Abstract: A staging assembly for a specimen imaging machine includes a manifold assembly with a housing having an inlet opening and an outlet opening. Each of a plurality of chambers has a chamber opening. Conduits put the chambers in fluid communication with the inlet opening and the outlet opening. A bottom plate extends beneath the chambers. The manifold assembly includes an attachment assembly. A staging dock includes a base, a staging dock anesthesia inlet, and a staging dock anesthesia outlet receivable by the inlet opening of the manifold assembly and including a valve. A staging dock exhaust inlet is receivable by the outlet opening of the manifold assembly. The staging dock includes a staging dock exhaust outlet. A staging dock attachment assembly is releasably attachable to the manifold attachment assembly.

Abstract: Presented herein are systems and methods for registering one or more images of one or more subjects based on the automated generation of artificial landmarks. An artificial landmark is a point within an image that is associated with a specific physical location of the imaged region. The artificial landmarks are generated in an automated and robust fashion along the bones of a subject's skeleton that are represented in the image (e.g. graphically). The automatically generated artificial landmarks are used to correct distortion in a single image or to correct distortion in and/or co-register multiple images of a series of images (e.g. recorded at different time points). The artificial landmark generation approach described herein thereby facilitates analysis of images used, for example, for monitoring the progression of diseases such as pulmonary diseases.

Abstract: Methods are provided for detecting enzymatic activity of various lysosomal storage enzymes using substrates that include: a sugar moiety; a linker moiety allowing the conjugation of sugar moiety with the remaining structure of the substrate; and two or more fatty acid chains or derivatives thereof at least one of which is sufficiently structured to provide improved solubility in aqueous or organic solvent systems. Also provided are internal standards, and inhibitors for use in detecting or reducing enzymatic activity using the inventive substrates.

Abstract: Certain configurations of devices and systems which are configured to draw a selected volume of an air sample into a trap are described. In some examples, the devices and systems comprise a pump and a mass flow sensor to draw a selected volume of the air sample through a trap even where variable restriction occurs.

Abstract: Described herein are systems and methods for the automated adjustment of flour property measurement equipment such as dough rheometers. The systems and methods allow measurements of flour and dough to be performed on different rheometers with consistent results, regardless of the manufacturer or location of the rheometers. The systems and methods described herein allow a second rheometer, for example, that is deployed in the field to provide results that are consistent with a first dough rheometer, for example, that may be at a different location, or the same location but of the same or different manufacturer. The systems and methods can be used to calibrate, remotely and in real-time, dough rheometers that are deployed in various locations.

Abstract: Presented herein are systems and methods that provide for fast image acquisition with a CCD camera for tomographic imaging by synchronizing illumination with the image acquisition sequence of the CCD camera. The systems and methods described herein allow images to be acquired with a CCD camera using short image acquisition times that would otherwise result in the introduction of severe artifacts into the acquired images. This unique capability is achieved by selectively illuminating the one or more object(s) to be imaged during specific phases of the CCD camera that are used to acquire an image. Reducing the time required to acquire artifact-free images in this manner allows for rapid imaging with a CCD camera. This capability is of particular relevance to tomographic imaging approaches, in which multiple images of one or more objects are acquired and used to produce a single tomographic image.

Abstract: Presented herein are systems and methods for tomographic imaging that provide for rapid illumination of multiple excitation locations across a large field of view by one or more beams of excitation light from one or more excitation sources. The approaches described herein utilize a galvanometer optical scanner to scan a beam of excitation light through a plurality of locations across a scan region corresponding to the field of view to be imaged. In certain embodiments, the systems and methods described herein utilize beams of excitation light with specifically tailored shapes to maintain small spot sizes across the large scan region. The ability to scan over a large region while still maintaining small spot sizes provided by the approaches described herein allows for accurate, high-resolution tomographic imaging of large or multiple subjects, thereby expanding the capabilities of tomographic imaging systems.

Abstract: A laminated microfluidic device is described that includes an internal microchannel formed from laminating individual layers of the laminated microfluidic device to each other. The laminated microfluidic device also includes a first port, a second port, a third port, and a fourth port each fluidically coupled to the internal microchannel. The laminated microfluidic device permits flow of sample into the laminated microfluidic device through the first port. The laminated microfluidic device fluidically couples to an external pressure source through the second port. The laminated microfluidic device permits the flow of the sample to a first component fluidically coupled to the third port and to a second component fluidically coupled to the fourth port depending on pressure within the internal microchannel of the laminated microfluidic device.

Abstract: A spectrometer with an unobstructed, Schmidt reflector is described. The spectrometer may include a Schmidt corrector and a dispersive element as separate components. Alternatively, the Schmidt corrector and dispersive element may be combined into a single optical component. The spectrometer may further include a field-flattener lens.

Abstract: A specimen collection and delivery apparatus for collecting clinical specimens and delivery of samples thereof to, e.g., microfluidic testing devices for diagnostic analysis is disclosed. The specimen collection and delivery apparatus includes a closure housing for coupling with a sample tube at one end, an open luer for coupling with a complementary luer on a microfluidic device at the other end, and a filter matrix disposed in the interior. The filter matrix is air permeable and liquid impermeable at atmospheric pressure and prevents sample from flowing through the open luer end when coupled to a sample tube containing a specimen. Under vacuum, the liquid sample fraction of the specimen can be drawn through the filter matrix and into the microfluidic testing device through the luer connection for diagnostic analysis.

Abstract: A noise reduction filter for data signals is implemented using two orthogonal coordinates comprising intensity and differential intensity values generated from sampling and sorting the data signals. A weighting function is used to amplify or reduce different portions of a data set distribution generated using the intensity and differential intensity values. The weighting function may also include scalar constants to further enhance the capability of the noise reduction filter. The noise reduction filter can be used to reduce the noise components or increase the useful signal components of a noisy data signal, thereby increasing the signal-to-noise ratio, and also increasing spectral resolution. The noise reduction filter can also be used in special cases where the intensity and frequency spectra of the noisy data signal are overlapping. The noise reduction filter may be used in various applications including spectroscopy and image processing, among others.

Abstract: Certain configurations described herein are directed to autosamplers. In some instances, the autosampler may include a support comprising a body configured to receive two or more articles at separate sites of the body. The autosampler may also include a first motor coupled to the support and configured to rotate the support in an x-y plane, and a second motor configured to move the support in a z-direction to load one of the at least two articles at the separate sites in the body of the support. An encoder may also be used with the autosampler if desired.

Abstract: Microfluidic cartridges or devices for serum separation and blood cross-match analysis are provided. The devices may include a serum separation subcircuit alone or in combination with a solute mixing subcircuit. The serum separation subcircuit promotes on-cartridge clotting of a blood sample and manipulates the flow of the separated serum sample for subsequent cross-match analysis with a second blood sample, for example. The solute mixing subcircuit includes at least two intake channels, one for a whole blood sample from, for example, a blood donor and the other for the separated serum sample from, for example, a transfusion recipient. The solute mixing subcircuit further includes a serpentine mixing channel conjoined to a downstream channel. Under vacuum generated by a conjoined finger pump, the two input streams fill the serpentine mixing and downstream channels due to capillary action, enabling visualization of an agglutination reaction.

Abstract: Certain embodiments described herein are directed to devices and system that can be used to fill a sample cell. In some examples, the system can be configured with a pressure device configured to provide a negative pressure to accelerate filling of the cell with the sample. In some embodiments, the negative pressure can be used to fill a flow cell at a selected fill rate.

Abstract: Certain embodiments described herein are directed to a torch that includes a lanthanide or actinide material. In some embodiments, the torch can include one or more other materials in combination with the lanthanide or actinide material. In some embodiments, the torch can comprise cerium, terbium or thorium. In other embodiments, the torch can comprise a lanthanide or actinide material comprising a melting point higher than the melting point of quartz.

Abstract: Certain configurations of an ionization source comprising a multipolar rod assembly are described. In some examples, the multipolar rod assembly can be configured to provide a magnetic field and a radio frequency field into an ion volume formed by a substantially parallel arrangement of rods of the multipolar rod assembly. The ionization source may also comprise an electron source configured to provide electrons into the ion volume of the multipolar rod assembly to ionize analyte introduced into the ion volume. Systems and methods using the ionization source are also described.

Abstract: Certain embodiments described herein are directed to methods of using couplers to provide a seal between a source assembly and a vacuum chamber. In certain examples, the source assembly can be inserted into a vacuum chamber. In some examples, the source assembly can be sealed to the vacuum chamber by rotation of a moveable component in a first direction to provide an axial force to seal the source assembly to the vacuum chamber. Rotation of the moveable component in a second direction can release the provided axial force to permit removal of the source assembly from the vacuum chamber.

Abstract: Presented herein are methods, systems, and apparatus for single analyte detection or multiplexed analyte detection based on amplified luminescent proximity homogeneous assay (“alpha”) technology, but using hollow polymer fiber optics doped with ‘acceptor bead’ dye (e.g., thioxene, anthracene, rubrene, and/or lanthanide chelates) or ‘donor bead’ dye (e.g., phthalocyanine) that carry a signal generated by the dopant via singlet oxygen channeling.

Abstract: Certain embodiments described herein are directed to ion detectors and systems. In some examples, the ion detector can include a plurality of dynodes, in which one or more of the dynodes are coupled to an electrometer. In other configurations, each dynode can be coupled to a respective electrometer. Methods using the ion detectors are also described.

Abstract: This disclosure provides quantitative, rapid, and reliable LC-MS/MS methods for analyzing panels of pesticides and mycotoxins in various samples, including very hydrophobic and chlorinated compounds normally analyzed on a GC-MS/MS system. The methods can be carried out using a single instrument and can detect and quantify levels of the pesticides and mycotoxins that are well below action limits specified by U.S. states (e.g., California) and other countries (e.g., Canada) for these compounds in cannabis products.