Abstract: A vehicle includes an outer glass pane, an outer laminated layer, an inner laminated layer, and one inner glass pane, wherein a PDLC layer stack is arranged between the outer and inner laminated layers, the PDLC layer stack formed by a) an outer polymeric carrier layer, b) an outer electrically conductive layer, c) a PDLC layer, d) an inner electrically conductive layer, and e) an inner polymeric carrier layer, wherein at a lateral section of the PDLC layer stack, the inner electrically conductive layer protrudes together with the inner polymeric carrier layer, and at another lateral section of the PDLC layer stack, the outer electrically conductive layer protrudes together with the outer polymeric carrier layer, and a busbar is arranged in each case on the protruding inner electrically conductive layer and the protruding outer electrically conductive layer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for spore disruption and/or detection is provided. The method involves irradiating a sample with laser light, conveniently ultraviolet radiation, to disrupt any spores present and collecting any disrupted material for analysis. The disruption can involve breaking the spore open to release intrasporal DNA which is useful for fast screening and detection equipment. The disrupted material may be collected in a collection chamber which can be flushed with an extraction fluid to collect the disrupted material. The sample is preferably concentrated in a nanovial prior to being irradiated to give sample enrichment.

Abstract: A method for collecting an analyte species from a sample is provided, the method of collection potentially being supplemented to give a method of preparing a sample for analysis and/or a method of analysis. The method including providing part of a sample in a substrate, causing the sample to migrate to an interface between the substrate and a second substrate due to the action of an electrical potential difference, the electrophoretic velocity of the analyte species of the second substrate being balanced by or exceeded by the bulk flow velocity of the second substrate and the bulk flow velocity of the second substrate being in an opposing direction to the electrophoretic velocity of the analyte species in the second substrate. In this way substantial concentration of the analyte species at the interface is provided. Subsequently the species can be conveyed away from the interface for further preparation and/or analysis.

Abstract: Microfluidic devices and systems for affecting the serial to parallel conversion of materials introduced into the device or system. Material or materials to be converted from a serial orientation, e.g., a single channel, into a parallel orientation, e.g., multiple channels, are introduced into an open chamber or field in which containing flows of materials maintain the cohesiveness of the sample material plugs serially introduced into the open chamber. The sample material or materials are then redirected in the chamber toward and into a plurality of parallel channels that also communicate with the chamber.

Abstract: A microfluidic device for controlling sample introduction in microcolumn separation techniques, more particularly in capillary electrophoresis (CE), where a sample is injected as a sample plug into a sampling device which comprises at least a channel for the electrolyte buffer and a supply and drain channel for the sample. The supply and drain channels discharge into the electrolyte channel at respective supply and drain ports. The distance between the supply port and the drain port geometrically defines a sample volume. The injection of the sample plug into the electrolyte channel is accomplished electrokinetically by applying an electric field across the supply and drain channels for a time at least long enough that the sample component having the lowest electrophoretic mobility is contained within the geometrically defined volume. Means are provided for electrokinetically injecting the sample into the sample volume.

Abstract: A filter pack is formed of a pleated filter section and a channel that forms a frame. The filter section may be formed of a non-woven polymer material which has been pleated. The filter section may have edge banding along at least a portion of its periphery. The filter section may be retained in the frame by an adhesive. One or more filter sections may be combined to form a filter pack. The frame may be continuously formed from an extruded plastic which may be folded to provide a one, two, three or four part frame. The frame may be provided with living hinge and mechanical locking features. A foldable edge band may be provided to allow the joining of multiple filter sections into larger filter packs.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a free flow electrophoresis microchip for the electrophoretic separation of charged components, a free flow electrophoresis separation system incorporating the same, and a free flow electrophoresis method of separating charged components, the microchip comprising: a separation chamber in which charged components are in use separated; a plurality of separation medium inlet channels having outlets fluidly connected to one, inlet side of the separation chamber through which flows of a separation medium are in use introduced into the separation chamber such as to develop a laminar flow having a flow direction through the separation chamber; a sample inlet channel having an outlet fluidly connected to the inlet side of the separation chamber through which a flow of a sample containing charged components is in use introduced into the separation chamber; a plurality of outlet channels having inlets fluidly connected to another, outlet side of the separation chamber opposite the inlet

Abstract: A powder injection method and a powder injection microchip, the powder injection microchip comprising: a gas supply inlet (6) for supplying gas; an outlet (8); a channel (4) in fluid connection with the gas supply inlet and the outlet; a powder inlet (12) in fluid connection with the channel, for receiving a first, open end of a powder reservoir (14), the powder reservoir having an opening (22) at or near to a second end of the powder reservoir to allow egress of gas from the powder reservoir at a point distal to the first end of the powder reservoir.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a powder injection microchip, and a method of injecting powder using said powder injection microchip, wherein the microchip comprises a vibratable member associated with a powder inlet to a powder flow channel, wherein the vibration of the vibratable member allows the interparticle forces within cohesive powders to be overcome, resulting in the fluidisation of the powder. A powder inlet orifice with a dimension restricted relative to a powder flow channel dimension, and at least one gas flow channel in fluid connection with a powder flow channel downstream of a powder inlet orifice, are also disclosed.

Abstract: Microfluidic devices and systems for affecting the serial to parallel conversion of materials introduced into the device or system. Material or materials to be converted from a serial orientation, e.g., a single channel, into a parallel orientation, e.g., multiple channels, are introduced into an open chamber or field in which containing flows of materials maintain the cohesiveness of the sample material plugs serially introduced into the open chamber. The sample material or materials are then redirected in the chamber toward and into a plurality of parallel channels that also communicate with the chamber.

Abstract: A method for collecting an analyte species from a sample is provided, the method of collection potentially being supplemented to give a method of preparing a sample for analysis and/or a method of analysis. The method including providing part of a sample in a substrate, causing the sample to migrate to an interface between the substrate and a second substrate due to the action of an electrical potential difference, the electrophoretic velocity of the analyte species of the second substrate being balanced by or exceeded by the bulk flow velocity of the second substrate and the bulk flow velocity of the second substrate being in an opposing direction to the electrophoretic velocity of the analyte species in the second substrate. In this way substantial concentration of the analyte species at the interface is provided. Subsequently the species can be conveyed away from the interface for further preparation and/or analysis.

Abstract: A microfabricated plasma generator and a method of generating a plasma, the plasma generator comprising: a substrate chip; a chamber defined by the substrate chip, the chamber including an inlet port through which analyte is in use delivered, an outlet port and a plasma-generation region in which a plasma is in use generated; and first and second electrodes across which a voltage is in use applied to generate a plasma in the plasma-generation region.

Abstract: There is described an analyzing device having two separation units to separate molecular species to detect molecular species in wellbore fluids with both separation units operating under forced flow conditions to provide for an active separation of subterranean wellbore effluent into its components for subsequent analysis.

Abstract: Microfluidic devices and systems for affecting the serial to parallel conversion of materials introduced into the device or system. Material or materials to be converted from a serial orientation, e.g., a single channel, into a parallel orientation, e.g., multiple channels, are introduced into an open chamber or field in which containing flows of materials maintain the cohesiveness of the sample material plugs serially introduced into the open chamber. The sample material or materials are then redirected in the chamber toward and into a plurality of parallel channels that also communicate with the chamber.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for spore disruption and/or detection is provided. The method involves irradiating a sample with laser light, conveniently ultraviolet radiation, to disrupt any spores present and collecting any disrupted material for analysis. The disruption can involve breaking the spore open to release intrasporal DNA which is useful for fast screening and detection equipment. The disrupted material may be collected in a collection chamber which can be flushed with an extraction fluid to collect the disrupted material. The sample is preferably concentrated in a nanovial prior to being irradiated to give sample enrichment.

Abstract: A microfluidic device for controlling sample introduction in microcolumn separation techniques, more particularly in capillary electrophoresis (CE), where a sample is injected as a sample plug into a sampling device which comprises at least a channel for the electrolyte buffer and a supply and drain channel for the sample. The supply and drain channels discharge into the electolyte channel at respective supply and drain ports. The distance between the supply port and the drain port geometrically defines a sample volume. The injection of the sample plug into the electrolyte channel is accomplished electrokinetically by applying an electric field across the supply and drain channels for a time at least long enough that the sample component having the lowest electrophoretic mobility is contained within the geometrically defined volume. Means are provided for electrokinetically injecting the sample into the sample volume.

Abstract: A powder injection method and a powder injection microchip, the powder injection microchip comprising: a gas supply inlet (6) for supplying gas; an outlet (8); a channel (4) in fluid connection with the gas supply inlet and the outlet; a powder inlet (12) in fluid connection with the channel, for receiving a first, open end of a powder reservoir (14), the powder reservoir having an opening (22) at or near to a second end of the powder reservoir to allow egress of gas from the powder reservoir at a point distal to the first end of the powder reservoir.

Abstract: A powder mixing microchip for mixing powder components, a powder mixing system incorporating the same and a powder mixing method for mixing powder components, the powder mixing microchip comprising: a powder mixing unit (1) for mixing a plurality of powder components to provide a powder mixture, the powder mixing unit including a powder mixing (5) channel in which powder components are mixed on being transported there through, a powder outlet port (8) through which the powder mixture is delivered, and a plurality of mixing gas supply channels (7) fluidly connected to the powder mixing channel at spaced locations along a length thereof through which mixing gas flows are delivered to effect mixing of the powder components on being transported through the powder mixing channel.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a catalyst containing one or several metals from the group of metals comprising the sub-groups Ib and VIIIb of the periodic table on porous support particles, characterized by a first step in which one or several precursors from the group of compounds of metals from sub-groups Ib and VIIIb of the periodic table is or are applied to a porous support, and a second step in which the porous, preferably nanoporous support to which at least one precursor has been applied is treated with at least one reduction agent, to obtain the metal nanoparticles produced in situ in the pores of said support.

Abstract: In a method for controlling sample introduction in microcolumn separation techniques, more particularly in capillary electrophoresis (CE), where a sample is injected as a sample plug into a sampling device which comprises at least a channel for the electrolyte buffer and a supply and drain channel for the sample. The supply and drain channels discharge into the electrolyte channel at respective supply and drain ports. The distance between the supply port and the drain port geometrically defines a sample volume. The injection of the sample plug into the electrolyte channel is accomplished electrokinetically by applying an electric field across the supply and drain channels for a time at least long enough that the sample component having the lowest electrophoretic mobility is contained within the geometrically defined volume. The supply and drain channels each are inclined to the electrolyte channel. Means are provided for electrokinetically injecting the sample into the sample volume.