A method of operating the automated sample workcell for processing one or more biological samples is presented. The method comprises receiving one or more biological samples. Each biological sample is contained in a sample tube. Each sample tube is a tube type. If a test order was received for at least one of the biological samples, the test order being indicative of one or more first processing steps, the workcell can automatically execute the one or more first processing steps. If the test order was not received, one or more second processing steps can be determined based on the tube type of the sample tube that contains the at least one biological sample and the one or more second processing steps can then be executed.

A method and apparatus for dating a body sample, such as blood, includes taking at least one spectroscopic measurement of the sample at at least two predetermined positions in the spectrum having spectral characteristics corresponding to at least two predetermined substances present in the sample that have a time varying relationship with each other. A measured relative concentration of each of the predetermined substances is then determined from the measurement, and the measured relative concentrations of the two predetermined substances is compared with a known variation of the relative concentrations of the two predetermined substances over time. A good fit of the measured relative concentrations to the known variation of the relative concentrations is then determined, so as to provide an indication of the age of the sample. Alternatively, instead of measuring the relative concentrations of each of the predetermined substances, the rate of change of the relative concentrations is determined.

Disclosed are methods and systems for the analysis of testosterone in a sample using supported liquid extraction and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry.

A sample is cleaned up for spectroscopic analysis by receiving a slide substrate having the sample thereon, fixing the sample to a substrate surface of the slide substrate by applying heat to the slide substrate for a predetermined heating time and incubating the sample on the slide substrate for a predetermined incubation time after fixing the sample to the slide substrate. The sample is further cleaned by washing the sample on the slide substrate after the sample has been incubated and drying the sample by applying heat to the slide substrate for a predetermined drying time, wherein the sample on the slide substrate after drying has retained particles of interest and interferant particles are removed from the substrate. A substrate is also provided for sample collection, which is culturable and Raman silent.

The invention relates to the quantitative measurement of steroidal compounds by mass spectrometry. In a particular aspect, the invention relates to methods for quantitative measurement of steroidal compounds from multiple samples by mass spectrometry.

The present invention provides methods, devices, compositions (e.g., capture complexes), and kits useful for enhancing the detection of antibodies in a test sample. The methods, devices, and compositions utilize detectable Fc-binding molecules such as Protein A, Protein G, and/or an Fc-specific antibody to amplify the signal of a detected antibody in immunoassays, such as lateral flow assays.

Methods and systems for selectively capturing analytes, such as cells, e.g., circulating tumor cells (CTCs), from fluid samples are disclosed. The methods include contacting the sample with an analyte binding moiety that selectively binds to the analytes; optionally separating first components of the sample including a majority of the analytes bound to the binding moieties from second components of the sample using size-based separation, e.g., in a microfluidic channel; adding to the first components of the sample a plurality of binding agents under conditions that enable a plurality of the binding agents to be linked to the analyte binding moieties to form multivalent tagging agents bound to the analyte; passing the first components of the sample past a surface to which is attached a plurality of capture agents that selectively bind to the binding agents; and capturing the analytes by providing conditions that enable the multivalent tagging agents bound to the analytes to bind to one or more of the capture agents.

A testing cartridge for metering of a sample to be tested. The testing cartridge includes a casing defining a casing opening and a sliding member defining a sliding member opening. The casing opening or the sliding member opening can define a specified volume, wherein the casing opening and the sliding member opening collectively define a sample application region dimensioned to accommodate receiving an amount of sample exceeding the specified volume. The sliding member is movable transversely to the casing opening by having the sliding member and the casing traverse across each other's respective openings to remove excess sample from the received amount of sample and retain the specified volume from the received amount of sample.

The present invention provides methods for preventing clumping of cells in microfluidic devices by addition of diazolidinyl urea (DU). DU can be added to samples at the time of collection or can be added to samples post-collection. DU can also be pre-added to sample collection devices.

The invention encompasses analyzers and analyzer systems that include a single particle analyzer, methods of using the analyzers and analyzers systems to analyze samples, either for single particles, e.g., protein molecules, or for multiple particles (multiplexing), methods of doing business based on the use of the analyzers or analyzer systems of the system, and electronic media for storing parameters useful in the analyzers and analyzer systems of the invention.

The present invention relates to a high-temperature furnace for T(O)C measurement of a sample, which has a furnace housing which bounds a vaporization space and has a sample opening for the dropwise introduction of the sample and at least one flushing opening for introduction of a flushing liquid. According to the invention, the furnace housing is lined with a spinel ceramic on an inner side facing the vaporization space. By means of the spinel ceramic, the vaporization space is lined with a material which allows particularly high temperatures within the vaporization space and thus very complete combustion and is at the same time very resistant to temperature changes. This allows cleaning with a flushing liquid at essentially the operating temperature of the vaporization space and removal of deposited salts, in particular recrystallized organic salts, from the vaporization space in the flushing liquid in dissolved or undissolved form. Aging of the high-temperature furnace by deposited salts can thereby be avoided or at least significantly retarded.

A stamping device, which in particular is arranged for stamping unfired ceramic substrates, has a die holder device with a plurality of dies, which for activation can be locked to the die holder device and then jointly with it execute an axial stamping motion. A coupling device which is remote-actuated is used for the locking. For the remote transmission of the actuation motion, a flexible mechanical connecting arrangement is used, such as preferably a cable.

An apparatus for penetrating a cover over a multi-well sample plate containing at least one individual sample well includes a cutting head, a cutter extending from the cutting head, and a robot. The cutting head is connected to the robot wherein the robot moves the cutting head and cutter so that the cutter penetrates the cover over the multi-well sample plate providing access to the individual sample well. When the cutting head is moved downward the foil is pierced by the cutter that splits, opens, and folds the foil inward toward the well. The well is then open for sample aspiration but has been protected from cross contamination.

A vibration dampener for a camera mount is structured to reduce the movement of a first mount component relative to a second mount component. An upper camera mount component securing a camera couples to a lower camera mount component, which in turn couples to a base mount component configured to couple to a user, a sports board, a helmet, a vehicle, and the like. The vibration dampener is compressibly inserted between the lower mount component and the base mount component, causing the vibration dampener to exert an outward force on the lower mount component, and securing the lower mount component against a portion of the base mount component. The movement of the lower mount component relative to the base mount component is accordingly reduced by the vibration dampener.

The present invention discloses an inflatable lamp assembly a bladder and a light emitting apparatus that assembled together. The bladder includes a first bag portion, a second bag portion connected with an opening of the first bag portion, an air nozzle disposed on the firs bag portion, and a flange disposed at the opening of the second bag portion. The first bag portion and the second bag portion are co-formed an inflatable cell which is capable of being inflated and deflated by the air nozzle. The light emitting apparatus is received in a recess defined between the second bag portion and flange. As such, the light emitting apparatus can be firmly clamped in the recess when the inflatable cell is filled with air.

A hanging lamp assembly provides visual stimulation and relaxation. The assembly includes a container having a transparent perimeter wall defining an interior space. A first fluid and a second fluid are positioned in the interior space defining a liquid mass. The second fluid has a density different than a density of the first fluid wherein the first fluid and the second fluid are layered within the interior space defining a fluid interface between the first liquid and the second liquid. The first fluid is a non-clear color and the second fluid is a different color than the first fluid. A plurality of items is positioned in the interior space such that the items are suspended in the liquid mass. A light source is coupled to the container directing light towards the liquid mass. A hanger is coupled to the container such that the container swings freely from a supporting structure.

An EUV light generation system includes a driver laser comprising a master oscillator such as a semiconductor laser, a spatial filter, gas slab amplification devices, relay optical systems, and high-speed axial-flow amplifiers. The slab amplification devices include beam adjusting optical units disposed, respectively, at input and output sides of the slab amplifiers SA to convert the beam profile and/or polarization direction and/or an elongated direction of the beam profile with the slab amplifiers is parallel to a free space axis AF of the slab waveguides, i.e. parallel to the discharge electrodes.

An optical gain architecture includes a pump source and a pump aperture. The architecture also includes a gain region including a gain element operable to amplify light at a laser wavelength. The gain region is characterized by a first side intersecting an optical path, a second side opposing the first side, a third side adjacent the first and second sides, and a fourth side opposing the third side. The architecture further includes a dichroic section disposed between the pump aperture and the first side of the gain region. The dichroic section is characterized by low reflectance at a pump wavelength and high reflectance at the laser wavelength. The architecture additionally includes a first cladding section proximate to the third side of the gain region and a second cladding section proximate to the fourth side of the gain region.

A circuit includes first and second transconductance stages that generate first and second currents, respectively, in response to an input signal. A current combiner circuit selectively couples the first current to a first output, selectively couples the second current to the first output, selectively couples the first current to a second output, and selectively couples the second current to the second output. In response to the first current being coupled to both the first and second outputs, the current combiner circuit couples the second current to both the first and second outputs. In response to the first current being decoupled from the second output, the current combiner circuit decouples the second current from both the first and second outputs. In response to the first current being decoupled from the first output, the current combiner circuit decouples the second current from both the first and second outputs.

Management of the health status of an animal colony using a plurality of blood collection cards and the analysis of dried blood from members of the colony that has been collected on the cards. Members of the colony may be removed from the colony as a result of the analysis.

An automated method for detecting the presence of a nucleic acid in a sample, where the method is performed within a housing of a self-contained, stand-alone analyzer. The method includes purifying the nucleic acid after it has been immobilized on a magnetically-responsive solid support. A pipette of the analyzer is used to form a reaction mixture comprising the purified nucleic acid and all reagents required to perform a nucleic acid amplification. Amplification products are synthesized that include a nucleotide sequence contained in the nucleic acid or the complement of the nucleic acid. The amplification products are exposed to a probe in a mixture, where the probe forms a hybrid with one of the amplification products. The formation of the hybrid in the mixture provides an indication of the presence of the nucleic acid in the sample.

A time stamp is a device that prints time information on a time card inserted into a time card slot. The time card slot is formed to be inclined downwardly in the depthwise direction of the time stamp at an angle of 8 to 10 degrees or so with the mount surface of the time stamp being a reference. The time stamp has a mount portion to be attached to a wall surface. The time card slot extends in a direction orthogonal to the rear surface of the time stamp.

A mechanical capstan amplifier. The mechanical capstan amplifier (60) having a first tensioner (64) with a first actuating rod (72) extending therefrom. The first tensioner (64) is configured to rotate the first actuating rod (72). The amplifier (60) also includes a drive motor (62) having a drive rod (78) extending therefrom. The drive motor (62) is configured to rotate the drive rod (78). A first cord (66), extending between the first actuating rod (72) and a first load to be moved also extends at least partially around the drive rod (78). Actuation of the first tensioner (64) causes the first cord (66) to tighten around the drive rod (78) and moves the load.

A clamping mechanism includes an adjusting assembly, a driving assembly and a plurality of clamping assemblies. Each clamping assembly includes a base body slidably sleeved on the driving assembly. The adjusting assembly includes a first adjusting member, and a second adjusting member parallel to the first adjusting member. The first adjusting member is fixed to a base body located on a first end of the plurality of clamping assemblies. Opposite ends of the second adjusting member are fixed to the driving assembly and a base body located on a second end of the plurality of clamping assemblies. Each of the first and second adjusting members respectively define a plurality of first and second steps. The first steps and the second steps slidable resist sidewalls of the base body. An upward direction of the plurality of first steps is reverse to that of the plurality of the second steps.

A clamp for a tensile implement and method of clamping a tensile implement is disclosed. The clamp is portable and adaptable to different sizes of tensile implements. The clamp includes a cavity defined by side surfaces of a pair of blocks which are attached to a top surface of a grip base. A pair of mated reciprocal wedges, selected based on size of the tensile implement from a plurality of pairs of wedges, fits and slides within the cavity in order to grip the tensile implement. Each one of the wedges has a planar surface for sliding and a semi-cylindrical void which forms a cylindrical void through which the tensile implement passes when fully clamped around the tensile implement.

The present disclosure provides methods and devices for testing a connection between speakers and a power amplifier. The disclosed methods and devices solve a problem that, upon a connection test for a power amplifier which has a booster power source, when a midpoint potential of the power amplifier and the voltage of the speaker connection terminal are compared, and it is determined that short-circuiting occurs on a ground side when the potential of the speaker connection terminal is lower than the midpoint potential, a wrong test is conducted if a midpoint potential is higher than a battery voltage.

The present invention relates to a method of and a vertical pumping device (1) for internally distributing Hg in a fluorescent tube body (3). The bottom (7) of the fluorescent tube body (3) is closed. The device (1) arranges, in a first position, a first solid body (9') comprising a predetermined first amount of bound Hg. The device (1) arranges, in a second position, a second solid body (9″) comprising a predetermined second amount of bound Hg. A first release (E1) of the first amount of Hg is achieved in the fluorescent tube body (3) by gasification with heat and under pressure for purification of contaminant particles in the fluorescent tube body. A second release (E2) of the second amount of Hg is achieved in the fluorescent tube body (3) by gasification attained for the occluded mercury vapour of the fluorescent tube body (3).

System and method for sustainable economic development which includes hydrogen extracted from substances, for example, sea water, industrial waste water, agricultural waste water, sewage, and landfill waste water. The hydrogen extraction is accomplished by thermal dissociation, electrical dissociation, optical dissociation, and magnetic dissociation. The hydrogen extraction further includes operation in conjunction with energy addition from renewable resources, for example, solar, wind, moving water, geothermal, or biomass resources.

A profiled element for damping sound vibrations on rail lines including a first main surface, which is designed and dimensioned such that it can be attached as a support surface to sections of the rail web without having to provide an adhesive layer, wherein the profiled element further has at least one recess on a front surface located opposite of the support surface, wherein the at least one recess in the front surface is designed for the positive engagement of an elastic fixing element for fixing the profiled element against the rail web, and at least one widened region of the profiled element in the region of the front surface, said widened region present in the lower region of the front surface in an installed position.

The present invention relates to a rail clamp for attaching a rail S comprising a central portion 3, at least one torsional portion 9, 10 branching off laterally from the central portion 3, at least one transitional portion 7, 8 adjoining the torsional portion 9, 10 and at least one retaining arm 13, 14 which is connected to the transitional portion 7, 8 and on the free end of which an end portion 19, 20 is configured, by which the rail clamp is supported on the foot F of the rail S to be attached in each case during use, and relates to a system provided with a rail clamp of this type. The rail clamp and the system according to the invention are able, with a high endurance strength, to apply significant hold-down forces and at the same time to ensure that even during progressive wear of the rail attachment, adequately high hold-down forces continue to act on the rail. This is achieved according to the invention in that the retaining arm 13, 14 is continuously curved at least in a curve portion which extends up to the free end of its end portion 19, 20 such that, seen in a plan view of the rail clamp 1, the end portion 19, 20 is directed towards the central portion 3 and the longitudinal axis of the torsional portion 9, 10 associated with the respective retaining arm 13, 14.

The invention relates to a rail clamp for fastening rail equipment, said rail clamp being integrally composed of a polymeric composition produced by pultrusion or molding, vacuum molding or compression molding. It has high mechanical strength. It is anticorrosive and insulating and is preferably composed of a resin and reinforcing fibers and/or a thermoplastic. It is advantageously formed as a one piece structure. The rail clamp is especially used to fasten rails to base slabs and has economic advantages compared to the rail clamps known in the art, which are made of steel coated with rubber.

A lock bearing for a points setting arrangement has a lock bearing screw penetrating a foot of a setting tongue and a spring package arranged between the foot and the screw head of the screw. Therefore the lock bearing screw can be tightened with a relatively narrowly definable torque range and still has the rotation reserve to bring the position of the head of the lock bearing screw into line with a hole in a safety plate mapping the screw head which then, upon being inserted as previously known, latches in place over the head of the lock bearing screw. An alternative embodiment has a lock bearing with a lock bearing screw penetrating a foot of a setting tongue and an anti-rotation ring enclosing the head of the lock bearing screw in an annular, force-fitted manner with an outer toothing and a safety plate matching the outer toothing.

A key duplication system comprising a key duplication housing wherein at least one key receiving aperture on a first side of the housing sized to receive a key blade and at least one key clamp adjacent to the at least one key receiving aperture, the clamp comprising a first clamp arm with a surface topography corresponding to a first key blade surface topography and a second clamp arm with a surface topography corresponding to a second key blade different from the first key blade.

A vibration damping mechanism allows increase of an absorption amount of vibration energy, with less possibilities of increase in the manufacture cost of a vibration damping weight and of reduction in the strength of a shaft section. Within a cylindrical hollow portion formed inside the shaft section, there are accommodated a plurality of weight members divided from each other along the circumferential direction about the axis of the hollow portion. An urging member is provided for urging the weight members toward the axis such that dividing faces of adjacent weight members are brought into surface contact with each other.

A tool adapter includes an adaptor body having a connection portion structured to be attached to a machine tool and a holder portion disposed opposite the connection portion and a tool receiver structured to receive and couple a portion of a rotary cutting tool therein. The tool receiver is mounted in the holder portion so as to be rotatable to a limited extent. The tool receiver is mounted in the holder so as to be elastically resilient in both the axial and circumferential directions.

A method and apparatus for inspecting an object. A radiation generation system is configured to emit radiation. A detector system is configured to detect backscatter formed in response to the radiation encountering the object. A redirection system is positioned relative to the detector system and is configured to redirect the backscatter to the detector system.

A stamping die holder comprises a tube of noncircular e.g., square cross-section, having die receiving transverse openings at one end, a clamp of correlative non-circular cross-section slidable in the tube adjacent the die openings for holding a die means in the openings, a screw engaging a thread on the clamp to move the clamp to and from die engaging position, the head of the screw being captured between two apertured plates held in the tube, the screw extending through the aperture in one plate and the aperture in the other plate providing access for a socket wrench to engage a socket in the screw head to turn the screw and move the clamp. The clamp has a hard rubber face providing enough resiliency to maintain tightness while at the same time preventing wobble of the die means. Hammer actuated stamping dies carrying letter or other metal marking indicia may be held in the holder, e.g., dies for identification of inspected welded material.

A sensor system, device, and methods for determining the concentration of an analyte in a sample is described. Input signals including multiple duty cycles of sequential excitation pulses and relaxations are input to the sample. One or more signals output from the sample within 300 ms of the input of an excitation pulse may be correlated with the analyte concentration of the sample to improve the accuracy and/or precision of the analysis. Determining the analyte concentration of the sample from these rapidly measured output values may reduce analysis errors arising from the hematocrit effect, mediator background, and other error sources.

The present liquid sample measuring device comprises a device body on which a biosensor is detachably mounted, a liquid biological sample being dispensed in drops on the biosensor; a measuring section that measures bioinformation from the liquid biological sample; a motion measuring section that measures motion information of the device body; a motion assessment section that assesses the degree of motion of the device body on the basis of the motion information of the device body measured by the motion measuring section; and a measurement controller that adjusts the measurement time for measuring the bioinformation on the basis of the assessment result of the motion assessment section.

A biological sample measuring device including a mounting portion to which a biological sample measuring sensor is mounted, a voltage application section that applies voltage to a counter electrode of the biological sample measuring sensor mounted to the mounting portion, amplifiers that are selectively connected to a working electrode of the biological sample measuring sensor, and a determination section that is connected to these amplifiers. The determination section has a threshold determination section that determines a voltage value obtained by voltage conversion of the current value of the working electrode, a same determination section that selectively connects the amplifiers to the working electrode depending on the determination of the threshold determination section, and identifies the sample deposited on the biological sample measuring sensor from the output of the selected amplifier, and an output section that outputs a measurement value corresponding to the identified sample.

An amplifier receives an amplitude signal of a polar modulated signal at a base terminal of a transistor and receives a phase modulated carrier signal of the polar modulated signal at the base terminal of the transistor. The amplifier combines the amplitude signal and the phase modulated signal to produce a full complex waveform at a collector terminal of the transistor.

A circuit includes a switched modulator stage combining an information signal with a square wave carrier to produce a first modulated signal; and a second modulation stage forming additional steps in the first modulated signal to produce a second modulated signal.

A rail-to-rail comparator including a first comparison unit connected to a first terminal and configured to compare differential input signals to differential reference voltages; a second comparison unit connected to a second terminal and configured to compare the differential input signals to the differential reference voltages; and an output unit configured to be driven in response to a clock signal and to generate a complementary output signal according to comparison results of the first and second comparison units.

Provided is a method of generating a driving signal for driving a dual mode supply modulator for a power amplifier. The method includes obtaining an envelope of a complex baseband signal to be transmitted, comparing the envelope of the complex signal with a preset threshold value, when a current envelope of the complex signal is the preset threshold value or greater or when there is a result having the preset threshold value or greater in previous N comparisons, outputting a digital board output signal configured with a first logic level through a digital-to-analog converter; and when the current envelope of the complex signal is smaller than the preset threshold value and when there is no result having the preset threshold value or greater in the previous N comparisons, outputting a digital board output signal configured with a second logic level through the digital-to-analog converter.

An apparatus for coding a signal by means of amplitude shift keying comprises a class E amplifier including a switching transistor, to whose gate is supplied a voltage having an operating frequency for operating the class E amplifier. For achieving an amplitude shift keying in the output signal of the class E amplifier, a circuit for switching the operating frequency of the voltage supplied to the gate of the switching transistor, or the resonance frequency of the class E amplifier, between a first value and a second value is provided and in order to switch a deviation degree between the operating frequency and the resonance frequency between a first value and a second value.

A modulation apparatus for a class D switching amplifier is capable of reducing power consumption of an Electro-Migration Interface (EMI) of an output end and a gate driver end in a zero input signal. The modulation apparatus for a class D switching amplifier includes a control unit for detecting and outputting a control signal which is a common signal component of a first modulation signal modulated by using a first input signal and a second modulation signal modulated by using a second input signal; and is characterized by feedback of a first output signal, a second output signal and a common output signal outputted by using the first modulation signal, the second modulation signal and the control signal through an input of the modulation apparatus.

Equipment protection systems, arc containment devices, and methods of assembling arc containment devices are disclosed. In one example, an electrical isolation structure includes a conductor base, a cover coupled to the conductor base and defining an isolation chamber, a containment shield disposed on the conductor base within the isolation chamber, and a biasing assembly positioned between the cover and the containment shield. The containment shield defines a containment chamber configured to enclose the plurality of electrode assemblies. The containment shield is configured to at least partially contain the arc products within the containment chamber. The biasing assembly is configured to permit the containment shield to move away from the conductor base to thereby define a gap between the conductor base and the containment shield to enable at least some of the arc gases to vent from the containment chamber.

Tamper-evident package comprises a container, a primary cap, and a secondary cap. The container comprises a sidewall defining a chamber and a rim defining a mouth to the chamber. The primary cap is removably-attachable to the rim of the container to selectively close the mouth of the container. The secondary cap is positioned over the primary cap to prevent removal of the primary cap when positioned thereover. The secondary cap includes a single-use lock, such as a cable tie, to secure the secondary cap in position over the primary cap. The package thus provides evidence that someone has tampered with or attempted to tamper with the container if the single-use lock is removed or damaged. Method of using the tamper-evident package is also disclosed.