Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure may be configured to permit development and validation of a device driver or a device application program by using improved virtual devices. Such improved virtual devices may facilitate driver development without use of physical devices or hardware prototypes. In various embodiments, advanced validation of a device-driver combination may be permitted that would be difficult to achieve even with a physical device. Certain embodiments also may detect inconsistencies between virtual and physical devices, which may be used to improve drivers and device application programs and increase compatibility of such drivers and device application programs with physical devices.

Abstract: Probes for selectively detecting compounds comprising a thiol group and an amino group (“thiols”) are disclosed. Exemplary thiols include cysteine, homocysteine, and glutathione. Embodiments of the disclosed probes produce a detectable change in absorbance spectrum and/or emission spectrum when reacted with one or more thiols in solution. Methods and kits for performing the detection also are disclosed. The probes have a general formula where each bond depicted as “” is a single or double bond; R1, R3-R6 and R8 independently are hydrogen, hydroxyl, thiol, lower alkyl, carboxyalkyl, amino, alkoxy, or halogen; R2 is an ?,?-unsaturated aliphatic ester; R7 is oxygen, sulfur, hydrogen, hydroxyl, thiol, lower alkyl, carboxyalkyl, amino, alkoxy, or halogen, or R7 and R8 together form a cycloalkyl or aryl ring; X1 is CH2, S, NH, O, Se, Si(CH3)2, Ge(CH3)2, Sn(CH3)2, or C(CH3)2; and X2 is CH, CH2, N, NH, or CR9 where R9 is aryl.

Abstract: Embodiments of compounds for selectively detecting an analyte are disclosed, along with methods and kits for detecting analytes with the compounds. The compounds are bridged viologen conjugates including at least one fluorophore according to the general structure At least one of R1/R2, R2/R3, R3/R4, R5/R6, R6/R7, and/or R7/R8 together form a substituted or unsubstituted cycloalkyl or aryl.

Abstract: Embodiments of near-infrared (NIR) dyes are disclosed, along with methods and kits for detecting analytes with the NIR dyes. The NIR dyes have a structure according to the general structure At least one of R1/R2, R2/R3, R3/R4, R5/R6, R6/R7, and/or R7/R8 together forms a substituted or unsubstituted cycloalkyl or aryl.

Abstract: Certain embodiments of the present invention are configured to permit development and validation of a device driver or a device application program by using improved virtual devices. Such improved virtual devices facilitate driver development without use of real devices or hardware prototypes. The present invention also may be configured to permit advanced validation of a device-driver combination that would be difficult to achieve even with a real device. Certain embodiments also may detect inconsistencies between virtual and real devices, which may be used to improve drivers and device application programs and increase compatibility of such drivers and device application programs with real devices.