Abstract: A washing machine appliance and methods of operating a washing machine appliance are provided. The washing machine appliance includes a motor and a rotatable basket. The motor is operated to rotate the basket. While operating the motor to rotate the basket, a power consumption and a balance condition of a load of articles in the basket are determined. A size of the load of articles in the basket of the washing machine appliance is determined based on the power consumption and the balance condition. Based on the determined size of the load, one or more operating parameters of the washing machine appliance are selected and an operation of the washing machine appliance is performed according to the one or more selected operating parameters.

Abstract: A method for fabricating an optical waveguide comprises: providing a sample of lithium niobate doped with magnesium oxide and having at least one grating of periodic domain inversion defined therein; applying a layer of metallic zinc to a surface of the sample over the at least one grating using sputter deposition; heating the sample in an atmosphere of pure oxygen to cause the zinc to indiffuse into the lithium niobate to form a waveguiding layer of increased refractive index under the surface of the sample; and using a dicing blade to cut two substantially parallel channels along a length direction of the at least one grating, to define a ridge waveguide between the two channels.

Abstract: A washing machine appliance and methods of operating a washing machine appliance are provided. The washing machine appliance includes a tub and a rotatable basket within the tub. A volume of water is flows into the tub, causing a load of articles in the basket to be wetted. A first weight of the load of articles is measured during an initial spin operation after flowing the volume of water into the wash tub. A water extraction operation is performed after measuring the first weight of the load of articles. A second weight of the load of articles is measured after the water extraction operation. A load type of the load of articles is determined based on the first weight and the second weight.

Abstract: A washing machine appliance and methods of operating a washing machine appliance are provided. The washing machine appliance includes a motor and a rotatable basket. The motor is operated to rotate the basket. While operating the motor to rotate the basket, a power consumption and a balance condition of a load of articles in the basket are determined. A size of the load of articles in the basket of the washing machine appliance is determined based on the power consumption and the balance condition. Based on the determined size of the load, one or more operating parameters of the washing machine appliance are selected and an operation of the washing machine appliance is performed according to the one or more selected operating parameters.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to thin film coating processes, compositions so formed and intermediates used and formed therein using multiple coating stations and multiple drying stations in the thin film coating processes.

Abstract: The process for the manufacture of an auto-oxidatively cross-linking hybrid polymer, in particular an aqueous hybrid polymer dispersion, comprises the step of reacting in a mini-emulsion process one or more ethylenically unsaturated monomers to form an addition polymer in the presence of a modified auto-oxidatively crosslinkable (AOC) polymer which has been modified with terminal unsaturated groups of the formula —C(R1)?CH2 wherein R1 is hydrogen, alkyl or aryl and wherein the AOC polymer is a hydrophobic polymer having an acid number between 5 to 30. The resulting aqueous hybrid polymer dispersion can be used for the manufacture of coating compositions, ink compositions or adhesives and coating compositions comprising the hybrid polymer dispersion as a binder.

Abstract: A collapsible hoist apparatus includes a lower boom assembly, a middle boom assembly, and an upper boom assembly, the boom assemblies consisting of two parallel boom arms and a transversal crossbeam, and are connected to one another by a pivotal annular support. The annular support allows the complete boom assembly to be placed in a first extended position, such that the boom assemblies extend outwardly, aligned in a pleated configuration; a fully extended position, such that the boom assemblies extend outwardly, aligned in a planar configuration; or a closed storage position, such that the boom assemblies extend inwardly, aligned in a pleated configuration.

Abstract: The process for the manufacture of an auto-oxidatively cross-linking hybrid polymer, in particular an aqueous hybrid polymer dispersion, comprises the step of reacting in a mini-emulsion process one or more ethylenically unsaturated monomers to form an addition polymer in the presence of a modified auto-oxidatively crosslinkable (AOC) polymer which has been modified with terminal unsaturated groups of the formula —C(R1)?CH2 wherein R1 is hydrogen, alkyl or aryl and wherein the AOC polymer is a hydrophobic polymer having an acid number between 5 to 30. The resulting aqueous hybrid polymer dispersion can be used for the manufacture of coating compositions, ink compositions or adhesives and coating compositions comprising the hybrid polymer dispersion as a binder.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the manufacture of an auto-oxidatively cross-linking hybrid polymer, in particular an aqueous hybrid polymer dispersion, comprising the step of reacting in a mini-emulsion process one or more ethylenically unsaturated monomers to form an addition polymer (also referred to as a vinyl polymer) in the presence of a modified auto-oxidatively crosslinkable (AOC) polymer which has been modified with terminal unsaturated groups of the formula C(R1)?CH2 wherein R1 can be hydrogen, alkyl or aryl and wherein the modified AOC polymer is a hydrophobic polymer having an acid number between 5 to 30.