A di(2-ethylhexyl) terephthalate composition is provided. The di(2-ethylhexyl) terephthalate composition comprises di(2-ethylhexyl)terephthalate, at least one of a first component, a second component and a third component, and a fourth component When the di(2-ethylhexyl) terephthalate composition is characterized by gas chromatography (GC), the first component is eluted at a retention time ranging from 4.8 minutes to 6.0 minutes, the second component is eluted at a retention time ranging from 9.0 minutes to 10.0 minutes, the third component is eluted at a retention time ranging from 10.1 minutes to 12.0 minutes, and the fourth component is eluted at a retention time ranging from 21.0 minutes to 22.1 minutes. The ratio of the total area of the chromatographic peaks indicating the first component, second component, and third component to the area of the chromatographic peaks indicating the fourth component is 0.135 to 1.720.

A di(2-ethylhexyl) terephthalate composition is provided. The di(2-ethylhexyl) terephthalate composition comprises di(2-ethylhexyl)terephthalate, at least one of a first component, a second component and a third component, and a fourth component When the di(2-ethylhexyl) terephthalate composition is characterized by gas chromatography (GC), the first component is eluted at a retention time ranging from 4.8 minutes to 6.0 minutes, the second component is eluted at a retention time ranging from 9.0 minutes to 10.0 minutes, the third component is eluted at a retention time ranging from 10.1 minutes to 12.0 minutes, and the fourth component is eluted at a retention time ranging from 21.0 minutes to 22.1 minutes. The ratio of the total area of the chromatographic peaks indicating the first component, second component, and third component to the area of the chromatographic peaks indicating the fourth component is 0.135 to 1.720.

Techniques for real-time or substantially real-time peak detection are described. In one embodiment, for example, logic coupled to memory may be configured to receive data from at least one analytical instrument and perform processing or analysis on the received data. Moreover, the logic may be configured to determine, via one or more GPUs or CPUs (or both), one or more peaks based on the processing or the analysis of the received data and generate peak detection data based on the detected one or more peaks in real-time or substantially real-time. Other embodiments are described.

A method for extracting an analyte from a solid sample is described. The sample is sealed in a porous membrane bag, which is sonicated in an organic solvent. An extract of the analyte forms in the bag and diffuses into the organic solvent. The organic solvent containing the extract may then be concentrated and analyzed for an analyte with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The method does not the use of a solid sorbent material, and does not require a step of centrifuging or filtering.

There are provided a urine testing apparatus and a urine testing method which can stabilize urine vitamins for several days and improve testing accuracy and convenience of a urine collection test of a subject. According to this urine testing apparatus, the inner wall surface of a urine collection storage container is coated with an aqueous citric acid solution or the like as a urine stabilizer. Alternatively, a dried or freeze-dried aqueous citric acid solution or the like as the urine stabilizer is stored in the urine collection storage container. On the other hand, according to the urine testing method of this invention, the aqueous citric acid solution or the like as the urine stabilizer is added to the collected urine sample, the vitamin concentration of at least 7 days after urine collection is stabilized to stabilize each urine vitamin for several days, thereby improving the convenience of the urine collection test of the subject. In particular, the urine concentrations of vitamins B can be stabilized to accurately test the nutrients lacking in the body of the subject.

Methods for the detection, enumeration and analysis of circulating tumor cells expressing insulin-like growth factor-1 receptors (IGF-1R) are disclosed. These methods are useful for cancer screening and staging, development of treatment regimens, and for monitoring for treatment responses, cancer recurrence or the like. Test kits that facilitate the detection, enumeration and analysis of such circulating tumor cells are also provided.

Methods for the detection, enumeration and analysis of circulating tumor cells expressing insulin-like growth factor-1 receptors (IGF-1R) are disclosed. These methods are useful for cancer screening and staging, development of treatment regimens, and for monitoring for treatment responses, cancer recurrence or the like. Test kits that facilitate the detection, enumeration and analysis of such circulating tumor cells are also provided.

A system can include a valve assembly including a first valve and a second valve in fluid communication with the first valve. The valve assembly can be configured to deliver one or more of a sample, a chemical (e.g., an acid, a base, an organic chemical, etc.), and a standard via flow of a working fluid facilitated by one or more syringe pumps. Further, the one or more of the sample, the chemical, and the standard can maintain a physical separation from the one or more syringe pumps during delivery of the one or more of the sample, the chemical, and the standard.

A component extraction apparatus includes a rack placement part, a heater, an extraction medium supply part, a needle assembly, and a temperature sensor. When the container rack is mounted on the rack placement part, a heater is configured to heat the sample containers in direct or indirect contact with sample containers held by the container rack. The needle assembly holds a needle with a tip thereof pointing downward, and the needle being configured to connect a flow channel by inserting the tip thereof into a needle port provided on an upper surface of each of the sample containers. The temperature sensor is included in the needle assembly and is configured to detect a temperature of the upper surface of any one of the sample containers when the tip of the needle is inserted into the needle port of the one of the sample containers.

A component extraction apparatus includes a rack placement part, a heater, an extraction medium supply part, a needle assembly, and a temperature sensor. When the container rack is mounted on the rack placement part, a heater is configured to heat the sample containers in direct or indirect contact with sample containers held by the container rack. The needle assembly holds a needle with a tip thereof pointing downward, and the needle being configured to connect a flow channel by inserting the tip thereof into a needle port provided on an upper surface of each of the sample containers. The temperature sensor is included in the needle assembly and is configured to detect a temperature of the upper surface of any one of the sample containers when the tip of the needle is inserted into the needle port of the one of the sample containers.