Abstract: A caramel is provided comprising a solid plant fat and an amount of water less than 10 wt %. The caramel exhibits a chewy texture when consumed but is yet depositable. The caramel is thus advantageously used in a confection. In addition to the caramel, the confection may comprise a crisp component. Methods of making the confection are also provided.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes an ultrasonic rotary molding system that is used to form edible compositions or food products as they move along a conveyor belt. The food products are formed by an ultrasonic rotary wheel that includes one or more cutting tools that cut, and perhaps three dimensionally mold, food product strips. The system may include a movable backing plate that is located below the point where the ultrasonic rotary wheel cuts the food product strips. The movable backing plate may be spring loaded and it may exert force upwards against the conveyor belt and in turn against the food product.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes an ultrasonic rotary molding system that is used to form edible compositions or food products as they move along a conveyor belt. The food products are formed by an ultrasonic rotary wheel that includes one or more cutting tools that cut, and perhaps three dimensionally mold, food product strips. The system may include a movable backing plate that is located below the point where the ultrasonic rotary wheel cuts the food product strips. The movable backing plate may be spring loaded and it may exert force upwards against the conveyor belt and in turn against the food product.

Abstract: The invention provides optical instrument systems and methods for analyzing signals from biological arrays, and performing analytical amplification reactions for identifying the presence or absence of a target nucleic acid sequence in a sample to be analyzed.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes an ultrasonic rotary molding system that is used to form edible compositions or food products as they move along a conveyor belt. The food products are formed by an ultrasonic rotary wheel that includes one or more cutting tools that cut, and perhaps three dimensionally mold, food product strips. The system may include a movable backing plate that is located below the point where the ultrasonic rotary wheel cuts the food product strips. The movable backing plate may be spring loaded and it may exert force upwards against the conveyor belt and in turn against the food product.

Abstract: A satellite radiodetermination system comprises global navigation service (GNSS) satellites 2 such as GPS satellites, which generate GNSS ranging signals Rn, geostationary satellites 6 which retransmit ranging signals Rg generated at a navigation land earth station (NLES) 8, including augmentation data A, and medium earth orbit (MEO) satellites 10 which generate ranging signals Rm including regional augmentation data RA transmitted from a satellite access node (SAN) 14. The regional augmentation data RA is supplied by regional augmentation systems 21a, 21b.

Abstract: The present invention provides microfluidic devices that comprise a body structure comprising at least a first microscale channel network disposed therein. The body structure has a plurality of ports disposed in the body structure, where each port is in fluid communication with one or more channels in the first channel network. The devices also include a cover layer comprising a plurality of apertures disposed through the cover layer. The cover layer is mated with the body structure whereby each of the apertures is aligned with a separate one of the plurality of ports. Rings are optionally disposed between the cover layer and the body structure and circumferentially around pairs of aligned apertures and ports. The devices also optionally include conductive coatings and membranes. The invention additionally provides methods of controlling the delivery of a composition of material into a microfluidic device.

Abstract: A test device for use as a fluorescent standard in microfluidic analytical detection systems includes one or more slits that correspond to, and are of similar dimension to, one or more microchannels in a detection region on a corresponding analysis chip. A fluorescent material is attached to the test device on the side opposite the illumination source such that excitation radiation passes through the slit(s), which defines the focal plane of the illumination optics, and impinges on the fluorescent material thereby causing the fluorescent material to fluoresce. By displacing the fluorescent material relative to the focal plane, the intensity of the radiation exciting the fluorescent material is dispersed relative to the intensity of the radiation at the focal plane, and concomitantly the strength of the resulting fluorescent signal is reduced.

Abstract: Reactor systems that include a reaction receptacle that includes a plurality of reservoirs disposed in the surface of a substrate. The reactor system also typically includes a temperature control element having at least a first heat exchanger thermally coupled to it. The heat exchanger is, in turn, disposed within the at least one of the reservoirs whereby the heat exchanger transfers heat to or from a fluid disposed within the reservoir, which heat is conducted to or from the temperature control element.

Abstract: The present invention provides microfluidic devices and systems that utilize optical detection systems, and where one or more light altering optical elements are integrated into the body structure of the microfluidic device. The resulting devices perform at least a portion of the optical manipulations used in the optical detection method employed.

Abstract: The present invention provides microfluidic devices that comprise a body structure comprising at least a first microscale channel network disposed therein. The body structure has a plurality of ports disposed in the body structure, where each port is in fluid communication with one or more channels in the first channel network. The devices also include a cover layer comprising a plurality of apertures disposed through the cover layer. The cover layer is mated with the body structure whereby each of the apertures is aligned with a separate one of the plurality of ports.

Abstract: The present invention provides microfluidic devices that comprise a body structure comprising at least a first microscale channel network disposed therein. The body structure has a plurality of ports disposed in the body structure, where each port is in fluid communication with one or more channels in the first channel network. The devices also include a cover layer comprising a plurality of apertures disposed through the cover layer. The cover layer is mated with the body structure whereby each of the apertures is aligned with a separate one of the plurality of ports.

Abstract: The present invention provides microfluidic devices and systems that utilize optical detection systems, and where one or more light altering optical elements are integrated into the body structure of the microfluidic device. The resulting devices perform at least a portion of the optical manipulations used in the optical detection method employed.

Abstract: Reactor systems that include a reaction receptacle that includes a plurality of reservoirs disposed in the surface of a substrate. The reactor system also typically includes a temperature control element having at least a first heat exchanger thermally coupled to it. The heat exchanger is, in turn, disposed within the at least one of the reservoirs whereby the heat exchanger transfers heat to or from a fluid disposed within the reservoir, which heat is conducted to or from the temperature control element.

Abstract: Methods for reducing fluid carryover by microfluidic devices including capillary element and/or fluid motion. Capillary elements coated with hydrophobic or hydrophilic coatings to resist fluid carryover are also provided. Microfluidic device handling systems are additionally included.

Abstract: Reactor systems that include a reaction receptacle that includes a plurality of reservoirs disposed in the surface of a substrate. The reactor system also typically includes a temperature control element having at least a first heat exchanger thermally coupled to it. The heat exchanger is, in turn, disposed within the at least one of the reservoirs whereby the heat exchanger transfers heat to or from a fluid disposed within the reservoir, which heat is conducted to or from the temperature control element.

Abstract: The present invention provides microfluidic devices and systems that utilize optical detection systems, and where one or more light altering optical elements are integrated into the body structure of the microfluidic device. The resulting devices perform at least a portion of the optical manipulations used in the optical detection method employed.

Abstract: The present invention provides microfluidic devices that comprise a body structure comprising at least a first microscale channel network disposed therein. The body structure has a plurality of ports disposed in the body structure, where each port is in fluid communication with one or more channels in the first channel network. The devices also include a cover layer comprising a plurality of apertures disposed through the cover layer. The cover layer is mated with the body structure whereby each of the apertures is aligned with a separate one of the plurality of ports.

Abstract: Reactor systems that include a reaction receptacle that includes a plurality of reservoirs disposed in the surface of a substrate. The reactor system also typically includes a temperature control element having at least a first heat exchanger thermally coupled to it. The heat exchanger is, in turn, disposed within the at least one of the reservoirs whereby the heat exchanger transfers heat to or from a fluid disposed within the reservoir, which heat is conducted to or from the temperature control element.

Abstract: The present invention provides microfluidic devices and systems that utilize optical detection systems, and where one or more light altering optical elements are integrated into the body structure of the microfluidic device. The resulting devices perform at least a portion of the optical manipulations used in the optical detection method employed.