Abstract: The present disclosure relates to Li-ion battery with an anode, a cathode, a porous separator membrane, and an electrolyte that fills pores in the anode, the cathode, and the porous separator membrane; and a porous separator membrane and methods of generating the same.

Abstract: A video encoding method and a video decoding method are provided for adaptively determining a chroma intra-directional prediction mode. When a DM mode is applied for intra prediction of a chroma signal, the video encoding method and the video decoding method adaptively modify the directional mode of a luma block to conform to the characteristics of a chroma block by considering the position and size of the chroma block, the presence of reference samples, and the size of the luma block. The video encoding method and the video decoding method use the modified directional mode for intra prediction of the chroma signal.

Abstract: Various embodiments herein relate to systems, methods, and media for matching pre-processing and post-processing substrate samples.

Abstract: A plasma processing chamber for depositing a film on an underside surface of a wafer, includes showerhead pedestal. The showerhead pedestal includes a first zone and a second zone. An upper separator fin is disposed over a top surface of the showerhead pedestal and a lower separator fin is disposed under the top surface of the showerhead pedestal and aligned with the upper separator fin. The first zone is configured for depositing a first film to the underside surface of the wafer and the second zone is configured for depositing a second film to the underside surface of the wafer. In another embodiment, a top surface of the showerhead pedestal may be configured to receive a masking plate instead of the upper separator fin. The masking plate is configured with a first area that has openings and a second area that is masked. The first areas is used to provide the process gas to a portion of the underside surface of the wafer for depositing a film.

Abstract: A system for producing needle coke and a method for producing needle coke using the system are provided. The system includes a coke tower, a pressure stabilization tower, a buffer tank and a coking fractionation tower. A pressure controller is provided at the top of the pressure stabilization tower for adjusting the pressure at the top thereof. An oil gas outlet of the coke tower is in communication with an oil gas inlet of the pressure stabilization tower through a pipeline. No pressure controller for adjusting the pressure at the top of the coke tower is provided in the coke tower or on the oil gas pipeline connecting the coke tower to the pressure stabilization tower.

Abstract: A GABA detecting probe having a probe body with both a glutamate (Glu) micro-sensor and a GABA micro-sensor positioned on the probe body. The Glu micro-sensor and the GABA micro-sensor include electrodes having a surface modification with (i) GOx and a binding matrix, and (ii) GABASE, GOx, and the binding matrix, respectively. The sensors are positioned no further apart than 250 um and includes a sentinel site located on the probe body.

Abstract: A flow splitting device for gas reverse circulation drilling, including: an upper joint for connecting with a double-wall drill pipe; an inner tube which is arranged in the upper joint and defines a first passageway in communication with an inner chamber of the double-wall drill pipe, a second passageway in communication with an annular space in the double-wall drill pipe formed between the inner tube and the upper joint; a lower joint, having an upper end fixedly connected with the upper joint and a lower end for connecting with a drill tool; and a flow guiding member provided between the upper joint and the lower joint. A flexible sealing mechanism is provided outside the upper joint. The flexible sealing mechanism extends radially outward relative to the upper joint and the lower joint to form a sealing contact with a wellbore wall.

Abstract: A resin for adhesive bonding to fabrics includes between about 80 wt. % and about 90 wt. % of a monomer, between about 10 wt. % and about 20 wt. % of a cross-linking agent with two or more acrylic acid groups separated by a flexible linker, between about 0.5 wt. % and about 1.5 wt. % of a photoinitiator, and between about 10 wt. % and about 15 wt. % of a thickening agent. The monomer as a melting point less than 25° C. and the flexible linker has subunits such as methylene glycol, ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, butylene glycol, and combinations thereof. Also, the resin forms a bond with polyurethane coated nylon fabric and the bond exhibits an adhesion strength greater than a tensile strength of the polyurethane coated nylon fabric.

Abstract: An electrostatic chuck for a substrate processing system is provided and includes a baseplate, an intermediate layer disposed on the baseplate, and a top plate. The top plate is bonded to the baseplate via the intermediate layer and is configured to electrostatically clamp to a substrate. The top plate includes a monopolar clamping electrode and seals. The monopolar clamping electrode includes a groove opening pattern with coolant gas groove opening sets. The seals separate coolant gas zones. The coolant gas zones include four or more coolant gas zones. Each of the coolant gas zones includes distinct coolant gas groove sets. The top plate includes the distinct coolant gas groove sets. Each of the distinct coolant gas groove sets has one or more coolant gas supply holes and corresponds to a respective one of the coolant gas groove opening sets.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods of tomographic imaging, the methods comprising emitting a beam of light from a light source to a sample and modulating the beam of light through a spatial light modulator configured to convert the beam of light to an Airy beam. The spatial light modulator can be rotatable and positioned at a first angle relative to the sample. The method can further obtain a first perspective view of the sample, rotate the spatial light modulator to a second angle relative to the sample, and obtain a second perspective view of the sample. Each of the perspective views can be generated by the Airy beam interacting with the sample on a focal plane. The method can then reconstruct a volumetric three-dimensional view of the sample using the first perspective view and the second perspective view.

Abstract: A method for atomic layer etching a metal containing layer is provided. At least a region of a surface of the metal containing layer is modified to form a modified metal containing region by exposing a surface of the metal containing layer to a modification gas, wherein adjacent to the modified metal containing region remains an unmodified metal containing region. The modified metal containing region is selectively removed with respect to the unmodified metal containing region by exposing the surface of the metal containing layer to an inert bombardment plasma generated from an inert gas.

Abstract: Aspects relate to method of zinc-comprising nanowire fabrication, the method comprising forming a starting material comprising zinc metal or zinc metal alloy and at least one reactive metal, and exposing the starting material to one or more alcohols to obtain a reaction product comprising zinc-comprising nanowires, wherein the at least one reactive metal is more reactive than zinc to the one or more alcohols.

Abstract: Various methods of reshaping and recycling thermoset polymers and composites containing thermoset polymers are provided. The methods involve the bond exchange reaction of exchangeable covalent bonds in the polymer matrix with a suitable small molecule solvent in the presence of a catalyst. In some aspects, the methods are applied to a carbon fiber reinforced polymer or a thermoset polymer where the thermoset polymer matrix includes a plurality of ester bonds. Using a small molecule alcohol, the methods provide for recycling one or both of the carbon fiber and the polymer, for welding two surfaces, or for repairing a damaged surface in the materials.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a microfluidic device for simulating the structure and function of an in vivo tissue barrier. Specifically, the present invention relates to a microfluidic device that can be used as a model for new drug development and toxicity assessment and the like by simulating the structure and function of a two-dimensional-three-dimensional connective tissue barrier or a three-dimensional tissue barrier and thus replacing animal models, a method of culturing cells in the microfluidic device, and a method of simulating an organ or a body part using the microfluidic device.

Abstract: Systems and methods for cleaning an edge ring pocket are described herein. One of the methods includes providing one or more process gases to a plasma chamber, supplying a low frequency (LF) radio frequency (RF) power to an edge ring that is located adjacent to a chuck of the plasma chamber. The LF RF power is supplied while the one or more process gases are supplied to the plasma chamber to maintain plasma within the plasma chamber. The supply of the LF RF power increases energy of plasma ions near the edge ring pocket to remove residue in the edge ring pocket. The LF RF power is supplied during the time period in which a substrate is not being processed within the plasma chamber.

Abstract: A method for electrostatically clamping an edge ring in a plasma processing chamber with an electrostatic ring clamp with at least one ring backside temperature channel for providing a flow of gas to the edge ring is provided. A vacuum is provided to the at least one ring backside temperature channel Pressure in the backside temperature channel is measured. An electrostatic ring clamping voltage is provided when the pressure in the backside temperature channel reaches a threshold maximum pressure. The vacuum to the backside temperature channel is discontinued. Pressure in the backside temperature channel is measured. If pressure in the backside temperature channel rises faster than a threshold rate, then sealing failure is indicated. If pressure in the backside temperature channel does not rise faster than the threshold rate, a plasma process is continued, using the backside temperature channel to regulate a temperature of the edge ring.

Abstract: Microfluidic devices for cell sorting or cell fractionation are disclosed. A microfluidic device can comprise one or more inlets, a first wall and a second wall, and two or more outlets. The first and second walls can be substantially planar to each other and the first wall having can have a plurality of ridges protruding from the first wall and defining a compression gap between the ridge and a surface of the second wall. The microfluidic device can also be a cell sorting device for sorting a plurality of cells based on one or more biophysical cellular properties including size, elasticity, viscosity, and/or viscoelasticity wherein the cells are subjected to one or more compressions due to the compression gap. Also disclosed are methods for cell sorting based on a variety of biophysical cellular properties.

Abstract: A refrigerator includes a vacuum adiabatic body including a conductive resistance sheet providing a vacuum space that has a temperature between a temperature of an internal space and a temperature of an external space and is in a vacuum state, the conductive resistance sheet capable of resisting heat conduction between a first plate and a second plate, wherein at least one of the conductive resistance sheet and each of the first and second plates are welded to each other to create a welding part, wherein a plurality of regular beads are provided to a surface of the welding part, and wherein the plurality of regular beads includes: a parabolic inflection region provided at a center portion; linear regions respectively provided at both outsides of the inflection region; and edge regions respectively provided at outsides of the linear regions.

Abstract: A leg mechanism includes an articulated leg system, a passive device and a cable. The articulated leg system has a leg portion. The passive device is coupled to the articulated leg system and is configured to apply a first force to a portion thereof. The cable is coupled to the articulated leg system and is configured to apply a second force, in opposition to the first force, to a portion thereof. When the cable is drawn away from the articulated leg system, the second force moves the leg portion in a first direction. When tension is released from the cable, the passive device exerts the first force so as to move the leg portion a second direction that is opposite the first direction.

Abstract: Systems and methods for tuning a megahertz radio frequency (RF) generator within a cycle of operation of a kilohertz (kHz) RF generator are described. In one of the methods, a predetermined periodic waveform is provided to a processor. The processor uses a computer-based model to determine plurality of frequency parameters for the predetermined periodic waveform. The frequency parameters are applied to the megahertz RF generator to generate an RF signal having the frequency parameters during one or more cycles of operation of the kilohertz RF generator.