Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for studying the reaction (chemical or physical) of a sample with a gas in the active atmosphere of an instrument such as an Environmental Transmission Electron Microscope (ETEM), optical microscope, X-ray microscope or scanning probe microscope. The sample is exposed to inert gas at a desired temperature before exchanging the inert gas to the active gas to reduce to avoid, or at least minimize, sample drift during image acquisition.

Abstract: Methods and systems for monitoring and/or controlling protein separation, purification, extraction, and/or fractionation processes are provided. The impedance of a protein mixture undergoing a protein process is measured and compared to a target reference impedance value or range of reference impedance values. If the measured impedance is not within an acceptable deviation of the target reference impedance value, a parameter of the protein mixture or process is adjusted.

Abstract: Encapsulated fluorescent metal nanoparticles for radiation detection comprising metal ions in an aqueous solution encapsulated in a nanocapsule, wherein the metal ions form atoms when exposed to gamma-ray initiated reduction of the ions and then aggregate to form fluorescent nanoparticles.

Abstract: A basic unit for a mobile water analyzing system includes a photometer, a test element receptacle, a photometric measuring track, and a pump actuator. The photometer comprises a light source configured to generate a measurement beam and a light detector configured to receive the measurement beam. The test element receptacle is configured so as to allow a separate test element comprising a measuring section and a pump port to be inserted into the test element receptacle. The photometric measuring track is defined by the measuring section when the separate test element is inserted into the test element receptacle. The measurement beam and the photometric measuring track are aligned during a photometric measurement so that a photometric measurement occurs along a longitudinal length of each of the photometric measuring track and the measuring section. The pump actuator is cooperatively connected with the pump port.

Abstract: A sorting apparatus includes: a sorting device receiving and transporting a rack carrying vessels and transferring vessels from the rack to predetermined vessel loading portions; and a delivery device delivering the rack to the sorting device. The sorting device includes: a rack receiving unit capable of moving reciprocally between a rack delivery position where the rack is delivered and a sorting position where the vessels are loaded into the predetermined vessel loading portions; a transfer machine transferring the vessels from the rack on the rack receiving unit to the predetermined vessel loading portions; and a transportation mechanism on which the rack delivering unit and the transfer machine are installed. The transportation mechanism is installed so as to be capable of moving in a transportation direction in which rack receiving unit moves reciprocally. The transfer machine is capable of moving in a direction perpendicular to the transportation direction.

Abstract: An automated analyzer for reagent cards having a leading end, a trailing end and a length between the leading end and the trailing end comprises a travel surface assembly having a card travel surface and an edge. A test analyzing mechanism is adjacent to the travel surface, and a waste receptacle is adjacent to the edge below the travel surface. The waste receptacle has a side and a waste cavity. A ramp member positioned below the travel surface has an end and a sloped surface, and is movable between an extended position where the sloped surface extends into the waste cavity, and a retracted position where the end is spaced from the side a distance greater than the length of the reagent card. A moving mechanism operably coupled with the ramp member is configured to move the ramp member between the extended position and the retracted position.

Abstract: A method of crystallization is disclosed, the method comprises the steps of providing a microfluidic system comprising at least three channels having at least one junction; providing within the at least three channels a continuously flowing water-immiscible carrier-fluid, a continuously flowing first aqueous fluid comprising a crystallization target, and a continuously flowing second aqueous fluid comprising a precipitant; forming at least one plug comprising the first and second aqueous fluids by partitioning the aqueous fluids with the flowing carrier-fluid at the junction of the at least three channels, flowing the at least one plug through an outlet port into a tubing, and stopping the flow of the at least one plug in the tubing, wherein the crystallization target forms a crystal in the tubing.

Abstract: Provided herein is a method of sample analysis. In certain embodiments, the method comprises: a) cross-linking protein of a cell using a first compound to produce a first cross-linked product comprising cross-linked protein, and RNA; b) contacting the first cross-linked product and a second compound under conditions by which an oligonucleotide portion of the second compound hybridizes to the RNA; c) activating a reaction the first and second compound, thereby covalently crosslinking the oligonucleotide to the cross-linked protein to produce a second cross-linked product; d) isolating the second cross-linked product using an affinity tag; and e) analyzing the isolated second cross-linked product. Compounds for performing the method are also provided.

Abstract: According to the present teachings, systems, compositions, kits and methods for protein melt analysis are provided that utilizing a dye that is a dipyrrometheneboron difluoride compound. In some embodiments, a method comprises preparing a sample by mixing at least one protein with a dye, and applying a controlled heating, while recording the fluorescence emission of the sample.

Abstract: A titration method uses a tracer in the titrant or titrand to quantify the amount of titrant added. The method does not require quantitative addition of titrant or sample. The tracer can be inert or can participate as an indicator of the titrant-analyte reaction. If the tracer is inert, an alternative method for monitoring the progress of the titration is required. The tracer concentration is quantified by an appropriate method depending upon the type of tracer and analytical performance desired (e.g. precision, accuracy). The method simplifies titrations because it eliminates the need for a precision dispensing device and analytical balance.

Abstract: An immunodiagnostic test element includes a support member, at least one test column containing a test material, and a wrap, such as an adhesively-attached foil wrap, covering the top of the at least one test element. The wrap includes a weakened portion directly above each test column, in which each weakened portion is formed by pre-stressing the portion, but not to the point of puncturing the wrap to enable the wrap to be punctured by a fluid aspirating/dispensing element, such as a metering tip, permitting access to the contents of the test column.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of substances for the production of anions suitable for charge transfer reactions in mass spectrometers, particularly for the fragmentation of multiply positively charged biopolymer ions by electron transfer or for charge reduction by proton transfer. Diketones, particularly ?-diketones, are proposed as a newly found class of substances which can be used both for the production of radical anions for electron transfer dissociations (ETD) with a high yield of fragment ions and also for the production of non-radical anions for the charge reduction of multiply charged analyte ions by proton transfer reactions (PTR). These substances have favorable properties in terms of their handling and the associated analytical methods: they are largely nontoxic, cover a favorable range of molecular masses, and their volatility means that they can be stored in unheated containers outside of the vacuum system, which facilitates the refilling of the containers.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods and devices to enrich trace quantities of impurities in gaseous mixtures, such as hydrogen fuel. The methods and devices rely on concentration of impurities so as to allow the detection of the impurities using commonly-available detection methods.

Abstract: A multilayer Paper Analytical Device (PAD) is provided for detection of at least two chemical components indicative of a low quality pharmaceutical or dietary supplement product. A method for detection of at least two chemical components indicative of a low quality pharmaceutical or dietary supplement product is also provided that employs a multilayer PAD. A kit is provided for detection of at least two chemical components indicative of a low quality pharmaceutical or dietary supplement product that includes a multilayer PAD and instructions for using the kit.

Abstract: A method for determining the concentration ratio in a sample of a target peptide to a reference peptide that is chemically identical with the target peptide, but labeled by isotopes, acquires mass spectra of the target and reference peptides. One of a plurality of families of superimposed bell-shaped curves which is a best fit to ion current peak groups of the target and reference peptides in the mass spectra is determined by varying parameters of the families. In each family, each bell-shaped curve has a predetermined height, the curves have fixed distances from each other and the relative curve heights and curve distances in the families are individually calculated from an elemental composition of the peptides and an isotope abundance distribution of elements composing the peptides, taking into account purity of the isotopes. The concentration ratio is then determined from the parameters of the best fit.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for measuring the properties of protein and lipoprotein elements in a sample.

Abstract: An optical apparatus comprises an ultraviolet light source (100) configured to transmit the ultraviolet light to a sample (102), one or more wavelength dependent beam splitters (104) and at least two separate detectors (106, 108). Each beam splitter (104) receives, from the sample (102), a band of excitating ultraviolet light and at least one band of fluorescence associated with an interaction between the excitating ultraviolet light and the sample (102) in the optical path through the sample (102), directs the band of excitating ultraviolet light passed through the sample (102) towards a first detector (106), and directs the at least one band of the fluorescence towards at least one separate detector (108). The first detector (106) and the at least one separate detector (108) are simultaneously configured to form electrical signals carrying information on powers of the bands of the ultraviolet light and the fluorescence, respectively.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to methods for analyzing a metabolite level in a sample. In certain embodiments, methods of the invention may involve obtaining a sample, analyzing the sample using a mass spectrometry technique to determine a level of at least one metabolite in the sample, and correlating the metabolite level with an originating source of the sample, thereby analyzing the sample.

Abstract: A sample analyzer is configured to execute a liquid surface detection of detecting a liquid surface in a container by a liquid surface detector prior to a lowering operation of an aspirating tube for aspirating the liquid if a liquid level information is not stored in a memory, and store a liquid level information of a container in the memory based on a detection result by the liquid surface detection. Also, a liquid aspirating method by a sample analyzer.

Abstract: According to the present invention, there is provided a method of detecting a complex comprising a membrane protein bound to a therapeutic agent by mass spectrometry. The method comprises: (a) providing a solution comprising a detergent micelle in which said complex is contained; (b) providing a mass spectrometer comprising a nanoelectrospray ionization source, a mass analyzer and a detector; (c) vaporizing the solution using the nanoelectrospray ionization source under conditions such that the complex is released from the micelle; (d) ionizing the complex; (e) resolving the ionized complex using the mass analyzer; and (f) detecting the resolved complex using the detector. Also provided is a solution comprising a detergent micelle in which a complex is contained, wherein the complex comprises a membrane protein bound to a therapeutic agent.