Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods and systems for detecting multiple different nucleotides in a sample. In particular, the disclosure provides for detection of multiple different nucleotides in a sample utilizing fewer detection moieties than the number of nucleotides being detected and/or fewer imaging events than the number of nucleotides being detected.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for improving the safety of excavation activities and the accuracy of excavation polygons generated by users of the system and underlying reference data. An exemplary system as described herein comprises a software module for comparing ticket and reference polygons, wherein the ticket polygons are generated by users of the system and the reference polygons are generated based on data contained within a reference database comprising parcel data, line map data, facility map data, ortho map data, road features data, water features data, a highway data, building footprint data, route data, TIGER file data and the like. Methods are described for improving ticket accuracy and underlying map data, improving user training measures, preventing safety accidents and providing historical reports on excavation activities and system effectiveness. It is an object of the invention to improve the safety of excavation activities based on ticket scoring algorithms.

Abstract: A cable can be used to facilitate electrical connections between electrical components. The cable can include a plurality of cable strands forming a void space. An adhesive paste can be applied within the void space. The adhesive paste can include a plurality of metallic nanoparticles. The metallic nanoparticles can fuse with each other and with the plurality of cable strands when energy is applied the connector and the cable. The metallic nanoparticles can include a surfactant, which can be displaced as pressure is applied. Heat can be applied to the adhesive paste to fuse the metallic nanoparticles.

Abstract: A circuit assembly can be made by adhering a conductive element to a substrate with an adhesive. A first layer including an adhesive can be applied over at least a portion of a surface of the substrate. A second layer including a conductive metal can be applied over at least a portion of the first layer. The first layer and the second layer can be exposed to a temperature for a duration of time to (1) fuse the conductive metal together in at least a portion of the first layer and (2) cure the adhesive of the second layer. The fusing can be substantially complete before the curing is substantially complete to enhance bonding of the adhesive to the fused conductive metal.

Abstract: A method of configuring an optical system to reduce variations in measured properties of an analyte includes selecting a number of beams into which radiation from a source of radiation is to be split, wherein, upon irradiating the analyte from a plurality of directions by the number of beams, a variation of a resulting measurement of the analyte is at or below a threshold. The method further includes aligning the source of radiation and a plurality of optical elements optically coupled to the source of radiation such that the selected number of beams irradiate the analyte upon emission of radiation by the source of radiation.

Abstract: A system and method for identifying multiple excavation sites and generating multiple locate requests from a single locate request session comprising an electronic interactive interface for defining a geographic area, wherein the geographic area defined represents an area for evaluation of the presence or absence of one or more underground facilities, an auto-populating interactive smart map, a rules engine for determining a number of tickets per area defined, and a database and/or electronic storage of one or more underground facilities.

Abstract: It can be difficult to remove atomically thin films, such as graphene, graphene-based material and other two-dimensional materials, from a growth substrate and then to transfer the thin films to a secondary substrate. Tearing and conformality issues can arise during the removal and transfer processes. Processes for forming a composite structure by manipulating a two-dimensional material, such as graphene or graphene-base material, can include: providing a two-dimensional material adhered to a growth substrate; depositing a supporting layer on the two-dimensional material while the two-dimensional material is adhered to the growth substrate; and releasing the two-dimensional material from the growth substrate, the two-dimensional material remaining in contact with the supporting layer following release of the two-dimensional material from the growth substrate.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes methods of soldering on printed circuits, and, more specifically, to methods of using a copper-containing layer or copper “ink” in low-temperature soldering using established solder processes on silver-containing layers in circuit boards. The present disclosure is also directed, in part, to a solder joint having a copper-containing layer acting as a bonding layer between a traditional solder and a silver-containing layer “ink” on a printed circuit board. The low-temperature forming of the solder joint occurs at or below a temperature of 300° C. and occurs via at least one of sintering, photosintering, lasersintering, local resistive heating, or electrochemical deposition. The methods disclosed can satisfy the growing demand for creating reliable interconnection joints that can be used in next generation electronics and printed electrical circuit boards.

Abstract: An apparatus for identifying analytes of a first type in a fluid sample having a plurality of types includes a closed flow cell. The flow cell includes a sample inlet, a sample outlet. A flow path, between the inlet and outlet, passing through an interrogation region and at least a portion extending from immediately upstream to immediately downstream of the interrogation region is bounded by a flow cell well to form a continuous closed flow path. The apparatus also includes a spherical element having a center point coincident with the interrogation region. A hydrodynamic focusing element upstream of the interrogation region creates a core-in-sheath flow along a flow axis of the flow path as it passes through the interrogation region. Further, the apparatus includes a concave, ellipsoidal collector element having a first focal point disposed in the interrogation region of the flow path.

Abstract: Methods, systems and computer readable media for controlling a set-top box includes receiving at processor a request from a user to access a web page. The content of the web page is scanned at the processor for items relating to content that may be available through the set-top box. The processor then provides a web page to the user with an embedded widget which the user can use to select commands to be executed by the set-top box. The processor receives the widget command and sends the widget command to the set-top box for implementation.

Abstract: Wire bonding operations can be facilitated through the use of metal nanoparticle compositions. Both ball bonding and wedge bonding processes can be enhanced in this respect. Wire bonding methods can include providing a wire payout at a first location from a rolled wire source via a dispensation head, contacting a first metal nanoparticle composition and a first portion of the wire payout with a bonding pad, and at least partially fusing metal nanoparticles in the first metal nanoparticle composition together to form an adhering interface between the bonding pad and the first portion of the wire payout. The adhering interface can have a nanoparticulate morphology. Wire bonding systems can include a rolled wire source, a dispensation head configured to provide a wire payout, and an applicator configured to place a metal nanoparticle composition upon at least a portion of the wire payout or upon a bonding pad.

Abstract: A cable can be used to facilitate electrical connections between electrical components. The cable can include a plurality of cable strands forming a void space. An adhesive paste can be applied within the void space. The adhesive paste can include a plurality of metallic nanoparticles. The metallic nanoparticles can fuse with each other and with the plurality of cable strands when energy is applied the connector and the cable. The metallic nanoparticles can include a surfactant, which can be displaced as pressure is applied. Heat can be applied to the adhesive paste to fuse the metallic nanoparticles.

Abstract: A roll-formed steel slat for use in a reciprocating floor slat conveyor system. The roll-formed steel slat is formed in a manner so as to have an upper, load-carrying surface, and a pair of downwardly depending side legs. Each side leg terminates in a foot. One foot is vertically offset from the other to provide a “hold-down” function that prevents the slat from vertically rising as the slat reciprocates back-and-forth.

Abstract: A roll-formed steel slat for use in a reciprocating floor slat conveyor system. The roll-formed steel slat is formed in a manner so as to have an upper, load-carrying surface, and a pair of downwardly depending side legs. Each side leg terminates in a foot. One foot is vertically offset from the other to provide a “hold-down” function that prevents the slat from vertically rising as the slat reciprocates back-and-forth.

Abstract: Methods, systems and computer readable media for controlling a set-top box includes receiving at processor a request from a user to access a web page. The content of the web page is scanned at the processor for items relating to content that may be available through the set-top box. The processor then provides a web page to the user with an embedded widget which the user can use to select commands to be executed by the set-top box. The processor receives the widget command and sends the widget command to the set-top box for implementation.

Abstract: A circuit assembly can be made by adhering a conductive element to a substrate with an adhesive. A first layer including an adhesive can be applied over at least a portion of a surface of the substrate. A second layer including a conductive metal can be applied over at least a portion of the first layer. The first layer and the second layer can be exposed to a temperature for a duration of time to (1) fuse the conductive metal together in at least a portion of the first layer and (2) cure the adhesive of the second layer. The fusing can be substantially complete before the curing is substantially complete to enhance bonding of the adhesive to the fused conductive metal.

Abstract: A roll-formed steel slat for use in a reciprocating floor slat conveyor system. The roll-formed steel slat is formed in a manner so as to have an upper, load-carrying surface, and a pair of downwardly depending side legs. Each side leg terminates in a foot. One foot is vertically offset from the other to provide a “hold-down” function that prevents the slat from vertically rising as the slat reciprocates back-and-forth.

Abstract: A roll-formed steel slat for use in a reciprocating floor slat conveyor system. The roll-formed steel slat is formed in a manner so as to have an upper, load-carrying surface, and a pair of downwardly depending side legs. Each side leg terminates in a foot. One foot is vertically offset from the other to provide a “hold-down” function that prevents the slat from vertically rising as the slat reciprocates back-and-forth.

Abstract: An all-aluminum cross-drive member for a drive unit assembly that is used to reciprocate floor slats back and forth in a conveyor system, The cross-drive member is extruded or milled from a single piece of aluminum, One side of the member carries connecting pieces for linking the member to floor slats, with the member driving the floor slats back and forth as the member is likewise moved lengthwise in back and forth movement, The other side of the member has stiffening ribs that extend lengthwise for giving the member sufficient stiffness to carry loading forces in lieu of the steel cross-drives used in the past.

Abstract: Methods, systems and computer readable media for controlling a set-top box includes receiving at processor a request from a user to access a web page. The content of the web page is scanned at the processor for items relating to content that may be available through the set-top box. The processor then provides a web page to the user with an embedded widget which the user can use to select commands to be executed by the set-top box. The processor receives the widget command and sends the widget command to the set-top box for implementation.