A method for extracting an analyte from a solid sample is described. The sample is sealed in a porous membrane bag, which is sonicated in an organic solvent. An extract of the analyte forms in the bag and diffuses into the organic solvent. The organic solvent containing the extract may then be concentrated and analyzed for an analyte with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The method does not the use of a solid sorbent material, and does not require a step of centrifuging or filtering.

Example aspects of a volatile organic compound detection device, a wearable health monitoring device, and a method of monitoring a user's health are disclosed. The volatile organic compound detection device can comprise a collector comprising a collector material configured to collect volatile organic compounds given off from a user's skin; a separator comprising a gas chromatography column configured to separate mixtures of the volatile organic compounds into their constituent chemicals; and an identifier comprising a detector and a processor, the detector configured to transduce the constituent chemicals into a signal, the processor configured to process the signal to identify specific volatile organic compounds indicative of a health condition.

Improved formulations for purification of peptide from biological samples and methods and kits for purifying peptides from biological samples (e.g., cells and tissues), as well as use of purified peptides (e.g., polypeptides derived from protein digests) in mass spectrometry (e.g., LC-MS) applications are described.

A method for identifying converters from tobacco seedling population. The method includes: 1) sowing and cultivating tobacco seeds to be identified for 45-55 days; sampling a plurality of leaf disks from each of 45-55 days old seedlings; 2) incubating the plurality of leaf disks of each seedling in a sealed container at 37° C. for 10-12 hours, thereby obtaining a plurality of incubated tobacco leaves of each seedling; 3) immersing the plurality of incubated tobacco leaves of each seedling in an extractant, extracting alkaloids and obtaining an extract of each seedling; 4) analyzing the amounts of nicotine and nornicotine in the alkaloids extract of each seedling; and 5) automatically recognizing peaks of the alkaloids extract of each seedling, and calculating the percent nicotine conversion (PNC) and the pseudo percent nicotine conversion (PPNC).

The disclosed embodiments relate to the design of a preconcentrator system for preconcentrating air samples. This preconcentrator system includes a plurality of preconcentrators that preconcentrate the air samples prior to chemical analysis, and a delivery structure comprising a manifold that selectively routes a sample airflow to the plurality of concentrators so that the plurality of preconcentrators receive a sample airflow concurrently or individually.

Systems for monitoring metabolites may include a sample collection system and a urinalysis system of or for a toilet. The sample collection system may be automated to collect sample urine from a toilet or toilet area, transport the sample to the urinalysis system, and/or the sample urine for analysis at a later time or after analysis by the urinalysis system. The urinalysis system may be automated by proactively providing test material on which a subject may provide a urine sample. Once the urine sample has been provided the urinalysis system may provide the test material to an analyzer for analysis. Results of the analysis of the test material and sample urine may be provided to a mobile device of the subject and/or a remote server. The urinalysis system may provide a urine sample to a mass spectrometry unit for analysis.

Various approaches preparing Cannabis flower samples for analysis of cannabinoid content, the method comprising the steps of weighing the sample in a portable or benchtop balance; adding, to a container, the weighed sample and a solvent; agitating the vial and thereafter extracting a liquid component therefrom; and analytically analyzing the sample using the solvent based on the weight and a volume of the extracted liquid.

The present disclosure relates to methods of modifying complex extracts such that components or mixtures of components are selectively removed or added, thus providing a complex mixture that does not naturally occur with a refined or a tuned therapeutic or nutraceutical effect. In various aspects, the complex extract can be an extract obtained from one or more plants, e.g., an extract obtained from green tea leaves. The present disclosure pertains to compositions obtained by the disclosed methods, nutraceutical compositions comprising same, pharmaceutical compositions comprising same, and methods of treating various conditions, including physiological dysfunctions associated with elevated reactive oxygen species and/or inflammatory molecule, e.g., TNFα, expression using same. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present disclosure.

In various aspects, the present disclosure pertains to methods of performing a sample enrichment procedure, which comprise: adding a sample fluid that comprises at least one phospholipid and at least one target analyte to a sorbent that comprises a hydrophobic component and a cation exchange component, thereby resulting in sorbent with bound phospholipid and bound target analyte; adding an aqueous solution comprising an acidic compound and a salt; adding an organic solution to the sorbent thereby desorbing at least a portion of the bound phospholipid from the sorbent; and adding an elution solution to the sorbent, thereby desorbing at least a portion of the bound target analyte from the sorbent and forming a solution of the target analyte in the elution solution. In other aspects, the present disclosure pertains to kits, which may be used in conjunction with such methods.

The present invention relates to a method for providing information for the preemptive diagnosis of colorectal cancer with non-invasive biospecimens, wherein the excellent quantification of carcinogenic PhIP and MeIQx is achieved in terms of yields, when a biological sample, such as urine, is hydrolyzed with strong alkali reagents and then prepared through a specific liquid-liquid extraction, as compared to when the sample is prepared with other hydrolysis methods or extraction.