Abstract: Embodiments of product handling systems facilitate transfer of individual product items from incoming bulk form into dedicated trays for inspection, sorting, selection, and packaging. Inspection may comprise interrogation of product items within a tray by electromagnetic (e.g., optical, hyperspectral) or other (e.g., physical, acoustic, gas sensing, etc.) techniques. Prior to packaging, product items disposed within the tray may be stored in a moveable carousel responsible for controlling environmental factors such as temperature, humidity, illumination, ambient gases, product-to-product interactions, and/or others. Movement of product items from a carousel's transfer station to an outside staging position may be accomplished using robots and/or conveyor belts. Embodiments may allow rapid, low-cost consumer selection of specific individual product items based upon their accompanying metadata (e.g., source, identifier), in combination with the results of inspection (e.g., visual appearance).

Abstract: Provided herein are reagents, compositions, and methods for sequencing nucleic acids. Among the reagents disclosed are nucleotides labeled with cleavable linkers. Certain linkers are configured to undergo immolation reactions following cleavage, which can generate scars with enhanced properties for nucleic acid sequencing and synthesis. The present disclosure also provides reagents, compositions, and methods for capping scars generated through linker cleavage, which can alter scar properties, and in some cases can increase the rate and accuracy of nucleotide incorporations during polymerization.

Abstract: Methods for detecting a short genetic variant in a test sample are described herein. In some exemplary methods, the short genetic variant is called using one or match scores, which are determined using one or more sequencing data sets obtained from a test nucleic acid molecule, wherein the test sequencing data sets are determined by sequencing the test nucleic acid molecule using non-terminating nucleotides provided in separate nucleotide flows according to a flow-cycle order. Also described herein are methods of sequencing a test nucleic acid molecule using two or more different flow-cycle orders and/or extended flow cycle orders having five or more nucleotide flows per flow cycle.

Abstract: Multi-operation tools for photovoltaic cell processing are described. In an example, a multi-operation tool includes a conveyor system to move a photovoltaic (PV) cell continuously along a conveyor path through a laser scribing station and an adhesive printing station. Furthermore, the PV cell may be aligned to a laser head of the laser scribing station and a printer head of the adhesive printing station in a single alignment operation prior to being laser scribed and printed with an adhesive in a continuous process.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides labeling reagents for labeling substrates such as nucleotides, proteins, antibodies, lipids, and cells. The labeling reagents provided herein may comprise fluorescent labels and semi-rigid linkers. Methods for nucleic acid sequencing using materials comprising such labeling reagents are also provided here.

Abstract: A high efficiency configuration for a solar cell module comprises solar cells conductively bonded to each other in a shingled manner to form super cells, which may be arranged to efficiently use the area of the solar module, reduce series resistance, and increase module efficiency.

Abstract: In an aspect, the present disclosure describes a method comprising using at least one robot to fully autonomously position and assemble at least one solar module and its supporting structure at a sensed geolocation without aid from a user.

Abstract: A high efficiency configuration for a solar cell module comprises solar cells conductively bonded to each other in a shingled manner to form super cells, which may be arranged to efficiently use the area of the solar module, reduce series resistance, and increase module efficiency.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods and processes for increasing the efficiency and accuracy of nucleic acid sequencing using techniques such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Methods and systems provided herein may facilitate performing reactions such as emulsion PCR (ePCR) on samples comprising nucleic acids and beads. The methods provided herein may provide a higher throughput compared to existing technologies.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods, systems, compositions, and kits that can determine spatial information between a plurality of analytes in a sample by tagging such analytes with tags, where identities and/or locations of such tags are previously unknown prior to tagging. Each of a plurality of analyte sequences may be tagged with multiple spatial tags, such that each analyte sequence is associated with a set of two or more spatial tags. The sets of spatial tags may be analyzed to generate a map of analyte sequences. The map may comprise information about the respective absolute positions of each of a set of sequences with respect to a reference sequence. The map may comprise information about the respective probability cloud (or likely location) of each of a set of sequences with respect to a reference sequence.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods and processes for increasing the efficiency and accuracy of nucleic acid sequencing using techniques such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The methods described herein can be used to achieve clonal amplification even with a greater than Poisson distribution of beads and/or nucleic acid templates into an emulsion. A PCR method may comprise generating a partition (e.g., a droplet) comprising at least two beads and/or at least two nucleic acid molecules and generating clonal amplification products corresponding to the nucleic acid molecule, at least a subset of which may be attached to a bead.

Abstract: Despite the advance of screening technology, omic-based studies with spatial resolution still requires laborious efforts, hampering the analysis of biology and disease. The present disclosure provides methods, systems, reagents, and platforms to increase the throughput of analyte screening with spatial resolution.

Abstract: Provided are systems and methods for analyte detection and analysis. A system can comprise an open substrate configured to rotate. The open substrate can comprise an array of immobilized analytes. A solution comprising a plurality of probes may be directed, via centrifugal force, across the array during rotation of the substrate, to couple at least one of the plurality of probes with at least one of the analytes to form a bound probe. A detector can be configured to detect a signal from the bound probe via continuous rotational area scanning of the substrate.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods for handling items. A method may comprise transporting an item using a conveyance unit in a first direction to or towards a support, and placing the item onto or into the support by retracting the conveyance unit in a second direction that is different from the first direction when the item reaches a desired location relative to the support. Another method may comprise providing a container, placing an item into or onto the container, and extending or elongating the container in a direction so as to form an enclosure surrounding the item.

Abstract: Described herein are methods synchronizing sequencing primers within a sequencing cluster and methods of generating long-range sequencing reads. The methods can include hybridizing primers to polynucleotide copies within a sequencing cluster; extending the primers through a first region of the polynucleotide copies using labeled nucleotides according to a sequencing flow order; extending the primers through a second region of the polynucleotide copies using one or more re-phasing flow steps that each include at least two different types of nucleotide bases; and extending the primers through a third region of the polynucleotide copies using labeled nucleotides according to the sequencing cycle. The rephasing flow steps may be initiated after a predetermined number of sequencing flow steps, after a measured sequencing signal strength falls below a predetermined sequencing signal strength threshold, or a measured sequencing signal-to-noise ratio falls below a sequencing signal-to-noise ratio threshold.

Abstract: Recognized herein is the need for methods and processes for increasing the efficiency and accuracy of paired end sequencing.

Abstract: A high efficiency configuration for a solar cell module comprises solar cells arranged in an overlapping shingled manner and conductively bonded to each other in their overlapping regions to form super cells, which may be arranged to efficiently use the area of the solar module. Rear surface electrical connections between solar cells in electrically parallel super cells provide alternative current paths (i.e., detours) through the solar module around damaged, shaded, or otherwise underperforming solar cells.