Abstract: Provided are an RNase activity inhibitory compound to effectively control the activity of the RNase promoting degradation of extracted RNAs and, in addition, a sample storage container including the same. The RNase activity inhibitory compound and the sample storage container according to the present invention may be effectively used to store RNAs during RNA extraction or the extracted RNAs.

Abstract: Provided is a water absorbing material having a granular core portion and a coating layer portion coating the granular core portion, which does not produce color before use and with which a test result can be determined only after use. In the water absorbing material, the coating layer portion is composed of 90 wt % to 96 wt % of a substrate and 10 wt % to 4 wt % of an excretion test material, the excretion test material contains a porous adsorbent having an adsorbance of 25 wt % or greater and including micropores, and an excretion test indicator adsorbed on the micropores of the porous adsorbent, and the excretion test indicator is added in an amount in the range of 0.015 wt % to 0.10 wt % relative to the total amount of the coating layer portion.

Abstract: Provided is a water absorbing material having a granular core portion and a coating layer portion coating the granular core portion, which does not produce color before use and with which a test result can be determined only after use. In the water absorbing material, the coating layer portion is composed of 90 wt % to 96 wt % of a substrate and 10 wt % to 4 wt % of an excretion test material, the excretion test material contains a porous adsorbent having an adsorbance of 25 wt % or greater and including micropores, and an excretion test indicator adsorbed on the micropores of the porous adsorbent, and the excretion test indicator is added in an amount in the range of 0.015 wt % to 0.10 wt % relative to the total amount of the coating layer portion.

Abstract: The present invention provides a naturally based Sperm Separation System (SSS) for separation of at least a portion of sperm cell populations (SCP) within an original semen sample, such that an enriched SCP sample is obtained, comprising a a sperm separation device, comprising ?) a first chamber adapted to contain at least a portion of said original semen sample, said first chamber is characterized by predetermined 3D shape and volume, V, said first chamber is bounded by a rim such that said orginal sample is kept below said rim, n) a second chamber in physical communication with said first chamber and said nm, said second chamber is characterized by predetermined 3D shape and volume, V1, said second chamber is adapted to reside said enriched SCP sample, b incubation means, adapted to socket at least one of said cell separation device and to homogeneously thermoregulate the temperature within the same.

Abstract: The present invention is related to the use of hydroxyalkanoic acid derivatives as a fuel additive. In particular, the present invention provides the use of lower alkyl esters and/or salts of hydroxyalkanoic acid as biofuels and/or fuel additives. The present invention also provides a fuel composition including at least one fuel and lower alkyl esters and/or salts of hydroxyalkanoic acid.

Abstract: The disclosed invention is a humidity indicating composition comprising (a) an organic pH indicator dye compound, (b) a Bronsted acid or base, (c) a polyol having the general formula HOCH2—(CHOH)n—CH2OH, wherein n can be 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4, and (d) a solvent; wherein said components (a), (b), (c) and (d) do not contain halogen and/or heavy metals. Furthermore, the invention relates to a humidity indicator card comprising a sheet substrate and the humidity indicating composition from which the solvent has been allowed to evaporate, and to a process for preparing said humidity indicator card.

Abstract: A fast acting sensor designed to accommodate an aqueous analyte-containing sample having a volume of less than one microliter and that can be used to quantify the amount and concentration of such analyte in the sample through light reflectance or fiber-optic light reflectance. The sensor includes a storage chamber, a capillary passage, and a reaction membrane. The storage chamber acts to collect the sample and to secure such sample while it undergoes detection. The capillary passage acts to direct the sample over the reaction membrane and controls the diffusion of the sample in the storage chamber. The reaction membrane contains all of the chemicals and enzymes needed to cause a color-change reaction when contacted with the sample. The amount of analyte can be determined by light reflectance intensity with an optical measurement instrument.

Abstract: A composition comprising synthetic peptides for use as a peptide retention standard in liquid chromatography applications is disclosed Said synthetic peptides have a broad range of hydrophobicity while maintaining low variation in their molecular weights The synthetic peptides disclosed consist of the ammo acid sequences LGGGGGGDGSR, LGGGGGGDFR, LLGGGGDFG, LLLGGDFR, LLLLDFR, LLLLLDFR A method of predicting the hydrophobicity of an unknown peptide in liquid chromatography using a composition of peptide retention standards and a method of developing a Universal Hydrophobicity Index (UHI) for the measurement of peptide hydrophobicity in liquid chromatography are also described.

Abstract: Systems and methods of screening biomarkers in bodily fluids. According to at least one embodiment of the system for analyzing stabilizing agents of the present disclosure, the system comprises a detection platform comprising a plurality of detection sites each capable of receiving a diagnostic marker, a stabilization agent, and a detection agent. The system, in at least one embodiment, further comprises a detection device capable of determining a binding characteristic between the detection agent and the diagnostic marker in the detection sites. Further, the system may also be able to compare the binding characteristic among a plurality of detection markers to order the level of effect of the stabilizing agents assayed on the binding characteristic between the detection agent and the diagnostic agent.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for automating laboratory protocols utilizing modular processing components to allow systems to be reconfigured for processing a wide variety of disparate laboratory protocols are provided. In one aspect, a sample processing module is provided, including a housing configured to accommodate a pre-identified sample process, a standardized temperature input capable of interfacing with a temperature controller, a standardized fluid input capable of interfacing with an input fluid controller, and a standardized agitation connector capable of interfacing with an agitator. These standardized components provide interchangeability of the module with a module having a housing configured to accommodate a different pre-identified sample process in a sample processing system.

Abstract: The present invention is directed immunoassay cuvettes that comprise diffusely bound and non-diffusely bound reagents for carrying out an immunoassay. The reaction and detection are carried out in the immunoassay cuvette. The immunoassay cuvette comprises a transparent front wall, a back wall, side walls, a bottom, and a top opening. The back wall of the cuvette has a substantially planar surface made of a non-porous material and comprises a capture zone having reagents non-diffusedly bound and a signal reagent zone having reagents diffusedly bound.

Abstract: The invention relates to processes and devices for detecting an analyte in a sample by fluorescence measurement of a fluorophore, wherein the detection medium which contains a fluorophore or a precursor of the fluorophore is admixed with an absorber whose absorbance spectrum superimposes the fluorescence excitation range of the fluorophore. The system consisting of the fluorophore and the absorber, which is produced in the detection medium, has an altered effective fluorescence excitation range with an altered fluorescence excitation maximum. Illumination with fluorescence excitation light can take place within the range of this altered excitation maximum. The measured signal obtained from determining fluorescence emission exhibits only low dependence on the wavelength of the excitation light.

Abstract: An oxygen sensor includes a metalloporphyrin for detecting oxygen levels. The oxygen sensors may also include a light source and a detector. The sensors are configured to measure changes in spectra in response to the redox reaction. They can detect a variety of samples for presence and changes in oxygen concentration in both solution and gaseous form.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide to apparatuses and media used in drug elution studies and methods for making and using them. One embodiment of the invention is a drug elution method that can be used for in-vitro studies of a matrix impregnated with a compound such as a drug blended polymer matrix. Such methods and materials can be used for example to assess and control the manufacturing process variability of drug eluting implantable devices such as cardiac leads.

Abstract: An immunodiagnostic test card includes a flat planar member and at least one dilution chamber that is supported by the flat planar member. The at least one dilution chamber can be disposed adjacent chambers used for testing a patient sample that are provided on the immunodiagnostic test card or can be provided separately.

Abstract: An indicator device adapted give a detectable signal when the antioxidant capacity of a sample of a mammalian wound fluid exceeds a predetermined minimum level which is characteristic of an infected wound. Also provided system for use in the diagnosis and treatment of wounds comprising the inventive diagnostic device and a wound dressing comprising at least one antimicrobial agent for selective application to infected wounds. Also provided are methods of diagnosis and treatment by means of the inventive device and system.

Abstract: Provided are methods of detecting the presence or amount of a vitamin D metabolite in a sample using mass spectrometry. The methods generally comprise ionizing a vitamin D metabolite in a sample and detecting the amount of the ion to determine the presence or amount of the vitamin D metabolite in the sample. Also provided are methods to detect the presence or amount of two or more vitamin D metabolites in a single assay.

Abstract: There is provided a method of monitoring for the presence of phosphate esters in jet fuel. The method comprises obtaining from a jet fuel source a jet fuel test sample suspected of containing phosphate esters. The method further comprises combining the jet fuel test sample with a polar solvent and a nonpolar solvent to form a mixture. The method further comprises agitating the mixture. The method further comprises extracting the polar solvent from the mixture. The method further comprises performing a combined gas chromatography and mass spectrometer analysis of the polar solvent to monitor for the presence of any phosphate esters and to obtain an actual concentration level of any phosphate esters. The method further comprises comparing the actual concentration level of any phosphate esters with a calibration standard concentration of phosphate esters in clean jet fuel.

Abstract: A chlorine gas sensor system includes carbon nanotubes at least partially coated with a metal oxide deposited on a substrate, and a source of infra-red light positioned to illuminate at least a portion of the coated nanotubes.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and article for storing genetic material or analytes from a biological sample by contacting said biological sample with a cellulose substrate comprising structural units of Formula I wherein X and Y are independently N—O-L-A or O, with the proviso that when Y is O, then X is N—O-L-A, and when X is O, then Y is N—O-L-A; L is a direct bond, an aliphatic radical, an aromatic radical, a cycloaliphatic radical, or a combination thereof; and A=COOH, SO3H, or a combination thereof. The invention also relates to a cellulose substrate comprising the structural units of Formula I, and a method of manufacturing the same.