Abstract: A slide cover for enclosing a region comprising an active region on a slide is provided. A slide cover and a slide are also provided. A slide cover for enclosing a region comprising an active region on a slide, where the slide is placed in a clamshell slide holder is also provided.

Abstract: A scanning probe microscope and method for operating the same to correct for errors introduced by a repetitive scanning motion are disclosed. The microscope includes an actuator that moves the probe tip relative to the sample in three directions. The actuator executes a repetitive motion, characterized by a repetitive motion frequency, in one of the directions, and changes a distance between the sample and the probe tip in a second one of the directions. A probe position signal generator generates a probe position signal indicative of a position of the probe tip relative to the cantilever arm. A probe signal correction generator generates a corrected probe position signal by correcting the probe position signal for errors introduced by the repetitive motion. A controller maintains the probe tip in a fixed relationship with respect to the sample in the second one of the dimensions based on the corrected probe position signal.

Abstract: A method for processing biopolymer arrays and apparatus and computer program products for executing the method. The method may include reading a different array identifier for each biopolymer array from a tag associated with that array. At least some of the biopolymer arrays are read and results from each read array saved in a memory linked with the read identifier for that array. Different communication addresses and a selection of an array identifier for each, are received. For at least some of the arrays, the saved results for each are matched with one of the different communication addresses using the identifier, and the saved results transmitted for those arrays to the matched different communication addresses. A method of processing data from the reading of biopolymer arrays is also provided.

Abstract: An assembly for handling a fluid, comprising a valve and a controller. The valve has at least one revolving valve element and a coupling device. The coupling device comprises at least one port coupled to a flow path and is adapted for interacting with said at least one revolving valve element in order to control a fluid flow through said at least one port using a relative valve position between the revolving valve element and the coupling device. The controller is adapted for controlling the relative valve position based on at least one of a current and a previous measurement of an amount of the fluid flow dependent on the relative valve position.

Abstract: A molecular spiral-type vacuum pumping stage comprises a smooth surfaces rotor disk cooperating with a stator body. The stator body comprises a plurality of spiral channels on at least one surface facing the rotor disk. The cross-section area (?) of these channels are reduced from the center to the outer periphery of the stator body so that the condition is satisfied according to which the internal channel speed, i.e. the product of the channel cross-section area and half the rotor velocity normal to the aforesaid area, is constant throughout the channels. Due to this arrangement, it is possible to avoid the risk of internal compression or re-expansions, this limiting the power losses. The present invention also refers to a vacuum pump comprising at least one pumping stage as described above.

Abstract: According to one aspect, a magnetic resonance (NMR or MRI) phantom includes a spherical or quasi-spherical casing enclosing an internal chamber, and an internal phantom structure situated within the internal chamber. The casing includes alignment features allowing the sequential alignment/orientation of the phantom along three orthogonal axes. In some embodiments, the casing is shaped as a quasi-spherical intercyl having an outer surface defined by the intersection of three orthogonal cylinders. In some embodiments, the casing may be shaped as a sphere having orthogonal registration holes or channels sized to accommodate a corresponding protrusion or ridge in a phantom holder; the casing may also include protrusions or ridges sized to fit into a matching hole or channel defined in a holder. One or more internal phantom plates may include air bubble transfer apertures allowing air bubbles to flow between opposite sides of a plate as a liquid-filled phantom is rotated.

Abstract: A method for removing fluid in a microfluidic device, the microfluidic device having a fluid channel, a first well, and a second well, the first well and the second well being coupled to a first end of the fluid channel, the method including applying a pressure difference between the second well and the first well, and applying a pressure difference between the first end and a second end of the fluid channel being below a certain threshold, for at least partly removing a first fluid from a first supply line coupled between the first well and the first end of the fluid channel.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions and improved methods for multi-site directed mutagenesis and DNA shuffling. The present compositions and methods provide increased mutation frequency and increased number of transformants which allow one to sequence only a few clones in order to identify the correct mutants and to obtain the desired mutant by screening large number of transformants in a short time. Moreover, the inclusion of FEN-1, PEF and optimized buffer and cycling conditions provided in the present invention should also facilitate random mutagenized library construction and the mutagenesis of large or difficult templates.

Abstract: A chromatographic apparatus may include a hydraulic lifting mechanism axially movable from a lowered position to a raised position such that a column and flange of the apparatus are axially movable with the hydraulic lifting mechanism. In a packing system, a mobile column module may be moved into engagement with a packing station by engaging a flange of the column module with a fixture of the packing station. After packing a column of the column module, the column module may be removed from the packing station with a piston head locked in the column to maintain packing pressure. The packing station may be utilized to unpack the column. A hydraulic lifting mechanism may be operated to lower one or more portions of the column module such that the one or more portions may be separately removed from the packing system.

Abstract: A method for determining an amount of polar substance in a non-polar media includes adding a surfactant to increase a dispersion of the polar substance in the non-polar media and to increase the optical absorbance of the polar substance in the non-polar media to create a sample, passing an initial optical spectrum through the sample, measuring a resultant optical spectrum exiting the sample, relating the resultant optical spectrum to a predetermined quantitative calibration, and determining a concentration of the polar substance in the non-polar media based on the relation of the resultant optical spectrum to the quantitative calibration.

Abstract: Systems, computer-readable media, and methods using mass spectrometry to analyze a sample are provided. For example, a method includes: acquiring a precursor ion spectrum; analyzing the precursor ion spectrum to identify precursor ions that preliminarily match one or more peptides that each belong to at least one protein of interest for the analysis; selecting each of the identified precursor ions in an order according to a ranking protocol for maximizing the number of proteins that are identified in the sample; for each selected precursor ion: acquiring a corresponding product ion spectrum, determining whether the acquired product ion spectrum matches one of the peptides that belong to the set of proteins of interest, and identifying a matched peptide as being present in the sample; and identifying proteins of interest that are present in the sample based on the peptides that are identified as being present in the sample.

Abstract: A power divider includes an input port and a plurality of output ports. The power divider further includes a splitter fabricated from a plurality of discrete elements including at least one transformer having a ferrite core. The splitter has an input and a plurality of outputs. The power divider further includes a plurality of transmission lines fabricated on a printed circuit board. Each transmission line has a first end coupled to one of the outputs of the splitter and a second end coupled to one of the output ports, and includes a plurality of transmission line sections between the first end and the second end. The power divider further includes a plurality of balance resistors each having a first end connected between sections of one of the transmission lines, and having a second end connected between sections of another of the transmission lines.

Abstract: An NMR probe comprising an RF resonator 48 serves in a first mode for conventional sensitivity optimized studies of abundant samples at frequency ?0, and in a second mode for independent sensitivity optimized studies of micro sample quantities at frequency ?0 through use of a removably insertable self-resonant micro-coil 50 within the RF resonator 48 and closely surrounding a micro sample, that is preferably independently removably insertable within the micro-coil. The NMR probe exhibits an enhanced tuning range to resonate in its first mode and in the second mode to inductively couple to the self-resonant micro-coil 50 to induce self-resonance of the micro-coil 50 at ?0.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a collision cell comprises rods each having a first end and a second end remote from the first end; an inductor connected between adjacent pairs of rods; and means for applying a radio frequency (RF) voltage between adjacent pairs of rods. The RF voltage creates a multipole field in a region between the rods; and means for applying a direct current (DC) voltage drop along a length of each of the rods.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to spatial and structural genomic analysis compositions, which can be used for the mapping of chromosomes and structural analyses of chromosomal rearrangements, including the entire chromosome, as well as specific portions or regions of interest of the chromosomes. In some embodiments, multiple portions of the genome can be distinguished, for instance, using a first detection entity and a second detection entity different from the first detection entity. The detection entities may be immobilized relative to oligonucleotides, which may be selected to bind to different locations within the chromosome. For instance, the oligonucleotides may be at least substantially complementary to the chromosome, e.g., substantially complementary to a specific location of the chromosome.

Abstract: A separation device has a first separation chamber for housing a packing material representing a stationary phase configured for separating compounds of a fluid sample. The separation device comprises a first separation device element and a second separation device element, configured to be coupled together to provide the first separation chamber. Each of the first separation device element and the second separation device element comprises a retaining element configured to retain the packing material within the first separation chamber. The first separation chamber is provided by the first separation device element and the second separation device, with the retaining elements of both the first separation device element and the second separation device closing the first separation chamber.

Abstract: A method and system for determining a location of a first device that emits a signal: provide at least three sensors separated and spaced apart from each other; determine estimated location data for the first device for each sensor or unique sensor pair; determine an estimated location of the first device using the estimated location data for each sensor or unique sensor pair; determine residual values for the estimated location data for each sensor or sensor pair; convert the residual values into corresponding weights for the estimated location data for each sensor or sensor pair; weight the estimated location data for each sensor or sensor pair by its corresponding weight; and update the estimated location of the first device using the weighted estimated location data for each sensor or sensor pair.

Abstract: A method of determining a leak in a pumping system includes determining a metered flow rate of a fluid through a first channel, determining a measured flow rate within the channel, and identifying an amount of a leak in the pumping system as the difference between the metered flow rate and the measured flow rate.

Abstract: In a vibration damper of a turbomolecular vacuum pump, a vacuum tightness function and a vibration damping function are both performed by one or more toroidal rings made of an elastic material. The elastic rings assume a resting configuration while the vacuum pump is not operating and the damper is at atmospheric pressure, and they assume a compressed configuration while the vacuum pump is operating and the damper is under vacuum conditions. In the compressed configuration, the elastic rings are deformed due to a compression force. This deformation of the elastic rings prevents metal-to-metal contact between the vacuum pump and a vacuum chamber to which the pump is connected through the damper.

Abstract: A method of synchronizing respective state transitions in a group of devices including at least one responding device is disclosed. The group of devices is communicatively coupled to an initiating device via a communication network. The method includes the at least one responding device receiving a trigger message from the initiating device. The trigger message includes a state transition time or a time from which a state transition time is obtainable. The method further includes the at least one responding device jointly making a respective state transition at the state transition time. A responding device, and a system including the initiating device and the responding device are also disclosed.