Abstract: A collection apparatus is provided for receiving a portion of a medium that flows around the apparatus and directing the portion into a collector. The apparatus includes an axisymmetric streamline receiver and a support member. The streamline receiver includes a chamber as well as at least one opening into the chamber that receives the portion. The support member includes an axisymmetric conduit for directing the portion from the chamber towards the collector. An alternate apparatus includes a streamline receiver, a support member and a tail stabilizer. The receiver includes upper and lower members that form leading and trailing edges to define a chord. Along an exterior surface, one or both of the members provide at least one opening that receives the portion. The support member has a conduit that directs the portion from the opening towards the collector. The tail stabilizer is secured to the streamline receiver to orient the leading edge into the medium.

Abstract: A process is provided for disposing a sensor in an environment for optimally obtaining characteristic measurements. The process includes modeling covariant sets of environment elements that correspond to conditions of the environment and of sensor elements that correspond to characteristic functionalities of the sensor. The process further includes covariantly coupling the environmental elements with the sensor elements to produce a third set of configuration elements; and combining the configuration elements to obtain a fitness function parameter. The process may additionally include adjusting the environment elements and the sensor elements; repeating operations for covariantly coupling and combining until obtaining the fitness function parameter over a defined region of the environment within a set of fitness function parameters.

Abstract: A lid assembly is provided for mitigation or removal of meniscus along the periphery of sample liquid in the cavity wells of a microtiter plate. The assembly includes a lid plate having a mount surface, an array of plugs corresponding to the array of wells, and a plurality of posts. Each plug extends below from the mount surface and is insertable into the periphery of a counterpart well for contact with the liquid. The plurality of posts suspends the lid plate above the microtiter plate. Each post optionally passes through an orifice through the mount surface, with each post including an adjustable clamp to support the lid plate. The mount surface optionally includes an array of cavities that correspond in disposition to the array of plugs. Each plug is independently insertable through the mount surface to adjust depth of each plug into its counterpart well.

Abstract: A collection apparatus is provided for receiving a portion of a medium that flows around the apparatus and directing the portion into a collector. The apparatus includes an axisymmetric streamline receiver and a support member. The streamline receiver includes a chamber as well as at least one opening into the chamber that receives the portion. The support member includes an axisymmetric conduit for directing the portion from the chamber towards the collector.

Abstract: A system for sampling a moving fluid utilizes a housing in the shape of an airfoil having a leading edge adapted to be disposed in the moving fluid such that the moving fluid will initially encounter the leading edge. A fluid flow pathway extends through the airfoil. One or more sampling ports are formed in the airfoil on the airfoil's high pressure side. Each sampling port is in fluid communication with the fluid flow pathway. The system can also have one or more control ports formed on the low pressure side of the airfoil. Each control port is in fluid communication with the fluid flow pathway. The housing can be mounted to experience two rotational degrees of freedom, and can have an aerodynamic tail assembly coupled thereto.

Abstract: A process for separating entrained particles from a medium is provided. The medium flows into an intake port, through a separation region and out an exit port. The process includes disposing a separation region between the intake and outlet ports and positioning a magnet having north and south poles at opposite ends of the separation region. For orientation, the ports are disposed along a flow axis, and the opposite ends are disposed parallel to a pole axis transverse to the flow axis. The method operates by the magnet applying Lorenz force on the particles having one of positive and negative charges away from the separation region, wherein the particles avoid the outlet port without obstructing through the separation region. Similarly, a device for separating the particles is similarly described. In addition, the method and device further include a chamber being disposed adjacent to the separation region to collect the particles.

Abstract: A lid assembly is provided for mitigation or removal of meniscus along the periphery of sample liquid in the cavity wells of a microtiter plate. The assembly includes a lid plate having a mount surface, an array of plugs corresponding to the array of wells, and a plurality of posts. Each plug extends below from the mount surface and is insertable into the periphery of a counterpart well for contact with the liquid. The plurality of posts suspends the lid plate above the microtiter plate. Each post optionally passes through an orifice through the mount surface, with each post including an adjustable clamp to support the lid plate. The mount surface optionally includes an array of cavities that correspond in disposition to the array of plugs. Each plug is independently insertable through the mount surface to adjust depth of each plug into its counterpart well.