Abstract: A controller for voltage regulators providing power to computer processors may control the number of active phases of each voltage regulator according to a determined electrical current demand from the processor. By relying on electrical current demand rather than a P-state, the latter generally indicating a power conservation status, improved regulator efficiencies may be had, in particular responding to situations where low current demand occurs under heavy processor demand because of C-state variations.

Abstract: A substrate etching system includes an etching control module, a filtering module, and an endpoint module. The etching control module selectively begins plasma etching of a substrate within an etching chamber. The filtering module, during the plasma etching of the substrate: receives a signal including endpoint information; decomposes the signal using empirical mode decomposition (EMD); and generates a filtered signal based on results of the EMD. The endpoint module indicates when an endpoint of the plasma etching of the substrate has been reached based on the filtered signal. The etching control module ends the plasma etching of the substrate in response to the indication that the endpoint of the plasma etching of the substrate has been reached.

Abstract: An adaptation technique for decoding low-density parity-check (LDPC) codes for hard disk drive (HDDs) systems is disclosed. The method includes tuning the normalization factor for LDPC decoding for each data zone and read head during the test stage of manufacturing. The LDPC decoder can be either a sum-product algorithm (SPA) decoder or a Min-Sum decoder. The channel detector can be any soft-output detector, such as a soft-output Viterbit detector (SOVA), a BCJR detector, a pattern-dependent noise-predictive (PDNP) detector, or a bi-directional pattern-dependent noise-predictive (BiPDNP) detector. The adaptation technique can optimize the LDPC decoding performance for each data zone and read head, thereby relaxing the acceptance criteria for hard disk drive read/write heads and disk media, enabling acceptance and use of a much broader range of head and media for hard disk drives.

Abstract: Devices and methods for using changes in the defects in micrometer sized dispersed liquid crystal domains to detect or quantify analytes in a test sample, including endotoxin lipopolysaccharide (LPS), are disclosed. The dispersed liquid crystal microdomains are exposed to the test sample, and any changes in the number of defects in the liquid crystal microdomains are detected by detecting changes in the anchoring configuration of the microdomains. Such changes in anchoring configuration indicate the presence of analyte in the test sample.

Abstract: A light emitting diode includes a semiconductor stacked structure, a substrate, a first electrode, a second electrode and a third electrode. The semiconductor stacked structure includes a first semiconductor layer, a second semiconductor layer and a light emitting layer. A light extraction layer with a roughened structure is formed on the doped semiconductor layer to improve the light emitting efficiency of LED. Furthermore, the strength of the semiconductor stacked structure can be enhanced by the light extraction layer, to improve the reliability of the LED and the production yields of manufacturing process.

Abstract: A device that includes a memristive Akers logic array, wherein the memristive Akers logic array comprises multiple primitive logic cells that are coupled to each other; wherein each primitive logic cell comprises at least one memristive device.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and compositions for the inhibition of modulation of T cell costimulatory pathway by a pathogenic agent, particularly, the inhibition of activation of a T cell costimulatory pathway by a pyrogenic exotoxin. The direct interaction of a superantigen with a specific site within the dimer interface of a CD28 family member is inhibited using immunomodulatory peptides. Specific antagonist immunomodulatory peptides comprise amino acid sequences derived from a dimer interface of a T cell co-stimulatory pathway member, or peptides which comprise an amino acid sequence which specifically binds to an amino acid sequence within the dimer interface of a T cell co-stimulatory pathway member. Compositions comprising said peptides and methods for the treatment of immune-related disorders are also disclosed. Such molecules may be used in screening for a test substance which specifically binds to the CD28 molecule and is capable of antagonizing pyrogenic exotoxin-mediated activation of Th1 lymphocytes.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to apparatuses for focusing ions at or above ambient pressure and methods of use thereof. In certain embodiments, the invention provides an apparatus for focusing ions that includes an electrode having a cavity, at least one inlet within the electrode configured to operatively couple with an ionization source, such that discharge generated by the ionization source is injected into the cavity of the electrode, and an outlet. The cavity in the electrode is shaped such that upon application of voltage to the electrode, ions within the cavity are focused and directed to the outlet, which is positioned such that a proximal end of the outlet receives the focused ions and a distal end of the outlet is open to ambient pressure.

Abstract: According to some aspects, a method of suppressing noise in an environment of a magnetic resonance imaging system is provided. The method comprising estimating a transfer function based on multiple calibration measurements obtained from the environment by at least one primary coil and at least one auxiliary sensor, respectively, estimating noise present in a magnetic resonance signal received by the at least one primary coil based at least in part on the transfer function, and suppressing noise in the magnetic resonance signal using the noise estimate.

Abstract: A system and method for obstacle avoidance during hydrocarbon operations utilizing a non-vertical conduit between a vessel and associated subsea equipment. The system comprises a vessel and a conduit connected to the vessel with a first rotatable apparatus which is constructed and arranged to permit the vessel to rotate with respect to the conduit. The system also comprises a second rotatable apparatus connecting the conduit to subsea equipment secured to the seafloor. The second rotatable apparatus is constructed and arranged to permit the conduit to rotate with respect to the subsea equipment.

Abstract: A system and a method for DNA double-strand break repair in vitro are disclosed. Applications of the disclosed method in multiple areas are also disclosed.

Abstract: A radio measurement apparatus comprising: an array antennal selection unit selecting array antennas corresponding to received signals; a reference path selection unit selecting a reference array antenna; a signal processing unit selecting a reference antenna channel through analysis of signal characteristics measured through two reception channels; a sequential channel multiplex unit determining sequentially inputting received signals of remaining array antennas to output the sequentially input signals to a receiver; and a correction signal input unit compensating amplitude and phase characteristics of the respective reception channels.

Abstract: Provided are a pulse width stretcher and a chirped pulse amplifier including the same. The pulse width stretcher includes first and second multiple reflection mirrors, and a pulse group-delay dispersion block disposed between the first and second multiple reflection mirrors and configured to refract a pulse laser beam to stretch a pulse width of the pulse laser beam.

Abstract: The wet treatment of wafer-shaped articles is improved by utilizing a droplet generator designed to produce a spray of monodisperse droplets. The droplet generator is mounted above a spin chuck, and is moved across a major surface of the wafer-shaped article in a linear or arcuate path. The droplet generator includes a transducer acoustically coupled to its body such that sonic energy reaches a region of the body surrounding the discharge orifices. Each orifice has a width w of at least 1 ?m and at most 200 ?m and a height h such that a ratio of h to w is not greater than 1.

Abstract: According to aspects described herein, methods and systems provided by the present invention for hydrogen gas production include a RED stack including one or more RED subunits, and use of a saline material including a heat regenerable salt. The salinity driven energy, provided by the one or more RED subunits, completely eliminates the need for an external power source to produce hydrogen gas.

Abstract: Provided are methods for protein engineering, such as engineering proteases or kinases. The methods may utilize yeast display and/or ER sequestration of proteins or substrates. In some aspects, TEV proteases with altered substrate specificity, potency, and/or efficiency are provided.

Abstract: Methods of depositing tungsten in different sized features on a substrate are provided herein. The methods involve depositing a first bulk layer of tungsten in the features, etching the deposited tungsten, depositing a second bulk tungsten, which is interrupted to treat the tungsten after the smaller features are completely filled, and resuming deposition of the second bulk layer after treatment to deposit smaller, smoother tungsten grains into the large features. The methods also involve depositing tungsten in multiple cycles of dep-etch-dep, where each cycle targets a group of similarly sized features using etch chemistry specific for that group, and depositing in groups from smallest sized features to the largest sized features. Deposition using methods described herein produce smaller, smoother grains with void-free fill for a wide range of sized features in a substrate.

Abstract: A method for coding and identification of biological samples for in vitro fertilization comprises the steps of applying to receptacles intended for unfertilized eggs and sperm, respectively, an identification code characteristic of the patient; placing unfertilized eggs and sperm, respectively, in the receptacles; storing, transporting and admixing the respective samples in receptacles which each carry the same code; and implanting the resulting embryo in the patient. The identification code may based on RFID technology, in which sample vessels (12) are codified by the application of an RFID tag (13).

Abstract: Potable drinking water is a scarce resource in many parts of developing countries, especially rural areas. Due to limited financial means of these countries, low cost point-of-use systems are thought to be appropriate technology to treat water. Systems using solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation could be successful since many vulnerable countries are located where solar radiation is intense and abundant throughout the year. The goal of this disclosure is to develop a simple and low cost point-of-use solar UV reactor to disinfect water. In this disclosure wavelength-dependent microbial dose-response behavior was investigated using surrogates to pathogenic microbes. A solar radiation prediction method based on the SMARTS model was used to predict solar UV intensity as function of geographic location and time. A numerical modeling procedure using the discrete ordinate (DO) model and CFD software (FLUENT) was used to simulate UV dose (distribution) delivery to microorganisms.

Abstract: Nucleic acid sequence encoding Allium fistulosum leaf agglutinin (AFAL) is disclosed. The invention provides Allium fistulosum leaf agglutinin (AFAL) recombinant protein, its encoding nucleotides, primers and the process of preparation thereof, said recombinant protein is useful for insect control and haemagglutination activity. AFAL is found more toxic to sap sucking insect pest Aphis gossypii (cotton aphid) and Bemisia tabaci (whiteflies) as compared to known Allium sativum leaf agglutinin. AFAL can be used in the development of transgenic plants for resistance against sap sucking and chewing pests.