Abstract: A diagnostic system designed such that an aggregate of parameter combinations is stored, which is an aggregate of combinations of parameters consisting of a first parameter for determining the output of the high-frequency power source, a second parameter for determining the flow rate of the carrier gas in the aerosol, and a third parameter for determining the distance between the plasma torch and the interface, and which forms a specific array such that the measurement points corresponding to the respective combinations are lined up in order along the direction of length of an envelope that forms the end on the high-sensitivity side of a graph drawn as an aggregate of all measurement points on a sensitivity-oxide ion ratio graph, and a diagnostic measurement is performed with a specific diagnostic sample using the parameter value of each combination of the above-mentioned parameter combinations that form the aggregate such that the device properties can be confirmed from the position on the envelope on the se

Abstract: A Littrow encoder is disclosed. The encoder includes first and second interferometers and a beam splitter assembly that splits a first instrument light beam into first and second interferometer input beams and directs these beams into the first and second interferometers, respectively. Each interferometer generates a measurement beam and a reference beam and directs the measurement beam toward a grating on a surface from which the measurement beam is diffracted, the measurement beam from the first interferometer striking the surface at a Littrow angle that is the negative of the angle at which the measurement beam from the second interferometers strikes that surface. Each interferometer includes at least one intensity detector that generates a signal related to an intensity of light in a combined light beam that includes the reference and measurement beams from that interferometer.

Abstract: A method of rank order filtering and a rank order filter apparatus is defined by an established rank order and accepts into a buffer, data points to be filtered, each data point having a data value and an associated time stamp. Data points are accepted until the buffer contains data points representing a minimum predefined time span. The filter calculating an amount of time the data values in the buffer are above an approximate filter value and adjusts the approximate filter value based upon the relationship of the amount of time to the rank order. The steps iterate to approach a value defined by the rank order and the approximate filtered value is output.

Abstract: A mass spectrum is generated by a process in which, from a mass scan signal comprising original samples defining a peak, a subset of the original samples defining the peak is selected. One or more synthesized samples are synthesized from the subset of the original samples. The one or more synthesized samples provide a temporal resolution greater than the temporal resolution of the original samples. The one or more synthesized samples are summed with respective temporally-aligned accumulated samples to produce the mass spectrum. The accumulated samples are obtained from mass scan signals generated during respective previously-performed mass scan operations.

Abstract: An illumination method and device has a micro-wave powered plasma source contained by a windowless plasma containment structure. When incorporated as a photo-ionization device in an ion mobility spectrometer (IMS), the resolution of the spectrometer may be improved by operation at higher pressures and through selective ionization of elements and compounds. A gas flows into a discharge gap of a micro-wave ring resonator, but is restricted from flowing away by the windowless containment structure. When microwave power is supplied, the discharge gap is energized and a plasma initiated and sustained. Photons emitted by the plasma photo-ionize a sample gas. As the containment structure is windowless, the wavelength of the emitted radiation depends on the plasma-forming gas, not on the transmission characteristics of a window material. The range of substances in the sample that are ionized may be influenced by selecting the plasma-forming gas.

Abstract: A computer readable medium stores a program, executable by a computer, for enabling translation of machine-centric commands in an instrument protocol to a programming language for controlling an instrument configured to use the machine-centric commands. The computer readable medium includes an identifying code segment for identifying instrument protocol commands executable by the instrument, and a generating code segment generates methods corresponding to the instrument protocol commands, each method including programming language source code or compiled machine code for executing the corresponding instrument protocol command. A storing code segment stores the methods in a program library associated with the instrument, the program library enabling selection of at least one method by a programming language program that controls the instrument, in order to execute the instrument protocol command corresponding to the selected method.

Abstract: A mass spectrometry system includes an ion-optics and a housing for the ion-optics. A panel is movable between an open and closed position relative to the housing. A first section of the ion-optics is within the housing, while a second section of the ion-optics is mounted to the panel. The ion-optics is surrounded by the housing and the panel when the panel is in the closed position. An alignment mechanism aligns the first and second sections of the ion-optics into a pre-determined alignment upon closing the panel.

Abstract: A system for filtering a data signal includes an input configured to receive the data signal through a transmission medium and a filter configured to remove distortion from the received data signal using equalization coefficients. The system further includes a processing unit configured to determine dynamically the equalization coefficients of the filter without using a predetermined training pattern in the received data signal.

Abstract: A method of determining an empirical formula of an analyte ion from a measured mass spectrum including a main peak and one or more isotope peaks. The method comprises comparing a relative isotopic intensity of the measured isotope peak to a calculated relative isotopic intensity of an isotopic ion of a proposed empirical formula and comparing a relative mass defect of the measured isotope peak to a calculated relative mass defect of the isotopic ion of the proposed empirical formula. The proposed empirical formula is identified as a potential candidate for the analyte ion based on these comparisons.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for introducing calibrant ions into a conduit, ion source and/or mass spectrometry system.

Abstract: A method of obtaining ions of an analyte is disclosed. The method includes aerosolizing a sample using a thermal liquid jetting device or a piezoelectric liquid jetting device to obtain an aerosol without ionizing the sample. The sample includes the analyte in a solvent. The method further includes drying the aerosol to obtain gas phase solvent and gas phase analyte, and ionizing the gas phase analyte to obtain ions thereof. An ion source using the method for obtaining ions of an analyte is also disclosed.

Abstract: In various embodiments of the invention, novel compositions having a polynucleotide bound to a substrate via a cleavable linker are provided, and methods of cleaving a polynucleotide from a substrate are provided.

Abstract: A measurement device (100) comprising an accommodation chamber (102) adapted for accommodating a replaceable measurement member (104), a movable closure mechanism (106) adapted to be moved to selectively expose or cover the accommodation chamber (102), and a data mechanism (600) adapted for at least one of reading data from and writing data on a replaceable measurement member (104), when the replaceable measurement member (104) is accommodated in the accommodation chamber (102), upon moving the movable closure mechanism (106).

Abstract: A direct determination equalizer system (“DDES”) for compensating for the deterministic effects of a transmission channel and a data source is disclosed. The DDES may include an equalizer having equalizer-tap coefficients, a cross-correlator configured to receive the first sampled signal and an ideal signal and in response produce a cross-correlated signal, and a processor in signal communication with the equalizer and the cross-correlator. The equalizer is configured to receive a first sampled signal and in response produce an equalized output data signal sequence and the processor is configured to determine the equalizer-tap coefficients from the cross-correlated signal.

Abstract: A scanning probe microscope and method for operating the same are disclosed. The microscope includes a probe mount for attaching a probe, an electro-mechanical actuator, a probe position signal generator, an impulse signal generator and a servo. A probe tip is mounted on a first end of a cantilever arm, a second end of the cantilever arm being mounted on a mechanical vibrator that causes the second end to vibrate in response to a drive signal. The probe position signal generator generates a position signal indicative of a position of the probe relative to the second end of the cantilever arm. The impulse signal generator measures a quantity related to an impulse imparted to the probe tip by the interaction between the tip and the local characteristics of the sample. The servo operates the electro-mechanical actuator so as to maintain the measured quantity at a predetermined value.

Abstract: By adding light reflective and/or transparent and/or translucent material within a micro-electronic circuit housing, improved light transfer is achieved between a light generation source and a light utilization device. In one embodiment, the reflective material is placed on the inside surface of a non-metallic housing lid and the light from the light source (typically an LED) reflects from the reflective material and impacts the device (typically an FET). In another embodiment, the LED and FET are encased in a clear (low light-loss) material (typically silicone overcoat) so as to allow the light from the LED to reflect from the top of the clear material onto the FET. If desired, an opaque encapsulant surrounds the clear material and fills out the volume within the housing.

Abstract: A broadband balanced frequency converter (“BBFC”) in signal communication with a frequency source is disclosed. The BBFC may include a mixer and an active balancing element in signal communication with the mixer.

Abstract: A method of determining a measurement uncertainty of a test system uses a test system model having a plurality of uncertainty terms entered into a simulator. The test system model is run on the simulator a sufficient number of iterations while randomly varying each of a first portion of the plurality of uncertainty terms within probability distributions to produce a statistically significant number of results of a selected parameter. The results are evaluated to determine a measurement uncertainty of the selected parameter.

Abstract: Disclosed are porous-shell particles, methods of making the particles, and uses thereof. In one aspect, the porous-shell particles are superficially porous particles.

Abstract: A method for handling samples in a microfluidic system is described. The microfluidic system includes an injection channel fluidically coupled to an injection point adapted for injecting an amount of fluid, a first sample well containing a first sample, the first sample well being fluidically coupled with the injection channel, and a second sample well containing a second sample, the second sample well being fluidically coupled with the injection channel. The method includes moving the second sample from the second sample well towards the first sample well.