Abstract: Disclosed is a device for preparing a layer of biological cells on a deposition surface of a slide, the device including a body provided with a channel, the body including a first end forming an inlet tip intended to enter inside a container containing a biological liquid, closed by a cap and a second end forming a depositing tip intended to deposit a drop of the liquid on the deposition surface, the second end including a spreader with a blade arranged in a plane forming an angle of inclination ? with the plane of the deposition surface and elastic return interposed between the blade and the second end.

Abstract: The present invention relates to sample preparation container for purification and/or enrichment of bio-organic compounds from cellular material, viruses and/or sub-components of said cellular material and/or viruses, the container comprising a reaction chamber and a chromatography medium; wherein said reaction chamber is for holding said cellular material, viruses and/or sub-components of said cellular material and/or viruses and is configured such that at least one of the following reactions can be performed therein: lysis, e.g.

Abstract: The present invention is in the field of in vitro diagnostics and relates to a method for preparing lipemic plasma or serum samples and the use thereof for establishing a lipid interference in the quantitative determination of the amount or the activity of an analyte in a plasma or serum sample.

Abstract: Proposed is a reliable and cost-effective universal material tester with reduced cross-talk between the sensors. The sensor unit consists of a pressure-sensor unit that measures a vertical force applied to the test probe during movement of the test probe relative to the test specimen and a horizontal force sensor unit for measuring the horizontally directed friction force. The horizontal force sensor unit is made in the form of a flexible parallelogram consisting of two sensor-holding plates interconnected through flexible beams, wherein one end of the first beam is attached to the upper sensor-holding plate and the opposite end to the lower sensor-holding plate, while one end of the second beam is attached to the lower sensor-holding plate and the other to the upper one. The beams are installed with gaps relative to both plates. The tester has a quick-release test probe that incorporates a soft-touch feature.

Abstract: Provided is a residual stress estimation method and a residual stress estimation device which are capable of setting an appropriate analysis range without depending on a user's experience. The residual stress estimation device displays analysis results in which strain generated in a structure is analyzed. A user determines a position and a size of an analysis range based on the analysis results, and inputs the determined position and size of the analysis range and a measured value of residual stress of a cut piece of the structure at a measurement point to the residual stress estimation device. The residual stress estimation device estimates distribution of inherent strain in the analysis range to approximate the inherent strain distribution obtained from the input measured value of the residual stress of the cut piece, thereby estimating the residual stress of the structure based on the inherent strain.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus (1) for tensile testing of an optical fiber (11). In order to efficiently and simply test the optical fiber, the the apparatus comprises a dual pulley (6) with a first circumferential surface (7) having a first diameter (D1) and with a second circumferential surface (8) having a second diameter (D2) which is larger than the first diameter (D1). A fiber inlet (10) which is delimited by the first circumferential surface (7) and the first drive belt section (2) contacts the first circumferential surface (7). A fiber outlet (13) which is delimited by the second circumferential surface (8) and the second drive belt section (3) contacts the second circumferential surface (8), and a guide (12) passes the optical fiber (11) from the fiber inlet (10) to the fiber outlet (13).

Abstract: A test piece includes a tensile testing part and load applying pieces that are respectively connected to sides of the tensile testing part. Grooves are formed on bottom surfaces of the load applying pieces. Grooves are formed on upper surfaces of the load applying pieces. These grooves respectively partition the upper and lower surfaces of the tensile testing part and the load applying pieces.

Abstract: The present invention includes a load frame test device using a plurality of levers about a common pivot point for applying combinations of tensile loading and bending on test articles at magnitudes seen in offshore applications.

Abstract: A system for universal testing of metal sheet formability is described. The system discloses a cylinder barrel including two pistons for testing formability of the metal sheets. The driving force is provided by the hydraulic pressure of an incompressible fluid. The present application also describes an apparatus to perform various formability tests on metal sheets such as the bulge test, Nakazima test, Marciniak test, cupping test, and the blanking test. The system can also be used in hydroforming metal sheets.

Abstract: A rotary shock testing machine including: a base; a shaft rotatable relative to the base; a test disc for holding one or more specimens to be tested, the test disc being rotatable with the shaft; an actuator for applying a rotation to the shaft and test disc; and a brake for applying a braking force to the test disc to subject the one or more specimens to a rotary shock.

Abstract: A rotary shock-testing machine including: a base; a first shaft rotatable relative to the base, the first shaft being driven to rotate; a first wheel rotatable with the first shaft; a second shaft rotatable relative to the base; a second wheel rotatable with a first portion of the second shaft; and a test disc for holding one or more specimens to be tested, the test disc being rotatable with a second portion of the second shaft; wherein the first and second wheels are aligned with each other such that the second wheel is driven by the first wheel when a material is introduced into a gap between a surface of the first wheel and a corresponding surface of the second wheel.

Abstract: Proposed is a reliable and cost-effective universal material tester with reduced cross-talk between the sensors. The sensor unit consists of a pressure-sensor unit that measures a vertical force applied to the test probe during movement of the test probe relative to the test specimen and a horizontal force sensor unit for measuring the horizontally directed friction force. The horizontal force sensor unit is made in the form of a flexible parallelogram consisting of two sensor-holding plates interconnected through flexible beams, wherein one end of the first beam is attached to the upper sensor-holding plate and the opposite end to the lower sensor-holding plate, while one end of the second beam is attached to the lower sensor-holding plate and the other to the upper one. The beams are installed with gaps relative to both plates. The tester has a quick-release test probe that incorporates a soft-touch feature.

Abstract: A pipeline contaminant monitoring apparatus that includes a filter housing and probe configured to isokinetically sample a portion of a pipeline gas stream. The filter housing has a filter configured to trap solid contaminants within the gas stream. A first pressure sensor is located upstream of the filter and a second pressure sensor is located downstream of the filter. A processor is coupled to the first and second pressure sensors. The processor is configured to determine a solid contaminant concentration level in the gas stream based on a rate of change of the pressure drop sensed across the filter.

Abstract: Shear thinning fluids may be useful as calibration fluids for calibrating rheometers with bob/rotor eccentricity and at lower shear rates, which may be particularly useful for calibrating rheometers at well sites that are used for measuring the rheological properties of complex fluids (e.g., wellbore fluids like drilling fluids, cementing fluids, fracturing fluids, completion fluids, and workover fluids). Additionally, high shear rate calibrations may also be performed with shear thinning calibration fluids. Newtonian fluids may be used for high shear rate calibrations in alternate of or in addition to the shear thinning calibration fluid.

Abstract: Provided are an apparatus and a system for classifying particles. The apparatus for classifying particles includes: an internal electrode which has a column shape; an external electrode which is spaced apart from the internal electrode and disposed to surround the internal electrode, and generates an electric field through an interaction with the internal electrode; and an aerosol supply unit which supplies aerosol particles to a separation space between the internal electrode and the external electrode, in which the separation space, through which the aerosol particles are introduced into the particle classifying apparatus and flow, is formed to be narrowed toward a lower aerosol flow side from an upper aerosol flow side into which the aerosol particles are introduced.

Abstract: Provided are a fine particle analyzing apparatus, a fine particle analyzing method, a program, and a fine particle analyzing system, which are capable of easily separating a plurality of types of spectral data on fluorescence emitted from a fine particle. A data extracting unit included in the fine particle analyzing apparatus selectively extracts spectral data, which contain predetermined information, from spectral data on fluorescence emitted from a fine particle. The data extracting unit selectively extracts spectral data indicating the maximum intensity in a wavelength area set beforehand from one or a plurality of types of spectral data indicating intensity of fluorescence emitted from the fine particle for each of a plurality of wavelengths.

Abstract: An optical vortex coronagraph scatterometer including a light source of wavelength ?, a scattering cell in optical communication with the light source, a circular aperture having a radius R at a distance d from the scattering cell in optical communication with the light source, a pivot point between the circular aperture and the scattering cell allowing relative movement of the light source and the scattering cell with respect to the circular aperture, a first lens at a focal length f1 between the circular aperture and an optical vortex element, and a second lens at a focal length f2 between the optical vortex element and a detector; and method for determining a scattering spectra at low and zero angles is disclosed.

Abstract: The present set of embodiments relate to a system, method, and apparatus for an optical configuration in a flow cytometer that allows for independent adjustment of focusing for each light source. Such systems, methods, and apparatuses require a final focusing element to be moved near the beginning of the optical train and for each optical element coming after the final focusing element to be configured to accommodate converging light beams while minimizing the introduction of aberrations into those beams.

Abstract: Described here is a device comprising a microfluidic chip and an acoustic transducer external to the microfluidic chip, wherein the microfluidic chip comprises a channel in communication with a microwell having a volume less than one microliter, and wherein the acoustic transducer is coupled to the microfluidic chip via a coupling medium.

Abstract: An environmental test chamber, and method of providing an environmental test chamber, includes combining an equipment module made up of an equipment housing and air treatment equipment in the equipment housing with a selected one or more of a plurality of chamber modules connected with the equipment module to provide the environmental test chamber. The equipment housing includes an opening defining an airflow passage and an airflow path extending to the airflow passage. The air treatment equipment includes air moving equipment flowing air along the airflow path through the airflow passage and air-conditioning equipment in the flow path. The air treatment equipment includes one or more of (i) heating equipment for selectively heating the flowing air, (ii) cooling equipment for selectively cooling the flowing air, (iii) humidification equipment for selectively humidifying the flowing air, and/or (iv) dehumidification equipment for selectively dehumidifying the flowing air.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical flow cell (1) for a measuring device, having an input light guide with a light exit surface, an output light guide with a light entrance surface, said input light guide and output light guide being integrated with a holder (30) to form optical flow cell (1), and wherein the holder (30) extends along a first axis (A) and has a through hole (31) for receiving a flow of a sample fluid, said through hole (31) being transversal to said first axis (A), and the input light guide and output light guide further are arranged in said holder (30) so that the light exit surface and the light entrance surface extend into said through hole (31) and are arranged to be in optical alignment with each other and at a first distance from each other. The invention also relates to a measuring device having at least one optical flow cell (1).

Abstract: An electromagnetic wave detector that selectively detects electromagnetic waves of wavelength ?A includes a temperature detection unit that includes: a substrate including a cavity portion; a wavelength selection structure that generates a surface plasmon resonance with an electromagnetic wave of a predetermined wavelength ?A for converting to heat and absorbing, and a detection film that detects the absorbed heat; and a support structure that retains the temperature detection unit above the cavity portion; wherein the support structure further includes a reflection structure that reflects the electromagnetic waves of the absorption wavelength of the support structure.

Abstract: A method of inspecting a silicon article includes irradiating a silicon article with infrared radiation, transmitting a portion of the infrared radiation through the silicon article, and filtering the infrared radiation transmitted through the silicon article. Image data is acquired from the filtered infrared radiation and an image of the silicon article reconstructed from the image data. Based on the reconstructed image of the silicon article, one or more anomalies defined within the silicon article are identified.

Abstract: A body scanner system for scanning a person to be scanned is described. Said body scanner system comprises a scan unit which has at least one antenna for emitting electromagnetic waves and a separately formed platform for said person. Said body scanner system comprises a scanning state in which said person stands on said platform during scanning whilst said scan unit is emitting electromagnetic waves used for scanning said person. Said body scanner system is transportable wherein said scan unit is formed such that said platform is held by said scan unit in a transportation state of said body scanner system. Further, a method for scanning a person is described.

Abstract: A flow cytometer includes a capillary having a sample channel; at least one vibration producing transducer coupled to the capillary, the at least one vibration producing transducer being configured to produce an acoustic signal inducing acoustic radiation pressure within the sample channel to acoustically concentrate particles flowing within a fluid sample stream in the sample channel; and an interrogation source having a violet laser and a blue laser, the violet and blue lasers being configured to interact with at least some of the acoustically concentrated particles to produce an output signal.

Abstract: An apparatus that detects a material within a sample includes signal generation circuitry that generates a first light beam having at least one fractional orbital angular momentum applied thereto and applies the first light beam to the sample. The at least one fractional orbital angular momentum imparts a phase factor to the first light beam. The orbital angular momentum generation circuitry includes a spiral phase plate having fraction step height to impart the at least one angular momentum to the first light beam. A detector receives the first light beam after the first light beam passes through the sample and detects the material responsive to a detection of a predetermined phase factor within the first light beam received from the sample.

Abstract: A lighting unit illuminates an object with at least one type of excitation light and illumination light. An imaging unit captures images with at least one type of fluorescent light generated by the object illuminated with the excitation light, and with reflected light caused when the object reflects the illumination light. A fluorescent light detector generates a delay time distribution image of fluorescent light from a fluorescent light image captured by the imaging unit. A distance measuring unit generates a range image from a reflected light image captured by the imaging unit.

Abstract: A radiation detector includes: a phosphor panel including a phosphor excited by entered radiation to emit fluorescence; a light receiving element that photoelectrically converts the fluorescence emitted by the phosphor; and a wiring board provided with the light receiving element, wherein the light receiving element includes a light receiving surface provided with a light receiving portion and an electrode, the phosphor panel and the light receiving element are arranged to face each other, and a surface of the phosphor panel facing the light receiving element and the light receiving surface of the light receiving element are inclined with respect to each other such that a distance between the light receiving portion and the phosphor panel is smaller than a distance between the electrode and the phosphor panel.

Abstract: In a standard process for determining an unknown sample, fluorescent substances are determined from respective fluorescence characteristics and model coefficients are calculated from spectrum ranges of the fluorescence characteristics of the determined fluorescent substances. An unknown sample is measured after reading of the model coefficients, whereby a target value of the unknown sample is obtained.

Abstract: A method for detecting a target cell surface molecule and classifying cell types in a fluid sample. The method involves the addition of a reagent to the fluid sample. The reagent includes nanoparticles with optical plasmonic resonances, and at least one fluorescent probe. The nanoparticles are a bio-optical probe for the target cell surface molecule. Each fluorescent probe targets a cell classification marker. The method further involves the acquisition of an image using dark field microscopy and fluorescence microscopy to detect and quantify the presence or absence of any cells in the fluid sample having the target cell surface molecule or having the cell classification marker.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting an object capable of emitting light. The apparatus comprises a light detector comprising at least two optical sensors capable of determining the intensity of the light; and a computer processing output signal generated by the optical sensors and comparing a result of the processing with a known result corresponding to a known type to determine whether the object belongs to the known type.

Abstract: A method for optical detection of residual soil in lumens of lumened or cannulated devices such as surgical endoscopes, after undergoing a decontamination process (e.g., a washing or rinsing operation). A soil detection system provides an indication of the presence of residual soil within a lumen by detecting luminescent radiation emanating from the soil on the interior of the lumen in response to excitation light.

Abstract: The present invention relates to DNA sequencing with reagent cycling on the wiregrid. The sequencing approach suggested with which allows to use a single fluid with no washing steps. Based on strong optical confinement and of excitation light and of cleavage light, the sequencing reaction can be read-out without washing the surface. Stepwise sequencing is achieved by using nucleotides with optically cleavable blocking moieties. After read-out the built in nucleotide is deblocked by cleavage light through the same substrate. This ensures that only bound nucleotides will be unblocked.

Abstract: To provide a microspectroscope that can perform a wide range mapping measurement with high sensitivity, at high speed, and with high wavelength resolution. The Raman spectroscope comprises: a unit for linearly irradiating excitation light; a movable stage for a sample; an objective lens for focusing Raman light from the linear irradiation region; an incident slit provided at the imaging position of Raman light; a spectrometer for diffusing the passing light; a CCD detector for detecting Raman spectral image; and a control device for controlling the mapping measurement by synchronizing the movable stage and the CCD detector. The control device controls the movable stage to move in the direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the linear irradiation light and obtain one average spectrum.

Abstract: A method of analyzing a selected refinery chemical at a low concentration comprises contacting a sample with functionalized metallic nanoparticles that contain metallic nanoparticles functionalized with a functional group comprising a cyano group, a thiol group, a carboxyl group, an amino group, a boronic acid group, an aza group, an ether group, a hydroxyl group, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing; radiating the sample contacted with the functionalized metallic nanoparticles with electromagnetic radiation at a selected energy level; measuring a Raman spectrum emitted from the sample; and determining the presence or a concentration of a selected refinery chemical in the sample from the Raman spectrum.

Abstract: The oxygen detecting agent composition according to the present invention includes a redox dye, a reducing agent and a basic substance, wherein the redox dye is an iron blue pigment and the reducing agent is lactose.

Abstract: A synthetic diamond labelling and identification method comprising the steps of selecting a synthetic diamond with between 200 and 600 parts per billion of an isolated substitution Nitrogen atoms within its lattice structure, irradiating the selected synthetic diamond with a beam energy that is equal to at least one-half the height of the selected diamond, maintaining the temperature of the selected diamond below 500 degrees Celsius while it is being irradiated, annealing the irradiated selected diamond as to create a plurality of nitrogen-vacancy centers without changing the original color of the selected diamond, and generating a bulk luminesces visible to the naked eye by exciting the plurality of created nitrogen-vacancies with an ultraviolet lamp.

Abstract: An inspection apparatus includes an inspection optical system configured to a direct an inspection beam onto a surface of a substrate, the inspection optical system having an objective, a focus measurement optical system configured to receive a focus measurement beam, redirected by the substrate, from the objective, the focus measurement optical system having a movable reflective element configured to receive the focus measurement beam, and a control system configured to cause movement of the reflective element with a direction component along a beam path of the focus measurement beam and configured to determine whether the substrate surface is in the focus of the objective based on the focus measurement beam.

Abstract: Systems and methods for height measurements, such as those for bumps, pillars, or film thickness, can use chromatic confocal techniques. The system can include a white light source that emits white light and lenses that vary a focal distance of each wavelength of the white light from the white light source. Each of the wavelengths of the white light focuses at a different distance from the lenses. A sensor body has multiple sensors that are disposed in the sensor body in multiple rows and columns. Each of the rows and the columns has at least two of the sensors.

Abstract: A substrate surface information detection device and a substrate surface information detection method are disclosed. The device includes a spray source and an image sensor, wherein the spray source is configured to uniformly spray droplets onto a surface of a substrate-under-test or form a liquid flow on the surface of the substrate-under-test, and the image sensor is configured to record image information of the droplets or the liquid flow. According to the substrate surface information detection device and substrate surface information detection method, defects on the surface of the substrate before the PI coating can be prevented and avoided, the production time can be shortened, and the production efficiency can be promoted and the product yield can be improved.

Abstract: A defect inspecting method and apparatus for inspecting a surface state including a defect on a wafer surface, in which a polarization state of a laser beam irradiated onto the wafer surface is connected into a specified polarization state, the converted laser beam having the specified polarization state is inserted onto the wafer surface, and a scattering light occurring from an irradiated region where the laser beam having the specified polarization state is irradiated, is separated into a first scattering light occurring due to a defect on the wafer and a second scattering light occurring due to a surface roughness on the wafer. An optical element for optical path division separates the first and second scattering lights approximately at the same time.

Abstract: The aspects of the present disclosure are directed to a method and system for producing tomosynthesis images of a breast specimen with the capability of attaining images with geometric magnification. In one embodiment, an x-ray source delivers x-rays through a specimen of excised tissue and forms an image at a digital x-ray detector with the resultant image enlarging as the specimen is moved closer to the x-ray source. Multiple x-ray images are taken as the x-ray source moves relative to the stationary breast specimen. In the preferred embodiment, the x-ray source moves in a range from about 350° to and including about 10°. The source may travel substantially along a path that generally defines an arc, or linearly, while the detector remains stationary throughout and the source remains substantially equidistant from the specimen platform.

Abstract: In a secondary ion mass spectroscopic (SIMS) method, and a mass spectrometer for implementing the method, for depth-profiling analysis of alkali metals in a sample which comprises an insulating material or is an insulator. The sample is irradiated by an ion beam as an analysis beam for desorption of secondary ions from the uppermost layers, such that the surface of the sample is removed with the same or a further ion beam. The ion beam used for removal of the sample surface comprises essentially gas clusters or consists of gas clusters.

Abstract: Embodiments of synchronous detection circuits and methods are provided for extracting magnitude and phase information from a waveform. One embodiment of a synchronous detection circuit includes a driver circuit, an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) and a controller. The driver circuit is configured to supply an input waveform at an input frequency to a load. The ADC is coupled to receive an output waveform from the load, and configured for generating four digital samples, each spaced 90° apart, for every period of the output waveform. The controller is configured for setting an oversampling rate (OSR) of the ADC, so that the ADC generates an integer number, M, of sub-samples for each digital sample generated by the ADC, where the integer number, M, of sub-samples is inversely proportional to the input frequency of the input waveform. The controller is further configured to use the digital samples generated by the ADC to extract magnitude and phase information from the output waveform.

Abstract: A material removal process referred to as spalling is used to provide flexible and stretchable sensors that can be used for healthcare monitoring, bio-medical devices, wearable electronic devices, artificial skin, large area sensing, etc. The flexible and stretchable sensors of the present application have high sensitivity that is comparable to that of a bulk silicon sensor. The flexible and stretchable sensors comprise single crystalline spring-like structures that couple various resistor structures together.

Abstract: A sensor device can include a transition metal complex capable of interacting with a carbon-carbon multiple bond moiety. The sensor can detect the fruit-ripening hormone ethylene with high sensitivity.

Abstract: A process and electronic hardware and software system for rapidly heating and cooling an active sensing layer of a gas sensor is provided. A series of high-energy pulses is run through a CNT electrically-active layer, heating the layer to varying temperatures. The influence by various gases on the electrical conductivity of the layer can be used to identify gases (e.g., water vapor, alcohol, methane, O2, CO2, and CO). Advantageously, the same structure can also be used as a nanoheater, either within or outside the context of the gas sensor. The device can acquire a unique gas spectra in seconds, and thus accurately determine gas type and mixtures of gases based on a library of known spectra.

Abstract: An explosive detection system for detecting explosive trace in a sample includes a detection unit, and a processing unit. The detection unit that receives a desorbed sample includes a first heater, a second heater, a first resistance temperature detector (RTD), a second RTD, and an amplifier. The first heater is exposed to the desorbed sample. The first heater and the second heater are supplied with specific voltage for three or more experiments. The first RTD and the second RTD measure changes in resistance due to heating of the first heater and the second heater to calculate voltages across the first RTD and the second RTD. The amplifier amplifies the voltages to calculate a differential voltage for each of the three or more experiments, and converts the differential voltage into a digital signal. The processing unit is configured to process the digital signal to detect explosive trace in the desorbed sample.

Abstract: Detection sensitivity of a single-filament thermal conductivity detector is to be increased. A thermal conductivity detector is a single-filament thermal conductivity detector, and includes a measurement cell, a phase switching mechanism, and a measurement section. The measurement section starts measurement of thermal conductivity of a sample gas after a lapse of a sample gas measurement start time that is set in advance, after a reference phase is switched to a sample phase by the phase switching mechanism, and starts measurement of thermal conductivity of a reference gas after a lapse of a reference gas measurement start time that is set in advance as a length of time different from the sample gas measurement start time, after the sample phase is switched to the reference phase by the phase switching mechanism.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to manufactured electrochemical sensing electrodes in which the sensing element is a composite of sensing powder and a bonding medium, such as powder graphite and epoxy, in which desired physical properties and electrical properties are all obtained essentially simultaneously. After initially and partially compacting the sensing powder to obtain interfacial contact between particles, it is infused with a bonding medium. The bonding medium fills interstitial spaces remaining between powder particles by capillary action. A contact screw then serves to complete compaction of this sensing powder composite, during which the previously established interfacial contact prevents electrical interference between particles by the insular bonding medium. Simultaneously electrical contact by the contact screw is established by penetration of and displacement of some sensing composite material along the threaded surface of the penetrating screw tip, maximizing contact area.