Abstract: A guide rail made from an injected plastic material includes at least one portion having the shape of a tubular profile longitudinally split over at least one portion of the length. The guide rail is configured to be straight or curved in the shape of an arc of a circle.

Abstract: A method for identifying gestures in an area of real space is provided. The method including using a plurality of sensors to produce respective sequences of frames of corresponding fields of view in the area of real space, detecting subjects in the area of real space, using a sequence of frames produced by a corresponding sensor in the plurality of sensors in a first inference engine to identify inventory items carried by the detected subjects in the sequence of frames, using outputs of the first inference engine over a period of time in a second inference engine to identify gestures of the detected subjects, and storing the identified gestures in a database.

Abstract: Automated techniques provide for recalibrating cameras configured for monitoring an area of real space. The method includes first processing one or more selected images selected from a plurality of sequences of images received from a plurality of cameras calibrated using a set of calibration images that were used to calibrate the cameras previously. Transformation information between the selected images and the set of calibration images is obtained based on one or more features extracted from the selected images using a trained neural network classifier corresponding to points located at relatively immobile structures. The features extracted from the selected images match features in the set of calibration images. Camera calibrations can be updated when transform information between features matched meets or exceeds a threshold.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present disclosure provides a multi-reflection silicon-based liquid immersion micro-channel measurement device and measurement method capable of improving measurement sensitivity by completely separating, through multi-reflection, first reflective light reflected by a sample detection layer and a second reflective light by a prism-buffer solution interface and by allowing the light to enter multiple times through the multi-reflection.

Abstract: A quick connector for making a verifiable connection with a tube includes a connector housing having a socket portion and a pair of channels extending into the socket portion from the exterior of the connector housing. A verifier has a pair of resilient legs each including a releasing member extending through a respective channel into the interior of the socket portion. A retainer having claws is held by spring bridging portions within an opening of the socket portion. An upset formed on an exterior surface of the tube is installed into the opening of the socket portion and captured by the retainer claws to lock the tube to the connector housing and deform each resilient leg so as to move and position each releasing member in alignment with its respective channel allowing extraction of the verifier from the connector housing.

Abstract: Inductively coupled plasma (ICP) analyzers use an ICP torch to generate a plasma in which a sample is atomized an ionized. Analysis of the atomic ions can be performed by atomic analysis, such as mass spectrometry (MS) or atomic emission spectrometry (AES). Particle based ICP analysis includes analysis of particles such as cells, beads, or laser ablation plumes, by atomizing and ionizing particles in an ICP torch followed by atomic analysis. In mass cytometry, mass tags of particles are analyzed by mass spectrometry, such as by ICP-MS. Systems and methods of the subject application include one or more of: a demountable ICP torch holder assembly, an external ignition device; an ICP load coil comprising an annular fin, particle suspension sample introduction fluidics, and ICP analyzers thereof.

Abstract: A pipeline fitting comprises a body having a first tubular nose section formed on a first end portion of the pipeline fitting. At least one gripping member having a ramped wall extends axially over the body from the first nose section, the gripping member terminating in a lengthened radial gripping surface located between first and second shortened radial gripping surfaces that are positioned perpendicularly on the body to the axial direction of the gripping member ramped wall. The gripping member is configured to be received at least partly within the end portion of a tube when the gripping member is received at least partly within the end portion of the tube to frictionally engage an inner surface of the end portion of the tube to the gripping member.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the high resolution imaging of samples using imaging mass spectrometry (IMS) and to the imaging of biological samples by imaging mass cytometry (IMC®) in which labelling atoms are detected by IMS. LA-ICP-MS (a form of IMS in which the sample is ablated by a laser, the ablated material is then ionised in an inductively coupled plasma before the ions are detected by mass spectrometry) has been used for analysis of various substances, such as mineral analysis of geological samples, analysis of archaeological samples, and imaging of biological substances. However, traditional LA-ICP-MS systems and methods may not provide high resolution. Described herein are methods and systems for high resolution IMS and IMC.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to reagents and their use for elemental imaging mass spectrometry of biological samples. Embodiments include a method for quantifying one or more analytes within a sample. The method may include providing the sample. One or more analytes may be immobilised to a mass cytometry sample carrier. The sample may have been labelled with one or more mass-tagged SBPs including one or more labelling atoms. The method may include performing mass cytometry on the sample to determine a level of the one or more labelling atoms, where the level of the one or more labelling atoms corresponds to the copy number of the one or more analytes to quantify the analytes.

Abstract: A quick connector is adapted to display a code that verifies that a latch member is engaged to retain an installed pipe to the quick connector. The quick connector comprises a connector body having a receiving portion surrounding an internal passage, the internal passage arranged to receive the pipe therein. A latch member retained on the receiving portion is arranged to be movable between a pipe insertion position and a latched position. In the pipe insertion position, the latch member allows the pipe to be inserted into the internal passage. A code readable by a scanning device becomes readable when the latch member is moved to the latched position verifying that the pipe is installed and latched in the connector body.

Abstract: The technology disclosed relates to a method for tracking inventory items including dividing an area of real space into a plurality of cells and identifying inventory items and their locations in the area of real space using sequences of images produced by at least two sensors. The identifying of inventory items further includes comparing a score for the particular inventory item having a location matching a particular cell and based on one or more counts of inventory events, and a second threshold, and accepting or rejecting the particular inventory item as the predicted inventory item in dependence on whether the score is above the second threshold. In response to the identification of the inventory items, the method also includes determining, for a particular inventory item matched with a particular cell, whether a count of the particular inventory item is below a third threshold for re-stocking the particular inventory item.

Abstract: Analyzing samples injected into an inductively coupled plasma source can be improved by one or more of a stabilizing solution mixable with a sample prior to injection and a heated injector. The stabilizing solution can minimize the difference in osmotic pressure between the solution and the cells with a relatively low amount of dissolved solids (e.g., at or below about 0.2%). The stabilizing solution can contain a salt (e.g., ammonium nitrate) present in concentrations of at least 5 mM. The injector can be heated before and/or during injection. In some cases, heat from adjacent parts can be channeled into the injector to improve heating of the injector. An injector heated to sufficient temperatures can minimize solute buildup and can extend the usable time between cleanings. These improvements can be especially useful in elemental analysis, such as inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry or inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry.

Abstract: This disclosure pertains to a device for removing air from a coolant liquid of a coolant system. The device has a body with a swirl pot at one end and a manifold extending from the swirl pot to an opposed end of the body. The swirl pot has a fluid inlet for receiving coolant fluid of a first air concentration and a fluid outlet for discharging coolant fluid of a second concentration less than the first. The manifold has a first fluid pipe connected to a plurality of outlet pipes that extend transversely to the first fluid pipe and are spaced there along.

Abstract: Some variations provide a process for producing mixed alcohols, comprising: purifying a biogas feedstock to generate a renewable natural gas stream comprising methane; introducing the renewable natural gas stream into a methane-to-syngas unit operated at effective conditions to convert the methane to a first syngas stream containing at least H2, CO, and CO2; purifying the first syngas stream, including separating the CO2 from the first syngas stream, and optionally separating some of the H2 from the first syngas stream, thereby generating a clean syngas stream; introducing the clean syngas stream into a mixed-alcohol reactor operated at effective alcohol synthesis conditions with an alcohol-synthesis catalyst, thereby generating mixed alcohols; and purifying the mixed alcohols to generate a mixed-alcohol product. The mixed-alcohol product may be blended with a hydrocarbon fuel, such as gasoline, to produce a blended fuel.

Abstract: A quick connector includes a coupler fluidically connected by a passage to a first fluid tube. A retainer housing in axial alignment with the passage is installed on the coupler and a movable retainer is installed in the retainer housing in a first position. A second fluid tube having a raised bead formed proximate an end portion of the second fluid tube is permitted to be installed into the retainer housing cavity by the retainer when the retainer is in the first position. Moving the retainer to a second position latches the bead to the retainer housing retaining the second fluid tube to the quick connector.

Abstract: A method and apparatus that serve as a control and calibrator for assays performed on cells and tissues mounted on a microscope slide is described. The apparatus comprises a quality control moiety, such as a peptide epitope, linked to a particulate object such as a clear spherical bead. The bead is preferably approximately the size of a cell. The assay result is usually observed and measured by microscopy. The quality control moiety is designed to behave in a similar manner in the assay as an analyte, yielding a positive assay reaction. The bead is retained on a microscope slide during the steps of staining by a novel liquid matrix, which solidifies upon drying and causes adherence of the beads to the microscope slide. The solidified matrix is porous, allowing diffusion of reactants. It is also impervious to boiling and organic solvents, which are commonly used in histopathology.

Abstract: We describe in this application systems and methods for autofocusing in imaging mass spectrometry. The present application describes improvements over current IMS and IMC apparatus and methods through an autofocus component including a plurality of apertures in the autofocus system, such as a plurality of apertures arranged in 2 dimensions. As a plurality of apertures is used, the autofocus system provides redundancy in the event that measurement of focus on the sample from the illuminating radiation passed through one or more of the apertures fails so as to reduce the number of unsuccessful autofocus attempts.

Abstract: Technology is disclosed herein that the enhances the measurability of on-chip temperature in a cryogenic quantum computing environment. In an implementation, transceiver circuitry sends a probe signal through a target device. A lumped-element resonator device that is proximate to the surface of the target device interacts with the probe signal and modulates the probe signal. Processing circuitry reads the probe signal through the target device, and responsively measures the resonance frequency of the lumped-element resonator device. The processing circuitry correlates the measured resonance frequency with a temperature and responsively determines the temperature of the target device.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to reagents and their use for elemental imaging mass spectrometry of biological samples.

Abstract: A diamond asset comprising one or more diamonds and an encryption chip is used to asset-back a cryptographic token that can be used to conduct transactions. A user device executes an application programming interface configured to access a blockchain that stores a smart contract associated with the cryptographic token backed by the value of the one or more diamonds. When the user device receives an instruction to perform a transaction related to the cryptographic token, the user device causes the encryption chip to sign the smart contract. In response to determining that the smart contract was signed by the encryption chip, the user device causes the transaction to be performed.