Abstract: Disclosed is a decontamination robot. The robot includes a decontamination box including at least two arrays of ultraviolet LEDs, the two arrays arranged to irradiate an object placed inside the decontamination box from at least two independent directions, the decontamination box further including an interior surface with at least 90% reflectivity of ultraviolet light. The robot also includes a drivetrain including four swerve-drive units, each swerve-drive unit capable of rotating a wheel on an axis of the wheel and capable of orienting the wheel in a plane defined by the axes of the four wheels of the four swerve-drive units, whereby the four swerve-drive units coordinate to generate translational motion of the decontamination robot on a working surface.

Abstract: A waveguide for a detector system includes a transparent main body with a partially transparent incoupling region and a decoupling region that is spaced apart therefrom in a first direction. The incoupling region includes a diffractive structure which deflects only part of radiation coming from an object to be detected and impinging on the front face such that the deflected part propagates as coupled-in radiation in the main body by reflections up to the decoupling region and impinges on the decoupling region. The decoupling region deflects at least part of the coupled-in radiation impinging thereon such that the deflected part exits the main body via the front face or rear face in order to impinge on the detector system. The extent of the incoupling region in a second direction transverse to the first direction is greater than the extent of the decoupling region in the second direction.

Abstract: A gas sensor network system provides near real-time monitoring of fugitive emissions of VOC compounds in chemical plants and facilities. The present disclosure provides a sensor placement method which determines where to place sensors within a facility. The sensor placement method includes obtaining plant layout, gas composition, meteorological conditions and/or other types of information regarding a facility, determining the types of gas and ancillary sensors needed, and generating the minimum detection distances required based on the sensitivities of the sensors to the gas compounds involved. And, then calculating the minimal number of sensors required for each sensor type with optimized sensor locations to ensure best coverage of potentially leaking components within the facility.

Abstract: An improved drive shaft for controlling an end effector of surgical instrument having advantages over the prior art, specifically, the drive shaft includes two separate elongate elements, each including a flange at its proximal end for restricting the lateral movement of the drive shaft when installed within an outer shaft of the instrument. The dimensions of the flanges are such that they fit within the outer shaft with minimal clearance. This allows the drive shaft to be moved longitudinally within the outer shaft to actuate an end effector whilst minimizing any lateral movement. This consequently prevents the end effector from tilting as it is actuated. The drive members are arranged so that the flanges extend in opposite directions perpendicular to the length of the drive shaft. This helps to improve ease of assembly and provides space within the outer shaft for features such as connection wires and the like.

Abstract: A configurable printing bed for a 3D printer includes a bed surface and linear actuators. The bed surface includes bed surface portions. Each of the bed surface portions is supported for independent movement. At least one of the bed surface portions includes a head that is twistable. When each of the bed surface portions is positioned at a reference level, the bed surface portions form different parts of a common plane. Each of the linear actuators is connected to at least one of the bed surface portions, respectively. The linear actuators are configured to generate the independent movement of the bed surface portions and to effect positioning of the bed surface portions. The linear actuators are configured to lower the bed surface portions in a staggered manner so that a release wave is generated and used to remove a 3D printed object from the printing bed.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for assembling, installing, and operating a manually operated gate (e.g., a safety gate) are provided. The manually operated safety gate can include a gate frame and a spring assembly. The gate frame can include a proximal upright member, a distal upright member, an upper arm, and a lower arm. The proximal upright member can be anchored to a stationary surface. The upper arm and lower arm can be pivotably coupled to the proximal upright member and distal upright member to form a parallelogram. The manually operated gate can be configured to pivot between an open position and a closed position at a constant angular velocity. The gate can freely pivot to the closed position from a self-close position. A kit can contain the required structural components and instructions and can be used to assemble the manually operated gate assembly.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a unit dose product comprising a pouch formed from a water-soluble film material; and a detergent composition comprising about 5 to about 20 wt % water, about 35 to about 65 wt % of at least one surfactant, at least one amino acid or a salt thereof, a base, and a non-aqueous solvent, wherein the detergent composition is disposed within the pouch. The composition can further comprise additional components, such as an anti-redeposition agent, an enzyme, a bleaching agent, a bleach activator, a chelating agent, an additional chlorine scavenger, a biocide, an optical brightener, a bitterant, a corrosion inhibitor, or a combination thereof. The detergent composition in the unit dose product can scavenge chlorine to a concentration of 0 ppm in less than about 60 sec after contact with a 1 L water sample comprising up to 4 ppm chlorine.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a detergent composition comprising water, at least one surfactant, at least one amino acid or a salt thereof, and at least one enzyme, wherein the detergent composition has a pH of greater than 7 to about 10. The composition can further comprise additional components, such as an anti-redeposition agent, bleaching agent, a bleach activator, a chelating agent, an additional chlorine scavenger, a biocide, an optical brightener, and a combination thereof. The detergent composition can scavenge chlorine to a concentration of 0 ppm in less than about 60 sec after contact with a 1 L water sample comprising up to 4 ppm chlorine.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides detergent composition comprising water, at least one surfactant, at least one amino acid or a salt thereof, and base, wherein the detergent composition has a pH of greater than 10. The composition can further comprise additional components, such as an anti-redeposition agent, a bleaching agent, a bleach activator, a chelating agent, an additional chlorine scavenger, a biocide, an optical brightener, and a combination thereof. The detergent composition scavenges chlorine to a concentration of 0 ppm in less than about 120 sec after contact with a 1 L water sample comprising up to 4 ppm chlorine.

Abstract: Self-closing safety gate embodiments are disclosed herein. The self-closing safety gates include a hinge plate configured to rotate about a vertical support member and engage a hoop portion. In some embodiments, the hinge plate includes at least one support arm portion with a channel. In such embodiments, the channel can be configured to receive and frictionally engage a hoop arm of the hoop portion with a compressive fastener. In some embodiments, the self-closing safety gate can be damped.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides various diagnostic devices. Devices can comprising a sample interface configured to receive a sample that may comprise at least one sequence of interest; a channel in fluid communication with the sample interface and a detection chamber, said channel comprising one or more movable mechanisms to separate the sample into a plurality of droplets, wherein said detection chamber is configured to receive and contact the plurality of droplets with at least one programmable nuclease probe disposed on a surface of said detection chamber, and wherein said at least one programmable nuclease probe may comprise a guide nucleic acid complexed with a programmable nuclease; and a plurality of sensors that determine a presence of said at least one sequence of interest by detecting a signal produced upon cleavage of a target nucleic acid region of said at least one sequence of interest by said at least one programmable nuclease probe.

Abstract: There is provided a mount and a case for attaching a mobile device to a further object. The mount comprises first and second coupling members and a body having a front face between the coupling members and that faces the case when the mount is attached to the case. The first and second coupling members define an undercut, for receiving part of the case. The case has an attachment for attaching the case to the mobile device, a cover for covering part of the mobile device, first and second openings in the cover, and first and second overhangs that define undercuts in the cover for mating with corresponding respective overhangs of the mount.

Abstract: Systems and methods for profiling a pallet in a warehouse can include a turntable that rotates the pallet, conveyor belts that move the pallet, and a vertical profiling structure, having cameras mounted at different locations, in a stationary position proximate to a side of the turntable. A photo booth can also be used to provide uniform lighting. A computing system can instruct a conveyor belt to automatically route the pallet onto the turntable, instruct the cameras to capture image data of the pallet as it rotates on the turntable, receive the image data, and retrieve image-based models of the pallet that were trained using images of pallets having unique identifiers. The computing system can determine, based on applying the image-based models to the image data, whether the pallet's unique identifier is identifiable, and transmit, to a warehouse management system, a notification indicating whether the unique identifier is identifiable.

Abstract: Video content enhancement methods, systems and devices are disclosed. An input video 11 is processed to generate an augmentation descriptor 4 from it, the augmentation descriptor 4 defining augmentations that enhance the content of the input video 11. An output video 14 is generated by combining the augmentations defined by the augmentation descriptor 4 with the input video 11, so that playback of the output video 14 features said augmentations. A timecoded transcript is generated from at least an audio portion of the input video 11, and the timecoded transcript is processed to generate from it a set of transcript-derived enhancements. The set of transcript-derived enhancements are added to the augmentation descriptor 4 as augmentations for enhancing the content of the input video 11.

Abstract: A unit dose detergent product includes a unit dose pouch with a water soluble film, and a liquid detergent encapsulated in the unit dose pouch. The liquid detergent includes a soil release polymer, at least 10% by weight of an alkyl-ether sulfate, an alkoxylated polyamine, less than 30% by weight of water, and, optionally, a polyglycol. A mixture of 2 parts of the liquid detergent composition to 1 part water has a viscosity below 3,000 centipoise.

Abstract: A qubit device includes an elongated thin film uninterrupted by Josephson junctions, a quantum device in electrical contact with a proximal end of the elongated thin film, and a ground plane that is co-planar with the elongated thin film and is in electrical contact with a distal end of the elongated thin film, in which the thin film, the quantum device, and the ground plane comprise a material that is superconducting at a designed operating temperature.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for performing qubit readout. In one aspect, an apparatus includes a qubit that operates at a qubit frequency; a frequency controller that is configured to control the qubit frequency and that during a qubit measurement operation is configured to: determine a compensation pulse that when applied to the qubit, counteracts qubit frequency changes during the qubit measurement operation; and apply the determined compensation pulse to the qubit during the qubit measurement operation to maintain the qubit frequency.

Abstract: A gas sensor network system provides near real-time monitoring of fugitive emissions of VOC compounds in chemical plants and facilities. The present disclosure provides a sensor placement method which determines where to place sensors within a facility. The sensor placement method includes obtaining plant layout, gas composition, meteorological conditions and/or other types of information regarding a facility, determining the types of gas and ancillary sensors needed, and generating the minimum detection distances required based on the sensitivities of the sensors to the gas compounds involved. And, then calculating the minimal number of sensors required for each sensor type with optimized sensor locations to ensure best coverage of potentially leaking components within the facility.

Abstract: Apparatus and systems are provided for processing PFAS-contaminated waste via thermomechanochemical (TMC) processing. In one example, a system may include a TMC processing chamber including a milling system and coupled to a heating system, the heating system configured to co-operate with the milling system to process the waste material. A plurality of containers including the waste material in one or more of a liquid-solid state, a semi-wet or slurry solid state, and a dry solid state are coupled to the TMC chamber.

Abstract: A unit dose detergent pack is disclosed. The unit dose detergent pack includes a pouch formed from a water-soluble film and an opacified liquid detergent composition releasably disposed within the pouch. The opacified liquid detergent composition includes a plurality of neutralizing agents including more than 50 mole percent of sodium hydroxide and a remainder alkanolamine based on a total of 100 mole percent of the sodium hydroxide and the alkanolamine together. The composition further includes a fatty acid and water. A weight ratio of the sodium hydroxide and the fatty acid is from about 0.3:1 to about 0.8 to 1. The opacified liquid detergent composition is free of a microplastic opacifier and has a turbidity of at least 250 NTUs measured utilizing a turbidity meter at about 24° C. Also disclosed is an opacified liquid detergent composition and a method of making the same.