Abstract: Provided herein are methods of preparing a template nucleic acid for next-generation sequencing. The methods comprise performing primer extension using c7dGTP instead of dGTP, which then allows for the input nucleic acids to be selectively digested by c7dGTP-resistant restriction enzymes, thereby enriching the template nucleic acid prior to next-generation sequencing library preparation.

Abstract: A broadband power amplifier circuit is disclosed for providing load modulation, and includes an active element for receiving an impedance matched signal and for amplifying the impedance matched signal to supply an amplified signal, and an output matching network having a load impedance and coupled to the active element for receiving the amplified signal, the output matching network matches the load impedance to an optimum load impedance of the active element.

Abstract: An air foil bearing includes a sleeve that defines a hollow portion having an irregular curvature, where the hollow portion is configured to receive a rotor, a bump foil that is disposed at an inner peripheral surface of the sleeve, and a top foil that is disposed at the bump foil.

Abstract: Disclosed are a training data generation method and apparatus for an artificial intelligence visual analysis model. The training data generation method includes: (a) receiving a background image and object-related information; (b) generating a target object image that meets a condition based on the object-related information; (c) applying the background image to a depth estimation model to estimate depths of each pixel location and generate a depth map; (d) determining an insertion location and scale at which the target object image is inserted based on the depth map to generate a local object insertion image and a mask image, respectively; (e) simply synthesizing the local object insertion image and the background image and then generating a synthesis image reflecting a scale feature of the background image through a trained multi-scale visual analysis model; and (f) generating a final training image using the background image, the synthesis image, and the mask image.

Abstract: Medical swabs incorporating a pH indicator in an absorbent crosslinked hydrogel matrix. The medical swabs can provide for visual monitoring of biological pH. The medical swabs can be used to monitor wounds, such as chronic wounds, burn wounds, surgical wounds, etc., as well as other biological fluids. The swabs can be used for early detection of chronic wounds and/or early detection of bacterial infections.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a rock physico-mechanical testing chamber and a three-dimensional multi-field information perception cabin in simulated environments of deep earth, deep space, and deep sea. The testing chamber comprises a cabin body and 6 butting indenters; the 6 butting indenters are pairwise located in an X-axis direction, a Y-axis direction and a Z-axis direction; the 6 butting indenters are respectively mounted in through holes on six faces of the cabin body, inner ends of the butting indenters extend into the cabin body, outer ends of the butting indenters are exposed out of the cabin body, and the butting indenters can axially move relative to the cabin body. The present application can be used to achieve the reservoir rock mechanical behavior testing in real time under high and low environments.

Abstract: A ventilation structure of a core chamber of a turbofan engine having a large bypass ratio, said structure comprising: an outer bypass wall surface (1), a core chamber wall surface (4) and a core casing (7). An outer bypass flow channel (2) is formed between the outer bypass wall surface (1) and the core chamber wall surface (4). A core chamber (6) is formed between the core chamber wall surface (4) and the core casing (7). An air intake annular cavity (3) is provided in the core casing and is located at the upstream position. The air intake annular cavity (3) is used to put the outer bypass flow channel (2) and the core chamber (6) in communication. An exhaust grille (5) is further provided on the core chamber wall surface (4) and is located at a tail position.

Abstract: Disclosed are reversibly-expandable polymer-integrated crystals (PIX) materials, devices, and methods for controllably encapsulating and releasing molecular cargo. The disclosed PIX materials are engineered crystalline materials with large pores that can entrap macromolecules, such as proteins and nanoparticles. The material expands and contracts reversibly, allowing controlled encapsulation and release of guest/cargo molecules.

Abstract: Systems and methods for training and implementing a sensorimotor control framework in accordance with embodiments of the invention are illustrated. One embodiment includes a method for operating a sensorimotor control framework. The method includes steps for determining a current state of a musculoskeletal model, determining a desired state of the musculoskeletal model, computing a set of muscle activations, based on a difference between the current and desired states, and driving a musculoskeletal model based on the computed muscle activations.

Abstract: A system and method for modulating stress granule assembly, utilizing a protein construct that has a cell penetrating protein fused to one or more proteins that can bind with an NTF2-like domain of a G3BP protein. By configuring the protein construct with an appropriate number of proteins that being with NTF2-like domains, stress granule assembly can be upregulated or downregulated as needed to treat patients.

Abstract: A converging thermal lens is transiently formed by directing a shaped pulsed light beam having at least a first wavelength to a thermo-optic material, whereby the thermo-optic material absorbs the light beam and experiences local heating in response thereto. The heating induces a refractive index profile in the thermo-optic material that temporarily forms the converging thermal lens. In some embodiments, the refractive index of the thermo-optic material has a negative temperature dependence, and the pulsed light beam is shaped to have an inverted light pattern with a maximum intensity in an outer region of the beam cross-section. Alternatively, in some embodiments, the refractive index of the thermo-optic material has a positive temperature dependence, and the pulsed light beam is shaped to have a radially-varying light pattern with a maximum intensity in a central region of the beam cross-section.

Abstract: A raised structure for reducing frictional drag due to viscosity of a flow toward an object in a direction defining an acute angle with a leading edge of the object. The raised structure includes raised bodies configured to be provided on a surface of the object at the leading edge on a downstream side of a stagnation point of the flow. A height of each raised body changes along a convex curve, and the raised bodies are arranged in an array to define a first uneven shape changing periodically in a first cross section configured to have a constant distance from the stagnation point and be orthogonal to the surface, and a second uneven shape changing in a second cross section configured to be orthogonal to a line composed of the stagnation point and the first cross section, the second uneven shape having concave and convex portions that change periodically.

Abstract: Mounting systems for solar panel assemblies and related methods are generally described. In some embodiments, a clamp adapter may be used to mount a conventional panel support structure of a solar panel assembly to a conventional bracket of a base assembly without the use of bolts in at least some embodiments. The clamp adapter may include a rail slot for receiving the structure, a lower flange for receiving a lower surface of a mounting lip of the bracket, and a lateral flange for receiving an upper surface of the mounting lip. The lower flange may be angled to accommodate a variety of mounting lip angles. In some embodiments, the mounting system may also include a connector configured to mechanically connect the bracket and structure.

Abstract: Polymeric compositions are provided that include a poly(ethylene glycol), a viscoelastic polymer, and an antioxidant, where, in polymerized form, the compositions have a refractive index of about 1.30 to about 1.40. Methods of synthesizing the compositions are also provided and include the steps of heating an amount of water, adding a buffering agent to the water to form a buffer solution; mixing a poly(ethylene glycol) and a viscoelastic polymer into the buffer solution to form a reactive mixture; adding a plurality of antioxidant particles to the reactive mixture; and removing suspended gas bubbles from the reactive mixture. Methods of preventing oxidative damage to an eye lens of a subject are further provided and include administering the foregoing polymeric compositions to the eye lens of the subject.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for asynchronously storing massive data generated during high speed video measurement, the method including the following steps: step (1), constructing a high speed video measurement hardware model; and step (2) realizing asynchronous I/O real-time storage in a high speed solid state disk on the basis of Windows core programming. Compared with the prior art, the present invention solves the problems of incompleteness or frame drop during real-time storage of massive data, and realizes real-time and lossless storage of massive high speed data.

Abstract: Miscible antifoams are provided that do not separate out of a target liquid and that are easy to incorporate in the target liquid. A method or system involves mixing a liquid (‘a miscible antifoam’) into a target foaming liquid. This miscible antifoam is engineered/chosen such that it has both a higher surface tension and is more volatile than the target liquid, or engineered such that it has both a lower surface tension and is less volatility than the target liquid. The miscible antifoam leads to surface tension gradients that cause bubble rupture up to 10 times faster than the target liquid without the antifoam. Further, the miscible antifoams are easy to incorporate and do not separate out from the target liquid during operation—both of which are key limitations faced by existing antifoams.

Abstract: Provided is a method by which the disaccharides derived from glycosaminoglycans can be analyzed in a stable and highly reproducible manner. A method for analyzing a glycosaminoglycan according to the present invention includes: a first process for producing a plurality of kinds of disaccharides derived from a glycosaminoglycan in a biological sample by adding a plurality of kinds of glycosaminoglycan-specific enzymes to the biological sample; and a second process for separating and analyzing the plurality of kinds of disaccharides by a liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry method, where a column used for liquid chromatography in the liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry method is a column packed with a stationary-phase support to which an amide group as a functional group is bound, or a column packed with a stationary-phase support to which an adamantyl group as a functional group is bound.

Abstract: Various embodiments are directed to sensor apparatuses and methods thereof. An example sensor apparatus includes a plurality of capacitors and sensor circuitry. The plurality of capacitors including a first substrate having a plurality of first electrodes, a second substrate having a second electrode, and a dielectric material, and with the plurality of first electrodes and the second electrode being separated by the dielectric material. The plurality of first electrodes are aligned with respect to the second electrode such that each of plurality of first electrodes form one of the plurality of capacitors with the second electrode. The sensor circuitry is coupled to the plurality of capacitors to differentiate between normal and shear forces applied to apparatus based on a pattern of impedance responses of each of the plurality of capacitors formed by the second electrode and the plurality of first electrodes.

Abstract: A method for constructing a multistage network includes: deploying a plurality of nodes; constructing the upper network with at least one node of the plurality of nodes; and in response to determining there is an isolated node, determining an intermediate node for the isolated node and adding the isolated node into the upper network or one of the at least one sub-network according to the intermediate node.

Abstract: A non-destructive measurement method and apparatus for the turn-to-turn resistivity distribution (TTRD) in non-insulation (NI) superconducting coils. The method includes: during the discharging or charging process, obtaining experimental values of voltage varying over preset time at different positions of the test coil; dividing the test coil into a plurality of measurement units and obtaining basic circuit elements; then constructing a preset equivalent circuit model including the basic circuit elements; based on the constructed equivalent circuit model, obtaining the first simulated values of voltage varying over preset time at different positions of the test coil; finally, determining the TTRD of the test coil based on the fitness value between experimental values and the first simulated values. When there is high fitness value between the first simulated values and experimental values, the TTRD corresponding to the first simulated values is considered as the TTRD within the test coil.