Abstract: The present invention relates to an ionization source having a chamber for ionizing a sample. The ionization chamber has surfaces to reduce the overall interaction with reactive samples. The inner surface walls of the ionization chamber or the ionization chamber may be formed from an inert super alloy. For instance, Inconel™ 625, Inconel™ 601 or Hastelloy® may comprise the ionization chamber or the surface walls of the ionization chamber. The invention also includes a method for reducing the interaction of a reactive analyte with an ion source.

Abstract: A method for calibrating time interleaved samplers comprising applying a calibration signal to a time-interleaved sampling device, wherein the signal is coherent with at least one sample clock on the device and is periodic and has a predetermined spectral content and frequency, sampling, by said time-interleaved sampling device, the calibration signal at a plurality of phases to form samples, averaging the formed samples, and calculating the phase error of each sample based on the average calibration signal sample.

Abstract: An apparatus for mixing fluids comprises a housing having at least a portion of its interior, for example, a channel, with capillary dimensions and at least one structural member in the interior adjacent an end of the channel. The dimensions of and placement of the structural member are sufficient such that intermittent application of centrifugal force to the interior of the housing causes movement of the fluid therein. The housing may comprise a mixing chamber or area that is in fluid communication with the interior. The apparatus may comprise a mechanism adapted to generate centrifugal force within the housing to cause movement of fluid in the interior of the housing without exit of fluid therefrom.

Abstract: Random and deterministic components of jitter are separated. A measured value for deterministic jitter and a plurality of values for random jitter are used to calculate a plurality of first ratios (?ml) of random jitter to deterministic jitter. For each of the plurality of values for random jitter, the value for random jitter is convolved with the measured value for deterministic jitter and a double delta approximation is performed on the result to calculate a plurality of second ratios (?dd) of random jitter to deterministic jitter. A double delta approximation is performed on a measured jitter distribution to obtain a ratio (?ddmeas) of random jitter to deterministic jitter. The ratio (?ddmeas) is adjusted using a relationship of the plurality of first ratios (?ml) to the plurality of second ratios (?dd) in order to produce a corrected ratio (?mlcorr).

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention reconstruct an underlying phenomenon without the need for predicting a functional form for that signal, by establishing an upper bound and a lower bound for the value of the phenomenon at every point within a measurement space. By acquiring a large enough number of measurements of the phenomenon, a sufficiently high probability that the value of said phenomenon lies between said upper and said lower bound at every point within said measurement space may be established.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a vector network analyzer (VNA) comprises a plurality of ports for coupling to a device under test (DUT), at least one reference receiver for measuring signals associated with the DUT, and logic for processing measurement data from the at least one reference receiver to compensate for transmission line effects, wherein the logic for processing evaluates a function, of several controllable variables, that is a sum of multiple transmission line models, wherein each of the controllable variables is related to a respective transmission line length associated with a corresponding transmission line model.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a sampling device has first and second detachable body parts defining a fluid flow path. The first body part defines a fluid inlet of the fluid flow path and the second body part defines a fluid outlet of the fluid flow path. A diameter of a portion of the fluid flow path is enlarged to receive and retain a tubular sampling coupon that further defines the fluid flow path. The tubular sampling coupon may be of a type having first and second coupon body parts mated along a long axis. The tubular sampling coupon is of a size and shape to be received and retained within a fluid flow path of a sampling device, wherein the tubular sampling coupon further defines the fluid flow path. Systems and methods using the sampling device and sampling coupon are also disclosed.

Abstract: System, tools and methods for extracting the contents from a graphical image, such as the representation of a biological process, and converting the contents into a standardized, machine readable format. The standard format can be used to create editable graphical representations of images, such as biological models.

Abstract: An apparatus, method, and kit for probing a pattern of points on a first printed circuit board are disclosed. In one exemplary embodiment, the apparatus includes a probe having i) a plurality of compression interconnects to probe the pattern of points on the first printed circuit board, and ii) a plurality of fixed pins that are electrically coupled to the compression interconnects. The fixed pins extend from the probe opposite the compression interconnects. The apparatus further includes a flexible wire interconnect having first and second sets of electrically coupled connectors, the first set of which is coupled to the fixed pins of the probe. A second printed circuit board has at least one first connector that is electrically coupled to at least one second connector. The at least one first connector is coupled to the second set of connectors of the flexible wire interconnect, and the at least one second connector is configured to couple to a test instrument.

Abstract: A component part of a microfluidic valve adapted to be coupled with a microfluidic device, the microfluidic device having at least one port coupled to a flow path of the microfluidic device, the component part comprising a first revolving valve element having a first interface with the microfluidic device and a second revolving valve element having a second interface with the microfluidic device and being located within a through hole of the first revolving valve element.

Abstract: A method of MALDI sample plate processing includes capturing an image of a plate positioned outside a mass spectrometer. The image is processed to identify one or more attributes of an individual sample on the plate, where the attributes are selected from a position attribute, a geometry attribute and an internal density distribution attribute. A laser impact position is selected within the mass spectrometer based upon one or more of the attributes.

Abstract: A wireless communications system integrated with the computer infrastructure of an organization so as to provide access to and permit utilization of features and capabilities of the computer infrastructure. The system has a portable unit having a user interface; a computer infrastructure interface; a voice recognition unit associated with the computer infrastructure interface, the voice recognition unit permitting a user of the portable unit to communicate with the computer infrastructure by voice communication; and a wireless communications link for connecting the user interface and the computer infrastructure interface, the wireless communications link covering an area designated by the organization for permitting the user of the portable unit to access the computer infrastructure when the portable unit is within the designated area.

Abstract: A method of identifying work at home users of a telecommunications network based on call detail records. The phone numbers of the work at home users are identified from call detail records that exhibit characteristics of work at home users. In one embodiment this involves selecting records describing calls to phone numbers of known Internet Service Providers; excluding records describing calls less than a predetermined length of time; excluding records containing originating numbers with records describing calls to an ISP that occur on weekends; and excluding records containing originating numbers with records describing calls to an ISP that occur outside normal business hours.

Abstract: Selected data (LSP1, LSP2) is monitored among other data passing through label switched paths (LSPs) of a communications network of interconnected label switching routers (LSR–LSR4). The method comprises designating at least one of the routers (LSR3) as a monitoring station and at least one of the routers (here LSR3 also) as a probe interface station, and connecting a probe apparatus to that interface station. The monitoring station (LSR3) is configured to multicast forward the selected data for monitoring additionally to the probe apparatus via the probe interface (506). Also disclosed is a probe apparatus including means for configuring the router to perform multicast forwarding of selected data to the interface.

Abstract: A capillary for a mass spectrometry system is described. The capillary comprises a channel and a tip, and at least one of the channel and the tip comprises a nanowire material.

Abstract: A switching circuit includes at least two first semiconductor switches, each having a first input portion and a second input portion; range resistors that are provided between output portions of the first semiconductor switches and a device under test and that have different resistances from each other; a second semiconductor switch having an input portion connected to the output portions of the first semiconductor switches; and a differential amplifier having an input portion connected to the output portion of the second semiconductor switch and an input portion connected to ends of the range resistors, the ends being adjacent to the device under test. In accordance with a control signal, a desired one of the first semiconductor switches is connected to the first input portion and the second switch is connected to the output portion of the desired first semiconductor switch.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer program products for fabricating multiple chemical arrays on a substrate, each array having multiple rows of feature locations with arrays of different sets being arranged in a sideways orientation with respect to the rows. The method includes dispensing drops from a drop dispensing head onto the substrate while maintaining a gap between the head and substrate and moving them relative to one another along a path so as to fabricate the arrays. The path for the relative moving includes moving the head in a direction along the rows of a first array set then moving the head in an opposite direction along the rows of a second array set. This pattern is repeated with the second array set of an earlier cycle being the first array set of a later cycle.

Abstract: Methods for specifying the layout of a MALDI sample plate are provided. In general, the methods involve creating a file containing sample plate layout parameters that describe the layout of a MALDI sample plate, and storing the file on a computer readable medium prior to placement of the MALDI sample plate into a MALDI ion source. In many embodiments, the file includes information about the size or shape of the sample plate, or information about the size, shape or position of a sample on the sample plate. In many embodiments, a MALDI sample plate is placed in a MALDI ion source and a stored layout file for the sample plate is accessed and used to position an area of the sample plate in a laser beam. The subject methods, kits and apparatus find use in a variety of different mass spectrometry applications.

Abstract: An assay plate for detecting the presence of a mobile reactant that binds to a immobilized reactant and the methods of making and using the same. An assay plate according to the present invention includes a substrate and at least one dried aliquot of the immobilized reactant, the immobilized reactant being bound to the surface of the substrate. The immobilized reactant binds the mobile reactant when a solution containing the mobile reactant is brought into contact with the immobilized reactant. The mobile and immobilized reactants may be any pair of biological compounds that have a specific affinity for one another. For example the reactants may be nucleic acids or antibody-antigen pairs. The preferred embodiment of an assay plate according to the present invention includes a plurality of assay spots, each spot having a different immobilized reactant or concentration thereof.

Abstract: A lossless (or low loss) transmission line can be constructed using an auxiliary conductor inductively coupled to the primary conductor and driven by the primary conductor through an active shunt network distributed along the transmission line. The auxiliary conductor is placed close enough to the primary conductor so that the two conductors have a substantial amount of mutual inductance compared to their self-inductance. The transmission line can be operated in differential mode. In one embodiment, a combination of conductance and transconductance are used to cancel losses and control dispersion in the transmission line for high frequency signal transmission. Transconductance is achieved in a differential transmission line by inducing a signal from each transmission line into closely coupled parallel lines, adding active elements between each of the coupled lines to a common ground plane and controlling the current through each active element by the signal on the opposite transmission line.