Abstract: A method for automatically assigning seats to a group of persons is provided. The method includes: receiving a first user input that relates to building space availability and a second user input that relates to employer requirements for seat occupancy; determining, based on the first and second user inputs, a building section within which seats are to be assigned to the group; and assigning, to each respective person within the group based on the first and second user inputs, a respective seat within the determined building section and a respective schedule during which the respective seat is to be occupied by the respective person. The assigning may be implemented by applying a machine learning algorithm that is trained by using historical data that relates prior seat occupancies of each respective person with the group.

Abstract: Methods, compositions, and systems are provided that allow for reliable sequencing of the initial sequence region of a sequence of interest. The methods of the invention allow for more reliable barcoding of subpopulations of nucleic acids to be sequenced.

Abstract: Provided are compositions comprising recombinant DNA polymerases that include amino acid substitutions, insertions, deletions, and/or exogenous features that confer modified properties upon the polymerase for enhanced single molecule sequencing. Such properties include increased resistance to photodamage, and can also include enhanced metal ion coordination, reduced exonuclease activity, reduced reaction rates at one or more steps of the polymerase kinetic cycle, decreased branching fraction, altered cofactor selectivity, increased yield, increased thermostability, increased accuracy, increased speed, increased readlength, and the like. Also provided are nucleic acids which encode the polymerases with the aforementioned phenotypes, as well as methods of using such polymerases to make a DNA or to sequence a DNA template.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods, compositions, and systems for distributing polymerase compositions into array regions. In particular, the described methods, compositions, and systems utilize density differentials and/or additives to increase efficiency in the distribution of polymerase compositions to a surface as compared to methods utilizing only diffusion control.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods, compositions, and systems for distributing molecules and complexes into reaction sites. In particular, the methods, compositions, and systems of the present invention result in loading of polymerase enzyme complexes into a predetermined number of reaction sites, including nanoscale wells.

Abstract: Provided are compositions comprising recombinant DNA polymerases that include amino acid substitutions, insertions, deletions, and/or exogenous features that confer modified properties upon the polymerase for enhanced single molecule sequencing or nucleic acid amplification. Such properties include enhanced performance with large nucleotide analogs, increased stability, increased readlength, and improved detection of modified bases, and can also include resistance to photodamage, enhanced metal ion coordination, reduced exonuclease activity, reduced reaction rates at one or more steps of the polymerase kinetic cycle, decreased branching fraction, altered cofactor selectivity, increased yield, increased accuracy, altered speed, increased cosolvent resistance, and the like. Also provided are nucleic acids which encode the polymerases with the aforementioned phenotypes, as well as methods of using such polymerases to make a DNA or to sequence a DNA template.

Abstract: Provided are compositions comprising recombinant DNA polymerases that include amino acid substitutions, insertions, deletions, and/or exogenous features that confer modified properties upon the polymerase for enhanced single molecule sequencing. Such properties include increased resistance to photodamage, and can also include enhanced metal ion coordination, reduced exonuclease activity, reduced reaction rates at one or more steps of the polymerase kinetic cycle, decreased branching fraction, altered cofactor selectivity, increased yield, increased thermostability, increased accuracy, increased speed, increased readlength, and the like. Also provided are nucleic acids which encode the polymerases with the aforementioned phenotypes, as well as methods of using such polymerases to make a DNA or to sequence a DNA template.

Abstract: Sets of compounds bearing detectably different groups of labels are provided. Typically, different compounds bear different numbers of a single type of label and are thus distinguishable by the amplitude of signal produced by the label. The compounds are assembled from label components and protein cores to facilitate modular production of the compounds. In compounds containing two or more proteins, the proteins are typically covalently linked. Useful sets of compounds include sets of labeled nucleotide analogs, particularly dye-label nucleotide analogs that include tetravalent biotin-binding protein cores.

Abstract: Provided are compositions comprising recombinant DNA polymerases that include amino acid substitutions, insertions, deletions, and/or exogenous features that confer modified properties upon the polymerase for enhanced single molecule sequencing or nucleic acid amplification. Such properties include enhanced performance with large nucleotide analogs, increased stability, increased readlength, and improved detection of modified bases, and can also include resistance to photodamage, enhanced metal ion coordination, reduced exonuclease activity, reduced reaction rates at one or more steps of the polymerase kinetic cycle, decreased branching fraction, altered cofactor selectivity, increased yield, increased accuracy, altered speed, increased cosolvent resistance, and the like. Also provided are nucleic acids which encode the polymerases with the aforementioned phenotypes, as well as methods of using such polymerases to make a DNA or to sequence a DNA template.

Abstract: Compositions, methods, and systems are provided for fluorescent polymerase enzyme substrates comprising protein shields for improving enzyme photostability in single molecule real time sequencing. Fluorescent polymerase enzyme substrates of the invention have a protein shield between the fluorescent dye moieties and nucleotide moieties of the polymerase enzyme substrate. The polymerase enzyme substrates have a nucleotide component and a dye component, each attached to a protein. The attachments can be covalent. The protein can, for example, prevent the direct interaction of the fluorescent dye moiety with the enzyme when carrying out nucleotide synthesis, preventing photodamage to the enzyme. The polymerase enzyme substrates of the invention can have multiple dyes and multiple nucleotide moieties.

Abstract: Sets of compounds bearing detectably different groups of labels are provided. Typically, different compounds bear different numbers of a single type of label and are thus distinguishable by the amplitude of signal produced by the label. The compounds are assembled from label components and protein cores to facilitate modular production of the compounds. In compounds containing two or more proteins, the proteins are typically covalently linked. Useful sets of compounds include sets of labeled nucleotide analogs, particularly dye-label nucleotide analogs that include tetravalent biotin-binding protein cores.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for an enclosure providing a sealed environment. The enclosure employs movable paneling that seals an area for a laser welding cell, while allowing access for an operator to load a workpiece in and unload the workpiece from a welding cell. Barriers are arranged on the enclosure, such that in a closed configuration activation of a pneumatic tube forces the barriers to extend toward a rotated paneling, such that the edges of the enclosure contact or overlap with the edges of the paneling to result in a light-tight seal. Presence of the fluid increases the pressure in the tube such that an external boundary of the tube expands, forcing the barrier toward the edges of the paneling, thereby closing the gap and providing a light-tight enclosure.

Abstract: A method for controlling a start of a metalworking operation. The method includes detecting an initial contact between a wire being fed from a welding apparatus and a workpiece and, in response to the detection, halting feeding of the wire from the welding apparatus. The method further includes activating a high energy heat source configured to heat a tip of the wire and resuming the feeding of the wire from the welding apparatus when the tip of the wire is heated by the high energy heat source to a plastic state. The feeding of the wire is resumed by measuring a force feedback from the wire contacting the workpiece. An apparatus for implementing the method is also disclosed.

Abstract: Provided are compositions comprising recombinant DNA polymerases that include amino acid substitutions, insertions, deletions, and/or exogenous features that confer modified properties upon the polymerase for enhanced single molecule sequencing. Such properties can include enhanced metal ion coordination, reduced exonuclease activity, reduced reaction rates at one or more steps of the polymerase kinetic cycle, decreased branching fraction, altered cofactor selectivity, increased yield, increased thermostability, increased accuracy, increased speed, increased readlength, and the like. Also provided are nucleic acids which encode the polymerases with the aforementioned phenotypes, as well as methods of using such polymerases to make a DNA or to sequence a DNA template.

Abstract: Provided are compositions comprising recombinant DNA polymerases that include amino acid substitutions, insertions, deletions, and/or exogenous features that confer modified properties upon the polymerase for enhanced single molecule sequencing. Such properties include increased resistance to photodamage, and can also include enhanced metal ion coordination, reduced exonuclease activity, reduced reaction rates at one or more steps of the polymerase kinetic cycle, decreased branching fraction, altered cofactor selectivity, increased yield, increased thermostability, increased accuracy, increased speed, increased readlength, and the like. Also provided are nucleic acids which encode the polymerases with the aforementioned phenotypes, as well as methods of using such polymerases to make a DNA or to sequence a DNA template.

Abstract: Compositions, methods, and systems are provided for fluorescent polymerase enzyme substrates comprising protein shields for improving enzyme photostability in single molecule real time sequencing. Fluorescent polymerase enzyme substrates of the invention have a protein shield between the fluorescent dye moieties and nucleotide moieties of the polymerase enzyme substrate. The polymerase enzyme substrates have a nucleotide component and a dye component, each attached to a protein. The attachments can be covalent. The protein can, for example, prevent the direct interaction of the fluorescent dye moiety with the enzyme when carrying out nucleotide synthesis, preventing photodamage to the enzyme. The polymerase enzyme substrates of the invention can have multiple dyes and multiple nucleotide moieties.

Abstract: A welding or cladding apparatus in which one or more energy beam emitters are used to generate a wide beam spot transverse to a welding or cladding path, and one or more wide feeders feed wire to the spot to create a wide welding or cladding puddle.

Abstract: Provided are compositions comprising recombinant DNA polymerases that include amino acid substitutions, insertions, deletions, and/or exogenous features that confer modified properties upon the polymerase for enhanced single molecule sequencing. Such properties can include enhanced metal ion coordination, reduced exonuclease activity, reduced reaction rates at one or more steps of the polymerase kinetic cycle, decreased branching fraction, altered cofactor selectivity, increased yield, increased thermostability, increased accuracy, increased speed, increased readlength, and the like. Also provided are nucleic acids which encode the polymerases with the aforementioned phenotypes, as well as methods of using such polymerases to make a DNA or to sequence a DNA template.

Abstract: Methods are disclosed for separating beads and cells from a host fluid. The method includes flowing a mixture containing the host fluid, the beads, and the cells through an acoustophoretic device having an ultrasonic transducer including a piezoelectric material driven by a drive signal to create a multi-dimensional acoustic standing wave. A drive signal is sent to drive the at least one ultrasonic transducer to create the multi-dimensional acoustic standing wave. A recirculating fluid stream having a tangential flow path is located substantially tangential to the standing wave and separated therefrom by an interface region. A portion of the cells pass through the standing wave, and the beads are held back from the standing wave in the recirculating fluid stream at the interface region. Also disclosed is an acoustophoretic device having a coolant inlet adapted to permit the ingress of a cooling fluid into the device for cooling the transducer.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to tubular welding electrodes that have a metallic sheath surrounding a granular core, wherein the metallic sheath comprises a metal matrix composite (MMC) that includes a ceramic material and aluminum or an aluminum alloy. The ceramic material may be in the form of microparticles or nanoparticles. The present disclosure also relates to method for making such tubular welding electrodes.