Abstract: An apparatus includes a first column heating apparatus, which includes: a first substrate; a second substrate including silicon; and a first heating element disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate. The apparatus also includes a second column heating apparatus, which includes: a third substrate; a fourth substrate including silicon; and a second heating element disposed between the third substrate and the fourth substrate.

Abstract: Samples in an array of containers are processed by mounting the containers on a sample stage, moving magnets into proximity with bottoms of the containers of a first column of containers to apply a magnetic field, moving the magnets into proximity with bottoms of the containers of a second column, and moving heater elements into proximity with the container bottoms of the first column. While the magnetic field is applied to the containers of the second column, heat energy may be applied to the containers of the first column. The process may be repeated for additional columns. The containers may also be shaken to agitate the samples. A single apparatus may perform heating, shaking, and magnetic field application, without needing to transport the containers to different stations.

Abstract: An optical emission spectrometer system includes a light source and a dichroic beam combiner. The light source emits first light in a first direction and second light in a second direction different from the first direction. The dichroic beam combiner receives the first light via a first light path and the second light via a second light path, reflects a portion the first light into an entrance aperture of a light detection and measurement apparatus, and transmits a portion of the second light into the entrance aperture, enabling analysis and measurement of both first and second light characteristics simultaneously. The portion of the first light reflected into the entrance aperture predominately has wavelengths in a first range of wavelengths and the portion of the second light transmitted into the entrance aperture predominately has wavelengths in a second range of wavelengths, different from the first range of wavelengths.

Abstract: A method for operating a data processing system to find peaks in a mass spectrum that includes an ordered set of measurements of the abundances of species as a function of the mass/charge ratio of the species is disclosed. The method includes selecting a candidate blob that has a plurality of blob peaks from the mass spectrum. The data processing system selects a candidate blob peak for characterization. The candidate blob peak is approximated by a first species peak using a species peak model having a plurality of parameters by fitting the species peak model to a portion of the blob that has values that are substantially free of contributions from other species peaks that overlap with the first species peak and that are not represented by the species peak model. The first species peak is then subtracted from the candidate blob.

Abstract: A pump for pumping fluid, wherein the pump includes a working chamber, a piston assembly configured for reciprocating within the working chamber to thereby displace fluid, a piston actuator being rigidly assembled with the piston assembly at least in a working mode of the pump to thereby transmit drive energy to the piston assembly to reciprocate along a common rigid axis of the piston-actuator-assembly, and a bearing arrangement bearing the piston assembly and the piston actuator in the pump so that the piston-actuator-assembly provided by the piston assembly and the piston actuator is capable of performing a pendulum-type compensation motion around a pendulum point at the piston actuator on the common rigid axis.

Abstract: An ion transfer device for transferring ions from a first chamber to a second, reduced-pressure chamber includes a tube and a bore selector. The tube includes a plurality of tube bores. The bore selector is positioned at an inlet end of the tube and includes an inlet port. The tube is movable relative to the bore selector, and/or the bore selector is movable relative to the tube, to align the inlet port with a selected one of the tube bores while blocking the other tube bores. Alignment of the inlet port with the selected tube bore defines an ion transfer path from the first chamber, through the selected tube bore, and to the second chamber. The ion transfer device may be utilized, for example, in an atmospheric-pressure interface of a mass spectrometer.

Abstract: A separator (e.g. an impact centrifugal separator) is for use in collection of liquid portions of a bi-phasic flowstream in a supercritical fluid system. A separator chamber defines an interior space, surrounded by a spiral channel and that has an exit at a lower portion of the separator chamber. A flowstream director (e.g. an entry lube) focuses the flowstream so that the flowstream impacts a wail of the spiral channel at an angle that promotes coalescence of the liquid component. The spiral channel may promote further coalescence of the liquid portions within the constraining spiral channel after impact. A central director may be included in the interior space of the separator chamber to promote flow of the gaseous component toward the exit. A dripper may be included in fluid communication with the spiral channel, for example, in the exit and to direct the coalesced liquid into a collection vessel.

Abstract: An environmental chamber having an interior compartment, an augmented display, and a controller is disclosed. The interior compartment is adapted for isolating an experimental setup from an environment external to the interior compartment. The augmented display is positioned to allow a user in the external environment to view the interior compartment and an image generated on the augmented display. The controller generates the image. The image includes information about a component within the interior compartment. The augment display can include a touch-enabled display screen that allows the user to interact with controller.

Abstract: Provided herein, among other things, is a method of ionizing a first stream of liquid by an electrospray ion source having a nebulizer, wherein the first stream of liquid may comprise an analyte. In some embodiments, the method may comprise: a) providing the first stream of liquid to the nebulizer; b) adding a second stream of liquid to the first stream of liquid, wherein the second stream of liquid comprises a co-solvent that has a relatively high boiling point and an enhancement solvent that a relatively high boiling; and c) nebulizing and ionizing the resulting liquid.

Abstract: A sample management device which comprises a source flow path in which a fluidic sample can flow, a volume flow adjustment unit configured to adjust a volume flow of the fluidic sample to be branched off from the source flow path at a fluidic coupling point, and a fluidic valve fluidically coupled with the source flow path and with the volume flow adjustment unit, wherein the fluidic valve is switchable into a branch off state in which the fluidic coupling point is established within the source flow path to branch off an adjustable volume of the fluidic sample from the source flow path via the fluidic coupling point while a flow of the fluidic sample in the source flow path continues.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for generating images of specimens is disclosed. The apparatus includes an imaging system, controller, and user interface. The imaging system generates a plurality of component images of a specimen, each component image corresponding to a different viewing condition. Each image is represented by an intensity as a function of location on the specimen. The controller stores the component images and generates a compound image from a plurality of the component images. The compound image includes a weighted sum of first and second ones of the component images, the controller displaying the compound image on a display controlled by the controller. The user interface is adapted to control a weighting factor used in generating the weighted sum in response to user input. The controller redisplays the compound image after the weighting factor is changed in response to user input.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for generating images of specimens is disclosed. The apparatus includes an imaging system, controller, and user interface. The imaging system generates a plurality of component images of a specimen, each component image corresponding to a different viewing condition. Each image is represented by an intensity as a function of location on the specimen. The controller stores the component images and generates a compound image from a plurality of the component images. The compound image includes a weighted sum of first and second ones of the component images, the controller displaying the compound image on a display controlled by the controller. The user interface is adapted to control a weighting factor used in generating the weighted sum in response to user input. The controller redisplays the compound image after the weighting factor is changed in response to user input.

Abstract: The present invention relates to modified guide RNAs and their use in clustered, regularly interspaced, short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated (Cas) systems.

Abstract: A microwave chamber for plasma generation. The microwave chamber comprises a launch structure at a first end of the microwave chamber to accommodate a microwave source for producing microwave energy and a termination section at a second end of the microwave chamber opposite the first end. The termination section is configured to substantially block propagation of the microwave energy from the second end of the chamber. The microwave chamber further comprises an internal wall structure for guiding the microwave energy received within the microwave chamber at the first end toward the second end and defines a cavity. The internal wall structure comprises an impedance matching section intermediate the first end and the second end, and a capacitive loaded section intermediate the impedance matching section and the second end, wherein the capacitive loaded section comprises at least one ridge extending along a longitudinal axis of the chamber.

Abstract: This disclosure provides a method comprising: a) clamping the top and bottom strands of a double stranded DNA molecule to produce a duplex in which the top and bottom strands are linked; b) denaturing the duplex to produce a denatured product; and c) renaturing the denatured product in the presence of a labeled oligonucleotide that is complementary to a sequence of nucleotides in the double stranded DNA molecule, thereby producing a D-loop-containing product. Kits for performing the method and products made by the method are also provided.

Abstract: A column assembly for gas chromatography, which is coolable by a fluid, includes a capillary column, a heating element for heating at least a portion of the capillary column, and a tube having a lumen and in contact with at least one of the capillary column and the heating element. When energized, the heating element raises the temperature of the capillary column. To lower the temperature of the capillary column, a fluid flows through the tube, and heat is transferred from the capillary column to the fluid in the tube.

Abstract: A sealing configuration is configured for sealingly coupling a first fluid flow path of a first device to a second fluid flow path of a second device. The sealing configuration comprises a contact surface comprising a structure configured for increasing a surface pressure when coupling the first device to the second device. The contact surface comprises a metal coating configured for increasing sealing.

Abstract: A fluidic valve for switching between different fluid coupling states includes a stator having at least one fluidic stator interface, a rotor having at least one fluidic rotor interface, wherein the rotor is rotatable relative to the stator to thereby switch the fluidic valve between a plurality of different fluid coupling states between the at least one fluidic stator interface and the at least one fluidic rotor interface, and a force transmission mechanism configured for pressing the stator and the rotor together by a contactless force transmission to provide for a fluid tight sealing between the stator and the rotor.

Abstract: Parts of a pump head of a scroll pump facilitate an assembly process in which the stationary and orbiting scroll blades of the pump are angularly aligned or synchronized with one another. A metallic bellows of the pump head provides a primary means of synchronizing the stationary and orbiting scroll blades. The assembly process may be carried out using a fixture configured to be mountable to an assemblage including the bellows and the orbiting plate scroll. The fixture has a reference feature, and the orbiting plate scroll or the frame has another reference feature that can be aligned with the reference feature of the fixture, in the circumferential direction of the bellows, during the course of the assembly process.

Abstract: The present invention relates to transposase adapters and uses thereof, including uses in preparing DNA molecules, in vitro amplification, sequencing of nucleic acids, and screening of DNA libraries for sequences of interest as well as nucleic acid delivery.