Flow control mechanisms control the direction and flow rate of synthesis reagent through one or more synthesis reaction vessels for automated solid phase synthesis. Selectable, known, and reproducible positive or negative pressure differentials (−5 to +10 psi) accomplish controlled, bidirectional (forward and reverse) flow of synthesis reagents through synthesis media contained within the reaction vessels. Venturi-based vacuum apparatus, valves, electronic pressure regulators and compound digital pressure gauge, can be added to automated solid phase synthesis instruments to provide, control, and monitor known, selectable, reproducible negative and positive pressures to one or both valve sealable and un-sealable ends (inlets and outlets) of the reaction vessel as needed to generate and reverse said pressure differentials between the opposite ends of said synthesis reaction vessels, yielding controlled forward and backward flows of synthesis reagents through the synthesis media.

A system may include a first conduit configured to form a first batch of discrete volumes of aqueous fluid separated by spacing liquid disposed between consecutive volumes of aqueous fluid, the spacing liquid being immiscible with the aqueous fluid volumes; a second conduit, fluidically coupled to the first conduit, the second conduit configured to statically hold the first batch of discrete volumes of aqueous fluid; and a third conduit configured to receive the first batch of discrete volumes of aqueous fluid from the second conduit. The third conduit can be configured to transfer the discrete volumes of aqueous fluid of the first batch for downstream processing.

Various embodiments of the teachings relate to a system or method for sample preparation or analysis in biochemical or molecular biology procedures. The sample preparation can involve small volume processed in discrete portions or segments or slugs, herein referred to as discrete volumes. A molecular biology procedure can be nucleic acid analysis. Nucleic acid analysis can be an integrated DNA amplification/DNA sequencing procedure.

A microscope slide staining system has a chamber, a plurality of slide support elements, a plurality of spreading devices positionable in association with microscope slides supported on the slide support elements so the spreading devices define a gap between the spreading device and the microscope slide and so the spreading device and the microscope slide are movable relative to one another to spread at least one reagent on the microscope slide independent of the other spreading devices and microscope slides.

A method for forming discrete volumes of aqueous fluid may comprise flowing aqueous fluid into a first conduit from a supply of aqueous fluid and flowing into the first conduit a spacing liquid supplied from a second conduit, the spacing liquid being immiscible with the aqueous fluid. The flowing of the aqueous fluid and the spacing liquid into the first conduit forms discrete volumes of the aqueous fluid, with consecutive discrete volumes of the aqueous fluid separated by the spacing liquid. The method may further comprise transferring the discrete volumes of the aqueous fluid and spacing liquid from the first conduit to a third conduit for processing.

A centric spray pipe apparatus is disclosed, The centric spray pipe includes a plurality of nozzles designed to provide full coverage of liquid spray to a vessel.

Precursors for forming a plurality of multielement materials of different compositions can be deposited on different portions of a common substrate according to a combinatorial approach. The substrate can be subjected to a thermal shock, thereby converting the deposited precursors into separate multielement materials on the substrate. The thermal shock can be a temperature greater than or equal to 500° C. and a duration less than 60 seconds. In some embodiments, each multielement material can be tested with respect to an electrical property, a chemical property, or an optical property. Based on the results of the testing, a composition of a multielement material can be determined for use in a predetermined application, such as use as a catalyst, a plasmonic nanoparticle, an energy storage device, an optoelectronic device, a solid-state electrolyte, or an ion conductive membrane.

Apparatuses and a method for plate-based oligonucleotide synthesis are disclosed. In one example, an apparatus used in oligonucleotide synthesis includes a machined block to receive a commercially-available synthesis plate. A keeper is used to apply pressure to the commercially-available synthesis plate, and a sealing element is used to seal the commercially-available synthesis plate to the machined block. Other methods and apparatuses are disclosed.

A device for generating a droplet array, which comprises a substrate, a roller on the substrate, and a microgrooved chip on the outer surface of the roller, wherein a sealant is on a surface of the substrate close to the roller and the microgrooved chip comprises a chip body fitted to the roller and an array of microgrooves arranged on the chip body, the array of microgrooves consisting of a plurality of microgrooves arranged at intervals on the chip body. When the roller rolls, liquid between the substrate and the roller enters the microgrooves and forms droplets while the microgrooved chip detaches from the roller and combines with the sealant which seals the microgrooves, generating a droplet array. The device generates a droplet array having uniform droplet size, good repeatability. Further, the method is simple and highly efficient, and has broad application prospects in the fields of medicine and biology.

A method of depositing single particles onto a target includes loading a particle suspension to a droplet dispenser having a suspension reservoir and a nozzle section, detecting particles in the nozzle section, testing a single particle condition of the droplet dispenser, and determining whether an ejection region of the nozzle section includes one single particle. The method further includes operating the droplet dispenser for dispensing a droplet such that the droplet is dispensed onto the target if the single particle condition is fulfilled, or the droplet is dispensed into a collection reservoir if the single particle condition is not fulfilled. The step of testing the single particle condition further includes determining whether a sedimentation region adjacent to the ejection region is free of particles. A dispenser for performing the method is also provided.