Abstract: A poling apparatus for poling a polymer thin film formed on a workpiece carried by a workpiece carrier. The workpiece has multiple grounding electrodes, grounding pads located at its edges, and a polymer thin film including multiple areas each covering only one grounding electrode. The poling apparatus includes, in a poling chamber, a poling source generating a plasma, a shadow mask below the poling source, and a Z-elevator to raise the workpiece carrier toward the shadow mask and poling source. When the workpiece in the workpiece carrier is raised to contact the underside of the shadow mask, multiple openings of the shadow mask expose only the corresponding multiple thin film areas of the workpiece to the plasma; meanwhile, conductive grounding terminals on the underside of the shadow mask electrically connect the grounding pads of the workpiece with carrier electrodes on the workpiece carrier, to ground the workpiece.

Abstract: A self-sanitizing stylus for use in combination with a touch screen device and method of using the same is disclosed. The self-sanitizing stylus comprises a body including a component retaining enclosure and longitudinal member. The longitudinal member has a body defined between a distal end with a touch tip disposed thereon, and a proximal end secured with an operative end of the component retaining enclosure. At least one ultraviolet radiation emitting device is disposed on the body. The component retaining enclosure includes a power source and switch connected between the power source, and the ultraviolet radiation emitting device, which when pressed establishes an electrical connection between the power source and the ultraviolet radiation emitting device, which emits UV radiation to disinfect the body or portion thereof.

Abstract: An ultraviolet (“UV”) emission device may emit energy towards a movable surface of a conveyor system. A housing of the UV emission device may attach to a frame of the conveyor system. A lateral edge of the housing may extend across the moveable surface. The housing and a portion of the moveable surface may be inclined with respect to the frame. A barrier bracket of the UV emission device may support an absorptive barrier along the lateral edge, the absorptive barrier configured to contact the moveable surface. In a first position of the barrier bracket, the absorptive barrier contacts the moveable surface and the barrier bracket activates an interlock switch. In a second position of the barrier bracket, the barrier bracket deactivates the interlock switch. Responsive to deactivation of the interlock switch, a controller may provide a control signal to decrease power to the UV energy emission element.

Abstract: An UV disinfection system (200) may feature a chamber (207) with internal spherical reflective surfaces (208) to evenly reflect UV radiation from all angles to direct the UV radiation to all surface area of the object inside the chamber to disinfect object utilizing UV radiation under controlled time. An object (215) to be disinfected may reside within the chamber (207) on a UV transparent rack or shelf (214). The spherical reflective surfaces may be fashioned by placing such surfaces on a polyhedral internal structure or making the internal chamber spherical in and of itself (208). Multiple UV sources (209a), (209b) may also be utilized.

Abstract: Embodiments of systems, devices, and methods relate to selecting a raster profile for scanning a proton beam across a target. A raster profile is selected from among the plurality of plurality of possible raster profiles based on a value of a figure of merit. A beam is directed across the target surface to form a pattern that is repeated one or more times at different radial orientations to form a scanning profile. A target temperature is monitored while scanning the beam across the target surface according to the scanning profile. The scanning parameters are changeable to avoid target damaging, to improve thermal performance and to optimize particle loading.

Abstract: An ion trap mass spectrometer includes an ion trap including a first electrode and a second electrode different from the first electrode, a first voltage controller that periodically switches a DV voltage among DC voltages having a plurality of values and apply the DV voltages to the first electrode, and a second voltage controller that applies a sine-wave voltage to the second electrode when ions captured in the ion trap are dissociated.

Abstract: A method of detecting a membrane protein by mass spectrometry comprises: (a) providing a solution comprising a native membrane vesicle having a lipid bilayer to which said membrane protein is attached; (b) sonicating the vesicle in the presence of a mass spectrometry-compatible buffer; (c) providing a mass spectrometer comprising a nanoelectrospray ionisation source, a mass analyser and a detector; (d) vaporising the sonicated solution using the nanoelectrospray ionisation source under conditions such that the membrane protein is released from the vesicle; (e) ionising the membrane protein; (f) resolving the ionised membrane protein using the mass analyser; and (g) detecting the resolved membrane protein using the detector. Also provided are solutions comprising sonicated vesicles for use in mass spectrometry methods.

Abstract: Radiation shield and methods for manufacturing a radiation shield are provided herein, the method includes identifying a substrate for the radiation shield; identifying at least one material for cold spraying on the substrate; applying by cold spray a coating of the at least one material on the substrate thereby obtaining a radiation shield. The radiation shield is lighter, thinner, and more efficient compared to conventional radiation shields.

Abstract: A paper money sanitation apparatus for preventing the transmission of viruses includes a housing having an input slot and an output slot extending through to a housing cavity. A plurality of roller pairs is coupled within the housing cavity. Each roller pair has an upper roller bar and a lower roller bar positioned to have sufficient space to receive a banknote. A drive system is coupled to the plurality of roller pairs and powered by a motor to pull the banknote from the input slot and out the output slot. A battery is coupled to the housing and is in operational communication with the motor. A plurality of ultraviolet lights is coupled within the housing cavity to disinfect the banknote as it passes through.

Abstract: A conversion circuit is arranged for converting an ion detection current (id) produced by an ion detector into an ion detection signal (P). The conversion circuit comprises an input stage for converting the ion detection current (id) into an ion detection voltage (Vd), an output stage for converting the ion detection voltage into the detection signal (P), the output stage being arranged for drawing a first current dependent on the ion detection voltage, and a supplementary stage for providing a second current (is) dependent on the ion detection voltage to the output stage. The second current may be substantially equal to the first current.

Abstract: An automated grid handling apparatus for an electron microscope including a transport module having a multistage shuttle, the multistage shuttle having a first shuttle stage having a single degree of freedom of motion for gross movement, a second shuttle stage having a single degree of freedom of motion independent of the first stage for fine movement, an end effector connected to at least one of the first and second shuttle stages, the end effector being configured to hold a grid carrier and transport the grid carrier holding the grid into and out of an electron microscope through a transport interface that is communicably connected to a multi-axis positioning stage port of the electron microscope, the end effector having a range of motion, defined by a combination of the first and second stage degrees of freedom of motions and the multi-axis positioning stage internal to the electron microscope, and an automated loading module connected to the frame and being communicably connected to the transport module,

Abstract: Embodiments of a lift apparatus for use in a substrate processing chamber are provided herein. In some embodiments, a lift apparatus includes: a plurality of first lift pin assemblies configured to raise or lower a substrate having a given diameter when disposed thereon, wherein each of the first lift pin assemblies includes a first lift pin disposed on a first bellows assembly; a plurality of second lift pin assemblies arranged in a circle having a diameter greater than the given diameter and configured to raise or lower an annular chamber component, wherein each of the second lift pin assemblies includes a second lift pin disposed on a second bellows assembly; an actuator; and a lift assembly coupled to the actuator and configured to raise or lower each of the first lift pin assemblies and the second lift pin assemblies by movement of the actuator.

Abstract: A system for non-destructive examination of three-dimensional (3D) printed objects includes a muon source directs muon particles at and through the 3D object and a muon detector receives the muon particles from the muon source to produce a muon signal which is representative of the 3D object. A first computing device executes an algorithm to analyze the muon signal. The analysis comprises creating a 3D rendering of the 3D object based upon the muon signal; preparing a physics-based digital model of the 3D object; and comparing the 3D rendered object to the digital model to identify defects within the 3D object. An augmented reality (AR) device and a second computing device may communicate with the first computing device and receive the 3d rendered object and the digital model. This can used on earth, in space, on a moon or asteroid or another planet as muons occur naturally in these environments.

Abstract: A radioactive nuclear waste storage system includes a cask comprising a hermetically sealed internal cavity configured for holding the waste such as spent nuclear fuel submerged in an inventory of water. One or more pressure surge capacitors disposed inside the cask include a vacuum cavity evacuated to sub-atmospheric conditions prior to storage of fuel in the cask. At least one rupture disk seals a vacuum chamber inside each capacitor. Each rupture disk is designed and constructed to burst at a predetermined burst pressure level occurring inside the cask external to the capacitor. This allows excess cask pressure occurring during a high pressure excursion resulting from abnormal operating conditions to bleed into capacitor, thereby returning the pressure inside the cask to acceptable levels. In one embodiment, the capacitors are located in peripheral regions of the cask cavity adjacent to the circumferential wall of the cask body.

Abstract: Disclosed is a source for and method of generating extreme ultraviolet radiation in which spitting of molten target material is hindered through depletion of the number of hydrogen radicals available to enter deposits of molten target material and create hydrogen bubbles therein by introducing an active gas that reacts with the hydrogen radicals.

Abstract: A shaken-lattice station and a cloud-based server cooperate to provide shaken lattices as a service (SLaaS). The shaken-lattice station serves as a system for implementing “recipes” for creating and using shaking functions to be applied to light used to trap quantum particles. The cloud-based server acts as an interface between the shaken-lattice station (or stations) and authorized users of account holders. To this end the server hosts an account manager and a session manager. The account manager manages accounts and associated account-based and user-specific permissions that define what actions any given authorized user for an account may perform with respect to a shaken-lattice station. The session manager controls (e.g., in real-time) interactions between a user and a shaken-lattice station, some interactions allowing a user to select a recipe based on results returned earlier in the same session.

Abstract: Systems and methods disclosed herein utilize an interface positioned between an ion source and an ion guide of a mass spectrometry system that can be useful to control transmission ions from an ion source to a downstream mass analyzer. In various aspects, the present disclosure provides methods of modulating an introduction of ions into an ion guide. In some embodiments, the present disclosure provides methods of making and using disclosed interface elements and mass spectrometry systems. In some embodiments, implementations of the present disclosure are useful in mass spectrometry systems, including, for example, improving signal-to-noise and reducing contamination.

Abstract: Certain configurations of devices and systems that can administer a nuclear medication in an automated manner are described. In some instances, the system can receive a nuclear medication in a shielded transport container and administer the nuclear medication to a patient through an intravenous line in an automated manner to minimize radiation exposure by staff. Methods of using the devices and systems are also described.

Abstract: A transactional currency sanitizer which includes an enclosure, a deposit device on the enclosure for depositing the currency into said enclosure, an ultraviolet radiation-producing (UV) device with at least two spaced-apart UV light emitters, and a retrieval device on the enclosure for retrieving the currency from said enclosure. The deposit device is configured to receive the currency and pass the currency between the at least two spaced-apart UV light emitters to sanitize both sides of the currency and the retrieval device is configured to accept the sanitized currency from between said device at least two spaced-apart UV light emitters and to provide the sanitized currency for retrieval from said enclosure.

Abstract: MALDI-MS operated slightly under matrix storm conditions with a high-energy-transfer, acidic matrix, or these conditions with a high sample to matrix ratio, can with ultrasensitivity detect a nucleobase, modified or canonical, of a nucleic acid species as a jettisoned, protonated molecule.