Abstract: Liquid reservoirs, cartridge assemblies and related systems and methods are disclosed. An example implementation includes an apparatus that includes a body, a cover, and a lid assembly. The body includes a top surface and a storage chamber having an opening at the top surface. The cover covers or is positioned within the opening of the storage chamber. The lid assembly is coupled to the top surface and covers the opening of the storage chamber. The top surface and the first portion define a plenum. The cover is at least one of piercable, breakable, or movable to allow the storage chamber to be fluidly coupled to the plenum without venting the plenum to atmosphere.

Abstract: In some examples, an instrument for measuring a volume of a liquid is provided. A gas flow rate sensor may measure a rate of flow of a pressurized gas to a reservoir storing a liquid. A controller may be coupled to the gas flow rate sensor and may calculate a volume of the liquid that the flow of pressurized gas displaces from the reservoir. In some examples, a method of measuring a volume of a liquid is provided. Using a gas flow rate sensor, a flow of pressurized gas may be measured. The flow of the pressurized gas may be delivered to a reservoir storing a liquid. A volume of the liquid in the reservoir may be displaced using the flow of pressurized gas. The measurement of the flow of the pressurized gas may be used to calculate the volume of the liquid that is displaced.

Abstract: Well assemblies and related methods are disclosed. In accordance with an implementation, an apparatus includes a liquid reservoir containing a liquid and a well assembly including a body, a hydrophobic venting membrane, and a cover. The body defines a well and has an opening and a port. The port is couplable to the liquid reservoir. The hydrophobic venting membrane is coupled to the body and covers the opening and cover covers the hydrophobic venting membrane. As the liquid is flowed into the well via the port, the hydrophobic venting membrane vents gas contained within the well.

Abstract: An integrated microfluidic chromatin immunoprecipitation assay dramatically improves the collection efficiency of ChIP DNA from cells. Immunoprecipitation of chromatin fragments is conducted in a microfluidic chamber with a large fraction of its volume (e.g., ˜15-40%) occupied by magnetic immunoprecipitation (IP) beads. Oscillating washing of the beads, enabled by, e.g., solenoid valves (controlled by a computer) and high pressure attached to both ends of the microfluidic chamber, effectively removes unbound chromatin and produces high-quality ChIP DNA. ChIP DNA produced by an example device generates excellent results in the subsequent DNA library preparation. The ChIP-seq (i.e., ChIP followed by next-generation sequencing) results match very well with public data generated using much larger cell sample sizes and a conventional approach.

Abstract: An integrated microfluidic chromatin immunoprecipitation assay dramatically improves the collection efficiency of ChIP DNA from cells. Immunoprecipitation of chromatin fragments is conducted in a microfluidic chamber with a large fraction of its volume (e.g., ˜15-40%) occupied by magnetic immunoprecipitation (IP) beads. Oscillating washing of the beads, enabled by, e.g., solenoid valves (controlled by a computer) and high pressure attached to both ends of the microfluidic chamber, effectively removes unbound chromatin and produces high-quality ChIP DNA. ChIP DNA produced by an example device generates excellent results in the subsequent DNA library preparation. The ChIP-seq (i.e., ChIP followed by next-generation sequencing) results match very well with public data generated using much larger cell sample sizes and a conventional approach.

Abstract: A composite resistance spot welding electrode is disclosed which comprises a co-axial annular neck ring, a co-axial insert, a co-axial annular sleeve, or combinations there of. The electrode provides improved nugget formation and longer electrode life.

Abstract: A method for providing an analytical solution for a thermal history of a welding process having multiple weld passes. The method includes the steps of inputting a plurality of files and parameters, preprocessing information from the plurality of files and parameters to determine a set of conditions associated with the welding process, determining a region of influence of at least one heat source used in the welding process as a function of the set of conditions, determining a plurality of point heat source solutions within the region of influence, determining a temperature solution for each weld pass as a function of a superposition of the plurality of point heat source solutions, and determining the thermal history of the welding process as a function of the temperature solutions.