Abstract: A mass spectrum is acquired by accumulating parent ions in an ion trap, ejecting parent ions of a selected m/z ratio into a collision cell, producing fragment ions from the parent ions, and analyzing the fragment ions in a mass analyzer. The other parent ions remain stored in the ion trap, and thus the process may be repeated by mass-selectively scanning parent ions from the ion trap. In this manner, the full mass range of parent ions or any desired subset of the full mass range may be analyzed without significant ion loss or undue time expenditure. The collision cell may provide a large ion acceptance aperture and relatively smaller ion emission aperture. The collision cell may pulse ions out to the mass analyzer. The mass analyzer may be a time-of-flight analyzer. The timing of pulsing of ions out from the collision cell may be matched with the timing of pulsing of ions into the time-of-flight analyzer.

Abstract: A fluidic device, the fluidic device comprising a planar fluidic conduit for conducting a fluid, wherein the fluidic conduit has a plurality of fluidic disturbance features located along at least a section of the fluidic conduit for disturbing a laminar flow of the fluid along the section.

Abstract: A method and compositions for sulfurizing at least one phosphite or thiophosphite linkage in an oligonucleotide. The methods employ a phenylacetyl disulfide reagent (known as PADS), phenylthioacetic acid (PTAA) in the presence or absence or N-alkyl imidazole in industrially preferred solvents or solvents that are derived from renewable resources. The use of PTAA eliminates the need to “age” the PADS solution prior to its use in sulfurization reactions.

Abstract: Crosslinking reagents and methods for using the same for analysis of protein-protein interactions, are provided. The crosslinking reagents include a trifunctional scaffold that links two protein linking groups to each other and branches to link an affinity tag, where the protein linking groups can be fragmented from the scaffold. The distance between the two protein linking groups can be selected to crosslink two proteins of a protein complex via accessible amino acid residues. Also provided are crosslinked polypeptide compounds and kits that include crosslinking reagents. These reagents and methods find use in a variety of applications in which crosslinking of proteins in desired.

Abstract: A system for estimating a baseline of a signal exhibits a signal generator and a processor. The signal generator is configured to generate a signal exhibiting a plurality of peaks and a baseline. The processor is configured to perform operations including determining an estimator indicating at least one region of the signal that exhibits a peak, determining a weight indicating at least one region of the signal that does not exhibit a peak based on the estimator, and estimating the baseline of the signal based on at least the determined weight.

Abstract: Devices and systems for reflecting ions are provided. In general, the devices and systems include a plurality of curved lens plates adapted for connection to at least one voltage source and having a passage therein to allow the ions to pass therethrough. The plurality of curved lens plates generates electric fields having elliptic equipotential surfaces that reflect and focus the ions as they pass through the passage. Reflectron time-of-flight (RE-TOF) spectrometers are also provided that include an ion source, ion detector, and such a reflectron as described above. Mass spectrometer systems are provided that comprise an ion source that generates ions and a reflectron TOF spectrometer such as described above.

Abstract: A microfluidic device for glycopeptide analysis includes an enrichment column capable of binding carbohydrates; a trapping column capable of binding peptides, wherein the trapping column is configured to be connected downstream of the enrichment column; a separation column, wherein the separation column is configured to be connected downstream of the trapping column; and a plurality of ports configured to work with a switching device to form a plurality of flow paths, wherein one of the plurality of flow paths allows the trapping column to be in fluid communication with the separation column. A method for glycopeptide analysis using a microfluidic device comprising a trapping column and a separation column, the method includes applying a sample of peptides to the microfluidic device; trapping the peptides on the trapping column; eluting the peptides from the trapping column into the separation column; and separating the peptides on the separation column.

Abstract: A mass spectrum is acquired by accumulating parent ions in an ion trap, ejecting parent ions of a selected m/z ratio into a collision cell, producing fragment ions from the parent ions, and analyzing the fragment ions in a mass analyzer. The other parent ions remain stored in the ion trap, and thus the process may be repeated by mass-selectively scanning parent ions from the ion trap. In this manner, the full mass range of parent ions or any desired subset of the full mass range may be analyzed without significant ion loss or undue time expenditure. The collision cell may provide a large ion acceptance aperture and relatively smaller ion emission aperture. The collision cell may pulse ions out to the mass analyzer. The mass analyzer may be a time-of-flight analyzer. The timing of pulsing of ions out from the collision cell may be matched with the timing of pulsing of ions into the time-of-flight analyzer.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus and systems for acquiring spectrometric data from analyte ions implement a combination of drift-type ion mobility (IM) separation and time-of-flight mass spectrometry (TOF MS). Both separation techniques are carried out in tandem while applying mass filtering with a wide window of ion isolation. One mode of operation entails utilizing a mass filter to limit ion packets to ions in a selected m/z range that remains constant over the entire course of data acquisition. Another mode entails utilizing the mass filter to limit ion packets to an m/z range that varies over the course of data acquisition.

Abstract: A sample probe includes a tip including a distal end for penetrating a cellular membrane, an opening located at or proximal to the distal end, and tip microchannels extending through the tip and communicating with the opening; and a body adjoining the tip and including body microchannels, wherein at least one of the body microchannels communicates with at least one of the tip microchannels. A method for sampling intracellular material includes inserting a probe tip through a cellular membrane; aspirating intracellular material from the cell, through an opening of the tip, and into a first microchannel of the tip; flowing isolator fluid from a second microchannel of the tip into the first microchannel to form a plug of intracellular material; and aspirating the plug and the isolator fluid through the first microchannel.

Abstract: Scroll pumping apparatus includes a first scroll element and a second scroll element; a drive mechanism operatively coupled to the second scroll element for producing orbiting motion of the second scroll element relative to the first scroll element, the drive mechanism having an axis of rotation; and an isolation element to isolate a first volume and a second volume in the scroll pumping apparatus. The isolation element includes a first resilient annular member coupled, directly or indirectly, to the first scroll element, a second resilient annular member coupled, directly or indirectly, to the second scroll element, and a tubular member coupled between the first and second annular members.

Abstract: A time-of-flight mass spectrometer (TOF MS) includes an ion gate, an ion guide downstream of the ion gate, and a TOF analyzer downstream of the ion guide. The TOF MS is operated with an adjustable duty cycle to limit the amount of ions entering a TOF analyzer and avoid saturating a detector system of the TOF MS. The duty cycle is adjusted by controlling the ion gate. The ion guide emits ions as a continuous beam, without trapping the ions. The ion guide may be operated as a collision cell. The TOF MS may also include a mass filter upstream of the ion guide.

Abstract: A device under test (DUT) is tested by: receiving a signal transmitted by the DUT, wherein the signal includes first portions that include scrambled bits produced from a selected bit pattern and a selected scrambling algorithm, and further includes second portions that include unscrambled bits, the first portions and second portions being interspersed within the signal; detecting received scrambled bits within the received signal; generating a test bit sequence using the selected scrambling algorithm and the selected bit pattern, including generating a bit of the test bit sequence for each of the received scrambled bits within the received signal, and not generating a bit of the test bit sequence for each of the received unscrambled bits within the received signal; and comparing the received scrambled bits to the test bit sequence to determine a bit error rate of the received signal.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are described for generally passive intermodulation measurement to specify a location and strength of an intermodulation source of a passive component in a transmission line. Beneficially, the apparatus and method are comparatively simple and inexpensive.

Abstract: A sealed fluidic component (280) for use in a fluidic flow path is made by providing a composite material (300) comprising a first material (305) and a second material (310), wherein the first material (305) and the second material (310) are different PAEK materials with the first material (305) having a lower melting point than the second material (310). The composite material (300) is heated in order to provide a sealing by the first material (305).

Abstract: A method for analyzing a random telegraph signal according to the present invention includes the steps of: performing band-pass filter processing with respect to signal data; subsequently calculating a histogram; subsequently performing threshold determination processing; further performing, based on a result of the threshold determination, binarization processing with respect to the filtered signal data; and further obtaining, based on a result of the binarization, coefficients ?.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing time adjustment of an input signal includes a coarse timing digital-to-analog converter (DAC), a replica delay element and an interpolator. The coarse timing DAC has multiple delay settings for providing a coarse timing adjustment of the input signal, and outputs a first delayed signal by delaying the input signal by a first delay time corresponding to a selected setting of the multiple delay settings. The replica delay element receives the first delayed signal from the coarse timing DAC and outputs a second delayed signal by delaying the first delayed signal by a predetermined second delay time. The interpolator blends either the input signal and the first delayed signal or the first delayed signal and the second delayed signal for providing a fine timing adjustment of the input signal, and outputs a timing adjusted output signal including the coarse timing adjustment and the fine timing adjustment.

Abstract: A method for proteomic analysis of a biological sample is disclosed, which includes obtaining peptide sequences of proteins in a target list; and identifying proteins in the biological sample by mapping the obtained peptide sequences on proteins in a proteomic database, wherein the target list is determined using information of RNA transcripts in the biological sample and/or the target list is determined using information of RNA transcripts in the biological sample. The peptide sequences are determined using a mass spectrometer. The mapping is performed on a subset of proteins based on the information of RNA transcripts.

Abstract: An inductively coupled plasma MS/MS mass analyzer (ICP-MS/MS) may include a first vacuum chamber which draws plasma containing an ionized sample into vacuum, a second vacuum chamber which includes a device or means which extracts and guides ions as an ion beam from the ions output from the first vacuum chamber, a third vacuum chamber which has a first ion optical separation device or means, a fourth vacuum chamber which has a cell into which reaction gas is introduced, and a fifth vacuum chamber which has a second optical separation device or means and a detector, wherein the second vacuum chamber and third vacuum chamber are individually evacuated.

Abstract: A method for determining a loop response for an apparatus for an atomic force microscope is disclosed. The method comprises: determining a loop response for an on-surface movement of a cantilever over a frequency range; determining a loop response for an off-surface movement of the cantilever over the frequency range; and adjusting an output of the controller at a frequency based on the loop response for the off-surface movement. An atomic force microscopy system is disclosed.