A seed sampling system is provided comprising an automated seed loading assembly operable to singulate seeds from a plurality of seeds or enable loading of individually stored seeds and an automated seed sampling assembly comprising at least one sampling module operable to remove tissue samples from one of the singulated seeds. The system also includes an automated seed transport assembly comprising at least one retention member operable to transfer the singulated seeds from at least one elevator unit of the seed loading assembly to the at least one sampling module of the seed sampling assembly. In connection therewith, the at least one sampling module includes multiple sampling locations, each associated with a sampler, where the at least one sampling module is operable to remove tissue samples from seeds at one of sampling locations while another one of the sampling locations is cleaned to remove residual seed tissue therefrom.

Provided is a method for predicting and evaluating adhesion of combustion ash in a coal-mixed combustion boiler in which biomass is used as renewable energy, the method comprising: ashing a sample to prepare an ashed test sample, the sample being obtained by mixing the biomass with coal that is main fuel of the coal-mixed combustion boiler, at a predetermined additive ratio; sintering the ashed test sample under a combustion temperature condition of the coal-mixed combustion boiler to generate sintered ash; testing the sintered ash by a rattler tester to obtain a sticking degree from a ratio obtained by dividing a weight of the sintered ash after the test by a weight of the sintered ash before the test; and evaluating in advance an adhesion state of the combustion ash in the coal-mixed combustion boiler on a basis of the sticking degree.

Disclosed herein are systems for imaging and ablating a sample. An imaging/ablating device includes an optical assembly, a sample stage, and a receiver. The optical assembly enables ablation of a region of interest within the sample. The laser light propagated from the optical assembly during ablation propagates substantially in the same direction as the direction of travel of the ablation plume toward the receiver. A laser focus detection unit including at least one reference laser and photodetector generates at least one real-time detection signal indicative of one or more characteristics of the sample during ablation and/or of a distance from the objective to the sample stage or a surface of the sample. A controller coupled with the laser focus detection unit dynamically controls in real-time one or more parameters of the ablation laser and/or a position of the objective and/or a position of the receiver relative to the sample to improve MS imaging quality.

A lysis device including a sample vessel, at least one piezo element, and a controller is disclosed. The sample vessel has a microchannel formed therein. The sample vessel has at least one port extending through a surface to the microchannel. The piezo element is attached to the surface of the sample vessel. The controller has logic to cause the controller to emit a first signal including a series of frequencies to the at least one piezo element to cause the at least one piezo element to generate ultrasonic acoustic standing waves in the sample vessel, to receive a second signal indicative of measured vibration signals from the sample vessel detected by the at least one piezo element, and to determine a resonant frequency of the sample vessel using the measured vibration signals.

A method for controlling pellet quality in iron ore production includes the steps of mixing water, binder and iron ore particles in at least one mixer to form a mixture (step (i)) and pelletizing the mixture into green pellets (step (ii)). Between step (i) and step (ii), a part of the mixture is taken in a sampling operation, formed into a test specimen and subjected to a test.

Methods and systems for performing sample lift-out and protective cap placement for highly reactive materials within charged particle microscopy systems are disclosed herein. Methods include preparing a nesting void in a support structure, translating at least a portion of a sample into the nesting void, and milling material from a region of the support structure that defines the nesting void. The material from the region of the support structure is milled such that at least some of the removed material redeposits to form an attachment bond between the sample and a remaining portion of the support structure. In various embodiments, the sample can then be investigated using one or more of serial sectioning tomography on the sample, enhanced insertable backscatter detector (CBS) analysis on the sample, and electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) analysis on the sample.

A Through-Silicon Via (TSV) product, a TSV sample, and a method for manufacturing the same are provided. The method includes operations as follows. A first metal layer is deposited on a bottom of each of TSVs, the first metal layer covering the bottom of the TSV. Pre-prepared adhesive is filled on an inner wall in a middle of each of TSVs of a to-be-processed sample. A second metal layer is deposited on a top of each of the TSVs, the second metal layer covering on the top of an opening of the TSV. A capping layer is deposited on the second metal layer, to obtain a preprocessed to-be-processed sample. The preprocessed to-be-processed sample is cut in a preset cutting manner by using a dual-beam Plasma Focused Ion Beam (PFIB), to form a TSV sample with a cross-section of each of the TSVs is exposed.

An example fluidic device includes an elastic tube, a first actuator coupled to an outer surface of the elastic tube between a first end and a second end of the elastic tube, and a second actuator coupled to the outer surface of the elastic tube between the first actuator and the second end of the elastic tube. The first actuator and the second actuator are configured to move apart from one another to transition a portion of the elastic tube positioned between the first actuator and the second actuator from a first condition to a second condition. A diameter of the elastic tube is greater in the first condition than in the second condition. The fluidic device also includes one or more rotatable components coupled to the first actuator and the second actuator which are configured to rotate the portion of the elastic tube positioned between the first actuator and the second actuator.

The subject matter disclosed herein is generally directed to isolating single cells and nuclei from tissue samples for use in the analysis of single cells from archived biological samples. The subject matter disclosed herein is directed to isolating single cells and nuclei from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues. The subject matter disclosed herein is also directed to isolating single nuclei that preserve ribosomes or ribosomes and rough ER from frozen tissues. The subject matter disclosed herein is also directed to therapeutic targets, diagnostic targets and methods of screening for modulating agents.

The invention relates to a device and the operating method therefor, for the fragmentation of a biological material within in a sealed sterile environment with an aseptic procedure.