A method for calibrating thermal analysis device includes: photothermal measurements on a sample consecutively held in the plurality of sample holders, or on a plurality of similar samples, which are in each case held in one of the plurality of sample holders, wherein a first side of the respective sample is irradiated with an electromagnetic excitation pulse and a thermal radiation emitted by a second side of this sample is captured; comparing results of the photothermal measurements for the plurality of sample holders; in each case determining at least one correction parameter for each sample holder based on a result of the comparison; and calibrating the temperature measuring system of the device and/or the temperature control systems of the device based on the determined correction parameters.

The invention relates to detecting a composition of a sample or contamination in liquids by detecting corresponding changes in their thermal properties. In a disclosed arrangement, an apparatus is provided comprising a first probe element configured to provide a first surface in direct contact with the sample and a second surface that is not in direct contact with the sample. A measurement system measures a rate of heat transfer through the first surface. A processing unit analyses the measured rate of heat transfer in order to detect a heat transfer characteristic of the sample that is indicative of a composition of the sample.

Method of fabricating a microelectromechanical structure et comprising two elements suspended from a support, a cavity made in the support, said cavity having two different depths, including: fabrication of a mask on an element comprising a substrate and a structured layer formed on the substrate, said structured layer comprising the two elements that will be suspended above the cavity, the mask being formed above the structured layer, said mask comprising openings with different sections, the openings being distributed in two zones, each zone comprising openings with the same section, anisotropic etching of the element so as to define the two depths under the two suspended elements in the substrate through the structured layer, isotropic etching of the element so as to make the cavity under the suspended elements.

According to one embodiment, a method of detecting or quantifying a detection target in a specimen includes: irradiating a reaction mixture containing composite particles and the specimen with light to promote binding between the composite particles and the detection target; and performing measurement on the reaction mixture irradiated with the light to detect or quantify the detection target. The composite particles each include a carrier particle including two or more regions having different physical properties on a surface, and an affinity substance carried on the carrier particle and having affinity to the detection target. The light can be absorbed by at least one of the two or more regions.

A wireless sensor measures properties of a substance and transmits the properties to a remote wireless receiver. The wireless sensor can be fully enclosed within a container containing the substance, allowing remote monitoring of the properties of the substance without compromising integrity of a closed system.

A measuring arrangement for a thermal analysis of a sample, having a crucible for storing a sample in the crucible, as well as a sensor for measuring a sample temperature of the sample when the crucible is arranged on the sensor. To reduce the risk of damages to or even the destruction of used components as a result of chemical or physical reactions, it is provided according to the invention that the measuring arrangement further has a washer arrangement, which is inserted between the crucible and the sensor and which has a first layer, which contacts the crucible, of a first material and a second layer, which contacts the sensor, of a second material, which differs from the first material. The invention further proses a method for the thermal analysis of a sample, which is performed by using such a measuring arrangement.

A differential scanning calorimeter includes a temperature-controlled heat source and a sensor arrangement with sample- and reference-side pan support regions and measurement regions. Measurement region sensor(s) output a differential heat flow signal representative of a difference between heat flowing across the sample- and reference-side measurement regions and a sample- and reference-side local heater arrangement. A sample and reference pan are arranged on the sample and reference-side pan support region, respectively. A volume surrounding the pans is filled with a measuring gas. A steady state situation of a desired temperature is created, and once reached, heating power is applied to one of the pan support regions using the respective local heater arrangement. A second calibration factor is determined based on a ratio of a differential heat flow signal (U) and a differential heating power.

The present invention relates to a method for early detection of carbonization during the drying of an organic material. The method of the present invention measures temperature variation per unit time of exhaust gas containing water (H.sub.2O), carbon monoxide (CO), or carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2), which are to be generated by the pyrolysis of an organic material, and the concentration of carbon monoxide/carbon dioxide of the exhaust gas, so as to determine the occurrence of carbonization therethrough, thereby enabling early detection of carbonization within a dryer.

A microelectromechanical systems-based calorimetric device includes first and second micromixers and first and second thermally-isolated microchambers. A first solution including a sample and a reagent is introduced to the first microchamber via the first micromixer, and a second solution including a sample and a buffer is introduced to the second microchamber via the second micromixer. A thermopile measures the differential temperature between the first microchamber and the second microchamber and outputs a voltage representative of the difference. The output voltage can be used to calculate reaction parameters.

A wireless sensor measures properties of a substance and transmits the properties to a remote wireless receiver. The wireless sensor can be fully enclosed within a container containing the substance, allowing remote monitoring of the properties of the substance without compromising integrity of a closed system.