Abstract: A modular heater assembly includes resistive heaters disposed along sections of a fluid conduit system, insulation members around the resistive heaters, and at least one insulation block around a fitting. The fitting is configured to join at least two adjacent sections of the fluid conduit system and defines an exterior geometric profile. The insulation block includes a central recess extending axially in a direction of one of the at least two adjacent sections and defining an internal geometric profile substantially matching the external geometric profile of the fitting, and a peripheral aperture. The peripheral aperture is open to the central recess, defines an internal geometric profile substantially matching an external geometric profile of another of the at least two adjacent sections, extends through a sidewall of the insulation block, and is axially aligned with the another of the at least two adjacent sections.

Abstract: A method for monitoring a characteristic of a printed image of a thermal transfer printer. The method comprises providing a ribbon and a substrate at a printing location of the thermal transfer printer. The method further comprises printing an image on the substrate at the printing location by transferring ink from a region of the ribbon in a printing operation, a negative image being formed on the region of ribbon. The method further comprises transporting the region of ribbon, by a ribbon transport system, from the printing location towards an imaging location along a ribbon transport path. The method further comprises when a characteristic of the ribbon transport meets a predetermined criterion, obtaining, by an image capture system, a ribbon image of the negative image. The method further comprises processing said ribbon image to generate data indicative of the characteristic of the printed image.

Abstract: Systems and methods for retrieval of information from read-only databases that hold taxonomic-related and sequence-related data. A method may include receiving organism names from a taxonomy database and detecting new organism names. The method may also include retrieving hierarchical data and assigning the new organism names to buckets based on the hierarchical data. The method may further include receiving sequence data elements from a nucleotide database, identifying particular buckets to correspond to a screener data set, querying organism names assigned to the particular buckets with names of reference sequences of the sequence data elements, generating a mapping between the sequence data elements and organism names returned as a result of the queries, and storing the mapping.

Abstract: A method of operating a transfer printer configured to transfer ink from a printer ribbon to a substrate which is transported along a predetermined substrate path adjacent to the printer. The printer comprises a tape drive comprising two tape drive motors, two tape spool supports on which said spools of ribbon may be mounted, each spool being drivable by a respective one of said motors. The printer further comprises a printhead being displaceable towards and away from the predetermined substrate path and being arranged to, during printing, contact one side of the ribbon to press an opposite side of the ribbon into contact with a substrate on the predetermined substrate path, and a printing surface. The printer further comprises a controller configured to control the tape drive to transport ribbon between the first and second ribbon spools.

Abstract: A method of operating a thermal transfer printer, the thermal transfer printer comprising first and second spool supports each being configured to support a spool of ribbon; a ribbon drive configured to cause movement of ribbon from the first spool support to the second spool support along a predetermined ribbon path; and a printhead. The printhead is moveable towards and away from a printing surface, and, during printing, is configured to selectively transfer ink from the ribbon to a substrate as the substrate and printhead are moved relative to one another at a print speed. The method comprising causing relative movement between the ribbon and the printhead at a ribbon speed. A relative speed of movement between the ribbon and the substrate during printing is controlled based upon a force exerted upon the ribbon by the printhead during a printing operation, and/or a parameter indicative of an area of contact between a portion of the printhead and a portion of the printing surface.

Abstract: Systems and methods for retrieval of information from read-only databases that hold taxonomic-related and sequence-related data. A method may include receiving organism names from a taxonomy database and detecting new organism names. The method may also include retrieving hierarchical data and assigning the new organism names to buckets based on the hierarchical data. The method may further include receiving sequence data elements from a nucleotide database, identifying particular buckets to correspond to a screener data set, querying organism names assigned to the particular buckets with names of reference sequences of the sequence data elements, generating a mapping between the sequence data elements and organism names returned as a result of the queries, and storing the mapping.

Abstract: Systems and methods to characterize one or more microorganisms or DNA fragments thereof are disclosed. Exemplary methods and systems use comparison of DNA sequencing information to information in one or more databases to characterize the one or more microorganism or DNA fragments thereof. Exemplary systems and methods can be used in a clinical setting to provide rapid analysis of microorganisms that may be a cause of infection.

Abstract: Systems and methods to characterize one or more microorganisms or DNA fragments thereof are disclosed. Exemplary methods and systems use comparison of DNA sequencing information to information in one or more databases to characterize the one or more microorganism or DNA fragments thereof. Exemplary systems and methods can be used in a clinical setting to provide rapid analysis of microorganisms that may be a cause of infection.

Abstract: A printhead for a thermal transfer printer comprising a plurality of printing elements, each of the printing elements being configured to transfer ink from an ink carrying ribbon to a substrate, and at least one sensor arranged to sense ink carrying ribbon. The at least one sensor comprises at least one emitter arranged to emit radiation towards the ribbon and a plurality of receivers. Each of the plurality of receivers is arranged to receive a respective reflected signal reflected by the ribbon, each reflected signal is based upon radiation emitted by the at least one emitter.

Abstract: A method for monitoring a characteristic of a printed image of a thermal transfer printer. The method comprises providing a ribbon and a substrate at a printing location of the thermal transfer printer. The method further comprises printing an image on the substrate at the printing location by transferring ink from a region of the ribbon in a printing operation, a negative image being formed on the region of ribbon. The method further comprises transporting the region of ribbon, by a ribbon transport system, from the printing location towards an imaging location along a ribbon transport path. The method further comprises when a characteristic of the ribbon transport meets a predetermined criterion, obtaining, by an image capture system, a ribbon image of the negative image. The method further comprises processing said ribbon image to generate data indicative of the characteristic of the printed image.

Abstract: A method for monitoring a characteristic of a printed image of a thermal transfer printer. The method comprises providing a ribbon and a substrate at a printing location of the thermal transfer printer. The method further comprises printing an image on the substrate at the printing location by transferring ink from a region of the ribbon in a printing operation, a negative image being formed on the region of ribbon. The method further comprises transporting the region of ribbon, by a ribbon transport system, from the printing location towards an imaging location along a ribbon transport path. The method further comprises when a characteristic of the ribbon transport meets a predetermined criterion, obtaining, by an image capture system, a ribbon image of the negative image. The method further comprises processing said ribbon image to generate data indicative of the characteristic of the printed image.

Abstract: This invention relates to a tooth repair system including a method of: drilling an aperture in, e.g., a broken anterior tooth to a predetermined depth; providing a fiber optic—preferably of a diameter of between 0.3 and 1 millimeter and elastic modulus of between 22 GPa and 83 GPa—with a length longer than the predetermined depth; placing and adhering the fiber optic within the first aperture so that a portion of the fiber optic is exposed beyond the broken tooth surface; and restoring the broken tooth surface around the exposed fiber optic so that the fiber optic anchors a restored tooth portion to the broken tooth surface. The system also provides a tooth repair pin with the above characteristics, being acid-etched and silane coated with a carrier sleeve.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods of characterizing one or more microorganisms and kits for characterizing at least one microorganism. Exemplary methods include preparing an amplicon library, sequencing a characteristic gene sequence to obtain a gene sequence, and characterizing the one or more microorganisms based on the gene sequence using a computer-based genomic analysis of the gene sequence. Exemplary kits include at least one forward primer including an adapter sequence and a priming sequence, for a target sequence, and at least one reverse primer.

Abstract: A printhead for a thermal transfer printer comprising a plurality of printing elements, each of the printing elements being configured to transfer ink from an ink carrying ribbon to a substrate, and at least one sensor arranged to sense ink carrying ribbon. The at least one sensor comprises at least one emitter arranged to emit radiation towards the ribbon and a plurality of receivers. Each of the plurality of receivers is arranged to receive a respective reflected signal reflected by the ribbon, each reflected signal is based upon radiation emitted by the at least one emitter.

Abstract: A printing machine comprising a processor and a memory storing computer readable instructions. The computer readable instructions are arranged to cause the processor to generate access request data for processing by an access control server, receive access response data responsive to the access request data, process the access response data to determine a first print limit indicated by the access response data, and update, responsive to processing the access response data, an access status in the memory to indicate a second print limit.

Abstract: This invention relates to a tooth repair system including a method of: drilling an aperture in, e.g., a broken anterior tooth to a predetermined depth; providing a fiber optic—preferably of a diameter of between 0.3 and 1 millimeter and elastic modulus of between 22 GPa and 83 GPa—with a length longer than the predetermined depth; placing and adhering the fiber optic within the first aperture so that a portion of the fiber optic is exposed beyond the broken tooth surface; and restoring the broken tooth surface around the exposed fiber optic so that the fiber optic anchors a restored tooth portion to the broken tooth surface. The system also provides a tooth repair pin with the above characteristics, being acid-etched and silane coated with a carrier sleeve.

Abstract: Systems and methods for retrieval of information from read-only databases that hold taxonomic-related and sequence-related data. A method may include receiving organism names from a taxonomy database and detecting new organism names. The method may also include retrieving hierarchical data and assigning the new organism names to buckets based on the hierarchical data. The method may further include receiving sequence data elements from a nucleotide database, identifying particular buckets to correspond to a screener data set, querying organism names assigned to the particular buckets with names of reference sequences of the sequence data elements, generating a mapping between the sequence data elements and organism names returned as a result of the queries, and storing the mapping.

Abstract: Systems and methods for retrieval of information from read-only databases that hold taxonomic-related and sequence-related data. A method may include receiving organism names from a taxonomy database and detecting new organism names. The method may also include retrieving hierarchical data and assigning the new organism names to buckets based on the hierarchical data. The method may further include receiving sequence data elements from a nucleotide database, identifying particular buckets to correspond to a screener data set, querying organism names assigned to the particular buckets with names of reference sequences of the sequence data elements, generating a mapping between the sequence data elements and organism names returned as a result of the queries, and storing the mapping.

Abstract: A method for monitoring a characteristic of a printed image of a thermal transfer printer. The method comprises providing a ribbon and a substrate at a printing location of the thermal transfer printer. The method further comprises printing an image on the substrate at the printing location by transferring ink from a region of the ribbon in a printing operation, a negative image being formed on the region of ribbon. The method further comprises transporting the region of ribbon, by a ribbon transport system, from the printing location towards an imaging location along a ribbon transport path. The method further comprises when a characteristic of the ribbon transport meets a predetermined criterion, obtaining, by an image capture system, a ribbon image of the negative image. The method further comprises processing said ribbon image to generate data indicative of the characteristic of the printed image.