Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a wearable water triboelectric generator, wherein the water triboelectric generator comprises a first substrate having a first surface and a second surface, wherein the first surface and the second surface are opposing to each other; and wherein the first surface comprises a modified hydrophobic surface comprising a coating of hydrophobic cellulose oleoyl ester nanoparticles. There is also provided a wearable dual mode water and contact triboelectric generator comprising said water triboelectric generator and a contact triboelectric generator, wherein the water triboelectric generator and the contact triboelectric generator are arranged such that the first substrate of the water triboelectric generator completely surrounds or encapsulates the contact triboelectric generator.

Abstract: A method of producing an artificial neural network capable of predicting the survivability of a patient, including: storing in an electronic database patient health data comprising a plurality of sets of data, each set having at least one of a first parameter relating to heart rate variability data and a second parameter relating to vital sign data, each set further having a third parameter relating to patient survivability; providing a network of nodes interconnected to form an artificial neural network, the nodes comprising a plurality of artificial neurons, each artificial neuron having at least one input with an associated weight; and training the artificial neural network using the patient health data such that the associated weight of the at least one input of each artificial neuron is adjusted in response to respective first, second and third parameters of different sets of data from the patient health data.

Abstract: An inkjet printable ionic conductive ink for producing a touch sensor device is provided. The inkjet printable ionic conductive ink includes a hydrophilic polymer and an ionic salt, a mixture of solvents in which the hydrophilic polymer and the ionic salt are dissolved therein to form a solution, and a surfactant to render the solution inkjet printable. A method of producing the inkjet printable ionic conductive ink is also provided. The method includes dissolving a hydrophilic polymer and an ionic salt in a mixture of solvents to form a solution, and mixing the solution with a surfactant to render the solution inkjet printable. A touch sensor panel comprising the ionic conductive ink and a method of producing the touch sensor panel are also provided.

Abstract: Here disclosed is a composite catalyst for methane cracking and a method of producing the composite catalyst.

Abstract: There is provided a method of performing authentication for a transaction between first and second devices. The method includes: generating a first random number and encrypting it based on a first key of a first private-public key pair; sending the encrypted first random number to the server; receiving a transaction identifier for the transaction, the first random number and a second random number, wherein the transaction identifier, the first random number and the second random number are encrypted based on a first key of a second private-public key pair; decrypting the encrypted transaction identifier, the encrypted first random number and the encrypted second random number based on a second key of the second private-public key pair; and sending the transaction identifier, and the second random number to the second device for authenticating the first device for the transaction. There is also provided a corresponding device and system.

Abstract: In one example in accordance with the present disclosure, a system is described. The system includes a reader to extract cleaning instructions associated with a three-dimensional (3D) printed object. The cleaning instructions include a termination condition to indicate when object cleaning is complete. The system also includes a controller to instruct at least one cleaning device to clean the 3D printed object based on the cleaning instructions. A measurement system of the system determines when the termination condition is met.

Abstract: A block copolymer consists mainly of structural units each derived from an ethylenically unsaturated monomer and has at least one mercapto group. The block copolymer has an Mn of 5,000-500,000 and has a block structure, which is an A-B-A triblock structure or a star-shaped block structure of [A-B]qX. The q is an integer of 2-6. The polymer block (A) has a glass transition temperature of 20° C. or higher. The polymer block (B) of the triblock structure has a glass transition temperature lower than 20° C., and the [polymer block (B)]qX of the star-shaped block structure has a glass transition temperature lower than 20° C. The X is an initiator residue or/and a coupling-agent residue or is a derivative thereof.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of facilitating straining of a semiconductor element (331) for semiconductor fabrication. In a described embodiment, the method comprises: providing a base layer (320) with the semiconductor element (331) arranged on a first base portion (321) of the base layer (320), the semiconductor element (331) being subjected to a strain relating to a characteristic of the first base portion (321); and adjusting the characteristic of the first base portion (321) to facilitate straining of the semiconductor element (331).

Abstract: Device with isotropic planar compliance comprising a floating body (2) positioned between a first (3) and second frame (4), said floating body having an extended portion (21) protruding through the first frame, at least a row of caged balls (5) supporting the floating body, at least one elastic element (6) positioned over the extended portion of the floating body, compressed between and connecting the floating body and the first frame. Said caged balls allow the at least one elastic element to laterally deform, so that their axis bends, while the ends of said at least one elastic element lay on two parallel planes, which remain at constant distance while sliding one with respect to the other. The device comprises also at least one displacement sensor (10), for measuring the displacement of the floating body with respect to the first or second frame.

Abstract: A sensor comprising a support and a flexible structure arranged on the support is provided. The flexible structure comprises a frustum-shaped portion having a wider end and a narrower end, wherein the wider end of the frustum-shaped portion is arranged proximal to the support, and an elongated portion extending from the narrower end of the frustum-shaped portion, wherein the flexible structure further comprises a stretchable conducting film arranged on the frustum-shaped portion. A method of preparing such a sensor is also provided.

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: A computer-implemented method includes receiving data generated using at least one sensor of a vehicle; and simultaneously performing multiple different prediction tasks on the data using a multi-task neural network, wherein the multi-task neural network comprises at least one shared parameter inference matrix comprising parameters shared between the multiple different prediction tasks, and the at least one shared parameter inference matrix was over-parameterized during training into at least one shared parameter matrix and multiple task-specific parameter matrices, each of the multiple task-specific parameter matrices being associated with a different one of the multiple different tasks.

Abstract: A magnetic logic device having two magnetic elements and a conductive element coupled to the two magnetic elements and arranged at least substantially perpendicular to the magnetic elements, wherein the device is configured, for each magnetic element, to have a magnetisation state with a perpendicular easy axis, and to switch the magnetisation state in response to a spin current generated in the magnetic element in response to a write current applied to the magnetic element, and configured to generate, as an output, a Hall voltage across the conductive element in response to a respective read current applied to each magnetic element, wherein a magnitude of the Hall voltage is variable, depending on a direction of the magnetisation state of each magnetic element and a direction of the respective read current applied to each magnetic element, for the device to provide outputs corresponding to one of a plurality of logical operations.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of forming a compound of formula I: wherein the substituents are defined in the specification. In particular, the compounds of formula I can be converted to amino acids bearing quaternary stereocenters with exceptional optical purities.

Abstract: A comprehensive system for treatment of wrist joint proprioception. The system includes a manipulandum unit and a controller. The unit includes a base, a handle, a linkage assembly, and motors. The base supports a subject's forearm, and the handle is gripped by the palm. The linkage assembly connects the handle to the base, and establishes three DOFs. The motors are operatively connected to the linkage assembly. The controller is programmed to actuate, and receive feedback information from, each of the plurality of motors. Further, the controller is programmed to perform wrist proprioception assessment operations by actuating the plurality of motors to effectuate movement of the handle relative to the base in a prescribed manner indicative of position motion sense acuity as an objective measure of wrist proprioception functioning. The controller is optionally further programmed to perform rehabilitation training via controlled operation of the unit and a virtually reality environment.

Abstract: Method of preparing a keratin-based biomaterial is provided. The method comprises a) reacting keratin with a polymer having at least one of an amine and carboxylic functional group in the presence of a carbodiimide cross-linking agent to form a cross-linked keratin-polymer material; and b) freeze drying the cross-linked keratin-polymer material to form the keratin-based bio-material. A keratin-based biomaterial thus prepared is also provided.

Abstract: Provided is a block copolymer composition which contains a block copolymer having a specific molecular structure and has a molecular weight distribution within an appropriate range. A polymerizable composition containing a macromonomer (A) which has a group having a radical-reactive unsaturated double bond at one terminal of a poly(meth)acrylate segment, a vinyl monomer (B), and an organic iodine compound (C), or a polymerizable composition containing a macromonomer (A), a vinyl monomer (B), an azo-based radical polymerization initiator (E), and iodine is polymerized to obtain a block copolymer composition containing a block copolymer in which constitutional units of all blocks are derived from vinyl monomers and at least one block has a branched structure.

Abstract: A new type of biomaterial that can be generated from pollen, methods for its production, the various uses thereof in, for example, biological, medicinal, cosmetic, nutritional and printing applications and the materials/devices that comprise this new material are provided. The biomaterial comprises microgels of sporoderm polymer complex microcapsules (SPC-MCs), produced by deproteinizing the pollen from eudicot plants, in particular of genus Baccharis, Helianthus or Camellia, by contacting it with an aqueous base solution at elevated temperatures for up to 10 hours to obtain porous SPC-MCs, and hydrolytically degrading the SPC-MCs by contacting it with an aqueous base solution for periods up to 60 days to obtain microgels of SPC-MCs.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to specific immune-modulatory RNA species that have a small hairpin structure (shRNA), and that can bind to retinoic acid inducible gene I receptor (RIG-I). In particular, said RNA species comprise a nucleotide insertion to create a kink in the stem region. Also encompassed are compositions comprising such shRNA, for use as antiviral or anticancer medication, or as adjuvants in vaccine.

Abstract: An optical method of characterizing an object comprises providing an object to be characterized, the object having at least one nanoscale feature; illuminating the object with coherent plane wave optical radiation having a wavelength larger than the nanoscale feature; capturing a diffraction intensity pattern of the radiation which is scattered by the object; supplying the diffraction intensity pattern to a neural network trained with a training set of diffraction intensity patterns corresponding to other objects with a same nanoscale feature as the object to be characterized, the neural network configured to recover information about the object from the diffraction intensity pattern; and making a characterization of the object based on the recovered information.