly to the network appliance where the network appliance has at least one of an internal network switch and an internal MAC device in a southbridge input/output (I/O) interface chip of the network appliance.

A physically-discrete sign component comprises an internally-electrically-illuminated alphabetic character having a front-facing profile and at least one connecting bar disposed at least substantially horizontally with respect to the front-facing profile of the alphabetic character and at least partially within the front-facing profile of that alphabetic character. By one approach the physically-discrete sign component includes two of the connecting bars. If desired, these two connecting bars are disposed at least substantially parallel to one another. By one approach, a first one of the connecting bars extends partially, but not wholly, above an upper periphery of the aforementioned front-facing profile while the second connecting bar extends partially, but not wholly, below a lower periphery of the front-facing profile. The connecting bars can include a connecting-bar interface configured to physically and electrically interconnect to an adjacent sign component.

Apparatus configured detect a physical quantity, for example a density, of a flowing fluid, the apparatus including: a sensor body (2) configured to extend into the flowing fluid, the sensor body comprising a fiber Bragg grating (FBG) of a fiber Bragg grating sensor (3, 7, FBG), for generating a detector signal relating to vibration of at least part (2B) of the sensor body (2); anda processing unit, configured to process the detector signal, and to determine the physical quantity based on detected vibration at a mechanical eigenfrequency of the flexible part (2B) of the sensor body (2).

An equipment complex for deploying and recovering marine geophysical seismic or electric-survey bottom stations is mounted on a ship. The complex includes—a powered capstan, —rotatable turntables and rolls, —load-bearing units connected to the bottom stations by various fasten means and capable of winding onto the capstan and turntables, a work platform supporting a bottom station placed thereon, —an indicator for registration of the bottom stations' coordinates, mounted on the platform, —a limit switch mounted on the platform, switching ON when the bottom station is placed on the work platform, and OFF when it's removed therefrom providing for operation of the indicator. The complex may include floating buoys, damping loads, and halyards for deploying the stations. Methods for deploying and recovering the bottom stations using the equipment complex are described. Some recovering methods contemplate winding the load-bearing units onto the capstan, while switching the turntables for each subsequent load-bearing unit.

A method and apparatus for physical exercises and, in particular, for training the movements “jump” and “squat” from spot for training. The method and apparatus can have the “jump” and “squat” motions follow into a continuous alternating sequence as a response to a passing via a training spot in the same continuous alternating sequence of a lower obstacle, obligating the performance of “jump”, and of the upper obstacle obligating the performance of “squat”.

A device and methods for bilateral or unilateral physical therapy of lower limbs are disclosed. The device comprises a curved rail mounted on a base and a pair of support members configured to accommodate a portion of a leg of a person, and to slide along the curved rail. The curved rail allows lateral movements of the lower limbs with the support members, the movements being driven by a force of the lower limbs. The methods of the invention allow physical unilateral or bilateral therapy of lower limbs of a person. The initial reinforcement of the lower limbs of a person is improved by the use of this device, which reduces the friction or the resistance caused by the device during the prescribed movements. The invention provides to patients with severe lower limb disability, a physical therapy device that is easy to use with minimum supervision by a physical therapist.