Abstract: This disclosure relates to methods and systems for assaying biological samples which include analyzing cellular components of biological samples. An example method of the disclosure may comprise generating aqueous droplets wrapped in a carrier fluid which is immiscible with the aqueous droplets. The aqueous droplets may comprise a cell from a biological sample, a microcarrier, and/or a lysing agent. The method may further comprise using the lysing agent to lyse the cell to release intracellular components comprising nucleic acid from the cell and dispensing the microcarrier and the nucleic acid released from the lysing to a vessel. The released nucleic acid may then be subjected to an assay which may comprise a nucleic acid amplification reaction.

Abstract: A microfluidic analysis system (1) performs polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis on a bio sample. In a centrifuge (6) the sample is separated into DNA and RNA constituents. The vortex is created by opposing flow of a silicon oil primary carrier fluid effecting circulation by viscous drag. The bio sample exits the centrifuge enveloped in the primary carrier fluid. This is pumped by a flow controller (7) to a thermal stage (9). The thermal stage (9) has a number of microfluidic devices (70) each having thermal zones (71, 72, 73) in which the bio sample is heated or cooled by heat conduction to/from a thermal carrier fluid and the primary carrier fluid. Thus, the carrier fluids envelope the sample, control its flowrate, and control its temperature without need for moving parts at the micro scale.

Abstract: A system for analyzing a biological sample may include at least one sample acquisition stage comprising a sample acquisition device for acquiring the biological sample from a sample source; a droplet generator device for forming a droplet wrapped in an immiscible carrier fluid, wherein the wrapped droplet comprises at least the biological sample and a reagent, the droplet generator configured to receive the biological sample transferred from the sample acquisition device; a collection vessel for collecting the wrapped sample droplet from the droplet generator, the vessel configured to contain a carrier fluid for receiving and protecting the sample droplet; and an analysis system for analyzing the wrapped sample droplet and detecting products of a polymerase chain reaction.

Abstract: A cleaning accessory for a vacuum cleaner comprises a housing having a first air inlet on an underside of the housing and an air outlet and a first airflow path between the first air inlet and the air outlet. The cleaning accessory also comprises at least one cleaning brush having at least one flexible cleaning element projecting outwards from a side of the housing. The cleaning accessory also comprises at least one side air inlet on the side of the housing and a second airflow path between the at least one side inlet and the air outlet. The at least one flexible cleaning element is arranged to engage a surface to be cleaned adjacent to the at least one side air inlet.

Abstract: A method operable by a communication network gateway for providing communication services includes (a) supporting respective communication links with a plurality of communication service providers, (b) supporting a plurality of virtual local area networks (VLANs), (c) associating each virtual local area network (VLAN) with a respective communication service provider of the plurality of communication service providers, and (d) routing data between each VLAN and the respective communication link of the respective communication service provider associated with the VLAN.

Abstract: A system for processing a biological sample can include a droplet generation assembly comprising a plurality of first reservoirs configured to contain an aqueous sample and a plurality of second reservoirs configured to contain a carrier fluid immiscible with the aqueous sample. The plurality of first reservoirs and the plurality of second reservoirs can be arranged to be in respective flow communication in pairs of reservoirs comprising a first reservoir of the plurality of first reservoirs and a second reservoir of the plurality of second reservoirs constituting a plurality of pairs of reservoirs. The droplet generation assembly can further include a flow control system configured to control a pressure in the plurality of pairs of reservoirs so as to generate a flow of a series of volumes of the aqueous sample separated by the carrier fluid. The system can further include a thermocycling system.

Abstract: A microfluidic analysis system (1) performs polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis on a bio sample. In a centrifuge (6) the sample is separated into DNA and RNA constituents. The vortex is created by opposing flow of a silicon oil primary carrier fluid effecting circulation by viscous drag. The bio sample exits the centrifuge enveloped in the primary carrier fluid. This is pumped by a flow controller (7) to a thermal stage (9). The thermal stage (9) has a number of microfluidic devices (70) each having thermal zones (71, 72, 73) in which the bio sample is heated or cooled by heat conduction to/from a thermal carrier fluid and the primary carrier fluid. Thus, the carrier fluids envelope the sample, control its flowrate, and control its temperature without need for moving parts at the micro scale.

Abstract: A system for processing a biological sample includes a substrate comprising a plurality of wells and a plurality of flow channels. The system further includes a flow control system comprising a manifold having a plurality of ports configured to fluidically couple to the plurality of wells, and one or more containment structures configured to contain carrier fluid and fluidically couple to the ports. The flow control system further includes a cradle configured to removably receive the substrate. The flow control system is configured to transmit pressure differential, via the manifold, to the plurality of wells so as to cause a plurality of sample volumes held by at least some wells of the plurality of wells to flow through respective flow channels and cause the carrier fluid to flow through the flow channels and form a plurality of droplets of the plurality of sample volumes separated by the carrier fluid.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for forming a pre-defined recess in a cured or cast explosive composition comprising the steps of: i) providing a female mould, ii) providing a male former, and locating said male former proximate to the female mould to create a gap between said male former and female mould, iii) forming an admixture of a curable/castable explosive composition, charging the gap with the admixture of explosive composition, causing the cure or cast of said curable/castable explosive composition, removing the male former to furnish a cured or cast explosive composition with a pre-defined recess.

Abstract: A radio for determining the occupancy of a variable width channel for secondary use, the variable width channel with a bandwidth equal to an integer multiple of the bandwidth of a plurality of narrowband channels in an RF frequency band. The radio decides whether the variable width channel in the RF band is occupied by whether classifying each of the narrowband channels corresponding to the variable width channel and each of a plurality of sub-bands with bandwidths of narrowband channels but center frequencies shifted by one-half of the bandwidth of the narrowband channel and overlap with the bandwidth of the variable width channel as containing signal or noise based on measured energy levels.

Abstract: The present invention provides a sabot (8) comprising a first material structure (12, 14) and a second material structure, wherein the first material structure is a lattice and wherein the second material structure is a solid. A munition (100) and a method of manufacturing a sabot are also provided.

Abstract: A method for identifying one or more unauthorised routes used for the termination of application-to-person (A2P) short message service (SMS) messages to a mobile telecommunications network, and a system for use in performing the method. An application service is stimulated to generate an A2P SMS message, and to send it to a collection point. The message is processed to obtain an identifier identifying a source of the message, and it is determined whether the identifier corresponds to an authorised source of A2P traffic to the network.

Abstract: A biological sample analysis system including a sample preparation system forming droplets of segmented sample separated by a carrier fluid immiscible with the sample. The droplets include reaction mixtures for amplification of at least one target nucleic acid. A thermal cycling device having a sample block having a plurality of controlled thermal zones, and a containment structure in thermal communication with the plurality of controlled thermal zones. The containment structure receives and contains the droplets of segmented sample separated by the immiscible carrier fluid from the sample preparation system. A controller for controlling a temperature in each thermal zone of the sample block. A detection system detects electromagnetic radiation emitted from each of the droplets individually from the queue of droplets as they flow past the detection system. A positioning system to facilitate moving a queue of the droplets in the thermal cycling device relative to the detection system.

Abstract: An aspect provides a computer-implemented method for operating animation controls associated with an animation control rig. The method comprises determining a node graph used to operate one or more animation controls; receiving an executable code object configured to replace at least two nodes disposed in the node graph at runtime, wherein the executable code object is configured to execute animation control inputs used to control the one or more animation controls at runtime as a single execution block configured to merge at least two data evaluation processes into a single data evaluation process to reduce execution overhead; processing the control data inputs using the executable code object; and operating the one or more animation controls with respect to the single execution instruction in response to the control data inputs.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to glass fiber-filled polyamide compositions. In various aspects, the present disclosure provides a composition including a polyamide having a relative viscosity (RV) of from ?20 to ?36. From ?10 to ?62 weight percent of the composition is glass fibers blended with the polyamide, based on the weight of the polyamide including the glass fibers. The composition can have a polyamide RV of >22 to <30.2, an elongation-at-break of 4% to 20%, at least 5 wt % of the glass fibers have a length of equal to or greater than 700 microns, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides a sabot (8) comprising a first material structure (12, 14) and a second material structure, wherein the first material structure is a lattice and wherein the second material structure is a solid. A munition (100) and a method of manufacturing a sabot are also provided.

Abstract: A system for analyzing a biological sample may include at least one sample acquisition stage comprising a sample acquisition device for acquiring the biological sample from a sample source; a droplet generator device for forming a droplet wrapped in an immiscible carrier fluid, wherein the wrapped droplet comprises at least the biological sample and a reagent, the droplet generator configured to receive the biological sample transferred from the sample acquisition device; a collection vessel for collecting the wrapped sample droplet from the droplet generator, the vessel configured to contain a carrier fluid for receiving and protecting the sample droplet; and an analysis system for analyzing the wrapped sample droplet and detecting products of a polymerase chain reaction.

Abstract: A biological sample analysis system including a sample preparation system forming droplets of segmented sample separated by a carrier fluid immiscible with the sample. The droplets include reaction mixtures for amplification of at least one target nucleic acid. A thermal cycling device having a sample block having a plurality of controlled thermal zones, and a containment structure in thermal communication with the plurality of controlled thermal zones. The containment structure receives and contains the droplets of segmented sample separated by the immiscible carrier fluid from the sample preparation system. A controller for controlling a temperature in each thermal zone of the sample block. A detection system detects electromagnetic radiation emitted from each of the droplets individually from the queue of droplets as they flow past the detection system. A positioning system to facilitate moving a queue of the droplets in the thermal cycling device relative to the detection system.

Abstract: A radio for determining the occupancy of a variable width channel for secondary use, the variable width channel with a bandwidth equal to an integer multiple of the bandwidth of a plurality of narrowband channels in an RF frequency band. The radio decides whether the variable width channel in the RF band is occupied by whether classifying each of the narrowband channels corresponding to the variable width channel and each of a plurality of sub-bands with bandwidths of narrowband channels but center frequencies shifted by one-half of the bandwidth of the narrowband channel and overlap with the bandwidth of the variable width channel as containing signal or noise based on measured energy levels.

Abstract: A system for analyzing a biological sample may include at least one sample acquisition stage comprising a sample acquisition device for acquiring the biological sample from a sample source; a droplet generator device for forming a droplet wrapped in an immiscible carrier fluid, wherein the wrapped droplet comprises at least the biological sample and a reagent, the droplet generator configured to receive the biological sample transferred from the sample acquisition device; a collection vessel for collecting the wrapped sample droplet from the droplet generator, the vessel configured to contain a carrier fluid for receiving and protecting the sample droplet; and an analysis system for analyzing the wrapped sample droplet and detecting products of a polymerase chain reaction.