Abstract: The present invention provides a personalized, three-dimensional printed, human auricle-specific multiple auricular points' bio-signal acquisition, health status monitoring, and bio-stimulation device, including an artificial ear model made of at least one bio-compatible, flexible polymer, a plurality of sensing and stimulating electrodes with at least one sensing end and a signal acquisition/processing end penetrating through a body of the ear mold conformably with a human auricle so that a surface of the ear mold where sensing end of the electrodes is disposed creates an electrode-human skin interface for bio-signal detection and bio-stimulation responsive thereto. Methods of fabricating the device based on 3-D printing, 3D scanning and modelling techniques and using thereof for bio-signal acquisition, analysis, health status monitoring and bio-stimulation are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides a personalized, three-dimensional printed, human auricle-specific multiple auricular points' bio-signal acquisition, health status monitoring, and bio-stimulation device, including an artificial ear model made of at least one bio-compatible, flexible polymer, a plurality of sensing and stimulating electrodes with at least one sensing end and a signal acquisition/processing end penetrating through a body of the ear mold conformably with a human auricle so that a surface of the ear mold where sensing end of the electrodes is disposed creates an electrode-human skin interface for bio-signal detection and bio-stimulation responsive thereto. Methods of fabricating the device based on 3-D printing, 3D scanning and modelling techniques and using thereof for bio-signal acquisition, analysis, health status monitoring and bio-stimulation are also provided.

Abstract: Methods for treating wastewater containing one or more heavy metals are disclosed. The methods can include providing a fuel cell, the fuel cell including: an anode having a catalyst; a cathode electrically coupled to the anode; and an ion-exchange membrane disposed between the anode and the cathode. The methods may also include contacting a fuel to the anode to oxidize the fuel and contacting the wastewater to the cathode to reduce at least a portion of the heavy metals in the wastewater. The methods for treating wastewater may advantageously provide an efficient means for treating the wastewater while producing electricity. Systems for treating wastewater are also disclosed.

Abstract: Data query in a share-nothing database includes obtaining a query request and generating an optimized access plan with respect to the query request. The query request relates to external data stored in an external data source and contains a definition for expected distribution of the external data. The data query also includes obtaining data distribution information related to the expected distribution based on the optimized access plan, transmitting the data distribution information to the external data source so that the external data source splits and returns the external data in accordance with the data distribution information, and executing query-related processing of the split external data in accordance with the optimized access plan.

Abstract: Embodiments presented herein relate generally to the formation of diamond-like carbon, forms of diamond-like carbon and/or carbon dioxide fixation.

Abstract: Methods and systems described herein provide protection for sensitive circuits against power surges on power lines. A surge protector for protecting a load coupled to a power source is provided. The surge protector includes an input having a first node, a second node and a third node to respectfully couple to line, neutral, and ground connections of a power source, an output having a fourth node, a fifth node, and a sixth node for respectfully coupling to line, neutral and ground connections of the load, a first voltage limiting circuit coupled between the fourth node and the fifth node, a first inductor coupled between the first node and the fourth node, and a second voltage limiting circuit coupled between the first node and the second node.

Abstract: Various techniques are provided to support efficient data transfers over serial data streams. In one example, a serial device may be used to efficiently transfer data between a host device and the serial device over a data stream of a serial interface. A data stream value identifying the data stream may be stored in a register indexed by a tag associated with a command received from the host device. The command may be passed to a storage media device, wherein the passing is controlled by a processor of the serial device. The tag may be extracted from an address value received from the storage media device in response to execution of the command by the storage media device. The data stream value may be retrieved from the register using the extracted tag as an index without requiring an interrupt to the processor to determine the data stream value.

Abstract: Embodiments presented herein relate generally to the formation of diamond-like carbon, forms of diamond-like carbon and/or carbon dioxide fixation.

Abstract: Data query in a share-nothing database includes obtaining a query request and generating an optimized access plan with respect to the query request. The query request relates to external data stored in an external data source and contains a definition for expected distribution of the external data. The data query also includes obtaining data distribution information related to the expected distribution based on the optimized access plan, transmitting the data distribution information to the external data source so that the external data source splits and returns the external data in accordance with the data distribution information, and executing query-related processing of the split external data in accordance with the optimized access plan.

Abstract: The invention provides monoclonal antibodies and related binding proteins that bind specifically to the envelope glycoprotein of H5 subtypes of avian influenza virus (“AIV”). The monoclonal antibodies and related binding proteins are useful for the detection of H5 subtypes of AIV, including the pathogenic H5N1 subtypes. Virus may be detected in formalin preserved, paraffin embedded specimens as well as frozen specimens and biological fluids. Accordingly, the invention provides for the diagnosis and surveillance of dangerous viral infections.

Abstract: The invention provides monoclonal antibodies and related binding proteins that bind specifically to the envelope glycoprotein of H5 subtypes of avian influenza virus (“AIV”). The monoclonal antibodies and related binding proteins are useful for the detection of H5 subtypes of AIV, including the pathogenic H5N1 subtypes. Virus may be detected in formalin preserved, paraffin embedded specimens as well as frozen specimens and biological fluids. Accordingly, the invention provides for the diagnosis and surveillance of dangerous viral infections.

Abstract: The invention provides monoclonal antibodies and related binding proteins that bind specifically to the envelope glycoprotein of H5 subtypes of avian influenza virus (“AIV”). The monoclonal antibodies and related binding proteins are useful for the detection of H5 subtypes of AIV, including the pathogenic H5N1 subtypes. Virus may be detected in formalin preserved, paraffin embedded specimens as well as frozen specimens and biological fluids. Accordingly, the invention provides for the diagnosis and surveillance of dangerous viral infections.

Abstract: A fastener includes a screw rod and a head connected to the screw rod. The head includes a driving surface furthest from the screw rod. The driving surface defines at least two driving grooves arranged around a circumference of a circle with an axis of the screw rod being the center of the circle. The driving surface forms at least two driving lobes received in each of at least two driving grooves, and the at least two driving lobes are located at the circumference of the circle around the axis of the screw rod.

Abstract: The invention provides monoclonal antibodies and related binding proteins that bind specifically to the envelope glycoprotein of H5 subtypes of avian influenza virus (“AIV”). The monoclonal antibodies and related binding proteins are useful for the detection of H5 subtypes of AIV, including the pathogenic H5N1 subtypes. Virus may be detected in formalin preserved, paraffin embedded specimens as well as frozen specimens and biological fluids. Accordingly, the invention provides means for the diagnosis and surveillance of dangerous viral infections.

Abstract: The invention provides monoclonal antibodies and related binding proteins that bind specifically to the envelope glycoprotein of H5 subtypes of avian influenza virus (“AIV”). The monoclonal antibodies and related binding proteins are useful for the detection of H5 subtypes of AIV, including the pathogenic H5N1 subtypes. Virus may be detected in formalin preserved, paraffin embeded specimens as well as frozen specimens and biological fluids. Accordingly, the invention provides means for the diagnosis and surveillance of dangerous viral infections.

Abstract: Systems and methods for a mass storage device attached to a host device use speculation about the host command likely to be received next from the host device based on a previously received command to improve throughput of accesses to the mass storage device. Host commands are used to speculatively produce commands for data storage devices of the mass storage device, such that host commands speculated as being likely next can be started during idle time of the data storage devices, based upon the probability that the speculation will be correct some of the time, and otherwise wasted idle time will be more efficiently used. Time taken by the host device to produce successive commands to the mass storage system is monitored, and future speculatively produced commands are parameterized to complete within the observed host time to produce new commands, making more efficient use of the data storage devices.

Abstract: Devices, methods, and systems for a mass storage device attached to a host device use speculation about the host command likely to be received next from the host device based on a previously received command to improve throughput of accesses to the mass storage device. Host device commands are used to speculatively produce commands for the data storage devices of the mass storage device, such that host commands speculated as being likely next host commands can be started during idle time of the data storage devices, based upon the probability that the speculation will be correct some of the time, and otherwise wasted idle time of the data storage devices will be more efficiently used. Time taken by the host device to produce successive commands to the mass storage system is monitored, and future speculatively produced commands are parameterized so that they complete within the observed host time to produce new commands, making more efficient use of the data storage devices of the mass storage system.

Abstract: A fastener includes a connecting portion and a head portion coaxially connecting with the connecting portion. The head portion defines an engaging hole which includes a main engaging hole and one or more auxiliary engaging hole coaxial with the main engaging hole. A plurality of auxiliary engaging teeth are separately formed on an inner peripheral wall of the engaging hole, toward a central axis of the engaging hole of the head portion, thereby forming the auxiliary engaging hole. A plurality of main engaging teeth are coaxially formed on the auxiliary engaging teeth, toward the central axis of the engaging hole respectively, and are positioned at the base of the engaging hole. The fastener provides two bearing surfaces on which a driver can act upon, and the present disclosure further provides the driver to engage with the fastener and a punch for producing the fastener.

Abstract: A fastener includes a connecting portion and a head portion connected with the connecting portion. The head portion defines an engaging hole and includes a plurality of protruding teeth separately formed on an inner peripheral wall of the engaging hole, respectively, toward a central axis of the engaging hole of the head portion, and a plurality of recesses are formed between every two adjacent protruding teeth, respectively. The head portion further includes a plurality of resisting projections separately formed on the inner peripheral wall of the engaging hole, toward the central axis of the engaging hole, and received within the corresponding plurality of the recesses of the head portion, respectively. The present disclosure further provides a driver engaging with the fastener and a punch producing the fastener.

Abstract: Various techniques are provided for interfacing external devices with host computer systems. In one example, hard drive parameters may be retrieved from a nonvolatile memory of an external hard drive enclosure device in order to register the external device with a host device while the host device provides a low power level to the external device. Following registration of the external device, the host device may provide a high power level to the external device to operate the registered external device. The hard drive parameters may be stored in the nonvolatile memory by a provider of the external device. In another example, the hard drive parameters may be loaded into the nonvolatile memory by appropriate software running on the host device. In yet another example, the external device may read the hard drive parameters from the hard drive while emulating another external device.