Abstract: The present disclosure provides to a novel continuous processing method to prepare sheets comprising cellulose nanofibril (CNF) and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC). Single screw extrusion was utilized to continuously process mechanically fibrillated cellulose nanofibrils (CNF) into sheets. Water-retention ability and stability of CNF suspensions containing different processing aids was assessed through centrifugation and zeta potential analysis. Subsequently, highly loaded pastes (up to ˜25 wt. % total solids content) containing the best performing processing aids (carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), xanthan gum (XG), and anionic polyacrylamide (aPAM)) and CNF were prepared using a Brabender with Banbury mixer-head at a dry weight ratio of either 0.1 to 1 or 0.15 to 1, respectively. Validation of the mixing procedure proved that highly loaded CNF pastes can be processed in under 40 minutes, saving up to 40 days in preparation and drying time.

Abstract: A hydrokinetic turbine system for harvesting energy from riverine and tidal sources, including a first floating dock, a marine hydrokinetic turbine mounted on the first floating dock, and a second floating dock. The system further includes a winch assembly mounted on the second floating dock and operationally connected to the first floating dock and a linkage assembly operationally connected to the first floating dock and to the second floating dock. The linkage assembly may be actuated to pull the first floating dock into contact with the second floating dock. The linkage assembly may be actuated to distance the first floating dock from the second floating dock, and the winch assembly may be energized to orient the first floating dock into a position wherein the marine hydrokinetic turbine is above the first floating dock and wherein the winch assembly may be energized to orient the first floating dock into a position wherein the marine hydrokinetic turbine is below the first floating dock.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to recombinant HIV Env polypeptides and their use in the treatment and prevention of HIV/AIDS.

Abstract: Provided are an apparatus and method for recognizing whether an action objective is achieved. The apparatus includes a video feature extraction module configured to receive a video and output a video feature sequence through an operator, such as a convolution operator, an action case memory module configured to compress and store action case information for each action type and each of success and failure groups transmitted from the video feature extraction module and return the action case information according to a query including a pair of an action type and whether the action is successful, and an action success or failure determination module configured to receive a pair of a video feature sequence and an action type identifier and output whether an action of the given video feature sequence is successful in connection with the action case memory module.

Abstract: A vehicle control system for optimizing the energy consumption of a vehicle over the vehicle lifetime. The vehicle control system includes: a rechargeable electric battery; a mechanical component; and a processing circuitry configured to cause the vehicle control system to: determine a battery wear value of the rechargeable electric battery; determine a mechanical component wear value of the mechanical component; and determine a target temperature value of the rechargeable electric battery based on the battery wear value and the mechanical component wear value.

Abstract: The application provides new compositions and methods for stimulating the production of natural killer (NK) cells in a subject. NK cells can be selectively expanded with a combination of stimulating ligands. Methods and compositions for the administration of stimulatory ligands modified to self-insert into tumor cells, thereby stimulating an increase in the number of NK cells in proximity to a tumor, are also described.

Abstract: The widespread utilization and growing demand for radiopharmaceuticals are attributable to the development and availability of a range of radiopharmaceuticals. The present disclosure describes methods of making 3-dimensional nano-porous, micro-porous, meso-porous, or macro-porous materials. The present disclosure also describes methods of irradiating and separating isotopes using the 3-dimensional nano-porous, micro-porous, meso-porous, or macro-porous materials.

Abstract: Provided is a method of managing a data history and a device performing the method. The method of managing the data history includes generating second data based on first data, calculating a second hash value for the second data based on the second data and a first hash value for the first data, and storing the second hash value on a blockchain network to verify the second data, and a history of the first data is verified using the first hash value stored on the blockchain network.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes digital watermark detection systems and methods. In one such system, a plurality of intellectual property cores are integrated on a system-on-chip, such that the intellectual property cores comprise a first intellectual property core and a second intellectual property core. The system further includes a first network interface connected to the first intellectual property core that can encode a first digital watermark into a packet stream designated for the second intellectual property core. The system further includes a second network interface connected to the second intellectual property core that can receive the packet stream and decode the packet stream to generate a second digital watermark. The second network interface is further configured to perform a validation test on the packet stream and deliver the packet stream to the second intellectual property core when the first digital watermark is determined to match the second digital watermark.

Abstract: The present disclosure refers to direct current-to-direct current (DC-DC) converters and power supplies including the same. In an embodiment, a DC-DC converter includes a first switching circuit, a second switching circuit, a fourth capacitor coupled to a second node, and an inductor-capacitor (LC) filter coupled to a third node. The first switching circuit includes a first transistor coupled between a first capacitor and an input node, a second transistor coupled between the first capacitor and a second capacitor, a third transistor coupled between a first node and a third capacitor, and a fourth transistor coupled between the third capacitor and a ground node. The second switching circuit includes a fifth transistor coupled between the second capacitor and the third capacitor, a sixth transistor and a seventh transistor coupled between the first capacitor and the third capacitor, and an eighth transistor coupled between the first capacitor and the ground node.

Abstract: A method of searching a cell in a mobile station of a communication system in which a plurality of cells are grouped into a plurality of cell groups, each cell group including at least two cells, includes: detecting a primary synchronization signal and a secondary synchronization signal from a received signal; and identifying a cell based on a combination of the primary synchronization signal and the secondary synchronization signal. The secondary synchronization signal is related to the cell group to which the mobile station belongs and the primary synchronization signal is related to the cell to which the mobile station belongs within the cell group.

Abstract: A conductive composite material of graphene contains graphene nano-sheets and conjugated copolymers. The conjugated copolymers has alkynyl groups and are in a linear structure and grafted to the graphene nano-sheets. The preparation of conductive composite material includes the steps of: pretreating the graphene nano-sheets with 4-bromobenzenediazonium tetrafluoroborate, and forming the conjugated copolymers in the presence of the pretreated graphene nano-sheets. The conductive composite material of graphene can be uniformly dispersed in an electrode slurry, reduce the internal resistance of an electrode, and improve the electrical conductivity of an electrode. At the same time, the flexible structure associated with the graphene nano-sheets can buffer the volume expansion of the silicon-containing negative materials during charge-discharge cycling. Such a composite material can be in a lithium-ion battery.

Abstract: A porous composite structure including a substrate including a plurality of nanostructures; a particle layer disposed on a surface of the substrate; and a liquid, a method of preparing the porous composite structure, an article including the porous composite structure, and an air purifier including the porous composite structure.

Abstract: An electromagnetic wave guidance and beam reshaping structure is favorable to incorporate a radiation source antenna into an energy focusing system. The electromagnetic wave guidance and beam reshaping structure includes a substrate, a plurality of metal patterns and a plurality of hollow structures. The substrate includes a central portion and a peripheral portion that surrounds the central portion. The plurality of metal patterns are disposed on the central portion. The plurality of hollow structures are disposed in the peripheral portion. The metal patterns are axisymmetrically arranged with respect to a central axis of the substrate, and the hollow structures are axisymmetrically arranged with respect to the central axis of the substrate.

Abstract: This document relates to materials and methods for treating fibrosis (e.g., pulmonary fibrosis). For example, this document provides methods for using one or more fatty acid synthase (FASN) inhibitors to treat a mammal having fibrosis (e.g., pulmonary fibrosis), and/or a complication associated with fibrosis (e.g., hypoxia caused by pulmonary fibrosis).

Abstract: A horological movement includes an analogue time display, a gear train, a barrel driving the analogue display via the gear train, and an oscillator formed of a resonator, including a balance and a piezoelectric spring, and a mechanical escapement coupling the balance to the gear train. This horological movement further includes an electric energy source which is associated with the electronic control circuit, which is arranged to be able to control the application of an electrical supply voltage to the piezoelectric spring to excite the oscillator to obtain a functional oscillation of the resonator and then to maintain this functional oscillation. The mechanical escapement is an escapement for counting the alternations of the functional oscillation, to pace the running of the horological movement, without the resonator being able to receive from the barrel via this mechanical escapement enough mechanical energy to maintain the functional oscillation.

Abstract: Described herein are non-human organisms for producing triacylglycerol wherein the non-human organism is genetically modified to express a lysophosphatidic acid acyltransferase specific for C16:0-Coenzyme A (C16:0 LPAT) and wherein, once expressed, the C16:0 LPAT is localised in the endoplasmic reticulum. Also described are non-human organisms for producing triacylglycerol in which (a) a lysophosphatidic acid acyltransferase specific for C16:0-Coenzyme A (C16:0 LPAT) is localised in the endoplasmic reticulum; and (b) activity of native endoplasmic reticulum lysophosphatidic acid acyltransferase (ER LPAT) is suppressed or prevented. Further described are non-human organisms in which a chloroplast lysophosphatidic acid acyltransferase (LPAT) is expressed, wherein said chloroplast LPAT lacks a functional chloroplast targeting signal. The disclosure also relates to methods for extracting triacylglycerol from the organisms and the use thereof in infant formula.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are a hybrid download method and apparatus for multiview streaming. The hybrid download method includes requesting a group download for an n?1-th segment from a server, playing an n?3-th segment at a viewpoint VP1 of a viewer, when a group download request for the n?1-th segment is completed, making a group download request for an n-th segment, when a change in a viewpoint of the viewer occurs at a time at which an n?2-th segment is played, playing a low-quality n?2-th segment at a viewpoint VP3, when the group download for the n-th segment is completed, requesting a single download for a high-quality n?1-th segment corresponding to the viewpoint VP3 from the server, and when the single download for the high-quality n?1-th segment corresponding to the viewpoint VP3 is completed, playing the high-quality n?1-th segment at the viewpoint VP3.

Abstract: The present invention includes scalable and cost-effective auxetic foam sensors (AFS) created through conformably coating a thin conductive nanomaterial-sensing layer on a porous substrate having a negative Poisson's ratio. In general, the auxetic foam sensors possess multimodal sensing capability, such as large deformation sensing, small pressure sensing, shear/torsion sensing and vibration sensing and excellent robustness in humidity environment.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for high-precision fire simulation-based virtual fire training interaction that features a fire suppression support virtual fire training interaction that combines a scientific fire simulation (FDS) result expression technology used for fire situation analysis and a real-time interaction technology processing dynamic changes in order to have more realistic training in virtual fire training such as fire suppression.