Abstract: In response to the demand for shape-controlled metal microparticles accompanying rapid development and progress in industry in recent years, metal microparticles, which have projections on the surfaces of the particles that are integrated with the particles, are provided. The metal microparticles have integrated conical projections on the surfaces of the particles, and at least some of the projections are more than ¼ of the size of the particles. The protrusions that protrude from the metal microparticles melt and deform at a temperature lower than the melting point of the metal itself.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a base-station-to-base-station (BS-BS) gateway in a Long Term Evolution (LTE) cellular communication network and methods of operation thereof. In one embodiment, the BS-BS gateway receives information from a first base station which includes a hostname and a network address of the first base station. The BS-BS gateway then stores a mapping between the hostname and the network address. Thereafter, in one embodiment, the BS-BS gateway enables a second base station to address messages to the first base station using the hostname of the first base station. In this manner, changes in the network address of the first base station will not affect the ability of the second base station to address messages to the first base station. In some embodiments, the first base station is a low-power base station (LP-BS) and the second base station is a high-power base station (HP-BS).

Abstract: A stirring-processing apparatus and a processing method are provided to realize excellent processing of a fluid regardless of the properties of the fluid. The stirring-processing apparatus is provided with the stirring blade and the stirring chamber provided with the screen, wherein the apparatus performs, under a state in which the stirring chamber is disposed in a fluid to be processed, a process of applying a shear force to the fluid by a relative rotation between the screen and the stirring blade. The stirring chamber is provided with the suction opening to suck the fluid from outside to inside and the ejecting opening to eject the fluid from inside to outside; these openings being disposed above and below. The suppressing body to control a flow of the fluid is disposed between the suction opening and the ejecting opening.

Abstract: Devices and methods for assisting with slicing items, such as food items, are disclosed. The devices may be referred to as press and slice devices. Such devices may include a base and a lid. The base and lid may each include a flexible layer, and flexible layers may be configured to hold the items being sliced when the lid and base are pressed together. The lid may include a handle to, for example help the user hold the lid and protect the user's fingers. The base may include a foot made of a material with a higher coefficient of friction than the material of the base to, for example help secure the base to the surface the device is being used on. The lid and base may include a mechanism for positionally securing the lid relative to the base, such as using a post and slot system.

Abstract: A system for magnetically suspending tissue includes a grasper placement tool, a tissue grasper, a magnetic coupling element, and a tether which secures the magnetic coupling element to the tissue grasper. The grasper placement tool is used to simultaneously introduce both the tissue grasper and the magnetic coupling element to a body cavity. The grasper then releases the magnetic coupling element and engages a target tissue structure. The tissue grasper is then detached from the placement tool and a conventional laparoscopic or other grasper is used to engage the magnetic coupling element to an external magnet.

Abstract: Lubrication and friction reduction improves fuel efficiency and reduces energy consumption. Effective and controllable material removal results in superior surface finishing and planarization. Nanosheets are developed with specific functionalization that can be used to reduce friction and wear, improve the fluidic property, and rheological performance The nanosheets can be from the graphite family, transition metal dichalcogenides, transition metal trichalcogenides, semiconducting chalcogenides, metal oxides, layered hydroxides, clays, ternary transition metal carbides and nitrides, and zirconium phosphates and phosphonates, and their corresponding dopants. Tribological, rheological, and polishing applications include lubricants, viscosity modification, and chemical-mechanical planarization. The nanosheets are useful in improving efficiency and lifetime of machinery, saving energy for mechanical operations, and optimizing manufacturing processes in surface engineering.

Abstract: Systems and methods for flexible spectrum, or bandwidth, support in a cellular communications network are disclosed. In one embodiment, a base station for a cellular communications network is configured to transmit a non-standardized bandwidth carrier and information that identifies a standardized bandwidth and additional information that, together with the information that identifies the standardized bandwidth, defines a non-standardized bandwidth of the non-standardized bandwidth carrier. In one embodiment, the additional information defines a bandwidth adjustment for the standardized bandwidth that defines the non-standardized bandwidth. In one embodiment, the bandwidth adjustment is a symmetric bandwidth restriction. In another embodiment, the bandwidth adjustment is an asymmetric bandwidth restriction. In yet another embodiment, the bandwidth adjustment is a symmetric bandwidth expansion. In yet another embodiment, the bandwidth adjustment is an asymmetric bandwidth expansion.

Abstract: Provided is a method that de-multiplexes a bit stream to extract intra prediction mode information and residual signals, restores an intra prediction mode of a current prediction unit using the intra prediction information and intra prediction modes of prediction units adjacent to the current prediction unit, generates reference pixels using one or more available reference pixel if there exist unavailable reference pixels of the prediction unit, adaptively filters the reference pixels based on the restored intra prediction mode, generates a prediction block using the restored intra prediction mode and the reference pixels, decodes the residual signal to generating a residual block, and generates a reconstructed block using the prediction block and the residual block. Accordingly, additional bits resulted from increase of a number of intra prediction mode are effectively reduced. Also, an image compression ratio can be improved by generating a prediction block similar to an original block.

Abstract: Provided is a method that de-multiplexes a bit stream to extract intra prediction mode information and residual signals, restores an intra prediction mode of a current prediction unit using the intra prediction information and intra prediction modes of prediction units adjacent to the current prediction unit, generates reference pixels using one or more available reference pixel if there exist unavailable reference pixels of the prediction unit, adaptively filters the reference pixels based on the restored intra prediction mode, generates a prediction block using the restored intra prediction mode and the reference pixels, decodes the residual signal to generating a residual block, and generates a reconstructed block using the prediction block and the residual block. Accordingly, additional bits resulted from increase of a number of intra prediction mode are effectively reduced. Also, an image compression ratio can be improved by generating a prediction block similar to an original block.

Abstract: There is provided a controller for controlling an output current of a switched mode power supply, SMPS. The controller comprises a sampling module arranged to sample a signal indicative of the output current of the SMPS at a frequency higher than a switching frequency of the SMPS, and a filter module arranged to filter out a ripple component of the sampled signal. The filter module comprises: a ripple component estimation module arranged to estimate the ripple component; a moving average calculation module arranged to calculate a moving average of the sampled signal; and a subtraction module arranged to generate a filtered signal by subtracting the estimated ripple component from the sampled signal and the calculated moving average. The controller also has a switching control module arranged to generate a control signal for controlling at least one of the switching frequency and a switching duty cycle of the SMPS based on the filtered signal.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method in a radio network node of a cellular network, for controlling admission of a UE in a cell covering a region. The method comprises obtaining (710) a location of the UE, comparing (720) information related to a geometric boundary of the region and the obtained location of the UE, and determining (730) whether to admit the UE in the cell based on the comparison.

Abstract: A fluid bearing includes a housing including an internal plenum disposed in the housing and an inlet in fluid communication with the plenum, wherein the inlet is configured to provide fluid to the plenum from an external source, a cushion surface facing away from the housing and the plenum, one or more nozzles positioned between the cushion surface and the housing, wherein the one or more nozzles extend from the plenum to the surrounding environment, wherein the one or more nozzles are configured to produce an annular curtain of fluid flowing at a velocity of at least Mach 1 and disposed about the cushion surface in response to a fluid flow entering the plenum from the inlet.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting an analyte, and method of operating and forming the same. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a pedestal formed on a semiconductor substrate and a mid-infrared (“IR”) transparent semiconductor waveguide formed on the pedestal. A refractive index of the pedestal is less than the mid-IR transparent semiconductor waveguide. The apparatus also includes a detector configured to detect an analyte couplable to the mid-IR transparent semiconductor waveguide.

Abstract: In a system and method of testing for airborne pathogens, toxins, pollutants and contaminants, a filter facility supplies a user with a filter member for use in an air handling unit. At the end of its service life, the filter member is removed from the unit, and sealed within a bag. The bag is packed in a shipping box supplied by, and returned to, the filter facility. Thereafter, one or more samples may be taken from the filter member, and the one or more samples may be tested for a wide array of pathogens, toxins, pollutants and/or contaminants. The test results are thereafter reported to the user. A refurbished/recycled filter member may optionally be supplied to the user for subsequent testing.

Abstract: UV-Absorbing and fluorescent pI markers for isoelectric focusing separations and fluorescent labeling, and methods for making and using the markers.

Abstract: Systems and methods related to a synchronization signal particularly well suited for wireless devices in an extended coverage area of a cell of a cellular communications network are disclosed. In one embodiment, a base station transmits a synchronization signal including multiple repetitions of a basic synchronization block during a coherence time of a downlink channel over which the synchronization signal is transmitted. The multiple repetitions of the basic synchronization block during the coherence time enable coherent combining during detection of the synchronization signal at wireless devices located in the cellular communications network. This coherent combining enables, for example, wireless devices located in an extended coverage area of a cell served by the base station to synchronize to the cell using a shorter synchronization signal than that which would be required if only non-coherent combining were used.

Abstract: Provided is a method that de-multiplexes a bit stream to extract intra prediction mode information and residual signals, restores an intra prediction mode of a current prediction unit using the intra prediction information and intra prediction modes of prediction units adjacent to the current prediction unit, generates reference pixels using one or more available reference pixel if there exist unavailable reference pixels of the prediction unit, adaptively filters the reference pixels based on the restored intra prediction mode, generates a prediction block using the restored intra prediction mode and the reference pixels, decodes the residual signal to generating a residual block, and generates a reconstructed block using the prediction block and the residual block. Accordingly, additional bits resulted from increase of a number of intra prediction mode are effectively reduced. Also, an image compression ratio can be improved by generating a prediction block similar to an original block.

Abstract: A first network node of a cellular system is configured for communication with a second network node over a twisted pair wire. The first network node includes a receiver for receiving, over the twisted pair wire, an intermediate frequency signal from the second network node, which intermediate frequency signal has been converted from a high frequency signal having a frequency higher than the frequency of the intermediate frequency signal by the second network node, and a down-converter for converting the intermediate frequency signal to a low frequency signal having a frequency lower than the frequency of the intermediate frequency signal. The first network node also includes an up-converter for converting a received low frequency signal to an intermediate frequency signal having a frequency higher than the frequency of the low frequency signal.

Abstract: A first Core Network (CN) node (e.g., Gateway GPRS Support Node), a second CN node (e.g., Serving GPRS Support Node) and a wireless access node (e.g., Base Station Subsystem) are described herein that are configured to efficiently deliver a network triggered report notification to a wireless device (e.g., Internet of Things device).

Abstract: Provided is a method that de-multiplexes a bit stream to extract intra prediction mode information and residual signals, restores an intra prediction mode of a current prediction unit using the intra prediction information and intra prediction modes of prediction units adjacent to the current prediction unit, generates reference pixels using one or more available reference pixel if there exist unavailable reference pixels of the prediction unit, adaptively filters the reference pixels based on the restored intra prediction mode, generates a prediction block using the restored intra prediction mode and the reference pixels, decodes the residual signal to generating a residual block, and generates a reconstructed block using the prediction block and the residual block. Accordingly, additional bits resulted from increase of a number of intra prediction mode are effectively reduced. Also, an image compression ratio can be improved by generating a prediction block similar to an original block.