Abstract: Provided herein are approaches for processing reticle blanks. In one approach, a reticle processing system includes a support assembly having a plate coupled to a frame, and a carrier assembly coupled to the support assembly. In one approach, the carrier assembly includes a carrier base coupled to the plate, a reticle disposed over the carrier base, and a carrier shield disposed over the reticle, wherein the carrier shield may include a central opening formed therein, allowing for placement and extraction of the reticle. In one approach, when the carrier assembly is placed atop the support assembly, a plurality of pins extend from the plate through corresponding openings in the carrier base, the plurality of pins supporting the carrier assembly so the carrier base, the reticle, and the carrier shield are each independently supported and vertically separated from one another.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for processing a substrate are provided herein. In one implementation, the apparatus includes a load lock chamber coupled to a transfer chamber. The transfer chamber is coupled to a thermal process chamber and a substrate is transferred between each of the load lock chamber, the transfer chamber, and the thermal process chamber. In other implementations, a process platform having a load lock chamber, a transfer chamber, and a thermal process chamber is disclosed. Methods of measuring oxygen concentration in a load lock chamber via evacuation of a transfer chamber are also described herein.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods to process one or more wafers are described. The apparatus comprises a chamber defining an upper interior region and a lower interior region. A heater assembly is on the bottom of the chamber body in the lower interior region and defines a process region. A wafer cassette assembly is inside the heater assembly and a motor is configured to move the wafer cassette assembly from the lower process region inside the heater assembly to the upper interior region.

Abstract: A system for treating biomass for the production of ethanol is disclosed. A biorefinery for producing a fermentation product from biomass is disclosed. The biorefinery comprises a system for preparing the biomass into prepared biomass and a system for pre-treating the biomass into pre-treated biomass. The biorefinery comprises a separator, a first treatment system, a second treatment system, and a fermentation system. A method for producing a fermentation product from biomass is disclosed.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for processing a substrate are provided herein. In one implementation, the apparatus includes a load lock chamber coupled to a transfer chamber. The transfer chamber is coupled to a thermal process chamber and a substrate is transferred between each of the load lock chamber, the transfer chamber, and the thermal process chamber. In other implementations, a process platform having a load lock chamber, a transfer chamber, and a thermal process chamber is disclosed. Methods of measuring oxygen concentration in a load lock chamber via evacuation of a transfer chamber are also described herein.

Abstract: The present disclosure includes methods and systems for removing one or more fermentation inhibitors (e.g., furfural) from a hydrolysate composition (e.g., a whole broth hydrolysate) by gas stripping the one or more fermentation inhibitors from the hydrolysate composition.

Abstract: The invention provides systems, methods, reagents, apparatuses, vectors, and host cells for the continuous evolution of nucleic acids. For example, a lagoon is provided in which a population of viral vectors comprising a gene of interest replicates in a stream of host cells, wherein the viral vectors lack a gene encoding a protein required for the generation of infectious viral particles, and wherein that gene is expressed in the host cells under the control of a conditional promoter, the activity of which depends on a function of the gene of interest to be evolved. Some aspects of this invention provide evolved products obtained from continuous evolution procedures described herein. Kits containing materials for continuous evolution are also provided.

Abstract: Systems and methods that include starch derived from grain as a carbon source for propagation of microorganisms.

Abstract: Strategies, systems, methods, reagents, and kits for phage-assisted continuous evolution are provided herein. These include strategies, systems, methods, reagents, and kits allowing for stringency modulation to evolve weakly active or inactive biomolecule variants, negative selection of undesired properties, and/or positive selection of desired properties.

Abstract: A gas turbine engine operable using either one of a first fuel and a second fuel includes a water supply and a diffusion flame burner including an innermost spray cone, a plurality of spray cones positioned around the innermost spray cone and grouped into a plurality of stages, and a plurality of outlets positioned around the innermost spray cone. A plurality of valves is arranged to connect the first fuel, the second fuel, and the water supply to the diffusion flame burner and a controller is operable to configure the plurality of valves at least in part in response to which of the first fuel and the second fuel is being consumed. When consuming the first fuel, the valves are configured to deliver a mixture of the first fuel and a quantity of water to the plurality of outlets, and to deliver a quantity of water to the plurality of spray cones, and to selectively activate one or more of the stages to allow passage through only the spray cones of the activated stages.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for processing a substrate are provided herein. In one implementation, the apparatus includes a load lock chamber coupled to a transfer chamber. The transfer chamber is coupled to a thermal process chamber and a substrate is transferred between each of the load lock chamber, the transfer chamber, and the thermal process chamber. In other implementations, a process platform having a load lock chamber, a transfer chamber, and a thermal process chamber is disclosed. Methods of measuring oxygen concentration in a load lock chamber via evacuation of a transfer chamber are also described herein.

Abstract: The invention provides systems, methods, reagents, apparatuses, vectors, and host cells for the continuous evolution of nucleic acids. For example, a lagoon is provided in which a population of viral vectors comprising a gene of interest replicates in a stream of host cells, wherein the viral vectors lack a gene encoding a protein required for the generation of infectious viral particles, and wherein that gene is expressed in the host cells under the control of a conditional promoter, the activity of which depends on a function of the gene of interest to be evolved. Some aspects of this invention provide evolved products obtained from continuous evolution procedures described herein. Kits containing materials for continuous evolution are also provided.

Abstract: Provided herein are approaches for processing reticle blanks. In one approach, a reticle processing system includes a support assembly having a plate coupled to a frame, and a carrier assembly coupled to the support assembly. In one approach, the carrier assembly includes a carrier base coupled to the plate, a reticle disposed over the carrier base, and a carrier shield disposed over the reticle, wherein the carrier shield may include a central opening formed therein, allowing for placement and extraction of the reticle. In one approach, when the carrier assembly is placed atop the support assembly, a plurality of pins extend from the plate through corresponding openings in the carrier base, the plurality of pins supporting the carrier assembly so the carrier base, the reticle, and the carrier shield are each independently supported and vertically separated from one another.

Abstract: The described embodiments relate generally to aluminum films and pretreatments for improving the adhesion of aluminum films on substrate surfaces. Methods involve providing three-dimensional adhesion surfaces on the substrate that promote adhesion to a subsequently deposited aluminum film. The methods can avoid the use of strike materials, such as nickel and copper, used in conventional adhesion-promoting treatments. According to some embodiments, methods involve providing an aluminum oxide adhesion layer on the substrate prior to depositing aluminum. According to some embodiments, methods involve providing a zincating layer on the substrate prior to depositing aluminum. According some embodiments, methods involve roughening the surface of the substrate prior to depositing aluminum. Some embodiments involve a combination of two or more substrate pretreatments. Described methods can be used to provide more flexibility in subsequent anodizing processes.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and systems for remediating one or more impurities (e.g., diacetyl) that are present in manufacturing an alcohol (e.g., ethanol) from cellulosic biomass. The methods and systems include reacting the one or more impurities with at least one treatment compound (e.g., an oxidizing agent, an alkali compound, or a mixture thereof) to form a reaction product that can be separated from the alcohol.

Abstract: Provided herein are approaches for processing reticle blanks. In one approach, a reticle processing system includes a support assembly having a plate coupled to a frame, and a carrier assembly coupled to the support assembly. In one approach, the carrier assembly includes a carrier base coupled to the plate, a reticle disposed over the carrier base, and a carrier shield disposed over the reticle, wherein the carrier shield may include a central opening formed therein, allowing for placement and extraction of the reticle. In one approach, when the carrier assembly is placed atop the support assembly, a plurality of pins extend from the plate through corresponding openings in the carrier base, the plurality of pins supporting the carrier assembly so the carrier base, the reticle, and the carrier shield are each independently supported and vertically separated from one another.

Abstract: The present disclosure includes systems and methods for hydrolyzing (e.g., pretreatment and/or enzymatic hydrolysis) lignocellulosic biomass into one or more sugars such as pentose and glucose sugars. The present disclosure includes configurations that incorporate flashing and/or liquid cooling so as to permit desirable throughput. The present disclosure also includes a liquefaction configuration so as to permit desirable (e.g., continuous high volume) throughput.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and systems for remediating one or more impurities (e.g., diacetyl) that are present in manufacturing an alcohol (e.g., ethanol) from cellulosic biomass. The methods and systems include reacting the one or more impurities with at least one treatment compound (e.g., an oxidizing agent, an alkali compound, or a mixture thereof) to form a reaction product that can be separated from the alcohol.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a dewatering systems, and related methods, that are adapted to convey lignocellulosic biomass to separate at least a portion of the water from a lignocellulosic biomass slurry and accumulate the dewatered lignocellulosic biomass. The dewatering system also includes a headspace occupied by a gas that is at a pressure that facilitates transferring the accumulated biomas into a pretreatment reactor having a pressurized headspace. Such a dewatering system can prevent undue mixing and backflow of gas (e.g., steam) from the pretreatment reactor.

Abstract: Strategies, systems, methods, reagents, and kits for phage-assisted continuous evolution are provided herein. These include strategies, systems, methods, reagents, and kits allowing for stringency modulation to evolve weakly active or inactive biomolecule variants, negative selection of undesired properties, and/or positive selection of desired properties.