Closed cell foam articles, such as sports balls, and related manufacturing methods are disclosed herein. The article includes a main body made of closed-cell elastomeric resin foam having a density ranging between about 0.050 sg and about 0.800 sg after curing. Some articles are assembled by inserting a cured core into a main body so that the core is secured in the main body via an interference fit, and the core has one or more portions extending to the exterior surface of the main body such that the an exposed surface of the one or more exposed portions of the core blend substantially with the exterior surface of the main body.

Thermoplastic articles are molded from thermoplastic polyurethane compounds including aromatic polycaprolactone thermoplastic polyurethane. The thermoplastic articles exhibit enhanced stain resistance, as represented by achieving a rating of 1 according to Blue Jean Abrasion Test, relative to thermoplastic articles molded from thermoplastic polyurethane compounds including other types of thermoplastic polyurethanes, while also having good clarity (i.e., low haze) and other desirable properties. The thermoplastic articles can be especially useful as protective cases for handheld electronic devices.

This disclosure provides a door lining upper base and a method of manufacturing the door lining upper base through injection molding of several sub-components. The door lining upper base is manufactured by separately injection molding a base substrate that forms the structural shape of the door lining upper base including aesthetic curvature, and first and second support structures that include attachment mechanism for connecting the door lining upper base to other aspects of the motor vehicle. In this way, each sub-component may be injection molded in a cost effective manner using a two-piece mold without the need for complex multi-part molds including side-sliders or lifters. The resulting door lining upper base therefore includes an aesthetic curvature, while still being manufactured in an efficient and cost effective manner.

Method of performing a droplet-based assay. The method may include obtaining droplets encapsulated by an immiscible liquid and packed closely together in a monolayer, performing a reaction in the droplets while packed closely together in the monolayer; and collecting data related to an analyte from a plurality of the droplets while the droplets remain closely packed together in the monolayer.

A fastener including a pin and a grommet. The pin is pre-engaged to the grommet with at least one flash connection, the pin is configured to be secured to the grommet at least by the flash connection being broken, and one of the pin or the grommet moves relative to the other of the pin or the grommet to break the at least one flash connection. Further, the pin is configured to engage and be secured to a first component and the grommet is configured to engage and be secured to a second component.

System for performing a flow-based assay. The system may comprise a droplet generator to produce an emulsion including droplets in a carrier fluid. The system also may comprise a thermocycler including two or more temperature-controlled zones and also including a channel connected to the droplet generator for receiving the emulsion. The channel may form a single-pass continuous fluid route traversing the temperature-controlled zones multiple times, such that droplets passing through the channel are thermally cycled. The system further may comprise a detection station downstream from the thermocycler and configured to detect a signal from the droplets after such droplets have been thermally cycled by passing through the channel.

Method of analysis. In the method, a first emulsion and a second emulsion substantially separated from one another by a spacer fluid may be formed. The first emulsion, the spacer fluid, and the second emulsion may be flowed in a channel from a fluid inlet to a fluid outlet of a heating and cooling station having two or more temperature-controlled zones, such that each emulsion is thermally cycled to promote amplification of a nucleic acid target in droplets of the emulsion. Amplification data may be collected from individual droplets of each emulsion downstream of the heating and cooling station. A level of the nucleic acid target present in each emulsion may be determined based on the amplification data collected from the individual droplets of the emulsion.

A childproof container apparatus, system and method. The apparatus, system and method may include a container body having therewithin a cavity; a cap capable of providing access to the cavity when opened; a collar about the container body and capable of impeding access to the cap; and at least one safety feature suitable, upon actuation, to allow the collar to slide to remove the impedance to accessing the cap. The container may further include a tamper evidencing feature at least partially physically associated with the cap. The at least one safety feature may include a plurality of tabs, or one or more buttons.

An in-mold lid closing apparatus includes a lid engagement member, a first actuation assembly connected to a first portion of the lid engagement member, a second actuation assembly connected to a second opposing portion of the lid engagement member, and a controller disposed in electrical communication with the first actuation assembly and the second actuation assembly. The controller is configured to transmit a first drive signal to the first actuation assembly and a second drive signal to the second actuation assembly to drive one of a linear position and a rotational position of the lid engagement member and to adjust at least one of the first drive signal and the second drive signal based upon a first feedback signal received from the first actuation assembly and a second feedback signal received from the second actuation assembly.

A manufacturing method of a liquid ejection head including manufacturing a flow path constituting member for supplying a liquid to an ejection module, the manufacturing a flow path constituting member including using a metal mold which is constituted of a fixed mold and a movable mold, the manufacturing a flow path constituting member including: a first step of molding a first member, a second member, and a third member independently at locations different from each other in the metal mold, the first member, the second member, and the third member constituting the flow path constituting member; a second step of joining the first member and the second member in a specific manner; and a third step of joining the second member and the third member in a specific manner.