Abstract: Provided herein are rapid, high quality film sintering processes that include high-throughput continuous sintering of lithium-lanthanum zirconium oxide (lithium-stuffed garnet). The instant disclosure sets forth equipment and processes for making high quality, rapidly-processed ceramic electrolyte films. These processes include high-throughput continuous sintering of lithium-lanthanum zirconium oxide for use as electrolyte films. In certain processes, the film is not in contact with any surface as it sinters (i.e., during the sintering phase).

Abstract: A process of making a fuel product as an additive from a non-auto-combustible high protein organic material for the destruction of polyfluoro compounds in a thermal process system is provided. Thermal reactions within thermal reaction equipment are controlled by controlling the moisture and oxygen in the reaction atmosphere of the equipment and energy inputs at or downstream of a thermal reaction chamber. The concentration of protein thermal decomposition by-products, temperature, and residence time and/or additions of energy within the thermal reaction equipment environment are controlled to destroy hazardous polyfluoro compounds.

Abstract: This invention generally relates to methods and systems for dispensing a droplet, in particular a picolitre volume droplet containing one or more entities.

Abstract: The disclosure herein relates to rechargeable batteries and solid electrolytes therefore which include lithium-stuffed garnet oxides, for example, in a thin film, pellet, or monolith format wherein the density of defects at a surface or surfaces of the solid electrolyte is less than the density of defects in the bulk. In certain disclosed embodiments, the solid-state anolyte, electrolyte, and catholyte thin films, separators, and monoliths consist essentially of an oxide that conducts Li+ ions. In some examples, the disclosure herein presents new and useful solid electrolytes for solid-state or partially solid-state batteries. In some examples, the disclosure presents new lithium-stuffed garnet solid electrolytes and rechargeable batteries which include these electrolytes as separators between a cathode and a lithium metal anode.

Abstract: A computer implemented method, computer program product, and system for managing execution of a workflow comprising a set of subworkflows, comprising optimizing the set of subworkflows using a deep neural network, wherein each subworkflow of the set of subworkflows has a set of tasks, wherein each task of the sets of tasks has a requirement of resources of a set of resources; wherein each task of the sets of tasks is enabled to be dependent on another task of the sets of tasks, training the deep neural network by: executing the set of subworkflows, collecting provenance data from the execution, and collecting monitoring data that represents the state of said set of resources, wherein the training causes the neural network to learn relationships between the states of said set of resources, the said sets of tasks, their parameters and the obtained performance, optimizing an allocation of resources of the set of resources to each task of the sets of tasks to ensure compliance with a user-defined quality metric b

Abstract: A surface cleaning apparatus is described including a housing supporting a suction source, a dirt collection container, and a cyclonic separation device for separating dirt from the airflow passing through the apparatus. The apparatus further includes a ducting member having an inlet in communication with an outlet from the cyclonic separation device and an outlet in communication with a passage leading to the suction source. The ducting member is removably connected to the housing or the dirt collection container and is rotatably moveable between locked and unlocked positions, and rotational movement of the ducting member from its unlocked position to its locked position aligns the outlet of the ducting member with the passage leading to the suction source.

Abstract: A computer implemented method, computer program product, and system for managing execution of a workflow comprising a set of subworkflows, comprising optimizing the set of subworkflows using a deep neural network, wherein each subworkflow of the set of subworkflows has a set of tasks, wherein each task of the sets of tasks has a requirement of resources of a set of resources; wherein each task of the sets of tasks is enabled to be dependent on another task of the sets of tasks, training the deep neural network by: executing the set of subworkflows, collecting provenance data from the execution, and collecting monitoring data that represents the state of said set of resources, wherein the training causes the neural network to learn relationships between the states of said set of resources, the said sets of tasks, their parameters and the obtained performance, optimizing an allocation of resources of the set of resources to each task of the sets of tasks to ensure compliance with a user-defined quality metric b

Abstract: A building toy set is disclosed herein. The building toy set may include a plurality of elongate stick members, at least one of the plurality of elongate stick members having at least one rounded end; and a plurality of connector members, at least one of the plurality of connector members being in the form of a two-sided parallel connector having a body portion defining two slots, each of the two slots being disposed adjacent to, and extending parallel to one another. At least one of the plurality of connector members may include a body portion defining a bulb-shaped slot bounded by a straight wall portion and at least one curved wall portion, the at least one curved wall portion enabling one of the plurality of elongate stick members to be disposed at an angle relative to a longitudinal axis of the body portion of the connector member.

Abstract: A computer implemented method, computer program product, and system for managing execution of a workflow comprising a set of subworkflows, comprising optimizing the set of subworkflows using a deep neural network, wherein each subworkflow of the set of subworkflows has a set of tasks, wherein each task of the sets of tasks has a requirement of resources of a set of resources; wherein each task of the sets of tasks is enabled to be dependent on another task of the sets of tasks, training the deep neural network by: executing the set of subworkflows, collecting provenance data from the execution, and collecting monitoring data that represents the state of said set of resources, wherein the training causes the neural network to learn relationships between the states of said set of resources, the said sets of tasks, their parameters and the obtained performance, optimizing an allocation of resources of the set of resources to each task of the sets of tasks to ensure compliance with a user-defined quality metric b

Abstract: A cyclonic separator device for removing dust or debris from dirt-laden air, the device having a separating chamber, an inlet, an outlet, and a shroud that is connected to the separating chamber at one end, and provides a plurality of openings for the passage of air to the outlet. The device further includes a dirt collection chamber in communication with the separating chamber. The separating chamber includes an airflow directing formation which is connected to an inner surface of a generally cylindrical portion and which extends inwardly towards a central axis of the generally cylindrical portion. The airflow directing formation provides a surface which follows a substantially helical path that extends away from the inlet as it extends circumferentially around the inner surface of the generally cylindrical portion.

Abstract: A vehicle brake component for collecting brake dust that includes a body having a leading edge portion and a trailing edge portion, and a magnet having a collection side, an adherence side, and one or more side edges separating the collection side and the adherence side. The collection side is configured to collect brake dust by directly facing the rotor, and the adherence side is directly coupled to the body at the trailing edge portion. In one embodiment, the body of the vehicle brake component is a backing plate body of a brake pad, and in another embodiment, the body of the vehicle brake component is a caliper housing or a caliper bracket.

Abstract: We describe instruments, and cartridges therefor, for processing droplets of water in oil-in-water emulsions, the droplets containing biological entities such as cells. In one embodiment a method of such processing comprises: providing a plurality of the entities in a fluid: preparing a droplet from said fluid: determining whether said droplet contains one or more entities of said plurality of entities, or whether said droplet does not contain a said entity; sorting said droplet dependent on an outcome of said determination; and dispensing said sorted droplet into a reservoir, wherein said dispensing comprises: identifying said sorted droplet for dispensing; extracting said sorted droplet from a first fluidic flow path of said fluid by transferring said sorted droplet from said first fluidic flow path into a second fluidic flow path; and ejecting said sorted droplet from said second fluidic flow path into said reservoir by applying pressure to said second fluidic flow path.

Abstract: Provided herein, inter alia, are nucleic acid sequencing devices with one or more integrated heating elements to enable thermal control of fluidic solutions.

Abstract: A method of processing droplets in a microfluidic system. The method may comprise capturing a time sequence of images of a droplet as it passes through a channel in a microfluidic system. The method may further comprise processing each image of the sequence of images using a convolutional neural network to count a number of cells or other entities visible in each image the droplet. The method may further comprise processing the count of the number of cells or other entities visible in each image of the droplet to determine an estimated number of cells or other entities in the droplet. The method/system may further comprise controlling a microfluidic process performed on the droplet responsive to the estimated number of cells or other entities in the droplet. Implementations of the method use the changing orientation and disposition of droplet contents in combination with machine learning to improve monoclonality assurance.

Abstract: Instruments and cartridges for processing droplets in emulsions containing biological entities such as cells. A method of such processing comprises providing a plurality of the entities in a fluid; preparing a droplet from the fluid; determining whether the droplet contains one or more entities of said plurality of entities, or whether said droplet does not contain a said entity; sorting said droplet dependent on an outcome of the determination; and dispensing the sorted droplet into a reservoir. The dispensing may comprise identifying and extracting the sorted droplet from a first fluidic flow path of said fluid by transferring the sorted droplet from into a second fluidic flow path and then ejecting the sorted droplet into a reservoir by applying pressure to the second fluidic flow path. The droplet contents may be tracked so that the contents of an individual droplet can be sorted, selectively dispensed, and retrieved.

Abstract: A vehicle brake component for collecting brake dust that includes a body having a leading edge portion and a trailing edge portion, and a magnet having a collection side, an adherence side, and one or more side edges separating the collection side and the adherence side. The collection side is configured to collect brake dust by directly facing the rotor, and the adherence side is directly coupled to the body at the trailing edge portion. In one embodiment, the body of the vehicle brake component is a backing plate body of a brake pad, and in another embodiment, the body of the vehicle brake component is a caliper housing or a caliper bracket.

Abstract: Apparatus for permanent placement across an ostium of a left atrial appendage in a patient, which includes a filtering membrane configured to extend across the ostium of the left atrial appendage. The filtering membrane has a permeable structure which allows blood to flow through but substantially inhibits thrombus from passing therethrough. The apparatus also includes a support structure attached to the filtering membrane which retains the filtering membrane in position across the ostium of the left atrial appendage by permanently engaging a portion of the interior wall of the left atrial appendage. The support structure may be radially expandable from a first configuration to a second configuration which engages the ostium or the interior wall of the left atrial appendage. The filtering membrane may define an opening therethrough that is configured to expand from a first size which inhibits the passage of thrombus therethrough to a second size which allows an interventional device, e.g.

Abstract: A surface cleaning apparatus is described including a floor head, a housing supporting a suction source and a dirt collection container having an elongate axis (A). The device further includes an elongate member having an elongate axis (B), said elongate member connecting the floor head to the housing, said elongate member including a passage for carrying dirt-laden air from the floor head to the dirt collection container. The elongate axis (B) of the elongate member intersects or substantially intersects the elongate axis (A) of the dirt collection container.

Abstract: A surface cleaning apparatus including a housing supporting a suction source including a motor with an axle that rotates a fan and a dirt collection container having an elongate axis (A). The elongate axis (A) of the dirt collection container is transverse to an axis of the axle of the motor, and the axis of the axle of the motor is offset from the elongate axis of the dirt collection container.