Embodiments are directed to providing access without determining an identity of a requester. A fixture may receive a rule pertaining to access to a floor of a building. The fixture may receive a request to access the floor of the building. The fixture may grant access to the floor based on a determination that the rule indicates that access to the floor should be granted.

A microfluidic platform and method are provided. The microfluidic platform includes a base having an outer surface and a plurality of wells formed in the outer surface thereof for receiving fluid therein. The plurality of wells are in fluid communication with each other. A lid includes a plurality of channels having corresponding inputs and outputs. The lid is moveable between a first position wherein the lid is disengaged from the base and a second position wherein the inputs of each channel communicate with corresponding wells in the base. The fluid in each well is drawn into corresponding channels through the inputs thereof by capillary action.

The present invention relates to the technical field of sample preservation, and more specifically, to a preservation tube for a sampling swab which includes a tube body. A first cavity for storing a sample releasing agent and a second cavity for placing the sampling swab are provided in the tube body, the first cavity is in communication with the second cavity, and a central axis of the second cavity deviates from a central axis of the tube body. When the present invention is in use, the sampling swab is placed in the second cavity, moved up and down and rotated to elute in the second cavity, and nucleic acid samples of the sampling swab are evenly distributed in the sample releasing agent, and can be used for detection after sucking the sample releasing agent in the first cavity.

The specimen container according to one or more embodiments may include: a container main body including an opening; a cap arranged to close the opening of the container main body and including a slit-formed portion in which a slit that allows an aspiration tube to pass therethrough is formed; and a contact portion provided in a position different from that of the slit and that is brought into contact with a peripheral surface of the aspiration tube at least while the aspiration tube is withdrawn from the slit.

Provided are methods and related devices for preparing a cell and tissue culture, including a hanging drop culture. Microwells are specially loaded with cell mixtures using a removable reservoir and forcing cells into the underlying microwells. The removable reservoir is removed and the cells partitioned into the individual microwells and covered by an immiscible layer of fluid. The microwells and immiscible layer is inverted and the cells in the microwells cultured. The microwells may have shape-controlling elements to control the three-dimensional shape of the culture.

The present disclosure relates to a microfluidic device for the separation of metaphase chromosomes such that individual metaphase chromosomes may be dispensed discretely from the device. The microfluidic device comprises a flow channel including a series of expanded regions and constrictions. The present disclosure also relates to methods of separating metaphase chromosomes.

Systems and methods for analysing a fluid including a fluid sample delivery application. The system includes a sensing element configured to respond to at least one analyte in a sample of fluid. A detector is provided, configured to sense the response to the analyte by the sensing element. The fluid sample delivery apparatus includes a dosage needle configured to deliver the sample of fluid to the sensing element, at least one pump configured to control flow of fluid through the dosage needle, and at least one actuator configured to move the dosage needle relative to the sensing element. At least one controller is provided, configured to control the at least one pump and the at least one actuator.

Provided are methods and related devices for preparing a cell and tissue culture, including a hanging drop culture. Microwells are specially loaded with cell mixtures using a removable reservoir and forcing cells into the underlying microwells. The removable reservoir is removed and the cells partitioned into the individual microwells and covered by an immiscible layer of fluid. The microwells and immiscible layer is inverted and the cells in the microwells cultured. The microwells may have shape-controlling elements to control the three-dimensional shape of the culture.

A dispensing method executed in a robot system including a pipette, a tip, a container, a liquid in the container, and a robot including a robot arm, an end effector, and a robot controller that controls the robot arm and the end effector to perform operations on the pipette and the tip, includes: making the end effector hold the pipette and the tip attached to the pipette; dipping at least a point of the tip attached to the pipette in the liquid and aspirating the liquid into the tip; bringing an outer surface of the tip attached to the pipette into contact with a part of the container, wherein the part of the container is at least one of an edge of an opening and an inside surface; and pulling the pipette and the tip attached to the pipette out of the container through the opening.

Provided are methods and related devices for preparing a cell and tissue culture, including a hanging drop culture. Microwells are specially loaded with cell mixtures using a removable reservoir and forcing cells into the underlying microwells. The removable reservoir is removed and the cells partitioned into the individual microwells and covered by an immiscible layer of fluid. The microwells and immiscible layer is inverted and the cells in the microwells cultured. The microwells may have shape-controlling elements to control the three-dimensional shape of the culture.