Abstract: A gas chromatograph (GC) inlet device includes a multi-capillary liner capable of separating components of a sample matrix prior to injecting the sample into an analytical GC column. The device is switchable between different modes, such as a normal injection modes, splitless modes, split modes, a backflush modes, and cut modes.

Abstract: An adjustable directional coupler circuit includes a directional coupler and a correction circuit. The directional coupler includes a first port for receiving an input signal; a second port for outputting the input signal to a load; a third port for outputting a first coupled signal including a desired first coupled signal proportional to forward power of the input signal and an extraneous first coupled signal proportional to reverse power of a reflected signal; and a fourth port for outputting a second coupled signal including a desired second coupled signal proportional to the reverse power and an extraneous second coupled signal proportional to the forward power. The correction circuit adjusts magnitude and phase of a sample of the second coupled signal to provide an adjusted second coupled signal, and to sum the adjusted second coupled signal and the first coupled signal to cancel the extraneous first coupled signal.

Abstract: A semiconductor test system includes test head pins; per-pin resources which are connectable to the test head pins on a one-to-one basis; shared resources, each of which is connectable to one of the test head pins; a tester controller for controlling the per-pin resources and the shared resources; and a tabular-form test plan including: a first column for specifying a measurement function that uses at least one of the per-pin resources and the shared resources; and at least one second column for specifying input and output parameters of the measurement function, the tabular-form test plan further including program rows, the tabular-form test plan being executed by the tester controller, the tabular-form test plan further including a third column for specifying how rows that are executed by asynchronous parallel execution are to be grouped.

Abstract: A scroll pump has a metallic bellows that angularly synchronizes the stationary and orbiting scroll blades of the pump, and a hack-up system for the bellows. The back-up system consists of pins integral with and fixed relative to one of the stationary and orbital parts of the scroll pump, and a guide part that is integral with and fixed relative to the other of the stationary and orbital parts. The back-up system may be a non-contacting hack-up system in which there is no contact between the pins and guide part during normal operation of the pump. Therefore, no particles are created by a wearing away of such parts which would otherwise have the potential to contaminate the fluid being worked by the pump and reduce the useful life of the pump.

Abstract: A plasma source for generating microwave-induced plasma includes a plasma torch integrated with a microwave energy source. The torch establishes a gas flow path from one side of the plasma source to the other side. The torch may be integrated with the microwave energy source such that a plasma-forming gas flowing through the torch is subjected to microwave radiation, which serves to initiate and/or sustain plasma in the torch. The plasma may be ejected from the torch and utilized in various applications involving the use of plasma, including analytical techniques such as optical emission spectrometry and mass spectrometry.

Abstract: A method of operating a data processing system having a control screen to provide control of a program is disclosed. First and second program graphical user interfaces (GUIs) and a runtime library are provided. The first program GUI includes a first GUI description and a first method for operating on data input to or data output from that the first program GUI. The second program GUI includes a second GUI description and a second method for operating on data input to or data output from that the second program GUI. The runtime library includes the first and second method. The data processing system combines the first GUI description and the second GUI description to provide a compound GUI without recompiling the runtime library.

Abstract: A fluid supply system (150) adapted for metering two or more fluids in controlled proportions and for supplying a resultant mixture, the fluid supply system (150) comprising a plurality of solvent supply lines (104 to 107), each fluidically connected with a fluid source (100 to 103) providing a respective fluid, a pumping unit (110) comprising a reciprocating element (115) adapted for intaking fluid supplied at an inlet of the pumping unit (110) and for supplying the pressurized fluid at an outlet of the pumping unit (110), wherein the pumping unit (110) is adapted for taking in fluids from selected solvent supply lines (104 to 107) and for supplying a pressurized mixture of the fluids at its outlet, a proportioning valve (108) interposed between the solvent supply lines (104 to 107) and the inlet of the pumping unit (110), the proportioning valve (108) adapted for modulating solvent composition by sequentially coupling selected ones of the solvent supply lines (104 to 107) with the inlet of the pumping unit

Abstract: A composition comprising population of labeled oligonucleotides is provided herein. In some embodiments, the probes are of the formula: T1-V-T2, wherein: the nucleotide sequence of the V region varies in said population; the V regions of the different oligonucleotides hybridize to sites that are tiled across a sequence in a target nucleic acid; the T1 and T2 regions do not hybridize with said target nucleic acid; within each oligonucleotide of the population, the T1 and T2 regions are not complementary; and within each oligonucleotide of the population, the T1 region is complementary to the T2 region of at least one of other oligonucleotide of the population. Also provided is a method that comprises hybridizing the population of labeled oligonucleotides with a target nucleic acid to produce a complex.

Abstract: An apparatus for holding a sample tube includes a plurality of rollers circumscribing a clearance space along a central axis, and an actuator configured for moving the rollers between a non-gripping position and a gripping position. At the non-gripping position, the rollers are oriented relative to the central axis such that a diameter of the clearance space is at a maximum; and at the gripping position, the rollers are at a twisted angle relative to the central axis, and the diameter is reduced such that the rollers contact the sample tube.

Abstract: A robotic arm assembly includes a first arm and second arm coupled by a shaft and bearing assembly, forming a joint at which the first arm rotates about a joint axis. The bearing assembly includes angular contact cartridge bearings contacting corresponding angled surfaces of the assembly, and a bearing cap. The shaft is attached to the first arm, extends through the second arm, and is attached to the bearing cap such that the bearing assembly is axially compressed between the bearing cap and the first arm. The bearing assembly may include components for preloading the bearing assembly and enabling components to self-align during assembly.

Abstract: The present invention is a process for making an inorganic/organic hybrid totally porous spherical silica particles by self assembly of surfactants that serve as organic templates via pseudomorphic transformation.

Abstract: A method is provided for to determining a time difference of arrival (TDOA) between a first signal and a second signal. The method includes sampling a first signal at a sub-Nyquist rate to provide a first sampled signal; sampling a second signal at the sub-Nyquist rate to provide a second sampled signal, the first and second signals representing corresponding multipath channels; cross-correlating the first and second sampled signals; and determining an estimate of the TDOA between the first and second signals based on the sampled first and second signals.

Abstract: A method for operating a data processing system having a touch enabled display screen that displays a plurality of waveforms to alter the display of one of the waveforms without altering the display of the remaining waveforms is disclosed. The method includes determining a selected waveform in response to a user touching the display screen in a first location thereby defining a touch area that determines the selected waveform. An operation that is to be performed on the selected waveform is then defined by a gesture on the screen. The selected waveform is determined by a touch area that is defined by the user touching the screen. If more than one waveform is defined by the touch area, the possible waveforms are sequentially selected until the correct one is presented to the user in response to the user repeating the touching that defines the touch area.

Abstract: A method for operating a computer to develop a program having a GUI is disclosed. The method includes providing a program development system having an editing mode in which a user constructs a GUI and providing a graphical element that can be placed on a form as part of the GUI, the graphical element displaying data from the server while the program development system is in the editing mode. The parameters that control the connection and data transfer from the server can be provided in the properties section of the graphical element, and hence, no compilation of the underlying program is needed to verify the server connection and associated data.

Abstract: Provided herein is method comprising: contacting an initial RNA sample containing a population of different RNA molecules with a divalent cation and a set of DNAzymes that are designed to cleave multiple target RNAs in the initial sample, thereby producing a product RNA sample that comprises: a) uncleaved RNA molecules and b) cleaved RNA fragments that contain a 2?,3?-cyclic-phosphate and a 5? hydroxyl as the result of DNAzyme cleavage.

Abstract: A method of generating a trend graph comprises storing a stream of data elements in a buffer having a storage capacity corresponding to a first number of data elements, compressing the stored data elements to fit within a display having a size corresponding to a second number of data elements smaller than the first number of data elements, detecting an event, and as a consequence detecting the event, compressing the stored data elements to occupy a reduced portion of the buffer.

Abstract: An apparatus for holding a contact lens during in vitro testing includes a first support member, a second support member, an alignment rod, and a cage member. The first support member includes a first end cap and a body portion. The body portion includes grooves formed in a lateral surface extending from the first end cap. The alignment rod is configured for interconnecting the body portion and a second end cap of the second support member. The cage member is positionable about the body portion between the first and second end caps, and includes an inner surface, an outer surface, and a plurality of openings between the inner surface and the outer surface. The inner surface and the lateral surface cooperatively define an annular space therebetween and a plurality of fluid flow paths between the inner space and the openings. The annular space is configured for receiving the contact lens.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a proportional valve, a first channel connected to the proportional valve, a flow sensor connected to the first channel and configured to measure gas flow in the first channel, a split channel connected to the first channel at a location between the proportional valve and the flow sensor, and a control component connected between the flow sensor and the proportional valve and configured to control gas flow in the first channel.

Abstract: A measurement instrument receives an analog input signal from a measurement target, converts the input signal into a digital signal, scans the digital signal and comparing the scanned digital signal with a pattern signature using a flexible matching procedure implemented by hardware, and triggers the measurement instrument according to a result of the flexible matching procedure.

Abstract: A device includes a memory storing a persistence bit for each of a plurality of pixels of a display device, the persistence bit having a first value when a corresponding pixel should be illuminated for displaying a persistent image, and having a second value when the corresponding pixel should not be illuminated for the persistent image; a pseudorandom pixel value generator which during each video frame receives a seed value and generates pseudorandom pixel values for the plurality of pixels, each pseudorandom pixel value being not greater than a specified variable persistence value; a frame value generator outputting a frame value for each video frame; and a match detector which, during each video frame, compares the frame value to the pseudorandom pixel values for the plurality of pixels, and for each pixel where the comparison indicates a match, makes the persistence bit for the corresponding pixel have the second value.