Abstract: Methods of cutting gate structures and fins, and structures formed thereby, are described. In an embodiment, a substrate includes first and second fins and an isolation region. The first and second fins extend longitudinally parallel, with the isolation region disposed therebetween. A gate structure includes a conformal gate dielectric over the first fin and a gate electrode over the conformal gate dielectric. A first insulating fill structure abuts the gate structure and extends vertically from a level of an upper surface of the gate structure to at least a surface of the isolation region. No portion of the conformal gate dielectric extends vertically between the first insulating fill structure and the gate electrode. A second insulating fill structure abuts the first insulating fill structure and an end sidewall of the second fin. The first insulating fill structure is disposed laterally between the gate structure and the second insulating fill structure.

Abstract: A microfluidic detection unit comprises at least one fluid injection section, a fluid storage section and a detection section. Each fluid injection section defines a fluid outlet; the fluid storage section is in gas communication with the atmosphere and defines a fluid inlet; the detection section defines a first end in communication with the fluid outlet and a second end in communication with the fluid inlet. A height difference is defined between the fluid outlet and the fluid inlet along the direction of gravity. When a first fluid is injected from the at least one fluid injection section, the first fluid is driven by gravity to pass through the detection section and accumulate to form a droplet at the fluid inlet, such that a state of fluid pressure equilibrium of the first fluid is established.

Abstract: Provided are interfering RNAs (e.g., siRNAs) targeting SARS-CoV (e.g., the POL, Spike, Helicase, or Envelop gene thereof) and therapeutic uses thereof for inhibiting SARS-CoV infection and/or treating diseases associated with the infection (e.g., COVID-19).

Abstract: Pharmaceutical compositions comprising a CpG oligonucleotide, a buffer agent, and one or more salts having a total salt concentration of about 80-130 mM. A majority population of the CpG oligonucleotides in the composition is in dimeric form. Also provided herein are uses of the pharmaceutical compositions for modulating immune responses in subjects in need of the treatment, for example, cancer patient.

Abstract: A method for measuring strokes of CPR and a system using the method are disclosed. The system includes at least one permanent magnet and stroke detecting device which has a magnetic sensor, an accelerometer, a CPR detector, a controller, a power unit, and a housing. The system can measure strokes of CPR without a detector making patients uncomfortable. Meanwhile, the system is tiny and can be used to cooperate with AED.

Abstract: Nucleic acid aptamers capable of binding to lymphocyte activation gene 3 (LAG-3) and uses thereof for modulating immune responses. Such aptamers may comprise a G-rich motif, for example, GX1GGGX2GGTX3A (SEQ ID No: 1), in which each of X1 and X2 are independently G, C, or absent, and X3 is T or C, or L-(G)n-L?, in which n is an integer of 5-9 inclusive, and L and L? are nucleotide segments having complementary sequences. Also provided herein are multimeric nucleic acid aptamers containing a backbone moiety, which comprises a palindromic sequence.

Abstract: A method and system of obstructed area determination for sleep apnea syndrome are disclosed. The method comprising obtaining a snoring signal from an individual; obtaining a spectrogram of the snoring signal based on short-time Fourier Transform; obtaining a snoring signal feature based on a harmonic wave of the spectrogram; and obtaining a collapse index by comparing the snoring signal feature against a snoring signal feature-collapse index correlation database. The present invention enables the diagnosis of sleep apnea syndrome and determination the obstructed area for the sleep apnea syndrome with only the snoring signal of an individual during sleep.

Abstract: A method for measuring strokes of CPR and a system using the method are disclosed. The system includes at least one permanent magnet and stroke detecting device which has a magnetic sensor, an accelerometer, a CPR detector, a controller, a power unit, and a housing. The system can measure strokes of CPR without a detector making patients uncomfortable. Meanwhile, the system is tiny and can be used to cooperate with AED.

Abstract: Aptamers that bind to and inhibit CTLA-4 and uses thereof in enhancing immune activities, and treating cancer and HIV infection are provided.

Abstract: Aptamers that bind to and antagonize programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1). Also provided herein are pharmaceutical compositions comprising such anti-PD-1 aptamers and methods for using the same for promoting T cell proliferation, treating cancer or infectious diseases, such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection.

Abstract: Methods of assaying a biological target are disclosed. The method comprises: (a) providing a sample containing the biological target; (b) providing biotin-labeled first aptamers conjugated to a gold nanoparticle (GNP), and second aptamers conjugated to a magnetic bead, wherein the first and the second aptamers exhibit specific binding affinities to the target; (c) incubating the sample with the first and the second aptamers to obtain target-bound aptamers; (d) separating the target-bound aptamers from unbound aptamers; (e) eluting the first aptamers from the GNP; (f) incubating the eluted biotin-labeled first aptamers with streptavidin-magnetic beads and reporter gold nanoparticles (GNPs) to obtain a complex comprising: the bead, the first aptamers, attached to the bead; and the reporter GNPs captured by the bead through the first aptamers; (g) eluting the reporter GNPs captured; and (h) detecting the target by measuring and analyzing a light-scattering signal of the eluted reporter GNPs.

Abstract: A method implemented through an electronic system for processing a sequential data to identify possible peak points is disclosed. The method defines a decayed threshold function and partition the sequential data into a plurality of segments by grouping each data point with surrounding data points into one of the segments. After that, a plurality of weighted segments are derived through weighting the surrounding data points by the decayed threshold function in each of the segments, and the peak points are identified through corresponding weighted segment.

Abstract: Aptamers that bind to and antagonize PD-1 and uses thereof in promoting T cell proliferation, treating cancer or infectious diseases such as HIV infection.

Abstract: Aptamers that bind to and inhibit CTLA-4 and uses thereof in enhancing immune activities, and treating cancer and HIV infection are provided.

Abstract: A method and system of obstructed area determination for sleep apnea syndrome are disclosed. The method comprising obtaining a snoring signal from an individual; obtaining a spectrogram of the snoring signal based on short-time Fourier Transform; obtaining a snoring signal feature based on a harmonic wave of the spectrogram; and obtaining a collapse index by comparing the snoring signal feature against a snoring signal feature-collapse index correlation database. The present invention enables the diagnosis of sleep apnea syndrome and determination the obstructed area for the sleep apnea syndrome with only the snoring signal of an individual during sleep.

Abstract: A computer-assisted method for quantitative characterizing atrial fibrillation (AF) in a patient includes recording unipolar atrial fibrillation signals from multiple sites in a patient's atria, calculating bipolar electrograms using unipolar AF signals recorded at adjacent sites by a computer system, applying Empirical Mode Decomposition to remove a background from the bipolar electrogram signal to obtain a filtered bipolar electrogram signal, applying Hilbert transform to an envelope function of the filtered bipolar electrogram signal to obtain a time series of instantaneous phases of the filtered bipolar electrogram signal, and identifying a rotor region in patient's atria using the instantaneous phases in the filtered bipolar electrogram signal.

Abstract: An electrode reaction area testing method of biosensor test strip includes: (1) preparing a semi-finished or finished test strip product having at least one sensing window corresponding to an electrode reaction area; a plural electrodes exposed from the electrode reaction area; (2) detecting the electrode reaction current of the electrode reaction area to obtain a first electrode reaction current and a third electrode reaction current; (3) calculating a current ratio of the first electrode reaction current to the third electrode reaction current; (4) determining the current ratio; (5) completing the detection of the electrode reaction area to determine whether the semi-finished or finished test strip product is good or defective, so as to test the accuracy of the separating plate attaching position or the insulating position and the applicability of the electrode reaction area in the manufacture of the test strip.

Abstract: This invention discloses a system and method for extracting VF signal in ECG recorded during uninterrupted CPR. The method and system applies an adaptive algorithm incorporating the EMD and least mean square (LMS) filtering to effectively model the CPR artifacts such as chest compression signals. Thus, A VF signal in ECG recorded during uninterrupted CPR can be extracted without deteriorating the reliability of the waveform parameter (i.e. AMSA) of shockability. The present invention enables uninterrupted CPR performed during recording ECG for accessing the shockability, so that an increase the probability of successful resuscitation is achieved.

Abstract: This invention discloses a system and method for extracting VF signal in ECG recorded during uninterrupted CPR. The method and system applies an adaptive algorithm incorporating the EMD and least mean square (LMS) filtering to effectively model the CPR artifacts such as chest compression signals. Thus, A VF signal in ECG recorded during uninterrupted CPR can be extracted without deteriorating the reliability of the waveform parameter (i.e. AMSA) of shockability. The present invention enables uninterrupted CPR performed during recording ECG for accessing the shockability, so that an increase the probability of successful resuscitation is achieved.

Abstract: Methods of assaying a biological target are disclosed. The method comprises: (a) providing a sample containing the biological target; (b) providing biotin-labeled first aptamers conjugated to a gold nanoparticle (GNP), and second aptamers conjugated to a magnetic bead, wherein the first and the second aptamers exhibit specific binding affinities to the target; (c) incubating the sample with the first and the second aptamers to obtain target-bound aptamers; (d) separating the target-bound aptamers from unbound aptamers; (e) eluting the first aptamers from the GNP; (f) incubating the eluted biotin-labeled first aptamers with streptavidin-magnetic beads and reporter gold nanoparticles (GNPs) to obtain a complex comprising: the bead, the first aptamers, attached to the bead; and the reporter GNPs captured by the bead through the first aptamers; (g) eluting the reporter GNPs captured; and (h) detecting the target by measuring and analyzing a light-scattering signal of the eluted reporter GNPs.