Abstract: A surface-treated fluidic channel is provided comprising a dispensing device that comprises a microarray of microchannels. The fluidic channel is made from metal and comprises a surface and a hydrophobic coating layer comprising a self-assembled monolayer of an organophosphorus acid adhered to the surface. A mesh nebulizer comprising a reservoir and a dispensing device comprising a microarray of microchannels is also provided. A metal surface layer is applied to the interior and exterior surfaces of the reservoir and dispensing device, and a hydrophobic coating layer comprising an organo-silicon or a self-assembled monolayer of an organophosphorus acid is adhered to the metal surface layer, usually on the exterior surfaces of the reservoir and dispensing device. A hydrophilic polymeric coating layer may be chemically bonded to and propagated from terminal functional groups on the hydrophobic coating layer on the interior surfaces of the reservoir and dispensing device.

Abstract: Disclosed are compounds having the formula: wherein q, r, s, A, B, C, RA1, RA2, RB1, RB2, RC1, RC2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R14, R15, R16, and R17, are as defined herein, or a tautomer thereof, or a salt, particularly a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, thereof.

Abstract: A battery cell capable of self-priming with molten metal produced within the battery cell includes a cathode compartment configured to contain a catholyte that releases metal ions, an anode compartment at least partially containing an anode current collector that receives electrons from an external power supply, an ion-selective membrane positioned between the cathode compartment and the anode compartment and configured to selectively transport the metal ions from the cathode compartment to the anode compartment when self-priming the battery cell, and an electron transport structure extending between the anode current collector and the ion-selective membrane within the anode compartment and configured to transport the electrons from the anode current collector to the ion-selective membrane when self-priming the battery cell.

Abstract: A powered fastener driver includes a driver blade movable from a top-dead-center (TDC) position to a bottom-dead-center (BDC) position for driving a fastener into a workpiece and a drive unit for providing torque to move the driver blade from the BDC position toward the TDC position. A rotary lifter is engageable with the driver blade and configured to receive torque from the drive unit for returning the driver blade from the BDC position toward the TDC position. The lifter has a body, a drive pin coupled to the body, and a roller positioned on the drive pin. The roller includes an engagement section configured to receive an end portion of a tooth of the driver blade. The lifter includes a means for aligning the engagement section with the end portion of the tooth on the driver blade to facilitate meshing between the end portion and the roller.

Abstract: A method for image-based data collection and analysis of a tissue sample comprising a tumor or permeable microchannels to simulate blood vessels. The method may comprise providing a microfluidic platform to hold the tissue sample or microchannels. The method may further comprise providing an imaging system capable of processing fluorescent images and directing a fluorescent dye through the microfluidic platform to illuminate the tumor or microchannels. The method may further comprise the imaging system capturing a plurality of fluorescent images of the tissue sample over a period of time. The method may further comprise a computing device processing the plurality of fluorescent images and determining a plurality of parameters based on the images.

Abstract: A pressure regulator module for a chip-based microfluidic platform is provided. The module includes a microfluidic channel for passing flowable material from the inlet region through the outlet region and into a downstream compartment; one or more microvalves fluidly connected to the microfluidic channel and upstream of the outlet region; and one or more reservoirs fluidly connected to the microvalves, for receiving flowable material diverted by the microvalves, where a flow of flowable material passing from the inlet region toward the downstream compartment is at least partially diverted by the microvalves into the reservoirs as a result of a pressure increase in the microfluidic channel. In some versions, the microvalves are capillary burst valves. A microfluidic chip containing the module and a method of using the module are provided.

Abstract: A method, a network device, and a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium are described in relation to an radio access management service. The radio access management service may include calculating a predicted total resource allocation value for a prospective access and transmission grant associated with a prospective time window, and a value indicating a number of end devices that can be supported. The service may generate and transmit an access and transmission grant message directed to end devices, based on the value, in which the message may include both random access response information and contention resolution information.

Abstract: A surface-treated fluidic channel is provided comprising a dispensing device that comprises a microarray of microchannels. The fluidic channel is made from metal and comprises a surface and a hydrophobic coating layer comprising a self-assembled monolayer of an organophosphorus acid adhered to the surface. A mesh nebulizer comprising a reservoir and a dispensing device comprising a microarray of microchannels is also provided. A metal surface layer is applied to the interior and exterior surfaces of the reservoir and dispensing device, and a hydrophobic coating layer comprising an organo-silicon or a self-assembled monolayer of an organophosphorus acid is adhered to the metal surface layer, usually on the exterior surfaces of the reservoir and dispensing device. A hydrophilic polymeric coating layer may be chemically bonded to and propagated from terminal functional groups on the hydrophobic coating layer on the interior surfaces of the reservoir and dispensing device.

Abstract: A battery cell capable of self-priming with molten metal produced within the battery cell includes a cathode compartment configured to contain a catholyte that releases metal ions, an anode compartment at least partially containing an anode current collector that receives electrons from an external power supply, an ion-selective membrane positioned between the cathode compartment and the anode compartment and configured to selectively transport the metal ions from the cathode compartment to the anode compartment when self-priming the battery cell, and an electron transport structure extending between the anode current collector and the ion-selective membrane within the anode compartment and configured to transport the electrons from the anode current collector to the ion-selective membrane when self-priming the battery cell.

Abstract: Methods of altering the surface energy of components of a mesh nebulizer are provided, comprising: a) depositing a metal surface layer on surfaces of the component; b) forming a hydrophobic coating layer comprising an organo-silicon or a self-assembled monolayer of an organophosphorus acid directly on the metal surface layer or indirectly on the metal surface layer through an intermediate organometallic coating; and either: i) removing select areas of the hydrophobic coating layer to expose the metal surface layer; or ii) forming a polymeric coating layer chemically bonded to and propagated from terminal functional groups on the hydrophobic coating layer that are capable of initiating polymer growth when exposed to a source of polymerizable monomer, on select areas of the components. Mesh nebulizers formed by such methods are also provided.

Abstract: A device may receive, from a network device, a user equipment (UE) parameter update request notification indicating an update to a UE parameter of a universal subscriber identity module (USIM), and may generate an encrypted UE parameter update request. The device may cause the encrypted UE parameter update request to be provided to the USIM to cause the USIM to update the UE parameter and to generate an encrypted UE parameter update response. The device may receive, from the network device, the encrypted UE parameter update response, and may verify an authenticity of content of the encrypted UE parameter update response based on whether the encrypted UE parameter update response is signed by the USIM. The device may provide, to the network device, a result indicating whether the UE parameter is updated and whether the authenticity of the content of the encrypted UE parameter update response is verified.

Abstract: A device may receive, from a network device, a user equipment (UE) parameter update request notification indicating an update to a UE parameter of a universal subscriber identity module (USIM), and may generate an encrypted UE parameter update request. The device may cause the encrypted UE parameter update request to be provided to the USIM to cause the USIM to update the UE parameter and to generate an encrypted UE parameter update response. The device may receive, from the network device, the encrypted UE parameter update response, and may verify an authenticity of content of the encrypted UE parameter update response based on whether the encrypted UE parameter update response is signed by the USIM. The device may provide, to the network device, a result indicating whether the UE parameter is updated and whether the authenticity of the content of the encrypted UE parameter update response is verified.

Abstract: A device may receive, from a network device, a user equipment (UE) parameter update request notification indicating an update to a UE parameter of a universal subscriber identity module (USIM), and may generate an encrypted UE parameter update request. The device may cause the encrypted UE parameter update request to be provided to the USIM to cause the USIM to update the UE parameter and to generate an encrypted UE parameter update response. The device may receive, from the network device, the encrypted UE parameter update response, and may verify an authenticity of content of the encrypted UE parameter update response based on whether the encrypted UE parameter update response is signed by the USIM. The device may provide, to the network device, a result indicating whether the UE parameter is updated and whether the authenticity of the content of the encrypted UE parameter update response is verified.

Abstract: A plow assembly for forming a trench within soil of a selected land area. The plow assembly has a blade element, a displacement element, and an attachment element that permits attachment of the plow assembly to a vehicle, such as a tractor. A first end of the displacement element is secured to a distal end of the blade element, and a second end of the displacement element is spaced from a rear edge of the blade element and connected to a pipe. As the plow assembly is advanced within soil, the cutting edge of the blade element cuts through the soil and the displacement element displaces the soil to form the trench and pulls the pipe into the trench as the trench is formed.

Abstract: A pressure regulator module for a chip-based microfluidic platform is provided. The module includes a microfluidic channel for passing flowable material from the inlet region through the outlet region and into a downstream compartment; one or more microvalves fluidly connected to the microfluidic channel and upstream of the outlet region; and one or more reservoirs fluidly connected to the microvalves, for receiving flowable material diverted by the microvalves, where a flow of flowable material passing from the inlet region toward the downstream compartment is at least partially diverted by the microvalves into the reservoirs as a result of a pressure increase in the microfluidic channel. In some versions, the microvalves are capillary burst valves. A microfluidic chip containing the module and a method of using the module are provided.

Abstract: A surface-treated fluidic channel is provided comprising a dispensing device that comprises a microarray of microchannels. The fluidic channel is made from metal and comprises a surface and a hydrophobic coating layer comprising a self-assembled monolayer of an organophosphorus acid adhered to the surface. A mesh nebulizer comprising a reservoir and a dispensing device comprising a microarray of microchannels is also provided. A metal surface layer is applied to the interior and exterior surfaces of the reservoir and dispensing device, and a hydrophobic coating layer comprising an organo-silicon or a self-assembled monolayer of an organophosphorus acid is adhered to the metal surface layer, usually on the exterior surfaces of the reservoir and dispensing device. A hydrophilic polymeric coating layer may be chemically bonded to and propagated from terminal functional groups on the hydrophobic coating layer on the interior surfaces of the reservoir and dispensing device.

Abstract: A pressure regulator module for a chip-based microfluidic platform is provided. The module includes a microfluidic channel for passing flowable material from the inlet region through the outlet region and into a downstream compartment; one or more microvalves fluidly connected to the microfluidic channel and upstream of the outlet region; and one or more reservoirs fluidly connected to the microvalves, for receiving flowable material diverted by the microvalves, where a flow of flowable material passing from the inlet region toward the downstream compartment is at least partially diverted by the microvalves into the reservoirs as a result of a pressure increase in the microfluidic channel. In some versions, the microvalves are capillary burst valves. A microfluidic chip containing the module and a method of using the module are provided.

Abstract: A device may receive, from a network device, a user equipment (UE) parameter update request notification indicating an update to a UE parameter of a universal subscriber identity module (USIM), and may generate an encrypted UE parameter update request. The device may cause the encrypted UE parameter update request to be provided to the USIM to cause the USIM to update the UE parameter and to generate an encrypted UE parameter update response. The device may receive, from the network device, the encrypted UE parameter update response, and may verify an authenticity of content of the encrypted UE parameter update response based on whether the encrypted UE parameter update response is signed by the USIM. The device may provide, to the network device, a result indicating whether the UE parameter is updated and whether the authenticity of the content of the encrypted UE parameter update response is verified.

Abstract: A system may use optical character recognition (“OCR”) techniques to identify license plates or other textual information associated with vehicles. Based on this OCR information, the system may determine additional information, such as users associated with the vehicles. The system may further obtain other information, such as history information associated with the vehicles and/or the users (e.g., via an “opt-in” data collection service). Ad content may be selected based on trends associated with the users and/or vehicles, and may be presented via “smart” billboards (e.g., billboards that may dynamically display different content).