A method of manufacturing synthetic particles for use in microfluidic devices is disclosed. The method includes identifying a set of particle characteristics for a fluid-based process. The set of particle characteristics can include a synthetic particle density and one or more of a size, compressibility, elastic modulus, or porosity. The method includes selecting an input material for the synthetic particles based on the set of synthetic particle characteristics. The method may include selecting an additive based on the set of synthetic particle characteristics. The method includes providing input material and the additive into a droplet generator to create one or more synthetic particles having the set of synthetic particle characteristics, and modifying a surface characteristic the synthetic particles, such that the synthetic particles bind to a target particle in a solution.

The present invention provides a method for processing a filter to obtain a calibration dust filter, and a method for off-site calibration using the calibration dust filter. In the present invention, a batch of filters that meets specific requirements is screened out as the basal filters, and then the basal filters are processed in an actual environment to obtain the calibration dust filters. The counted number of beta particles is measured before and after sampling, and then a correction factor K is inversely inferred. The beta attenuation suspended particulate analyzer is corrected using the correction factor K. It can be known from a calculation result in an embodiment that, when the beta attenuation suspended particulate analyzer is calibrated using the calibration dust filter, the concentration measured by the calibrated beta attenuation suspended particulate analyzer is more closer to the manually measured concentration, with a CV value roughly equal to 7% to 8%, thus better reflecting variations in pollution concentration of PM in the air.

The present invention relates to a composition analysis technology of ultramicro-volume liquid by laser ablation plasma mass spectrometry. Using a pipette gun to extract the liquid to be detected in a low-temperature environment, dropping the liquid into a dropping pit in a dropping plate, the liquid level is slightly higher than an overflow table in the dropping plate; dropping different liquid samples into different dropping pits by the same method; gradually covering the dropping pit with an analysis film having an area 1.5 times larger than that of the dropping plate from one side of the dropping plate, tightly adhering the thin film onto the dropping plate by using a transparent adhesive tape, the thin film is in close contact with the liquid level; placing the dropping plate covered by the thin film in a LA-ICPMS universal solid sample chamber, and then setting parameters for ablation.

An apparatus and method for generating a controlled, predictable, reproducible and variable-size distribution of particulate matter (PM), particle number (PN) and/or facsimile/simulation, derived from vaporizing and condensing a specialized liquid, utilizing a vapor delivery device; a filter capability so as to remove a significant amount of ambient PM/PN as a secondary calibration process for the identification of fine and ultra-fine particles (e.g., 0.3 micrometers and smaller) as well as a computer-controlled ability to perform a pre-determined series of calibration routines, housed in a container.

Embodiments of the present specification provide methods and systems for sensitivity traps that contain a polymer matrix made from an inert polymer material for encapsulation of trace amounts of explosives and narcotics and a suitable plasticizer material, the types and ratios of which may be selected based on type of analyte that is to be used with the sensitivity trap. The plasticizer material functions by breaking up intra and inter-molecular polymer chain interactions resulting in a larger diffusion coefficient of the analyte within the polymer matrix. Therefore, in embodiments, sufficient amounts of plasticizers are added to the sensitivity trap, which also reduces a glass transition temperature of the polymer matrix and the trap.

In some embodiments, the present disclosure is directed to coatings or thin films comprising a dye or stain embedded within a matrix, e.g. a polymer matrix.

Hydrogel particles and their use in cytometric applications are described. The hydrogel particles described herein are selectively tunable to have at least one optical property substantially similar to at least one optical property of a target cell. In this regard, the hydrogel particles provided herein, in one aspect, are used as a calibration reagent for the detection of a target cell in a sample.

Hydrogel particles and their use in cytometric applications are described. The hydrogel particles described herein are selectively tunable to have at least one optical property substantially similar to at least one optical property of a target cell. In this regard, the hydrogel particles provided herein, in one aspect, are used as a calibration reagent for the detection of a target cell in a sample.

Apparatuses and methods for generating trace vapors are provided. The apparatus includes a controller and an oven. The controller includes: a processor, a memory storing at least one control program, a clean solution supply port constructed to output a clean solution, an analyte solution supply port constructed to output an analyte solution, a carrier gas inlet port constructed to receive a carrier gas, and a plurality of carrier gas supply controllers constructed to output the carrier gas. The oven includes a clean manifold, an analyte manifold, a clean solution nebulizer constructed to: receive the clean solution from the clean solution supply port, and the carrier gas from one of the plurality of carrier gas supply controllers, and output a clean solution vapor stream comprising the clean solution and the carrier gas to the clean manifold, an analyte solution nebulizer constructed to: receive the analyte solution from the analyte solution supply port and the carrier gas from another one of the plurality of carrier gas supply controllers, and output an analyte solution vapor stream comprising the analyte solution and the carrier gas to the analyte manifold, a pneumatic valve controllably connected to the processor and communicatively connected to the clean manifold and the analyte manifold, and an output supply port communicatively connected to the pneumatic valve. The controller is configured to operate the pneumatic valve to allow the clean vapor solution or the analyte vapor solution to enter the chamber and be provided to the output supply port.

The present disclosure relates to a capsule for preparing a solution for use with a measuring device for determining a measurand that depends on a concentration of at least one analyte in a sample. The capsule includes a wall completely enclosing an interior, at least one substance accommodated within the interior, and at least one stirring body. The present disclosure also relates to a system, which includes at least one capsule and a liquid container closed in a liquid-tight manner, which contains a predetermined volume of a liquid containing a solvent. In addition, the wall of the capsule is formed from a material which dissolves at least partially in the solvent.