A photoacoustic detection system (20) includes a detector (22) that has a chamber (24), a pulsed light source (26), piezoelectric tuning forks (28), and a photosensor (30). The chamber has an inlet and an outlet for flow of an analyte. The pulsed light source is adjacent the chamber and is operable to emit a light beam along a path through the chamber. The tuning forks are arranged along the path, and each of the tuning forks is operable to emit first sensor signals. The photosensor is arranged along the path and is operable to emit second sensor signals. A controller (38) is connected to receive the first and second sensor signals. The controller is configured to determine whether a target species is present in the analyte based on the first sensor signals and determine whether the target species is present in the analyte based on the second sensor signals.

A system includes a structure bonding layer and a sensor. The structure bonding layer is disposed on a structure. The structure bonding layer is a metallic alloy. The sensor includes a non-metallic wafer and a sensor bonding layer disposed on a surface of the non-metallic wafer. The sensor bonding layer is a metallic alloy. The sensor bonding layer is coupled to the structure bonding layer via a metallic joint, and the sensor is configured to sense data of the structure through the metallic joint, the structure bonding layer, and the sensor bonding layer.

A measuring device is provided that can easily measure odors. The measuring device is provided with a board and a housing. An odor sensor is disposed on the board. The housing accommodates the board and has at least three opening portions.

A gas sensing device comprising a layer of guest-free cryptophane A molecules on a substrate capable of detecting a molecular level change in mass, viscosity, or stress due to absorption of gas molecules into the cryptophane A molecules, wherein the cryptophane A molecules have the following structure:

##STR00001##

wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3, R.sup.4, R.sup.5, and R.sup.6 are independently selected from methyl and ethyl groups. Also described herein is a method for manufacturing the gas sensing device, particularly a step of sublimating cryptophane A molecules onto a suitable substrate. Also described herein is a method of detecting one or more gases in a space by placing a gas sensing device, as described above, in the space, wherein the gas sensing device transmits detection signals to an external electronic device that performs an analysis of the detection signals.

This document discloses a hybrid and multifunctional biosensing technology consisting of a dual gate thin-film transistor (DGTFT) biosensor with an extended gate covered with magnesium zinc oxide nanostructures (MZO.sub.nano) and an MZO.sub.nano modified bulk acoustic wave resonator (MZO.sub.nano BAW). The technology is used for the full-scale dynamic monitoring of bacterial biofilm formation from its early stage to the maturation stage.

A real time and quantitative method of measuring traction force of living cells include the following procedures. Place AT-cut and BT-cut quartz crystals of the same frequency, surface morphology and/or modified with the same cell adhesion molecules in petri dishes or detection cells; add the cells to the petri dishes or detection cells, the cell traction force at arbitrary time t during adhesion of the cells or under different internal/external environmental stimulations is estimated by the following equation: ΔS.sub.t=(K.sub.AT−K.sub.BT).sup.−1[t.sub.q.sup.ATΔf.sub.t.sup.AT/fr.sup.AT−tq.sup.BTΔf.sub.t.sup.BT/fr.sup.BT]. The method can be used to track the dynamic changes of cells generated force during the adhesion of cells and under different internal/external environmental stimulations, such as the effects of drugs. The drugs can be added before or after the adhesion of the cells. This method is suitable for all adherent cells, including primary cells and passage cells.

A crystal oscillation probe structure and an evaporation device are provided. The crystal oscillation probe structure includes a guide cover, a crystal oscillation probe and a mesh screen structure, the guide cover includes a chamber with a guide opening, the crystal oscillation probe is fixed in the chamber, the crystal oscillation probe includes at least one crystal oscillation sheet, the mesh screen structure includes a plurality of openings, and the mesh screen structure is located on a traveling path of a material traveling toward the at least one crystal oscillation sheet and disposed on a side of the at least one crystal oscillation sheet facing the guide opening.

A photoacoustic detection system includes a detector that has a chamber, a pulsed light source, piezoelectric tuning forks, and a photosensor. The chamber has an inlet and an outlet for flow of an analyte. The pulsed light source is adjacent the chamber and is operable to emit a light beam along a path through the chamber. The tuning forks are arranged along the path, and each of the tuning forks is operable to emit first sensor signals. The photosensor is arranged along the path and is operable to emit second sensor signals. A controller is connected to receive the first and second sensor signals. The controller is configured to determine whether a target species is present in the analyte based on the first sensor signals and determine whether the target species is present in the analyte based on the second sensor signals.

To provide a technique for expanding a measurement dynamic range and performing a stable detection in a sensing sensor using a crystal resonator. A spacer is disposed between an oscillator circuit that oscillates a crystal resonator and a base body that cools an oscillator circuit to a cryogenic temperature, and an oscillator circuit board includes a heater resistor that heats the oscillator circuit. Therefore, the temperature of the oscillator circuit that does not fall below a functional limit temperature and is a low temperature as much as possible can be provided. A negative resistance of the oscillator circuit can be increased, the measurement dynamic range can be expanded, and the crystal resonator can be stably oscillated.

Gas sensors are provided. The gas sensors comprise: a substrate; a plurality of electrodes on the substrate; and a polymeric sensing layer on the substrate for adsorbing a gas-phase analyte. The adsorption of the analyte is effective to change a property of the gas sensor that results in a change in an output signal from the gas sensor. The polymeric sensing layer comprises a polymer chosen from substituted or unsubstituted polyarylenes comprising the reaction product of monomers comprising a first monomer comprising an aromatic acetylene group and a second monomer comprising two or more cyclopentadienone groups, or a cured product of the reaction product. The gas sensors and methods of using such sensors find particular applicability in the sensing of gas-phase organic analytes.