Abstract: The invention provides a water purification system or a water treatment system comprising carbon nanotubes, as well as methods for purifying or treating water using the systems of the invention.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a SSZ/SDC bi-layer electrolyte solid oxide fuel cell, comprising the steps of: fabricating an NiO-YSZ anode substrate from a mixed NiO and yttria-stabilized zirconia by tape casting; sequentially depositing a NiO-SSZ buffer layer, a thin SSZ electrolyte layer and a SDC electrolyte on the NiO-YSZ anode substrate by a particle suspension coating or spraying process, wherein the layers are co-fired at high temperature to densify the electrolyte layers to at least about 96% of their theoretical densities; and painting/spraying a SSC-SDC slurry on the SDC electrolyte to form a porous SSC-SDC cathode. A SSZ/SDC bi-layer electrolyte cell device and a method of using such device are also discussed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a small size thermal conductivity measuring apparatus of a pellet type hydrogen storage alloy, a measuring method, and an analysis system. More specifically, a small size thermal conductivity measuring device of a hydrogen storage alloy pellet, includes: a measurement sample unit which is a target to be measured and is configured by a hydrogen storage alloy pellet; a reference material unit in which one surface is configured to be in contact with one surface of the measurement sample unit and a mounting groove is formed one side of the contact surface; and a thermal probe which is mounted in the mounting groove to measure a thermal conductivity of the measurement sample unit based on a temperature change.

Abstract: Methods for modeling a 3-dimensional (3D) object, comprising operating at least one hardware processor for, receiving a 3D volumetric model of the object, receiving a 3D model of a tile, paving multiple ones of the tiles in the interior domain of the 3D volumetric model, and providing a 3D filled model of the filled inner volume of the 3D volumetric model are provided. Computer program products and systems for doing same are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides members that produce on a large scale a coenzyme-linked glucose dehydrogenase which has excellent substrate-recognizing ability toward glucose while providing low action on maltose. The present invention relates to a polynucleotide encoding a soluble coenzyme-linked glucose dehydrogenase that catalyzes the oxidation of glucose in the presence of an electron acceptor and has an activity toward maltose of 5% or lower; a polypeptide encoded by the nucleotide sequence of the polynucleotide; a recombinant vector carrying the polynucleotide; a transformed cell produced using the recombinant vector; a method for producing a polypeptide comprising culturing the transformed cell and collecting from the cultivated products a polypeptide that links to FAD to exert the glucose dehydration activity; a method for determination of glucose using the polypeptide; a reagent composition for determination of glucose; and a biosensor.

Abstract: A process of depositing zirconium oxide (ZrO2) layers possessing dual properties of anti-reflection and passivation of silicon surfaces, including passivation of n-type and p-type silicon substrates. To grow a ZrO2 anti-reflection passivation layer, a precursor layer of zirconium oxide is spun on a silicon surface then dried, pyrolyzed and fired at suitable contact firing conditions, avoiding additional deposition. Thermal annealing in a hydrogen environment improves passivation quality of ZrO2 layer to a level 3-4 times higher than that of fired films alone. ZrO2 dielectric passivation layers exhibit improved passivation quality after illumination due to photo-enhanced passivation and higher passivation quality at higher thermal budget suitable for screen printed metal contact firing, unlike standard PECVD deposited passivation layers. The method is adaptable for fabrication of silicon solar cells and other structures utilizing passivated layers.

Abstract: Devices for imparting vibration to implanted devices to reduce accumulation of biofilm thereon including a vibration tip, the vibration tip being sized and shaped to couple to a vibrator and receive a vibration therefrom, wherein the vibration tip is sized and shaped to conduct the vibration from the vibrator to an implanted device are disclosed. Methods of inhibiting biofilm formation including abutting a vibration source against an implanted device, and activating the vibration source to impart vibration to the implanted device thereby inhibiting a formation of biofilm on the implanted device are also disclosed.

Abstract: An intra prediction method according to the present invention comprises the following steps: performing a directional prediction using at least one of a neighboring pixel of a current block and a left upper corner pixel positioned at a left upper corner of the current block so as to obtain a first prediction value for the current block; obtaining a second prediction value for the current block using the reference sample positioned in the current block; and weighted summing the first prediction value and the second prediction value using a weighting matrix so as to obtain a final prediction value for the current block. According to the present invention, image encoding/decoding efficiency may be improved.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides compositions and methods for the delivery of immune cells to treat un-resectable or non-resected tumor cells and tumor relapse. The compositions comprise (i) a structure comprising an injectable polymer or scaffold comprising pores; (ii) lymphocytes disposed within the structure, (iii) at least one lymphocyte-adhesion moiety associated with the structure; and (iv) at least one lymphocyte-activating moiety associated with the structure, and optionally an immune stimulant.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to chuck technology for supporting semiconductor wafers during processing. In one example, a wafer chuck assembly comprises a chuck hub and a centering hub disposed within the chuck hub. An engagement device is operable between an engaged position and a disengaged position respectively to engage the chuck hub with the centering hub to prevent relative movement therebetween in at least a first direction, or to allow relative movement therebetween. A chuck motor is provided for selectively rotating the chuck hub and/or the centering hub during a wafer processing operation and a wafer centering operation based on an engaged or disengaged position of the engagement device. A plurality of chuck arms is mounted to the chuck hub, each chuck arm extending radially between a proximal end adjacent the chuck hub, and a distal end remote therefrom.

Abstract: A system and method for automated characterization of solid tumors using medical imaging. The system comprises an interface that is configured to acquire data from medical imaging devices, one or more processors, and an outputting device that reports the characterization of said solid tumor. The method of automated characterization, which is implemented by the system, acquires a sequence of images from the medical imager using a Dynamic Contrast Enhanced (DCE) imaging protocol, performs image registration, detects the contour of the solid tumor, and dividing the contours to segments. For each segment, the method calculating a displacement of the contrast material, fitting the displacement to a flow model and extracting an estimation of the interstitial fluid velocity.

Abstract: Systems and methods which provide for accurate decoding of a received channel signal when station identifier information is unknown. Embodiments accurately decode a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH), such as to obtain downlink control information (DCI), without knowing radio network temporary identifier (RNTI) information. An unknown station identifier information (USII) of embodiments uses redundancy reduction-based error checking (performing error checking between data decoded from a candidate control channel data block containing redundant data and a portion of that candidate control channel data block containing redundancy reduced data) for implementing decoding when station identifier information is unknown. Embodiments of a USII decoder may use a power detection technique for identifying candidate control channel data blocks used in redundancy reduction-based error checking operation.

Abstract: Various embodiments may provide a polarization device for polarizing electromagnetic waves. The polarization device may include a stacked arrangement including a medium and an anti-reflection coating in contact with the medium. The polarization device may also include a periodic array of polarization elements in contact with the medium. The polarization device may be configured to, based on an electric response and a magnetic response of the periodic array of the polarization elements, transmit first polarized electromagnetic waves having a first polarization and reflect second polarized electromagnetic waves having a second polarization upon receiving the electromagnetic waves.

Abstract: The present invention disclosed novel epoxy novolac composite comprising environmentally friendly toughening agents based on bio-derived chemicals namely, Difunctional glycidyl ether epoxy resin (Cardolite NC-514) and Polyglycidyl ether of an alkenyl phenol formaldehyde novolac resin (Cardolite NC-547) used for the toughening of epoxy novolac resin namely Poly[(phenyl glycidyl ether)-co-formaldehyde] [PPGEF].

Abstract: A QCL may include a substrate, and a sequence of semiconductor epitaxial layers adjacent the substrate and defining an active region, an injector region adjacent the active region, and a waveguide optically coupled to the active region. The active region may include stages, each stage having an upper laser level and a lower laser level defining respective first and second wavefunctions. The upper laser level may have an upper laser level average coordinate, and the lower laser level may have a lower laser level average coordinate. The upper laser level average coordinate and the lower laser level average coordinate may have spacing of less than 10 nm. Wave functions for all active region energy levels located below the lower laser level may have greater than 10% overlap with the injector region.

Abstract: An optoelectronic semiconductor light source includes a semiconductor chip configured to emit primary radiation, a Bragg mirror, and a luminescence conversion element configured to convert at least part of the primary radiation into secondary radiation having a longer wavelength, wherein the Bragg mirror is arranged between the semiconductor chip and the luminescence conversion element, the Bragg mirror is reflective for the secondary radiation and transmissive for the primary radiation, the Bragg mirror includes reflector layers of at least three different materials with different refractive indices, the Bragg mirror includes at least two different kinds of layer pairs, each kind of layer pairs being made up of reflective layers of two different materials, and the different kinds of layer pairs having different Brewster angles for p-polarized radiation.

Abstract: Wireless, variable inductance and resonant circuit-based vascular monitoring devices, systems, methodologies, and techniques are disclosed that can be used to assist healthcare professionals in predicting, preventing, and diagnosing various heart-related and other health conditions.

Abstract: Semiconductor structures and fabrication methods are provided. An exemplary fabrication method includes providing a base substrate including a plurality of fins on a semiconductor substrate; forming a gate layer across the fins; forming a P-type doped epitaxial layer in the fins at both sides of the gate layer in a PMOS region of the semiconductor substrate; forming an N-region mask layer on top and sidewall surfaces of the fins in the NMOS region and covering the P-type doped epitaxial layer; forming an N-region trench; forming an N-type doped epitaxial layer by filling the N-region trench; forming an interlayer dielectric layer over the semiconductor substrate; forming a contact opening to expose the P-type doped epitaxial layer and the N-type doped epitaxial layer; and performing an N-type dopant segregated Schottky (DSS) doping process on a portion of the N-type doped epitaxial layer exposed by the contact opening.

Abstract: A control system for controlling a plant includes a local controller to generate local control commands according to a local control policy to control the plant and a receiver to received remote control commands generated by a remote controller to control the plant according to remote control policy. Local and remote control policies are designed for the same control objective and time resolution such that there is the same Lyapunov function having a negative definite time derivative for controlling the plant according to first or second control policies. The plant is controller with either remote or local control commands in dependence of a success of receiving a remote control command for a time step of the control.

Abstract: The subject invention concerns materials and methods for treating a person or animal having cognitive impairment. In one embodiment, the method comprises administering an effective amount of one or more inflammatory mediator(s), for example, fms-related tyrosine kinase 3 (Flt3) ligand, interleukin-6 (IL-6), macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF), interleukin-1 (IL-1), interleukin-3 (IL-3), erythropoietin (EPO), vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A), hypoxia-inducible transcription factor (HIF-1alpha), insulin like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), tumor necrosis factor (TNF), granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF), Stem Cell Factor (SCF), Darbepoetin (ARANESP), and metalloproteinases, to an animal or person in need of treatment.