Abstract: A composition comprising a mixture of: (i) an aromatic polycarbonate; (ii) a graft copolymer including polyacrylonitrile; and, (iii) a non-crosslinked acrylic polymer having a weight average molecular weight (Mw) of less than or equal to 65,000 Daltons (Da).

Abstract: A multi-port liquid bridge (1) adds aqueous phase droplets (10) in an enveloping oil phase carrier liquid (11) to a draft channel (4, 6). A chamber (3) links four ports, and it is permanently full of oil (11) when in use. Oil phase is fed in a draft flow from an inlet port (4) and exits through a draft exit port (6) and a compensating flow port (7). The oil carrier and the sample droplets (3) (“aqueous phase”) flow through the inlet port (5) with an equivalent fluid flow subtracted through the compensating port (7). The ports of the bridge (1) are formed by the ends of capillaries held in position in plastics housings. The phases are density matched to create an environment where gravitational forces are negligible. This results in droplets (10) adopting spherical forms when suspended from capillary tube tips. Furthermore, the equality of mass flow is equal to the equality of volume flow.

Abstract: An apparatus (1) is for DNA amplification with quantitative measurements. A biological sample is held in a cell (2) for the amplification, the cell (2) defining a single space within which the sample rotates. On one side a copper heater (3) is located to supply heat to the cell (2), and on the other side there is a cooling copper block (4) withdrawing heat from the cell. The locations of the heater (3) and the cooling block (4) generate a natural convection loop internally within the cell (2) without need for active cooling—the block (4) passively cooling by withdrawing heat from the direction of the heater (3). A detector (9, 27) captures readings in real time and a processor (10) generates an S-curve for change of sample emission with time. The S-curve (FIGS. 4 and 5) also includes a thermal cycle number corresponding to the time parameter, so that the S-curve is given in the traditional qPCR intensity vs. cycle number.

Abstract: A thermal cycling device (3) device a number of fixed thermal zones (11, 12, 13) and a fixed conduit (10) passing through the thermal zones. A controller maintains each thermal zone including its section of conduit (10) at a constant temperature. A series of droplets flows through the conduit (10) so that each droplet is thermally cycled, and a detection system detects fluorescence from droplets at all of the thermal cycles. The conduit is in a single plane, and so a number of thermal cycling devices may be arranged together to achieve parallelism. The flow conduit comprises a channel (17) and a capillary tube (10) inserted into the channel. The detection system may perform scans along a direction to detect radiation from a plurality of cycles in a pass.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to systems and methods for mixing and dispensing a sample droplet from a microfluidic system, such as a liquid bridge system. In certain embodiments, the invention provides systems for mixing and dispensing sample droplets, including a sample acquisition stage, a device for mixing sample droplets to form sample droplets wrapped in an immiscible carrier fluid, a dispensing port, and at least one channel connecting the stage, the droplet mixing device, and the port, in which the system is configured to establish a siphoning effect for dispensing the droplets.

Abstract: A readily burstable slide fastener for an inflatable device, such as a lifejacket, includes a first stringer, a second stringer and a slider slidably mounted on the second stringer. At a weakened region along the slide fastener coupling elements are omitted from each of the stringers so that when a bursting force is applied to this region the coupling elements adjacent thereto are disengaged. Coupling elements are omitted from the top of the first stringer so that when the slider is at the top of the coupling elements of the second stringer, the first stringer can disengage from the slider. When the slide fastener is fitted to an inflatable lifejacket, the stringers are separated completely when the lifejacket is inflated.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to devices, systems, and methods for acquiring and/or dispensing a sample without introducing a gas into a microfluidic system, such as a liquid bridge system. An exemplary embodiment provides a sampling device including an outer sheath; a plurality of tubes within the sheath, in which at least one of the tubes acquires a sample, and at least one of the tubes expels a fluid that is immiscible with the sample, in which the at least one tube that acquires the sample is extendable beyond a distal end of the sheath and retractable to within the sheath; and a valve connected to a distal portion of the sheath, in which the valve opens when the tube extends beyond the distal end and closes when the tube retracts to within the sheath.

Abstract: A readily burstable slide fastener for an inflatable device, such as a lifejacket, that includes a first stringer, a second stringer and a slider slidably mounted on the second stringer. At a weakened region along the slide fastener coupling elements are omitted from each of the stringers so that when a bursting force is applied to this region the coupling elements adjacent thereto are disengaged. The coupling elements are omitted from the top of the first stringer so that when the slider is at the top of the coupling elements of the second stringer, the first stringer can disengage from the slider. When the slide fastener is fitted to an inflatable lifejacket, the stringers are separated completely when the lifejacket is inflated.

Abstract: There is disclosed a tubing expansion device and a method of expanding tubing. In one embodiment, an expansion device (10) is disclosed which comprises at least one expansion member (14) adapted to expand a tubing (12) by inducing a hoop stress in the tubing (12), and at least one further expansion member (16) adapted to expand the tubing (12) by inducing a compressive yield of the tubing (12); and a method of expanding tubing (12) comprising the steps of expanding the tubing (12) at least in part by inducing a hoop stress in the tubing (12), and expanding the tubing (12) at least in part by inducing a compressive yield of the tubing (12).

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to devices, systems, and methods for acquiring and/or dispensing a sample without introducing a gas into a microfluidic system, such as a liquid bridge system. An exemplary embodiment provides a sampling device including an outer sheath; a plurality of tubes within the sheath, in which at least one of the tubes acquires a sample, and at least one of the tubes expels a fluid that is immiscible with the sample, in which the at least one tube that acquires the sample is extendable beyond a distal end of the sheath and retractable to within the sheath; and a valve connected to a distal portion of the sheath, in which the valve opens when the tube extends beyond the distal end and closes when the tube retracts to within the sheath.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates methods for analyzing agricultural and/or environmental samples using liquid bridges. In certain embodiments, the invention provides a method for analyzing an agricultural sample for a desired trait including obtaining a gene or gene product from an agricultural sample, in which the gene or gene product is in a first fluid; providing a liquid bridge for mixing the gene or gene product with at least one reagent to form a mixed droplet that is wrapped in an immiscible second fluid; and analyzing the mixed droplet to detect a desired trait of the agricultural sample.

Abstract: Provided herein is a biological detection system and method of use wherein the biological detection system comprises at least one mixer or liquid bridge for combining at least two liquid droplets and an error correction system for detecting whether or not proper mixing or combining of the two component droplets have occurred.

Abstract: A microfluidic connector comprises an enclosure, a fluidic inlet port and a fluidic outlet port, in the enclosure, in which the inlet and outlet ports are movable with respect to each other, for example, mutual spacing between the inlet and outlet ports is variable. A port is in a fixed part of the enclosure, and another port is in a part of the enclosure which slides with respect to the fixed part. There may be multiple inlet ports and/or multiple outlet ports. Also, there may be an auxiliary port for introduction of fluid into the enclosure or removal of fluid from the enclosure.

Abstract: A matrix inverter is connected to a first and a second multi-phase A.C. voltage network. First inductive elements are connected to the first A.C. voltage network and second inductive elements are connected to the second A.C. voltage network. A switch matrix connects the ends of the first inductive elements, to the ends of the second inductive elements. The switch matrix has inverter units. A regulation arrangement is connected to control inputs of the inverter units. The matrix inverter has a first inverter unit, which is arranged between the ends of the first inductive circuit elements and earth potential. The matrix inverter has a second inverter unit, connected between the ends of the first inductive circuit elements and the ends of the second inductive circuit elements. The regulation arrangement insures that the electrical power flowing to the matrix inverter is equal to the electrical power flowing out of the matrix inverter.

Abstract: A multi-port liquid bridge (1) adds aqueous phase droplets (10) in an enveloping oil phase carrier liquid (11) to a draft channel (4, 6). A chamber (3) links four ports, and it is permanently full of oil (11) when in use. Oil phase is fed in a draft flow from an inlet port (4) and exits through a draft exit port (6) and a compensating flow port (7). The oil carrier and the sample droplets (3) (“aqueous phase”) flow through the inlet port (5) with an equivalent fluid flow subtracted through the compensating port (7). The ports of the bridge (1) are formed by the ends of capillaries held in position in plastics housings. The phases are density matched to create an environment where gravitational forces are negligible. This results in droplets (10) adopting spherical forms when suspended from capillary tube tips. Furthermore, the equality of mass flow is equal to the equality of volume flow.

Abstract: Measurement of gene expression relative to an endogenous control gene is prone to excessive variability between samples and even replicates. The disclosure provides methods for normalizing expression levels of a gene by scaling gene expression levels to that of the most highly expressed gene in the set of genes whose expression levels are measured, rather than a house-keeping gene.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to methods of constructing liquid bridges and methods of forming predetermined combinations of samples using liquid bridges.

Abstract: In order to be able to eliminate a fault on a high-voltage DC line with an AC voltage supply system which is connected via a self-commutated converter in a reliable manner with a comparatively low level of expenditure, the short-circuiting current flowing in the event of the fault is reduced by way of driving in each case at least one H-bridge submodule in phase branches of the converter, which is of modular design, so as to generate a counter-voltage to the voltage across the arc. There is also provide a system for transmitting an electric current via a high-voltage DC line, and also a converter.

Abstract: A method of processing geophysical data from a survey of a surveyed region of the earth to provide a three-dimensional representation of the underlying geology of said surveyed region, the method comprising: inputting geophysical data for said surveyed region, generating an initial three-dimensional representation depicting faults of said underlying geology of said surveyed region using said input geophysical data, calculating the accommodation zone for each depicted fault using geomechanical parameters including at least stress and strain, generating a final three-dimensional representation depicting both faults and accommodation zones.

Abstract: A multi-port liquid bridge (1) adds aqueous phase droplets (10) in an enveloping oil phase carrier liquid (11) to a draft channel (4, 6). A chamber (3) links four ports, and it is permanently full of oil (11) when in use. Oil phase is fed in a draft flow from an inlet port (4) and exits through a draft exit port (6) and a compensating flow port (7). The oil carrier and the sample droplets (3) (“aqueous phase”) flow through the inlet port (5) with an equivalent fluid flow subtracted through the compensating port (7). The ports of the bridge (1) are formed by the ends of capillaries held in position in plastics housings. The phases are density matched to create an environment where gravitational forces are negligible. This results in droplets (10) adopting spherical forms when suspended from capillary tube tips. Furthermore, the equality of mass flow is equal to the equality of volume flow.