Provided are a method for quantitatively evaluating the activity of individual cells, and a device used therefor.

A cell observation device includes: a cell introduction section; a cell arrangement section; an observation section; and an analysis section, in which the cell introduction section introduces one or a plurality of cells into the cell arrangement section, the cell arrangement section arranges the introduced one or plurality of cells, the observation section makes an observation of a temporal event arising from cell contact in the cell arrangement section, and the analysis section analyzes the temporal event arising from the cell contact.

Presented herein are systems and methods for quantifying trace and/or ultra-trace levels of a speciesfor example, H.sub.2S or H.sub.2Oin a natural gas line. The systems and methods employ a tunable laser, such as a tunable diode laser, vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL), external cavity diode laser or a vertical external-cavity surface-emitting laser (VECSEL) or a tunable quantum cascade laser (QCL). The laser produces an output beam over a set of one or more relatively narrow, high resolution wavelength bands at a scan rate from about 0.1 Hz to about 1000 Hz. A natural gas sample comprising a trace level of a species of interest passes through a flow cell into which the output beam from the laser is guided. An optical detector receives light from the flow cell, producing a signal indicative of the absorption attenuation from which the concentration of the trace species is determined.

The flow cell of the present application simultaneously monitors and measures light absorbance and fluorescence of particles in a flowing liquid. The flow cell comprises a housing having a light input face, an absorbance output face and first and second emission output faces; a fluid flow section within the housing that comprises a bottom funnel through which fluid enters the flow cell, a core chamber into which fluid flows from the bottom funnel, and a top funnel into which fluid flows from the core chamber, wherein the bottom and top funnels each comprise a first end which extends at an angle to a second end that is wider in diameter than the first end, and said second end of each is adjacent to and aligned with the core chamber; and a center section within the housing center having a recess formed therein which houses the core chamber of the fluid flow section, wherein said center section comprises a first pair of opposing channels formed in the light input face and the absorbance output face, respectively, and a second pair of opposing channels formed in the first emission output face and the second emission output face and which are perpendicular to the first pair of opposing channels, and wherein the first pair of opposing channels and second pair of opposing channels are in communication with the core chamber. An apparatus comprising the flow cell is also provided.

The invention relates to a device for analyzing biological objects comprising a Raman spectroscopy system for capturing at least one Raman spectrum. The device comprises an arresting apparatus, which is designed to at least temporarily arrest the biological objects. An electronic computing apparatus is designed to determine a reaction of a biological object arrested by the arresting apparatus to at least one substance in accordance with an evaluation of the at least one Raman spectrum.

A cell survival rate determining device includes a distribution acquisition unit acquiring a particle size distribution in a solution containing particles including cultured cells; a classification unit classifying the particles into a small particle group and a large particle group using a predetermined threshold in the distribution; a ratio calculation unit calculating the value of a ratio between the number of particles belonging to the small particle group and the number of particles belonging to the large particle group; and a survival rate determination unit determining the survival rate of the cultured cells from the value of the ratio using a pre-acquired relationship between the ratio and cell survival rate.

One or more light sources emit light within first, second, and third wavelength ranges through exhaust gas. The first and second wavelength ranges are characterized by first and second different absorption wavelength ranges of a background gas. The third wavelength range is characterized by an absorption wavelength range of a gas-of-interest. At least some of the light within the first, second, and third wavelength ranges is absorbed by the exhaust gas thereby providing modified light characterized by the first, second, and third absorption wavelength ranges. One or more detectors receive the modified light. A processing subsystem determines a temperature of the exhaust gas based on the modified light characterized by the first and second absorption wavelength ranges and a concentration of the gas-of-interest based on the modified light characterized by the third absorption wavelength range and the temperature of the exhaust gas.

The invention relates to a sampling apparatus for use in explosive environments comprising particles of a mean size of up to 500 m, the sampling apparatus comprising a displaceable arm having a sample container, which displaceable arm has a first position where the sample container is inserted into a first zone for collecting a sample of particles into the sample container, and a second zone where the displaceable arm is outside the product stream, the second zone being contained in a housing with an opening for the displaceable arm. The sampling apparatus has an interface between the first and the second zone, which interface is selected from the list consisting of a closable member, a gate valve or an air knife. The invention also relates to a dryer comprising a drying chamber and a sampling apparatus of the invention. In a further aspect the invention relates to a method of estimating the flowability of a sample of organic particles.

A sample chamber assembly for molten metal comprises a cover plate and a housing. A first face of the housing has a depression in direct flow communication with a first opening formed at the immersion end of the housing. The cover plate and the housing are assembled together along a first plane to form a sample cavity including the depression. An analysis surface of a solidified metal sample lies in the first plane. The sample cavity and the first opening are aligned along a common longitudinal axis. The first opening is spaced apart from the first plane. A ratio of the thermal diffusivities of the solidified metal sample and the housing material is between 0.1 and 0.5. The housing is inseparable from the solidified metal sample. A portion of the housing is directly adjacent to the solidified metal sample and lies in the first plane.

Described herein is a gas detection system (5) including a housing (10) having an inlet (20) in fluid communication with an atmosphere; an analyzer (25) within the housing (20) and configured to detect and measure a gas species in the atmosphere using a gas sensor (37); and a pneumatic system (60) contained within the housing (10) and in fluid communication with the inlet (20) to draw an air sample from the atmosphere. The pneumatic system (60) includes a pump (15); a low flow branch (65) in fluid communication with the pump (15) and having an airflow sensor (90) and a first orifice (85); and a high flow branch (70) in fluid communication with the pump (15) and having a second orifice (95). Such a system is particularly suitable for remote sampling because it prevents the high flow needed for remote sampling to be directed towards the gas sensor withstanding only low flow. Related apparatus, systems, methods and/or articles are described.

An infrared detection device can be used to detect coal mine polar gas. The detection device can include a central processor and a gas pool assembly having a moveable optical window. The moveable optical window can include a stationary pool body and a moveable pool body inserted into the stationary pool body.