Abstract: The present invention is directed to a computer-implemented method of automatically identifying the presence of one or more elements in a sample via optical emission spectroscopy.

Abstract: A rocker valve for opening or closing a fluid connection includes a valve chamber into which at least one opening feeds, a pivotally mounted rocker switch, and a membrane surface located between the rocker switch and the opening. By pivoting the rocker switch, the opening can be fluidically opened or closed relative to the valve chamber. The rocker valve further includes a sealing element that is located between the membrane surface and the opening when the rocker switch closes the opening relative to the valve chamber.

Abstract: A sample management device which comprises a source flow path in which a fluidic sample can flow, a volume flow adjustment unit configured for adjusting a volume flow of the fluidic sample to be branched off from the source flow path at a fluidic coupling point, and a fluidic valve fluidically coupled with the source flow path and with the volume flow adjustment unit, wherein the fluidic valve is switchable into a branch off state in which the fluidic coupling point is established within the source flow path to branch off an adjustable volume of the fluidic sample from the source flow path via the fluidic coupling point while a flow of the fluidic sample in the source flow path continues.

Abstract: In some examples, an apparatus may include an advection flow structure including a passage to transport, via advection by a gas flow, an ablated sample from an ablation region to an ionization region.

Abstract: A jet injector for a GC that includes a body, a skirt extending away from the body; and a bore that extends through the skirt and the body to create an inlet and an outlet for the jet injector.

Abstract: An ion guide includes electrodes elongated along an axis from an entrance end to an exit end and spaced around the axis to surround an interior. The electrodes have polygonal shapes with inside surfaces disposed at a radius from the axis and having an electrode width tangential to a circle inscribed by the electrodes. An aspect ratio of the electrode width to the radius varies along the axis. The electrodes are configured to generate a two-dimensional RF electrical field in the interior having a multipole composition comprising one or more lower-order multipole components and one or more higher-order multipole components and varying along the axis in accordance with the varying aspect ratio, and having an RF voltage amplitude that varies along the axis.

Abstract: A jet injector for a GC that includes a body, a skirt extending away from the body; and a bore that extends through the skirt and the body to create an inlet and an outlet for the jet injector.

Abstract: Provided herein is an ion source containing a plurality of components, at least one of which is partially coated with a layer of silicon. The ion source reduces reactivity between the sample and the carrier gas, reduces or eliminates tailing in ion chromatograms, and/or improves mass spectral fidelity. Also provided are methods of using the ion source in a mass spectrometer or gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer.

Abstract: A vacuum scroll pump having an inlet portion having a pump inlet, and an exhaust portion having a pump outlet; a frame; a stationary scroll plate fixed to the frame and comprising a stationary plate comprising at least one stationary scroll blade; an orbiting scroll plate comprising an orbiting plate comprising at least one orbiting scroll blade projecting axially from a front side of the orbiting plate toward the stationary plate; a drive mechanism supported by the frame and operatively connected to the orbiting scroll plate so as to cause the orbiting scroll plate to orbit about a longitudinal axis of the vacuum scroll pump and thereby pump a process gas; a double-sided thrust bearing supporting the orbiting scroll plate; and a bellows which isolates the process gas from the drive mechanism.

Abstract: The presence of mild electrophiles, such as aldehydes, during the denaturation of glycoproteins or glycopeptides and subsequent enzymatic deglycosylation reduces artifacts in subsequent analyses of the glycans released from the glycoproteins or glycopeptides.

Abstract: A process of determining a modified separation method for a sample separation apparatus based on an initial separation method, including carrying out the initial separation method on a sample separation apparatus, detecting sensor data at the sample separation apparatus during carrying out the initial separation method, and carrying out a numerical analysis for determining the modified separation method by modifying at least one operation parameter of the initial separation method and by using the detected sensor data.

Abstract: In alternative embodiments, provided are immunohistochemistry (IHC) methods for determining and scoring reproducibly the extent of nuclear expression of protein Ki-67 (also known as MK167) in a tissue sample. In alternative embodiments, provided are methods for diagnosing, treating or ameliorating or assessing the risk of recurrence for a cancer or a tumor using an IHC method as provided herein. In alternative embodiments, provided are kits comprising components and instructions for practicing methods as provided herein.

Abstract: Novel tools and techniques are provided for implementing software licensing management and authentication. In various examples, a computing system might receive a request for an unlock code for a requested service from a user using a client device on which a first software is executed, the request comprising a generated unique identifier associated with the requested service and/or the first software. The generated unique identifier comprises licensing information associated with the requested service and/or the first software. In response to receiving the generated unique identifier, the computing system might determine whether the user should have access to the requested service using the first software based at least in part on the licensing information. If so, the computing system might generate an unlock code associated with the requested service using the first software, might deduct cost associated with the licensing information, and might send the unlock code to the user.

Abstract: An injector, for injecting a fluidic sample in at least one selected one of a first sample separation apparatus and a second sample separation apparatus, includes a valve arrangement fluidically connectable to the first sample separation apparatus and the second sample separation apparatus, a sample accommodation volume for accommodating the fluidic sample, and a control unit configured for controlling the valve arrangement so that fluidic sample in the sample accommodation volume is selectively injectable into the selected first sample separation apparatus and/or second sample separation apparatus.

Abstract: Methods of assessing cytolysis of cancer cells are provided, which include: providing a cell-substrate impedance monitoring device operably connected to an impedance analyzer, adding target cells characterized as cancer cells to a well of the device adding effector cells to the well to form a test well, where the effector cells are immune cells obtained or derived from a same patient as the target cells; monitoring cell-substrate impedance of the test well before and after adding the effector cells and optionally deriving an impedance-based parameter from the impedance; and determining effectiveness of effector cell killing of the target cells by comparing the impedance or impedance-based curves over time.

Abstract: An implement for eliminating headspace in the testing space(s) (T9 or MPWell) of a test tube (T) or microtiter plate (MP), and methods of using such implements to measure oxygen concentration in a test sample. The implement projects into a test chamber (T9 or MPWell) to displace a portion of a fluid sample within the test chamber (T9 or MPWell) and has longitudinally extending grooves (109 and 229) through which the displaced fluidic content can be discharged from the test chamber (T9 or MPWell).

Abstract: A sampling unit for handling a sample fluid includes a sample container having a length and being configured for receiving and storing the sample fluid, and a sample segment dispatching unit configured for providing a plurality of individual sample packages of the fluidic sample, each contained in a respective volume segment along the length of the sample container, and for individually dispatching each of the plurality of individual sample packages for further processing in a fluid processing unit. The sample unit may be utilized, for example, for injecting the sample packages into a mobile phase stream for transporting to a sample separating unit such as a chromatography column.

Abstract: An autoclaving microplate washing system for cells and non-adhering three-dimensional (3D) cell cultures includes one or more pumps for controlling the dispensing of washing fluid and the evacuation of fluid from microwells to gently wash the cells. A method of controlling the autoclaving microplate washing system includes controlling the one or more pumps for dispensing and evacuation.