This disclosure is directed to system for transferring a substrate, such as a microscope slide, and holding the substrate within at least one device. The system includes a holder for holding the substrate and a gripper for transferring the substrate, such as between a cassette or stack and the holder. A method is also discussed herein.

A test apparatus can measuring particle plugging of a simulated fracture. The test apparatus can include a first test component having a first surface and a second test component having a second surface. The second test component can be positionable relative to the first test component to create a simulated fracture between the first surface and the second surface. The test apparatus can include a visualization area of at least one of the first test component or the second test component can be positioned between a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet along at least a portion of the simulated fracture.

A portable device which detects a Raman signal from an analyte of interest contained in or suspected to contain in a sample. The portable device includes a laser source in optical communication with a dichroic mirror, an objective lens optically positioned to consolidate the laser from the laser source to the sample, (i) a pair of rotatable filters in optical communication with the dichroic mirror and an optical transmission module or (ii) a first band-pass filter in optical communication with the dichroic mirror and an optical transmission module, and a detector optically positioned to receive and detect a Raman signal produced from the laser incident on the analyte of interest. The dichroic mirror directs the laser from the laser source to the sample through the objective lens and transmits any Raman signal from the sample toward the detector. The detector is absent of a spectrometer and detects the Raman signal.

A system for infrared analysis of a target surface region of a subject includes a reservoir containing a medium at a predetermined temperature and a conduit defining a channel for transmitting the medium from the reservoir to the target surface region. The conduit may have a first end that is attached to an outlet of the reservoir and a second end that is flexibly conformable to a shape corresponding to a perimeter of the target surface region. The system may further include an infrared camera(s) operable to capture infrared image data of the target surface region and one or more processors operable to produce a representation of the captured infrared image data at a plurality of timings relative to the transmission of the medium from the reservoir to the target surface region. Adjunctive reflective surfaces may ensure that IR signals from target geometric surfaces can be captured for analysis.

A laminated fluorescent sensor includes a sealable sensor housing and an optical sensing system embedded inside the sealable sensor housing. The optical sensing system includes a light source (7), a short wave pass filter (8), an air chamber (10), a sensing unit, a long wave pass filter set (12) and an optical signal collecting unit from top to bottom all of which are coaxially set. The optical signal collecting unit is connected with a signal processing system (14); the sealable sensor housing has air inlets (2, 201) and an air pumping port (3), the air inlets (2, 201) are communicated with the air chamber (10) through an air intake passage, the air chamber (10) is communicated with the air pumping port (3) through an air pumping passage.

A solution for evaluating a sample gas for a presence of a trace gas, such as ozone, is provided. The solution uses an ultraviolet source and an ultraviolet detector mounted in a chamber. The chamber can include reflecting walls and/or structures configured to guide ultraviolet light. A computer system can operate the ultraviolet source in a high power pulse mode and acquire data corresponding to an intensity of the ultraviolet radiation detected by the ultraviolet detector while a sample gas is present in the chamber. Using the data, the computer system can determine a presence and/or an amount of the trace gas in the sample gas.

A quality evaluation method includes an acquisition step of acquiring spectral data related to transmitted light or diffusely reflected light from a cell mass by irradiating the cell mass with measurement light including near-infrared light, and an evaluation step of evaluating quality of the cell mass, based on the spectral data of the cell mass acquired in the acquisition step.

A covered chamberless particulate detector includes a chamberless detector configured to produce a signal when particulate sensing events occurs, one or more optical emitters configured to emit one or more emitting cones of light, one or more optical sensors defining one or more receiving cones and configured to detect occurrence of particulate sensing events, and a protective cover defining an inside region and an outside region. Each of the one or more emitting cones of light is configured to overlap with each of the one or more receiving cones, thereby creating one or more sensing volumes which may be in the inside region, the outside region, or both regions. The protective cover can be transparent, partially transparent, or opaque, and can include apertures. The optical emitters and detectors can use one or more wavelengths, allowing discrimination of various airborne particulates.

Full wafer in-situ metrology chambers and methods of use are described. The metrology chambers include a substrate support and a sensor bar that are rotatable relative to each other. The sensor bar includes a plurality of sensors at different radii from a central axis.

The described invention is directed to hydrogel-based transparent soils that can provide heterogeneous, aeration, and porous condition for plant growth. The hydrogel beads are highly tailorable in size and porosity providing an environment that is closer to natural soil. Index-matching allows the beads to appear transparent, facilitating the use of imaging and microscopy of the plant root system in vivo.