Abstract: There is disclosed an analytical element which comprises a support and a reagent layer comprising a peroxidative substance, a diffusion-resistant phenol compound, and an aromatic primary amine compound or its salt which brings about a coupling reaction with said diffusion-resistant phenol compound when oxidized, to thereby produce a dyestuff.

Abstract: A method of quantitatively determining the amount of hemoglobin in a biological material which includes the steps of preparing a test sample of the biological material by removing contaminating elements such as sources of interfering fluorescence, converting the hemoglobin in the test sample to porphyrin, performing an extraction step for the purpose of separating the porphyrins derived from hemoglobin from various contaminants and determining the level of porphyrin in the test sample by means such as fluorescence assay.

Abstract: A method for determining the iron-binding capability of transferrin, consisting in adding to the sample being tested a reagent composed of a solution of a ferric salt adsorbed onto a suspension of magnesium carbonate, centrifuging the mixture so obtained and measuring the iron blocked by transferrin in the supernatant. The method is preferably carried out by utilizing a particular composition consisting of a single reagent composed of a suspension of a solution of a ferric salt absorbed on magnesium carbonate, possibly a medium capable of maintaining the pH between 8 and 9, if desired, a colorimetric reagent for the determination of iron.

Abstract: Compounds of the general formula ##STR1## wherein R represents an alkyl group of 1 to 3 carbon atoms or the group N(R.sub.2).sub.2, in which R.sub.2 represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group of 1 to 3 carbon atoms, or an acyl group of 1 to 3 carbon atoms, and R.sub.1 has the same meaning as R or is a hydrogen atom, are new and are suitable as chromogens for measuring H.sub.2 O.sub.2 formation in enzymatic reactions.

Abstract: A method of determining heat losses due to incomplete fuel combustion consists in that periodic sampling of fuel combustion products is carried out. The sample is separated into two parts, one of which includes a gaseous phase, and the other, solid and gaseous phases. Oxygen concentration in each part is assessed, after which both parts are heated and burnt up to determine oxygen concentration after burning. Oxygen losses in the gaseous phase and in the mixture of the solid and the gaseous phases are determined, and heat losses due to chemical and total underburning of fuel are defined as the ratio between oxygen losses. Then heat losses due to mechanical underburning of fuel are estimated as the difference of heat losses due to total chemical and mechanical underburning, and chemical underburning of fuel.

Abstract: Filter cake formed from a slurry is dried in a filter press comprising a plurality of filtration units each having a chamber bounded by a pair of opposed flexible walls with at least one of said walls being constituted by a filter medium. The flexible walls are sandwiched between flexible membranes. The filter cake is formed and compressed in the chambers by hydraulic fluid pressure acting on the flexible membranes. By means of pressure oscillations set up in the hydraulic fluid, the filter cake in the chambers is deformed by bowing from side to side of an initial central plane, whereby drying is improved.

Abstract: A method and apparatus has been provided to locate a subterranian precious ore and/or sulfide body from which mercury gas is emanating. The apparatus includes an inverted plastic drinking cup from which a mercury-free silver wire is suspended from its end. This is accomplished by inserting the end of the wire into a foam insulation disk located in the bottom of the inverted cup. Alternatively, wire may be attached within a cap of a storage vial. The cap has an adhesive on the outer surface which adheres it to the bottom of the cup, whereupon the vial is removed from the cap to expose the wire. A foil disk is placed on the outside of the bottom of the cup. A plurality of cups are buried in the ground forming a dead air space around the wire, for a period of weeks wherein any mercury-vapor in the ground in the area of the cup is adsorbed by the wire. These cups are arranged in a predetermined array and are subsequently located by means of a metal detector which can detect the metal foil on the cups.

Abstract: A self-cleaning filter installed in a cylindrical conduit for a liquid to be cleaned, such as cooling water for an industrial power plant, comprises a sieve spanning the conduit and undulating between an upstream and a downstream transverse plane. The interior of the conduit is divided into two or more sectoral compartments which are bounded by corresponding sieve segments on the downstream side and are provided with respective peripheral outlets leading to a drain, these outlets being normally closed by associated shutoff valves. To clean any sieve segment bounding a particular compartment, the upstream entrance to that compartment is obstructed by a flap valve while the corresponding shutoff valve is opened to generate a reverse flow across that sieve segment.

Abstract: A device for diluting concentrated chemicals into a receptacle. A storage container is provided for storing concentrated chemicals engageable with a receptacle and a water source for diluting said chemical and providing same in diluted form to said receptacle. The storage container is provided with a water inlet at one end and an outlet at the other end. The storage container is further provided with a collar which engages both the storage container and the inlet means of the receptacle.

Abstract: An improved conjugated (direct) bilirubin assay comprises treating a sample to be assayed with a buffer having a pH of about 4 to 5 and containing iodide ions thereby decreasing the oxidation of hemoglobin to methemoglobin and preventing conjugated bilirubin from being oxidized to biliverdin. The iodide also prevents the destruction of the azopigment by the hemoglobin. The assay further comprises adding a diazo reagent to the treated sample, incubating the resulting mixture, adding ascorbic acid, alkaline tartrate and a caffeine reagent and then reading the absorbence at 600 nm. The concentration of direct bilirubin is calculated by comparison to the absorbance of unconjugated standard(s) analyzed by a method for total bilirubin. The improved assay is more accurate than prior art methods because hemoglobin interference is negligible. In a preferred embodiment the buffer is sodium acetate buffer having a pH of about 4.75 which contains 3 to 30 grams/L of potassium iodide.

Abstract: A test chamber is disclosed for determining the bioluminescent signatures of planktonic organisms in which a light tight chamber has at least one light port, and preferably two light ports, where photomultiplier tubes are connected to the test chamber for detecting and measuring the flash kinetics of marine organisms. A door is pivotally mounted on the light tight chamber for permitting insertion and withdrawal of an organism sample holder. A vacuum tube is connected to the test chamber and to the sample holder via a passageway such that the organism can be excited by means of drawing off the fluid containing the organism. The bioluminescent characteristics of the organisms in the sample holder can then be detected and measured by means of the photomultiplier tubes.

Abstract: In a method of photoelectrically judging a particle agglutination pattern formed on a conical bottom surface of a reaction vessel by particles descending upon the bottom surface, at least two judging steps utilizing a total particle amount, a thickness ratio, an inclination and so on are applied to the particle agglutination pattern to judge finally the pattern as one of an integral pattern (-), an intermediate pattern (?) and a uniform deposition pattern (+). In this manner, since all the inaccurate patterns are judged finally as the intermediate pattern (?) and are re-examined, it is possible to always perform an accurate judgment for the particle agglutination pattern.

Abstract: An apparatus for preparing a sample of liquid for examination and analysis. The apparatus includes a tube closed at one end and open at the other, and a pipette dimensioned for insertion into the tube. The pipette has a sealing surface which is slightly smaller in diameter than the inside diameter of the tube. Protruding from the sealing surface is a rib which is aligned along the longitudinal axes of the pipette and which engages a portion of the inside wall of the tube to maintain the pipette in the tube.

Abstract: A tubular test device for testing occult blood in fecal matter using hydrogen peroxide in an ampoule and 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine as the chromogen dissolved in chloroform to impregnate a cellulosic pledget which, when dried, is substantially colorless and is introduced adjacent a sampling swab into the device to lie adjacent the ampoule containing dilute hydrogen peroxide and a wetting agent. A special conditioning pre-coating for the pledget before impregnation with liquid chromogen in chloroform is provided consisting of hydroxyethylcellulose dissolved in an aqueous non-volatile acid buffer such as citric acid and sodium citrate to maintain a pH of 5-7, and then dried. The swab takes a sample of fecal matter. A cap is placed over the swab. The ampoule is broken.

Abstract: A solid phase scintillation counting method is provided wherein a scintillating material is added to an inert carrier and a radioactive substance is caused to contact the carrier either before or after the scintillating material has been applied. The treated carrier is then counted in the solid state in a liquid scintillation counter without the necessity of dissolving the radioactive substance in a liquid solution containing a scintillator. The invention provides a highly efficient and very convenient method for counting low energy radioactive isotopes such as .sup.14 C and .sup.3 H.

Abstract: A well logging method is disclosed for identifying the presence of crude petroleum within subsurface earth formations by detecting electron spin resonance signals along a well bore and identifying crude petroleum as the source of those signals by enhancing and/or suppressing the signal by the presence of a chemical. Electron spin resonance signals from crude oil are enhanced by the presence of iodine and suppressed by the presence of ferric chloride.

Abstract: A process for characterizing sperm motility and viability by staining a sperm sample with Rhodamine 123 and ethidium bromide, and simultaneously measuring the sperm fluorescence emissions at green frequencies 515-575 nm and at red frequencies 600-650 nm, the green counts being correlated with sperm motility and the red counts being correlated with putative dying or dead cells. Additionally, a sample of sperm can be characterized as to type and normality by staining a sample of sperm with acridine orange and simultaneously measuring the sperm fluorescence emissions at green frequencies 515-575 nm and at red frequencies 600-650 nm.

Abstract: An analytical element for use in analysis of a component in an aqueous fluid, comprising(a) a light-transmissive support;(b) a reagent layer; and(c) a porous spreading layer,being characterized in that the reagent layer contains a substantially water-dispersible copolymer obtained by copolymerization of at least one copolymerizable monomer, which is water soluble and has a nonionizable group in the side chain, with at least one copolymerizable hydrophobic monomer.The analytical element of this invention is good with less formation of fogging, higher in color forming density and indicating higher sensitivity.

Abstract: An optical sensor comprising a selectively permeable matrix of hydrophobic material and a plurality of hydrophilic beads dispersed in the matrix. At least some of the beads carry an optical indicator. The matrix is capable of transmitting light at least at selected wavelengths from outside the matrix to the beads.

Abstract: A testing tube comprises a glass tube having breakable tips at each end which may be broken to facilitate the passage of gas to be tested through the tube. The tube is separated by a plurality of mounting elements for resilient discs into a plurality of separate chambers which includes a chamber having a breakable ampule therein and a chamber having a layer of reaction material therein. In addition, the test tube contains a filter element which is located between two adjacent chambers. The filter element comprises a tubular ring member which is insertable in the glass tube and has an outwardly flaring end adjacent one end which bears tightly against the walls of the tube and permits the insertion of a filter disc into the flaring end so that it rests against a support ledge in the bore of the ring member. The filter is held by a cover portion which includes a resilient ring having a bead which engages into a groove defined in the bore overlying the ledge.