The present invention relates to methods for diagnosing a disease by determining via multiplex fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) whether or not mRNA species and/or at least one miRNA species of disease-associated biomarkers ar present in a sample obtained from a subject, and by determining by multiplex sequencing whether or not said mRNA species of disease-associated biomarkers and/or said miRNA species of disease-associated biomarkers of step (a) are present in said sample. The present invention also relates to kits for performing the methods for diagnosis as described and provided herein as well as use of such kits for performing the methods for diagnosis as described and provided herein.

A cell extruder of the present invention comprises: a pressure vessel in which a sample is dispensed; a regulator for adjusting a set pressure of nitrogen gas injected into the pressure vessel and then maintaining a constant pressure; an input valve for opening and closing the injection of nitrogen gas into the pressure vessel; an exhaust valve for removing the internal pressure of the pressure vessel; a filter holder which is provided with a membrane filter soaked with a reagent, so that the sample in the pressure vessel is fed through by the nitrogen gas and crushed into extracellular vesicles; and a collection container in which the extruded sample is stored. According to the present invention, pressure can be freely adjusted by the regulator. That is, the flow rate of the membrane according to pressure can be controlled, thus allowing the validation of a biopharmaceutical production method using an extracellular vesicle extruder. In addition, during cell extrusion, a sintered disc can be removed and cells can be extruded by using only a membrane. Vesicles can be produced within a fine pressure adjustment range (at a fine low pressure at which the membrane is not torn) in which no sintered disc is required.

To prepare a sample for atom probe tomography, a raw sample body having a surface and a region of interest (ROI) to be inspected by APT is provided. Pillars containing the ROI are formed into the surface of the raw sample body via ablation of material of the raw sample body from the surface with an ultra-short pulsed laser. Redeposited ablated material is removed in the region of the formed pillars. The surface of the formed pillars is polished. A preparation device to perform such a preparation method includes a sample handling unit, a pillar forming unit including an ultra-short pulsed laser, a removal unit to remove redeposited ablated material, and a polishing unit. The result is an efficient preparation of robust samples for atom probe tomography. To investigate a region of interest of a sample, the preparation method is performed and then atom probe tomography of the region of interest is performed.

The present invention in general relates to a method of localization and structural characterization of peptides in a formaldehyde-fixed paraffin-embedded biological sample using matrix assisted ionization (such as in MALDI). Specifically, the invention relates to the combination of the development of a sample preparation protocol which does not require any enzymatic digestion nor antigen-retrieval steps, with highly sensitive mass spectrometry.

Disclosed are improved soil mapping methods and apparatus that enable a user to efficiently analyze soil and create accurate soil maps to enable the user to determine soil content. The apparatus includes a probe cylinder, an extractor cylinder, a collector assembly, a first stepper motor, a roller assembly, a mixing motor, a contact probe, a cleaning brush motor, a bracket assembly for a mix motor, brush motor, and probe, an extruded aluminum bracing, a gear track, a second stepper motor, a scraper assembly, a third stepper motor, a probe, and one or more hyperspectral sensors. The apparatus relies on less expensive, faster, and more accurate data points that provide actionable real-time information by automating the current labor-intensive soil testing process. The apparatus serves the agricultural industry by advancing precision soil mapping technology to support proactive and efficient fertilizer use. Further, the apparatus helps farmers to increase crop yields, optimize input costs, and protect the environment by supporting fertilizer efficiency.

Various approaches preparing Cannabis flower samples for analysis of cannabinoid content, the method comprising the steps of weighing the sample in a portable or benchtop balance; adding, to a container, the weighed sample and a solvent; agitating the vial and thereafter extracting a liquid component therefrom; and analytically analyzing the sample using the solvent based on the weight and a volume of the extracted liquid.

The present disclosure relates to a mounting press for hot mounting a sample, comprising: a mounting cylinder for receiving the sample, having a main cylinder axis and a cylinder opening, the main cylinder axis extending inside the mounting cylinder and out through the cylinder opening, a sliding closure with a sliding carriage, an upper piston and a closing lever that is operatively connected to the upper piston, wherein the sliding carriage is configured so as to be displaceable in a direction transverse to the main cylinder axis, for example by means of the closing lever, and wherein in a position of use of the sliding carriage the upper piston can be driven to or into the cylinder opening of the mounting cylinder, wherein the closing lever has at least one open position and one closed position and can be transferred from the open position into the closed position, and wherein the closing lever cooperates with the upper piston such that the upper piston closes the cylinder opening when guiding the closing lever from the open position into the closed position when the sliding carriage is in the position of use.

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 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.

A device for sand sampling through a water method includes a sampling cylinder and a triaxial sampler, where the sampling cylinder includes a cylinder, two ends of the cylinder being hermetically provided with an upper sealing cover and a lower sealing cover separately, one ends, facing inside of the cylinder, of the upper sealing cover and the lower sealing cover being provided with water-permeable stones, one end, facing outside of the cylinder, of the upper sealing cover being connected to a control valve, and the control valve being in communication with the inside of the cylinder; and the sampling cylinder is arranged in the triaxial sampler when sand sampling is performed through a water method, a lower end of the triaxial sampler is provided with a test operation table, and an upper end of the triaxial sampler is nested inside a restraint ring.