Abstract: A microfluidic device for separating a sample by chromatography includes diffusion bonded metallic sheets joined together to create a hermetically sealed interface between each adjacent metallic sheet without the introduction of a secondary material. Enclosed within the diffusion bonded sheets is a separation channel accessible by at least one of an inlet or an outlet. The separation channel is packed with micrometer-sized particles serving as a stationary phase in a chromatographic separation. Wetted surfaces of the separation channel include a coating of an organic material at least one monolayer thick.

Abstract: A highly sensitive humidity measurement device is provided. The humidity measurement device has: a housing component integrally including a connector for performing input/output to/from the outside and a connector terminal component; an electronic circuit board mounted on the housing component and electrically connected to the connector terminal; and a humidity sensing element provided on the electronic circuit board. When the humidity measurement device is installed in an installation hole that is provided in a part of a main air flow passage through which suction air flows, apart of the housing component is exposed to the suction air flowing through the main air flow passage. The housing component is provided with a bypass passage to suction a part of the suction air. The bypass passage includes a bypass inlet opening that serves as a suction port of the suction air and a bypass outlet opening that discharges the suction air. The bypass outlet opening is exposed to the suction air.

Abstract: A system for evaluating integrity of a cutting blade includes at least one stress wave generator for generating at least one stress wave in a cutting blade under test. A sensor detects a signal generated by the at least one stress wave. An integrity analyzer coupled to the sensor determines an indication of integrity of the cutting blade based on at least one characteristic of the signal.

Abstract: A multi-range on-site full-automatic pressure and electric signal calibration instrument includes a housing, a power switch, a plurality of interfaces, a display, a keyboard, a gas pressure generation unit, a power supply unit, a pressure detection unit, a gas pressure control unit and an electric signal detection unit. A pressure output port of the pressure control unit is in parallel connection with pressure connectors used for installation of a plurality of pressure standard devices with different ranges and a calibrated gauge. The pressure control unit is in signal connection with the pressure standard device. The electric signal detection unit is in signal connection with the pressure control unit and the calibrated gauge; and the power supply unit can supply power by batteries. The calibration instrument does not need to be externally connected with a gas cylinder or an alternating current power supply.

Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting a contamination status of an ultrasonic sensor assembly included in a refrigeration appliance are provided. An exemplary refrigerator includes a sensor assembly. The sensor assembly includes a first ultrasonic sensor configured to transmit an ultrasonic signal and a second ultrasonic sensor configured to receive the ultrasonic signal. The refrigerator is configured to perform operations comprising detecting whether the sensor assembly is contaminated based on one or more characteristics of the received ultrasonic signal. An exemplary method includes monitoring a change in a characteristic of a plurality of crosstalk components of a plurality of ultrasonic signals of over a period of time to detect a contaminated state of an ultrasonic sensor.

Abstract: A multi-range on-site full-automatic pressure calibration instrument includes a housing, a power switch, a plurality of interfaces, a display, a keyboard, a gas pressure generation unit, a power supply unit, a pressure detection unit and a gas pressure control unit. The gas pressure generation unit is a gas pressurizing pump communicated with atmosphere. A pressure output port of the pressure control unit is in parallel connection with pressure connectors used for installation of a plurality of pressure standard devices with different ranges and a calibrated gauge. The pressure control unit is in signal connection with the pressure standard device. The power supply unit can supply power by batteries. The calibration instrument does not need to be externally connected with a gas cylinder or an alternating current power supply and can automatically generate a gas pressure and generate an accurate standard pressure.

Abstract: In order to make a physical quantity detection device whose sensor and logical circuit operate with different operating voltages have a simple configuration and be capable of recognizing a detection result of the sensor accurately, the physical quantity detection device according to the present invention is configured so that the sensor and the logical circuit may be connected by a bidirectional communication line and may be operate with mutually different operating voltages, and when receiving the detection result of the sensor, recognizes Hi/Lo level signals using second Hi/Lo level thresholds set up on arithmetic processing in place of first Hi/Lo level thresholds that an arithmetic unit has.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring temperature parameters of a structure is provided. The apparatus comprises: a carrier including at least one receiving portion; and a plurality of temperature sensors disposed within the at least one receiving portion and secured to the receiving portion via a bonding medium, the sensors being distributed along at least one direction of the carrier and configured to measure and record temperature information through microstructural changes corresponding to temperatures experienced by the respective sensors.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a device for measuring at least one property of a substance or medium such as the viscosity, the shearing stress, the specific weight and whether the substance or the medium shows Newtonian behavior. The device comprises a carrier arranged at least at one attachment point, a pivot arm connected pivotally or rotatably to the carrier at a rotation point located at a distance from the attachment point, a drive acting selectively on the pivot arm for driving the pivot arm in an oscillating movement, and a measurement setup for measuring the oscillation of the pivot arm to be caused with a drive, characterized in that a center of inertia lies substantially at the attachment point.

Abstract: An oxygen sensor controlling apparatus includes: a controller configured to obtain a degradation index of a detection element; obtain a sensor output; detect an internal resistance of the detection element by causing a temporary change between electrodes of the detection element; successively obtain a target resistance value corresponding to the internal resistance using a first sensor output that is a value of the sensor output obtained at a time before or after a period when the temporary change occurs and the degradation index; and feedback control energization of the heater so that the internal resistance becomes the target resistance value.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for determining the intactness and leaktightness of containers (4) that are processed in a filling plant, wherein the filling plant comprises at least one centering head (2) for holding, gripping and/or turning one of the containers (4), wherein the centering head (2) is arranged movably along a longitudinal axis (3) of the container (4), and wherein the relative position of the centering head (2) on the longitudinal axis (3) is determined and used for the intactness and leaktightness determination.

Abstract: Devices and methods are described for measuring formed blood component sedimentation rate. Some of the methods may use (1) centrifugal techniques for separating red blood cells from plasma and (2) video and/or still imaging capability. Both may be used alone or in combination to accelerate formed blood component sedimentation and to measure its rate. In one example, the method may advantageously enable rapid measurement of sedimentation rate using small blood sample volumes. Automated image analysis can be used to determine both sedimentation rate and hematocrit. Automated techniques may be used to compensate for effects of hematocrit on uncorrected sedimentation rate data.

Abstract: A microfluidic device and method of its use. A workable microfluidic device (100) includes a channel (116) extending between an entry aperture (230) and a vent (118). Part of the channel (116) is arranged to permit interrogation of particles carried by a fluid passing therethrough. Suction structure carried on the device (100) is disposed in fluid communication with the channel operably to apply a reduced pressure at the entry aperture (230) effective to infuse an amount of fluid through the entry aperture and into a receiving zone (122, 122?, 122?) of the channel. The entry aperture (230) is placed into a bulk fluid, and the suction structure is operated to load a sample into the microfluidic device (100).

Abstract: This invention relates to a system and method that can quickly and accurately detect and measure ethyl alcohol in the blood of a motorized vehicle driver transdermally and non-invasively within minutes of ethanol consumption and in the presence of interferents. The system includes an array of sensors embedded into the steering mechanism of a motorized vehicle, a data base of patterns produced through empirical testing of various analytes in various combinations and concentrations, neural net based pattern recognition algorithms to ascertain the driver's transdermal alcohol concentration and a database derived from human testing, correlating the driver's transdermal alcohol concentration with the driver's blood alcohol concentration. The detection system is integrated with a motor vehicle decision module which can prevent the operation of a motorized vehicle by a driver whose BAC exceeds a preset limit.

Abstract: To enable appropriate wafer mapping in the case where a wafer is stored at the highest level, which is provided as a reserve, of a pod, a load port apparatus drives a mapping frame that supports a sensor by a first driving unit that drives the mapping frame in a first direction parallel to the direction along which wafers in the pod are arranged in an overlapping manner and a second driving unit that drives the mapping frame in a second direction that crosses the first direction in such a way as to form an acute angle in the side in which the sensor starts the mapping.

Abstract: A system comprising at least one component for an application in which the at least one component is subjected to Hertzian stress or alternating Hertzian stress or altering Hertzian stress in combination with structural stress, and at least one sensor that is arranged in situ to monitor atomic hydrogen permeation through at least part of the at least one component.

Abstract: An apparatus for automated inspection and repair of a tube sheet. The apparatus has a rotating gripper pod, comprising at least one tube gripper, a sliding body portion containing the gripper pod; a housing portion comprising at least one tube gripper and a tool head coupling. The tool head coupling swapably attaches to a eddy current test probe and at least one kind of tube repair tool. Novel, auto-locking tube grippers are also disclosed. A serial bus connects electronic modules within the apparatus and also connects the apparatus to an external controller.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an electronic torque tool, a calibration fixture, and a method for calibrating the electronic torque tool. The calibration includes applying a torque to the torque wrench and releasing the applied torque once the applied torque reaches a full scale calibration torque. The calibration fixture holds and displays a peak value of the applied torque and the torque wrench holds and displays a measured peak value of the applied torque. The measured peak value on the torque wrench may then be adjusted, by incrementing or decrementing the displayed value, to match the peak value displayed on the calibration fixture.

Abstract: Various embodiments include a leak detection system for a turbine compartment. In some embodiments, the leak detection system includes: a tracer fluid system fluidly connected with the turbine compartment, the tracer fluid system configured to provide an optically detectable fluid to a fluid supply of the turbine compartment; an optical detection system operably connected to the turbine compartment, the optical detection system configured to detect the presence of the optically detectable fluid in at least one location of the turbine compartment; and a control system operably connected to the tracer fluid system and the optical detection system, the control system configured to obtain data about the presence of the optically detectable fluid in the at least one location, and provide an indicator indicating a potential leak location based upon the data about the presence of the optically detectable fluid in the at least one location.

Abstract: A collection unit (80)includes: a collection carrier cartridge (82) formed, at its center, with a through hole (82b3) into which a nozzle for supplying hot water or ATP reagent is inserted including a carrier filling dish (82b), on an outer circumference of the through hole (82b3), to be filled with a collection carrier (90) for collecting floating bacteria in the air, and an upper lid (82a) on which the carrier filling dish (82b) is placed, formed with a protrusion to be inserted through the through hole (82b3); an impactor nozzle head (86) covering a surface of the collection carrier (90) and has a plurality of nozzle holes (87) facing the collection carrier (90) surface; and a fan (84) introducing air to the collection carrier surface through the nozzle holes (87). A velocity of the air passing through the nozzle holes (87) is 40 m/s to 50 m/s.