Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for calibrating a pressure sensor associated with a mobile device. Location information may be determined for the mobile device and used to obtain reference pressure information. The reference pressure information may then be used to calibrate the pressure sensor. Additionally, when the pressure sensor of the mobile device has been calibrated, output from the pressure sensor may be used as reference pressure information by another device.

Abstract: A sniffing leak detector for sucking in and analyzing gas, including a sniffing probe for sucking in the gas, a gas-conveying pump connected to the sniffing probe, and a mass spectrometer connected to a vacuum pump for analyzing the sucked-in gas in a high vacuum. The gas flow through the sniffing probe is conducted along a membrane having gas-permeable pores. The membrane allows part of the gas to flow into the prevacuum of the vacuum pump for the mass spectrometric analysis of the gas in a high vacuum. The diameter of the pores is less than or equal to the free path of air at atmospheric pressure and room temperature in order to improve the detection limit of the sniffing leak detector.

Abstract: Systems and methods of detecting and identifying a leak from a container or building. Acoustic pressure and velocity are measured. Acoustic properties are acquired from the measured values. The acoustic properties are converted to infiltration/leakage information. Nearfield Acoustic Holography (NAH) may be one method to detect the leakages from a container by locating the noise sources.

Abstract: A system is described for performing structural health monitoring of an object under study. The system comprises a hollow cavity structure comprising one or more cavities obtained using additive manufacturing. The cavity structure is sealable from its environment and forms an integral part of the object under study. The cavity structure furthermore is connectable to a pressure sensor for sensing a pressure in the cavity structure.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for determining an integrity of a sample chamber. In certain embodiments, formation fluid is collected from a subterranean formation within a sample chamber disposed in a downhole tool, the downhole tool is withdrawn from a wellbore, an estimated surface pressure of the collected formation fluid is determined, the estimated surface pressure of the collected formation fluid is compared with an actual surface pressure of the sample chamber, and the integrity of the sample chamber is determined based on the comparison of the estimated surface pressure and the actual surface pressure.

Abstract: A fluid flushing and pressurization apparatus for use with geothermal systems, capable of delivering a reversible high-velocity flow of fluid through a system of buried PE pipe without introducing an overpressure condition or water hammer. The apparatus can be utilized with methods for installing, preparing, flushing, filling, testing, and certifying geothermal heating and cooling systems. A portable pumping and testing apparatus can include a high-volume pump, a high-pressure pump, a flow meter, and pressure sensors in wired or wireless communication with a processor or logic controller such that continuous or periodic monitoring of the system can be recorded. The system can be programmed to operate automatically under computer control such that reversal of the flow through the geothermal system does not shock or damage the equipment or buried piping.

Abstract: When a reticle is used first, the reticle is actually loaded in a projection exposure device and measured by one of oblique measurement and random measurement, thereby avoiding the fear of uneven sampling and determining the reticle transmittance of the entire reticle as the parent population, without increasing the, sampling count. The same effect can be obtained by making the measurement spot size, which is fixed in general, variable and by changing the angle of incidence in relation to the measurement spot size.

Abstract: A controlled-contact method of measuring an insertion loss of a compressible DUT having a first ferrule with a first optical fiber and a first end face is disclosed. The method utilizes a compressible reference connector having a second ferrule with a second optical fiber and a second end face. The method includes: axially aligning the first and second ferrules to define a gap with an axial gap distance of greater than 150 ?m; moving the reference connector at a connector velocity in the range from 1 mm/s to 5 mm/s; when the gap distance is less than 150 ?m, reducing the connector velocity to between 10 ?m/s and 500 ?m/s until contact while continuing to measure the coupled optical power; after contact, increasing the connector velocity as the reference and DUT connector axially compress. The insertion loss is determined from ongoing measurements of the coupled optical power.

Abstract: A self-aware machine platform is implemented through analyzing operational data of machining tools to achieve machine tool damage assessment, prediction and planning in manufacturing shop floor. Machining processes are first identified by matching similar processes through an ICP algorithm. Machining processes are further clustered by Hotelling's T-squared statistics. Degradation of the machining tool is detected through a trend of the operational data within a cluster of machining processes by a monotonicity test, and the remaining useful life of the machining tool is predicted through a particle filter by extrapolating the trend under a first-order Markov process. In addition, process anomalies across machines are detected through a combination of outlier detection methods including SOMs, multivariate regression, and robust Mahalanobis distance. Warnings and recommendations are flexibly provided to manufacturing shop floor based on policy choice.

Abstract: Method/apparatus for performing the following acts on a system that includes an electrical motor followed by a gear, and a speed output unit: monitoring a first set of frequencies from the system over a measurement period when the system is in a known good operating condition; storing the first set of monitored frequencies or derivatives thereof as reference data in a long-term storage system; monitoring a second set of frequencies from the system over a measurement period when the system is in an unknown operating condition; comparing the second set of monitored frequencies with the first set of monitored frequencies in a frequency domain; in the frequency domain, detecting changes between corresponding frequencies resulting from the second set of monitored frequencies and the first set of monitored frequencies.

Abstract: A load structure for testing a loadability of a large bearing includes a housing, a force-transmitting structure configured to generate a force or a moment relative to the housing and to transmit the force or the moment to a bearing ring of the large bearing, and a force-receiving element connected to the housing and configured to contact a counter ring of the large bearing. The housing is configured to support the counter ring indirectly via the force-receiving element such that the transmitted force or moment is transmitted to the housing at least partially via the counter ring and the force-receiving element, and a material of the force-receiving element has a higher degree of hardness than a material of the housing. Also a method of load testing a bearing.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method includes a first controller configured to receive and record operational data associated with operation of a locomotive, process, via a processor, the operational data, and determine, using the processor, a data storage plan for the operational data. The data storage plan can dynamically change based on the operational data. The system may be further configured to store the operational data with a second controller associated with a second locomotive according to the data storage plan.

Abstract: A system, includes machinery; and a protection monitoring system, comprising a processor configured to: analyze a trend of one or more data measurements of the machinery for one or more patterns indicative of a potential future fault within the machinery in the trend; and provide a fault prediction based upon the analysis of the trend.

Abstract: In an operating machine, one example of a method for monitoring operation of operating machinery includes converting an actual sound pattern generated by the machine into an audio signal and digitizing the audio signal to create a real-time acoustic fingerprint unique to the actual sound pattern. A reference database contains a plurality of stored acoustic fingerprints, each stored acoustic fingerprint in the plurality of stored acoustic fingerprints representing a unique sound pattern associated with a particular operating condition. A controller compares the real-time acoustic fingerprint to the stored acoustic fingerprints in the reference database and generates an output in response to detection of a match between the real-time acoustic fingerprint and one of the plurality of stored acoustic fingerprints. One example of the machine is a corruptor machine that converts paper webs into corrugated paperboard sheets.

Abstract: A fluid withdrawing, expelling and filtering apparatus includes a fluid container including a first chamber, a second chamber, and, a first through hole and a second through hole respectively disposed in communication between the first chamber and the second chamber, a filter device movable between a first position and a second position to open or close the second through hole of the fluid container and including a filter element mating with the first through hole, and a fluid withdrawing and expelling operator operable to withdraw and expel a fluid through the first chamber of the fluid container.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for cutting a tissue sample into a plurality of sections for automated tissue sample processing. The apparatus comprises a cutting mechanism and a holding mechanism. The cutting mechanism comprises a blade having a first reference line that extends from an attachment point of the blade to a rotation mechanism to an outermost point of the blade, and the rotation mechanism having a second reference line that extends from an axis point of the rotation mechanism to the attachment point, wherein the blade rotates around the axis point. The holding mechanism causes the tissue sample to remain stationary while the blade makes, at least, a first rotation around the axis point, resulting in a first tissue section cut from the tissue sample.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods of staining biological material for the purpose of detecting, and in some examples also identifying, microorganisms. Methods of Gram staining bacteria using a slow-acting decolorizing formulation, such as one that includes 1,2-propandiol or ethylene glycol, can be used to extend the time of the decolorizing step, and thus permit automation of the Gram staining method. Also provided are compositions and kits for performing automated Gram staining on microscope slides.

Abstract: A sample loading device may include a top plate and a base plate, and the sample loading device can be roughly divided into two portions: a loading portion and a holding portion. The present invention is advantageous because the test sample is introduced by the sample loading device, which has been designed for a standard T-peel test, so the integrity of the sample introducing process will not be affected even though a different operator is conducting the process. Furthermore, it is easy to for the operator to load the test sample to the sample loading device, as well as transferring the sample loading device to the tensile testing machine, so the errors during the sample loading process can be significantly reduced. In other words, the T-peel test results can be more reliable when the test sample is introduced by the sample loading device in the present invention.

Abstract: An apparatus for mapping liner wear of a bearing around the circumference of the bearing which includes a rotary indexer that can hold the bearing, a shaft, a force applying mechanism, a rotating mechanism, a digital displacement indicator, and a recorder.

Abstract: A flow test machine 2 which, for example, is able to be used for viscosity tests on plastics, comprises a test piston 4, a test channel 38, at least one test weight 72 and a drive unit 92. The test piston 4 is able to move through the test channel 38 by means of a weight force 79 of the test weight 72. The test weight 72 is able to be loaded by an actuating additional force 108, 108? by means of the drive unit 92 between a starting position 151 and an end position. The actuating additional force 108 enables a movement of the test piston 4 in the direction of the weight force 79, said movement being accelerated in comparison with an effect of the weight force 79. In a melt viscosity test, after a heating step, a thermoplastic plastic is pressed through a test channel 38 by a test piston 4. In a measurement preparation step and/or a cleaning step, the test mass is lowered along a weight force direction 79 under the influence of an actuating additional force 108, 108?.

Abstract: An Integrated Circuit (IC) chip with a lab-on-a-chip, a method of manufacturing the lab-on-a-chip and a method of using the lab-on-a-chip for fluid flow analysis in physical systems through combination with computer modeling. The lab-on-a-chip includes cavities in a channel layer and a capping layer, preferably transparent, covering the cavities. Gates control two dimensional (2D) lattice structures acting as heaters, light sources and/or sensors in the cavities, or fluid channels. The gates and two dimensional (2D) lattice structures may be at the cavity bottoms or on the capping layer. Wiring connects the gates and the 2D lattice structures externally.

Abstract: To provide a method and an apparatus for evaluating a reachable range of a shear rate of a fluid by using a concept of a shear rate propagation constant in evaluating the properties of the fluid. The apparatus for measuring a viscosity in which a vibrator (1) dunked in the fluid and to be measured is vibrated for measuring the viscosity by means of an amplitude change which is influenced by a viscosity resistance of the fluid includes a step (S1) of measuring a fluid density, a step (S2) of measuring the fluid viscosity, a step (S3) of calculating an angular frequency of the vibrator, and a step (S4) of calculating a shear rate propagation constant “Z” from Equation (1), wherein increase of the shear rate propagation constant “Z” is evaluated as increase of a reachable range of the shear rate applied to the fluid from the vibrator (1).

Abstract: A particle counter for chemical solution in this disclosure uses a flow cell through which a chemical solution including particles flows, a laser light, and a light-receiving element array. Scattered light from the particles passing through a detection region on an optical path of the laser light in the flow cell is condensed to the light-receiving element array. The laser light in the center of the detection region has an energy density of 3×108 mW/cm2 or more. Each of plural light-receiving elements (a) is larger in length and width than a spot diameter of the scattered light, and (b) receives the scattered light from a region with a size of 760 ?m2 or less included in the detection region. The signal processing unit counts the particles passing through the detection region by use of a threshold corresponding to the smallest measurable particle size of 0.03 ?m.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a detection system for improving accuracy of hematocrit measurement and an operation control method. The detection system for hematocrit measurement comprises a central processing unit, an excitation source unit, a blood sample unit, a precise measurement circuit unit and a signal collecting unit. The present invention has the beneficial effects that the HCT measurement precision is improved by generating a sine wave by the excitation source unit and performing control by the central processing unit; the detection system of the present invention is simple and reliable, and implements precise measurement; and the measurement precision in the present invention is far greater than that of a conventional measurement technology and can be within 0.2%. Furthermore, due to a self-detection function, the measurement is quite reliable without the risk of resulting incorrect measurement data from a circuit failure.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for measuring molecular diffusivity in porous powders or minerals, e.g., the microporous synthetic minerals used for gas separation and chemical catalysis, were invented that allows a varying pressure in the gas around the powder during the measurement. This obviates the need for the pressure to be constant and the attendant complicated component parts. A mass balance model equation of the sample cell with the diffusivity as an adjustable parameter is used to deduce the sample cell pressure change versus time (uptake curve) until the equilibration of gas diffusion into the powder. A numerical analysis method is used to solve the mathematical model to compute a simulated uptake curve. Curve fitting of the simulated and measured uptake curves is used to optimize the diffusivity parameter, which gives the measured diffusivity. The apparatus and method are simple, easy to use, and automation is also simple.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions comprising magnetic particles, the methods of using these compositions in processing animal sperm, the resulting sperm and embryo products, and the methods of use of these compositions to increase the efficiency, efficacy and/or speed of cell processing and artificial insemination techniques.

Abstract: A corrosion rate measurement system includes a sacrificial probe configured to be exposed to a corrosive material. A sensor is arranged to detect physical changes in the sacrificial probe due to corrosion of the sacrificial probe from the corrosive material. Measurement circuitry is connected to the sensor and provides an output indicative of a corrosion rate of the sacrificial probe from exposure to the corrosive material. The sacrificial probe has a physical characteristic which causes the sacrificial probe to corrode at a non-linear rate.

Abstract: The systems for determining and imaging wax deposition and simultaneous corrosion and wax deposit determination in pipelines relate to systems for determining wax deposition and corrosion by one or both of two techniques. In both techniques, a source of neutron radiation is directed at the pipeline. In one technique, a neutron detector surrounded by an absorption shield defining a collimation window counts neutrons reflected back to the detector by back diffusion or backscatter radiation. In the other technique, a gamma ray detector measures gamma rays emitted when the emitted neutrons are absorbed in the pipeline. A neutron moderator-reflector is placed around three sides of the pipeline to increase the likelihood of neutron capture.

Abstract: There are provided a sensor for monitoring corrosion, including: a sensor case, and a probe unit installed on one side of an interior of the sensor case and simultaneously measuring deterioration in a coating film of a structure and a rate of consumption of a sacrificial anode of the structure, and a method of manufacturing the same.

Abstract: A flow-through measuring cell having one inlet opening for entry of the fluid, and one outlet opening for exit of the fluid. A single measurement space is located between the inlet opening and outlet opening. A radiation measurement region is provided for measuring the interaction of the fluid in the measuring cell with electromagnetic radiation from outside the measuring cell. The radiation measurement region is bordered by two opposite windows of which one is intended for inlet and the other for exit of the electromagnetic radiation. The measuring cell has a positioning range with several operating positions with a different distance A, A? between the windows into which the measuring cell can be set without rotation.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a light source that generates light; a light irradiation unit that causes an acoustic wave to be generated from an object by irradiating a light irradiation region on a surface of the object with the light; a reception unit that receives the acoustic wave; an acoustic lens that is disposed such that the reception unit can selectively receive the acoustic wave from a predetermined direction; a moving unit that moves a focal point of the acoustic lens inside the object in an in-plane direction of the light irradiation region; and an acquisition unit that acquires information on a characteristic of the object based on the reception result of the reception unit, wherein the size of the focal point formed by the acoustic lens is smaller than the light irradiation region.

Abstract: This invention is directed to methods of unambiguously measuring the absolute retardance, ?A of an optical sample. A method for measuring absolute retardance of an optical sample includes directing light comprising a plurality of wavelengths through a polarization state generator source, the optical sample, and a polarization state analyzer, detecting, at an imaging device, retardance measurement light emanating from the optical sample after also passing through the polarization state analyzer at the plurality of wavelengths, determining a measurement retardance associated with the detected retardance measurement light at each of the wavelengths, and determining an absolute retardance associated with the optical sample based on the measurement retardances determined at each of the wavelengths.

Abstract: A calibration curve creation method includes a step of obtaining an independent component matrix including independent components of each sample, and this step includes a step of obtaining the independent component matrix by performing a first preprocess including normalization of the observation data, a second preprocess including whitening, and independent component analysis in this order. In the first preprocess, normalization is performed after a process based on project on null space (PNS) is performed. In the PNS, as a single-variable function representing a variation which depends on an ordinal number ? (where ? is an integer from 1 to N) of a data length N of the observation data, not a power function of ? with an exponent of an integer but a single-variable function which monotonously increases according to an increase in ? in a range of the value of ? from 1 to N is used.

Abstract: An optical gas sensing apparatus includes an explosion-rated device electronics enclosure. An explosion-rated sensing enclosure has a light transmitting element to allow light to pass out of and into the sensing enclosure. The sensing enclosure is operably coupled to the explosion-rated device electronics enclosure by a feed-through. In one aspect, an internal volume of the sensing enclosure is less than or equal to about one fiftieth of the volume of the explosion-rated device electronics enclosure. In another aspect, the thickness of the light transmitting element is less than or equal to about 3 millimeters. A light source is disposed within the sensing enclosure and is operably coupled to the device electronics. A detector is disposed within the sensing enclosure and is also operably coupled to the device electronics.

Abstract: Obtaining two spectra from the same sample under two different conditions at about the same time for comparison, where at least one of the spectra measures magnitudes of electromagnetic radiation on at least four different ranges or weightings of wavelengths or frequencies. Classifying a sample using these spectra obtained by a user, and using spectra obtained from different samples by different users to identify the sample. Computing correlations between data related to food and ingredient consumption by one or more users over time, and data related to passive personal log data, user entered feedback, user interaction data or personal information related to those users, and detecting: foods or ingredients to which a user may be allergic or intolerant; a possible medical condition of a user; a possible link between food and ingredient consumption and a medical or health condition; or a similarity between at least two such users.

Abstract: Laser-based spectroscopy systems and methods including a laser source that emits a beam of radiation, an optical resonant cavity having at least two cavity mirrors, and at least one beam filtering element positioned along a path of the beam external to the cavity and having a front surface, wherein the front surface is oriented such that an intersection of the beam and the surface is at an angle, such as the Brewster's angle or a pseudo-Brewster's, that reduces or eliminates reflection of a predominant polarization component of the beam by the filtering element.

Abstract: In a method for performing a refractive index based measurement of a property of a fluid such as chemical composition or temperature, a chirp in the local spatial frequency of interference fringes of an interference pattern is reduced by mathematical manipulation of the recorded light intensity in the interference pattern or by the physical positioning and arrangement of a detector used for capturing the interference pattern.

Abstract: An inspection apparatus comprises an illumination system (12) for illuminating a target structure with illuminating radiation and a collection system for collecting the illuminating radiation after it has been scattered by the target structure. A programmable spatial light modulator (713) comprises an array of movable mirror elements (742) in a conjugate pupil plane (P?) of the illumination system. Between the array of mirror elements and the target a common optical path is defined forming part of the illumination system and the collection system. Each mirror element is movable between a first position where it reflects illuminating radiation into the common optical path and a second position where it reflects radiation from the common optical path toward a detector (19, 23). Various combinations of illumination aperture and collection aperture can be defined without the light losses associated with beam splitters and transmissive spatial light modulators.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring a hemoglobin concentration includes a reference light source unit, a light and heat light source unit configured to emit a light and heat beam for generating a light and heat effect, an accommodation unit configured to accommodate obtained blood samples, an image acquisition unit configured to write a primary pattern formed after the reference beam emitted by the reference light source unit is incident on the accommodation unit and a secondary pattern formed under an influence of a light and heat effect after the light and heat beam emitted by the light and heat light source unit is incident on the accommodation unit, and a concentration calculation unit electrically connected to the image acquisition unit and configured to calculate a hemoglobin concentration based on a difference between the primary pattern and the secondary pattern.

Abstract: A blood analyzer comprises a flow cell, a first light source, a second light source, a first light receiving part, a second light receiving part, and a processing unit. The processing unit is configured to make determinations related to the types of microcytic anemia based on a first scattered light information based on the signals output from the first light receiving part, and a second scattered light information based on the signals output from the second light receiving part.

Abstract: Provided are an outdoor unit of an air conditioner that detects snow that piles up on the outdoor unit of the air conditioner and a method of controlling the same. When a detection device is installed in the outdoor unit and snow piles up in a snow cover detection area included in the detection device, it is detected using an optical sensor whether snow cover occurs. A value detected by the optical sensor is transmitted to a controller, and the controller compares the value with a default value, and when the controller receives a value different from the default value, the controller controls a fan driving unit to drive a fan. Wind generated by driving the fan removes snow that piles up in the snow cover detection area, a fan guard and a discharge port to prevent the fan from malfunctioning due to accumulated snow.

Abstract: A liquid sample analyzer includes a liquid sample source, a flow cell, an optical device and a plurality of optical fibers. The flow cell is configured to receive a flow of a liquid sample from the liquid sample source. The plurality of optical fibers optically connect the flow cell to the optical device to transmit light between the flow cell and the optical device.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a biochip having improved fluorescent signal sensing properties, and a biochip manufactured by the manufacturing method. A filter layer is provided between a bio-layer and a light sensor layer so as to remove noise generated by stray light during a bio-reaction process. Thereby, the sensitivity of the light sensor layer can be enhanced.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for determining abnormality in a particle analyzer. The method includes: staining first control particles but not staining second control particles which emit fluorescence; irradiating with light the first control particles and the second control particles flowing in a flow cell, and detecting fluorescence from the first control particles and the second control particles; obtaining a first management value indicating a detection result of the fluorescence emitted from the first control particles and a second management value indicating a detection result of the fluorescence emitted from the second control particles; and determining abnormality in the staining step, based on a value calculated from the first management value and the second management value or a ratio between the first management value and the second management value.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a system (10) for measuring light induced transmission or reflection changes, in particular due to stimulated Raman emission. The system comprises a first light source (12) for generating a first light signal having a first wavelength, a second light source (14) for generating a second light signal having a second wavelength, an optical assembly (16) for superposing said first and second light signals at a sample location (18), and a detection means (24) for detecting a transmitted or reflected light signal, in particular a stimulated Raman signal caused by a Raman-active medium when located at said sample location. Here in at least one of the first and second light sources (12, 14) is one or both of actively controllable to emit a time controlled light pattern or operated substantially in CW mode and provided with an extra cavity modulation means (64) for generating a time controlled light pattern.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the sensitivity to electrostatic discharge (ESD) of energetic and volatile samples. The method and apparatus include an optical detector configured to detect the optical light intensity from an ESD event with time resolution less than 15 microseconds. The optical light intensity is integrated to obtain an integrated light intensity. The method and apparatus further include processing circuitry configured to determine whether the ESD event is a “Go” event, wherein the energetic material undergoes decomposition generating additional light in addition to light generated by the ESD event itself, or the ESD event is a “No-Go” event without decomposition of the energetic/volatile material. The integrated light intensity threshold between “Go” and “No-Go” events is determined using a statistical distribution of inert sample measurements.

Abstract: An aquatic environment water parameter testing system and related methods and chemical indicator elements. The aquatic environment water parameter testing system includes an electronics portion having an optical reader element and a sample chamber portion. Conductivity and/or temperature may be utilized to calibrate readings by the optical reader element. A system may optionally have a sample chamber portion having a chemical indicator element which may be removably connected. A chemical indicator element may include an information storage and communication element used, in part, to provide identification of a chemical indicator of the chemical indicator element.

Abstract: A chemical indicator element for use in an aquatic environment water parameter testing system. The chemical indicator element includes a chemical indicator and a thin film material having particular optical characteristics tied to the light from a light source, such as a light source of an optical reader element of a water parameter testing system. The chemical indicator element may also include at least one of a backing material that absorbs one or more wavelengths of the light of the light source and a holder including a material that absorbs one or more wavelengths of the light of the light source.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods may provide for determining a value of chemical parameter. One or more light emitters may be positioned within a housing to emit light through an aperture of the housing. The emitted light may illuminate a color area of a structure that is separable from the housing, such as a test strip, a printed color reference, and so on. A color sensor may be positioned within the housing to capture reflected light and to convert the reflected light to an initial digitized color space that may be usable to determine a color shade of a color area. The reflected light may, for example, be captured independently at least of a dimension (e.g., predetermined size, shape, etc.) of the color area.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for analyzing one or more elements of targeted moving snack food surfaces uses laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy to detect the presence, absence, or amount of an element on a heterogeneous surface, including seasoned and ready-to-eat snack foods. A laser is used to quantify the element concentration without destroying the targeted sample. An automated on-line system may be integrated into the method to create a closed-loop feedback control system, adjusting the concentration as desired.