Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a metrology system having 3-dimensional sensors for thickness measurements of semiconductor elements, and methods for taking the thickness measurements. In an aspect, the 3-dimensional sensor may be a single or dual 3-dimensional profiler that may scan across the top and bottom surfaces of an element to obtain a thickness measurement. In another aspect, the method may be used to measure a gap between elements that have assembled together.

Abstract: Systems and methods for creating a reorganization-immune blockchain index using mono-increasing sequence records are described. For example, the system may receive on-chain data for a plurality of blocks, wherein the plurality of blocks comprises a first block comprising a first event of a plurality of blockchain events within the on-chain data. The system may determine a first sequence number for the first event, wherein the first sequence number is based on a mono-increasing sequence record.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to implantable constructs and related compositions comprising a plurality of cells producing antigens and/or immune effector molecules.

Abstract: Isolating resources of a virtual machine (VM) guest from a host operating system. A computer system receives an acceptance request from a guest partition corresponding to an isolated VM. The acceptance request identifies a guest memory page that is mapped into a guest physical address space of the guest partition, and a memory page visibility class. The computer system determines whether a physical memory page that is mapped to the guest memory page meets the memory page visibility class. The computer system sets a page acceptance indication for the guest memory page from an unaccepted state to an accepted state based on the physical memory page meeting the memory page visibility class.

Abstract: Provided is a light converter and its method of manufacture. A light conversion layer containing light conversion particles in a binding material is provided for generating emission light from excitation light incident on the light conversion layer. A planarization layer is disposed on a surface of the light conversion layer. At least one optical coating is part of or on a surface of the planarization layer that is relatively smooth in comparison with the surface of the light conversion layer.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods of accessing content items stored at a content management system by a mobile device, when the mobile device is not communicatively coupled to the content management system. The content management system can receive an indication to mark a content item (e.g., folder and the content items associated with the folder) as available to a mobile device when the mobile device is offline. The content management system can mark the content item, and any content items associated with the content item, for offline access by the mobile device and determine a synchronization schedule for the content item(s). The content management system can then initially send to the mobile device, the marked content item(s) in accordance with the synchronization schedule. While offline, the mobile device can make changes to the marked content items. The changes can be synchronized between the mobile device and content management system when the mobile device is online.

Abstract: Provided herein are non-extensible oligonucleotides for suppressing enzymatic extension through rationally designed secondary structures at the 3? end. Embodiments of the invention include procedures for integration with real-time polymerase chain reaction, blocker displacement amplification in quantitative PCR, next generation sequencing (NGS), and long-read sequencing.

Abstract: A solar tracking system includes a beam including a pair of legs disposed in spaced relation to one another and extending between respective first and second end portions, a web extending between the first end portion of each of the pair of legs, the web including a V-shaped notch defined therein, and a pair of return flanges defining a respective first end portion disposed on respective second end portions of the pair of legs, the pair of return flanges extending from each respective leg of the pair of legs and terminating at a second end portion defining a gap between the second end portions of the pair of return flanges, and a bearing housing assembly selectively couplable to a portion of the beam.

Abstract: A light converter and method of manufacture is provided. A light conversion layer (301), comprising light conversion particles (301a) in a binding material (301b) is provided for generating emission light from excitation light incident on the light conversion layer (301). A planarization layer (304) is on a surface of the light conversion layer (301) and at least one optical coating (305) is part of or on a surface of the planarization layer (304) that is relatively smooth in comparison with the surface of the light conversion layer (301).

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to implantable constructs (encapsulated cells) designed to deliver antigenic therapeutic reagents, such as IL-2.

Abstract: A desulfurization gas process includes water vapor, CO2 and SOx (x=2 and/or 3). In a treatment unit, the gas contacts a cooled alkaline aqueous solution having a temperature lower than an initial gas temperature, water and a carbonate of an alkali metal, to cool the gas, condense some water vapor and absorb SOx in the carbonate-containing solution, produce an SOx-depleted gas and an acidic aqueous solution including sulfate and/or sulfite ions. The SOx-depleted gas and a portion of the acidic aqueous solution can then be withdrawn from the treatment unit. Carbonate of the alkali metal can be added to remaining acidic aqueous solution to obtain a made-up alkaline aqueous solution. This solution can be cooled and reused as the cooled alkaline aqueous solution. An SOx absorbent solution includes a bleed stream from a CO2-capture process, sodium or potassium carbonate, and an acidic aqueous solution obtained from desulfurization.

Abstract: A connector assembly comprises a circuit board having a front side and a back side, and two first connectors mounted side by side on the front side of the circuit board. A cable includes a plurality of wires divided into two groups, with each of the groups of wires being electrically connected on one end to a respective one of the first connectors via the circuit board.

Abstract: A connector assembly comprises a circuit board having a front side and a back side, with a connector installed on the front side of the circuit board. A plurality of first welding pads are formed on the front side of the circuit board, and a plurality of second welding pads are formed on the back side of the circuit board. A plurality of wires are connected to the circuit board, with a first portion thereof connected to the first welding pads and a second portion thereof connected to the second welding pads. Each of the plurality of wires extend away from the circuit board from above the front side of the circuit board.

Abstract: Provided herein are reagents and methods for comprehensively enriching potential variants within targeted regions, named Amplicon Comprehensive Enrichment (ACE). The sequence variants enriched can include single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), single nucleotide variants, or small insertions and deletions. Embodiments include procedures for integration with real-time polymerase chain reaction, next generation sequencing (NGS), and long-read sequencing.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel therapeutic agents against hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, particularly inhibitors of viral covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) which is the key barrier for HBV cure. Accordingly, the invention provides the pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyrazine compounds of formula (I), as described and defined herein, for use in the treatment of HBV infection. The compounds provided herein are highly potent against HBV infection and enable an improved therapy, particularly of chronic HBV infection and HBV rebound. The present invention further relates to a novel screening assay for the identification of therapeutic agents against HBV infection, particularly cccDNA inhibitors, which is performed in hepatocyte-like cells that recapitulate the complete HBV life cycle following infection with patient-derived HBV.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods for labeling input DNA with oligonucleotide barcode sequences, and selective PCR amplification of DNA sequence variants across the targeted regions for variant quantitation.

Abstract: Artificial neural network systems involve the receipt by a computing device of input data that defines a pattern to be recognized (such as faces, handwriting, and voices). The computing device may then decompose the input data into a first subband and a second subband, wherein the first and second subbands include different characterizing features of the pattern in the input data. The first and second subbands may then be fed into first and second neural networks being trained to recognize the pattern. Reductions in power expenditure, memory usage, and time taken, for example, allow resource-limited computing devices to perform functions they otherwise could not.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods of treatment comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of a myosin modulator or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof to a subject in need thereof and diagnostic methods useful in connection with those treatments. Due to observations unfolding in clinical trials with mavacamten and with mavacamten and other myosin inhibitors in the pre-clinical setting, new insights into how myosin inhibitors can be used beneficially to impact the disease state of HCM and other diseases are provided herein.

Abstract: Provided herein are hybrid capture-based methods to extract single-stranded DNA or RNA directly from non-treated biospecimens. The methods allow for the detection and analysis of unexplored short single-stranded DNA (sssDNA, mean length 50 nt) and ultrashort single-stranded DNA (ussDNA, mean length 15 nt) of human origin present in the biospecimen. The methods allow the discovery of unexplored short single-stranded DNA (sssDNA) in isolated red blood cells, which were believed to be deprived of nucleic acids because of the lack of a nucleus in mature red blood cells. The DNA or RNA extracted using the disclosed methods can be used as disease prognostic biomarkers and treatment predictive biomarkers.

Abstract: A plug connector includes a plug housing having a plurality of side walls forming a cavity, a spacer having a plate shape and dividing the cavity into a pair of halves, a plurality of conductive terminals disposed on opposite sides of the spacer, a connector engagement component, and a pull tab. The connector engagement component has a first engagement portion releasably engaging a second engagement portion of a socket connector and a fixing portion detachably secured to the side walls of the plug housing. The pull tab is movable between the plug housing and the connector engagement component in a direction towards or away from a cable connected to the conductive terminals. Pulling of the pull tab in a pulling direction towards the cable enables release of an engagement between the first engagement portion and the second engagement portion, separating the plug connector from the socket connector.