Abstract: Disclosed herein are devices and methods for determining the pH of fluid. Example devices include a device comprising a surface configured to contact the fluid and a pH indicator covalently bound thereto, wherein the pH indicator has a first color prior to contact with the fluid and changes color as a function of the pH of the fluid.

Abstract: A method includes controlling an oil and gas extraction process, controlling a production separation process, and controlling a de-gassing process. The method also includes optimizing the oil and gas extraction process, the production separation process, and the degassing process to optimize at least one process objective. The method could further include controlling a lift-gas compression process. The optimizing could include optimizing the lift-gas compression process, the oil and gas extraction process, the production separation process, and the degassing process to optimize the at least one process objective.

Abstract: An analytical device for automated determining of a measured variable of a liquid sample comprises: a liquid storage, which includes one or more liquid containers for one or more liquids; a measuring cell for accommodating the liquid sample, especially a liquid sample, to which has been added one or more liquids from the liquid storage, and a measuring arrangement for providing one or more measurement signals correlated with the measured variable; an electronics unit, which includes a control unit for control of the analytical device and for determining the measured variable based on the measurement signals provided by the measuring arrangement; and a handling unit including a supply- and dosing, or metering, system for supplying and metering the liquid sample and liquids from the liquid storage into the measuring cell, wherein the analytical device includes at least one exchangeable cassette, into which are integrated at least parts of the liquid storage and/or at least parts of the handling unit.

Abstract: A method and system for testing soil includes wetting a selected soil sample to obtain a soil solution and measuring an initial pH of the soil solution. A buffer solution is then applied to the soil solution to displace alkaline anions from soil colloids of the soil solution with a displacement agent and to neutralize the alkaline anions with a neutralization agent in a buffer having a buffer pH of between 4.38 and 4.42. A resultant pH of the soil solution is then measured. A target pH for the soil sample is selected, and using mathematical relationships of the disclosure, an acidic amendment recommendation is obtained as a function of the initial pH, the resultant pH, and the target pH.

Abstract: A device is described that overlays a first fluid, such as blood or a cellular suspension onto a base material, such as a density gradient. In some embodiments, the fluid layering device includes a cylindrical reservoir, a fluid barrier, a coupling extension, a plunger, and an exhaust vent. The fluid layering device can be coupled through its coupling extension to an open end of a container, such as a conical centrifuge tube, including the density gradient. Once attached, the plunger may be lowered to a position above the surface of the density gradient. A first fluid may flow from the reservoir into the conical tube across the plunger, so that a suitable overlay is formed without substantially disturbing a surface of the density gradient. The plunger may be buoyed upward by the first fluid during operation, providing a constant regulation of flow throughout overlaying, regardless of the care and skill of the user.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an oxidizer, and related methods, for oxidizing polar modifiers in chromatographic mobile phases. The oxidizer enables the use of flame-based detection in chromatographic separations, such as carbon dioxide based chromatography, which employ polar modifiers, such as methanol. Upon exiting a chromatographic column, the mobile phase containing the polar modifier is flowed through an oxidizer that contains a catalyst to oxidize at least a portion of the polar modifier to a species that does not interfere with the function of the flame-based detector. The oxidizer allows for flame-based detection, such as flame ionization detection, in applications in which a polar modifier with a reduced form of carbon is used.

Abstract: An analytical system includes a laser disposed to direct light toward a microfluidic feature disposed in a feature layer of a multiple layer test cartridge, a sensor to receive reflections from capping layers disposed about the microfluidic feature in the feature layer, and a controller to determine a depth of the microfluidic feature as a function of the received reflections.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for opening a reaction vessel having a body forming a volume for liquid, and a lid. In the method at least one reaction vessel is placed on a transport vehicle and the reaction vessel is positioned on the vehicle so that the vessel's rotation about its own axis is prevented. Then, the at least one reaction vessel is transferred on the vehicle and a guide rod, attached to the lid that is attached by a hinge to the reaction vessel, is pushed by the movement of the vehicle against a guide surface that forces the lid to turn on the hinge so that the lid is at least partially opened.

Abstract: A sample preparation device, preferably for sterility testing, comprising a manifold including one or more receptacles for filtration units and at least one inlet and/or outlet port. The receptacle(s) is/are respectively provided with one or more connectors for establishing a fluid connection with mating ports of the filtration units and media containers/vials upon insertion of the same into the respective receptacles. The connectors are in fluid communication with the inlet and outlet port(s) via channels defined in the manifold to allow a desired fluid transfer through the manifold.

Abstract: A system electronically monitors the consumption of gas adsorbent media in a media bed. The system includes a controller and a monitoring rod having a plurality of sensors disposed on the monitoring rod. The sensors are in communication with the controller. Each sensor includes a corrodible portion having an exposed electrically conducting material susceptible to corrosion by a corrosive agent, a first lead in electrical contact with a first end of the corrodible portion, and a second lead in electrical contact with a second end of the corrodible portion. The corrodible portion, the first lead and the second lead together form a continuous communication path to the controller, and the monitoring rod is at least partially disposed in the media.

Abstract: A module may be provided with at least one opening, the opening being an endpoint of a microfluidic channel that passes through at least part of the module. A set of multiple such modules may be arranged into an arrangement of modules, which may be coupled together using one or more coupling mechanisms included on each module. The arrangement of modules may fit within a regular polyhedral grid, and each module within the arrangement of modules may have a form suitable for arrangement of the modules within the regular polyhedral grid. Fluid may then flow through at least a subset of the arrangement of modules via the microfluidic channel of each module of the subset of the arrangement of modules. Some modules may include sensors, actuators, or inner microfluidic channel surface coatings. The arrangement of modules may form a microfluidic circuit that can perform a microfluidic circuit function.

Abstract: Methods for automated extraction of nucleic acids are disclosed. Also disclosed are method and kits for isolating fetal nucleic acids from a plasma sample of a pregnant woman. The method includes flowing the plasma sample through a first filter under conditions that allow binding of the fetal and maternal nucleic acids to the first filter; eluting the fetal and maternal nucleic acids bound to the first filter to produce a concentrated nucleic acid sample; flowing the concentrated nucleic acid sample through a second filter under conditions that allow preferential binding of the maternal nucleic acids to the second filter; and recovering the fetal nucleic acid from the concentrated nucleic acid sample that flow through the second filter.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining the content of at least one oxidizable constituent of an aqueous, liquid sample, comprising a high temperature reactor for decomposing the liquid sample and forming a gaseous mixture, which contains at least the constituent as a gaseous oxide, wherein the high temperature reactor has a liquid inlet for delivery of the liquid sample and a gas inlet for delivery of a carrier gas, and is connected via a gas discharge with an analysis chamber, wherein a condensing unit is placed in front of the analysis chamber for condensing water from the gas mixture, wherein, during operation of the apparatus, a gas stream of the carrier gas with the gas mixture of the high temperature reactor passes via the gas discharge and the condensing unit into the analysis chamber, and wherein, between the gas discharge and the condensing unit, a heatable filter unit is interposed for removal of salts and/or metal oxides from the gas mixture, and the gas discharge, the filter unit and optionally connecting e

Abstract: A continuous-flow extraction system and method for extracting oil from oil-bearing plant parts, or biomass, with liquid-phase hydrocarbon solvent in a continuous process, providing more than one extraction vessel so that one or more extraction vessels can be cleared of exhausted biomass and reloaded with biomass, while another one or more extraction vessels are undergoing the extraction process, optionally providing a de-waxer for use when needed, providing a primary jacketed separator vessel for flashing hydrocarbon solvent to a vapor phase and precipitating and collecting liquid plant extract, providing at least one secondary jacketed separator vessel for purification and refinement of vapor-phase hydrocarbon solvent and providing for re-liquefication of the solvent for the purpose of re-circulating and reusing the solvent, and providing for the heating, cooling, and pumping necessary to carry out the various steps.

Abstract: A chromatograph mass analysis data processing method for obtaining pertinent information on a compound series including a plurality of compounds whose structures and characters are similar. Based on the data obtained by a chromatograph mass analysis, a two-dimensional isointensity line graph is created and displayed with a retention time and a mass-to-charge ratio on the two axes and with a signal intensity represented with a contour. When the operator specifies a desired range, the data contained in the range specified are collected, the signal intensities along the mass-to-charge ratio axis direction are summed up for every retention time to create a summed mass chromatogram based on the summed value. Simultaneously, the signal intensities along the retention time axis direction are summed up for every mass-to-charge ratio to create a summed mass spectrum based on the summed value. These are then displayed on the same screen of the isointensity line graph.

Abstract: Analytical cartridges, systems and methods of processing a sample for analysis using capillary flows. Vertical gradient sample filtration provides filtrate to an incubation chamber for a time controlled by a flow modulator at the outlet of the incubation chamber. The flow modulator can include a serpentine capillary flow path without side walls. Incubated filtrate can flow from the incubation chamber to a detection channel after a predetermined time. The detection chamber can include one or more analytical regions in a porous substrate for detection of two or more analytes on the same cartridge from the same sample.

Abstract: Reconfigurable microfluidic systems are based on networks of microfluidic cavities connected by hydrophobic microfluidic channels. Each cavity is classified as either a reservoir or a node, and includes a pressure port via which gas pressure may be applied. Sequences of gas pressures, applied to reservoirs and nodes according to a fluid transfer rule, enable fluid to be moved from any reservoir to any other reservoir in a system. Such systems are suitable for automated microwell plate interfaces.

Abstract: Reconfigurable microfluidic systems are based on networks of microfluidic cavities connected by hydrophobic microfluidic channels. Each cavity is classified as either a reservoir or a node, and includes a pressure port via which gas pressure may be applied. Sequences of gas pressures, applied to reservoirs and nodes according to a fluid transfer rule, enable fluid to be moved from any reservoir to any other reservoir in a system. Such systems are suitable for automated, multi-input, multi-output homogeneous assays.

Abstract: A microfluidic device for isolating particles of at least one given type of a sample; the device is designed to be connected to an apparatus through a plurality of electrical connectors and comprises a system of microfluidic channels and a flash memory, which contains information on the structure (arrangement and geometry of the various components) of the system of microfluidic channels, a map of non-functioning parts of the device, the maximum number of uses and the maximum time of use of the device; the memory has portions allocated for storing the number of times and the time of use of the device.

Abstract: A container assembly for use with a high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) instrument is disclosed, in which the container assembly, when coupled to a source of pressurized gas, provides fluid medium to the HPLC instrument at positive pressure. The container assembly has an external exterior container shell, an internal fluid container for holding fluid medium, an interstitial volume between the external exterior container shell and the internal fluid container, a port for fluidly connecting the volume to a pressurized gas source, and a port for fluidly connecting the internal fluid container to the HPLC instrument. As a pressurized gas in the interstitial volume increases, fluid medium flows out of the port connected to the internal fluid bag and container assembly at a positive pressure. A system incorporating the container assembly, and method of use of the same, are also disclosed.