Abstract: A method of forming an integrated circuit structure includes forming an etch stop layer over a conductive feature, forming a dielectric layer over the etch stop layer, forming an opening in the dielectric layer to reveal the etch stop layer, and etching the etch stop layer through the opening using an etchant comprising an inhibitor. An inhibitor film comprising the inhibitor is formed on the conductive feature. The method further includes depositing a conductive barrier layer extending into the opening, performing a treatment to remove the inhibitor film after the conductive barrier layer is deposited, and depositing a conductive material to fill a remaining portion of the opening.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of data identification, and in particular to a two-dimensional code technology. The present invention provides a two-dimensional code drawing method for rapid and accurate identification. The two-dimensional code drawing method comprises cryptographically generating binary input data; determining a layout of a two-dimensional code according to the input data; drawing a positioning point lattice of the two-dimensional code under a designated background; drawing the binary input data into a data area; and cryptographically generating and drawing basic information binary data on a basic data area. The present invention solves the technical problems of low positioning reliability, long identification time consumption low security and difficult mass storage of the two-dimensional code in the prior art, and has accurate positioning, high identification efficiency and strong expansibility.

Abstract: An electrically and thermally conductive gasket includes a resilient core including a plurality of sides, a heat spreader disposed along at least two sides of the plurality of sides of the resilient core, and an electrically conductive layer disposed along and/or covering at least a portion of the heat spreader, such that the portion of the heat spreader is between the resilient core and the electrically conductive layer. The gasket is positionable and/or compressible between first and second surfaces to thereby define an electrically conductive path and a thermally conductive path between the first and second surfaces.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a field of medical molecular biology, and in particular, a marker for homologous recombination deficiency (HRD), a method and a system for detection thereof. In the present invention, the genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with a high heterozygous rate suitable for the Chinese population are provided by screening SNP sites on the gnomAD records and over 300 Chinese whole-genome sequencing (WGS) data, thereby establishing a HRD scoring method. The HRD markers provided by the present invention allow HRD to be effectively scored, having a calculation result in high consistent with the WGS result.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of amyloid fibrils for providing nutritional minerals to the human body, particularly as a component in a food product, a dietary supplement or in a pharmaceutical product. The invention further provides for new compositions comprising composite materials of amyloid fibrils and nutritional minerals. The invention further relates to the use of such composite materials in the treatment of diseases and disorders and to the fortification of food and dietary supplements with nutritional minerals.

Abstract: The disclosure discloses a network system, a wireless network extender, and a network provider. The network system includes a network provider, a wireless network router, and a wireless network extender. The wireless network extender includes a communication unit and an extension unit. The wireless network extender connects to the wireless network router through a first communication channel provided by the communication unit and communicates with the network provider through the wireless network router, or communicates with the network provider through a second communication channel provided by the extension unit. When the first communication channel is unavailable, the wireless network extender connects to the network provider through the second communication channel. The first communication channel and the second communication channel use different communication protocols. The disclosure can provide a mesh network with a redundancy mechanism for diagnosis/management using different communication protocols.

Abstract: There is described herein, a method of capturing cell-free methylated DNA from a sample having less than 100 mg of cell-free DNA, comprising the steps of: subjecting the sample to library preparation to permit subsequent sequencing of the cell-free methylated DNA; adding a first amount of filler DNA to the sample, wherein at least a portion of the filler DNA is methylated; denaturing the sample; and capturing cell-free methylated DNA using a binder selective for methylated polynucleotides.

Abstract: Disclosed is a QR code extension method, comprising the following steps: SI. obtaining data encoding information, and determining the number of positioning points based on a data encoding length; S2. partitioning a data area according to different shapes, and adjusting a parameter of each data partition by adjusting the number of transverse and/or longitudinal unit QR codes; and S3, drawing a QR code, and outputting a result. The method is more flexible, and can make a QR code realize one-way or two-way extension, and the length and the width of a data area can be slightly adjusted to ensure that the capacity of the data area is close to the size of data information, so that capacity in per unit space is optimized.

Abstract: There is described herein, a method of capturing cell-free methylated DNA from a sample having less than 100 mg of cell-free DNA, comprising the steps of: subjecting the sample to library preparation to permit subsequent sequencing of the cell-free methylated DNA; adding a first amount of filler DNA to the sample, wherein at least a portion of the filler DNA is methylated; denaturing the sample; and capturing cell-free methylated DNA using a binder selective for methylated polynucleotides.

Abstract: Various embodiments disclosed herein provide for flexible carrier uplink and downlink pairing for 4G, 5G and future networks. Downlink and uplink channels can be assigned to different bands that are not contiguous or bands that have different bandwidths. This enables base station devices to have the flexibility to assign uplink and downlink communications to bands that have lower load and thus improve the efficiency and throughput of the communication link for both uplink and downlink. The base station device can also assign uplink and downlink pairing in order to minimize passive intermodulation interference. Passive intermodulation interference from a transmission can cause interference in bands near the transmission band, and so the base station device can assign downlink and uplink bands that are separate from each other in order to reduce the passive intermodulation interference.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method for individualized hearing aid prescription which consists of a test procedure that enables the fitting of an individualized estimation of the SII model to individual listeners efficiently and an optimization process which translates the resulting individualized model to the prescribed gains across frequencies for programming into the user's hearing aids. The test involves the recognition of one or more words presented in background noise, which better approximates the daily listening experiences of hearing-aid users compared to the pure-tone detection in a silent environment task which is commonly utilized during conventional audiometric testing. In the estimated SII model, five parameters describe in a custom fashion the relative weights of speech information across the five frequency bands for a given listener. The results from the speech test is used to determine the desirable amount of gain for each frequency region to optimize the user's aided speech intelligibility.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of data identification, and in particular to a two-dimensional code technology. The present invention provides a two-dimensional code drawing method for rapid and accurate identification. The two-dimensional code drawing method comprises cryptographically generating binary input data; determining a layout of a two-dimensional code according to the input data; drawing a positioning point lattice of the two-dimensional code under a designated background; drawing the binary input data into a data area; and cryptographically generating and drawing basic information binary data on a basic data area. The present invention solves the technical problems of low positioning reliability, long identification time consumption low security and difficult mass storage of the two-dimensional code in the prior art, and has accurate positioning, high identification efficiency and strong expansibility.

Abstract: Provided is an optical waveguide comprising a core surrounded by a cladding, wherein the core is in the shape of a trapezoid with sidewall angles between 60° and 85° and an opto-electronic circuit comprising the optical waveguide. Operational characteristics of the optical waveguide are shown to be superior to those of incumbent devices.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of data identification, and in particular to two-dimensional code technology. Provided in the present invention is a two-dimensional code-based file acquisition method, comprising: step 1, parsing a two-dimensional code to acquire two-dimensional code encoded data, wherein the encoded data comprises a first unique value, encrypted data, and signature data; step 2, verifying the signature data; step 3, decrypting the encrypted data to acquire a file address and an. nth data segment In; step 4, acquiring an. encrypted file according to the nth data segment In and the file address; step 5, verifying the encrypted file according to the first unique value to acquire a decrypted file. The present invention solves the technical problems of easy tampering and poor security when data is stored and acquired on the basis of a two-dimensional code, and implements secure and reliable information protection.

Abstract: The invention relates to the field of data identification, in particular to a technique for forming and capturing a two-dimensional code. The invention provides a method for forming and capturing a two-dimensional code positioning dot matrix for rapid positioning. The method for forming the two-dimensional code positioning point lattice comprises the following steps: Setting or reading the positioning point data lattice; drawing four central symmetric primary positioning point lattice on the setting background; and adding the positioning interval area to the periphery of the primary positioning point lattice. The invention solves the technical problems of long locating time and high locating error rate in 2d code recognition, strengthens the reliability of two-dimensional code locating, improves the identifying efficiency, and reduces the pollution of locating points and data.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems for applying materials to components. The system comprises a tool operable for transferring a portion of a material from a supply of the material to a component. A first portion of the tool may be configured for cutting along a side or edge of the portion of the material. A second portion of the tool may be configured for tamping, pressing, or pushing against the portion of the material to cause uncut sides or edges of the portion of the material attached to the supply of the material to be torn, severed, detached, or separated from the supply of the material.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and compositions for real-time monitoring cellular calcium ion dynamics by red-shifted genetically encoded indicators under optogenetic control, in which millisecond-timescale of temporal control of optical activation or inactivation and signal recording can be achieved. The methods include artifact-free functional imaging in conjunction with optogenetic tools for studying cellular physiology, signal transduction and neuronal activity. Thus, all-optical and non-invasive approaches for drug screening, toxicity testing and assessment of cell functions may be provided.

Abstract: Compositions for forming polymer layers useful in the manufacture of optical devices, particularly optical waveguides, and methods of forming such devices are provided.

Abstract: Various embodiments disclosed herein provide for flexible carrier uplink and downlink pairing for 4G, 5G and future networks. Downlink and uplink channels can be assigned to different bands that are not contiguous or bands that have different bandwidths. This enables base station devices to have the flexibility to assign uplink and downlink communications to bands that have lower load and thus improve the efficiency and throughput of the communication link for both uplink and downlink. The base station device can also assign uplink and downlink pairing in order to minimize passive intermodulation interference. Passive intermodulation interference from a transmission can cause interference in bands near the transmission band, and so the base station device can assign downlink and uplink bands that are separate from each other in order to reduce the passive intermodulation interference.