Abstract: Apparatuses for trapping ions comprise an array of electrodes extending along a surface and one or more further electrodes that are distinct from the array of electrodes. A trapping region for receiving the ions is defined by the array of electrodes and the one or more further electrodes. A control circuit is configured to apply a set of oscillatory voltages to the array of electrodes to repel the ions, wherein each electrode in the array has a different phase to each adjacent electrode. A trapping voltage is applied to at least one of the one or more further electrodes to force the ions towards the array of electrodes, the set of oscillatory voltages and the trapping voltage thereby trapping the ions within the trapping region, wherein the trapping voltage is a time-varying direct current, DC, voltage that increases in magnitude over time.

Abstract: A cleaning device for cleaning electrodes of an ion optical multipole device comprises at least one substantially longitudinal cleaning section, at least one handling section extending axially from the at least one cleaning section and at least one direction section extending axially from the at least one cleaning section. The at least one cleaning section has a larger cross section than the at least one handling section. The at least one direction section is capable of allowing a longitudinal movement of the cleaning device in a first axial direction and resisting a longitudinal movement of the cleaning device in a second, opposite axial direction.

Abstract: According to a first aspect there is disclosed an assembly comprising a power device and a cooling plate which overlies the power device for heat transfer therebetween. The power device comprises a plurality of power switching components including at least a first power switching component and a second power switching component; wherein each of the power switching components is configured to dissipate heat to the cooling plate.

Abstract: A gas supply system for a flame module of a spectrometer and a method of controlling a flame module. The gas supply system comprises an oxidant gas supply line for providing a supply of oxidant gas, an oxidant gas flow valve for varying a gas flow rate of an oxidant gas in the oxidant gas supply line, an oxidant gas safety controller configured to control the oxidant gas flow valve, a fuel gas supply line for providing a supply of fuel gas, a fuel gas flow valve configured to control a gas flow rate of a fuel gas on the fuel gas supply line, and a fuel gas safety controller configured to control the fuel gas flow valve. During normal operation, the oxidant gas safety controller is configured to charge an energy storage circuit of the oxidant gas safety controller.

Abstract: Gas detection devices comprise a dehydration unit a concentration unit, and a temperature control unit for controlling a temperature. The gas detection device includes a sampling mode in which sample gas flows into and out of the dehydration unit through a first port and a second port, respectively, wherein the volatile organic compounds in the sample gas are concentrated in the concentration unit. The temperature control unit may be configured such that the temperature of the sample gas after flowing out from the dehydration unit and before flowing into the concentration unit is not greater than a first preset temperature. Generation of condensed substances in the sample gas can be effectively avoided in a simple manner after the sample gas flows into the concentration unit, thereby further preventing ice blockage. Methods for detecting volatile organic compounds in a sample gas are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes oligonucleotide-tethered nucleotides, methods of making them, and methods of using them. The oligonucleotide-tethered nucleotides comprise, in some embodiments, a nucleotide linked to an oligonucleotide of from about 3 to about 100 nucleotides in length. These oligonucleotide-tethered nucleotides can be used to label a plurality of different types of nucleic acids in a plurality of different situations with a known oligonucleotide, which can serve as a barcode in some embodiments. The resulting oligonucleotide-labeled nucleic acids oligo-nucleotides can be used in a variety of nucleic acid sequencing methods.

Abstract: A radiation detector is described. The detector includes a silicon photomultiplier, a scintillator, and a layer comprising metal that is spaced from the scintillator. The scintillator is arranged to emit light towards the silicon photomultiplier. The layer comprising metal is configured to receive incident light radiation and to provide additional radiation to the scintillator in response to the received incident radiation. A method of forming such a radiation detector is also described.

Abstract: The invention provides a dry electroblotting system for dry blotting gels, in which the system includes an electroblotting transfer stack that comprises an analysis gel and a blotting membrane, an anode, a body of anodic gel matrix juxtaposed with the anode between the anode and the transfer stack, a cathode, and a body of cathodic gel matrix juxtaposed with the cathode between the cathode and the transfer stack, in which the anodic gel matrix and the cathodic gel matrix each comprise an ion source for electrophoretic transfer. The dry electroblotting system does not use any liquid buffers that are added to the system just before electroblotting (such as when the transfer stack is being assembled). The anode, the cathode, or both can be separate from a power supply and provided as part of a disposable electrode assembly that also includes a body of gel matrix that includes ions for electrophoretic transfer.

Abstract: A method for monitoring fuel quality of a power system used in transport is provided. The method includes a controller of the power system determining that the prime mover is actively running. The method also includes the controller monitoring an output of a water-in-fuel (WIF) sensor configured to measure an amount of water accumulated in a water collection reservoir of a fuel/water separator that separates water from fuel passing there through. Also, the method includes the controller determining an amount of fuel passing through the fuel/water separator. Further, the method includes the controller calculating a fuel quality score of the fuel based on the output of the WIF sensor and the amount of fuel having passed through the fuel/water separator. The method further includes the controller triggering different alerts based on the calculated fuel quality score.

Abstract: Control of an amplitude of a signal applied to rods of a quadrupole is described. In one aspect, a mass spectrometer includes an amplifier circuit that causes a radio frequency (RF) signal to be applied to the rods of the quadrupole. A controller circuit can determine that the actual amplitude of the RF signal differs than the expected amplitude and, in response, identify current and past environmental and performance parameters to adjust the amplitude.

Abstract: An ion guide is provided for a spectrometer. The ion guide comprises a first electrode assembly, comprising a plurality of guide electrodes aligned along a central axis. Each guide electrode comprises an aperture. The apertures define an ion channel from a first end of the first electrode assembly to a second end of the first electrode assembly. The ion channel is configured to receive an ion beam at the first end. The guide electrodes are configured to receive RF voltages to define a confinement volume for the ion beam, wherein the confinement volume is centred about the central axis. The ion guide comprises a second electrode assembly adjacent to the first electrode assembly, wherein the second electrode assembly is configured to receive a DC voltage, such that a centre of the ion beam is deflected to be off the central axis.

Abstract: A Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometry system comprises: a chromatograph; a mass spectrometer configured to ionize separated fractions of a sample received from the chromatograph; and a programmable processor operable to repeatedly execute the steps of: (i) causing the mass spectrometer to perform a data-independent analysis of the precursor ion species using a mass analyzer of the mass spectrometer; (ii) calculating one or more degree-of-matching scores that relate to detection of an internal standard; and (iii) if each of the degree-of-matching scores meets a respective degree-of-matching condition, performing a quantitative tandem mass spectrometric analyses of both the internal standard and the analyte; the programmable processor further operable to calculate a quantity of the analyte in the sample by comparison between intensities of one or more mass spectral signals generated by the quantitative tandem mass spectrometric analyses of the analyte and the internal standard.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of simulating a mass filter, which has a bandpass characteristic, of a mass spectrometer includes: receiving a first candidate magnetic field strength and a first candidate electric field strength of the mass filter; based on the received first candidate magnetic and electric field strengths, determining a corresponding centre mass of the mass filter; based on the received first candidate magnetic and electric field strengths, determining the width of a passband of the bandpass characteristic; and determining at least one of a lower or an upper bound of the passband of the bandpass characteristic of the mass filter, the determining of the upper bound including adding a first predetermined fraction of the determined width of the passband to the determined centre mass and the determining of the lower bound comprising subtracting a second predetermined fraction of the determined width of the passband from the determined centre mass.

Abstract: A method of analysing a field of a mass spectrometer comprising a mass analyser and a static field mass filter having a first Wien filter and a second Wien filter is provided. The method includes, for each of a plurality of predetermined strengths of one of an electric field or a magnetic field of the first and second Wien filters: setting the one of the electric field or the magnetic field of the first and second Wien filters to the predetermined strength; causing a beam of ions comprising one or more ion species to be injected through the static field mass filter; and measuring, using the mass analyser, a respective intensity of ions of each of the one or more ion species in the beam.

Abstract: A method of tuning a static field mass filter of a mass spectrometer, the static field mass filter having a first Wien filter and a second Wien filter. The method comprises injecting a beam of ions into the static field mass filter, applying a magnetic and an electric field in the first and second Wien filters, adjusting a second lens of the filter.

Abstract: An analytical instrument comprises a mass analyser and first and second ion traps coupled to the mass analyser. A method of operating the instrument comprises operating the first ion trap in a mode of operation in which the first ion trap confines ions within a first mass-to-charge ratio (m/z) range, storing first ions in the first ion trap, operating the second ion trap in a mode of operation in which the second ion trap confines ions within a second different mass-to-charge ratio (m/z) range, and storing second ions in the second ion trap. The method further comprises ejecting the first ions from the first ion trap into the mass analyser, ejecting the second ions from the second ion trap into the mass analyser, and mass analysing the first ions and the second ions.

Abstract: A method of determining an expected response to injecting a beam of ions of a species of interest into a static field mass filter of a mass spectrometer including a mass analyser is provided. The method includes: measuring an intensity of ions injected into the static field mass filter for various combinations of test ion species, test magnetic field strengths, and test electric field strengths; determining electric field strengths corresponding to an intensity equal to a first and a second fraction of the measured peak intensity; based on a predetermined relationship between magnetic field strength, electric field strength and centre mass of the static field mass filter, determining mass values corresponding to the determined electric field strengths; and interpolating, from said mass values and for each ion species and for at least one of the test magnetic field strengths, expected mass values for an ion species of interest.