Abstract: A game having a one-step progression (player makes a bet and then receives a first set of cards) or a two-step progression (player makes a bet and then is allowed to select a first number of cards or symbols) with redraw or surrender features. In redraw, after the player sees the first set of cards/symbols, the player is offered some redraw value (e.g., points, money) to get a new first set of cards/symbols, that value either added to the player's credit or subtracted from the player's credit). In surrender, after the player sees the first set of cards/symbols, the player is offered some surrender value based upon the value of the cards/symbols to surrender their hand, that value being added to the player's credit. If the player accepts the surrender value the hand is over.

Abstract: A method for imparting a predetermined surface contour to a part is provided, the method comprising: identifying a compressive residual stress profile for providing the part with the predetermined surface contour; and laser peening a surface of the part in a treatment mode predetermined with reference to the identified compressive residual stress profile, thereby inducing plastic deformation in the part and thereby imparting a predetermined surface contour to the part that is a different surface contour than the part had prior to the laser peening.

Abstract: A cooling system is provided including a two-phase pump loop and a vapor compression system. The two-phase pump loop cools a thermal load with a first coolant. The vapor compression system is configured to circulate a second coolant. The vapor compression system includes a liquid vapor separator which separates the second coolant into a liquid portion and a gaseous portion. The liquid vapor separator is a thermal energy storage for the two-phase pump loop. A condenser of the two-phase pump loop transfers heat from the first coolant to the liquid portion of the second coolant in the liquid-vapor separator.

Abstract: A bracket contest system has an entrant device connected to a server having a set of matches in a single elimination bracket tournament in memory. Each match is between two participants in the tournament in which one half of the participants are eliminated in each round. The entrant device receives predictions before a start of a first match. Each prediction includes a pre-set number of predicted winners of each match starting with a winner of a final match. The predictions are entered sequentially based on a predicted final rank of the participants, from first place to nth place. After each selection, a next selection is limited to participants from a predetermined valid position in the tournament. After receiving results of the set of matches, a score of the predictions is made based upon the results, and if the score exceeds a threshold, the predictions are declared a winning entry.

Abstract: Data manipulation using intraoral, connected devices is disclosed. Wired connectivity is provided between a first device and a second device, both inside the mouth. The first device comprises a processor device. The wired connectivity is provided by a serpentine coupling. The serpentine coupling enables three-dimensional flexibility inside the mouth for the coupling. The serpentine coupling comprises an electrical cable. The serpentine coupling can be routed in the valley space between teeth, routed behind a last molar tooth, or routed over one or more teeth inside the mouth. Wireless connectivity is provided between the first device and a device outside the mouth. The wireless connectivity is enabled using a wireless transceiver. Data transmission is enabled between the first device and the device outside the mouth. The enabling includes powering at least the first device using an intraoral energy source.

Abstract: A hollow tube with a varying cross-sectional area is disclosed. A hollow tube with a varying cross-sectional area, the hollow tube extending from one end to other end to form a longitudinal direction, the hollow tube comprises a plurality of hollow tube units that are formed to extend along the longitudinal direction and are coupled to each other to constitute the hollow tube, a hollow positioned inside the hollow tube, wherein a cross-sectional area of the hollow varies along the longitudinal direction, and a filling module installed in the hollow.

Abstract: A sound generation system and related method include a user interface device and a processing device to obtain a specification of a three-dimensional space, obtain one or more sound tracks each comprising a corresponding sound signal associated with a corresponding sound source, present, in a user interface, representations representing one or more listeners and the one or more sound sources corresponding to the one or more sound signals in the three-dimensional space, responsive to a configuration of the locations of the one or more listeners or the locations of the one or more sound sources in the three-dimensional space in the user interface, determine filters based on the configuration and pre-determined locations of one or more loudspeakers, and apply the filters to the one or more sound signals to generate filtered sound signals for driving the one or more loudspeakers.

Abstract: A storage apparatus includes non-volatile memory cells formed on a memory die, each memory cell configured to hold bits of data, and a control circuit formed on the memory die. The control circuit is configured to calculate parity data for data to be stored in the memory cells and program the memory cells to first distributions. The control circuit is also configured to read memory cells in the first distributions, recover the data from results of reading the memory cells in the first distributions combined with the parity data, and further program the memory cells from the first distributions to second distributions to store the data. In some cases, the recovered data may have a high bit error rate. To handle higher bit error rates, the use of soft bit data is incorporated into an encoded foggy-fine scheme.

Abstract: In a method for manufacturing a semiconductor structure, a substrate is provided; a stack layer is formed on the substrate, the stack layer including an interfacial layer, a high-k dielectric layer and a work function composite layer which are sequentially stacked; a transition layer is formed on the stack layer; and a metal gate layer is formed on the transition layer. The work function composite layer is prepared by a physical vapor deposition process.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods, means and compositions of matter useful for treatment of liver failure using ex vivo reprogrammed immune cells. In one embodiment, cells of the recipient (autologous) are cocultured with a regenerative cell population alone or in the presence of one or more adjuvants. Said adjuvants enhance transfer of regenerative activity from said mesenchymal stem cells to said immune cells. In one embodiment said ex vivo reprogrammed immune cells are capable of inducing death or inactivation of hepatic stellate cells. In other embodiments, said immune cells provide antifibrotic activity to induce suppression of liver cirrhosis. In other embodiments, said immune cells provide for growth factors to enhance hepatic regeneration.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a magnetoresistive device may comprise forming a first magnetic region, an intermediate region, and a second magnetic region of a magnetoresistive stack above a via; removing at least a portion of the second magnetic region using a first etch; removing at least a portion of the intermediate region and at least a portion of the first magnetic region using a second etch; removing at least a portion of material redeposited on the magnetoresistive stack using a third etch; and rendering at least a portion of the redeposited material remaining on the magnetoresistive stack electrically non-conductive.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for providing logical to physical (L2P) table management using low-latency NVM to reduce solid state drive (SSD) random access memory (RAM) footprint. A method includes determining a logical to physical (L2P) mapping of a logical address to a physical address in a flash storage, for an operation directed to the logical address. The method also includes adding a data entry, comprising the L2P mapping, to an open journal structure in RAM. The method also includes adding a log entry, comprising the L2P mapping, to a buffer in the RAM. The method also includes flushing the buffer to a low-latency NVM storage in response to determining that the buffer has satisfied a size threshold. Reads, snapshotting and L2P table recovery are also described.

Abstract: Systems and methods for the treatment of materials with an alkali metal such as lithium for the manufacturing of batteries and capacitors. In one illustrative embodiment, a liquid lithium composition may be formed by dissolving metallic lithium in a solution that includes a suitable organic agent, a suitable solvent and suitable film forming agent. Each component of the solution may be present in an effective amount to perform its desired function. The lithium may be dissolved into the solution to obtain a lithium to organic agent molar ratio of from 1:1 to 10:1. The liquid lithium composition may then be dispensed onto a suitable substrate material and allowed to remain thereon for a suitable time for a prelithiation reaction to proceed, followed by drying. Dispensing may be performed by spraying the liquid lithium composition and drying may be performed at a relatively low temperature and a reduced pressure.

Abstract: An embodiment provides a method of operating wire harness manufacturing equipment, including: adding, using the manufacturing equipment, an element to a wire to form a combination of the element and the wire; capturing, using an imaging device, one or more of an upper image and a lower image of the combination; analyzing, using one or more processors operatively coupled to the imaging device, the one or more of the upper image and the lower image to detect a defect; and thereafter indicating that the defect has been detected. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: The present application relates to a semiconductor structure and its forming method. The semiconductor structure comprises a substrate; a first transistor that includes a first channel disposed within the substrate, and a first end disposed at surface of the substrate, the first end being adapted to connect with a first-type storage cell; a second transistor that includes a second channel disposed within the substrate, and a second end disposed at surface of the substrate, the second end being adapted to connect with a second-type storage cell, the second channel having a length greater than length of the first channel. The present application enables fabrication techniques of the first transistor and the second transistor compatible. Moreover, the present application is conducive to enhancing integration density of the storage cells of the first transistor and/or the second transistor in the memory lays foundation for enlarging the fields of application of the memory.

Abstract: A compound of the formula where R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6a, and R6b are as defined in the specification and claims, or an enantiomer, stereoisomer or diastereoisomer thereof, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and the use thereof in the treatment of diseases, disorders, syndromes and conditions responsive to modulation of a melanocortin receptor.

Abstract: A method for detecting a gas tightness of a furnace tube device includes: providing a test wafer; conveying the test wafer into the furnace tube device; depositing a dielectric layer on the test wafer; measuring a thickness and a Goodness of Fit (GOF) of the dielectric layer formed on the test wafer by a thickness measuring machine; and judging the gas tightness of the furnace tube device according to the GOF.

Abstract: An on-axis, angled, rotator device is disclosed. The rotator device may include a container containing a slot for receiving a sample. An angle of the slot may be configured to be between 0 and 180 degrees relative to a perpendicular irradiation plane of a radiation device. The rotator device may include a cup positioned within an opening of the container. Additionally, the rotator device may include a driveshaft configured to transmit torque to cause the cup to be rotated when the cup is positioned within the opening. When the sample resides within the slot and the driveshaft transmits the torque to the cup, the cup may cause the sample to rotate about a center axis of the sample. The angle of the slot containing the sample and the rotation of the sample about the center axis may facilitate uniform radiation exposure to the sample when the radiation device emits radiation.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods, means and compositions of matter useful for treatment of heart failure, and/or post infarct pathological remodeling using ex vivo reprogrammed immune cells. In one embodiment, cells of the recipient (autologous) are cocultured with a regenerative cell population alone or in the presence of one or more adjuvants. Said adjuvants enhance transfer of regenerative activity from said mesenchymal stem cells to said immune cells. In one embodiment said ex vivo reprogrammed immune cells are capable of inducing death or inactivation of cardiac fibrotic cells. In other embodiments, said immune cells provide antifibrotic activity to induce suppression of cardiac fibrosis. In other embodiments, said immune cells provide for growth factors to enhance cardiac regeneration.

Abstract: The present application makes public a magnetic memory and a reading/writing method thereof, which magnetic memory comprises at least one cell layer, and the cell layer includes a plurality of parallel second wires that are disposed in a second plane, the first plane being parallel to the second plane, and projections of the second wires onto the first plane intercrossing the first wires; a plurality of storage elements that are disposed between the first plane and the second plane, the storage elements including magnetic tunnel junctions and bi-directional gating components connected in series along a direction perpendicular to the first plane, the magnetic tunnel junctions being connected to the first wires, the bi-directional gating components being connected to the second wires, and the bi-directional gating components being configured to be conductive upon application of a threshold voltage and/or a threshold current.