Abstract: The present disclosure relates to automated systems and methods for washing microtiter plates that offer advantages such as increased efficiency and decreased contamination during the washing process. In an exemplary embodiment, an automated system for washing multiwell plates comprises an arm having a metal portion and having a multiwell plate holder for holding a multiwell plate; a first rotational servo configured to rotate the multiwell plate about a first axis; a second rotational servo configured to rotate the arm about a second axis; and a controller configured to operate the system to dispels fluid in the multiwell plate.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to automated systems and methods for washing microtiter plates that offer advantages such as increased efficiency and decreased contamination during the washing process. In an exemplary embodiment, an automated system for washing multiwell plates comprises an arm having a metal portion and having a multiwell plate holder for holding a multiwell plate; a first rotational servo configured to rotate the multiwell plate about a first axis; a second rotational servo configured to rotate the arm about a second axis; and a controller configured to operate the system to dispels fluid in the multiwell plate.

Abstract: A method of processing ion exchange resin radioactive waste, wherein the radioactive waste contains a plurality of fractions of radioactive waste based on density, which may include cation resin waste and anion resin waste, wherein at least one of the plurality of fractions comprises a total concentration of at least one radionuclide, including performing at least one of the following operations (i), (ii) or (iii): (i) separating the at least one of the plurality of fractions from the radioactive waste utilizing a moving freeboard; (ii) separating the radioactive waste into cation resin waste and anion resin waste; or (iii) removing at least a portion of the total concentration of the at least one radionuclide from: the radioactive waste; the at least one of the plurality of fractions separated by the moving freeboard; or at least one of the radioactive waste, the cation resin waste or the anion resin waste.

Abstract: A low noise amplifier (LNA) comprises: a plurality of FETs (F1, F2, F3, F4) arranged to process signals received by the amplifier; a power input (10) arranged to receive electrical power to operate the LNA; and a monolithic support integrated circuit (IC). The monolithic support IC comprises: a FET control circuit (2) arranged to monitor and control the drain current of each FET; a FET selection circuit (3, 24, 22) arranged to detect the level of a DC component of a voltage signal supplied to the power input and to provide a FET selection signal to the FET control circuit (2) according to the detected DC level.

Abstract: An embodiment of a scanning system is described including optical elements that direct an excitation beam at a probe array, detectors that receive reflected intensity data responsive to the excitation beam, where the reflected intensity data is responsive to a focusing distance between an optical element and the probe array, a transport frame that adjusts the focusing distance in a direction with respect to the probe array, an auto-focuser that determines a best plane of focus based upon characteristics of the reflected intensity data of at least two focusing distances where the detectors further receive pixel intensity values based upon detected emissions from a plurality of probe features disposed on the probe array at the best plane of focus, and an image generator that associates each of the pixel intensity values with at least one image pixel position of a probe array based upon one or more position correction values.

Abstract: An embodiment of a scanning system is described including optical elements that direct an excitation beam at a probe array, detectors that receive reflected intensity data responsive to the excitation beam, where the reflected intensity data is responsive to a focusing distance between an optical element and the probe array, a transport frame that adjusts the focusing distance in a direction with respect to the probe array, an auto-focuser that determines a best plane of focus based upon characteristics of the reflected intensity data of at least two focusing distances where the detectors further receive pixel intensity values based upon detected emissions from a plurality of probe features disposed on the probe array at the best plane of focus, and an image generator that associates each of the pixel intensity values with at least one image pixel position of a probe array based upon one or more position correction values.

Abstract: An embodiment of a scanning system is described including optical elements that direct an excitation beam at a probe array, detectors that receive reflected intensity data responsive to the excitation beam, where the reflected intensity data is responsive to a focusing distance between an optical element and the probe array, a transport frame that adjusts the focusing distance in a direction with respect to the probe array, an auto-focuser that determines a best plane of focus based upon characteristics of the reflected intensity data of at least two focusing distances where the detectors further receive pixel intensity values based upon detected emissions from a plurality of probe features disposed on the probe array at the best plane of focus, and an image generator that associates each of the pixel intensity values with at least one image pixel position of a probe array based upon one or more position correction values.

Abstract: A method of processing ion exchange resin radioactive waste, wherein the radioactive waste contains a plurality of fractions of radioactive waste based on density, which may include cation resin waste and anion resin waste, wherein at least one of the plurality of fractions comprises a total concentration of at least one radionuclide, including performing at least one of the following operations (i), (ii) or (iii): (i) separating the at least one of the plurality of fractions from the radioactive waste utilizing a moving freeboard; (ii) separating the radioactive waste into cation resin waste and anion resin waste; or (iii) removing at least a portion of the total concentration of the at least one radionuclide from: the radioactive waste; the at least one of the plurality of fractions separated by the moving freeboard; or at least one of the radioactive waste, the cation resin waste or the anion resin waste.

Abstract: A process for selectively removing contaminant ions from a solution includes: a) contacting the solution with magnetic particles coupled to selectively chelating ion exchange functionality containing moieties prepared by: i) activating carboxyl groups on the selectively chelating ion exchange functionality containing moieties by the formation of an acyl fluoride, and ii) reacting the acyl fluoride with the magnetic particles, the magnetic particles having a particle size of less than 10 microns; b) allowing the chelating functionality coupled magnetic particles to selectively bind one or more of the contaminant ions; and, c) extracting the chelating functionality coupled magnetic particles and contaminant ions from the solution by magnetic filtration.

Abstract: An embodiment of a scanning system is described including optical elements that direct an excitation beam at a probe array, detectors that receive reflected intensity data responsive to the excitation beam, where the reflected intensity data is responsive to a focusing distance between an optical element and the probe array, a transport frame that adjusts the focusing distance in a direction with respect to the probe array, an auto-focuser that determines a best plane of focus based upon characteristics of the reflected intensity data of at least two focusing distances where the detectors further receive pixel intensity values based upon detected emissions from a plurality of probe features disposed on the probe array at the best plane of focus, and an image generator that associates each of the pixel intensity values with at least one image pixel position of a probe array based upon one or more position correction values.

Abstract: An embodiment of a scanning system is described including optical elements that direct an excitation beam at a probe array, detectors that receive reflected intensity data responsive to the excitation beam, where the reflected intensity data is responsive to a focusing distance between an optical element and the probe array, a transport frame that adjusts the focusing distance in a direction with respect to the probe array, an auto-focuser that determines a best plane of focus based upon characteristics of the reflected intensity data of at least two focusing distances where the detectors further receive pixel intensity values based upon detected emissions from a plurality of probe features disposed on the probe array at the best plane of focus, and an image generator that associates each of the pixel intensity values with at least one image pixel position of a probe array based upon one or more position correction values.

Abstract: An embodiment of a scanning system is described including optical elements that direct an excitation beam at a probe array, detectors that receive reflected intensity data responsive to the excitation beam, where the reflected intensity data is responsive to a focusing distance between an optical element and the probe array, a transport frame that adjusts the focusing distance in a direction with respect to the probe array, an auto-focuser that determines a best plane of focus based upon characteristics of the reflected intensity data of at least two focusing distances where the detectors further receive pixel intensity values based upon detected emissions from a plurality of probe features disposed on the probe array at the best plane of focus, and an image generator that associates each of the pixel intensity values with at least one image pixel position of a probe array based upon one or more position correction values.

Abstract: A voltage regulator comprises first and second capacitors and regulation means arranged to provide a respective regulated charging current from an input terminal to each of the capacitors. The regulation means comprises at least one device through which at least a portion of the respective charging current to at least one of the capacitors is supplied. The device is controllable with a control signal to regulate current flow through the device. The regulation means further comprises control signal supply means connected to the output terminal and arranged to provide said control signal to the device, the control signal being dependent upon voltage at the output terminal such that current flow through the device is regulated according to the voltage at the output terminal.

Abstract: An embodiment of a scanning system is described including optical elements that direct an excitation beam at a probe array, detectors that receive reflected intensity data responsive to the excitation beam, where the reflected intensity data is responsive to a focusing distance between an optical element and the probe array, a transport frame that adjusts the focusing distance in a direction with respect to the probe array, an auto-focuser that determines a best plane of focus based upon characteristics of the reflected intensity data of at least two focusing distances where the detectors further receive pixel intensity values based upon detected emissions from a plurality of probe features disposed on the probe array at the best plane of focus, and an image generator that associates each of the pixel intensity values with at least one image pixel position of a probe array based upon one or more position correction values.

Abstract: An embodiment of a scanning system is described including optical elements that direct an excitation beam at a probe array, detectors that receive reflected intensity data responsive to the excitation beam, where the reflected intensity data is responsive to a focusing distance between an optical element and the probe array, a transport frame that adjusts the focusing distance in a direction with respect to the probe array, an auto-focuser that determines a best plane of focus based upon characteristics of the reflected intensity data of at least two focusing distances where the detectors further receive pixel intensity values based upon detected emissions from a plurality of probe features disposed on the probe array at the best plane of focus, and an image generator that associates each of the pixel intensity values with at least one image pixel position of a probe array based upon one or more position correction values.

Abstract: A process for selectively removing contaminant ions from a solution includes: a) contacting the solution with magnetic particles coupled to selectively chelating ion exchange functionality containing moieties prepared by: i) activating carboxyl groups on the selectively chelating ion exchange functionality containing moieties by tile formation of an acyl fluoride, and ii) reacting the acyl fluoride with the magnetic particles, the magnetic particles having a particle size of less than 10 microns; b) allowing the chelating functionality coupled magnetic particles to selectively bind one or more of the contaminant ions; and, c) extracting the chelating functionality coupled magnetic particles and contaminant ions from the solution by magnetic filtration.

Abstract: A multiplexer (1) having M high frequency input channels (2) and N high frequency output channels (3). The multiplexer (1) comprises N routing control inputs (4); a detector (10) arranged to receive control signals on the or each control input (4), the control signals being indicative of a required connection between the multiplexer input channels (2) and output channels (3); and a decoder (11) arranged to decode the received control signals and generate switching control signals (8) to selectively connect the input channels (2) to the output channels (3) in response to the decoded control signals. The multiplexer (1) is integrated onto a single chip. A multiplexer apparatus comprising a pair of such multiplexers (1) mounted on a printed circuit board is also described. The multiplexers (1) are positioned on opposite sides of the printed circuit board, with one multiplexer (1) rotated 180° about a diagonal axis (20) relative to the other multiplexer (1).

Abstract: A low noise amplifier (LNA) comprises: a plurality of FETs (F1, F2, F3, F4) arranged to process signals received by the amplifier; a power input (10) arranged to receive electrical power to operate the LNA; and a monolithic support integrated circuit (IC). The monolithic support IC comprises: a FET control circuit (2) arranged to monitor and control the drain current of each FET; a FET selection circuit (3, 24, 22) arranged to detect the level of a DC component of a voltage signal supplied to the power input and to provide a FET selection signal to the FET control circuit (2) according to the detected DC level.

Abstract: A decontamination system uses magnetic molecules having ferritin cores to selectively remove target contaminant ions from a solution. The magnetic molecules are based upon a ferritin protein structure and have a very small magnetic ferritin core and a selective ion exchange function attached to its surface. Various types of ion exchange functions can be attached to the magnetic molecules, each of which is designed to remove a specific contaminant such as radioactive ions. The ion exchange functions allow the magnetic molecules to selectively absorb the contaminant ions from a solution while being inert to other non-target ions. The magnetic properties of the magnetic molecule allow the magnetic molecules and the absorbed contaminant ions to be removed from solution by magnetic filtration.

Abstract: An embodiment of a scanning system is described including optical elements that direct an excitation beam at a probe array, detectors that receive reflected intensity data responsive to the excitation beam, where the reflected intensity data is responsive to a focusing distance between an optical element and the probe array, a transport frame that adjusts the focusing distance in a direction with respect to the probe array, an auto-focuser that determines a best plane of focus based upon characteristics of the reflected intensity data of at least two focusing distances where the detectors further receive pixel intensity values based upon detected emissions from a plurality of probe features disposed on the probe array at the best plane of focus, and an image generator that associates each of the pixel intensity values with at least one image pixel position of a probe array based upon one or more position correction values.