Abstract: The present invention relates to a device and method for separation of proteins and other biomolecules. A preferred use is for sample preparation of crude as well as pre-fractionated samples. In a preferred embodiment, the device of the present invention is a pipette tip having dual channels, one for inlet of sample and one for outlet. The outlet, but not the inlet, channel is provided with sample separation media for separation of a desired biomolecule from a sample. The flow through the sample separation media is unidirectional.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an apparatus for monitoring the soft water conducted in a main flow, which includes a hardness measuring cell, a first secondary flow line branching off from the main flow and leading to the hardness measuring cell, and a second secondary flow line leading away from the hardness measuring cell and feeding into the main flow, wherein the two secondary flow lines and the hardness measuring cell are connected to a multiway valve.

Abstract: The flow of a fluid of unknown composition is measured by leading the fluid over a first temperature sensor, a heater and a second temperature sensor. The temperature difference DTP between the temperature sensors is measured, as well as the temperature T of at least one of them. In addition, calibration data is used to store the temperature Tref of a known reference fluid. The offset T?Tref at a given temperature difference DTP is a direct measure of the composition of the fluid and allows to retrieve any parameter depending on the same.

Abstract: A method for measuring an amount of a determined gas, particularly oxygen, in a sealed container of a liquid, such as a carbonated beverage, in which a gas mixture is dissolved, involves piercing the sealed container, releasing the gas mixture contained in the pierced container, measuring an amount of the determined gas in the released gas mixture, determining, based on the measuring, an initial amount of the determined gas in the sealed container, and injecting an anti-foam agent into the pierced container before and/or during the gas releasing step.

Abstract: Methods of determining the wettability of a surface under predetermined conditions, wherein the surface simulates or is a downhole surface for use in an oil or gas operation. The methods include the steps of: (A) contacting the surface with at least a first fluid; and then (B) observing the surface for the presence or absence of a marker to determine the wettability of the surface. According to a first aspect of the inventions, the first fluid comprises a first marker, and the step of contacting is under first predetermined conditions. This aspect also includes the additional step of contacting the surface with a second fluid comprising a second marker. According to a second aspect of the inventions, the step of contacting the surface with the first fluid is under predetermined conditions, and the surface is contacted with a second fluid comprising a second marker.

Abstract: A method and tube for separating a sample. The tube is configured to separate agglomerated or clumped material or other sample components having over a particular size from other smaller size portions of the sample. For example, blood clots may be separated from serum of a blood sample. The tube includes a chamber with a closed bottom and a sidewall extending upwardly from the bottom, and a sample inlet branch coupled to the chamber. A slit is positioned between the chamber and the sample inlet branch so that after a sample is placed into the sample inlet branch, a portion of the sample having a size smaller than the slit (e.g., liquid material) passes through the slit and into the chamber, and material in the sample having a size larger than the slit remains in the sample inlet branch.

Abstract: A kit of parts is for assembling a diffusive dosimeter for the detection of pollutants, said kit of parts includes a housing (1, 50), a first adsorbant (2) to be placed inside the housing and a first spacer (3) to be placed on top of the adsorbant, to define a thickness (L) and a first surface area (A) of a diffusive layer. The kit also has a first protective layer (5) placed on top of the spacer and a first cover (6) having an opening (7), to be placed on top of the protective layer, in a manner to close off the assembled dosimeter at its circumference. The kit has at least one or more additional spacers (15,16,17), each additional spacer being able to replace the first spacer and each spacer defines a different surface area, so that each spacer allows a measurement with a different uptake rate.

Abstract: At least one embodiment of the present invention relates to a device for providing a compensated measurement of the level of a liquid in a tank. In at least one embodiment, the device includes a transducer adapted to transmit and receive acoustic signals; a waveguide connected to the transducer and adapted to extend into the liquid; at least one collecting device for collecting free-moving portions of said liquid; and at least one directing device for directing fluid originating from liquid collected by the collecting device into or along a portion of the waveguide which during operation is located above the liquid level. At least one embodiment of the present invention also relates to a corresponding method.

Abstract: A leak detection system has: a test chamber connected to a vacuum pump; a filling device for filling a test piece with helium gas; a transfer device for transferring the test piece between a ready-for-detection position in which the test piece is ready to be carried into the test chamber and a filling-operation position in which the operation of filling helium gas by the filling device is performed; a carrying device for carrying the test piece from the ready-for-detection position to a detection position inside the test chamber; a sealing device for hermetically sealing the test chamber in a state in which the helium-gas-filled test piece is in the detection position; and a leak detector for detecting helium to be leaked out of the test piece when, after having sealed the test chamber by the sealing device, the test chamber is evacuated by the vacuum pump to a predetermined pressure.

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: Disclosed are aqueous chemical leak detection cables that provide protection to sensor wires by using a conductive polymer coating that is resistant to corrosion by aqueous chemicals. In addition, non-conductive, liquid pervious layers may surround one or more of the sensor wires to assist in preventing false detection of a aqueous chemical leak as a result of various non-liquid contaminants. The non-conductive, liquid pervious layer may comprise braided, non-hydroscopic, non-conductive fibers, or a continuous, non-conductive pervious coating.

Abstract: A system and method for determining the atomization characteristics of fluids is disclosed. In one embodiment, a fluid is emitted through a nozzle at controlled conditions. Vibrations occurring within the nozzle are sensed while the fluid is being emitted. An atomization characteristic of the fluid is predicted using the sensed vibrations. In one embodiment, the sensed vibrations are converted into a spectral density that is used to calculate a vibration power spectrum. In one embodiment, the atomization characteristic is the droplet size of the fluid with respect to the controlled conditions, and the droplet size is predicted based on a relationship between a descriptive attribute of the fluid and the vibration power spectrum of the fluid. In one embodiment, the descriptive attribute is the volume median diameter of the fluid.

Abstract: A photo acoustic detector for detecting a concentration of a sample in a mixture includes a light source for producing a light beam for exciting molecules of the sample, and a light modulator for modulating the light beam for generating pressure variations in the sample mixture, where an amplitude of the pressure variations is a measure of the concentration. The detector further includes a detector element for converting the pressure variations into a detector current and a processing section for processing the detector current to generate an output signal representing the concentration. The processing section includes an integrating amplifier for integrating the detector current, the integrating amplifier being coupled to the detector element via a hold switch, and a timing circuit for generating a hold signal, SWHOLD, for operating the hold switch to couple the integrating amplifier to the detector element during a predetermined interval of the detector current.

Abstract: Disclosed are aqueous chemical leak detection cables that provide protection to sensor wires by using a conductive polymer coating that is resistant to corrosion by aqueous chemicals. In addition, non-conductive, liquid pervious layers may surround one or more of the sensor wires to assist in preventing false detection of an aqueous chemical leak as a result of various non-liquid contaminants. The non-conductive, liquid pervious layer may comprise spirally wrapped or braided, non-hydroscopic, non-conductive monofilament fibers, or a continuous, non-conductive pervious coating.

Abstract: A system is provided for testing the hermeticity of a package, such as a microelectromechanical systems package containing a sealed gas volume, with a sampling device that has the capability to isolate the package and breach the gas seal connected to a pulse valve that can controllably transmit small volumes down to 2 nanoliters to a gas chamber for analysis using gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy diagnostics.

Abstract: A soot sensor and method for detecting soot is provided. In one exemplary embodiment, a sensing element for a soot sensor is disclosed herein, the sensing element having a pair of peripheral edge sensing electrodes each having a portion disposed on a peripheral edge of a non-conductive substrate of the sensing element; a first pair of side sensing electrodes disposed on a first side of the sensing element, the first side having a first area partially bounded by the peripheral edge, wherein a resistance between the pair of peripheral edge sensing electrodes decreases as soot accumulates on portions of the pair of peripheral edge sensing electrodes and a resistance between the first pair of side sensing electrodes decreases as soot accumulates on portions of the first pair of side sensing electrodes.

Abstract: Sealing strip (1) intended to be combined between a vehicle bodywork (2) and glazing (3), characterized in that it constitutes an acoustic damping means when subjected to the action of a vibrational field; it works in shear combined with local movements of the glazing in its plane, while the bodywork deforms in the direction of the local normal to the glazing.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for determining the level L of a liquid within a specified measuring range by means of radar signals transmitted to the liquid surface and radar signals reflected from the liquid surface, comprising the steps of i) transmitting radar signals to the liquid surface in time sequence; ii) receiving radar signals reflected from the liquid surface in time sequence; iii) determining the level L partially on the basis the transmitted radar signals and the reflected radar signals. The invention further relates to a device for determining the level L of a liquid within a specified measuring range, at least comprising a radar antenna disposed above the liquid for transmitting radar signals to the liquid and receiving radar signals reflected from the liquid surface, as well as means for determining the liquid level L on the basis of the transmitted radar signals and the reflected radar signals.

Abstract: A method and its possible embodiments are presented for collecting airborne biological and non-biological agents and concentrating them into small amounts of liquid. Airborne particles are drawn into the sampler and by the action of an electrostatic field are deposited on the collection electrode covered with superhydrophobic substance (surface contact angle >150°). At the end of the sampling period a small liquid droplet (5-60 ?L) is injected at the top of the sampling chamber. Since the sampler is positioned at an angle to the horizontal, the droplet rolls-off of collection electrode's surface under the force of gravity and removes the deposited particles. The droplet is then collected by a liquid capture system. The particles concentrated in such small amounts of liquid facilitate sample analysis by various techniques. The suggested sampler's embodiments achieve sample concentration rates higher than 1×106/min which will allow detection of very low particle concentrations.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for measuring sound intensity emitted by a vibrating surface (10). The apparatus includes a probe (25) with three miniature microphones in the side-by-side arrangement, attached to a straight supporting tube (23). The three microphones are matched in phase and amplitude and form a geometric straight line. The supporting tube (23) with the geometric straight line of microphones is positioned perpendicularly close to the vibrating surface (10). The geometric straight line of microphones can be extended to intersect the vibrating surface at the measurement point (30). The microphones are supported at the ends of narrow tubes (22) attached perpendicularly to the supporting tube (23). The tubes contain wires from the microphones that are collected inside the supporting tube (23) and connected to the instrumentation (100). The sign of computed sound-intensity spectra and sound intensity indicates the direction of sound-intensity flow at the vibrating surface.