Abstract: Provided is a method of truncating one or more blocks in a blockchain (300) by an aging process executed by participating computer node (501, 502) of the blockchain. The method includes truncating one or more blocks (310, 320) with a time stamp (210) that is older than a pre-determined cut-off time (t1) by the computer node; creating a new block (360) in which one or more data packets of the new block capture essential data (312, 320) of blocks that are truncated; and appending the new block to the blockchain.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a vertical memory structure with air gaps and a method for preparing the vertical memory structure. The vertical memory structure includes a semiconductor stack including a lower semiconductor pattern structure filling a recess on a substrate and protruding from an upper surface of the substrate in a first direction substantially perpendicular to the upper surface of the substrate; a plurality of gate electrodes surrounding a sidewall of the semiconductor stack, the plurality of gate electrodes being at a plurality of levels, respectively, so as to be spaced apart from each other in the first direction; and a plurality of air gap structures disposed at outer sides of the plurality of gate electrodes respectively.

Abstract: Disclosed are computer-implemented methods, non-transitory computer-readable media, and systems for managing transactions in blockchain networks.

Abstract: Methods and systems are described for validating a block in a blockchain. The methods may include identifying a subset of nodes in a blockchain network as trusted nodes. The trusted nodes perform a voting process to validate a block for the blockchain, whereas those nodes that are not identified as trusted nodes may not engage in the validation process. The trusted nodes may be identified based on past participation in the blockchain, stake in the blockchain, based on an organization operating the node, or other factors. In some cases the trusted nodes may be grouped into one or more voting quorums, and quorum management software may direct the validation process.

Abstract: A memory device includes a memory array including memory strings. Each memory string includes a plurality of top memory cells, a plurality of bottom memory cells, and one or more dummy memory cells between the top memory cells and the bottom memory cells. The memory device also includes a plurality of word lines respectively coupled to gate terminals of the top memory cells and the bottom memory cells. The memory device further includes a control circuit configured to provide a control signal to control programming a target memory cell of the top memory cells. The gate terminal of the target memory cell are coupled to a selected word line of the word lines.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a composite scaffold containing DFO and rhBMP-2 capable of synergistically stimulating bone formation, a preparation method and use thereof. The composite scaffold contains a matrix, a PEGS gel layer and rhBMP-2, wherein the matrix is an MBG scaffold grafted with DFO on the surface, the PEGS gel layer is carried on the surface of the matrix, and rhBMP-2 is carried inside the PEGS gel layer. In the present disclosure, the function of DFO and rhBMP-2 in vivo and in vitro can be regulated by precisely controlling the immobilization mode and spatial distribution of DFO and rhBMP-2 in the scaffold, and the all-round repair of “rapid enrichment of target cells—angiogenesis-guided bone” can be achieved.

Abstract: Techniques are described herein for reducing false positives in vision sensor-equipped assistant devices. In various implementations, initial image frame(s) may be obtained from vision sensor(s) of an assistant device and analyzed to classify a particular region of the initial image frames as being likely to contain visual noise. Subsequent image frame(s) obtained from the vision sensor(s) may then be analyzed to detect actionable user-provided visual cue(s), in a manner that reduces or eliminates false positives. In some implementations, no analysis may be performed on the particular region of the subsequent image frame(s). Additionally or alternatively, in some implementations, a first candidate visual cue detected within the particular region may be weighted less heavily than a second candidate visual cue detected elsewhere in the one or more subsequent image frames. An automated assistant may then take responsive action based on the detected actionable visual cue(s).

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a semiconductor device with an air gap and a boron nitride cap for reducing capacitive coupling in a pattern-dense region and a method for preparing the semiconductor device. The semiconductor device includes a first metal plug and a second metal plug disposed over a pattern-dense region of a semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor device also includes a third metal plug and a fourth metal plug disposed over a pattern-loose region of the semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor device further includes a boron nitride layer disposed over the pattern-dense region and the pattern-loose region of the semiconductor substrate. A first portion of the boron nitride layer between the first metal plug and the second metal plug is separated from the semiconductor substrate by an air gap, and a second portion of the boron nitride layer between the third metal plug and the fourth metal plug is in direct contact with the semiconductor substrate.

Abstract: An electrical connector includes an insulative elongated housing with an elongate central slot for receiving a daughter card, a plurality of contacts disposed in the housing by two sides of the central slot, and a mounting section located at one end of the housing with a unitary ejector pivotally mounted therein. The ejector forms a receiving slot for receiving the daughter board, and a pair of engagement arms located by two opposite sides of the receiving slot with corresponding hook at front ends to be engaged within corresponding engagement slots formed in the mounting section. Each deflectable engagement arms includes a metal piece associated therewith not only preventing breaking of the deflectable engagement arm during rotation of the ejector but also enhancing engagement between the ejector and the housing.

Abstract: One example embodiment is a method of proving the immutability of digital records in a first entity. The method includes storing the digital records in a sequence of blocks by the first entity; regularly sending the hash value of the blocks by the first entity to the external party; computing a re-computed hash value of a specific block from the digital records stored at the first entity by a second entity; obtaining a retrieved hash value of the specific block from the external party by mapping a key index by the second entity; and proving that the digital records have not been changed up to the specific block if the re-computed hash value is the same as the retrieved hash value by the second entity.

Abstract: Disclosed are computer-implemented methods, non-transitory computer-readable media, and systems for managing transactions in multiple blockchain networks.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for use with a database computer system including a database data set that includes machine readable data in the form of a plurality of records, the computer-implemented method comprising: (i) defining a plurality of sets of permission rule(s); (ii) receiving a first user profile for a first user; (iii) establishing a plurality of user identities to the first user; (iv) generating a plurality of tokens; and (v) for each given user identity of the first user, adding a given token of the plurality of tokens to the first user profile and associating the given user identity and the given token.

Abstract: An example method of operation may include one or more of identifying a number of share chains from a smart contract stored in a blockchain, identifying a contributed block received from a miner entity associated with one of the share chains, determining whether the contributed block is valid for the one share chain, and updating the one share chain based on the contributed block.

Abstract: A process deployment controller creates an updated image for an intermediary engine in order to execute one or more applications on a host infrastructure. The process deployment controller generates a partial image by executing source code from a template repository. The partial image provides a structure used to create an intermediary engine used with a container, which includes an application, as well as binaries and libraries required to execute the application in an infrastructure via the intermediary engine. The process deployment controller transmits an identifier of the infrastructure to a component registry; receives a component description of the infrastructure from the component registry; and uses the component description to create an updated image of the partial image. The process deployment controller, upon receiving a request for the application to run on the infrastructure, utilizes the updated image and intermediary engine to execute the application on the infrastructure.

Abstract: A method includes predicting, using a machine learning model and based on a received set of user interactions on keywords appearing in a presentation, a knowledge background of the user indicating the user's degree of understanding of the presentation. The method also includes generating, based on the predicted knowledge background, a message comprising a description of a keyword in the presentation and coordinates where the description is to be positioned in the presentation and communicating the message to a device of the user.

Abstract: Disclosed are computer-implemented methods, non-transitory computer-readable media, and systems for managing transactions in multiple blockchain networks. One computer-implemented method includes identifying a first transaction in a first blockchain network that is a first Hash Time Locked Contract (HTLC) transaction in the first blockchain network, identifying a second transaction in a second blockchain network that is a second HTLC transaction in the second blockchain network different from the first blockchain network, determining that a first transaction commit time of the first HTLC transaction is earlier than a second transaction commit time of the second HTLC transaction and a first secret hash of the first HTLC transaction has a same value as a second secret hash of the second HTLC transaction, and in response, determining that the first HTLC transaction and the second HTLC transaction are associated with each other and related to a cross-chain transaction.

Abstract: A processor may receive an image of the collection of material having a plurality of objects. The processor may identify the anomaly from the plurality of objects. The processor may generate a bounding box for the anomaly. The processor may generate one or more picking points on the anomaly. The one or more picking points may be configured on at least one balance points of the anomaly. The processor may remove the anomaly from the collection of material via the one or more picking points.

Abstract: A device may include: a highly doped n+ Si region; an intrinsic silicon multiplication region disposed on at least a portion of the n+ Si region, the intrinsic silicon multiplication having a thickness of about 90-110 nm; a highly doped p? Si charge region disposed on at least part of the intrinsic silicon multiplication region, the p? Si charge region having a thickness of about 40-60 nm; and a p+ Ge absorption region disposed on at least a portion of the p? Si charge region; wherein the p+ Ge absorption region is doped across its entire thickness. The thickness of the n+ Si region may be about 100 nm and the thickness of the p? Si charge region may be about 50 nm. The p+ Ge absorption region may confine the electric field to the multiplication region and the charge region to achieve a temperature stability of 4.2 mV/° C.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to training a machine learning model to classify images. An example method generally includes receiving a training data set including images in a first category and images in a second category. A convolutional neural network (CNN) is trained using the training data set, and a feature map is generated from layers of the CNN based on features of images in the training data set. A first area in the feature map including images in the first category and a second area in the feature map where images in the first category overlap with images in the second category are identified. The first category is split into a first subcategory corresponding to the first area and a second subcategory corresponding to the second area. The CNN is retrained based on the images in the first subcategory, images in the second subcategory, and images in the second category.

Abstract: A method and a device for securing a cache against side channel attacks are provided. An allocator identifier ALLOCATOR field is added to each cache entry in the present disclosure. Whenever an entry is allocated in the cache, the identifier of the software domain currently running on the processor is filled into the ALLOCATOR field of the allocation entry. When accessing the cache, the cache entry can be hit only if the identifier of the software domain currently running on the processor is identical to the ALLOCATOR field in the cache entry. If the cache entry to be replaced is invalid or its ALLOCATOR field is identical to the identifier of the software domain currently running on the processor, then the existing entry in the cache is replaced directly; otherwise, the entire cache is emptied.