Abstract: A method for processing accumulators, batteries and the like, which contain lithium, lithium ions, sodium, potassium and/or nickel as active components. According to the invention, the following steps are carried out; introducing an accumulator, a battery, cell or the like, that contains lithium, lithium ions, sodium, potassium and/or nickel, into a chamber/reactor (13,23); introducing water (H2O) (B, B2) in to the reactor (13,23); bringing the content of the reactor (13) to a temperature between 120° C. and 370° C. at a pressure between 2 and 250 bar.

Abstract: Silicon oxide, silicon nitride, and silicon oxynitride films may be deposited by thermal atomic layer deposition (thermal ALD) in a single wafer plasma reactor. The single wafer plasma reactor can perform thermal ALD and plasma-enhanced atomic layer deposition (PEALD). Highly conformal films may be deposited at a high deposition rate without damaging or with minimal damage to the substrate using thermal ALD. The substrate may be heated at an elevated temperature during oxidation and/or nitridation. In some implementations, the elevated temperature is between about 500 C and about 750 C. In some implementations, hydrogen and oxygen may be flowed as reactant gases during oxidation, where the hydrogen and oxygen may react in an exothermic reaction to drive formation of oxide.

Abstract: Various embodiments are disclosed for a services policy communication system and method. In some embodiments, a communications device stores a set of device credentials for activating the communications device for a service on a network; and sends an access request to the network, the access request including the set of device credentials.

Abstract: Provided herein are recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) particles encoding microRNAs targeting the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) pathway, and in particular a microRNA17-92 (miR 17-92) cluster, and genes of interest. The modified genomes of these rAAV particles comprise heterologous nucleic acid sequences encoding microRNA structures. These particles exhibit enhanced transduction efficiencies in mammalian cells. Also provided herein are compositions of nucleic acids encoding the miR 17-92 cluster and nucleic acids encoding a gene of interest. Further provided herein are methods for administering these nucleic acid compositions to enhance transduction efficiencies.

Abstract: A ring resonator based T-shaped duplexer for use in communication systems, the T-shaped duplexer comprising a T-shaped microstrip duplexer body having a first rectangular-shaped body section and a second rectangular-shaped body section that extends from the first-rectangular shaped section in a perpendicular position relative to the first rectangular-shaped section, three connection ports including a first connection port disposed at an open end of the second rectangular-shaped body section, a second connection port disposed at one end of the first rectangular-shaped body section, and a third connection port disposed at another end of the first rectangular-shaped body section, and two bandpass filters, each bandpass filter comprising a ring resonator structure having a circular shape, an outer edge of the ring resonator structure being connected to the first rectangular-shaped body section of the T-shaped microstrip duplexer body, wherein each of the two bandpass filters creates an Electromagnetically Induced

Abstract: Apparatus and associated methods relate to generating, from a predetermined distillation profile (DPBASE-P) of a multicomponent base fluid, a thermodynamically accurate distillation profile (DPMIX) of a mixture of the base fluid and at least one additive. In an illustrative example, at least one calibrating parameter (P) of a distillation model (DM) is determined according to DPBASE-P. The base fluid and the mixture may, for example, be represented by a base composition profile (CPBASE) and mixture composition profile (CPMIX), respectively, of pure chemical components. The DM may, for example, be calibrated to DPBASE-P to generate a distillation profile of the base fluid as a function of CPBASE and P. The calibrated DM may, for example, be configured to generate DPMIX as a function of P and CPMIX. Various embodiments may advantageously enable rapid characterization of a mixture from a known distillation profile of the base fluid.

Abstract: An image encoding/decoding method and apparatus for performing representative sample-based intra prediction are provided. An image decoding method may comprise deriving an intra prediction mode of a current block, configuring a reference sample of the current block, and performing intra prediction for the current block based on the intra prediction mode and the reference sample, wherein the intra prediction is representative sample-based prediction.

Abstract: A system is disclosed which includes a chamber, one or more transmitters configured to emit EM radiation, one or more power harvesters, one or more EM stirrer, and a processing system configured to a) receive a measure of dimensional characteristics of the chamber b) control the one or more EM stirrers, c) evaluate statistical properties of the statistical EM environment, d) set a new criterion for acceptable statistical properties of the statistical EM environment, e) measure a lowest usable frequency of the chamber below which the statistical properties are not acceptable according to a predetermined criterion, f) determine an efficiency profile of the one or more power harvesters versus frequency, g) select an operating frequency that maximizes efficiencies of the one or more power harvesters, h) measure a collective efficiency of the chamber, and i) return to step d if the measured collective efficiency is below a predetermined efficiency threshold.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for reducing the level of nornicotine and N?-nitrosonornicotine (NNN) in Nicotiana plants and plant parts thereof are provided. The compositions comprise isolated polynucleotides and polypeptides for cytochrome P450s that are involved in the metabolic conversion of nicotine to nornicotine in these plants. Expression cassettes, vectors, plants, and plant parts thereof comprising inhibitory sequences that target expression or function of the disclosed cytochrome P450 polypeptides are also provided. Methods for the use of these novel sequences to inhibit expression or function of cytochrome P450 polypeptides involved in this metabolic conversion are also provided. The methods find use in the production of tobacco products that have reduced levels of nornicotine and its carcinogenic metabolite, NNN, and thus reduced carcinogenic potential for individuals consuming these tobacco products or exposed to secondary smoke derived from these products.

Abstract: A surgical filament securement assembly has an anchor having a channel therethrough through which a surgical filament is passed. The surgical filament is tied to form a dilated knot having at least one throw around a dilater member at an entrance of the channel such that the surgical filament is able to run around the dilater member when a limb thereof is pulled in a first direction through the channel whilst the dilated knot remains in place. When the dilater member is pulled out from within the dilated knot, the dilated knot itself strangulates to form a tightened stopper knot. The channel has a diameter less than that of the tightened stopper knot such that the tightened stopper knot cannot pass through the entrance in the first direction.

Abstract: A transparent proxy for malware detection includes a monitor module, a protocol determination module, a challenge generation module, a response determination module, and a data control module. The monitor module examines data originating from an application towards a remote server. The protocol determination module identifies the protocol type used for the data. The challenge generation module produces a challenge for the application based upon the protocol type, sends the challenge to the application, and maintains a state related to the data and the challenge. The response determination module makes a determination if an automatic non-interactive application response is received in response to the challenge from the application. The data control module allows the first data to continue to the remote server when the determination is valid. The data control module reports malware detection and blocks the data to continue to the remote server when the determination is invalid.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods for inhibiting activation of ?? T cells that express a V?9+ TCR in a subject by administering a BTN2A1 antagonist to a subject as well as methods for inducing or enhancing ?? T cells that express a V?9+ TCR in a subject by administering a BTN2A1 antagonist to a subject. The disclosure additionally relates to BTN2A1 antagonists and BTN2A1 agonists.

Abstract: A technique for supplying droplet content of an oil-encapsulated (OE) digital microfluidic (D?F) network to a region that is sensitive to oil contact involves sealing off a boundary surrounding the sensitive region with a volume of liquid that is miscible with payload of the OE-droplets. The sensitive region may be an opening to a microfluidic channel, or a sensor surface. The sealing off may be provided by transporting an unencapsulated droplet over the OE-D?F chip, either from a reservoir prior to oil encapsulation of the reservoir, or from a non-oil encapsulated reservoir; or by injecting the liquid into the microfluidic channel. A suitable treatment of the boundary may anchor the liquid to the boundary, and prevent removal by ordinary OE-D?F operations. A remainder of the surfaces of unit cells the D?F chip may provide higher droplet contact angle.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a voice coil actuator direct-drive resonant flapper system for flapping wing micro air vehicles and flapping fin autonomous underwater vehicles.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of treating or preventing Parkinson's disease in a subject comprising administering a compound of Formula I wherein, R1 is —NHC(O) C3-6 cycloalkyl and R2 is hydrogen; or R1 and R2 along with the carbon atoms to which they are attached form a six membered aromatic ring, wherein the ring is substituted with one or more groups selected from hydrogen, halogen and C1-6 alkyl; R3 and R4 are independently selected from group comprising hydrogen, halogen, C1-3 alkyl, OC1-3 alkyl, NO2, SC1-3 alkyl, C1-3 haloalkyl, OC1-3 haloalkyl, and SC1-3 haloalkyl; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are an apparatus and a method for generating an audio-embedded image. The apparatus for generating an audio-embedded image includes one or more processors, and execution memory for storing at least one program that is executed by the one or more processors, wherein the at least one program is configured to receive audio and an image, convert the audio into audio information having a preset image format and generate an audio-embedded image in which the audio information is embedded in the image, and discriminate the audio-embedded image using the audio information and discrimination audio information extracted from the audio-embedded image.

Abstract: An operation method of a terminal in a communication system may comprise: receiving, from a base station, a first SSB; determining a RACH occasion associated with the first SSB; transmitting, to the base station, a PRACH preamble in the RACH occasion within a first radio resource to which a first SCS is applied; determining a slot to which the RACH occasion belongs based on a reference radio resource to which a reference SCS is applied instead of the first SCS; determining an RNTI for a random access procedure based on a slot index for the slot; and performing a reception operation of a response for the PRACH preamble by using the RNTI in the first radio resource.

Abstract: Provided are a full conversion process and a device thereof for producing light aromatic hydrocarbon from LCO. The process includes the steps of: subjecting LCO stream to hydrofining and impurity separation, then performing selective conversion reaction, and separating the mixed aromatic hydrocarbons generated to sequentially separate out light aromatic hydrocarbons such as benzene-toluene and xylene, C9A aromatic hydrocarbons, C10A aromatic hydrocarbons and a bottom heavy tail oil; feeding the bottom heavy tail oil into a post-saturation selective reactor, subjecting to high-selectivity hydrogenation saturation under the conditions of low temperature and low pressure to provide a product having one benzene ring, and then returning the product back to the selective conversion reactor.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a cyclic azine compound exhibiting both excellent driving voltage characteristics and excellent current efficiency characteristics. The desired cyclic azine compound has a specific structure represented by formula (1).

Abstract: Provided is a novel gene therapy means for neurological diseases including epilepsy. The present invention provides: a recombinant adeno-associated virus vector for use in the treatment of neurological diseases including epilepsy, which comprises a polynucleotide encoding a protein capable of improving the excitation-inhibiting function of an inhibitory synapse in vivo, preferably neuroligin-2 protein; a pharmaceutical composition comprising said recombinant vector; and others. The present invention also provides a method for treating a disease such as epilepsy using the recombinant vector.