An automated method for operating an automated seed sampling system having a seed loading station, a seed transport subsystem, and a seed sampling station generally includes sensing whether individual seeds are successfully isolated from a bulk of seeds at the seed loading station, and sensing whether the isolated seeds are properly positioned by the seed transport subsystem adjacent the seed sampling station in preparation for removing tissue from the isolated seeds. In some aspects, the method further includes analyzing the tissue removed from the seeds for presence or absence of at least one characteristic, and selecting seeds based on presence or absence of the at least one characteristic.

According to an aspect of the present inventive concept there is provided a light excitation and collection device for a micro-fluidic system, comprising: a light source configured to generate excitation light; a plurality of excitation waveguides, each associated with a flow channel of the micro-fluidic system; wherein each excitation waveguide is configured to receive and redirect the excitation light towards the flow channel, such that the excitation light is elastically scattered by a sample in the flow channel forming forward and side scattered light; and wherein the light excitation and collection device further comprises: at least one forward scattered light collection point; and at least one side scattered light collection point; and wherein the forward scattered light collected for all excitation waveguides is detected by a first plurality of light sensitive areas and the side scattered light collected for all excitation waveguides is detected by a second plurality of light sensitive areas, the first and the second pluralities of light sensitive areas form different groups of light sensitive areas.

Systems for detecting, capturing, and/or measuring nanoparticles. The system may include a first vacuum chamber, where nanoparticles are formed inside a first cavity of the first vacuum. The system may also include a second vacuum chamber in fluid communication with the first vacuum chamber, a particle collection component positioned within a second cavity of the second vacuum chamber, and a particle collection medium disposed over the particle collection component. Additionally, the system may include a particle counter in fluid communication with the second vacuum chamber, and a control system operably coupled to the component. The control system may be configured to aerosolize the nanoparticles by adjusting a temperature of the component to a first temperature that establishes the medium in the solid phase, and adjusting the temperature of the component to a second temperature to transition the medium from the solid phase to a gaseous phase.

A microfluidic device and a method for sensing and sorting of cells or particles in a microfluidic channel are disclosed. The microfluidic device may include a substrate with a microfluidic channel having an inlet, the microfluidic channel being coupled with two or more output channels; one or more sensors located adjacent to a first region of the microfluidic channel for sensing respective particles flown through the microfluidic channel; and a first piezoelectric actuator located adjacent to a second region of the microfluidic channel downstream from the first region for deflecting the respective particles flowing through the microfluidic channel to respective output channels of the two or more output channels based on signals from the one or more sensors.

A powder dispersing device of a powder particle size distribution measuring equipment has a base, an elastic force generating assembly and a first housing. The elastic force generating assembly includes a bumping piece, a force applying board and a power transmission assembly. Two ends of the power transmission assembly are respectively connected to the bumping piece and the force applying board. When the force applying board is applied with a first displacement, the power transmission assembly actuates the bumping piece to generate a second displacement which enables the bumping piece to have a first elastic force. The first housing is formed with a through hole on a side surface for one end of the force applying board to extend out. The first elastic force of the bumping piece triggers the bumping piece to strike on any surface facing toward the inside of the first housing and touching the other end of the bumping piece.

A condensation particle counter includes a saturation section, an aerosol inlet assigned to the saturation section, a condensation section, a measuring section for condensation particles, and an outlet section. The aerosol inlet allows a flow of an aerosol loaded with particles. Each of the condensation section, the measuring section and the outlet section are arranged downstream of the saturation section. A critical nozzle is arranged in the outlet section. The critical nozzle includes a critical nozzle inlet. A pump suctions the aerosol. An outlet line extends from the critical nozzle to the pump. A valve device is arranged in the outlet line between the critical nozzle and the pump. A pressure measuring device is arranged upstream of the critical nozzle inlet. The outlet line is entirely closed or partially closed by the valve device depending on a measurement value of the pressure measuring device.

The present invention relates to a measuring system for investigating concentrated, larger aerosol particles of an aerosol in the gas phase, having a multi-stage aerosol particle concentrator and also a measuring chamber for analyzing the larger aerosol particles, with at least one measuring device for the qualitative and/or quantitative determination of the aerosol particles, in particular in real time. The aerosol particle concentrator separates a larger part of the aerosol with fine particles and concentrate the larger aerosol particles in the smaller part of the aerosol. The aerosol particle concentrator includes an aerosol suction pump generating a negative pressure in the virtual impactor stages and a circulating-flow channel in which a part of the separated aerosol with fine particles is returned in the circulating flow from the aerosol outlet to the aerosol inlet of the aerosol suction pump. The present invention also relates to a method for investigating concentrated, larger aerosol particles of an aerosol.

Disclosed is a method for analysing cells, in which cells are separated and the individual cells pass via a measurement region of a unit for spatially resolved radiation intensity measurement, wherein, for at least one of the separated cells, when passing via the measurement region, a time sequence of spatial intensity patterns of an electromagnetic radiation emitted from and/or influenced by the cell is created, the optical flow of a respective two of the spatial intensity patterns is calculated for at least one portion of the sequence of intensity patterns using a computer unit, and an evaluation of the calculated optical flows occurs. Also disclosed is a device for analysing cells, comprising a device for separating cells, a unit for spatially resolved radiation intensity measurement, and a computer unit for calculating the optical flow of a respective two of the created intensity patterns, and for evaluating the calculated optical flows.

A seed sampling system is provided comprising an automated seed loading assembly operable to singulate seeds from a plurality of seeds or enable loading of individually stored seeds and an automated seed sampling assembly comprising at least one sampling module operable to remove tissue samples from one of the singulated seeds. The system also includes an automated seed transport assembly comprising at least one retention member operable to transfer the singulated seeds from at least one elevator unit of the seed loading assembly to the at least one sampling module of the seed sampling assembly. In connection therewith, the at least one sampling module includes multiple sampling locations, each associated with a sampler, where the at least one sampling module is operable to remove tissue samples from seeds at one of sampling locations while another one of the sampling locations is cleaned to remove residual seed tissue therefrom.

A kit has a separating device and a particle sensor. The separating device is arranged upstream of the particle sensor and is set up to leave only respirable particles in the fluid stream, so that only those particles which have a particle diameter in a range from 0 to 10 μm reach the particle sensor and are analyzed by it. As a result, the particle sensor can be effectively protected from undesired contamination and its measuring accuracy can be increased considerably by reducing the number of particles to be analyzed that enter its measuring region. In a second aspect, the invention relates to the use of the proposed kit in a dust device. In further aspects, the invention relates to a dust device which includes a proposed kit, as well as a method for controlling a dust device in dependence on the measurement data determined with the kit.