Abstract: Methods and systems are provided making a porous nitrocellulose strip for use in a lateral flow test. The strip may be formed from a liquid polymer mixture dispensed onto the planar surface via a dispensing device positioned vertically above the planar surface. The strip may be printed with a microarray of binding ligands for use in the lateral flow test. Methods and systems are further provided for developing and viewing the results of the assay.

Abstract: A method and apparatus triggers motion triggered improvised explosive devices (IEDs) from a distance outside the device's zone of destruction. IEDs having infrared motion detection trigger mechanisms are detonated by passing remotely generated laser beams over the area within which the IED is located. The moving reflected background scattering of light from the passing laser beams as well as possible direct passing laser illumination of the IED infrared motion detector activate the IED trigger mechanism, causing the IED to detonate. Operation of the invention is remote from the destruction zone of the IED, thereby preserving personnel and materiel.

Abstract: A capillary tube (10) is provided with ends that are initially open. The capillary tube (10) is preferably constructed from a plastic material that will allow the contents of the tube (10) to be analyzed by x-raying the tube (10). Plural fluid segments (20, 28, 30, 32) are introduced into the capillary tube (10) through one end of the tube (10). Then, the ends of the capillary tube (10) are closed, such as fusing them shut (34, 36) or by providing them with closure caps (40, 42). Different capillary tubes (10) contain different combinations of the fluid segments. The contents of each capillary tube (10) forms a distinct sample. The samples are viewed and evaluated while they are in the sealed capillary tubes (10).

Abstract: Beams (11) and (13) produced by helium-neon gas lasers (10) and (12) are directed at photoacoustic absorption cells (20) and (21) containing a flowing sample gas stream recovered from coal, oil and natural gas well drilling. The common hydrocarbon gases and vapors within cell (20) highly absorb the infrared energy emitted by laser (10) thereby producing an acoustic disturbance which is detected by a transducer (34) which produces an electrical output signal proportional to the concentration of the hydrocarbon gases and vapors. The methane gas within cell (21) weakly absorbs the infrared energy of laser beam (13), and thus the resulting output signal produced by a transducer (35) serves as a reference signal for determining the methane concentration. The output signals from transducers (34) and (35) are used by data processing unit (40) to compute the total concentration of hydrocarbon gases and vapors and the concentration of methane gas within cells (20) and (21).