The present disclosure provides approaches for reducing tobacco-specific nitrosamines (TSNAs) in tobacco. Some of these approaches include genetically engineering tobacco plants to increase one or more antioxidants, increase oxygen radicle absorbance capacity (ORAC), or reduce nitrite. Also provided are methods and compositions for producing modified tobacco plants and tobacco products therefrom comprising reduced TSNAs.

A system and method for processing and detecting nucleic acids from a set of biological samples, comprising: a capture plate and a capture plate module configured to facilitate binding of nucleic acids within the set of biological samples to magnetic beads; a molecular diagnostic module configured to receive nucleic acids bound to magnetic beads, isolate nucleic acids, and analyze nucleic acids, comprising a cartridge receiving module, a heating/cooling subsystem and a magnet configured to facilitate isolation of nucleic acids, a valve actuation subsystem configured to control fluid flow through a microfluidic cartridge for processing nucleic acids, and an optical subsystem for analysis of nucleic acids; a fluid handling system configured to deliver samples and reagents to components of the system to facilitate molecular diagnostic protocols; and an assay strip configured to combine nucleic acid samples with molecular diagnostic reagents for analysis of nucleic acids.

Operations performed according to the example techniques described herein include controlling a probe to pierce a stopper of a container containing a substance, where the stopper provides an air-tight seal for the container, and where the air-tight seal supports an internal pressure in the container. The operations also include detecting the internal pressure based on information from a pressure sensor; determining that the internal pressure is not at a target pressure and, based on determining that the internal pressure is not at the target pressure, controlling the probe either to aspirate air from the container or to dispense air into the container in order to move the internal pressure toward the target pressure.

Systems and related manifold assemblies are disclosed. In accordance with an implementation, an apparatus comprises or includes a cassette assembly of a sipper manifold assembly comprising or having a cassette housing, one or more sipper tubes, one or more sipper couplings, and one or more biasing elements. The one or more sipper tubes comprise or have a proximal end and a distal end. The one or more sipper couplings is movably coupled to the cassette housing the proximal end of the sipper tubes are coupled to the sipper couplings. The one or more biasing elements bias the one or more sipper couplings. The one or more biasing elements allow relative movement between the sipper tubes and the cassette housing.

A fluidic device holder configured to orient a fluidic device. The device holder includes a support structure configured to receive a fluidic device. The support structure includes a base surface that faces in a direction along the Z-axis and is configured to have the fluidic device positioned thereon. The device holder also includes a plurality of reference surfaces facing in respective directions along an XY-plane. The device holder also includes an alignment assembly having an actuator and a movable locator arm that is operatively coupled to the actuator. The locator arm has an engagement end. The actuator moves the locator arm between retracted and biased positions to move the engagement end away from and toward the reference surfaces. The locator arm is configured to hold the fluidic device against the reference surfaces when the locator arm is in the biased position.

A sample processing station includes two or more container holders on a platform that is rotatable about a central axis of rotation. Each holder is configured to rotate about a secondary axis of rotation. The station includes a capping/decapping mechanism to cap or decap a container held in one of the container holders and an elevator with a chuck guide that contact the container holder as the chuck is lowered by the elevator to positon the chuck with respect to the cap of the container held in the holder and to hold jaws of the container holder in a closed position. In embodiment, the chuck guide includes a yoke with opposed arms and spindles located near distal ends of the arms that engage beveled shoulders of the container holder.

A system and method for processing and detecting nucleic acids from a set of biological samples, comprising: a capture plate and a capture plate module configured to facilitate binding of nucleic acids within the set of biological samples to magnetic beads; a molecular diagnostic module configured to receive nucleic acids bound to magnetic beads, isolate nucleic acids, and analyze nucleic acids, comprising a cartridge receiving module, a heating/cooling subsystem and a magnet configured to facilitate isolation of nucleic acids, a valve actuation subsystem configured to control fluid flow through a microfluidic cartridge for processing nucleic acids, and an optical subsystem for analysis of nucleic acids; a fluid handling system configured to deliver samples and reagents to components of the system to facilitate molecular diagnostic protocols; and an assay strip configured to combine nucleic acid samples with molecular diagnostic reagents for analysis of nucleic acids.

The present disclosure provides approaches for reducing tobacco-specific nitrosamines (TSNAs) in tobacco. Some of these approaches include genetically engineering tobacco plants to increase one or more antioxidants, increase oxygen radicle absorbance capacity (ORAC), or reduce nitrite. Also provided are methods and compositions for producing modified tobacco plants and tobacco products therefrom comprising reduced TSNAs.

An autosampler includes an injection port for supplying a sample to an analysis device, a needle that collects the sample stored in a vial and injects the sample into the injection port, a cleaning unit that cleans the needle and a gas exhaust fan. The cleaning unit includes a cleaning container which stores a cleaning liquid and into which the needle is inserted, and a unit main body that has a space for storing the cleaning container and receiving the cleaning liquid overflowing from the cleaning container, and a unit gas exhaust passage for exhausting gas in the space outwardly of the cleaning unit. The unit main body has a unit opening through which the needle passes when accessing the cleaning container. The autosampler includes a boundary portion that separates a first region in which the injection port, the needle and the unit opening are arranged from a second region in which the gas exhaust fan is arranged, and a gas exhaust region which is connected to the unit gas exhaust passage via a gas exhaust opening provided at the boundary portion and into which gas exhausted from the space flows due to a negative pressure generated by the gas exhaust fan.