Abstract: Systems, methods and devices for direct conversion of chemical energy into mechanical energy are provided. The system can have a flow of ions, such as between an anode and a cathode. In between the flow of ions, is a membrane, either synthetic or biologically derived. Proteins are bound to that membrane. Further, the proteins are responsive to the ions and undergo a conformational shift, thus using the presence or absence of ions for creating movement. This portion can be referred to as a “kinetic cell”. A portion of the proteins, such as the aqueous portion, can be tethered to a moveable substrate, which translates the motion in the kinetic cell to the exterior. Multiple kinetic cells can be used in coordination to increase the kinetic force generated, analogous to a battery stack.

Abstract: A process to produce an aqueous solution of carbohydrates that contains C6-sugar-containing oligomers, C6 sugar monomers, C5-sugar-containing oligomers, C5 sugar monomers, or any combination thereof is presented. The process includes the steps of reacting biomass or a biomass-derived reactant with a solvent system including a lactone and water, and an acid catalyst. The reaction yields a product mixture containing water-soluble C6-sugar-containing oligomers, C6-sugar monomers, C5-sugar-containing oligomers, C5-sugar monomers, or any combination thereof.

Abstract: An integrated optical module is provided. The optical module includes multi optically-coupled channels, and enables the use thereof in an Artificial Neural Network (ANN). According to some embodiments the integrated optical module includes a multi-core optical fiber, wherein the cores are optically coupled.

Abstract: A membrane for covering a peripheral surface of a stent is provided, the membrane including a plurality of line openings formed therein. Each line opening may be a straight line opening, for example in the form of a slit, a curved line opening, or any line opening of a suitable shape or curvature, e.g. U-shaped or V-shaped. Blood pressure opens the slits to allow blood to flow through the membrane, while curved line openings create a flap in the membrane that can open to allow blood to pass through. According to further embodiments of the present invention, a method of forming a membrane on a stent and a device for use in a blood vessel are provided.

Abstract: Disclosed is a conformable, stretchable and electrical conductive structure, which includes an auxetic structure, and a plurality of electrical conductors. The plurality of electrical conductors being incorporated within the auxetic structure, to form conformable, stretchable electrical interconnects, configured based on a design of the auxetic structure and placement of the electrical conductors incorporated with the auxetic structure.

Abstract: Providing user assistance in a vehicle includes evaluating information about the manual operation of the vehicle and information about an environment surrounding the vehicle, and identifying the driving behavior of the vehicle based on the evaluation of the information about the manual operation of the vehicle and the information about the environment surrounding the vehicle. The user assistance further includes receiving a traffic behavior model that describes a predominating driving behavior of a like population of reference vehicles, and issuing both prospective instructions and remedial instructions to a user on how to make the driving behavior of the vehicle match the predominating driving behavior of the like population of reference vehicles.

Abstract: A cluster tool assembly includes a vacuum transfer module, a process module having a first side connected to the vacuum transfer module. An isolation valve having a first side and a second side, the first side of the isolation valve coupled to a second side of the process module. A replacement station is coupled to the second side of the isolation valve. The replacement station includes an exchange handler and a part buffer. The part buffer includes a plurality of compartments to hold new or used consumable parts. The process module includes a lift mechanism to enable placement of a consumable part installed in the process module to a raised position. The raised position provides access to the exchange handler to enable removal of the consumable part from the process module and store in a compartment of the part buffer. The exchange handler of the replacement station is configured to provide a replacement for the consumable part from the part buffer back to the process module.

Abstract: A RF control circuit is provided and includes a controller, a divider, and a RF sensor. The controller selects a RF, which is a frequency of a reference LO signal. The divider receives a first RF signal detected in a substrate processing chamber and outputs a second RF signal. The first RF signal is generated by a RF generator and supplied to the substrate processing chamber. The RF sensor includes a lock-in amplifier, which includes: a RF path that receives the second RF signal; a LO path that receives the reference LO signal; a first mixer that generates an IF signal based on the second RF signal and the reference LO signal; and a filter that filters the IF signal. The controller generates a control signal based on the filtered IF signal and transmits the control signal to the RF generator to adjust the first RF signal.

Abstract: Various examples are provided for jamming avoidance response (JAR), and photonic implementations thereof. In one example, a method includes generating optical pulses that correspond to raising envelope of a beat signal associated with an interference signal and a reference signal; generating optical spikes that correspond to positive zero crossing points of the reference signal; and providing a phase output that indicates whether the beat signal is leading or lagging the reference signal, the phase output based at least in part upon the optical spikes. An adjustment to a reference frequency can be determined based at least in part upon the optical pulses and the phase output. In another example, a JAR system includes photonic circuitry to generate the optical pulses; photonic circuitry to generate the optical spikes; and photonic circuitry to provide the phase output. A logic unit can determine the adjustment to the reference frequency.

Abstract: The compositions and methods described herein are designed to introduce functionalized microparticles into droplets that can be manipulated in microfluidic devices by fields, including electric (dielectrophoretic) or magnetic fields, and extracted by splitting a droplet to separate the portion of the droplet that contains the majority of the microparticles from the part that is largely devoid of the microparticles. Within the device, channels are variously configured at Y- or T junctions that facilitate continuous, serial isolation and dilution of analytes in solution. The devices can be limited in the sense that they can be designed to output purified analytes that are then further analyzed in separate machines or they can include additional channels through which purified analytes can be further processed and analyzed.

Abstract: Provided is a processor system including a first processor driven by a first driving voltage and a first driving clock, a second processor driven by a second driving voltage and a second driving clock and configured to perform an identical task to the first processor, and a defect detector configured to perform level synchronization or clock domain synchronization on a first output signal provided from the first processor and a second output signal provided from the second processor to compare the first and second output signals, wherein the first and second driving voltages are respectively provided from mutually independent power supply sources and the first and second driving clocks are respectively provided from mutually independent clock generators.

Abstract: A channel access method in an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) control and non-payload communication (CNPC) system is provided. The channel access method may include setting an uplink frequency and a downlink frequency to each of a ground station and an airborne radio station, and performing, by the ground station and the airborne radio station, an initial access using the uplink frequency or the downlink frequency.

Abstract: The disclosure provides helix grafted proteins, methods of producing helix grafted proteins and methods of use of helix grafted proteins as inhibitors of protein-protein interactions involved in disease pathogenesis.

Abstract: Disclosed are a method and an apparatus for image encoding/decoding that support a plurality of layers. The method for image decoding that supports a plurality of layers includes decoding information of a first layer which a picture of a second layer including a current decoding target block refers to; mapping the information of the first layer to a picture size of the second layer, configuring a reference picture list for the picture of the second layer by adding the mapped information of the first layer and generating prediction samples of the current decoding target block by predicting the current decoding target block of the second layer based on the reference picture list, and the information of the first layer includes at least one of a sample value and motion information of the first layer picture.

Abstract: Provided is a double crosslinked sodium alginate/polyvinyl alcohol composite nanofiltration membrane, including: a porous polymer support; and a sodium alginate/polyvinyl alcohol blend coating layer formed on the porous polymer support and having a first crosslinking structure formed by complexation with divalent metal ions and a second crosslinking structure formed by acetalization with aldehyde groups. The double crosslinked sodium alginate/polyvinyl alcohol composite nanofiltration membrane disclosed herein not only shows excellent chlorine resistance but also has improved water permeation flux and salt rejection ratio, and thus may be manufactured in the form of a spirally wound type membrane module and applied to a water treatment system in which it may be utilized for an actual nanofiltration separation process.

Abstract: A hydrophobic alloy film and a manufacturing method thereof are provided. The hydrophobic alloy film includes Al, Cu, O, and at least one selected from the group consisting of Fe, Co, Ni, and Cr, or Ti, Zr, O, and at least one selected from the group consisting of Fe, Co, Ni, and Cr. The content of each of Al and Ti is in the range of 40 at. % to 70 at. %. The content of each of Cu and Zr is in the range of 10 at. % to 40 at. %. The total content of at least one selected from the group consisting of Fe, Co, Ni, and Cr is in the range of 10 at. % to 30 at. %. The content of O is in the range of 10 at. % to 30 at. %. The hydrophobic alloy film has a quasicrystal structure and nanoparticles.

Abstract: A computer-implemented patient information provisioning method is disclosed. The method includes automatically extracting with a computer system, from records maintained for a patient under care in a healthcare facility, information from a electronic medical record; obtaining with the computer system information about a medical ventilator treating the patient; using the information from the electronic medical record and the information about the medical ventilator to determine whether a potentially dangerous condition exists with respect to the ventilator; and electronically alerting a caregiver if it is determined that a potentially dangerous condition exists.

Abstract: A system and method for particulate matter reduction. A diesel particulate filtration system includes an inlet, an outlet, an exhaust path between the inlet and the outlet, a diesel particulate filter positioned in the exhaust path between the inlet and the outlet, and a bypass valve, wherein the diesel particulate filtration system is configured to have a diesel engine operatively coupled to the inlet. The bypass valve being configured to open when a maximum allowable engine backpressure is exceeded. When the bypass valve is closed, exhaust gas including particulate matter passes through the diesel particulate filter. When the bypass valve is open, a portion of the exhaust gas passes through the diesel particulate filter and the remainder of the exhaust gas passes through the bypass valve and at least 40 percent of said particulate matter is removed from said exhaust gas.

Abstract: The present invention refers to a microporous crystalline material, to the method for the production thereof and to the use of same, the material having a composition: xX2O3:zZO2:yYO2 in which: X is a trivalent element such as Al, B, Fe, In, Ga, Cr, or mixtures thereof, where (y+z)/x can have values of between 9 and infinity; Z corresponds to a tetravalent element selected from Si, Ge or mixtures thereof; and Y corresponds to a tetravalent element such as Ti, Sn, Zr, V or mixtures thereof, where z/y can have values of between 10 and infinity.

Abstract: A data object management method and a data object management system are provided. The data object management method includes the following steps. Generate a space allocation list according to an operation parameter of a space consuming device. The space allocation list records information about a plurality of storage spaces. Update the space allocation list and a target storage space. The target storage space is one of the storage spaces. Send a playlist corresponding to the space allocation list when a reading request corresponding to the space consuming device is received.