Abstract: A method for concentrated photovoltaic-thermal power generation includes converting a first portion of concentrated sunlight into electrical power when the first portion of concentrated sunlight illuminates an array of photovoltaic cells; and thermally coupling heat generated by the photovoltaic cells into a heat transfer plate. The method also includes cooling the heat transfer plate by flowing heat transfer fluid through an internal path of a cooling block in direct thermal contact with the heat transfer plate; and flowing the heat transfer fluid through a helical tube to absorb thermal energy from a second portion of concentrated sunlight illuminating the helical tube.

Abstract: A wafer includes a semiconductor substrate, an interconnection network provided with metal layers and at least one ultra-low dielectric constant dielectric layer, at least one contact region and at least one dicing region. A hard mask is formed having a pattern that defines a dicing line. The formation of the hard mask includes a first etching of an opening in the dicing region to expose the semiconductor substrate in the dicing region, a second etching of an opening in the contact region to expose a surface of a metal contact in the contact region, and a chemical treatment for cleaning the uncovered surface of the metal contact. A vertical dielectric layer is deposited to cover edges of the opening defining the dicing line. This layer is deposited before the chemical treatment is performed.

Abstract: In general, a system configured to monitor one or more conditions of an electric powerline having one or more electrical cables includes at least one primary node operatively coupled to at least one electrical cable of the one or more electrical cables and communicatively coupled to a central computing system; and at least one secondary node operatively coupled to at least one electrical cable of the one or more electrical cables and configured to communicate data via powerline communication to the at least one primary? node, wherein the at least one primary node is configured to deliver the data to the central computing system.

Abstract: An assembly can comprise a prosthetic valve comprising a radially expandable and compressible frame and a rotatable screw connected to the frame, where the screw comprises a screw head having an annular bore with internal threads, and where the screw is rotatable to radially expand the frame. The assembly further comprises a delivery apparatus releasably coupled to the screw, the delivery apparatus comprising a first shaft and a first head disposed at an end of the first shaft, the first head comprising external threads configured to engage with the internal threads of the screw head, and a second shaft that is coaxial with and surrounds the first shaft, the second shaft comprising a second head disposed at an end of the second shaft. The second head is configured to releasably engage with an exterior surface of the screw head and rotate the screw.

Abstract: A computerized method of facilitating participation in a feature operation executed in a game is provided. The computerized method includes providing an aggregation platform operatively communicating with at least one remote game server (RGS). The RGS hosts at least one game to be provided to a plurality of players through players' devices. The method further includes determining, in real time, eligibility of the plurality of players to participate in an operation of a feature shared between the players for a pre-configured event duration, wherein the shared feature operation is executed separately from the game. In response to determining that players are eligible players, facilitating their participation in the execution of the shared feature operation by iteratively selecting one eligible player as possessing a shared feature for a possession iteration having a respective possession duration, and granting an award feature to an eligible player that possesses the shared feature.

Abstract: A transducer apparatus for delivering tumor treating fields to a subject's body, the transducer apparatus including: an array of electrodes, the array configured to be positioned over the subject's body with a front face of the array facing the subject's body, the array comprising electrode elements positioned in existing electrode positions arranged around a centroid of the array; an anisotropic material layer electrically coupled to the array of electrodes and located on a front side of the front face of the array; and at least one void space in the array of electrodes capable of enclosing an areal footprint equivalent to at least a portion of an areal footprint of at least one existing electrode position, and superimposable on at least a portion of at least one existing electrode position by rotation of the array around the centroid.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communications are described. A network entity may transmit via a first time slot, a first set of demodulation reference signals (DMRSs) and a second set of DMRSs that may be associated with a set of user equipments (UEs). The network entity may receive from the set of UEs, respective feedback messages indicating respective channel estimation information based on the first set of DMRSs and the second set of DMRSs. The network entity may generate a multi-user multi-input and multi-output (MU-MIMO) channel prediction for a second slot subsequent the first slot, based on the respective feedback messages and generate a MU-MIMO channel precoder associated with the set of UEs based on the MU-MIMO channel prediction. The network entity may transmit, during the second slot, one or more messages to the UEs based on the MU-MIMO channel prediction and the MU-MIMO channel precoder.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods and compositions comprising hyaluronic acid (HA) hydrogel in combination with a saturated fatty acid for treating osteoarthritis. In some embodiments, aspects of the disclosure relate to pharmaceutical compositions comprising HA hydrogel in combination with a steroid. In some embodiments, the pharmaceutical compositions may be administrable via local, topical, and injection. In some embodiments, the pharmaceutical composition may be administrable by intra-articular injection.

Abstract: Ultra-wide band frequencies used for extended reality (XR) services operate as unlicensed spectrum, which can result in unexpected interference. Although some link adaptation procedures can be used, uncertain link quality can result in sub-optimal utilization of spectrum resources, which may result in poor performance of an XR service. Some aspects described herein enable use of a fixed quantity of re-transmissions of data for an XR frame, with each of the re-transmissions having different XR frame qualities or different quantities of parity bits. The XR device may transmit a feedback message indicating whether the first transmission was successful and may receive a second transmission with additional data for the XR frame. In this way, the XR device can ensure a more efficient use of network resources.

Abstract: A converged device including a first subsystem and a second subsystem, configured to operate in multiple operation modes with varying levels of security. One example provides a method for operating the device. The method includes determining, during a startup sequence of the first subsystem and with a first processor of the first subsystem, a last operation mode for the first subsystem. The method includes determining, responsive to detecting that a SIM is installed in the converged device, a network type for the SIM. The method includes controlling, with the first processor, a first communication interface based on the network type and the last operation mode. The method includes determining, during a startup sequence of the second subsystem and with a second processor of the second subsystem, the last operation mode for the first subsystem and controlling, with the second processor, a second communication interface based on the last operation mode.

Abstract: A converged device including a first subsystem and a second subsystem, configured to operate in multiple operation modes with varying levels of security. One example provides a method for operating the device. The method includes determining, during a startup sequence of the first subsystem and with a first processor of the first subsystem, a last operation mode for the first subsystem. The method includes determining, responsive to detecting that a SIM is installed in the converged device, a network type for the SIM. The method includes controlling, with the first processor, a first communication interface based on the network type and the last operation mode. The method includes determining, during a startup sequence of the second subsystem and with a second processor of the second subsystem, the last operation mode for the first subsystem and controlling, with the second processor, a second communication interface based on the last operation mode.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and related technologies for segmentation management are described. In certain aspects, an entity communicatively coupled to a network is selected and one or more characteristics of the entity may be determined. A segmentation policy may be selected based on the one or more characteristics of the entity and one or more tags to be assigned to the entity based on the segmentation policy may be determined. A zone for the entity based on the one or more tags may be determined and one or more enforcement points associated with the zone for the entity may be determined. One or more enforcement actions may then be assigned to the one or more enforcement points based on the zone associated with the entity.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and related technologies for segmentation management are described. In certain aspects, an entity communicatively coupled to a network is selected and one or more characteristics of the entity may be determined. A segmentation policy may be selected based on the one or more characteristics of the entity and one or more tags to be assigned to the entity based on the segmentation policy may be determined. A zone for the entity based on the one or more tags may be determined and one or more enforcement points associated with the zone for the entity may be determined. One or more enforcement actions may then be assigned to the one or more enforcement points based on the zone associated with the entity.

Abstract: Devices and systems for providing cross-agency communications at an incident are described. An incident manager determines attributes of devices to be used at the incident, negotiating the devices and device attributes with each first responder agency from which devices are to be dispatched to the incident. The manager controls lifecycles of network slices to provide communication services for the incident. The lifecycle is controlled based on communication from each UE indicating arrival to and departure from the incident, as well as the attributes of the UE.

Abstract: The invention provides a method, composition and kit for treating T-cell mediated diseases, degenerative joint diseases or diseases mediated by platelet activating factor (PAF) comprising administering to an animal in need thereof, an effective amount a pharmaceutical composition containing N-acetyl-kynurenine (NAK) or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof as the active ingredient.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of treating T-cell mediated diseases and a method of inhibiting the activation of T-cells using certain diketopiperazines. The invention also provides methods of synthesizing diketopiperazines and pharmaceutical compositions comprising certain diketopiperazines. The invention further provides methods of making improved pharmaceutical compositions of proteins and peptides by either increasing or decreasing the content of diketopiperazines in the compositions and the resultant improved pharmaceutical compositions.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of modulating various aspects of the immune system. In particular, the present invention teaches the use of diketopiperazines (DKPs) to modulate various aspects of the immune system such as, for example, inflammation, T-cells and various cytokines.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method of treating a disease associated with a respiratory virus. The method comprises administering an effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition prepared by removing albumin from a solution of a human serum albumin composition and/or comprising a diketopiperazine with amino acid side chains of aspartic acid and alanine (DA-DKP), such as a low molecular weight fraction of human serum albumin. The present disclosure also provides a pharmaceutical product as well as a kit comprising DA-DKP.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of treating T-cell mediated diseases and a method of inhibiting the activation of T-cells using certain diketopiperazines. The invention also provides methods of synthesizing diketopiperazines and pharmaceutical compositions comprising certain diketopiperazines. The invention further provides methods of making improved pharmaceutical compositions of proteins and peptides by either increasing or decreasing the content of diketopiperazines in the compositions and the resultant improved pharmaceutical compositions.

Abstract: A computerized method of facilitating participation in a feature operation executed in a game is provided. The computerized method comprises providing an aggregation platform operatively communicating with at least one remote game server (RGS). The RGS hosts at least one game to be provided to a plurality of players through players' devices. The method further comprises determining, in real time, eligibility of the plurality of players to participate in an operation of a feature shared between the players for a pre-configured event duration, wherein the shared feature operation is executed separately from the game. In response to determining that players are eligible players, facilitating their participation in the execution of the shared feature operation by iteratively selecting one eligible player as possessing a shared feature for a possession iteration having a respective possession duration, and granting an award feature to an eligible player that possesses the shared feature.