Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for determining viscoelastic characteristics of at least a portion of an object. The apparatus comprises a fluidly sealable housing, comprising at least one aperture and at least one fluid inlet port and at least one resilient membrane that is operatively coupled to the housing so as to sealingly engage with the at least one aperture. The apparatus further comprises at least one actuator that is operatively coupled to the at least one inlet port and adapted to actuate the at least one resilient membrane via a working fluid that is contained within the housing, so that the at least one resilient membrane is moved towards and into engagement with at least a portion of an object at a predetermined pressure. Furthermore, the apparatus comprises at least one first sensor that is operably coupled to the membrane and that is adapted to determine at least a deformation of the at least one resilient membrane during actuation.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for determining viscoelastic characteristics of at least a portion of an object. The apparatus comprises a fluidly sealable housing, comprising at least one aperture and at least one fluid inlet port and at least one resilient membrane that is operatively coupled to the housing so as to sealingly engage with the at least one aperture. The apparatus further comprises at least one actuator that is operatively coupled to the at least one inlet port and adapted to actuate the at least one resilient membrane via a working fluid that is contained within the housing, so that the at least one resilient membrane is moved towards and into engagement with at least a portion of an object at a predetermined pressure. Furthermore, the apparatus comprises at least one first sensor that is operably coupled to the membrane and that is adapted to determine at least a deformation of the at least one resilient membrane during actuation.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for determining viscoelastic characteristics of at least a portion of an object. The apparatus comprises a fluidly sealable housing, comprising at least one aperture and at least one fluid inlet port and at least one resilient membrane that is operatively coupled to the housing so as to sealingly engage with the at least one aperture. The apparatus further comprises at least one actuator that is operatively coupled to the at least one inlet port and adapted to actuate the at least one resilient membrane via a working fluid that is contained within the housing, so that the at least one resilient membrane is moved towards and into engagement with at least a portion of an object at a predetermined pressure. Furthermore, the apparatus comprises at least one first sensor that is operably coupled to the membrane and that is adapted to determine at least a deformation of the at least one resilient membrane during actuation.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for the assembly of a polynucleic acid sequence from a plurality of nucleic acid sequences in which the polynucleic acid sequence is of a formula Nn+1, in which N represents a nucleic acid sequence and where n is 1 or greater than 1 and each N may be the same or a different nucleic acid sequence, in which the method comprises: (i) providing a first nucleic acid sequence N1 which has an oligonucleotide linker sequence L13? at the 3?-end of the nucleic acid sequence; (ii) providing a second nucleic acid sequence N2 which optionally has an oligonucleotide linker sequence L23? at the 3?-end of the nucleic acid sequence and which has an oligonucleotide linker sequence L25? at the 5?-end of the nucleic acid sequence, wherein the 5?-end linker sequence L25? of nucleic acid sequence N2 is complementary to the 3?-end linker sequence L13? of nucleic acid sequence N1; (iii) optionally providing one or more additional nucleic acid sequences N, wherein nucleic acid sequence N2

Abstract: A microfluidic system comprises a detachable microfluidic device comprising a rigid layer, an elastic layer and at least one fluid chamber or channel between the rigid layer and the elastic layer; and a control platform comprising means for de-forming the elastic layer thereby to manipulate fluid in the at least one fluid chamber or channel.