This invention provides compositions and methods for detecting differences in copy number of a target polynucleotide. In some cases, the methods and compositions provided herein are useful for diagnosis of fetal genetic abnormalities, when the starting sample is maternal tissue (e.g., blood, plasma). The methods and materials described apply techniques for allowing detection of small, but statistically significant, differences in polynucleotide copy number.

Proposed is a device for aerating a liquid. The device includes a housing having a liquid inlet channel, an air inlet channel and an outlet channel for a mixture of liquid and air. Mounted in the housing is a conical nozzle containing a swirler for feeding in liquid under pressure, the swirler having helical grooves on its outer surface. Mounted in the region where a conical jet of liquid exits an opening in the conical portion of the nozzle is a baffle with which the flow of liquid collides, resulting in cavitation, wherein air enters into the inner region of the jet of liquid via a channel in the baffle and through an opening in the baffle.

A beverage mixing assembly for mixing a gas into a liquid to thereby form a solution includes a mixer body having a first upstream inlet configured to receive the gas, a second upstream inlet configured to receive the liquid, and a downstream outlet configured to dispense the solution from the mixer body. The first upstream inlet defines a first orifice configured to spray the gas into the mixer body and the second upstream inlet defines a second orifice configured to spray the liquid into the mixer body such that the gas collides into the liquid as the liquid conveys from the second upstream inlet to the downstream outlet to thereby mix into the liquid and form the solution.

A beverage mixing assembly for mixing a gas into a liquid to thereby form a solution includes a mixer body having a first upstream inlet configured to receive the gas, a second upstream inlet configured to receive the liquid, and a downstream outlet configured to dispense the solution from the mixer body. The first upstream inlet defines a first orifice configured to spray the gas into the mixer body and the second upstream inlet defines a second orifice configured to spray the liquid into the mixer body such that the gas collides into the liquid as the liquid conveys from the second upstream inlet to the downstream outlet to thereby mix into the liquid and form the solution.

The invention provides a method for validating the functioning of an apparatus with a static mixing device for mixing two liquid streams for producing nanoparticles. The static mixing device may be a jet impingement reactor. The method is based on the use of PLA, PLG or PLGA for producing polymeric nanoparticles with highly reproducible particle sizes. The invention further provides kits and liquid compositions for carrying out the method.

The invention provides a method for validating the functioning of an apparatus with a static mixing device for mixing two liquid streams for producing nanoparticles. The static mixing device may be a jet impingement reactor. The method is based on the use of PLA, PLG or PLGA for producing polymeric nanoparticles with highly reproducible particle sizes. The invention further provides kits and liquid compositions for carrying out the method.

The present disclosure relates to a gas injector for injecting a process gas in a process chamber. The gas injector comprises an injector tube comprising a plurality of process gas injection holes spaced apart from one another to deliver the process gas in the process chamber. The gas injector also comprises a feed entry of the injector tube for injecting the process gas into the injector tube and a mixing chamber is provided and is configured to mix a first reactant gas and a second reactant gas, thereby forming the process gas. The mixing chamber is directly connected to the feed entry and has first and second inlets for letting the first and second reactant gas in the mixing chamber. The first and second inlets are facing each other to improve mixing in the mixing chamber of the first and second reactant gas.

A process and device to create access to low gravity solids (LGS) of about 2 to 20 microns for removal from a fluid material/LGS emulsion having the steps of: flowing the emulsion into high pressure tubing; separating the emulsion into at least two high pressure streams; forcing the emulsion through high pressure nozzles at a terminus of each of the at least two high pressure tubing streams at a speed in the range of about 10 ft/sec to 200 ft/sec or at a force in a range of about 10 to 100 PSI; and colliding the streams of emulsion exiting the high pressure nozzle within a pressure drop chamber, wherein the pressure drop is in a range of about 5% to 50% of the back pressure of the nozzles; wherein a cavitation effect is realized from a collision force of the high pressure streams within the pressure drop chamber.

Disclosed herein are methods for preparing nanomaterials, such as nanoparticles. The methods can involve jet-mixing two or more precursor solutions to form the nanomaterials. By rapidly mixing the precursor solutions, nanomaterials of improved quality and uniformity can be prepared in high yield (e.g., in yields of at least 85%). The methods are also scalable, and allow for the continuous production of nanomaterials. Also provided are jet-mixing reactors that can be used to prepare nanomaterials using the methods described herein.

A nozzle for dispensing a beverage includes a nozzle head having a base liquid inlet configured to receive a base liquid and a flavoring inlet configured to receive a flavoring. The nozzle further includes a diffuser assembly that is in fluid communication with the base liquid inlet and which includes a diffuser plate having a plurality of peripheral openings through which the base liquid flows. The nozzle further includes a receptacle that is in fluid communication with the diffuser assembly and the flavoring inlet. The receptacle of the nozzle includes an inner wall, and the peripheral openings of the diffuser assembly are arranged so as to direct flow of the base liquid along the inner wall of the receptacle. The receptacle further includes an outlet through which the flavoring and the base liquid are dispensed.