Abstract: A network system provides delivery of items using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) or drones. The network system uses an infrastructure of nodes that include landing pads to dock drones, as well as interfaces to provide and receive items from docked drones. Nodes may be stationary (e.g., fixed at a building rooftop or public transit station) or mobile (e.g., mounted to a vehicle). The network system may determine a route for delivery of an item, where a drone transports the item for at least a portion of the route. For example, the route may include multiple waypoints associated with nodes between which drones travel. For other portions of the route, the network system may request a provider to transport the item using a ground-based vehicle.

Abstract: Droplet-interface bilayer and lipid bilayer membrane compositions stabilized with an amphiphilic polymer are disclosed. Methods of making and using the compositions are also disclosed.

Abstract: An aerosol provision device is described. One such device comprises a first chassis and an aerosol generating assembly. The aerosol generating assembly includes a heater assembly for receiving an aerosol generating material. The heater assembly comprises a susceptor which is heatable by penetration with a varying magnetic field. The aerosol generating assembly also has a second chassis extending around the susceptor; and an inductor coil extending around the second chassis, wherein the inductor coil is configured to generate the varying magnetic field. The second chassis comprises a locating arrangement configured to locate the aerosol generating assembly on the first chassis.

Abstract: An aerosol provision device is described. The device comprises an aerosol generating assembly, an electrical component, which may be a printed circuit board (PCB) and a chassis holding the electrical component and the aerosol generating assembly. The aerosol generating assembly has: a heater assembly to receive aerosol generating material. The heater assembly has a susceptor which is heatable by penetration with a varying magnetic field; and an inductor coil extending around the heater assembly. The inductor coil generates the varying magnetic field. The inductor coil has a coil wire end engaged with the electrical component. The chassis has a coil end positioning arrangement to hold and align the coil wire end with the electrical component. The chassis itself is also described herein.

Abstract: An aerosol provision device is described. One such device includes a heater assembly arranged to receive aerosol generating material. The heater assembly has a susceptor which is heatable by penetration with a varying magnetic field. A fluidly sealed enclosure extends around at least part of the heater assembly defining a fluidly sealed cavity between the enclosure and the susceptor. An inductor coil extends around the enclosure. The inductor coil generates the varying magnetic field.

Abstract: A method for simulating a deep-brain stimulation in a computer-assisted platform that includes providing to a neurosurgeon, through a man-machine interface, visual information of a pre-operative situation, including a representation of a brain. The method also includes monitoring inputs of said neurosurgeon on the man-machine interface, until a trajectory is determined between an entry point and a target for the placement of an electrode. The method further includes comparing said trajectory to a set of previously-established trajectories for the pre-operative situation, so as to determine an overall measurement representative of a quality of the trajectory compared to the previously-established trajectories.

Abstract: Nucleic acid memory strands encoding digital data using a sequence of a homopolymer tracts of repeated nucleotides provides a cheaper and faster alternative to conventional digital DNA storage techniques. The use of homopolymer tracts allows for lower fidelity, high throughput sequencing techniques such as nanopore sequencing to read data encoded in the memory strands. Specialized synthesis techniques allow for synthesis of long memory strands capable of encoding large volumes of data despite the reduced data density afforded by homopolymer tracts as compared to conventional single nucleotide sequences.

Abstract: Droplet-interface bilayer and lipid bilayer membrane compositions stabilized with an amphiphilic polymer are disclosed. Methods of making and using the compositions are also disclosed.

Abstract: Droplet interfaces are formed between droplets in an electro-wetting device comprising an array of actuation electrodes. Actuation signals are applied to selected actuation electrodes to place the droplets into an energised state in which the shape of the droplets is modified compared to a shape of the droplets in a lower energy state and to bring the two droplets into proximity. The actuation signals are then changed to lower the energy of the droplets into the lower energy state so that the droplets relax into the gap and the two droplets contact each other thereby forming a droplet interface. The use of sensing electrodes in the device permit electrical current measurements across the droplet interface. The sensing electrodes can be used for either (i) applying a reference signal during droplet actuation or (ii) recording electrical current measurements.

Abstract: Droplet interfaces are formed between droplets in an electro-wetting device comprising an array of actuation electrodes. Actuation signals are applied to selected actuation electrodes to place the droplets into an energised state in which the shape of the droplets is modified compared to a shape of the droplets in a lower energy state and to bring the two droplets into proximity. The actuation signals are then changed to lower the energy of the droplets into the lower energy state so that the droplets relax into the gap and the two droplets contact each other thereby forming a droplet interface. The use of sensing electrodes in the device permit electrical current measurements across the droplet interface. The sensing electrodes can be used for either (i) applying a reference signal during droplet actuation or (ii) recording electrical current measurements.

Abstract: Droplet-interface bilayer and lipid bilayer membrane compositions stabilized with an amphiphilic polymer are disclosed. Methods of making and using the compositions are also disclosed.

Abstract: Droplet-interface bilayer and lipid bilayer membrane compositions stabilized with an amphiphilic polymer are disclosed. Methods of making and using the compositions are also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a sensing system comprising an electrowetting device, which electrowetting device comprises an array of actuation electrodes, and a control system configures to perform droplet operations on a system of droplets present in the sensing system. The invention also relates to a method of operating the sensing system of the invention. The invention also provides novel droplet constructs which can be made and manipulated in the sensing system of the invention.

Abstract: Droplet interfaces are formed between droplets in an electro-wetting device comprising an array of actuation electrodes. Actuation signals are applied to selected actuation electrodes to place the droplets into an energised state in which the shape of the droplets is modified compared to a shape of the droplets in a lower energy state and to bring the two droplets into proximity. The actuation signals are then changed to lower the energy of the droplets into the lower energy state so that the droplets relax into the gap and the two droplets contact each other thereby forming a droplet interface. The use of sensing electrodes in the device permit electrical current measurements across the droplet interface. The sensing electrodes can be used for either (i) applying a reference signal during droplet actuation or (ii) recording electrical current measurements. Two or more electrodes are configurable to lyse cells within a droplet positioned over said electrodes.

Abstract: Droplet interfaces are formed between droplets in an electro-wetting device comprising an array of actuation electrodes. Actuation signals are applied to selected actuation electrodes to place the droplets into an energised state in which the shape of the droplets is modified compared to a shape of the droplets in a lower energy state and to bring the two droplets into proximity. The actuation signals are then changed to lower the energy of the droplets into the lower energy state so that the droplets relax into the gap and the two droplets contact each other thereby forming a droplet interface. The use of sensing electrodes in the device permit electrical current measurements across the droplet interface. The sensing electrodes can be used for either (i) applying a reference signal during droplet actuation or (ii) recording electrical current measurements.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for simulating a deep-brain stimulation in a computer-assisted platform, comprising steps of: providing to a neurosurgeon, through a man-machine interface, visual information of a pre-operative situation, including a representation of a brain; monitoring inputs of said neurosurgeon on the man-machine interface, until a trajectory is determined between an entry point and a target for the placement of an electrode; comparing said trajectory to a set of previously-established trajectories for the pre-operative situation, so as to determine an overall measurement representative of a quality of the trajectory compared to the previously-established trajectories.

Abstract: Droplet-interface bilayer and lipid bilayer membrane compositions stabilized with an amphiphilic polymer are disclosed. Methods of making and using the compositions are also disclosed.

Abstract: Droplet-interface bilayer and lipid bilayer membrane compositions stabilized with an amphiphilic polymer are disclosed. Methods of making and using the compositions are also disclosed.

Abstract: A substrate cleaning apparatus may include a substrate support having a support surface to support a substrate to be cleaned, wherein the substrate support is rotatable about a central axis normal to the support surface; a first nozzle to provide a first cleaning gas to a region of the inner volume corresponding to the position of an edge of the substrate when the substrate is supported by the support surface of the substrate support; a first annular body disposed opposite and spaced apart from the support surface of the substrate support by a gap, the first annular body having a central opening defined by an inner wall shaped to provide a reducing size of the gap between the first annular body and the support surface in a radially outward direction; and a first gas inlet to provide a first gas to the central opening of the first annular body.

Abstract: Droplet-interface bilayer and lipid bilayer membrane compositions stabilized with an amphiphilic polymer are disclosed. Methods of making and using the compositions are also disclosed.