Abstract: A touch-sensing slider includes a cover stack, a touch sensor, and a signal processor. The cover stack has an outer surface that can be touched by a finger. The cover stack has a longitudinal direction along which the finger can touch and slide on the outer surface. The touch sensor includes piezoelectric capacitors mechanically coupled to the cover stack at its inner interface. The cover stack overlies the piezoelectric capacitors, and the piezoelectric capacitors include one or more piezoelectric members. The piezoelectric capacitors are configured as piezoelectric ultrasonic transducers (PUTs). The signal processor is coupled to the touch sensor and configured to receive signals from the PUTs while the touch sensor is active during a touch determination period. The touch determination period includes a plurality of sensing event time frames. Each of the sensing event time frames includes a plurality of sensing time windows. A related method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A touch-sensing system includes a cover stack, piezoelectric capacitors, and a signal processor. The piezoelectric capacitors are mechanically coupled to the cover stack at its inner interface. There is a first array of the piezoelectric capacitors which are configured as piezoelectric ultrasonic transducers (PUTs). There is a second array of the piezoelectric capacitors which are configured as piezoelectric force-measuring elements (PFEs). The signal processor is configured to receive PUT array signals from the PUTs and PFE array signals from the PFEs. The signal processor is configured to calculate PUT centroid data from the PUT array signals and PFE centroid data from the PFE array signals. The signal processor is configured to determine an estimated touch position on the cover stack by combining applicable centroid data including the PUT centroid data and the PFE centroid data.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for enriching DNA from any loci of interest are provided. Endonuclease(s) such as RNA-guided nucleases Cpf1/Cas9 can cut the flanking regions of the gene of interest in, for example genomic DNA, followed by ligation of loop adapters. The loop adapters protect the gene of interest for subsequent digestion with one or more exonucleases. Multiple genes of interest can be digested and ligated with loop adapters at the same time. The undigested target sequence can be further purified by, for example, gel extraction using, for example, a commercial DNA purification kit. The enriched DNA can be used for sequencing.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for inhibiting the corrosion of metals in contact with an aqueous system are provided. For example, the corrosion inhibitor composition of the present embodiments can include an oxyanion of an amphoteric material, a silicate, and an additional component. The corrosion inhibitor can be substantially phosphate free or free of phosphorus. The additional component can include, for example, a hydroxycarboxylic acid.

Abstract: Embodiments provide a data encoding method, a data decoding method, and a related device. The method includes a transmitting end device that determines N data symbols at a same symbol location of N links of service data, where N is an integer greater than 1, and quantities of bits in all data symbols are the same. The transmitting end device performs forward error correction (FEC) encoding on the N data symbols to obtain a codeword, where the codeword includes the N data symbols and M overhead symbols, M is an integer greater than or equal to 1 and less than or equal to N, and a quantity of bits in each data symbol is the same as a quantity of bits in each overhead symbol. The transmitting end device sends the N data symbols through N service channels, and sends the M overhead symbols through M overhead channels.

Abstract: Methods of labeling, amplifying, and sequencing mitochondrial DNA are provided. The labeling methods typically include using polymerase-based extension of one or more unique molecular identifier (UMI) primers along a target mitochondrial DNA template, each UMI primer including a universal primer sequence, a unique molecular identifier sequence, and a mitochondrial DNA binding sequence. Amplification of the labeled-target mitochondrial DNA can include, for example, polymerase chain reaction (e.g., high-fidelity long-range). Methods of determining the sequence of labeled-target mitochondrial DNA can include use of a long-read sequencing platform. The methods may further including one or more of grouping sequences having the same UMI into one of more groups, determining the sequence of each labeled-target mitochondrial DNA by determining the consensus sequence of each group, and identifying polymorphisms in one or more of the labeled-target mitochondrial DNA.

Abstract: Phase-change metasurface waveguide mode converters and photonic computing systems including a phase-change metasurface waveguide mode converter are described. In an embodiment, the phase-change metasurface waveguide mode converter include a plurality of phase-change antennas comprising a phase-change material and protruding from a surface, wherein each phase-change antenna of the plurality of phase-change antennas is configured to scatter an optical waveguide mode and cause a phase shift of light travelling through an optical waveguide optically coupled thereto. In an embodiment, the phase-change metasurface waveguide mode converter includes the plurality of phase-change antennas configured to alternate between a crystalline phase and an amorphous phase.

Abstract: Systems, modules, methods, and machine-readable storage media for Frequency Angular Resolving (FAR) are described. In an embodiment, the system comprises a transmitter and a receiver. In an embodiment, the transmitter comprises a source of electromagnetic radiation; a driver circuit configured to generate a drive signal at an oscillation frequency; an acousto-optical beam steering device optically coupled with the source of electromagnetic radiation and the driver circuit and configured to emit electromagnetic radiation at an emission angle as a function of the oscillation frequency. In an embodiment, the receiver comprises a radiation sensor optically coupled with the source of electromagnetic radiation. In an embodiment, the system comprises an electro-optic modulator optically coupled to the source of electromagnetic radiation, the electro-optic modulator configured to modulate a frequency of light emitted to the acousto-optical beam steering device.

Abstract: Methods for the rapid and accurate detection and characterization of a viral nucleic acid in a sample are provided. The method is a method for multiplex isothermal amplification-based sequencing and real-time analysis of multiple viral genomes. It can simultaneously detect SARS-CoV-2 and co-infecting respiratory viruses, and monitor mutations for up to 96 samples in real time. The method, termed NIRVANA for Nanopore sequencing of Isothermal Rapid Viral Amplification for Near real-time Analysis, showed high sensitivity and specificity for SARS-CoV-2 in 70 clinical samples. It also simultaneously detected other viral pathogens (e.g. influenza A) in clinical and municipal wastewater samples. It provides a rapid field-deployable solution of COVID-19 and co-infection detection and surveillance of the evolution of pandemic strains.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides an acousto-optic device comprising an acousto-optic layer, an electromagnetic radiation source, and an acoustic source. In an embodiment, the acousto-optic layer has a substantially planar shape defining an x-y plane and functions as an optical waveguide to optical waves and as an acoustic waveguide to acoustic waves propagating in the x-y plane. In an embodiment, the electromagnetic radiation source is optically coupled to the acousto-optic layer and configured to deliver electromagnetic radiation therein. In an embodiment, the acoustic source is acoustically coupled to the acousto-optic layer and configured to deliver acoustic energy therein and is configured to adjust a wavelength of the acoustic energy. In an embodiment, the electromagnetic radiation source and the acoustic energy source are positioned to provide an intersection between the electromagnetic radiation and the acoustic energy, which at least partially scatters light from the intersection out of the x-y plane.

Abstract: Provided is a noninvasive hemoglobin detector, including an image acquisition system, an image processing and analysis system and a printing device. The image acquisition system is connected with the image processing and analysis system, and the image acquisition system is used for acquiring, transmitting and storing an image to be tested. The image processing and analysis system is further connected with the printing device, and the image processing and analysis system is used for processing and analyzing the image to be tested to obtain an analysis result. The printing device is used for printing the image to be tested and the analysis result.

Abstract: Cementitious materials having high damage tolerance and self-sensing ability are described herein. These materials may replace conventional concrete to serve as a major material component for infrastructure systems with greatly improved resistance to cracking, reinforcement corrosion, and other common deterioration mechanisms under service conditions, and prevents fracture failure under extreme events. These materials can also be used for the repair, retrofitting or rehabilitation of existing concrete structures or infrastructure systems. Furthermore, these materials may offer capacity for distributed and direct sensing of cracking, straining and deterioration with spatially continuous resolution wherever the material is located, without relying on installation of sensors.

Abstract: A data processing method based on secure multi-party computation, an electronic device and a storage medium are disclosed. The data processing method requires firstly obtaining original confidential data and shared key information from a data holding terminal; performing a first encrypting process to the original confidential data based on the shared key information to generate original encrypted data; and then sending the original encrypted data to a node server. Further, the node server obtains a plurality of pieces of the original encrypted data, and performs a service parsing process to generate encrypted result data, and sends the encrypted result data to a data reconstruction terminal. Furthermore, the data reconstruction terminal obtains the encrypted result data and the shared key information, and performs a reconstructing process to the encrypted result data according to the encrypted result data and the shared key information to obtain service result data.

Abstract: Systems and methods for optical computation and acousto-optic modulation are described. The systems and methods comprise acousto-optic modulators with reflectors and transducers used for actuation and modulation of mechanical waves. The systems further comprise multilayer optical computing systems incorporating arrays of acousto-optic modulators.

Abstract: Embodiments provide a data encoding method, a data decoding method, and a related device. The method includes a transmitting end device that determines N data symbols at a same symbol location of N links of service data, where N is an integer greater than 1, and quantities of bits in all data symbols are the same. The transmitting end device performs forward error correction (FEC) encoding on the N data symbols to obtain a codeword, where the codeword includes the N data symbols and M overhead symbols, M is an integer greater than or equal to 1 and less than or equal to N, and a quantity of bits in each data symbol is the same as a quantity of bits in each overhead symbol. The transmitting end device sends the N data symbols through N service channels, and sends the M overhead symbols through M overhead channels.

Abstract: An electrochemical method for producing calcium hydroxide includes dissolving a calcium precursor in a first solution in contact with a first electrode to produce Ca2+ ions, transporting the Ca2+ ions across a first membrane from the first solution into a second solution using a first electrochemical potential, producing hydroxide ions at a second electrode, transporting the hydroxide ions across a second membrane into the second solution using a second electrochemical potential, and precipitating calcium hydroxide from the second solution.

Abstract: This application discloses example decoding methods, example decoders, and example decoding apparatuses. One example decoding method includes performing soft decision decoding on a first sub-codeword in a plurality of sub-codewords to obtain a hard decision result. It is determined whether to skip a decoding iteration. In response to determining not to skip the decoding iteration, a first turn-off identifier corresponding to the first sub-codeword is set to a first value based on the hard decision result. The first turn-off identifier indicates whether to perform soft decision decoding on the first sub-codeword in a next decoding iteration. The soft decision decoding is not performed on the first sub-codeword in the next decoding iteration when a value indicated by the first turn-off identifier is the first value. The hard decision result is stored.

Abstract: Phase-change metasurface waveguide mode converters and photonic computing systems including a phase-change metasurface waveguide mode converter are described. In an embodiment, the phase-change metasurface waveguide mode converter include a plurality of phase-change antennae comprising a phase-change material and protruding from a surface, wherein each phase-change antenna of the plurality of phase-change antennae is configured to scatter an optical waveguide mode and cause a phase shift of light travelling through an optical waveguide optically coupled thereto. In an embodiment, the phase-change metasurface waveguide mode converter includes the plurality of phase-change antennae configured to alternate between a crystalline phase and an amorphous phase.

Abstract: Provided herein are novel materials, such as novel phase-change memory materials providing superior characteristics, and methods of discovering/selecting such novel materials via machine learning, such as Bayesian active learning. An exemplary material provided by the inventive concept is the nanocomposite phase-change memory material Ge4Sb6Te7, selected using closed-loop autonomous materials exploration and optimization (CAMEO).

Abstract: The present invention enables real-time, automated monitoring and measurement of 3D printed concrete quality during an additive manufacturing process. The method continuously measures electrical impedance of the fresh concrete during the printing process, using electrodes automatically carried by the printing head at the same time as concrete printing proceeds. The real-time measured impedance, resistance, or capacitance curves as a function of printing time, printing path and printing location represent the fingerprint of the 3D printed concrete product being additively manufactured. The fingerprint contains essential information on the printing quality change with time and along the printing path, allowing the real-time detection of location and severity of imperfections. It also enables monitoring and quantifying concrete strength development during 3D printing. Furthermore, it allows closed-loop control to assure the printing quality through real-time adjustment and corrections of the printing parameters.