Abstract: The present disclosure relates to computer-implemented methods for automatically controlling a machine includes: receiving data generated using at least one sensor of a machine; performing one or more prediction tasks on the data using a neural network, wherein the neural network includes at least one parameter tensor having at least one element, and the at least one parameter tensor was over-parameterized during training into a plurality of component tensors; and controlling the machine based on results of the one or more prediction tasks. The present disclosure further relates to a computing system for carrying out the method, a method for generating a machine learned neural network for the method, a data structure, a machine, a mobile agent, a data processing system, and a computer program, machine-readable storage medium, or a data carrier signal.

Abstract: A connection assembly for connecting a bolt to a slab includes a first connection part and a second connection part. The first connection part and the second connection part may be capable of being assembled to the slab in a manner so as to sandwich the slab with a first clamping member of the first connection part and a second clamping member of the second connection part between two opposite surfaces of the slab. The first connection part and the second connection part may be connected in a manner such that a connection between a first hollow-tubular-connecting-structure of the first connection part and a second hollow-tubular-connecting-structure of the second connection part may be within a through-hole in the slab, which extends between the two opposite surfaces of the slab.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a nanoparticulate composition comprising nanoparticles formed from an amphipathic block copolymer comprising a hydrophilic block and a hydrophobic block, where the nanoparticles are provided in the form of micelles, cylindrical worm structures or vesicles and the size of the nanoparticles is from 25 to 500 nm, wherein: the composition is substantially free of heavy metals and compounds comprising sulfur. Also disclosed herein is a method of forming said nanoparticulate composition by polymerization induced self-assembly (PISA) via non-transition-metal catalysed controlled radical polymerization (NTMC-CRP).

Abstract: There is provided a ?-peptido sugar-copolymer having the structure of formula (I) as defined herein, or a stereoisomer, a tautomer, an N-oxide, a hydrate, a solvate, or a salt thereof, or a mixture of the same. There is provided a process to make the ?-peptido sugar-copolymer as defined herein. There are further provided medical applications of the ?-peptido sugar-copolymer as defined herein. In a preferred embodiment, a block-like copolymer poly(amido-D-glucose)-block-poly-?-(L)-homolysine (PDGu-b-PBLK) synthesized via anionic ring-opening polymerization (ROP) demonstrates an antimicrobial efficacy, an enhanced selectivity towards different bacteria, biocompatibility vs. mammalian cells and spontaneous assembly.

Abstract: Electrochemically initiated bioadhesive compositions comprising biocompatible polymers containing derivatives of diazonium, arylsulfonium, or diaryliodonium in general, and to their use in tissue fixation, in particular.

Abstract: There is provided a method of monitoring a powder bed process in additive manufacturing, using at least one processor. The method including: obtaining a first image of a powder bed layer from scanning the powder bed layer in a first scanning direction using a first contact image sensor, the powder bed layer being formed by a powder re-coater arm in the powder bed process and the first contact image sensor being attached to the powder re-coater arm; determining a focus level property of the first image; and detecting non-uniformities in the powder bed layer based on the focus level property of the first image. There is also provided a corresponding system for monitoring a powder bed process.

Abstract: According to embodiments of the present invention, an optical device is provided. The optical device includes a substrate, a semiconductor layer on the substrate, the semiconductor layer having a beam structure that is subjected to a tensile strain, wherein the beam structure includes a plurality of nanostructures, and wherein, for each nanostructure of the plurality of nanostructures, the nanostructure is configured to locally amplify the tensile strain at the nanostructure to define a strain-induced artificial quantum heterostructure for quantum confinement. According to a further embodiment of the present invention, a method of forming an optical device is also provided.

Abstract: Disclosed is a device for measuring a property of a material. The device comprises a base; a sensor, the sensor being in a fixed coupling with the base; an indenter, the indenter being slidably coupled to the base to move relative to the base in an axial direction in response to a first abutment of the indenter with a surface of the material such that the indenter provides a push force to the sensor in the axial direction; and a locking device, the locking device being configured to releasably lock the indenter in a locked state in response to a second abutment of the base with the surface of the material, wherein the indenter in the locked state is prevented from moving relative to the base in the axial direction. Also disclosed is a new method of measuring Young's modulus of a material.

Abstract: There is provided a method of receiving a transmitted signal over a time-varying channel. The method includes: obtaining a received symbol signal in frequency domain based on the transmitted signal; performing a first channel estimation based on the received symbol signal to obtain a plurality of first estimated BEM coefficients; performing a first equalization based on the received symbol signal and the plurality of first estimated BEM coefficients to obtain a plurality of first detected source symbols; and performing one or more rounds of a second channel estimation and a second equalization.

Abstract: In some aspects, a method for object re-identification may include obtaining a first set of images from a first camera, and a second set of images from at least one second camera; determining a first set of features based on the first set of images, the first set of features lying in a first feature space; and determining a second set of features based on the second set of images, the second set of features lying in a second feature space. The method may additionally include determining a first feature projection matrix and a second feature projection matrix that respectively map the first set of features and the second set of features to a shared feature space; and determining a common dictionary based on the shared feature space.

Abstract: According to embodiments of the present invention, an optical device is provided. The optical device includes a substrate, a semiconductor layer on the substrate, the semiconductor layer having a beam structure that is subjected to a tensile strain, wherein the beam structure includes a plurality of nanostructures, and wherein, for each nanostructure of the plurality of nanostructures, the nanostructure is configured to locally amplify the tensile strain at the nanostructure to define a strain-induced artificial quantum heterostructure for quantum confinement. According to a further embodiment of the present invention, a method of forming an optical device is also provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides an antifouling ability-imparting agent that adheres well to a variety of water treatment membranes such as reverse osmosis membranes and imparts excellent antifouling ability to the water treatment membranes.

Abstract: A force sensor for a tendon-actuated mechanism, the force sensor comprising: a body having a through hole for passage of a tendon of the tendon-actuated mechanism therethrough, the body configured to be connected to a part of the tendon-actuated mechanism through which the tendon passes; and a sensor provided on the body to obtain a compression force on the body from the part of the tendon-actuated mechanism through which the tendon passes.

Abstract: A method of producing a transparent conductive electrode is provided. The method comprises spraying a suspension of electrically conductive nanowires on a polymer substrate to form droplets thereon, wherein each of the droplets has a periphery which is in contact with one or more peripheries of another droplet, wherein the suspension comprises a polar solvent, wherein the polymer substrate and the polar solvent produce a surface tension which directs the electrically conductive nanowires to accumulate at the periphery of each of the droplets to form a network of connected ring structures, and removing the polar solvent from the polymer substrate to form a micromesh comprising the electrically conductive nanowires which are retained in the form of the network of connected ring structures. The transparent conductive electrode and its uses are also provided.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of reducing surface unevenness of a semiconductor wafer (100). In a preferred embodiment, the method comprises: removing a portion of a deposited layer and a protective layer thereon using a first slurry to provide an intermediate surface (1123). In the described embodiment, the deposited layer includes an epitaxial layer (112) and the protective layer includes a first dielectric layer (113). The first slurry includes particles with a hardness level the same as or exceeding that of the epitaxial layer (112). A slurry for use in wafer fabrication for reducing surface unevenness of a semiconductor wafer is also disclosed.

Abstract: A magnetic digital microfluidic apparatus for manipulating a liquid droplet containing magnetic particles using a magnetic force, the apparatus comprising: a hydrophobic surface on which the liquid droplet containing magnetic particles can be moved using the magnetic force; and at least one surface energy trap provided to retain at least a portion of the liquid droplet thereon, the at least one surface energy trap comprising a layer of polydopamine. A method of magnetic digital microfluidic manipulation, the method comprising the steps of: a) contacting a liquid droplet on a hydrophobic surface with a polydopamine surface energy trap, the liquid droplet containing magnetic particles; b) retaining at least a portion of the liquid droplet on the surface energy trap; and c) moving at least the magnetic particles with a magnetic force.

Abstract: An offset detector circuit includes a digital signal register storing M unit digital signals received in latest M signal periods, M being a natural number, among digital signals generated based on a single-ended PAM-N signal, N being an odd number, a comparator outputting a comparison signal of a pair of signals included in differential signals generated from a differential signal generator based on the single-ended PAM-N signal, a comparison result register storing M unit comparison signals corresponding to the latest M signal periods among the comparison signals, a pattern detector outputting a detection signal when the M unit digital signals match a predetermined signal pattern, and an offset checker checking patterns of the M unit comparison signals in response to the detection signal, and outputting an offset detection signal when the patterns of the M unit comparison signals match a predetermined offset pattern.

Abstract: According to various aspects of the present disclosure, a catalyst for rechargeable energy storage devices having a first transition metal and a second transition metal, wherein the first and second transition metals are formed on carbon nanotubes, the carbon nanotubes are doped with nitrogen and phosphorous, wherein the carbon nanotubes have edges and interlayer spaces and are axially aligned, and the first and second transition metals form bimetal centers, wherein the bimetal centers may be uniformly distributed catalytic active sites located at the edges or the interlayer spaces of the carbon nanotubes providing intercalated layers. The present FeCo—NPCNTs are a morphology-dependent catalyst that provides effective performance for bifunctional oxygen reduction reaction and oxygen evolution reaction in metal-air-cells and fuel cells.

Abstract: Provided herein are anti-infective peptides and uses thereof. Such anti-infective peptides are useful against bacteria and viruses. Also provided herein are compositions comprising said anti-infective peptides.

Abstract: There is provided a method of additive manufacturing using at least one processor, the method includes: determining a first slicing layer of a three-dimensional (3D) model of a 3D object; determining a second slicing layer of the 3D model based on the first slicing layer, the second slicing layer being immediately subsequent to the first slicing layer; and determining a thickness of the second slicing layer and an orientation for a third slicing layer of the 3D model based on a difference between the second slicing layer and the first slicing layer, the third slicing layer being immediately subsequent to the second slicing layer. There is also provided a corresponding system and computer program product for additive manufacturing.