Abstract: An imaging system includes a base, an imaging assembly, and a holder assembly. The imaging assembly includes a first arm including a first arm first portion and a first arm second portion distal from the first arm first portion and a second arm including a second arm first portion and a second arm second portion distal from the second arm first portion. The first arm is pivotally mounted on the base and the second arm is pivotally mounted on the first arm second portion. An imaging device is mounted on the second arm second portion. The holder assembly includes a base mount mounted on a platform. A strut is coupled to the base mount, and a gripper is coupled to the strut. The gripper is configured to grip and position a part in line of sight of the imaging device.

Abstract: Denaturation and hybridisation of double-stranded DNA is a crucial reaction in many biological processes, such as DNA replication. DNA denaturation and hybridisation can be controlled by e.g. temperature, altering the pH and ionic strength and different chemical agents. This reversible reaction also plays a role in many diagnostic-based methods and applications such as any nucleic acid amplification method. The present invention provides alternate means to control denaturation and hybridisation of nucleic acids comprising contacting a nucleic acid molecule with a compound capable of interacting with a nucleic acid molecule and altering the state or a property of the compound to achieve denaturation or hybridisation of the nucleic acid molecule.

Abstract: An imaging system includes a base, an imaging assembly, and a holder assembly. The imaging assembly includes a first arm including a first arm first portion and a first arm second portion distal from the first arm first portion and a second arm including a second arm first portion and a second arm second portion distal from the second arm first portion. The first arm is pivotally mounted on the base and the second arm is pivotally mounted on the first arm second portion. An imaging device is mounted on the second arm second portion. The holder assembly includes a base mount mounted on a platform. A strut is coupled to the base mount, and a gripper is coupled to the strut. The gripper is configured to grip and position a part in line of sight of the imaging device.

Abstract: A method for identifying replacement parts includes receiving a sequence of images of a test part. A set of features of the test part is extracted from the sequence of images. The features include at least one of a dimension, a shape, a texture, a color, a material, a thread count, a spectral characteristic, a histogram threshold, scale invariant features, and keypoint features. The set of features of the test part are compared with a database of a plurality of replacement parts. The database stores a set of features of each of the plurality of replacement parts. At least one replacement part is identified in the database, which has a set of features similar to the set of features of the test part. The identified replacement parts are filtered based on priority. A priority list of replacement parts is developed, and is communicated to a user.

Abstract: The present invention provides a macromolecular switch (51) suitable for use in a data acquisition and/or processing device. The switch comprises a macromolecular structure (10) having an ion binding site (14), and is flippable between a plurality of discretely different conformations corresponding to different ion binding conditions at the ion binding site (14). The macromolecular structure (10) is provided with at least one electrochemical input device (43) for applying such different ion binding conditions to the ion binding site (14) in response to corresponding external input signals. The invention also provides a method for data acquisition and/or processing, using a macromolecular structure switch of the invention.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device and an electro-optical device include substrates facing each other and each having an electrode, the substrates being spaced apart, spacers disposed between the substrates and defining an electro-optical cell together with the substrates, and a colloidal liquid crystal composite (CLCC) formed in the electro-optical cell. The CLCC includes particle-rich inter-domain regions and micro-domains of a mesogenic liquid crystal, and the particle-rich inter-domain regions include colloidal organic particles being networked in the mesogenic liquid crystal.

Abstract: A feeder for dispensing solid water treatment chemicals into a circulating water system comprises a hopper for holding the solid water treatment chemicals, a housing for holding the hopper and for directing and containing the water to be treated, a water inlet and a water outlet. The hopper has a perforated floor that is separated into a water inlet portion and a water outlet portion. The water inlet feeds water through the water inlet portion where it contacts the water treatment chemicals. The treated water falls by gravity through the water outlet portion of the perforated floor, where it is directed to the water outlet by vacuum pressure. The hopper is removable to facilitate cleaning scale and other insoluble solids form the hopper and the surfaces surrounding it.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device and an electro-optical device include substrates facing each other and each having an electrode, the substrates being spaced apart, spacers disposed between the substrates and defining an electro-optical cell together with the substrates, and a colloidal liquid crystal composite (CLCC) formed in the electro-optical cell. The CLCC includes particle-rich inter-domain regions and micro-domains of a mesogenic liquid crystal, and the particle-rich inter-domain regions include colloidal organic particles being networked in the mesogenic liquid crystal.