Abstract: A prosthetic heart valve configured to replace a native heart valve and having a support frame configured to be reshaped into an expanded form in order to receive and/or support an expandable prosthetic heart valve therein is disclosed, together with methods of using same. The prosthetic heart valve may be configured to have a generally rigid and/or expansion-resistant configuration when initially implanted to replace a native valve (or other prosthetic heart valve), but to assume a generally expanded form when subjected to an outward force such as that provided by a dilation balloon or other mechanical expander.

Abstract: Exemplary semiconductor processing systems may include a chamber body including sidewalls and a base. The chamber body may define an interior volume. The systems may include a substrate support extending through the base of the chamber body. The substrate support may be configured to support a substrate within the interior volume. The systems may include a faceplate positioned within the interior volume of the chamber body. The faceplate may define a plurality of apertures through the faceplate. The systems may include a leveling apparatus seated on the substrate support. The leveling apparatus may include a plurality of piezoelectric pressure sensors.

Abstract: Some implementations herein provide for a memory device and methods of formation. The memory device includes a plurality of storage cells arranged vertically and a plurality of corresponding gate all around transistors. Methods of forming the memory device include using a single trench to remove a liner material and form recesses that define cell contact lightly-doped drain regions of the gate all around transistors. Using the single trench to remove the liner material and form the recesses that define the cell contact lightly-doped drain region widths causes the cell contact lightly-doped drain regions to be formed having substantially similar widths.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for multi-layer capacitors for three-dimensional memory systems are described. Memory cells of a memory system may include capacitors having dielectric material between multiple interfaces (e.g., concentric interfaces) of a bottom electrode and a top electrode. A bottom electrode may include a first portion wrapping around a portion of a semiconductor material that is contiguous with a channel of a transistor, and a top electrode may include a first portion wrapping around the first portion of the bottom electrode. The bottom electrode may also include a second portion wrapping around the first portion of the top electrode, and the top electrode may also include a second portion wrapping around the second portion of the bottom electrode. The dielectric material may include respective portions between each interface of the bottom electrode and top electrode which, in some examples, may be a contiguous implementation of the dielectric material.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to displaying visual effects in image data. In some examples, visual effects include an avatar displayed on a user's face. In some examples, visual effects include stickers applied to image data. In some examples, visual effects include screen effects. In some examples, visual effects are modified based on depth data in the image data.

Abstract: Methods for forecasting case counts for a future date in one or more geographic areas of persons infected by a disease is disclosed. The presence of the disease in a biological sample is testable by a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test. A load of one or more pathogens associated with the disease correlates with a PCR cycle which indicates presence of the one or more pathogens, and is referred to as a threshold cycle (Ct). Data relevant to forecasting the case counts including Ct data and other data is received. The Ct data comprises Ct values from PCR tests of biological samples from persons within the one or more geographic areas. Arrays of feature data for processing by a trained machine learning model are generated, comprising Ct features and other features obtained from the data. A forecasted number of infected persons are generated by processing the arrays using machine learning.

Abstract: A method of automatically sequencing or basecalling one or more DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) molecules of a biological sample is described. The method comprises using a capillary electrophoresis genetic analyzer to measure the biological sample to obtain at least one input trace comprising digital data corresponding to fluorescence values for a plurality of scans. Scan labelling probabilities for the plurality of scans are generated using a trained artificial neural network comprising a plurality of layers including convolutional layers. A basecall sequence comprising a plurality of basecalls for the one or more DNA molecules based on the scan labelling probabilities for the plurality of scans is determined.

Abstract: A deep basecaller system for Sanger sequencing and associated methods are provided. The methods use deep machine learning. A Deep Learning Model is used to determine scan labelling probabilities based on an analyzed trace. A Neural Network is trained to learn the optimal mapping function to minimize a Connectionist Temporal Classification (CTC) Loss function. The CTC function is used to calculate loss by matching a target sequence and predicted scan labelling probabilities. A Decoder generates a sequence with the maximum probability. A Basecall position finder using prefix beam search is used to walk through CTC labelling probabilities to find a scan range and then the scan a position of peak labelling probability within the scan range for each called base. Quality Value (QV) is determined using a feature vector calculated from CTC labelling probabilities as an index into a QV look-up table to find a quality score.

Abstract: A method of automatically sequencing or basecalling one or more DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) molecules of a biological sample is described. The method comprises using a capillary electrophoresis genetic analyzer to measure the biological sample to obtain at least one input trace comprising digital data corresponding to fluorescence values for a plurality of scans. Scan labelling probabilities for the plurality of scans are generated using a trained artificial neural network comprising a plurality of layers including convolutional layers. A basecall sequence comprising a plurality of basecalls for the one or more DNA molecules based on the scan labelling probabilities for the plurality of scans is determined.

Abstract: A biological analysis system and an associated method are provided. The method is used for recovering off scale data in an image produced by a camera in a capillary electrophoresis instrument. The method comprises the steps of identifying bins of the image where electron counts exceed a maximum number of counts; setting an off-scale flag for the identified bins; and processing the image to obtain a recovered dye signal, based on the flag set for each bin, and using a dye matrix.

Abstract: In one exemplary embodiment, a method for validating an instrument is provided. The method includes receiving amplification data from a validation plate to generate a plurality of amplification curves. The validation plate includes a sample of a first quantity and a second quantity, and each amplification curve includes an exponential region. The method further includes determining a set of fluorescence thresholds based on the exponential regions of the plurality of amplification curves and determining, for each fluorescence threshold of the set, a first set of cycle threshold (Ct) values of amplification curves generated from the samples of the first quantity and a second set of Ct values of amplification curves generated from the samples of the second quantity. The method includes calculating if the first and second quantities are sufficiently distinguishable based on Ct values at each of the plurality of fluorescence thresholds.

Abstract: A biological analysis system and an associated method are provided. The method is used for recovering off scale data in an image produced by a camera in a capillary electrophoresis instrument. The method comprises the steps of identifying bins of the image where electron counts exceed a maximum number of counts; setting an off-scale flag for the identified bins; and processing the image to obtain a recovered dye signal, based on the flag set for each bin, and using a dye matrix.

Abstract: In one exemplary embodiment, a method for detecting variants in electropherogram data is provided. The method includes receiving electropherogram data from an instrument and analyzing the electropherogram data to identify mixed bases in the electropherogram data. The method further includes validating the identified mixed bases. Then the method includes determining variants in the electropherogram data based on the validated mixed bases.

Abstract: Embodiments implementing selected automated quality control operations in sample processing instruments that analyze dye-labeled samples are disclosed. In some embodiments, temperature and/or pressure parameters are measured and compared to thresholds to determine whether warning should be provided and/or actions taken. Embodiments for implementing automated correction of spectral error during the instrument's normal runtime operation without requiring the user to conduct a special, separate calibration run are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present teachings comprise systems and methods for calibrating the background or baseline signal in a PCR or other reaction. The background signal derived from detected emissions of sample wells can be subjected to a normalized statistical metric, and be compared to a threshold or other standard to discard outlier cycles or other extraneous data. According to various embodiments, a relative standard deviation (relativeSTD) for the background component can be generated by dividing the standard deviation by the median of differences across all wells, where the difference is defined as the difference between maximum and minimum pixel values of a well. The relativeSTD as a metric is not sensitive to machine-dependent variations in absolute signal output that can be caused by different gain settings, different LED draw currents, different optical paths, or other instrumental variations. More accurate background characterization can be achieved.

Abstract: In one exemplary embodiment, a method for detecting variants in electropherogram data is provided. The method includes receiving electropherogram data from an instrument and analyzing the electropherogram data to identify mixed bases in the electropherogram data. The method further includes validating the identified mixed bases. Then the method includes determining variants in the electropherogram data based on the validated mixed bases.

Abstract: A biological analysis system is provided. The system comprises a sample block assembly. The sample block assembly comprises a sample block configured to accommodate a sample holder, the sample holder configured to receive a plurality of samples. The system also comprises a control system configured to cycle the plurality of samples through a series of temperatures. The system further comprises an automated tray comprising a slide assembly, the tray configured to reversibly slide the sample block assembly from a closed to an open position to allow user access to the plurality of sample holders.

Abstract: In one exemplary embodiment, a method for detecting variants in electropherogram data is provided. The method includes receiving electropherogram data from an instrument and analyzing the electropherogram data to identify mixed bases in the electropherogram data. The method further includes identifying features within the electropherogram data indicative of errors and validating the identified mixed bases. Then the method includes determining variants in the electropherogram data based on the validated mixed bases.

Abstract: A distributed telecommunication network including a VPN, a cellular network, a LAN, an Ethernet network, a server, a database, all communicatively coupled to the backbone of the network, a Wi-Fi network, a firewall, and a mobile device, communicatively coupled to the Wi-Fi network and the cellular network, wherein the database is configured to store a profile of a user of the distributed telecommunication network, the profile including a biography of the user, user relationships, a plurality of posts, an activity level of the user, and wherein the server is configured to determine whether the profile belongs to a category using a weighted average of a biography indication related to the biography of the profile and a post indication related to posts and relationship indication related to user relationships.

Abstract: In one exemplary embodiment, a method for calibrating an instrument is provided. The instrument includes an optical system capable of imaging fluorescence emission from a plurality of reaction sites. The method includes performing a region-of-interest (ROI) calibration to determine reaction site positions in an image. The method further includes performing a pure dye calibration to determine the contribution of a fluorescent dye used in each reaction site by comparing a raw spectrum of the fluorescent dye to a pure spectrum calibration data of the fluorescent dye. The method further includes performing an instrument normalization calibration to determine a filter normalization factor. The method includes performing an RNase P validation to validate the instrument is capable of distinguishing between two different quantities of sample.