Abstract: A laser scanning type observation apparatus includes a pulsed-laser oscillation means irradiating pulsed laser to an object, a detector receiving light from the object to output a detection signal, a means detecting pulsed-laser oscillation to output a synchronous signal, a circuit delaying the synchronous signal for an optional amount of time to output a trigger signal, a means sampling the detection signal in synchronization with the trigger signal, a memory storing the sampled detection signal, a setting unit capable of setting delay time for delaying the synchronous signal in two or more stages within one period of the synchronous signal, and a decision unit determining an optimum delay stage for image formation using data on intensities of the detection signal at the respective delay stages, wherein the setting means fixes delay time for delaying the synchronous signal at delay time corresponding to the delay stage determined by the decision unit.

Abstract: Methods and systems for determining a meta-model to correct model based measurements are presented. Such systems are employed to measure structural and material characteristics (e.g., material composition, dimensional characteristics of structures and films, etc.) associated with different semiconductor fabrication processes. In one aspect, model-based measurement parameter values are corrected based on a meta-model that maps specimen parameter values determined based on the measurement model to reference parameter values determined based on a more accurate reference measurement. In another aspect, parameters of a meta-model are determined such that errors between reference parameter values and specimen parameter values determined based on the measurement model are minimized. In some embodiments, the accuracy of a corrected parameter value is an order of magnitude greater than the uncorrected parameter value.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a printing unit that prints at least one object image using a color material; a color information acquiring unit that acquires color information of the object image; and a control unit that starts one of colorimetry of the object image using the color information acquired by the color information acquiring unit and color adjustment of the printing unit after a variation amount of color information of the object image measured at different points of time is equal to or smaller than a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A method of spectrally characterising an ink printed over another ink, and of calculating a spectral measure of reflectance of an overprint of a plurality of inks thus characterized. The method uses spectral measurements of a substrate. For an order of printing an overprint, for each ink, for a respective amount of printing of the ink, the method accepts or determines a respective interaction of absorption and reflection function (“IAR function”) indicative of how the ink interacts with a printed background and includes determining the spectral reflectance by repeatedly multiplying, in the order, for each additional ink added to a current background the spectral measure of the current background by exponentiation of the ratio of the spectral measure of the additional ink on the substrate to the spectral measure of the substrate, by the TAR function of the additional ink.

Abstract: A gas analyzing system that can perform calibration without being influenced by the deterioration of span gas in a span gas supply line. An open-close device control part that receives a calibration start signal issuing an instruction to start zero calibration and span calibration, and controls an open-close device for a span gas flow path. An open-close device for a zero gas flow path, wherein if the open-close device control part receives a new calibration start signal after a predetermined time has passed since previous calibration was performed, before the span calibration is started, for a predetermined time, the open-close device control part controls the open-close device for the span gas flow path so as to open the open-close device for the span gas flow path, and thereby purges span gas that remains in the span gas flow path.

Abstract: Disclosed is an infrared optical sensor for the continuous analysis of a liquid flowing in a pipe. The sensor includes, in a housing, a central section of duct through which the liquid to be analyzed flows, and a spectral analysis device using a light beam, including an infrared source which emits a signal which is received by a receiving device having passed through the liquid, an optical component which allows the light beam to pass through the liquid, and a support plate which carries the infrared source and the receiving device. The liquid to be analyzed circulates through a loop formed by walls in the form of an arch of the optical component and by a projection of the housing in the optical component. A sealing gasket is compressed between the optical component and the housing, in order to prevent any diffusion of liquid on the interior of the housing.

Abstract: A laser gas analyzer includes a wavelength-variable laser having a wide wavelength-variable width, a light-split module configured to split an output light of the wavelength-variable laser into a measurement light and a reference light, a first gas cell into which gases to be measured are introduced, and the measurement light is made to be incident, and a data processor configured to obtain an absorption spectrum of each of the gases to be measured based on a reference signal related to the reference light and an absorption signal related to an output light of the first gas cell, and to obtain concentrations of the respective gases to be measured.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for external cavity laser absorption spectroscopy There is disclosed an apparatus, and corresponding methods, for determining one or more characteristics of a sample in an absorption cell using laser absorption spectroscopy. For example, the characteristic may be concentration of a species in the sample. The apparatus comprises an external cavity semiconductor laser comprising a semiconductor gain medium within an optical resonator. The absorption cell is located within the optical resonator of the external cavity semiconductor laser so as to be optically coupled with the gain medium. A controller is arranged to provide a varied injection current to the semiconductor gain medium. A photodetector is arranged to detect laser light output by the external cavity semiconductor laser. An analyzer is arranged to determine one or more characteristics of the sample from behavior of the detected laser light output as a function of the varied injection current.

Abstract: Disclosed is a scatterometry mark for determining an overlay error, critical dimension, or profile of the mark. The mark includes a first plurality of periodic structures on a first layer, a second plurality of periodic structures on a second layer, and a third plurality of periodic structures on a third layer that is underneath the first and second layer. The third periodic structures are perpendicular to the first and second structures, and the third periodic structures have one or more characteristics so as to result in a plurality of lower structures beneath the third periodic structures being screened from significantly affecting at least part of a spectrum of a plurality of scattered signals detected from the first and second periodic structures for determining an overlay error, critical dimension, or profile of the first and second periodic structures or at least one of such detected scattered signals.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for measuring the spatial and velocity distribution of scattering structures of a sample in semi-transparent matter. The acquired spectral data I(k, t) are transformed in two steps to image data I(z, v). A Doppler shift is imposed on the light to a separate real and mirror images in the v space to suppress the complex ambiguity artifact.

Abstract: A device for detecting a state of a liquid droplet discharged from each of nozzles placed in one or more rows, includes a light emitting element to emit a light beam to the liquid droplet from a nozzle in question, and a pair of light receiving elements disposed on both sides of a beam diameter of the light beam via an optical axis to receive scattered light occurring from the liquid droplet for detecting a state of the discharged liquid droplet on the basis of the scattered light. Either of the pair of the light receiving elements is selected for receiving the scattered light from the liquid droplet discharged from the nozzle according to a positional relation between the nozzle and the pair of light receiving elements.

Abstract: Systems and methods for measuring a target in a sample, the target being capable of generating an emitted light in response to an excitation light. In an example system, an excitation light source generates the excitation light along an excitation optical path. An attenuation filter arrangement selectively adds an attenuation filter to the excitation optical path. The attenuation filter attenuates the excitation light by a corresponding attenuation factor. The excitation light exits the attenuation filter arrangement along the excitation optical path to illuminate the sample. A light energy detector receives the emitted light generated in response to the excitation light, and outputs a measured signal level corresponding to an emitted light level. If the light energy detector indicates an overflow, signal measurement is repeated with attenuation filters of increasing attenuation factors until the measured signal level does not overflow.

Abstract: A microfluidic device, for analysis, comprising: a chip (1) comprising a cavity (3); a light emitting diode or a laser which emits a first electromagnetic radiation (4) for heating a sample placed in the cavity in use; and an analytical assembly (7) configured to record a change in the sample arising from an interaction of the sample with the first source of electromagnetic radiation.

Abstract: The method of detecting thalassemia by optical analysis of blood components is a spectral detection method that is based on the fluorescence spectra of a set of biomolecules, including tyrosine, tryptophan, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, and flavin adenine dinucleotide, which are all found in blood plasma, and porphyrin, which is found in red blood cells (RBCs). Measured ratios of intensity maxima between tryptophan and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, flavin adenine dinucleotide and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, tyrosine and tryptophan, and the normal form of porphyrin and the basic form of porphyrin may each be used, alone or in combination, to diagnose a patient as suffering from thalassemia.

Abstract: An apparatus for monitoring deposition rate, an apparatus including the same, for depositing an organic layer, a method of monitoring deposition rate, and a method of manufacturing an organic light emitting display apparatus using the same, are provided. The deposition rate monitoring apparatus for measuring deposition rate of a deposition material discharged from a deposition source, includes: a light source for irradiating light having a wavelength within a photoexcitation bandwidth of the deposition material; a first optical system for irradiating the light emitted from the light source toward the discharged deposition material; a second optical system for collecting the light emitted from the deposition material; and a first light sensor for detecting the amount of the light which is emitted from the deposition material and collected in the second optical system.

Abstract: A wavelength variable interference filter includes a fixed substrate, a movable substrate, a fixed reflective film provided on the fixed substrate, a movable reflection film provided on the movable substrate and opposed to the fixed reflective film via an inter-reflective film gap, a fixed electrode provided on the fixed substrate, a movable electrode provided on the movable substrate and opposed to the fixed electrode via an inter-electrode gap, a fixed charging preventing electrode provided along the outer circumferential edge of the fixed electrode and in non-contact with the fixed electrode and grounded, and a movable charging preventing electrode provided along the outer circumferential edge of the movable electrode and in non-contact with the movable electrode and grounded.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for detecting and/or identifying, in a biological sample, bacteria exhibiting a resistance to carbapenems, including: a) contacting said sample with a reaction medium including at least one chromogenic agent and faropenem and/or doripenem; b) incubating the whole so as to allow the bacteria to grow; and c) detecting the strains exhibiting a resistance to carbapenems. The medium employed in step a) also contains cloxacillin and/or a combination of cloxacillin and PAbetaN.

Abstract: A CMOS optical detector includes a plurality of optical elements for a device for detecting parameters of moving yarn or another linear textile formation on textile machines by means of a perpendicular projection of yarn onto individual optical elements of a sensor with the aid of one source of radiation. The optical elements are arranged in two parallel rows perpendicular to the direction of the movement of the projection of yarn. Each optical element produces an output analog signal corresponding to the intensity of its irradiation. The individual optical elements of the first row are oriented to have their longer sides in the direction of the movement of the projection of yarn, whereas the optical elements of the second row are oriented to have their longer sides perpendicular to the direction of the movement of the projection of yarn.

Abstract: A method of inspecting a sample at high speed includes directing and focusing radiation onto a sample, and receiving radiation from the sample and directing received radiation to an image sensor. Notably, the method includes driving the image sensor with predetermined signals. The predetermined signals minimize a settling time of an output signal of the image sensor. The predetermined signals are controlled by a phase accumulator, which is used to select look-up values. The driving can further include loading an initial phase value, selecting most significant bits of the phase accumulator, and converting the look-up values to an analog signal. In one embodiment, for each cycle of a phase clock, a phase increment can be added to the phase accumulator. The driving can be performed by a custom waveform generator.

Abstract: In an optical inspection tool, an illumination aperture is opened at each of a plurality of aperture positions of an illumination pupil area one at a time across the illumination pupil area. For each aperture opening position, an incident beam is directed towards the illumination pupil area so as to selectively pass a corresponding ray bundle of the illumination beam at a corresponding set of one or more incident angles towards the sample and an output beam, which is emitted from the sample in response to the corresponding ray bundle of the incident beam impinging on the sample at the corresponding set of one or more incident angles, is detected. A defect detection characteristic for each aperture position is determined based on the output beam detected for each aperture position. An optimum aperture configuration is determined based on the determined defect detection characteristic for each aperture position.

Abstract: The invention concerns an apparatus for inspection of products (3?, 3?), provided with a transport mechanism (2) configured to transport a continuous stream of products (3?, 3?) so that, on leaving the transport mechanism, the product stream (3?, 3?) follows a free-fall path along which it is fed in a single product layer through an inspection zone (16), which has a length (L) that at least corresponds to the width of the aforementioned single product layer, a light source (5, 5?) configured to illuminate said inspection zone (16), a detection unit (6), configured to optically scan the illuminated inspection zone (16), an analysis unit (17) and possibly a removal unit (7) and also a background element (10?), which is situated behind the falling product stream, seen from the position of the detection unit, positioned so that:—light beams from the light source impinge on an illumination zone (14) of the background element when these beams do not impinge on a product from the product stream (3?, 3?),—the detecti

Abstract: The invention provides methods and apparatus for enhanced PCI and dual-use radiation imaging systems. In one implementation high resolution storage phosphor plate radiation detector (an area detector) is employed for conventional attenuation radiation imaging and/or PCI (including conventional PCI and coded aperture PCI). Slit and slot scan implementations for dual-use systems are introduced. Dedicated single and dual-use slit and slot scan system for conventional attenuation imaging and PCI are described that employ face-on or edge-on detectors. Slit and slot scan systems that employ area detectors are described. Edge-on, structured cell detector designs are described. Applications of edge-on structured cell detectors for CT, Nuclear Medicine, PET, and probe detectors are described.

Abstract: An imaging system may include a main enclosure having at least one access door that defines a substantially light-tight imaging compartment when the access door is in a closed position. An object platform provided within the main enclosure holds an object to be imaged. A camera system positioned on a first side of the object platform is operable to capture a visible light image of the object. A radiation detector positioned on the first side of the object platform is moveable from a first position to a second position across a field of view of the camera system. The radiation detector is operable to capture a radiographic image of the object by moving the radiation detector from the first position to the second position while detecting radiation from the object.

Abstract: The X-ray diffraction apparatus irradiates a sample with an X-ray and performs frame photographing in each X-ray diffraction angle, and includes a control section (141) controlling the frame photographing by scanning without closing a shutter, a data acquisition section (142) acquiring detection data of each frame which has been detected by a semiconductor pixel detector in the frame photographing, a frame integration section (146) integrating the detection data which has been acquired in each scanning for each frame, and a determination section (147) determining whether the integrated detection data has a sufficient intensity or not, and the control section (141) controls so as to finish measurement when the integrated detection data has a sufficient intensity and so as to perform the scanning again when the integrated detection data does not have a sufficient intensity.

Abstract: A cross-section processing-and-observation method, including a cross-section exposure step in which a sample is irradiated with a focused ion beam to expose a cross-section of the sample, and a cross-sectional image acquisition step in which the cross-section is irradiated with an electron beam to acquire a cross-sectional image of the cross-section. The cross-section exposure step and the cross-sectional image acquisition step are repeatedly performed along a predetermined direction of the sample at a setting interval to acquire multiple cross-sectional images of the sample. The method also includes a specific observation target detection step in which a predetermined specific observation target from the cross-sectional image acquired a the cross-sectional image acquisition step is detected.

Abstract: A method comprising characterizing the dimensions of structures on a semiconductor device having dimensions less than approximately 100 nanometers (nm) using one of scanning probe microscopy (SPM) or profilometry.

Abstract: An in situ method for deriving the thermal properties of a layered structure represents physical layers by effective thermal layers. The method requires access to only one side of a structure and performs a series of tests wherein a periodic heat flux is applied to the surface of the structure. Each test employs a unique frequency, which is associated with an effective thermal layer of the structure. During the tests the temperature of the surface is monitored and a record of transient temperature is kept. A thermal model of effective layers is created based on the number of tests/frequencies available. The values of the applied heat fluxes are incorporated into this thermal model of effective layers. An optimization technique is used to find the thermal capacity and thermal resistance of the effective layers by best matching the predicted response to that of the measured transient temperature response.

Abstract: A system may include a fluid source fluidically coupled to a plenum; a thermal camera; at least one flow meter; and a computing device communicatively connected to the at least one flow meter and the thermal camera. The computing device may be configured to receive flow rate values from the at least one flow meter relating to flow testing of a first component fluidically coupled to the plenum; receive thermographic image data captured by the thermal camera during flowing thermographic testing of a second component fluidically coupled to the plenum; and associate the flow rate values with the thermographic image data to produce quantitative flowing thermographic image data.

Abstract: Real time redox sequencing methods, devices, and systems are described. Arrays of redox devices comprising one or two electrodes are used to provide sequence information about a template nucleic acid in a polymerase-template complex bound proximate to the electrode(s). A sequencing reaction mixture comprising nucleotide analogs comprising redox labels is introduced to the array of redox devices under conditions of polymerase mediated nucleic acid synthesis. The time sequence of incorporation of nucleotide analogs is determined by electrochemically identifying the redox labels of the nucleotide analogs that are incorporated into the growing strand.

Abstract: A liquid transport apparatus includes a tube for transporting a liquid, plural fingers that push and block the tube, a cam that pushes the fingers in sequence so as to squeeze the tube to transport the liquid, a first electrode and a second electrode that are provided at the tube located further toward the downstream side than a region pushed by the plural fingers, and a determination unit that determines the presence/absence of a bubble on the basis of the impedance between the first electrode and the second electrode.

Abstract: A tester for measuring insulating properties of cross-linked polyethylene, the tester including: a housing including a control panel; a high voltage chamber including an insulating cover, a fixed frame, an insulating oil cup, a high voltage electrode, a ground electrode, and a temperature control device; and a test circuit including a high voltage power supply, a voltmeter, a timer, an overcurrent protection device, and a digital thermometer. The high voltage chamber and the test circuit are arranged inside the housing. The control panel is arranged on the housing. The insulating cover is disposed on the high voltage chamber. The fixed frame is disposed inside the high voltage chamber. The insulating oil cup is mounted on the fixed frame. The high voltage electrode and the ground electrode are disposed oppositely inside the insulating oil cup. The temperature control device is disposed beneath the insulating oil cup.

Abstract: Methods for detecting the type of lambda probes having at least two electrodes disposed on and/or in a solid electrolyte, of which at least one electrode is separated from a gas mixture by a diffusion barrier, and a pump current Ip being applied to at least one of the electrodes. Either the internal resistance of the lambda probe between the electrodes is determined and the type of probe is inferred on the basis of this resistance, or currents are impressed between the electrodes and the type of probe is inferred based on the voltages or resistance ratios thereby resulting.

Abstract: A grain-bin monitoring system for monitoring relative humidity and temperature is described. The system includes a cable assembly with a support cable and two pairs of communication wires suspended in a grain bin. A plurality of sensor assemblies is coupled along the cable. The sensor assemblies include a housing that protects a sensor device and enables exposure to air within the bin. The sensor device is in electrical communication with a control unit through fasteners for the housing piercing the cable assembly and contacting the communication wires. Electrically conductive, elastomeric pads are disposed between electrical contacts on the sensor device and the fasteners to eliminate galvanic corrosion therebetween. The cable assembly and sensor assemblies are configured to minimize drag forces applied by grain particulate flowing along the cable assemblies. And the sensor assemblies and/or the sensor devices therein are easily replaceable on the cable assembly while in service.

Abstract: A transparency, e.g. an aircraft laminated windshield, includes one or more moisture sensors to monitor moisture penetration to monitor performance of the moisture barrier. The moisture sensor includes a moisture corrodible article or sensor element, e.g. a strip or wire, which changes resistance as a function of corrosion. The sensor element can also include two dissimilar metals, e.g. a bimetal sensor element, or two similar metals having different physical dimensions. With the information provided by the moisture sensors performance of the windshield is available to schedule timely repair or replacement of the windshield that is performing outside of acceptable limits.

Abstract: The invention relates to a sensor device for detecting properties of fluid media in a container, comprising at least one base plate (42) made of an insulating material and having a first surface (42a) exposed to the medium (3), at least two sensor elements (41) having at least a first and a second electrode (41a, 41b) arranged insulated from one another on the first surface of the base plate and around which the medium flows, the at least two sensor elements being arranged in a predetermined spatial position relative to each other.

Abstract: Internally calibrated pH and other analyte sensors based on redox agents provide more accurate results when the redox active reference agent is in a constant chemical environment, yet separated from the solution being analyzed in such a way as to maintain electrical contact with the sample. Room temperature ionic liquids (RTIL) can be used to achieve these results when used as a salt bridge between the reference material and the sample being analyzed. The RTIL provides the constant chemical environment and ionic strength for the redox active material (RAM) and provides an electrolytic layer that limits or eliminates direct chemical interaction with the sample. A broad range of RAMs can be employed in a variety of configurations in such “Analyte Insensitive Electrode” devices.

Abstract: A molecular recognition sensor system is provided incorporating a molecular imprinted nanosensor device.

Abstract: A biosensor test strip includes: a first working electrode and a second working electrode formed on a base plate, having the second working electrode circumferentially surrounding the first working electrode to define a reaction pool within the second working electrode having a biological reagent provided in the reaction pool. Upon feeding a liquid sample of a user or patient into the reaction pool, the liquid sample will be well retained in the reaction pool to be reacted with the reagent to produce a signal which is then converted to be a readable data as displayed on a measurement apparatus or meter.

Abstract: Methods for determining a concentration of an analyte in a sample, and the devices and systems used in conjunction with the same, are provided herein. In one exemplary embodiment of a method for determining a concentration of an analyte in a sample, a sample including an analyte is provided in a sample analyzing device having a working and a counter electrode. An electric potential is applied between the electrodes and a measurement of a parameter correlating to changes in a physical property of the sample analyzing device is calculated. A concentration of the analyte in view of the parameter correlating to a change in the physical property can then be determined. Systems and devices that take advantage of the parameter correlating to changes in a physical property to make analyte concentration determinations are also provided.

Abstract: A fluid sensor chip includes an isolator substrate including amorphous carbon, an electrical conductor including graphite and an active material including graphene or carbon nanotubes.

Abstract: A sensor adapter is described for the noninvasive positioning of a sensor, especially of an electrochemical sensor, in a medium. The sensor adapter comprises an accommodating channel, in which the sensor can be positioned and the one end region of which is closed off by a semipermeable membrane. Moreover, the sensor adapter comprises a hollow cylindrical sealing structure, which is disposed within the accommodating channel coaxially with the longitudinal axis of the latter and with which the sensor can be disposed gas tight adjacent to the semipermeable membrane.

Abstract: A gas sensor control apparatus includes a heater regulating section to control the supply of electricity to a heater included in a gas sensor, an impedance sensing section to sense an impedance of the gas sensor cell, an impedance condition examining section to examine whether the impedance is greater than or equal to an abnormality threshold, a voltage condition examining section to examine whether a maximum effective voltage is applied to the heater, when the impedance is above the abnormality threshold, a duration measuring section to examine whether an application time duration of the maximum effective voltage becomes equal to or longer than a heater overheat preventing time, and a voltage decreasing section to decrease the heater voltage to such a lower effective voltage as to hold the temperature of the cell higher than or equal to 500° C. when the application time duration reaches the heater overheat preventing time.

Abstract: A gas sensor includes a metal shell, a gas sensor element held in the metal shell, a metal portion arranged between a flange portion of the gas sensor element and a seat portion of the metal shell and a porous thermal spray layer formed on the gas sensor element. When viewed in cross section along the direction of an axis of the gas sensor, a corner of the metal portion axially overlaps in position with or radially outwardly protrudes from an outer surface of a part of the thermal spray layer located on a side surface of the flange portion and is brought into contact with the seat portion. A rear end-facing surface of the metal portion is brought into contact with an outer surface of the thermal spray layer at a position radially inside the side surface of the flange portion.

Abstract: An aqueous liquid medium for analyzing, purifying or separating species in an element having walls or for treating the walls of an element. The medium includes at least a polymer consisting of several polymeric segments. The polymer is of the irregular block-copolymer or irregular comb-like polymer type and has on the average at least three junction points between polymeric segments of different chemical or topological nature. The medium may be used in methods for analyzing, purifying or separating species and methods for treating an element to be contacted with a fluid and/or species contained in the fluid during preservation, transport, analysis, purification or separation of the fluid.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for determining mycotoxin production in an interior environment which includes a search for a chemical fingerprint comprising at least one target molecule that is a VOC, optionally cyclic, associated with mycotoxin production, preferably selected from the group comprising cububene, cadiene, copaene, ylangene, D germacrene, muurolane, 1,1-dimethylbutylbenzene, 1,1,2-trimethyl-propyl-benzene, 1-hexyltetradecylbenzene, tetratetracontane, 1-ethyldecylbenzene, hydroxytoluene butylate, 1-butyloctylbenzene, 1-propylnonylbenzene, 2-methylisoborneol and at least one sesquiterpene.

Abstract: The applicants' teachings provide in some aspects methods and apparatus for mass spectrometric analysis that identify the location of carbon-carbon double bonds, if any, in an analyte by (1) obtaining the m/z ratio of the intact analyte ions, (2) subjecting these ions to collision-induced dissociation and (3) determining relationships between masses and/or mass-to-charge ratios of the intact analyte ions and the fragments produced by such collision-induced dissociation. The methods and apparatus selectively subject analyte ions to ozone-induced dissociation based on those relationships and determine location(s) of carbon-carbon double bonds, if any, from reaction products of ozone-induced dissociation.

Abstract: A method is provided in which radiussed components are scanned by moving the focal point of a curved array into the component, while keeping the geometric focal point of the array coincident with that of the radiussed component.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for rapidly extracting the analyte existing in the liquid phase in analyzing an analyte “having a large partition coefficient in gas-liquid equilibrium”, “having a high water solubility”, or “having a low olfactory threshold” by a gas-liquid contact extraction method, and further provides, a method and apparatus for unmanned continuous sample introduction of the analyte to a GC or the like for a long time. In the present invention, using a gas-liquid contact extractor to which a sample liquid is continuously introduced from above and a purge gas from beneath, the analyte in the sample liquid is extracted by gas-liquid contact between the sample liquid and the purge gas. A discharge pipe is connected to the bottom of the gas-liquid contact extractor, the pipe having a liquid sump through which the sample liquid is discharged, while blocking the outflow of the purge gas from the liquid sump.

Abstract: Person-portable mass analysis instrumentation configured to perform multidimensional mass analysis is provided. Mass analysis instrumentation can include a housing encompassing components of the instrumentation with the housing of the instrumentation defining a space having a volume of equal to or less than about 100,000 cm3. Instrument assemblies are also provided that can include a housing coupled to an instrument component isolation assembly, wherein the component isolation assembly is isolated from an environment exterior to the housing. Exemplary instrument assemblies can include at least first and second components configured to provide analysis with a housing of the instrument at least partially encompassing the first and second components and the first component being rigidly affixed to the housing. An isolation assembly can also be provided that is rigidly affixed to the second component with the isolation assembly being isolated from received inputs of the housing.

Abstract: Low-complexity, application-independent fixation of a chromatogram is achieved by a) determining a limit frequency under the assumption that the shape of the peaks in the chromatogram corresponds approximately to a Gaussian function having a standard deviation and the Fourier transform of the Gaussian function describes the frequency spectrum of a peak, at which limit frequency the Fourier transform has decreased to a predetermined limit value, b) determining the height, width, and retention time of each individual peak from the chromatogram, or a chromatogram taken previously under the same conditions, c) determining a constant factor based on a first predetermined relationship, d) determining the functional dependency of the limit frequency on the retention time as a variable quantity based on a second predetermined relationship, and e) filtering the chromatogram with the limit frequency depending on the retention time as the variable quantity using a low-pass filter.