Abstract: An automated laboratory device that comprises a mechanism that performs operations on laboratory samples, a scheduler that causes the mechanism to process laboratory samples in accordance with programmed processes, logic that detects an error occurring in a process controlled by the scheduler, logic that accepts a user-defined error handling routine for the error, and logic that executes the error handling routine when the error is encountered. Also described is an embodiment of the invention directed to a laboratory automation system, a method of laboratory automation, a computer implemented software program product, a method of doing business, and a laboratory automation network.

Abstract: Synthetic nanopore fabrication methods and structures are provided. Nanoscale transistor fabrication methods and structures are provided.

Abstract: A method of obtaining ions of an analyte is disclosed. The method includes aerosolizing a sample using a thermal liquid jetting device or a piezoelectric liquid jetting device to obtain an aerosol without ionizing the sample. The sample includes the analyte in a solvent. The method further includes drying the aerosol to obtain gas phase solvent and gas phase analyte, and ionizing the gas phase analyte to obtain ions thereof. An ion source using the method for obtaining ions of an analyte is also disclosed.

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 method of analyzing a sample comprising multiple protein species is provided. The proteins are separated by species such that the multiple protein species emerge in a sequential order and are then digested in the sequential order in which they emerge from the separation process. The digested proteins are introduced into a mass spectrometer in the same sequential order so that, within a given time window, the digested proteins introduced into the mass spectrometer are covariant.

Abstract: Multiple noise-FM dither. An analog dither signal is generated by summing two or more noise-FM signals, each noise-FM signal being a carrier modulated by a noise source.

Abstract: An apparatus to actively monitor a network having a plurality of twisted-pair communication links. The apparatus includes a plurality of amplifiers corresponding, respectively, to the plurality of twisted-pair communication links, each amplifier having a sufficiently high input impedance and common-mode voltage tolerance to non-intrusively copy a data signal transmitted through a corresponding twisted-pair communication link and amplify the copied data signal. The apparatus further includes a plurality of isolation transformers corresponding, respectively, to the plurality of amplifiers, each isolation transformer receiving the amplified, copied data signal from the corresponding amplifier, and outputting a transformed data signal, and a connector receiving the transformed data signals from the plurality of isolation transformers in a pin order corresponding to the plurality of twisted-pair communication links.

Abstract: Apparatus for compensating for a coupling error in an input signal may include a blocking correction filter. The blocking correction filter is in operable connection with an AC coupling circuit. The blocking correction filter applies to the input signal a transfer function including a settling parameter and a time constant of the AC coupling circuit.

Abstract: The present invention provides ion sampling apparatuses that can be used in a fast polarity-switching electric field. In some embodiments, the ion sampling apparatus comprises a capillary made with an insulator, with a resistive inner or outer surface. Devices and systems comprising the ion sampling apparatuses, as well as methods of use thereof, are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system and method to seal a device under test (DUT) into a portable chamber wherein the magnitude of the temperature, either up or down, is maintained by continuously providing a control signal applied to heating or cooling elements. In one embodiment, voltage polarity is used to select between heat and cold and voltage magnitude is used to control temperature. In one embodiment, several parameters within the chamber are monitored and the resultant signals are then used to define the magnitude and polarity of the control voltage. In one embodiment, a controller is used to receive information pertaining to the DUT. This information, for example, includes the identity of the DUT as well as its stabilization time and set temperature. The set temperature may be adjusted according to historical data pertaining to the DUT to compensate for differences over other test methods.

Abstract: A packet data capture apparatus, method and a computer readable medium having instructions recorded thereon, stream data packets in real time. The apparatus includes: a buffer, to store a plurality of data packets until transmission; a macro-packet transmitter, to prepare macro-packets from the stored plurality of packets and operate in a UDP mode that includes a predetermined re-transmit and flow control protocol; and a processor, to stream the macro-packets to a computer/server or storage device in real time and to retransmit respective macro-packets of the stream of macro-packets via the re-transmit and flow control protocol in accordance with a request from the computer/server.

Abstract: In a computer programming language environment wherein operations are specified in one or more parallel frame sequences of frames arranged on a time scale, a programming language provides user-specifiable semantics for defining the start times for starting the frames and the end times for ending the frames. A method may be executed according to a routine constructed using the programming language, wherein the method includes providing user-specified semantics for defining the start times for starting the frames and for defining the end times for ending the frames, and executing operations according to the start times and end times for the frames as defined by the user-specified semantics.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for collecting digital sample data from a target system accesses the digital sample data at transitions of a sample clock, acquires information related to an instantaneous average period of the sample clock, and records the digital sample data and the information related to the instantaneous average period of the sample clock.

Abstract: A displacement measurement apparatus includes a light source, a splitter grating, a measurement grating, and first a second detector arrays. The splitter grating splits a light beam into first and second measurement channels that each illuminates the measurement grating. The first and second measurement channels split into 0th and 1st order diffraction products at the measurement grating in a first pass and recombine at the measurement grating in a second pass before being measured at the first and second detector arrays.

Abstract: A measurement and correction method provides for a complete full correction of a true-mode system using only the single ended error matrix developed for 4 port correction of single ended measurements. The degree of misalignment of the balanced sources may be determined from these measurements.

Abstract: In particular embodiments in accordance with the present invention, a wax-embedded tissue specimen is digested and the resulting digested tissue specimen is purified to provide a purified RNA fraction. The purified RNA fraction is treated with one or more enzymes to provide a sample containing dephosphorylated RNA; the sample is contacted with an enzyme having an RNA ligation activity in the presence of a labeled substrate to provide labeled RNA. Kits for performing the described methods are described. Methods of performing an array analysis of a labeled RNA sample are also described.

Abstract: A method of measuring jitter frequency response includes recovering a clock signal from a data input stream to provide a recovered clock signal and counting the recovered clock signal over a selected time period to provide a recovered clock count. A reference signal is counted over the selected time period to provide a reference signal count. The recovered clock count is compared to the reference signal count and a frequency of the recovered clock signal for the selected time period is calculated.

Abstract: Methods and kits for separating organelles of a specific type from a mixture of organelles of different types are described. The methods comprise providing a mixture of organelles of different types, adding probes to the mixture to form an organelle-probe complex with a distinct diffusion coefficient, and separating the organelles of the specific type from the mixture of organelles based upon the diffusion coefficient of the complex. The probes used in these methods include an affinity portion which binds selectively to the organelle of the specific type and a tag portion which imparts the distinct diffusion coefficient to the complex.

Abstract: An ion trap comprising elongate rods, electrodes, a first circuit, and a second circuit. The rods are for defining the radial extent of a trapping volume. The first circuit is connected to the rods for applying thereto a first RF signal that generates adjacent the trapping volume a radial RF containment field that radially contains ions of different polarities within the trapping volume. The electrodes define the axial extent of the trapping volume. The second circuit is connected to the electrodes for applying thereto a second RF signal that generates adjacent the trapping volume an axial RF containment field that axially contains the ions of different polarities within the trapping volume. The axial RF containment field is independent of the radial RF containment field.

Abstract: Methods are described in which a sample containing RNA is contacted with an enzyme having an RNA ligation activity in the presence of a labeled substrate to provide labeled RNA. Methods of performing an array analysis of a labeled RNA sample are also described.