Abstract: A device for determining one or more of multiple analytes in a sample liquid includes a detection surface having thereon a microarray of elements, comprising: a plurality of binding elements immobilized by insoluble binding at discrete locations on the detection surface and a plurality of dissolvable elements immobilized by soluble binding at other discrete locations on the detection surface. The elements being arranged in the microarray such that at least a portion of the dissolvable elements is located closer to the center of the microarray and/or at least a portion of the dissolvable elements is located closer to the periphery of the microarray than each of the binding elements. Alternatively, the dissolvable and immovable elements may be provided similarly or mirrored in areas which may be duplicated.

Abstract: An organic material sample is prepared for LIBS analysis based on searing a sample of granular organic material having an organic matrix. The searing includes supplying heat to the sample for one or more known exposure times to produce a same number of searing instances, measuring reflectance values of the sample before and after one or more of the searing instances, determining a searing parameter as an indicator of a susceptibility of the organic matrix to searing determined based on the measured reflectance values, calculating a time value from an application of a predictive model derived from an empirical analysis of reference data comprising time values indexed against searing parameter to the searing parameter, the predictive model linking the searing parameter to the time value, generating a new exposure time using the time value, and heating the sample for the new exposure time to produce a new searing instance.

Abstract: A method for determining an optical pathlength through a cuvette of a spectrophotometric apparatus includes obtaining a first single beam spectrum of a liquid zero-material at least in a first energy region in which the liquid zero-material absorbs at least a portion of incident optical radiation; obtaining a second single beam spectrum of a second liquid at least in the first energy region, the second liquid having a composition excluding the liquid zero-material and having no absorption of incident optical radiation in the first energy region; determining a dual beam spectrum of the liquid zero-material relative to the second liquid at least in the first energy region from the first and second single beam spectra; and calculating an optical pathlength through the cuvette based on processing spectral information obtained from the first energy region of the determined dual beam spectrum.

Abstract: A method of analysing a foodstuff sample using laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy, comprises: ashing the foodstuff sample to generate an ash residue; and forming the ash residue into a layered pellet based on: loading at least the portion of the ash residue into a die, loading a support material into the die as a layer covering a second surface of the portion of the ash residue subsequently to loading at least the portion of the ash residue into the die, and compressing the portion of the ash residue and the support material in the die to form the layered pellet, such that a first surface of the portion of the ash residue at least partially defines the first surface of the layered pellet and the portion of the ash residue is undiluted by the support material at least at the first surface of the portion of the ash residue.

Abstract: A LIBS analysis system comprises a focusing lens arrangement having a focal plane; a laser for propagating a laser beam through the focusing lens arrangement to be focused at the focal plane; a detector for generating an output that is proportional to an intensity of incident electromagnetic radiation that is incident on the detector; a translation mechanism configured to cause a relative movement of the sample holder and the focusing lens arrangement to vary a position of the focal plane along the optical path with respect to the sample holder; and a controller configured to automatically control the translation mechanism to cause the relative movement of the sample holder and the focusing lens arrangement to achieve an optimum position at which the focal plane and an analysis region of the upper surface intersecting the optical path are at or are close to coincidence.

Abstract: A hydrodynamic focusing device comprises first and second flow channels; a wall at least partially defining an envelopment region connected in-line between the first and second flow channels which collectively define a flow direction extending therethrough; and a chimney comprising a body and a sample fluid inlet, extending from the wall and into the envelopment region. The sample fluid inlet faces at least partially perpendicular to the flow direction in the envelopment region, such that the sample fluid inlet is configured to supply a sample fluid into the envelopment region in a direction that is at least partially perpendicular to the flow direction. The body and the sample fluid inlet each have an elongate profile which has a rounded leading edge facing the first flow channel and opposing long edges connecting the leading and trailing edges and tapered towards the trailing edge.

Abstract: A method of standardizing an output of an electrical property sensor includes calculating a reference magnitude (Condr) of an electrical property of an electrically conductive liquid, based on obtaining, by a spectrometer, spectral data resulting from an interaction of light with the electrically conductive liquid, and applying, in a data processor, a mathematical model to the spectral data to calculate the reference magnitude (Condr) of the electrical property, wherein the mathematical model links the spectral data to magnitudes of the electrical property; comparing, in the data processor, a measured magnitude (Condm) of the electrical property of the electrically conductive liquid with a reference magnitude (Condr) of the electrical property, wherein the measured magnitude (Condm) of the electrical property is obtained with the electrical property sensor; determining, in the data processor, a standardization factor (F) dependent on a ratio of the reference magnitude (Condr) and the measured magnitude (Condm

Abstract: A sample container system for use in a method for determining dietary fiber comprises a sample container and a magnetic mixer. The sample container has a floor and a rigid side-wall upstanding therefrom to together delimit a sample containing space, wherein the floor includes a porous filter portion. The magnetic mixer has at least one concentrically arranged rotor-stator, each of the at least one concentrically arranged rotor-stator including a rotor and a stator, the rotor and the stator defining therebetween an annular shear gap, the rotor configured to rotate relative to the stator, the stator including a stator body having a first plurality of openings therethrough, the rotor including a magnetic coupling and a rotor body having a second plurality of openings therethrough, the magnetic coupling configured to couple with and follow an externally generated rotating magnetic field to cause the rotor to rotate in relation to the stator.

Abstract: A method of correcting for an amplitude change in a spectrometric instrument output includes: exposing a sample in a sample holder to electromagnetic radiation at a plurality of wavenumbers; detecting electromagnetic absorption intensities in the sample at the plurality of wavenumbers; providing to a computer device the detected electromagnetic absorption intensities indexed against wavenumber as spectral data; applying in the computer device a mathematical transform (Icorr) to the spectral data to correct for an amplitude change in the spectrometric instrument's output and calculated by determining a difference (?(SBZ)/) between first derivatives of a logarithmic transformation of spectral data (SBZ) from the zero material sample at two different wavenumber ranges (log10(SBZ(x1))/ and log10(SBZ(x2))/); and calculating the mathematical transform (Icorr) as a function inversely dependent on the determined difference (?(SBZ)/).

Abstract: A sampling device comprises a receptacle having an inner material receiving space defined by a side wall portion and a bottom wall portion and having a receptacle opening; and a sample container being adapted to close the receptacle opening when collocated with the receptacle. The sample container includes: a sample receiving portion which, when collocated with the receptacle is located in liquid communication with the inner material receiving space; a sample well positioned radially outside of the sample receiving portion in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal axis, the sample well having a well opening; a liquid passageway for directing liquid from the sample receiving portion towards the well opening; a container having a container opening; and a liquid impermeable barrier for preventing liquid entering the container opening from the sample receiving portion).

Abstract: An analysis instrument comprises a sample receiving section for receiving samples provided by a plurality of users, an analysis section operable to receive an aliquot of each received sample, perform an analysis of each received aliquot, and generate an output based on the analysis, and a presentation section adapted to present the output in a human discernable format. The analysis instrument further includes an identification section adapted to autonomously generate an identifier unique to each user and each sample provided thereby and to supply each identifier for presentation by the presentation section in a human discernable format together with a portion of the output that corresponds with one or more samples provided by a user to which the identifier is unique. Each identifier consists of one or more graphic symbols, one or more colours, and/or one or more numbers.

Abstract: A method for preparing a sample of organic material for laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) may include obtaining granular organic material, forming a portion of the granular organic material into a sample pellet, and searing the organic material. The searing may include searing only an exposed end surface of the sample pellet on which LIBS analysis is to be performed. The method may include pressing the seared sample pellet to consolidate the material comprising the seared end surface.

Abstract: A LIBS analysis system comprises a focusing lens arrangement having a focal plane; a laser for propagating a laser beam through the focusing lens arrangement to be focused at the focal plane; a detector for generating an output that is proportional to an intensity of incident electromagnetic radiation that is incident on the detector; a translation mechanism configured to cause a relative movement of the sample holder and the focusing lens arrangement to vary a position of the focal plane along the optical path with respect to the sample holder; and a controller configured to automatically control the translation mechanism to cause the relative movement of the sample holder and the focusing lens arrangement to achieve an optimum position at which the focal plane and an analysis region of the upper surface intersecting the optical path are at or are close to coincidence.

Abstract: A method of performing an optical analysis of a liquid containing dissolved gas includes transferring an amount of the liquid containing the dissolved gas from a reservoir into a holder of a flow system of the optical analyser, holding the amount of the liquid in the holder at around ambient pressure for a period such that a portion of the dissolved gas is expelled from the amount of liquid held in the holder while the holder is open to a waste reservoir, transferring at least a portion of the amount of the liquid containing the dissolved gas held in the holder under a pressure above ambient into a measurement cell of the optical analyser as a liquid sample, and performing the optical analysis of the liquid sample from a detection of optical radiation by an optical detector after its interaction with the liquid sample in the measurement cell.

Abstract: A mixer includes a mixing chamber and a motor mechanically connected to the mixing chamber. The mixing chamber comprises a suspended elongate rigid tube section having a top end and an open bottom end, and a flexible tube section extending downwards from the open bottom end. The motor comprises a vibration motor mechanically coupled to the suspended elongate rigid tube section at the top end of the suspended elongate rigid tube section.

Abstract: A sample container for use in determining a dietary fiber content of a food sample may include a chamber having a first end, an opposing second end, and a side-wall connecting the first end to the second end. The side-wall may include a rigid, non-porous material. The sample container may include a porous filter located at the second end of the chamber. The sample container may include an integral stirrer located within the chamber.

Abstract: A LIBS analysis system comprises a focusing lens arrangement having a focal plane; a laser for propagating a laser beam through the focusing lens arrangement to be focused at the focal plane; a detector for generating an output that is proportional to an intensity of incident electromagnetic radiation that is incident on the detector; a translation mechanism configured to cause a relative movement of the sample holder and the focusing lens arrangement to vary a position of the focal plane along the optical path with respect to the sample holder; and a controller configured to automatically control the translation mechanism to cause the relative movement of the sample holder and the focusing lens arrangement to achieve an optimum position at which the focal plane and an analysis region of the upper surface intersecting the optical path are at or are close to coincidence.

Abstract: A milk analyser comprising a milk analysis unit having an analysis modality wherein the milk analysis unit further comprises a milk classification system having an imaging device configured to image milk for generation of digital image data; a processor of a computing device which is adapted to execute a program code to implement a deep learning neural network classifier trained using labelled milk images from milk within the classes into which the imaged milk may be classified and operable to generate a classification of the imaged milk; and a controller configured to output a control signal in dependence of the generated classification to control a sample intake to regulate the supply of milk to the analysis unit.

Abstract: A method for preparing a sample of organic material for laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) may include obtaining granular organic material, forming a portion of the granular organic material into a sample pellet, and searing the organic material. The searing may include searing only an exposed end surface of the sample pellet on which LIBS analysis is to be performed. The method may include pressing the seared sample pellet to consolidate the material comprising the seared end surface.

Abstract: A sample test cassette includes an inlet configured to introduce a sample liquid into the sample test cassette; an elongate channel configured to receive an elongate lateral flow test strip and configured with a first end that is configured to be in liquid communication with the inlet; and a mechanical transport system that is an integral part of the sample test cassette and is configured to generate a flow of the sample liquid from outside of the inlet and towards the first end of the elongate channel.