Abstract: A heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) system includes a refrigerant loop having a compressor, where the compressor is configured to circulate a refrigerant through the refrigerant loop, a first heat exchanger disposed along the refrigerant loop, where the first heat exchanger is configured to place the refrigerant in a first heat exchange relationship with a working fluid, and an air handling unit having a second heat exchanger, where the second heat exchanger is configured to place the working fluid in a second heat exchange relationship with an airflow, and where the air handling unit is isolated from the first heat exchanger to reduce or eliminate mixing of refrigerant with the airflow.

Abstract: A server stores a set of laboratory applications to process batches of samples. The server receives, from a first lab administrator, a selection of a subset of the laboratory applications to process the batches of samples and an admin configuration for a laboratory application in the subset. The server receives configuration(s) of batch(es) to be used for running at least a portion of the subset of laboratory applications configured according to the admin configuration. The server receives, from a first scientific device, a request to run a laboratory application form the first subset to process a batch. The server provides the laboratory application(s) that are capable of being executed using the first scientific device. The server receives, from the first scientific device, a selected laboratory application. The server transmits, to the first scientific device, a signal for executing a first part of the selected laboratory application.

Abstract: Embodiments of lab automation workstations are disclosed in which the pod that performs pipetting operations is integrated with pipette tip-loading functionality. To generate the necessary tip-loading force, a dual drive system is used that is symmetric about the Y-axis to allow for offset or partial tip box loads by dynamically centering the drive force (e.g., the tip-loading force) over the reaction load. This minimizes the need for oversized linear motion components while still allowing for the generation of high tip-loading forces needed to properly load a large number of pipette tips simultaneously.

Abstract: A rubber composition for a tire tread chimney component includes a sulfur-vulcanizable elastomer and an electrically conductive polymer. The rubber composition is further defined by an absence of electrically conductive carbon black. The sulfur-vulcanizable elastomer is selected from the group consisting of natural rubber, polybutadiene, polyisoprene, styrene butadiene rubber, nitrile rubber, and combinations thereof. The sulfur-vulcanizable elastomer and the electrically conductive polymer are substantially evenly mixed together. In the tire, and upon curing, the tire tread chimney component provides a dissipative pathway for static electricity from the tire to the ground in operation.

Abstract: A reaction vessel comprises a lower chamber with a first volume, and an upper chamber with a second volume greater than the first volume. A thermocycling system for heating the reaction vessel includes a lower heating zone to heat the lower chamber, an upper heating zone to heat the upper chamber, and a lid heater to heat an opening of the upper chamber. A method comprises loading a sample into a lower chamber of a reaction vessel, thermocycling the lower chamber using a lower heating zone of the thermo cycler, combining an additive into the sample to produce a combination filling the lower chamber and at least partially filling an upper chamber of the reaction vessel, and incubating the upper and lower chambers using the lower heating zone and an upper heating zone. The lower and upper chambers can have different wall thicknesses to facilitate heat transfer.

Abstract: Embodiments of lab automation workstations are disclosed in which the pod that performs pipetting operations is integrated with pipette tip-loading functionality. To generate the necessary tip-loading force, a dual drive system is used that is symmetric about the Y-axis to allow for offset or partial tip box loads by dynamically centering the drive force (e.g., the tip-loading force) over the reaction load. This minimizes the need for oversized linear motion components while still allowing for the generation of high tip-loading forces needed to properly load a large number of pipette tips simultaneously.

Abstract: Systems and methods of identifying reagents loaded into a fluid handling system can comprise programming a protocol for preparing a sample into a controller of the fluid handling system, loading multiple reagent vessels into a carousel of the fluid handling system, imaging individual labels of the multiple reagent vessels with an imaging device to produce label images, comparing information in the label images to identification information located in a database in communication with the controller, and determining if appropriate reagents have been loaded into the carousel to perform the protocol. A fluid handling system can include a deck, a tube holder, an imaging device, a pipettor, a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium and a processor configured to perform the method.

Abstract: A server stores a set of laboratory applications to process batches of samples. The server receives, from a first lab administrator, a selection of a subset of the laboratory applications to process the batches of samples and an admin configuration for a laboratory application in the subset. The server receives configuration(s) of batch(es) to be used for running at least a portion of the subset of laboratory applications configured according to the admin configuration. The server receives, from a first scientific device, a request to run a laboratory application form the first subset to process a batch. The server provides the laboratory application(s) that are capable of being executed using the first scientific device. The server receives, from the first scientific device, a selected laboratory application. The server transmits, to the first scientific device, a signal for executing a first part of the selected laboratory application.

Abstract: A laboratory workstation for preparing a sample according to a programmed protocol. The laboratory workstation may include a display device configured to display an instruction for loading a first item of labware onto a deck of the laboratory workstation at a position on the deck specified by the programmed protocol; an imaging device configured to monitor the deck of the laboratory workstation by creating one or more images of the deck; and a processor configured to recognize, in the one or more images created by the imaging device, an item of labware loaded onto the deck by an operator. In some embodiments, the processor may be configured to indicate on the display device whether the recognized item of labware loaded by the operator is arranged on the deck in accordance with the programmed protocol.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a plurality of antennas, a plurality of Front End Modules (FEMs) coupled to the antennas, an input for receiving Power over Ethernet (PoE), a PoE detector for identifying a type of PoE received at the apparatus, wherein the type of PoE is associated with a PoE power budget, and a power controller for applying a PoE power conservation policy based on the PoE power budget, wherein applying the PoE power conservation policy comprises switching between a normal operating voltage and a reduced operating voltage at the FEMs. A method is also disclosed herein.

Abstract: A rubber composition for a tire tread chimney component includes a sulfur-vulcanizable elastomer and an electrically conductive polymer. The rubber composition is further defined by an absence of electrically conductive carbon black. The sulfur-vulcanizable elastomer is selected from the group consisting of natural rubber, polybutadiene, polyisoprene, styrene butadiene rubber, nitrile rubber, and combinations thereof. The sulfur-vulcanizable elastomer and the electrically conductive polymer are substantially evenly mixed together. In the tire, and upon curing, the tire tread chimney component provides a dissipative pathway for static electricity from the tire to the ground in operation.

Abstract: Embodiments of lab automation workstations are disclosed in which the pod that performs pipetting operations is integrated with pipette tip-loading functionality. To generate the necessary tip-loading force, a dual drive system is used that is symmetric about the Y-axis to allow for offset or partial tip box loads by dynamically centering the drive force (e.g., the tip-loading force) over the reaction load. This minimizes the need for oversized linear motion components while still allowing for the generation of high tip-loading forces needed to properly load a large number of pipette tips simultaneously.

Abstract: A method for implementing an artificial neural network includes connecting a plurality of receiving neurons to a plurality of transmitting neurons through memristive synapses. Each memristive synapse has a weight which is initialized into a conductive state. A binary input vector is presented through the memristive synapses to the plurality of receiving neurons and the state of one or more of the memristive synapses modified based on the binary input vector.

Abstract: A capacitive crossbar array includes a first set of conductors and a second set of conductors which intersect to form crosspoints. A nonlinear capacitive device is interposed between a first conductor within the first set and a second conductor within the second set at a crosspoint. The nonlinear capacitive device is configured to store information which is accessible through said first conductor and said second conductor. A method for utilizing a capacitive crossbar array is also provided.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include hybrid microscale-nanoscale neuromorphic integrated circuits that include an array of analog computational cells fabricated on an integrated-circuit-substrate. The analog electronic circuitry within each computational cell connected to one or more pins of a first type and to one or more pins of a second type that extend approximately vertically from the computational cells. The computational cells are additionally interconnected by one or more nanowire-interconnect layers, each nanowire-interconnect layer including two nanowire sublayers on either side of a memristive sublayer, with each nanowire in each nanowire sublayer of an interconnect layer connected to a single computational-cell pin and to a number of nanowires in the other nanowire sublayer of the interconnect layer.

Abstract: The present invention is directed toward a system for forming miter joints including a miter saw and an angle gauge. The miter saw includes a platform with a kerf slot and a pair of arcuate slots. Each arcuate slot includes an associated rail located on the underside of the platform. A fence is coupled to each of the rails such that the fence may be pivoted with respect to the platform. The angle measurement tool is a one-handed tool including spring loaded paddles that measure the angle between intersecting surfaces. The angle measurement tool connects to the miter saw to permit the transfer of the measured angle to the fences.

Abstract: Various method and system embodiments of the present invention are directed to implementing serial logic gates using nanowire-crossbar arrays with spintronic devices located at nanowire-crossbar junctions. In one embodiment of the present invention, a nanowire-crossbar array comprises a first nanowire and a number of substantially parallel control nanowires positioned so that each control nanowire overlaps the first nanowire. The nanowire-crossbar array includes a number of spintronic devices. Each spintronic device is configured to connect one of the control nanowires to the first nanowire and operate as a latch for controlling signal transmissions between the control nanowire and the first nanowire.

Abstract: A capacitive crossbar array (100) includes a first set of conductors (102) and a second set of conductors (104) which intersect to form crosspoints. A nonlinear capacitive device (106) is interposed between a first conductor (103) within the first set (102) and a second conductor (105) within the second set (104) at a crosspoint. The nonlinear capacitive device (106) is configured to store information which is accessible through said first conductor (103) and said second conductor (105). A method for utilizing a capacitive crossbar array (100) is also provided.

Abstract: A method for implementing an artificial neural network includes connecting a plurality of receiving neurons to a plurality of transmitting neurons through memristive synapses (705). Each memristive synapse has a weight which is initialized into a conductive state (715). A binary input vector is presented through the memristive synapses to the plurality of receiving neurons (735) and the state of one or more of the memristive synapses modified based on the binary input vector (760).

Abstract: A computing system for implementing at least one electronic circuit with gain comprises at least one two-dimensional molecular switch array. The molecular switch array is formed by assembling two or more crossed planes of wires into a configuration of devices. Each device comprises a junction formed by a pair of crossed wires and at least one connector species that connects the pair of crossed wires in the junction. The junction has a functional dimension in nanometers, and includes a switching capability provided by both (1) one or more connector species and the pair of crossed wires and (2) a configurable nano-scale wire transistor having a first state that functions as a transistor and a second state that functions as a conducting semiconductor wire. Specific connections are made to interconnect the devices and connect the devices to two structures that provide high and low voltages.