Abstract: A bridge comprises a first inlet port, a second inlet port, an outlet port, and a chamber for silicone oil. The oil is density-matched with the reactor droplets such that a neutrally buoyant environment is created within the chamber. The oil within the chamber is continuously replenished by the oil separating the reactor droplets. This causes the droplets to assume a stable capillary-suspended spherical form upon entering the chamber. The spherical shape grows until large enough to span the gap between the ports, forming an axisymmetric liquid bridge. The introduction of a second droplet from the second inlet port causes the formation of an unstable funicular bridge that quickly ruptures from the, finer, second inlet port, and the droplets combine at the liquid bridge. In another embodiment, a droplet segments into smaller droplets which bridge the gap between the inlet and outlet ports.

Abstract: A multi-port liquid bridge (1) adds aqueous phase droplets (10) in an enveloping oil phase carrier liquid (11) to a draft channel (4, 6). A chamber (3) links four ports, and it is permanently full of oil (11) when in use. Oil phase is fed in a draft flow from an inlet port (4) and exits through a draft exit port (6) and a compensating flow port (7). The oil carrier and the sample droplets (3) (“aqueous phase”) flow through the inlet port (5) with an equivalent fluid flow subtracted through the compensating port (7). The ports of the bridge (1) are formed by the ends of capillaries held in position in plastics housings. The phases are density matched to create an environment where gravitational forces are negligible. This results in droplets (10) adopting spherical forms when suspended from capillary tube tips. Furthermore, the equality of mass flow is equal to the equality of volume flow.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to systems and methods for mixing and dispensing a sample droplet from a microfluidic system, such as a liquid bridge system. In certain embodiments, the invention provides systems for mixing and dispensing sample droplets, including a sample acquisition stage, a device for mixing sample droplets to form sample droplets wrapped in an immiscible carrier fluid, a dispensing port, and at least one channel connecting the stage, the droplet mixing device, and the port, in which the system is configured to establish a siphoning effect for dispensing the droplets.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to devices, systems, and methods for acquiring and/or dispensing a sample without introducing a gas into a microfluidic system, such as a liquid bridge system. An exemplary embodiment provides a sampling device including an outer sheath; a plurality of tubes within the sheath, in which at least one of the tubes acquires a sample, and at least one of the tubes expels a fluid that is immiscible with the sample, in which the at least one tube that acquires the sample is extendable beyond a distal end of the sheath and retractable to within the sheath; and a valve connected to a distal portion of the sheath, in which the valve opens when the tube extends beyond the distal end and closes when the tube retracts to within the sheath.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to devices, systems, and methods for acquiring and/or dispensing a sample without introducing a gas into a microfluidic system, such as a liquid bridge system. An exemplary embodiment provides a sampling device including: a sampling member for acquiring or dispensing a sample; and a supply of a fluid that is immiscible with the sample; in which the device is configured to provide a continuous flow of immiscible fluid enveloping the sampling member.

Abstract: A network element is configured to receive a first packet from a first eNodeB (eNB) of the packet network via a first secured X2 link. The network element decrypts the first packet to reveal a second packet encapsulated within the first packet. The network element determines a second secured X2 link associated with a second eNB as an intended recipient of the second packet. The network element encrypts the second packet to generate a third packet and transmits the third packet to the second eNB via the second secured X2 link. The network is coupled to various eNBs of the packet network via various secured X2 links, respectively.

Abstract: A liquid handling system of a PCR system is instructed to obtain a matrix of samples and reagents for a PCR experiment. A fluid pumping system of the PCR system is instructed to maintain a continuous flow of a transport fluid through a plurality of micro-channels that allows the mixture of the samples and the reagents producing a plurality of mixed sample droplets. One or more post-bridge detection values are received from a post-bridge detection system of the PCR system for each mixed sample droplet to determine if the mixed sample droplet is mixed correctly. A thermocycler of the PCR system is instructed to maintain one or more temperatures for cycling the temperature of the plurality of mixed sample droplets. One or more endpoint detection values are received from an endpoint detection system of the PCR system for each mixed sample droplet to analyze the PCR experiment.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to devices, systems, and methods for acquiring and/or dispensing a sample without introducing a gas into a microfluidic system, such as a liquid bridge system. An exemplary embodiment provides a sampling device including an outer sheath; a plurality of tubes within the sheath, in which at least one of the tubes acquires a sample, and at least one of the tubes expels a fluid that is immiscible with the sample, in which the at least one tube that acquires the sample is extendable beyond a distal end of the sheath and retractable to within the sheath; and a valve connected to a distal portion of the sheath, in which the valve opens when the tube extends beyond the distal end and closes when the tube retracts to within the sheath.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates methods for analyzing agricultural and/or environmental samples using liquid bridges. In certain embodiments, the invention provides a method for analyzing an agricultural sample for a desired trait including obtaining a gene or gene product from an agricultural sample, in which the gene or gene product is in a first fluid; providing a liquid bridge for mixing the gene or gene product with at least one reagent to form a mixed droplet that is wrapped in an immiscible second fluid; and analyzing the mixed droplet to detect a desired trait of the agricultural sample.

Abstract: According to one aspect, a multi-function gateway device (MFG) receives a request for terminating a first data session identified by a first IP address, the request originating either directly from a user equipment (UE), or indirectly from the UE via a radio access controller (RNC), wherein the UE is communicatively coupled to a 3G radio access network (RAN), such that data traffic of the first data session is routed to a first serving GPRS support node (SGSN). According to one aspect of the invention, the MFG further determines whether the UE is connected to the MFG via a WiFi RAN, any 3G call teardown related messages are blocked in order to keep the 3G GTP-U tunnel up. Continue routing user's data originating via the WiFi RAN over the GTP-U tunnel with the SGSN.

Abstract: Systems and methods are used to detect spectral and spatial information in a continuous flow PCR system. An incident beam of electromagnetic radiation is emitted using a laser. The incident beam is received from the laser and incident beam is transformed into an incident line of electromagnetic radiation using a line generator. The incident line is received from the line generator using a tube array that includes one or more transparent tubes in fluid communication with one or more micro-channels. Reflected electromagnetic radiation is received from the tube array and the reflected electromagnetic radiation is focused using an imaging lens. The focused reflected electromagnetic radiation is received from the imaging lens and a spectral intensity is detected from the focused reflected electromagnetic radiation using a spectrograph. The focused reflected electromagnetic radiation is received from the imaging lens and a location of the spectral intensity is detected using an imager.

Abstract: Provided herein is a biological detection system and method of use wherein the biological detection system comprises at least one mixer or liquid bridge for combining at least two liquid droplets and an error correction system for detecting whether or not proper mixing or combining of the two component droplets have occurred.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for charging fluids are disclosed. The charging of fluids improves the mixing of fluids in microfluidic systems. The charging is performed by producing an ion field (50) between an ionizing electrode (20) and an opposed ground electrode (30). A fluid-containing vessel (40) is positioned between the opposed electrodes and the ion field charges the fluid (41) in the vessel.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to devices, systems, and methods for acquiring and/or dispensing a sample without introducing a gas into a microfluidic system, such as a liquid bridge system. An exemplary embodiment provides a sampling device including: a sampling member for acquiring or dispensing a sample; and a supply of a fluid that is immiscible with the sample; in which the device is configured to provide a continuous flow of immiscible fluid enveloping the sampling member.

Abstract: A microfluidic connector comprises an enclosure, a fluidic inlet port and a fluidic outlet port, in the enclosure, in which the inlet and outlet ports are movable with respect to each other, for example, mutual spacing between the inlet and outlet ports is variable. A port is in a fixed part of the enclosure, and another port is in a part of the enclosure which slides with respect to the fixed part. There may be multiple inlet ports and/or multiple outlet ports. Also, there may be an auxiliary port for introduction of fluid into the enclosure or removal of fluid from the enclosure.

Abstract: A multi-port liquid bridge (1) adds aqueous phase droplets (10) in an enveloping oil phase carrier liquid (11) to a draft channel (4, 6). A chamber (3) links four ports, and it is permanently full of oil (11) when in use. Oil phase is fed in a draft flow from an inlet port (4) and exits through a draft exit port (6) and a compensating flow port (7). The oil carrier and the sample droplets (3) (“aqueous phase”) flow through the inlet port (5) with an equivalent fluid flow subtracted through the compensating port (7). The ports of the bridge (1) are formed by the ends of capillaries held in position in plastics housings. The phases are density matched to create an environment where gravitational forces are negligible. This results in droplets (10) adopting spherical forms when suspended from capillary tube tips. Furthermore, the equality of mass flow is equal to the equality of volume flow.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a WLAN gateway (WGW) receives a dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP) request from a WLAN controller for an IP address of a user equipment (UE). In one embodiment, DHCP server within the WGW assigns a local IP (LIP) address to the UE from a pool of local IP addresses maintained by the DHCP server. The WGW communicates the UE LIP address to the WLAN controller, wherein the UE LIP address is used by the WLAN controller to identify traffic to/from the UE while the UE is communicatively coupled to the WLAN and exchange the DE traffic between WGW and WLAN controller. In one embodiment, the WGW is configured to perform network address translation between the UE LIP and an external IP address assigned by one or more networks of the mobile network operator (MNO) to allow the UE to reach the network(s) in addition to the Internet.

Abstract: Measurement of gene expression relative to an endogenous control gene is prone to excessive variability between samples and even replicates. The disclosure provides methods for normalizing expression levels of a gene by scaling gene expression levels to that of the most highly expressed gene in the set of genes whose expression levels are measured, rather than a house-keeping gene.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to methods of constructing liquid bridges and methods of forming predetermined combinations of samples using liquid bridges.

Abstract: A multi-port liquid bridge (1) adds aqueous phase droplets (10) in an enveloping oil phase carrier liquid (11) to a draft channel (4, 6). A chamber (3) links four ports, and it is permanently full of oil (11) when in use. Oil phase is fed in a draft flow from an inlet port (4) and exits through a draft exit port (6) and a compensating flow port (7). The oil carrier and the sample droplets (3) (“aqueous phase”) flow through the inlet port (5) with an equivalent fluid flow subtracted through the compensating port (7). The ports of the bridge (1) are formed by the ends of capillaries held in position in plastics housings. The phases are density matched to create an environment where gravitational forces are negligible. This results in droplets (10) adopting spherical forms when suspended from capillary tube tips. Furthermore, the equality of mass flow is equal to the equality of volume flow.