Disclosed are isothiocyanate (ITC)-detecting biosensors that utilize recombinant host cells containing an ITC responsive genetic element such as a saxA promoter, operably linked with a reporter element, such as a luxCDABE operon or ilux operon. Such biosensors can detect the presence of diverse ITCs in samples such as plant extracts, biofumigated soils and seed meal amended soils.

Disclosed are isothiocyanate (ITC)-detecting biosensors that utilize recombinant host cells containing an ITC responsive genetic element such as a saxA promoter, operably linked with a reporter element, such as a luxCDABE operon or ilux operon. Such biosensors can detect the presence of diverse ITCs in samples such as plant extracts, biofumigated soils and seed meal amended soils.

An analysis system includes a degassing cell, at least one first valve, and at least one second valve. The at least one first valve is fluidly coupled with a top of the degassing cell, the at least one first valve configured selectably connect the degassing cell to a displacement gas flow and to a vacuum source. The at least one second valve is fluidly connected with a lateral side of the degassing cell and separately fluidly connected with a bottom of the degassing cell. The at least one second valve is selectably coupled with any of a source of a sample-carrying fluid, a transfer line configured to deliver a sample to an analysis device, or a waste output.

An analysis system includes a degassing cell, at least one first valve, and at least one second valve. The at least one first valve is fluidly coupled with a top of the degassing cell, the at least one first valve configured selectably connect the degassing cell to a displacement gas flow and to a vacuum source. The at least one second valve is fluidly connected with a lateral side of the degassing cell and separately fluidly connected with a bottom of the degassing cell. The at least one second valve is selectably coupled with any of a source of a sample-carrying fluid, a transfer line configured to deliver a sample to an analysis device, or a waste output.

A sample dispersing device contains a container inside of which a dispersal chamber where a power sample is dispersed is formed, and an introducing mechanism that introduces a gas containing the powder sample from the outside of the container into the dispersal chamber based on a pressure difference between the inside and the outside of the container. The introducing mechanism contains an introduction pipe where the gas containing the powder sample flows, and several restrictors arranged in the introduction pipe.

A sample dispersing device contains a container inside of which a dispersal chamber where a power sample is dispersed is formed, and an introducing mechanism that introduces a gas containing the powder sample from the outside of the container into the dispersal chamber based on a pressure difference between the inside and the outside of the container. The introducing mechanism contains an introduction pipe where the gas containing the powder sample flows, and several restrictors arranged in the introduction pipe.

The invention proposes preparing biological samples for spectrometry which contain cell structures and/or whole cells of human or animal origin (e.g. thin human and animal tissue sections) or prokaryotes (e.g. microorganisms), and which require constant relative humidity, in a temperature-controlled gas volume whose humidity is determined by a saturated substance solution, for example a suitable salt solution. The invention exploits a physico-chemical phenomenon called “deliquescence”, which manifests itself by keeping the relative humidity above the saturated substance solution constant with a high degree of precision when a specified temperature is maintained. Pure succinic acid exhibits deliquescence at approx. 99% relative humidity, for example. Since an enormous variety of deliquescent salts and other suitable substances are available, it is possible to find the suitable substance for almost any desired relative humidity, with adjustment of the temperature, where necessary.

The invention proposes preparing biological samples for spectrometry which contain cell structures and/or whole cells of human or animal origin (e.g. thin human and animal tissue sections) or prokaryotes (e.g. microorganisms), and which require constant relative humidity, in a temperature-controlled gas volume whose humidity is determined by a saturated substance solution, for example a suitable salt solution. The invention exploits a physico-chemical phenomenon called “deliquescence”, which manifests itself by keeping the relative humidity above the saturated substance solution constant with a high degree of precision when a specified temperature is maintained. Pure succinic acid exhibits deliquescence at approx. 99% relative humidity, for example. Since an enormous variety of deliquescent salts and other suitable substances are available, it is possible to find the suitable substance for almost any desired relative humidity, with adjustment of the temperature, where necessary.

An imaging system includes a sample mount for holding a sample to be imaged, a light source configured to emit a light beam to be incident on the sample, a translation mechanism coupled to the sample mount and configured to scan the sample to a plurality of sample positions in a plane substantially perpendicular to an optical axis of the imaging system, a mask positioned downstream from the sample along the optical axis, and an image sensor positioned downstream from the mask along the optical axis. The image sensor is configured to acquire a plurality of images as the sample is translated to the plurality of sample positions. Each respective image corresponds to a respective sample position. The imaging system further includes a processor configured to process the plurality of images to recover a complex profile of the sample based on positional shifts extracted from the plurality of images.

A whole-process automatic soil tabletting machine is provided, which relates to the technical field of soil tabletting. The machine includes a device body. A tabletting platform is arranged at a bottom of the device body, a first station on which a heating device is arranged, second and third stations are arranged on the tabletting platform. A top plate is arranged at a top of the device body. A soil crushing cutter and a punch head are installed on the top plate. The soil crushing cutter and the punch head are arranged above the first and second stations respectively. The tabletting platform is installed with a groove disc where sample preparation grooves and a cleaning groove are formed. The sample preparation grooves and the cleaning groove correspond to the first station, the second station or the third station. The cleaning groove and each sample preparation groove are for placing a cleaning container and a soil sample container, respectively. According to the whole-process automatic soil tabletting machine, the problem that the preparation process of the soil sample is complex and tedious is solved, structures required by all processes are integrated together, and the automatic completion of thermal drying, powdering and compacting is realized.