Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communications are described. In some communications systems, interference may impede signaling between a base station and a target user equipment (UE) such that a base station may identify a donor UE to relay communications to the target UE. The donor UE may receive a coded data packet from the base station, and may identify a radio network temporary identifier (RNTI) scrambling code for the packets addressed to the target UE. In cases where the donor UE identifies that the packet has an RNTI scrambling code associated with the target UE, the donor UE may forward the coded data packet to the target UE base on the RNTI scrambling code. Such early detection of data packets addressed to the target UE may allow for the UE to forward a data packet without fully decoding the packet.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure include systems and methods for manufacturing thermally stable nickel-rich cathodes. An exemplary method can include providing an active material including a plurality of active material particles. The plurality of active material particles include nickel. A nanoparticle slurry additive having a plurality of nanoparticles is provided. The plurality of nanoparticles include one or more of a thermally stable olivine type material, a thermally stable spinel type material, and a thermally stable manganese-nickel dioxide type material. The method includes forming a slurry by mixing the active material and the nanoparticle slurry additive. The plurality of nanoparticles form a thermal inhibitor layer on and in direct contact with a surface of the plurality of active material particles. A free-standing electrode film is formed by calendering the slurry and the free-standing electrode film is laminating to a current collector to define a thermally stable nickel-rich cathode.

Abstract: A polypyrrole-graphene/polyurethane antifouling coating as well as a preparation method and an application thereof are provided. The polypyrrole-graphene/polyurethane antifouling coating includes component A and component B, wherein the component A mainly includes the following raw materials in parts by weight: 500 parts of group-hydrolyzable polyurethane prepolymer, 25-50 parts of bentonite, 25-50 parts of titanium dioxide, 60-120 parts of zinc oxide, 15-30 parts of talcum powder, and 15-30 parts of polypyrrole-graphene nanofiller; and the component B mainly includes the following raw materials in parts by weight: 5-7 parts of leveling agent, 5-7 parts of defoamer, 6-15 parts of chain extender, 10-25 parts of silane coupling agent, and 1-2 parts of catalyst. The two-component polyurethane coating of the present invention has relatively good adhesion, collision resistance and cracking resistance, and the antifouling property and the antifouling durability can be improved.

Abstract: A thermal device comprises a first layer of a non-metallic material that is a good conductor of heat and electricity, that includes a first terminal and a second terminal, and that has a first surface and a second surface; a metallic material disposed on the first surface of the first layer; a first plastic layer disposed on the metallic material; and a second plastic layer disposed on the second surface of the first layer. The first plastic layer and the second plastic layer include a plastic material that is a good conductor of heat.

Abstract: A bipolar capacitor assisted battery includes a bipolar capacitor including a first capacitor, and a second capacitor. The second capacitor is connected in series with the first capacitor. A lithium ion battery is connected in parallel to the bipolar capacitor.

Abstract: A battery includes: a positive output terminal; a negative output terminal; a first battery module that is connected to the positive output terminal and the negative output terminal and that includes: a first string of first and second types of battery cells that are electrically connected in series, where the first type is different than the second type; and a second battery module that is electrically connected in parallel with the first battery module and that includes: a second string of the first and second types of battery cells that are electrically connected in series.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides an antifouling coating and a use method and use thereof. In the antifouling coating of the present disclosure, polyaspartic acid ester is an isocyanate curing agent containing a secondary amine structure. An ester group and aliphatic properties in the polyaspartic acid ester can increase wear resistance of the coating. The polyaspartic acid ester is combined with a polyisocyanate-containing prepolymer in a component A to endow the antifouling coating with desirable toughness and elasticity, such that the antifouling coating has excellent impact and abrasion resistance. In the component A, a polydimethylsiloxane structure is introduced into the hydroxypropyl silicone oil-based isocyanate prepolymer. The polydimethylsiloxane structure can generate microphase separation with a polyurea hard segment and migrate to a surface of the coating, thereby reducing surface energy of the coating to reduce an adhesion between fouling organisms and an interface.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems, non-transitory computer-readable media, and methods for generating segmentation masks for a digital visual media item. In particular, in one or more embodiments, the disclosed systems generate, utilizing a neural network encoder, high-level features of a digital visual media item. Further, the disclosed systems generate, utilizing the neural network encoder, low-level features of the digital visual media item. In some implementations, the disclosed systems generate, utilizing a neural network decoder, an initial segmentation mask of the digital visual media item from the low-level features. Moreover, the disclosed systems generate, utilizing the neural network decoder, a refined segmentation mask of the digital visual media item from the initial segmentation mask and the high-level features.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a single stranded RNA vector suitable for introducing a therapeutic agent, such as a peptide, a protein or a small RNA, into a host plant. The vector does not encode for any movement protein or coat protein, but is capable of systemic and phloem-limited movement and replication within the host plant.

Abstract: A state of charge (SOC) balancing system includes: first and second batteries; first and second capacitors; an SOC module configured to determine first and second SOCs of the first and second batteries, respectively; and a switching module configured to selectively, when the first SOC is greater than the second SOC: (i) electrically connect the first and second capacitors in parallel; (ii) electrically connect the first battery to the first and second capacitors while the first and second capacitors are electrically connected in parallel; (iii) electrically disconnect the first battery from the first and second capacitors; (iv) electrically connect the first and second capacitors in series; (v) electrically connect the second battery to the first and second capacitors while the first and second capacitors are electrically connected in series; and (vi) electrically disconnect the second battery from the first and second capacitors.

Abstract: A battery cell comprises an electrode stack including A anode electrodes with A anode current collectors. A external tabs extend from the first side of the A anode electrodes. C cathode electrodes include C cathode current collectors and C external tabs. A separator comprises a continuous sheet interleaved between the anode electrodes and the C cathode electrodes. The A external tabs of the A anode electrodes are folded along the separator on the first side of the A anode electrodes. The C external tabs of the C cathode electrodes are folded along the separator on the second side the C cathode electrodes. The electrode stack is arranged in a housing. First and second tab positioning members including first and second external lead tabs are connected to the A external tabs and the C external tabs, respectively.

Abstract: A method for testing a sample of a battery cell includes arranging the sample of the battery cell in a sample pan of a test crucible; arranging a spacer on the sample of the battery cell; sealing the sample pan; and performing differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) testing of the sample.

Abstract: A vehicle system is provided and includes a modular dynamically allocated capacity storage system (MODACS) and an active management module. The MODACS includes blocks of cells. The active management module is configured to: detect a first state of a first block of cells of the blocks of cells; determine whether a safety fault condition exists with the first block of cells based on the first state of the first block of cells; in response to detecting existence of the safety fault condition, isolate the first block of cells from other ones of the blocks of cells; subsequent to isolating the first block of cells, actively discharge and detect a second state of the first block of cells; and based on the second state, continue isolating the first block of cells or reconnecting the first block of cells such that the first block of cells is no longer isolated.

Abstract: A battery module includes C battery cells, wherein each of the C battery cells comprises a housing and a terminals extending from the housing. T thermal interlayer devices are arranged between adjacent ones of the C battery cells. C and T are integers greater than one. Each of the T thermal interlayer devices comprises a first thermally conducting layer in thermal communication with a first one of the C battery cells, a second thermally conducting layer in thermal communication with a second one of the C battery cells, and a thermally resistant layer arranged between the first thermally conducting layer and the second thermally conducting layer. A cooling manifold is in thermal communication with at least one of the first thermally conducting layer and the second thermally conducting layer.

Abstract: A system performs named entity recognition for performing natural language processing, for example, for conversation engines. The system uses context information in named entity recognition. The system includes the context of a sentence during model training and execution. The system generates high quality contextual data for training NER models. The system utilizes labeled and unlabeled contextual data for training NER models. The system provides NER models for execution in production environments. The system uses heuristics to determine whether to use a context-based NER model or a simple NER model that does not use context information. This allows the system to use simple NER models when the likelihood of improving the accuracy of prediction based on context is low.

Abstract: A mixed chemistry battery is provided. The mixed chemistry battery includes a reference module having a first chemistry and a battery module having a second chemistry that is different that the first chemistry, the battery module is connected to the reference module in series. The mixed chemistry battery also includes a battery monitoring system configured to monitor an open circuit voltage of the reference module, an open circuit voltage of the battery module, and a current flow through the reference module and the battery module. The battery monitoring system is further configured to calculate a state-of-charge (SOC) and state-of-health (SOH) of the battery module based at least in part on a SOC of the reference module.

Abstract: Provided are a surface zwitterionized silicone antifouling coating and a preparation method thereof. In the disclosure, hydroxyl-terminated polydimethylsiloxane and N-aminoethyl-3-aminopropyl methyl dimethoxysilane are used as raw materials, and tetramethylammonium hydroxide pentahydrate is used as a catalyst, thereby preparing a series of polydimethylsiloxane resins containing amino side chains in different proportions; then side chain amino modified polydimethylsiloxane is crosslinked and cured by using 3-glycidyloxypropyltrimethoxysilane as a curing agent; after that, the cured silicone coating is soaked in a solution of 1,3-propane sultone in acetone for ionization.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to the field of materials for uranium extraction from seawater (UES), and in particular, to a photothermal photocatalytic membrane for seawater desalination and uranium extraction and a preparation method therefor. The present disclosure provides a photothermal photocatalytic membrane for seawater desalination and uranium extraction and a preparation method therefor. The preparation method includes: fixing a treated carbon cloth to a glass plate, pouring a casting solution 1 onto the carbon cloth to form a first layer of film, forming a second layer of film using a casting solution 2, and putting the second layer of film into a first coagulation bath and a second coagulation bath in sequence to form the photothermal photocatalytic membrane. The photothermal photocatalytic membrane is supported by the carbon cloth, and a surface of the photothermal photocatalytic membrane is of a micro-nano structure.

Abstract: A low-voltage mitigation and recovery system includes: an auxiliary power module that converts an output voltage of a power source of a vehicle to a charging voltage, the power source provides power to power a propulsion system of the vehicle; a contactor that supplies power from the power source to the auxiliary power module; a first control module that controls states of the auxiliary power module and the contactor. A second control module is integrated within a MODACS, monitors parameters of blocks of cells of the MODACS, and, based on at least one of the parameters: configures a switch network of the MODACS to disconnect a first set of blocks of the MODACS from loads and to connect or maintain connection of a second set of blocks of the MODACS to selected ones of the loads; and wakes up the first control module to jump start and recover the MODACS.

Abstract: A battery system for a vehicle includes: first and second positive terminals and a negative terminal; switches; at least three strings of battery cells, each of the strings configured to, at different times be: connected to the first positive terminal via first ones of the switches; connected to the second positive terminal via second ones of the switches; and disconnected from both of the first and second positive terminals; and a switch control module configured to: identify one of a short circuit and an over voltage condition in a first voltage bus; when the one of the short circuit and the over voltage condition is identified, identify N of the strings of battery cells with the N lowest state of health values; and control switching of the switches and connect the identified N strings of battery cells to the first voltage bus.