Abstract: A process for the production of monocrystalline Hg.sub.1-x Cd.sub.x Te wherein a molten mass of the desired composition x is cooled and solidified in a closed vessel and the solidified crystal is converted at temperatures below its melting point by high temperature recrystallization into the monocrystalline state, with an ampule of conical longitudinal cross-section being used as the closed vessel and the ampule being so held during the solidifying of the molten mass that the molten mass extends from the ample tip into the interior of the ampule. Undesired pressure is prevented from being exerted on the crystal by the ampule wall by the crystal only partially filling out the ampule interior and being conveyed into the ampule area of larger cross-section, and the recrystallization process is performed in a temperature zone with a longitudinal temperature gradient with the temperature decreasing in the direction of the larger ampule cross-section.

Abstract: An automatic sampling method for introducing a diluted viscous sample into an instrument for analysis for trace elements. The automatic sampling system includes a tube assembly, a member for mounting the tube assembly in proper relation, means for maintaining, between sampling, the free end of the tube assembly in a cleaning solution, and means for inserting the free end of the tube assembly into a sample contained within a container. Preferably, the instrument is a spectrometer, the samples are organic and aqueous samples, such as oils, brines, sludges, plating solutions and the like, and the trace elements include wear metals and also other elements, such as calcium, barium, zinc, sodium, magnesium, boron, phosphor and the like.

Abstract: An n-type semiconductor gas detecting element. The semiconductor oxide is bismuth molybdate having the composition Bi.sub.2 O.sub.3.3MoO.sub.3 and the gas detecting element formed therewith has high sensitivity to combustible gas. The detection of the combustible gases is based upon the change of electrical conductivity of a thick film of the semiconductor oxide detecting element resulting from the combustible gas component in an oxygen-containing atmosphere.

Abstract: Apparatus in which a sample and a reagent solution are introduced into a stream of carrier liquid, whereby reaction proceeds between the sample and the reagent solution during their transfer through a passage. When a zone of the reaction solution passes successively through two flow cells provided in series, light absorbancy based on the reaction solution in each flow cell is measured, and rate assay is made from a difference between light absorbancies. A period of time for observing a specific sample can be changed by changing the length of a reaction tube connecting a flow cell at the upstream side to a flow cell at the downstream side.

Abstract: An improved clot activator system for reducing the clotting time for blood samples in serum separation tubes, and the like, as well as increasing the degree of clotting, while at the same time, reducing the cost of production. This is achieved by the addition of glass pieces to the tube which pieces are formed in a particular way by a sol-gel process. The particles are pieces of glass, and are a porous substantially rigid amorphous inorganic sponge with substantial reactive surfaces. When a blood sample is introduced into a serum separation tube containing such pieces, the blood enters the interstices of the pieces causing fragmentation thereof, which fragmentation causes sound and shock waves which, in turn, enhance the clotting of the blood.

Abstract: A device, useful for breath analysis and as an amusement device, comprising a flexible tube which can be extended from a shortened condition to an extended condition, one end of the tube being secured to a mouthpiece unit including both an input opening, through which breath can be exhaled into the tube, and an exhaust opening; spring means for urging the tube to its shortened condition; an escape opening at the end of the tube opposite the mouthpiece unit; and pressure regulating means for opening the escape opening when the tube has been inflated by breath exhaled through the input opening. Advantageously, the tube is a collapsible, non-self-supporting polymeric tube and the spring means is effective to roll the tube upon itself in spiral fashion toward the mouthpiece unit.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to automatically compensate for temperature variation in a vapor detection system. In one embodiment, two identical organic semiconductor film sensors in close thermal contact with each other are used in the feedback circuit of an inverting amplifier supplied by constant voltage. One of the sensors is isolated from vapor exposure to act as a reference for the other sensor which is used for vapor sampling. The output of the inverting amplifier provides an indication of the presence and relative concentration of vapor exposure. Variation in sample sensor resistance due to a change in temperature is accompanied by the same corresponding change in the reference sensor, which stabilizes the ratio of the feedback circuit resistances and therefore the gain of the inverting amplifier to exactly compensate for the temperature induced resistance variations automatically.

Abstract: In conducting a liquid phase epitaxial growth of a Zn crystal on a substrate wherein a batch of Se melt serving as a solvent is used and relying on a vapor pressure controlling technique and a temperature difference method, a Zn vapor pressure controlling region is disposed, via the Se melt, in a direction vertical to the surface of the substrate which is contained in the growth region, and a ZnSe source crystal is disposed in such a way that it is supplied into the Se melt in a lateral direction of this melt. Whereby, a ZnSe single crystal having a good crystal perfection, and a good linearity of the thickness of the grown crystal relative to time can be obtained.

Abstract: An improved method for the continuous removal of dissolved oxygen from a flowing liquid containing sample bands, the invention being effective to remove the interference of the dissolved oxygen for purposes of reductive electrochemical detection of analyte of interest. As an example of utility, using a silicone rubber membrane in a shell and tube design, typically >99 percent of the dissolved oxygen can be removed by permeation from aqueous solutions within a residence time of six seconds. Applications of the technique to the post-column removal of dissolved oxygen from ion exchange and reverse phase chromatographic mobile phases prior to reductive electrochemical detection are particularly described and claimed.

Abstract: A U-shaped reaction tube used as a reaction tube for a sample analysis in an automatic chemical analyzer and its manufacturing method are disclosed. The U-shaped reaction tube having a cup portion having a large radius, a U-shaped tube portion having a small radius and a tapered end portion having a small radius is formed in one body with elastic material such as a thermoplastic resin by an injection molding. Two pairs of flanges are arranged on an outer surface of the cup portion and a circular flange is arranged on an outer surface of the U-shaped tube, so that the U-shaped reaction tube can be easily secured to a holding plate without a cement in a detachable manner.

Abstract: Means for securing a fragile test element in a mount. A rectangular test element is inserted along an axis normal to the plane of the element and normal to the plane of the mount into a recess in the mount, past overhangs in the walls of the recess. The test element is then rotated about that axis into a position in which corners of the test element extend into undercuts below the overhangs. Various means are disclosed for providing engagement of the mount with the corners of the test element to inhibit further rotation of the test element.

Abstract: In an exemplary embodiment, tape-shaped silicon bodies for solar cells are formed by continuous coating of a carrier body having a mesh structure. A melt bath receives the silicon melt and has a floor part with capillary openings therein for supplying the melt, the capillary openings leading perpendicularly toward the exterior of the vat and proceeding parallel to one another, and wherein a channel for the guidance of the carrier body proceeding in a horizontal direction is disposed below the melt vat in the region of the capillary openings. The guide channel for the carrier body can also be disposed above a body with capillaries proceeding parallel in a vertical direction, the body being partially immersed in the vat containing the silicon melt for the purpose of supplying the melt via the capillaries. The devices enable continuous tape drawing from a silicon melt wherein convection currents are avoided in the melt.

Abstract: Boar taint in individual animal bodies, preferably carcasses or parts thereof, is detected by preparing an extract of a meat and/or fat sample from the body or part thereof, reacting said extract with a color reagent, for which the color intensity developed at certain wavelengths exhibit a statistical relationship with boar taint, determining the transmittance or absorbance of the reacted extract at one or more such wavelengths, and inserting the recorded values in the said statistical relationship. A high correlation has been found to exist between color reaction and boar taint evaluation so that the transmittance or absorbance at wave lengths characteristic of the color reaction gives a quantitative measure of boar taint intensity. This has made it possible to determine threshold values which objectively define organoleptic inacceptable taint levels.

Abstract: Polymer-catalyst transducers are used for detecting one or more constituents in a sample. Changes in conductivity of the polymer-catalyst transducers as a result of electron density changes are measured to provide an indication of a particular constituent present in the sample. Such conductivity changes can be measured using a conductivity meter. The polymer-catalyst transducers are particularly useful for the determination of glucose in whole blood.

Abstract: A crucible cassette for use in feeding crucibles to an apparatus for loading and feeding crucibles to a combustion furnace, said cassette having at least one crucible receiving tube capable of receiving a plurality of crucibles stacked one above the other, an engaging member in the bottom of the tube for engaging with the lowermost crucible and supporting it in the receiving tube and a guide member for guiding the rise of the crucibles in the tube, and a pusher for pushing crucibles one by one up out of said tube to enable them to be carried one by one from the cassette means to a sample weighing position in the apparatus.

Abstract: A pipette with adjustable volume, which pipette comprises a frame portion (1) shaped as a handle, a cylinder (2) being formed inside the said frame portion, as well as a piston (3) fitted into the cylinder by means of a seal ring (7), a piston rod (4) connected to the piston (3), as well as a press knob (5) with shaft (6), fitted at the upper end of the frame portion (1). By turning the said press knob (5), a sleeve (20), which determines the upper position of the piston (3) and which is non-rotable in relation to the frame portion (1) of the pipette, can be displaced, by means of a threaded joint (20), upwards or downwards relative the shaft (6) of the knob so as to adjust the volume of the pipette. The pipettable volume can be read numerically through an opening or window (40) in the pipette frame (1) by means of a series of rings consisting of numbered disc-shaped rings ( 31, 39).

Abstract: A personal field chemical warfare nerve agent detector has therein a transducer having two micromechanical cantilever oscillators. One of the cantilever oscillators has deposited, as an end-mass, a chemically selective substance on the cantilever. The nerve agent if present causes the natural resonant frequency to change. The changed resonant frequency is compared to a reference resonant frequency of the other cantilever oscillator without an end-mass. The amount of frequency change indicates the presence of a chemical nerve agent.

Abstract: A quick and inexpensive test for the detection of fetal pulmonary maturity comprising the steps of acidifying a given volume of amniotic fluid, adding a given volume of an ether, agitating and observing the number of bubbles existing in the ether layer. The number of bubbles existing in the ether layer after a certain observational period may be correlated with the existence of pulmonary immaturity in a fetus.

Abstract: A microtitration plate wherein a frame and a central part are separated from one another via a continuous break and ridges are arranged at the lower face of the plate so that differences in temperature on heating between edge vessels and vessels in the central part are avoided, said differences in temperature causing the well-known "edge-effect".

Abstract: Epitaxial layers of bismuth containing magnetic garnet materials are grown from a melt which comprises flux components lead oxide, bismuth oxide, and one or several additional oxides selected from vanadium oxide, tungsten oxide, and molybdenum oxide. The presence of such additional flux component results in increased magnetic anisotropy per degree of supercooling and thus enhances device properties and facilitates epitaxial layer deposition.