Abstract: The invention generally relates to mass spectrometers that utilize ionic wind and methods of use thereof.

Abstract: An image encoding/decoding method and apparatus are provided. An image decoding method performed by an image decoding apparatus of the present invention may comprise decoding an indicator indicating whether or not partition information of a current block is derived from partition information of a corresponding block of the current block, obtaining the partition information of the current block based on the decoded indicator, and partitioning the current block based on the obtained partition information.

Abstract: A soft tissue cutting device and methods of cutting soft tissue are disclosed. The soft tissue cutting device includes a blade having a blade working end. One or more balloons are disposed in proximity of the blade working end, and an inflation assembly configured inflate the one or more balloons is included. The inflation assembly includes a fill port in fluid communication with a bellows, and the one or more balloons.

Abstract: Disclosed are a demand management control method and a demand management control apparatus for inducing dynamic participation of a consumer in an energy consumption load management program. The demand management control method refers to a promotion method for expanding an active participation of a consumer through a dynamic order of charging power of a charging load device with respect to a load having a consumption characteristic in an energy accumulation form in a distribution network management area in which an energy charging supply device is installed, and distributes and manages a demand within an energy supply goal of the consumer through a participation promotion. Also, the demand management control method provides changed cost information to the consumer using an incentive through a demand management contribution weight according to an energy demand and supply status and encourages or promotes the dynamic participation of the consumer.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an image encoding/decoding method. The image decoding method includes a step of comparing block vector information included in a history-based candidate list with a block vector of a neighboring block used as an intra block copy (IBC) block vector candidate for IBC prediction of a current block, and a step of adding the block vector information included in the history-based candidate list to an IBC block vector candidate list based on the comparing. The step of comparing is performed only with respect to a candidate lastly included in the history-based candidate list.

Abstract: An image decoding method is disclosed in the present specification. An image decoding method according to the present invention may comprise deriving a candidate list for inter-prediction of a current block, deriving motion information of the current block by using the candidate list, deriving a cumulative coding information candidate by using the motion information of the current block, inserting the derived cumulative coding information candidate into a cumulative coding information candidate list and updating the candidate list by using the cumulative coding information candidate list, wherein the updated candidate list is used for inter-prediction of a block to be decoded after the current block.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of decoding an image. The method includes generating an inter prediction block by performing inter prediction with respect to a current block, generating an intra prediction block by performing intra prediction with respect to the current block, determining a first weight and a second weight, and generating a final prediction block by respectively applying the first weight and the second weight to the inter prediction block and the intra prediction block. The generating of the intra prediction block includes generating the intra prediction block using a predefined intra prediction mode.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a photovoltaic (PV) device that includes a first junction constructed with a first alloy and having a bandgap between about 1.0 eV and about 1.5 eV, and a second junction constructed with a second alloy and having a bandgap between about 0.9 eV and about 1.3 eV, where the first alloy includes III-V elements, the second alloy includes III-V elements, and the PV device is configured to operate in a thermophotovoltaic system having an operating temperature between about 1500° C. and about 3000° C.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for metadata management and collection, which includes a settings managing unit that generates setting information of data obtained from a data source, a source managing unit that generates source information associated with the data source, a job managing unit that starts or stops a data collection job based on the source information, an object collecting unit that requests an external system for a list of metadata based on the setting information and the source information, a metadata importing unit that imports metadata from the list of the metadata based on the setting information and the source information, a data downloading unit that downloads target metadata of the imported metadata based on the setting information and the source information, and a queue managing unit that generates a data queue depending on a request of the job managing unit.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) polypeptides, which can be used with adoptive cell transfer to target and kill cancers, that comprise a co-stimulatory signaling region having a mutated form of a cytoplasmic domain of CD28 that enhances CAR-T cell function, e.g. by reducing CAR-T cell exhaustion. Also disclosed are immune effector cells, such as T cells or Natural Killer (NK) cells, that are engineered to express these CARs. Therefore, also disclosed are methods of providing an anti-tumor immunity in a subject with a tumor associated antigen-expressing cancer that involves adoptive transfer of the disclosed immune effector cells engineered to express the disclosed CARs.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and other embodiments described herein relate to evaluating a perception network in relation to the accuracy of depth estimates and object detections. In one embodiment, a method includes segmenting range data associated with an image according to bounding boxes of objects identified in the image to produce masked data. The method includes comparing the masked data with corresponding depth estimates in the depth map according to an evaluation mask that correlates the depth estimates with the depth map. The method includes providing a metric that quantifies the comparing to assess a network that generated the depth map and the bounding boxes.

Abstract: A method for conditioning a component of a wafer processing chamber is provided. The component is placed in an ultrasonic conditioning solution in an ultrasonic solution tank. Ultrasonic energy is applied through the ultrasonic conditioning solution to the component to clean the component. The component is submerged in a megasonic conditioning solution in a tank. Megasonic energy is applied through the megasonic conditioning solution to the component to clean the component.

Abstract: Compounds represented by general Formulae I to IV as described herein are disclosed. Further disclosed are composition utilizing the herein disclosed compounds and using the same for the treatment of glycogen storage disorders.

Abstract: Methods of diagnosing and/or monitoring tuberculosis (TB) in a subject by analyzing a test sample comprising at least one volatile organic compound (VOC) or semi-volatile organic compound (SVOC) emitted or excreted from the skin of the subject. The test sample can be analyzed by a sensing unit comprising nanomaterials- and/or polymer-based sensors. Further provided is a skin-mountable device comprising a fixing unit and said sensing unit. Also discloses a method of diagnosing and/or monitoring tuberculosis, comprising analyzing specific skin-emitted VOCs or SVOCs, which are indicative of tuberculosis in a subject.

Abstract: Mixed-phase TiO2 nanofibers prepared via a sol-gel technique followed by electrospinning and calcination are provided as photocatalysts. The calcination temperature is adjusted to control the rutile phase fraction in TiO2 nanofibers relative to the anatase phase. Post-calcined TiO2 nanofibers composed of 38 wt % rutile and 62 wt % anatase exhibited the highest initial rate constant of UV photocatalysis. This can be attributed to the combined influences of the fibers' specific surface areas and their phase compositions.

Abstract: An assembling kit for installing intramedullary nail is provided, which is suitable for assisting in fixing a securing member to at least one fixing hole of an intramedullary nail placed in a bone. The assembling kit for installing intramedullary nail includes a drilling member, a guiding member and a hole-reaming member. The drilling member is configured to form an opening on a surface of the bone and has a tapping portion. A diameter of the tapping portion is greater than a diameter of the fixing hole. The guiding member is configured to be put into the fixing hole along a central axis. The hole-reaming member is sleeved on the guiding member and is configured to ream the opening to form a mounting hole. The hole-reaming member has a reaming portion, and a diameter of the reaming portion is greater than the diameter of the tapping portion.

Abstract: A system for performing a bevel cleaning process on a substrate includes a substrate support including an electrode and a plurality of plasma needles arranged around a perimeter of the substrate support. The plasma needles are in fluid communication with a gas delivery system and are configured to supply reactive gases from the gas delivery system to a bevel region of the substrate when the substrate is arranged on the substrate support and electrically couple to the electrode of the substrate support and generate plasma around the bevel region of the substrate.

Abstract: A treatment system includes an insert that is resiliently deflectable. The tip portion of the insert can be configured to be coupled to the trailing portion of an implant. A guide tube having an internal lumen is configured to permit passage of the tip portion and the body portion of the insert through a guide tube. The guide tube can have a length that is less than that of the insert. Treatment systems include a plurality of inserts, each insert differing from in at least one of length, diameter, and curvature. Treating a patient can include sizing a fistula using an insert.

Abstract: A bundled cable assembly comprises groups of jumpers arranged to define a main section and terminal sections that each extend from the main section. The main section includes a plurality of tap locations at spaced apart locations along a length of the main section. At least some of the jumpers are bundled together in the main section between the tap locations. The terminal sections each extend from one of the tap locations. Each of the jumpers includes a first jumper end in one of the terminal sections and a second jumper end in another of the terminal sections. The groups of jumpers are arranged such that each of the terminal sections comprises the first jumper ends the jumpers from a respective group of the groups of jumpers and at least one second jumper end from each of the other groups of jumpers.

Abstract: A method for predicting mass of heavy vehicles based on networked operating data and machine learning includes: collecting operating data; extracting speed, engine output torque, satellite elevation, and gear position under a driving condition; determining a transmission ratio of the heavy vehicle based on the gear position; filtering the speed, engine output torque, and the satellite elevation using three of the plurality of filtering parameters; determining a filtered vehicle longitudinal acceleration under the driving condition using the filtered speed, and one of the plurality of filtering parameters; determining a filtered road gradient sine value under the driving condition using the filtered speed, satellite elevation, and one of the plurality of filtering parameters; and inputting the speed, engine output torque, vehicle longitudinal acceleration, road gradient sine value, and transmission ratio into a vehicle mass prediction model to obtain a predicted mass.