Abstract: A fastener includes an elongate fastener body defining a longitudinal axis substantially central thereto. The fastener body has a continuous outer fastener shell laterally surrounding the longitudinal axis. The fastener shell longitudinally separates a fastener head end and a fastener tip end. A tool-engaging feature is provided on the fastener head end. A plurality of teeth are located on the fastener shell and extend substantially laterally outward from the longitudinally axis. The fastener shell is comprised of at least one undulate face and at least one substantially flat face. The plurality of teeth are located only on the undulate faces. Each tooth is longitudinally separated from adjacent teeth along an undulate face. A method of installing the fastener into a receiving structure is also described.

Abstract: A method for optimizing delivery of power to a plasma chamber is described. The method includes dividing each cycle of a low frequency (LF) radio frequency generator (RFG) into multiple time intervals. During each of the time intervals, a frequency offset of a high frequency (HF) RFG is generated for which the delivery of power is maximized. The frequency offsets provide a substantially inverse relationship compared to a voltage signal of the LF RFG for each cycle of the voltage signal. The frequency offsets for the time intervals are multiples of the low frequency. The substantially inverse relationship facilitates an increase in the delivery of power to the electrode. A total range of the frequency offsets from a reference HF frequency over the LF RF cycle depends on a power ratio of power that is supplied by the LF RFG and power that is supplied by the HF RFG.

Abstract: Given an input image, an image enhancement task, and no external examples available to train on, an Image-Specific Deep Network is constructed tailored to solve the task for this specific image. Since there are no external examples available to train on, the network is trained on examples extracted directly from the input image itself. The current solution solves the problem of Super-Resolution (SR), whereas the framework is more general and is not restricted to SR.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for fast and homogeneously heating a liquid product to a predetermined temperature by means of resistive heating. Sufficient and effective microbial inactivation is achieved upon applying an electrical field strength of between 0.1-5.0 kV/cm for a prolonged period of time, thus by selecting a relatively low electrical field strength and a pulse duration of at least 10 microseconds while the maximum temperature of the liquid product autonomously remains below 92° C. during the resistive heating. The present invention further relates to said process wherein the liquid product is pre-heated prior to subjecting the liquid product to the process. The present invention also relates to the liquid product obtainable by the process according to the invention.

Abstract: The present invention provides two-dimensional polymers P1 and P2 of pyromellitic diimide and hexaamino benzene and derivatives thereof, from monomer of Formula (M), which are used to synthesize composites for supercapacitor applications.

Abstract: A method includes receiving data relating to pedestrian activity at one or more locations outside of a crosswalk, analyzing the data, based on the data, identifying at least one location of the one or more locations as a constructive crosswalk, and controlling operation of an autonomous vehicle based on the at least one location of the constructive crosswalk.

Abstract: According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a ring-learning with rounding (LWR)-based quantum-resistant signature method includes: a key generation step of receiving a security parameter, and outputting a signature key and a verification key, via an operation on a ring defined by a cyclotomic equation including three terms; a signature value output step of outputting a signature value based on the output signature key; and a signature verification step of calculating an operation value based on the output verification key and signature value, and verifying a signature based on a result of comparing the output signature value with the calculated operation value.

Abstract: A method for preparing a bifunctional film, including: (a) drying a first polymer solution to form a film to form an anti-adhesion layer, and (b) drying a second polymer solution over the anti-adhesion layer to form a film to form an attachment layer. The first polymer solution includes a first hydrophobic solution and a first hydrophilic solution, and in the first polymer solution, the weight ratio of the solute of the first hydrophobic solution to the solute of the first hydrophilic solution is 1:0.01-1. Moreover, the second polymer solution is composed of a second hydrophilic solution.

Abstract: A proton-exchange membrane includes a polymer matrix, polymer fibers, or a combination thereof. The proton-exchange membrane also includes a proton-conducting material distributed on the polymer matrix, on the polymer fibers, in the polymer fibers, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an alloy-coated steel sheet comprising: a steel sheet, and Al—Mg—Si—Zn alloy layer positioned on the steel sheet, wherein the Al—Mg—Si—Zn alloy layer comprises a Mg—Zn alloy phase, and wherein the Mg—Zn alloy phase comprises MgZn2 and Mg2Zn11, and the Mg—Zn alloy phase further comprises at least one of MgZn, Mg21Zn25, Mg51Zn20 and Mg2Zn3.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices are provided for estimating a state-of-charge in an energy storage system. The systems, methods, and devices may measure a current and a voltage related to the energy storage system, generate a model-based state-of-charge estimate based thereon, generate an aggregated state-of-charge estimate based on the model-based state-of-charge estimate, generate an adaptation current based on the measured current, aggregated state-of-charge estimate, and the adaptive state-of-charge estimate, and update the adaptive state-of-charge estimate based on the measured current and the adaptation current. The systems, methods, and devices may also provide a tracking indication whether the adaptive state-of-charge estimate is tracking between upper and lower confidence limits.

Abstract: A flexible electrode and a fabrication method therefor are provided. The flexible electrode is formed by mixing organic-soft-matrix with inorganic-hard-material. The inorganic-hard-material is composed of silicate lamellar blocks and electrochemically active materials. Each of the silicate lamellar blocks is formed by multiple stacked nano-scaled sheet-like silicate lamellae. The organic-soft-matrix includes conductive polymer and binder. The binder is water-soluble and ionically conductive. The flexible electrode has a floor-ramp like opened-perforated layer structure formed by hierarchically aggregated inorganic silicate lamellar blocks, and pores of the opened-perforated layer structure are filled with the organic-soft-matrix, so as to form a network channel structure having organic phase and inorganic phase interlaced with each other.

Abstract: Methods of treating obesity include administering to a subject in need thereof an effective amount of a therapeutic agent capable of reversing an inhibition of a Na/K-ATPase in a small intestine of a subject, such as a basolateral membrane Na/K-ATPase. Administering the therapeutic agent can further decrease an amount of glucose transport and/or decrease an amount of salt absorption in the small intestine of the subject to thereby treat the obesity. Methods for screening for a compound useful for treating obesity include contacting a small intestine cell with an effective amount of a test compound, and detecting whether an activity level of a Na/K-ATPase in the small intestine cell is increased in the presence of the test compound. The test compound is then identified as a compound useful for the treatment of obesity if the activity level of the Na/K-ATPase is increased in the presence of the test compound.

Abstract: The present invention provides anti-HBV compounds, pharmaceutically acceptable compounds or stereoisomers thereof, and preparation methods and uses for treating, eradicating or inhibiting HBV infection or for alleviating liver injury caused by HBV infection, and so on.

Abstract: A mechanical arm calibration system and a mechanical arm calibration method are provided. The method includes: locating a position of an end point of a mechanical arm in a three-dimensional space to calculate an actual motion trajectory of the end point when the mechanical arm is operating; retrieving link parameters of the mechanical arm, randomly generating sets of particles including compensation amounts for the link parameters through particle swarm optimization (PSO), importing the compensation amounts of each of the sets of particles into forward kinematics after addition of the corresponding link parameters, to calculate an adaptive motion trajectory of the end point; calculating position errors between the adaptive motion trajectory and the actual motion trajectory of each of the sets of particles for a fitness value of the PSO to estimate a group best position; and updating the link parameters by the compensation amounts corresponding to the group best position.

Abstract: The present disclosure is concerned with 2-aminoaryl-5-aryloxazole compounds that are capable of activating NF-?B signaling. The present disclosure is also concerned with methods of using these compounds for the treatment of neurological disorders such as, for example, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, spinal muscular atrophy, traumatic brain injury, vascular dementia, Huntington's disease, mental retardation, and attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and neuromuscular disorders such as, for example, Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present invention.

Abstract: Provided is a monolithic metal-insulator transition device. The monolithic metal-insulator transition device includes a substrate including a driving region and a switching region, first and second source/drain regions on the driving region, a gate electrode between the first and second source/drain regions, an inlet well region formed adjacent to an upper surface of the substrate on the switching region, a control well region having a different conductivity type from the inlet well region between the inlet well region and a lower surface of the substrate, a first wiring electrically connecting the first source/drain region and the control well region, and a second wiring electrically connecting the second source/drain region and the inlet well region.

Abstract: Disclosed are an image encoding method using a skip mode and a device using the method. The image encoding method may comprise the steps of: judging whether there is residual block data of a prediction target block on the basis of predetermined data indicating whether residual block data has been encoded; and, if there is residual block data, restoring the prediction target block on the basis of the residual block data and an intra-screen predictive value of the prediction target block. Consequently, encoding and decoding efficiency can be increased by carrying out the encoding and decoding of screen residual data only for prediction target blocks where there is a need for a residual data block in accordance with screen similarity.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for storing energy in liquid air and releasing the energy through a thermal power cycle, that incorporates liquid carbon dioxide capture and separation from the exhaust stream.