Abstract: A gas chromatograph with a removable column holder includes a column and a removable column holder. The column is configured for gas chromatography. The removable column holder houses the column. The removable column holder is configured to be removable from the gas chromatograph device with the column. The removable column holder houses only the column. The removable column holder is configured to allow removing and interchanging of the column within the removable column holder. The removable column holder is configured to protect the column within the column holder from mechanical damage and contamination due to handling. The removable column holder is configured to allow a user to install the column into the gas chromatograph without the need for tools. The removable column holder is also configured to reduce the possibility of error when installing the column.

Abstract: A gas chromatograph device includes an inductively heated column configured for gas chromatography. The gas chromatograph includes a column configured for gas chromatography and an inductive heating source. The inductive heating source is configured to directly or indirectly heat the column. The inductive heating source includes an inductive heating element or coil. The inductive heating element or coil is configured to induce a current directly or indirectly in the column. Wherein, the column in the gas chromatograph is inductively heated via the inductive heating source.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of acoustic waves for the manipulation and sorting of particles and cells. In an embodiment, there is provided a microfluidic device for manipulating a particle in a fluid suspension, the device comprising: (a) a substrate; (b) a channel defined in the substrate, the channel having an inlet for receiving the fluid suspension and an outlet for discharging the fluid suspension; and (c) an acoustic source configured to deliver a travelling surface acoustic wave transverse the flow of the fluid suspension in the channel, wherein the acoustic source is an interdigital transducer (IDT), the IDT comprises a plurality of concentric circular arcs having a tapered end directed at the channel, and the tapered end has an aperture of between 4 ?m and 150 ?m. In an alternative embodiment, the device comprises a second channel disposed intermediate the first channel and the acoustic source wherein the first and second channels are connected by a pumping channel.

Abstract: A servo actuator (1) comprises an actuator housing (4); an actuator member (2) located within the actuator housing (4) and at least one spool (8) located in a cavity (6) formed within the actuator housing (4). The housing (4) also comprises a first set of internal ports including an inlet port (P), an outlet port (T) and a pair of control ports (SI, S2), the inlet port (P) being arranged for connection to a first pressurised supply and a second set of internal ports comprising an inlet port (P?), an outlet port (T?) and a pair of control ports (SI?, S2?), the inlet port (P?) being arranged for connection to a second pressurised supply. In use, movement of the spool (8) alters the flow path of fluid through the first and second set of internal ports to control the movement of the actuator member (2).

Abstract: An instrument and method for accelerating the solid phase synthesis of peptides are disclosed. The method includes the steps of deprotecting a protected first amino acid linked to a solid phase resin by admixing the protected linked acid with a deprotecting solution in a microwave transparent vessel while irradiating the admixed acid and solution with microwaves, activating a second amino acid, coupling the second amino acid to the first acid while irradiating the composition in the same vessel with microwaves, and cleaving the linked peptide from the solid phase resin by admixing the linked peptide with a cleaving composition in the same vessel while irradiating the composition with microwaves.

Abstract: A method for controlling a pumping system includes a pump, a pump motor, a generator that provides power to the pump motor and an engine that drives the generator. The method includes the steps of operating the pump at a first operational speed, detecting a transient high load event, reducing the speed of the pump to a second operational speed, detecting the end of the transient high load event, and increasing the speed of the pump to the first operational speed.

Abstract: According to one example, a tibial replacement assembly for a knee arthroplasty can be configured to couple to a resected proximal surface of a tibia of a human knee. The tibial replacement assembly can include a tibial tray and a first spike. The tibial tray can include a proximal surface and a distal surface opposing the proximal surface. The distal surface can be configured to be disposed on a resected proximal surface of a tibia. The first spike can be removably secured to the tibial tray and can extend generally distally away from the distal surface. The first spike can be configured to extend beneath the resected proximal surface of the tibia.

Abstract: A radial piston pump 101 comprising a rotor 103 is disclosed. The rotor 103 includes a drive shaft 105 arranged to transmit rotary motion to or from the pump 101 and a piston housing 102 including at least one piston chamber 104, the at least one piston chamber 104 being arranged to receive a piston 108. The drive shaft 105 and the piston housing 102 are integrally formed.

Abstract: Chip, system and method using microfluidic devices and instrumentation for multiple parameter stimulation and recording on cells or organs is presented. The chip consists of multilayer fluidic channels to organize cells or organs and to flow stimulant molecules or cells. Further an array of such channels are arranged spatially for multiple biochemical reaction or assay or co-culture. The reactors are also arranged in one or more spiral fluidic channel with multiple connecting channels between two or more such spiral channels. The system consists of stimulation instrumentation for the cells or organs using optical, electrical, mechanical, fluidic and chemical and recording instrumentation for signals or images from the cells simultaneously or alternatively are performed using optical imaging, electrical field potential and impedance. Such system is operated remotely from an incubator or microscopic sterile environment using wireless or wired networks.

Abstract: The present invention is helical follower internal combustion engine. The present invention has a smooth, cylindrical follower orthogonally attached to a piston rod. The follower fits into two connected half-cylindrical, helical grooves formed by a two-piece cylindrical sleeve. The two-piece cylindrical sleeve is attached to a rotating cylindrical hub. Reciprocal motion of the piston causes rotation of the rotating cylindrical hub. The present invention has a feature that prevents the piston from rotating. The present invention can create electricity by connecting a rotor coil to the rotating cylindrical hub and placing a stator coil in near proximity. In an alternative embodiment, the present invention has an external drive shaft attached to the rotating cylindrical hub.

Abstract: An active suspension system 1 for a vehicle. The suspension system 1 comprises a hydraulic actuator 4 for connection to the vehicle, an accumulator 30 arranged to provide fluid to the actuator 4 and a spool valve 16. The spool valve 16 comprises a spool 18 mounted for movement between a first position in which the flow of fluid from the accumulator 30 to the actuator 4 is prevented and a second position in which fluid can flow from the accumulator 30 to the actuator 4 via the spool 18 thereby causing movement of the actuator 4.

Abstract: A method includes training a neural network having parameters on training data, in which the neural network receives an input state and processes the input state to generate a respective score for each decision in a set of decisions. The method includes receiving training data including training text sequences and, for each training text sequence, a corresponding gold decision sequence. The method includes training the neural network on the training data to determine trained values of parameters of the neural network. Training the neural network includes for each training text sequence: maintaining a beam of candidate decision sequences for the training text sequence, updating each candidate decision sequence by adding one decision at a time, determining that a gold candidate decision sequence matching a prefix of the gold decision sequence has dropped out of the beam, and in response, performing an iteration of gradient descent to optimize an objective function.

Abstract: An instrument and method for accelerating the solid phase synthesis of peptides are disclosed. The method includes the steps of deprotecting a protected first amino acid linked to a solid phase resin by admixing the protected linked acid with a deprotecting solution in a microwave transparent vessel while irradiating the admixed acid and solution with microwaves, activating a second amino acid, coupling the second amino acid to the first acid while irradiating the composition in the same vessel with microwaves, and cleaving the linked peptide from the solid phase resin by admixing the linked peptide with a cleaving composition in the same vessel while irradiating the composition with microwaves.

Abstract: The invention provides a pump for dispensing a plurality of fluids at predetermined volumes to a common location and a method of using the pump to deliver such plurality of fluids. The pump comprises one or more first syringe units, each first syringe unit comprising a first plunger and a first chamber within which the first plunger slides. A first inlet channel is fluidly connected to the first chamber of each first syringe unit and configured to receive the first fluid. The pump also comprises one or more second syringe units, each second syringe unit comprising a second plunger and a second chamber within which the second plunger slides. A second inlet channel is fluidly connected to the second chamber of each second syringe unit and configured to receive the second fluid.

Abstract: A component for releasing a flow of material into an environment subject to periodic fluctuations in pressure, which has: a first surface that includes an inlet; a second surface that includes an outlet; a duct formed in the component and extending from the inlet to the outlet so, when the component is in use, a flow of material received at the inlet can flow along the duct to be released at the outlet into an environment subject to periodic fluctuations in pressure. The duct includes a constriction at which it decreases in cross-sectional area as it progresses from the inlet to the outlet. This can help reduce the variation in flow rate of material released at the outlet caused by the periodic fluctuations in pressure, and may help to avoid/reduce ingestion, when the component is in use. Preferably, the component is configured to form part of a gas turbine engine.

Abstract: An instrument and method for accelerating the solid phase synthesis of peptides are disclosed. The method includes the steps of deprotecting a protected first amino acid linked to a solid phase resin by admixing the protected linked acid with a deprotecting solution in a microwave transparent vessel while irradiating the admixed acid and solution with microwaves, activating a second amino acid, coupling the second amino acid to the first acid while irradiating the composition in the same vessel with microwaves, and cleaving the linked peptide from the solid phase resin by admixing the linked peptide with a cleaving composition in the same vessel while irradiating the composition with microwaves.

Abstract: A servo valve for use with an actuator. The servo valve comprises a first set of internal ports including a first inlet port, a first outlet port, a first A-control port and a first B-control port and a second set of internal ports including a second inlet port, a second outlet port, a second A-control port and a second B-control port. The valve is arranged and configured such that in use each internal port is in fluid communication with the actuator.

Abstract: A microfluidic device for separating or sorting particles in a fluid including: a substrate; a plurality of interdigital transducers on the substrate; a microfluidic channel adapted to have fluid flow within, located over the interdigital transducers, the microfluidic channel having a width, wherein: the interdigital transducers are located within the width of the microfluidic channel; and application of a signal to the interdigital transducers produces a force field at an angle to the fluid flow direction within the microfluidic channel.

Abstract: Microfluidic devices and methods that use massively parallel anchored picoreactors as the basis for cell and molecular diagnostics are included in this invention. Different processes such as isolation, processing, amplification and characterization of different fluids, particles, chemical compositions or biospecies are presented. These fluids include biochemical buffers or cellular products including different cells, biochemical compositions, proteins and enzymes.

Abstract: A hydraulic manifold system for lifting, installing, or repairing large industrial field equipment. The system includes a hydraulic motor, which is fluidly connected to a hydraulic line of a vehicle, which is drivingly connected to a high-pressure hydraulic pump and fluidly connected to above-ground jack, ram, or lifting device. An above-ground jack, ram, or lifting device is hydraulically actuated by the fluid supplied by the hydraulic pump wherein a remote electronic controller can be utilized to provide a signal in order to depressurize the auxiliary device using an electronically actuated valve.