Abstract: In methods and apparatus for cooling surfaces, a pressurized liquid refrigerant is dispensed through a shaped member composed of an open celled foam. The method is particularly useful for localized freezing of a wart or other growth prior to its removal from skin of a human being or another animal.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing activated, substantially monodisperse, phosphorescent particles and particles formed thereby. The method suspends substantially monodisperse, phosphor-precursor particles in a fluidizing gas and then introduces a reactive gas to contact the suspended phosphor-precursor particles. Heating the suspended phosphor-precursor particles to a reaction temperature then forms unactivated phosphorescent particles. In another embodiment, the phosphor-precursor particles may be heated to a reaction temperature where they decompose to form the unactivated phosphor particles. The unactivated phosphorescent particles suspended within the fluidizing gas are activated by heating the unactivated phosphorescent particles to an activation temperature forming activated, substantially monodisperse, phosphorescent particles.

Abstract: A solution-based assay for determining the presence of peroxidatively-active substance in a bodily fluid is described. The solution-based assay contains a spectrophotometric substrate, a hydroperoxide, a pH 6.0-7.0 buffer, a surfactant, and a solvent such as DMSO, THF, DMF, or mixtures thereof, with the balance of the solution being water. The solution-bascd assay is particularly useful in qualitative and quantitative assays for urinary hemoglobin. Solution-based assay kits and assay methods are also described.