Abstract: A process is provided for the preparation of value added chemicals such as ethyl levulinate from a glucose or other sugars, catalyzed by a mixture of a Lewis acid catalyst and a Bronsted acid catalyst.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are compositions and methods for modulating cereblon neosubstrates. A small molecule modulator of Formula (I*), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof can be used to modulate cereblon neosubstrates.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are a method and apparatus of broadcast gateway signaling for channel bonding. The apparatus for broadcast gateway signaling includes an input formatting unit configured to generate baseband packets corresponding to channel bonding; and a stream partitioner configured to allocate the baseband packets to two or more RF channels of the channel bonding for generating an outer tunnel data stream, the outer tunnel data stream generated in different ways according to a plurality of operation modes for the channel bonding.

Abstract: In a method of making a carbon fiber, PAN (poly(acrylonitrile-co methacrylic acid)) is dissolved into a solvent to form a PAN solution. The PAN solution is extruded through a spinneret, thereby generating at least one precursor fiber. The precursor fiber is passed through a cold gelation medium, thereby causing the precursor fiber to gel. The precursor fiber is drawn to a predetermined draw ratio. The precursor fiber is continuously stabilized to form a stabilized fiber. The stabilized fiber is continuously carbonized thereby generating the carbon fiber. The carbon fiber is wound onto a spool. A carbon fiber has a fiber tensile strength in a range of 5.5 GPa to 5.83 GPa. The carbon fiber has a fiber tensile modulus in a range of 350 GPa to 375 GPa. The carbon fiber also has an effective diameter in a range of 5.1 ?m to 5.2 ?m.

Abstract: This document describes systems, methods, and devices for sensing electrical activity in a brain of a mammal Some aspects include a cortical electrode assembly configured, in use, to sense electrical activity at a surface of a brain, the assembly comprising: a ring-shaped substrate; and a plurality of electrical sensors affixed to the ring-shaped substrate, wherein the plurality of electrical sensors are spaced along the ring-shaped substrate so as to form a ring of electrical sensors that substantially encircle an aperture formed by the ring-shaped substrate.

Abstract: Systems and methods of chemical process simulation providing improved methods and systems for expressing the composition of a stream in a chemical process model in a manner that is not immediately indicative of the underlying composition, providing for improved accuracy of allocation of a process output stream to the appropriate source(s), avoiding duplication of components or other inaccurate component representations in relation to critical calculations, and improving the operation of a computer or other computing system for performing chemical process modeling and simulation. The systems or methods provide for three distinct layers of interaction, separating mixed species displayed to the user from individual species used in calculations, while providing transformation objects between dataset layers to provide for accurate modeling, calculation, and display.

Abstract: A Raman detection system has a Raman spectrometer and a fixing light shielding stand. One end of the fixing light shielding stand is fixedly connected to the Raman spectrometer, and the other end is disposed with an entrance groove for a needle-like SERS probe to enter. A slot for fixing the needle-like SERS probe is formed at an end of the entrance groove, and the slot and the needle-like SERS probe match in shape and size. The Raman detection system has a fixing light shielding device with a dark color groove and a focal length. The groove can be used for limiting the rolling of the curved surface structure of the needle-like SERS probe. A laser can be focused on the curved surface more accurately by adjusting the distance from the instrument detector to the SERS probe.

Abstract: Split enzyme reporter systems are disclosed for detecting an analyte in a mixture. Fragments of the split enzyme may be covalently bound to targeting domains that bind to target regions of an analyte, thereby causing formation of an active complex. Some split enzyme reporter systems can be used to detect an analyte without the use of analyte immobilization, blocking, or wash steps. Some reporter systems also enable rapid detection of the analyte of interest.

Abstract: A method of simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) is provided to position a target object. Each of detected tracked objects in a surrounding environment of the target object is classified into a moving object or a static object based on data detected at different time points. The target object is then positioned without considering any of the tracked objects that are classified into a moving object.

Abstract: Systems and methods for highly reproducible and focused plasma jet printing and patterning of materials using appropriate ink containing aerosol through nozzles with narrow orifice and tubes with controlled dielectric constant connected to high voltage power supply, in the presence of electric field and plasma, that enables morphological and/or bulk chemical modification and/or surface chemical modification of the material in the aerosol and/or the substrate prior to printing, during printing and post printing.

Abstract: Disclosed are nerve stimulation assemblies adapted to apply stimulation signals to a person's nervous system. The assemblies are adapted to apply such signals to nerves terminating on the outer ear of a person, for example, the auricular branch of the vagus nerve. The assemblies comprise an ear canal extension adapted to fit within an ear canal of the person, a housing connected with the extension, and an electrode arm connected with the housing by a connection member. The connection member is adapted to articulate the electrode arm to position the electrode arm relative to the outer ear. An electrode is connected with a distal end of the arm. When the arm is articulated to a selected orientation and the extension is fitted in the ear canal, the electrode is in electrical contact with a portion of the outer ear innervated by a selected peripheral nerve, such as the vagus nerve.

Abstract: In various embodiments a compound comprising the enantiomerically enriched S-isomer S-BHB-S-1,3-butanediol is provided along with methods of use thereof.

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: The present invention concerns compositions comprising at least one niclosamide compound, such as niclosamide or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and at least one permeability enhancer, such as glycerol or dimethylpalmityl-ammonio propanesulfonate (PPS), and their use of such compositions as niclosamide agents. Advantageously, the niclosamide compound is capable of being transported across a Caco-2 cell membrane by at least 150% relative to the amount capable of being transported across the Caco-2 cell membrane in the absence of the permeability enhancer. Compositions, including oral dosage forms, and methods for delivering niclosamide compounds, such as for treatment or prevention of human coronavirus infections, are also provided.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for broadcast signal frame using layered division multiplexing are disclosed. An apparatus for generating broadcast signal frame according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a combiner configured to generate a multiplexed signal by combining a core layer signal and an enhanced layer signal at different power levels; a power normalizer configured to reduce the power of the multiplexed signal to a power level corresponding to the core layer signal; a time interleaver configured to generate a time-interleaved signal by performing interleaving that is applied to both the core layer signal and the enhanced layer signal; and a frame builder configured to generate a broadcast signal frame including a preamble for signaling time interleaver information shared by the core layer signal and the enhanced layer signal, using the time-interleaved signal.

Abstract: A layered catalyst structure for purifying an exhaust gas stream includes a catalyst support and a palladium catalyst layer including an atomic dispersion of palladium ions electrostatically adsorbed onto an exterior surface of the catalyst support. The catalyst support includes an alumina substrate, a first ceria layer disposed on and extending substantially continuously over the alumina substrate, and a second colloidal ceria layer formed directly on the first ceria layer over the alumina substrate. The palladium catalyst layer is formed on the exterior surface of the catalyst support by applying a palladium-containing precursor solution to the exterior surface of the catalyst support and then heating the catalyst support and the palladium-containing precursor solution. The palladium-containing precursor solution includes a positively charged palladium complex in an aqueous medium and has a pH greater than a point of zero charge of the second colloidal ceria layer.

Abstract: The present application is directed to an asphalt binder composition comprising: an asphalt binder; a compound of formula (I): wherein R, A, n, and m are as described herein, a compound of formula (II): wherein R?, A?, n?, and m? are as described herein. The present application is also directed to further compositions, methods of producing an asphalt binder composition, and methods of paving.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate generally to acoustically decoupled microelectromechanical system devices and, more particularly, to acoustically decoupled microelectromechanical system devices anchored upon phononic crystals. In some embodiments described herein, a device may comprise a resonator, a handle layer, and a pedestal disposed between the resonator and the handle layer, the pedestal connecting the resonator to the handle layer. In the devices described herein, the resonator and the handle layer may be non-coplanar. In some embodiments, the handle layer comprises a phononic crystal to acoustically decouple the resonator from the substrate of the handle layer.

Abstract: The embodiments described herein describe technologies to address initial establishment of device credentials in an Internet of Things (IoT) infrastructure. The embodiments are directed to unifying secure credential establishment regardless of the endpoint type, thus addressing the challenge of a great diversity among IoT devices. This approach is designed to address a challenge of initial trusted enrollment of the IoT endpoints into a secure infrastructure, which allows secure communications between the devices in the IoT environment.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a process by which an optical fiber array or a single optical fiber is cleaved with a laser-cleaving apparatus. The coating material is stripped or removed from a section of an optical fiber array or single optical fiber; a coated or ribbonized section of the optical fiber array or the single optical fiber is secured in a holder; the holder is aligned inside the laser-cleaving apparatus; the laser cleaves the stripped ends of the fibers in the optical fiber array or the single optical fiber; the laser-cleaved ends of the optical fiber(s) are then mechanically separated to remove the free ends from the optical fibers in the optical fiber array or the single optical fiber, leaving a cleaved array of optical fibers or a single cleaved optical fiber. The cleaving process enables the optical fiber array or single optical fiber to be cleaved at flexible locations along an optical fiber ribbon, optical fiber, or optical fiber apparatus (e.g.