Abstract: Encoding methods and apparatuses include receiving input video data of a current block in a current picture and applying a Cross-Component Adaptive Loop Filter (CCALF) processing on the current block based on cross-component filter coefficients to refine chroma components of the current block according to luma sample values. The method further includes signaling two Adaptive Loop Filter (ALF) signal flags and two CCALF signal flags in an Adaptation Parameter Set (APS) with an APS parameter type equal to ALF or parsing two ALF signal flags and two CCALF signal flags from an APS with an APS parameter type equal to ALF, signaling or parsing one or more Picture Header (PH) CCALF syntax elements or Slice Header (SH) CCALF syntax elements, wherein both ALF and CCALF signaling are present either in a PH or SH, and encoding or decoding the current block in the current picture.

Abstract: A method of monitoring a clock signal of a server is provided. The server includes a phase-locked loop (PLL), a baseboard management controller (BMC), and a light emitting unit. The method includes steps of: A) the server executing a time synchronization service to obtain a synchronization mode that the PLL is operating in, where the synchronization mode is one of a free-run mode, a locked mode, and a holdover mode; B) the server updating the synchronization mode to the BMC when executing the time synchronization service; and C) the BMC storing the synchronization mode and controlling the light emitting unit to display in one of a plurality of displaying manners that corresponds to the synchronization mode.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a complex probiotic composition and a method for improving exercise performance of a subject with low intrinsic aerobic exercise capacity. The complex probiotic composition, which includes Lactobacillus rhamnosus GKLC1, Bifidobacterium lactis GKK24 and Clostridium butyricum GKB7, administered to the subject with the low intrinsic aerobic exercise capacity in a continuation period, can effectively reduce serum lactic acid and serum urea nitrogen after aerobic exercise, reduce proportion of offal fat and/or increase liver and muscle glycogen contents, thereby being as an effective ingredient for preparation of various compositions.

Abstract: A composition for promoting defecation includes a cell culture of at least one lactic acid bacterial strain which is substantially free of cells. The least one lactic acid bacterial strain is selected from the group consisting of Lactobacillus salivarius subsp. salicinius AP-32, Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis CP-9, and Lactobacillus acidophilus TYCA06, which are respectively deposited at the Bioresource Collection and Research Center (BCRC) under accession numbers BCRC 910437, BCRC 910645 and BCRC 910813. Also disclosed is a method for promoting defecation, including administering to a subject in need thereof an effective amount of the composition.

Abstract: Various schemes pertaining to pre-encoding processing of a video stream with motion compensated temporal filtering (MCTF) are described. An apparatus determines a filtering interval for a received raw video stream having pictures in a temporal sequence. The apparatus selects from the pictures a plurality of target pictures based on the filtering interval, as well as a group of reference pictures for each target picture to perform pixel-based MCTF, which generates a corresponding filtered picture for each target picture. The apparatus subsequently transmits the filtered pictures as well as non-target pictures to an encoder for encoding the video stream. Subpictures of natural images and screen content images are separately processed by the apparatus.

Abstract: Provided is a recombinant microorganism including at least two genes for producing itaconic acid and its derived monomers, and the at least two genes are located on the same expression vector. The at least two genes include one encoding cis-aconitic acid decarboxylase and the other one encoding aconitase, and the genome of the recombinant microorganism includes a gene encoding the molecular chaperone protein GroELS. Also provided is a method for producing itaconic acid by using the microorganism.

Abstract: An ammonium fluoride gas may be used to form a protection layer for one or more interlayer dielectric layers, one or more insulating caps, and/or one or more source/drain regions of a semiconductor device during a pre-clean etch process. The protection layer can be formed through an oversupply of nitrogen trifluoride during the pre-clean etch process. The oversupply of nitrogen trifluoride causes an increased formation of ammonium fluoride, which coats the interlayer dielectric layer(s), the insulating cap(s), and/or the source/drain region(s) with a thick protection layer. The protection layer protects the interlayer dielectric layer(s), the insulating cap(s), and/or the source/drain region(s) during the pre-clean process from being etched by fluorine ions formed during the pre-clean process.

Abstract: A thin film transistor includes a substrate, a semiconductor layer, a gate insulating layer, a gate, a source and a drain. The semiconductor layer is located above the substrate. The gate insulating layer is located above the semiconductor layer. The gate is located above the gate insulating layer and overlapping with the semiconductor layer. The gate includes a first portion, a second portion and a third portion. The first portion is extending along the surface of the gate insulating layer and directly in contact with the gate insulating layer. The second portion is separated from the gate insulating layer. Taking the surface of the gate insulating layer as a reference, the top surface of the second portion is higher than the top surface of the first portion. The third portion connects the first portion to the second portion. The source and the drain are electrically connected to the semiconductor layer.

Abstract: A method for making iridium oxide nanoparticles includes dissolving an iridium salt to obtain a salt-containing solution, mixing a complexing agent with the salt-containing solution to obtain a blend solution, and adding an oxidating agent to the blend solution to obtain a product mixture. A molar ratio of a complexing compound of the complexing agent to the iridium salt is controlled in a predetermined range so as to permit the product mixture to include iridium oxide nanoparticles.

Abstract: A switchable backlight module is disclosed. The switchable backlight module includes two light source modules arranged parallelly with respect to a plane. Each of the light source modules includes a turning film and a LGP. The LGP is of an edge-lit type arranged parallelly under the turning film. A light ray enters the LGP from a light incident side of the LGP, exits the LGP from a light emergent surface of the LGP, enters the turning film, and exits the turning film from a surface of the turning film away from the LGP. The light incident side of the LGP of one of the light source modules is perpendicular to the light incident side of the LGP of the other light source module. The switchable backlight module is in an anti-peeping mode having a narrow viewing angle when only an upper one of the light source modules emits light.

Abstract: An embodiment bump on trace (BOT) structure includes a contact element supported by an integrated circuit, an under bump metallurgy (UBM) feature electrically coupled to the contact element, a metal ladder bump mounted on the under bump metallurgy feature, the metal ladder bump having a first tapering profile, and a substrate trace mounted on a substrate, the substrate trace having a second tapering profile and coupled to the metal ladder bump through direct metal-to-metal bonding. An embodiment chip-to-chip structure may be fabricated in a similar fashion.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a light-emitting device, including: providing a substrate structure including a top surface; forming a precursor layer on the top surface; removing a portion of the precursor layer and a portion of the substrate from the top surface to form a base portion and a plurality of protrusions regularly arranged on the base portion; forming a buffer layer on the base portion and the plurality protrusions; and forming a III-V compound cap layer on the buffer layer; wherein one of the plurality of protrusions comprises a first portion and a second portion formed on the first portion; wherein the first portion is integrated with the base portion and has a first material which is the same as that of the base portion; and wherein the buffer layer contacts side surfaces of the plurality of protrusions and a surface of the base portion.

Abstract: A method includes forming a dummy gate over a semiconductor fin; forming a source/drain epitaxial structure over the semiconductor fin and adjacent to the dummy gate; depositing an interlayer dielectric (ILD) layer to cover the source/drain epitaxial structure; replacing the dummy gate with a gate structure; forming a dielectric structure to cut the gate structure, wherein a portion of the dielectric structure is embedded in the ILD layer; recessing the portion of the dielectric structure embedded in the ILD layer; after recessing the portion of the dielectric structure, removing a portion of the ILD layer over the source/drain epitaxial structure; and forming a source/drain contact in the ILD layer and in contact with the portion of the dielectric structure.

Abstract: A fastener is adapted for assembling a first housing to a second housing. The first housing is provided with a protruding portion and a buckling portion, and the second housing has a first surface, a second surface, and a through hole. The fastener includes a first portion, at least one connecting portion, at least two elastic portions, and a second portion. The first portion movably abuts against the first surface and has a first opening. The connecting portion is accommodated in the through hole. One end of the connecting portion is connected to the first portion. The connecting portion is spaced apart from an inner edge of the second housing by a gap. The two elastic portions inclinedly extend into the first opening. The second portion movably abuts against the second surface and is disposed at the another end of the connecting portion.

Abstract: Method and apparatus of video coding are disclosed. According to one method, in the decoder side, a predefined Intra mode is assigned to a neighboring block adjacent to the current luma block when the neighboring block satisfies one or more conditions. An MPM (Most Probable Mode) list is derived based on information comprising at least one of neighboring Intra modes. A current Intra mode is derived utilizing the MPM list. The current luma block is decoded according to the current Intra mode According to another method, a predefined Intra mode is assigned to a neighboring block adjacent to the current luma block if the neighboring block is coded in BDPCM (Block-based Delta Pulse Code Modulation) mode, where the predefined Intra mode is set to horizontal mode or vertical mode depending on prediction direction used by the BDPCM mode.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a gate, a semiconductor structure, a gate insulating layer, a first source/drain feature and a second source/drain feature. The gate insulating layer is located between the gate and the semiconductor structure. The semiconductor structure includes at least one first metal oxide layer, a first oxide layer, and at least one second metal oxide layer. The first oxide layer is located between the first metal oxide layer and the second metal oxide layer. The first source/drain feature and the second source/drain feature are electrically connected with the semiconductor structure.

Abstract: Some embodiments relate to a thin film transistor comprising an active layer over a substrate. An insulator is stacked with the active layer. A gate electrode structure is stacked with the insulator and includes a gate material layer having a first work function and a first interfacial layer. The first interfacial layer is directly between the insulator and the gate material layer, wherein the gate electrode structure has a second work function that is different from the first work function.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes: an etch-stop dielectric layer overlying a substrate and including a first opening therethrough; a silicon oxide plate overlying the etch-stop dielectric layer and including a second opening therethrough; a first conductive structure including a first electrode and extending through the second opening and the first opening; a memory film contacting a top surface of the first conductive structure and including a material that provides at least two resistive states having different electrical resistivity; and a second conductive structure including a second electrode and contacting a top surface of the memory film.

Abstract: In some embodiments, the present disclosure relates to a semiconductor device comprising a source and drain region arranged within a substrate. A conductive gate is disposed over a doped region of the substrate. A gate dielectric layer is disposed between the source region and the drain region and separates the conductive gate from the doped region. A bottommost surface of the gate dielectric layer is below a topmost surface of the substrate. First and second sidewall spacers are arranged along first and second sides of the conductive gate, respectively. An inner portion of the first sidewall spacer and an inner portion of the second sidewall spacer respectively cover a first and second top surface of the gate dielectric layer. A drain extension region and a source extension region respectively separate the drain region and the source region from the gate dielectric layer.

Abstract: A phototherapy device includes a base, at least one light conversion device and a light source module. The base has an installation slot. The light conversion device is detachably arranged in the installation slot. Each light conversion device includes a plurality of light conversion patterns. The light source module is arranged on a side of the base and configured to provide an excitation beam to the light conversion patterns, so that each of the light conversion patterns emits a converted beam. In this way, the light conversion device of the phototherapy device can be replaced according to the user's needs.