Abstract: A heat exchanger (10) to provide heat exchange between fluids (24, 25), such as in a solar power plant (1), may include a first and second pipe connectors (13, 14), and a pipe bundle (17) extending between the first and second pipe connectors, with pipes (17a-17n) of the pipe bundle configured to guide a second fluid (25). The pipe bundle may be connected to the first and second pipe connectors at pipe connection points (16) so the inside of the pipes (17a-17n) is in fluid communication with cavities (15) of those connectors. The pipes may be arranged adjacent each other and extending together between the pipe connectors in a meandering manner providing a plurality of crests (20a, 20b) on the pipes between the pipe connectors, so that crests of the pipes are arranged to extend into recesses provided by one or more crests on other pipes of the pipe bundle.

Abstract: A heat exchanger including a pipe bundle to guide a fluid between first and second pipe connectors, the pipes being distributed in layers of pipes, wherein pipes of each of the layers of pipes each includes two bends, wherein a length of a flow path section is at least 1.7 times greater than lengths of two other flow path sections. A first bend of the two bends is provided between the longer flow path section and a first of the shorter flow path section, and wherein a second of the two bends is provided between the first, shorter flow path section and the other shorter flow path section, and wherein each of the layers of pipes includes two pipe subgroups. The second bend in one of the pipe subgroups in the pipe layer is opposite to the second bend-in the other pipe subgroup of the same pipe layer.

Abstract: A heat exchanger (10) is disclosed for providing heat exchange between fluids (24, 25), such as in a solar power plant (1), wherein said heat exchanger (10) comprises a first pipe connector (13) and a second pipe connector (14), and a pipe bundle (17) extending between the first and second pipe connectors (13, 14), wherein said pipes (17a-17n) of the pipe bundle (17) are configured to guide a second fluid (25), wherein said pipe bundle (17) is connected to the first and second pipe connectors (13, 14) at pipe connection points (16) so the inside of the pipes (17a-17n) of the pipe bundle (17) is in fluid communication with the cavities (15) of the first and second pipe connector (13, 14), and wherein pipes (17a-17n) of the pipe bundle (17) are arranged next to each other and extend together between the pipe connectors (13, 14) in a meandering manner providing a plurality of crests (20a, 20b) on the pipes (17a-17n) between the pipe connectors (13, 14), and so that crests (20) of pipes (17a-17n) of the pipe b

Abstract: An assembly for mitigating spillage of patient sample in a patient sample tube having an open top includes a patient sample in the tube and a layer of inert material floating on the sample fluid, such that the material restricts splashing movement of the sample's surface. The material can include a foam, a gel, or a disk. The disk can be approximately the diameter of the sample tube with a center opening configured to accept a pipette to provide access to the patient sample.

Abstract: An assembly for mitigating spillage of patient sample in a patient sample tube having an open top includes a patient sample in the tube and a layer of inert material floating on the sample fluid, such that the material restricts splashing movement of the sample's surface. The material can include a foam, a gel, or a disk. The disk can be approximately the diameter of the sample tube with a center opening configured to accept a pipette to provide access to the patient sample.

Abstract: An in vitro diagnostics automation system is provided that includes a track and a plurality of sample containers configured to hold a fluid sample to be processed at one or more testing stations. The system also includes one or more priority indicators each configured to be coupled to the plurality of sample containers. Each of the one or more priority indicators includes distinguishing imaging features that indicate information associated with a fluid sample in a corresponding sample container. The system also includes an imaging device configured to image the one or more priority indicators having the distinguishing imaging features imaged by the imaging device. The system further includes a processor configured to determine the information associated with the fluid sample in the corresponding sample container from the distinguishing imaging features and control processing of the sample container based on the distinguishing imaging features imaged by the imaging device.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for creating a standard for multiple analytes comprising treating a portion of a sample to substantially remove analytes of interest to produce a series of specifically deficient samples; and determining and mixing an appropriate amount of the series of specifically deficient samples to create a standard. The analyte may be any substance to be measured.

Abstract: Methods, products, and kits for identifying an analyte in a sample are provided. One embodiment of a method for identifying an analyte in a sample includes combining the sample with a first reactant capable of specifically coupling to the analyte. The first reactant is coupled to beads. The method also includes combining additional reactant with the beads. The additional reactant is capable of specifically coupling to the analyte or a second reactant coupled to an analyte. An enzyme is attached to the additional reactant. In addition, the method includes combining a substrate with the beads. The substrate is capable of specifically interacting with the enzyme to form a modified substrate. If the substrate interacts with the enzyme attached to the beads via the additional reactant, the solubility of the substrate changes causing the modified substrate to bind to a surface of the beads and/or the reactants bound to the beads.

Abstract: A rapid radioactive method of measuring enzymatic activity of a protein kinase is disclosed. The method is an improvement to existing methodology which involves phosphorylating a peptide substrate using .sup.32 P-ATP, adsorbing the phosphorylated peptide to a solid phase, washing the phase to remove non-adsorbed .sup.32 P-ATP, and measuring the radioactivity of the phosphorylated peptide adsorbed to the phase. The disclosed improvement uses a membrane as the solid phase and positions the membrane within a chamber to separate the chamber into a first and second region. Washing is accomplished with centrifugal force; the washed solution being forced through the membrane from the first region into the second region.

Abstract: A process is described for isolating an enzyme-antibody conjugate, wherein the enzyme is horseradish peroxidase or alkaline phosphatase, from an aqueous mixture of said conjugate and unconjugated enzyme. The process involves contacting the mixture with a water insoluble stationary phase having the Ni.sup.+2 ion chelated thereto and binding said conjugate to the stationary phase. The phase containing bound conjugate is then washed to remove unbound enzyme. Thereafter the conjugate is eluted from the stationary phase and recovered in a form substantially free of the unconjugated enzyme.

Abstract: An apparatus for the calibration and quality assurance of a multichannel spectrophotometer, particularly an ELISA spectrophotometer, comprises a series of filters having a known first color and linearly increasing optical density. The response of the spectrophotometer is measured against the known color and linearly increasing optical density. Additional filters of at least one additional color permit checking the color response of the spectrophotmeter. An algorithm determines whether the response conforms to predetermined conditions. An output is produced to provide a record of the calibration and quality assurance of the spectrophotometer. The invention has particular utility for conducting calibration and quality assurance of ELISA spectrophotometers used in clinical laboratory screening for infectious diseases, such as Hepatitis B and the AIDS viruses.