Abstract: A method of preparing polylactic acid (PLA) microsphere and polylactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) microsphere is provided, including the following steps. A first solution is provided, including polylactic acid or polylactic-co-glycolic acid and an organic solvent. A second solution is provided, including polyvinyl alcohol, sodium carboxymethyl cellulose and an aqueous solution. The first solution is added to the second solution and, at the same time, the second solution is agitated until polylactic acid is solidified to form a plurality of polylactic acid microspheres, or until polylactic-co-glycolic acid is solidified to form a plurality of polylactic-co-glycolic acid microspheres. The polylactic acid microspheres or polylactic-co-glycolic acid microspheres are collected.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides an adapter bracket, which includes a first portion, a second portion and a third portion. The first portion includes a protruding portion extending from a first bottom surface of the first portion in a direction perpendicular to the first bottom surface. The second portion, has an elevation with respect to the first bottom surface of the first portion. The second portion comprising a first hole. The third portion extends between the first portion and the second portion.

Abstract: Present invention teaches the method of using a keratin hydrolysis peptide (“KHP”) solution to increase the grape plant's production yield. By selectively choosing specific weights of feathers and water, and treating the mixture, though one embodiment does not have water mixed in, to a high-temperature high-pressure hydrolysis process, the resulting solution is confirmed to contain at least 253 peptides and then applied to the leaf surface of grape plants at different growth stages. Optionally, the KHP solution can be diluted by water, as taught in the specification, before applying to the leaf surface of the grape plants.

Abstract: Present invention teaches the method of using a keratin hydrolysis peptide (“KHP”) solution to increase the grape plant's color changing (ripening) rate, flavor and sweetness. By selectively choosing specific weights of feathers and water, and treating the mixture, though one embodiment does not have water mixed in, to a high-temperature high-pressure hydrolysis process, the resulting solution is confirmed to contain at least 253 peptides and then applied to the leaf surface of grape plants at different growth stages. Optionally, the KHP solution can be diluted by water, as taught in the specification, before applying to the leaf surface of the grape plants.

Abstract: A method includes epitaxially growing a Ge1-xSnx channel layer over a substrate. The Ge1-xSnx channel layer is in a metastable state. A Ge1-ySny barrier layer is epitaxially grown over the Ge1-xSnx channel layer to form a two-dimensional hole gas in the Ge1-xSnx channel layer. The Ge1-xSnx channel layer and the Ge1-ySny barrier layer are etched to form a first opening and a second opening in the Ge1-xSnx channel layer and the Ge1-ySny barrier layer. A first source/drain electrode and a second source/drain electrode are deposited in the first opening and the second opening, respectively. A gate electrode is formed over the Ge1-ySny barrier layer.

Abstract: Present invention uses a mixture of feathers and water, and, depending on specific embodiments of the ratio between feathers and water, subject the mixture to a high-temperature and high-pressure treatment process for a fixed amount of time, resulting in a keratin solution containing at least 253 peptides, with their molecular masses between 500 and 4,000 Daltons, and the concentration is in the range of 2.0×105˜4.5×105 ppm. The solution can then be further diluted by water for application to different plants, at specific growth stages, following additional steps or processes of application to increase crops yield.

Abstract: A flash memory device and method of making the same are disclosed. The flash memory device is located on a substrate and includes a floating gate electrode, a tunnel dielectric layer located between the substrate and the floating gate electrode, a smaller length control gate electrode and a control gate dielectric layer located between the floating gate electrode and the smaller length control gate electrode. The length of a major axis of the smaller length control gate electrode is less than a length of a major axis of the floating gate electrode.

Abstract: A reading device for capacitive sensing element comprises a differential capacitive sensing element, a modulator, a charge-voltage conversion circuit, a phase adjustment circuit, a demodulator and a low-pass filter. The modulator outputs a modulation signal to the common node of the capacitive sensing element and modulates the output signal of the capacitive sensing element. The two input terminals of the charge-to-voltage conversion circuit are connected to two non-common nodes of the capacitive sensing element. The charge-to-voltage converter read the output charge of the capacitive sensing element and convert it into a voltage signal. The modulator generates a demodulation signal through the phase adjustment circuit. The demodulator receives the demodulation signal from the phase adjustment circuit and demodulates the output of the charge-to-voltage conversion circuit. The low-pass filter is connected to the output of the demodulator for filtering the demodulated voltage signal to output the read signal.

Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device includes patterning a dielectric layer to form a groove and depositing a plurality of conductive layers over the dielectric layer and in the groove. The first conductive layer is a liner layer, the second conductive layer is a metal film, and the third conductive layer is a capping layer. The first conductive layer is treated with a hydrogen plasma treatment to remove impurities. The first conductive layer is also treated with a hydrogen soak treatment to remove microvoids. The third conductive layer is treated with an ammonia plasma treatment to remove impurities. The third conductive layer is also treated with a hydrogen plasma treatment to remove additional impurities. The third conductive layer is also treated with a hydrogen soak treatment to remove microvoids.

Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device includes patterning a dielectric layer to form a groove and depositing a plurality of conductive layers over the dielectric layer and in the groove. The first conductive layer is a liner layer, the second conductive layer is a metal film, and the third conductive layer is a capping layer. The first conductive layer is treated with a hydrogen plasma treatment to remove impurities. The first conductive layer is also treated with a hydrogen soak treatment to remove microvoids. The third conductive layer is treated with an ammonia plasma treatment to remove impurities. The third conductive layer is also treated with a hydrogen plasma treatment to remove additional impurities. The third conductive layer is also treated with a hydrogen soak treatment to remove microvoids.

Abstract: A method for determining a disease state transition path includes receiving a patient data having functional data and/or structural data related to a patient. Based on the patient data, a first disease state of a plurality of non-overlapping disease states each associated with a predetermined range of functional and/or structural degeneration values may be identified. A second, non-adjacent disease state of the plurality of disease states may be identified based on the patient data. A most probable path between the first disease state and the second disease state may be determined using a two dimensional continuous-time hidden Markov model.

Abstract: A method for determining a disease state transition path includes receiving a patient data having functional data and/or structural data related to a patient. Based on the patient data, a first disease state of a plurality of non-overlapping disease states each associated with a predetermined range of functional and/or structural degeneration values may be identified. A second, non-adjacent disease state of the plurality of disease states may be identified based on the patient data. A most probable path between the first disease state and the second disease state may be determined using a two dimensional continuous-time hidden Markov model.

Abstract: Systems and methods of analyzing an optical coherence tomography image of a retina are discussed. A 2-dimensional slice of the image can be aligned to produce an approximately horizontal image of the retina and an edge map based at least in part on the aligned slice. Also, at least one global representation can be determined based on a (multi-scale) spatial division, such as multi-scale spatial pyramid, on the slice and/or edge map. Creating the local features is based on the specified cell structure of the global representation. The local features can be constructed based on local binary pattern (LBP)-based features. Additionally, a slice can be categorized into one or more categories via one or more classifiers (e.g., support vector machines). Each category can be associated with at least one ocular pathology, and classifying can be based on the constructed global descriptors, which can include the LBP-based local descriptors.

Abstract: The present invention provides a pharmaceutically acceptable compound, a pharmaceutical composition comprising the above-mentioned pharmaceutically acceptable compound. The pharmaceutically acceptable compound provided by the present invention is a salt of a basic group-containing morphinan derivative and a carboxyl group-containing glycyrrhizinic acid and has the ability to be used to manufacture medicaments for treating and/or preventing cough, ameliorating pains, treating respiratory system diseases, treating cardiovascular diseases and treating liver diseases.

Abstract: The present invention provides a pharmaceutically acceptable compound, a pharmaceutical composition comprising the above-mentioned pharmaceutically acceptable compound. The pharmaceutically acceptable compound provided by the present invention is a salt of a basic group-containing morphinan derivative and a carboxyl group-containing glycyrrhizinic acid and has the ability to be used to manufacture medicaments for treating and/or preventing cough, ameliorating pains, treating respiratory system diseases, treating cardiovascular diseases and treating liver diseases.

Abstract: Systems and methods of analyzing an optical coherence tomography image of a retina are discussed. A 2-dimensional slice of the image can be aligned to produce an approximately horizontal image of the retina and an edge map based at least in part on the aligned slice. Also, at least one global representation can be determined based on a (multi-scale) spatial division, such as multi-scale spatial pyramid, on the slice and/or edge map. Creating the local features is based on the specified cell structure of the global representation. The local features can be constructed based on local binary pattern (LBP)-based features. Additionally, a slice can be categorized into one or more categories via one or more classifiers (e.g., support vector machines). Each category can be associated with at least one ocular pathology, and classifying can be based on the constructed global descriptors, which can include the LBP-based local descriptors.

Abstract: Disclosed is a digital television system, which comprises: a receiving module, for receiving a television signal; a parser, coupled to the receiving module, for extracting EPG (ELECTRONIC PROGRAM GUIDE) data of the television signal; a storing device, coupled to the parser, for storing the EPG data; a control signal receiving interface, for receiving a control signal from a remote control device; a processor, coupled to the storing device and the control signal receiving interface, for accessing at least a part of the EPG data according to the control signal; a display; a blender, coupled to the processor and the display, for displaying the EPG data outputted from the processor on the display; wherein the control signal comprises a channel number information.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for displaying an electronic program guide. The electronic program guide includes a plurality of time attributes associated with a plurality of program attributes, respectively. The method disclosed for displaying an electronic program guide includes providing a plurality of time indicators; displaying at least a specific time attribute and its associated program attribute; and when the specific time attribute and its associated program attribute are selected, playing a specific time indicator associated with the selected specific time attribute.

Abstract: A method and device for displaying content of a region of interest within a video image is disclosed. The method includes: receiving a video signal from a video source; decoding the video signal to generate a video data corresponding to the video image; receiving at least a user command to modify the region of interest; and displaying the content of the modified region of interest on a screen according to part of the video data corresponding to the modified region of interest.

Abstract: The invention relates to synthetic processes to produce the known pharmacologically active 9-methoxypsoralen. Also disclosed are various novel intermediates utilized in these processes.