Abstract: Tube and cap assemblies for retaining an aliquot of fluid suitably for transferring such samples within a laboratory or between laboratories include a tube portion having at least one sidewall defining an open top. A flange extends outwardly from the open top and includes a top surface and a bottom surface. At least one channel is provided in the top surface of the flange, and an internal closed bottom extends from the at least one sidewall. The cap includes at least one peripheral wall, a hub inset from the at least one peripheral wall, and a plurality of ribs extending from the hub to the at least one peripheral wall to strengthen it against forces inward toward the hub. The cap further includes a neck having at least one bubble ring, a rim extending from the neck, and at least one sealing rib extending from the rim.

Abstract: The invention relates to an analysis system for analyzing a sample on a test element. The system has an analysis unit for generating a signal as a function of an analyte contained in a sample, and a detection unit for detecting the signal. The analysis system further includes a test element holder into which the test element can be reversibly introduced and in which it can be positioned relative to the analysis unit and the detection unit. The test element contains at least one guide element, which is suitable for laterally guiding the test element, so that the test element in the test element holder is held and guided only on an outer region of the test element, and an inner region of the test element introduced into the test element holder remains free. The test element contains a sample application site in the inner region.

Abstract: A process and apparatus are provided for producing hydrogen from a hydrocarbon fuel by combining the fuel with a gas comprising both oxygen and steam, and passing the resulting mixture through a plasma generated by a microwave plasma generator between opposed electrodes. At least one of the electrodes defines a duct for outflow of gaseous material from the vicinity of the plasma, and the gas mixture emerging from the outflow duct contains hydrogen. The fuel undergoes partial oxidation and steam reforming, the reactions being initiated by the plasma rather than by a catalyst.

Abstract: A disk for storing liquid samples containing cells and for use in counting and observing the cells through an optical microscope includes an upper member formed of a transparent material and having a plurality of liquid inlets arranged radially and adapted to introduce the corresponding liquid samples therethrough, and a plurality of air vents paired with the corresponding liquid inlets; an intermediate member having a plurality of chambers arranged radially and adapted to store the corresponding liquid samples therein, each chamber corresponding to each pair of the liquid inlet and the air vent and communicating with the liquid inlet and with the air vent; and a lower member formed of a transparent material and backing the intermediate member. The optical microscope assumes the form of an incident-light microscope.

Abstract: A method of determining a kind of a sample, in a method for analyzing a substance by the steps of supplying the sample to be analyzed to a reaction system by a supplying means comprising a transparent region composed of a transparent material, reacting a reagent for detecting the substance with the sample in the reaction system, and analyzing a signal derived from a product obtained by the reaction, characterized by irradiating the transparent region with light in the supplying step, and analyzing an optical intensity of the light.

Abstract: A DNA amplification device utilizing a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and silicon substrate coated with spin-on glass (SOG) is provided. This PDMS layer is irreversibly bonded to the SOG layer of the silicon substrate using oxygen plasma. The amplification device is an inexpensive, microfluidic device, which can be utilized as a portable thermo-cycler to perform PCR amplification of DNA in the field.

Abstract: A linear guide, in particular for a device for electrochemical metal machining, that guides a linear movement of a quill that is moved periodically in a machine frame in order to periodically modify a working gap between a cathode situated on the quill and a workpiece in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the quill, the quill being connected to the machine frame by a plurality of connecting rods, the connecting rods being situated, in the no-load, non-deflected state, essentially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the quill, and the connecting rods having at the point of connection to the quill, as well as at the point of connection to the machine frame, a notch hinge in order to enable, via the hinge, the periodic linear movement of the quill, and the flexibilities of these notch hinges being based on elasticities in their structures formed by targeted thinning of the material.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a sample arraying/assembling device, its method, and an apparatus using a sample assembly, and has an object of providing a sample arraying/assembling device which is adapted to various microplates, and is capable of efficiently and quickly arraying and assembling various samples; its method; and an apparatus using a sample assembly. The present invention includes: a distributing section which is capable of holding respective solutions containing samples to be distributed, and which has a plurality of holding ends arranged in a predetermined matrix; and a wound body which has a plane surface wound with a slender foundation member on which samples are to be distributed at distribution intervals of column or line of the matrix, which is arranged in parallel at the winding intervals of the line or column on the plane surface, so that the respective holding ends can come into contact therewith.

Abstract: An ELID honing device includes a honing tool 10 positioned above a workpiece 1 having a hollow cylindrical inner surface, and vertically movable and rotationally drivable about a vertical rotation axis while being rockably suspended from an upper end, and a honing guide 20 positioned in proximity to an upper portion of the workpiece to guide the honing tool to the hollow cylindrical inner surface. The honing tool 10 has a fixed guide 12 having a predetermined radius R from the rotation axis to its outer peripheral surface, and honing stones 14a and 14b having outer peripheral surfaces movable in parallel from a diameter-increased position outside the radius R to a diameter-reduced position inside the radius R and capable of being electrolytically dressed. Further, the honing guide 20 has a hollow cylindrical ELID electrode 22 having an inner surface 22a for guiding an outer peripheral surface of the fixed guide of the honing tool and capable of being subjected to a negative voltage.

Abstract: A curettage collection apparatus includes a plate that has first side, a second side, and a perimeter edge. The perimeter edge includes a first edge, a second edge, a third edge and a fourth edge wherein the first and second edges are positioned opposite of each other. The first edge is convexly arcuate and the second edge is concavely arcuate. An elongated rod is attached to and extends away from the first side.

Abstract: A substrate for bioassay comprises a substrate and a group of reaction regions serving as a field where interaction between substances proceeds and formed in the substrate, and a group of information pits used to obtain positional information of individual reaction regions and/or substance information used in the reaction regions. The group of reaction regions and the group of information pits are not formed in the same substrate surface. A bioassay apparatus using the substrate and a method for making the substrate are also provided.

Abstract: An analytical combustion furnace has an input port for receiving a holder for an analytical sample. A purge block is coupled to the input port of the combustion furnace and has an input end for receiving the holder and a gas inlet and a gas outlet. A door selectively closes the input end of the purge block, and a pressurized seal is coupled between the purge block and the door. A source of purging gas is coupled to the gas inlet of the purge block for pressurizing the seal. The gas outlet of the purge block communicates with the seal to allow purging gas to escape the area of the seal. In one embodiment, a pressurized seal surrounds a push rod, which seal is pressurized by a purging gas to continuously purge the entry of the push rod into the purge block, thereby eliminating atmospheric contamination.

Abstract: A reaction well, intended for use in an automatic analysis appliance and including an opening at its top end and one or two flaps for partially closing said opening, the flaps being separated by a slot enabling a liquid injection or sampling needle to pass through, and preventing stirrer means contained within the well from escaping.

Abstract: Integrated apparatus and method for hematological analyses, wherein the apparatus, comprises, arranged substantially in line and integrated substantially in a single machine, a device (14) of the optical type to detect substantially instantaneously the speed of blood sedimentation (ESR) by measuring the optical density, or absorbance, of the blood sample, and a measuring assembly (18) with a cell-counter function or suchlike.

Abstract: An automatic analyzer includes a status table storing the status of each analysis module and reagent information identifying each reagent, the supply of which is exhausted, and allowing tracking of the status of each analysis module, etc. The automatic analyzer determines, based on the status table, whether and how it can continue current analysis, and stores the determination results in its instruction information table. The instruction information table stores analysis-unit or -module operating information and information to be supplied to the user or operator. The analysis-unit operating information includes instructions for the analysis modules to initiate an analysis in a normal manner, finish an analysis in a normal manner, omit a pre-analysis operation, omit a post-analysis operation, or stop sampling, etc. Further, the reagent information and the analysis module status are updated each time a reagent container is replaced by the operator.

Abstract: A system and method for calculating a value indicative of the amount of an undesirable constituent of a volatile gas stream that is removed from the atmosphere. Data received at a higher sampling rate is subjected to a plurality of validation processes and data that is determined to be faulty is then quarantined. Quarantined data can be replaced, however, an audit trail is generated to indicate what data has been replaced and the underlying rationale for the replacement data.

Abstract: A method for determining asphaltene stability in a hydrocarbon-containing material having solvated asphaltenes therein is disclosed. In at least one embodiment, it involves the steps of: (a) precipitating an amount of the asphaltenes from a liquid sample of the hydrocarbon-containing material with an alkane mobile phase solvent in a column; (b) dissolving a first amount and a second amount of the precipitated asphaltenes by changing the alkane mobile phase solvent to a final mobile phase solvent having a solubility parameter that is higher than the alkane mobile phase solvent; (c) monitoring the concentration of eluted fractions from the column; (d) creating a solubility profile of the dissolved asphaltenes in the hydrocarbon-containing material; and (e) determining one or more asphaltene stability parameters of the hydrocarbon-containing material.

Abstract: An ultraviolet sensor arrangement detects the amount of sulfur in a fuel of an internal combustion engine by emitting an ultraviolet light field in the presence of the fuel. A detector is disposed to detect a responsive amount of fluorescent light and provide a sensing signal indicative of the amount of sulfur in the fuel. A filter (or filters) receives the sensing signal and provides a filtered sensing signal to a sensing circuit.

Abstract: This invention relates to a system for mitigating the deleterious effect on a gas-detection sensor of exposure to ozone, which system comprises a sensor capable of detecting one or more select gas species, the performance of which sensor is degraded by contact with ozone, and a scrubber capable of absorbing ozone or otherwise converting ozone to one or more other substances so as to mitigate degradation of the sensor's performance; and a method for mitigating such deleterious effect as well.

Abstract: A system and method for purifying an aqueous contaminated fluid from colloidal contaminants using a closed-loop feedback control system are disclosed. Contaminated fluid flows into a mixer and mixed with a purifying agent, such as diatomaceous earth, to facilitate metathesis reaction between the purifying agent and the contaminants. The purifying agent entraps the contaminants, and is subsequently removed in a separator into sediments. An estimation of the amount of the purifying agent to dispense is performed using pre-defined equations or look-up tables stored in the database, including relationship between the concentration of contaminants in the fluid and the concentration of the added purifying agent. An automated feedback control is applied to fine tune the purification process into compliance with regulations. High accuracy of measurements is ensured by selecting the same material for both the purifying agent and the trapping medium of analyzers, and additionally by the design of the analyzers.