Abstract: The invention features a novel non-invasive approach for imaging, detecting and/or sensing metal ions with improved sensitivity and specificity in a biological sample or tissue. In certain embodiments, the invention provides a MR contrast-based approach for imaging, detecting and/or sensing metal ions in the biological sample/tissue containing various background ions by using 19F-based chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) technique.

Abstract: A method of extracting an analyte from a sample is described. The sample is added to a sample container. A liquid solvent and a gas are added into the sample container. The addition of the gas is controlled to establish an elevated pressure within the sample container. The liquid solvent is heated to an elevated temperature that is below the boiling temperature of the liquid solvent at the elevated pressure. A type of gas is used that does not transition to a supercritical fluid at the elevated temperature and pressure used in the extraction process. The analyte can dissolve from the solid sample into the liquid solvent. Next, at least a portion of the liquid solvent containing the dissolved analyte can be removed from the sample container for subsequent analysis.

Abstract: A curable composition having a polythiol; at least one unsaturated compound comprising more than one carbon-carbon double bond, carbon-carbon triple bond, or a combination thereof; and a dye compound represented by formula (I). A crosslinked composition prepared from the curable composition, a method of making an at least partially crosslinked network, a method for indicating curing in a curable composition, and a method of stabilizing a curable composition comprising a polythiol and at least one unsaturated compound comprising more than one carbon-carbon double bond, carbon-carbon triple bond, or a combination thereof are also disclosed. Z is not reactive with the polythiol or unsaturated compound.

Abstract: A method for analyzing related substances in a pharmaceutical composition containing an amphiphilic block copolymer comprising a hydrophilic block and a hydrophobic block as a polymeric drug carrier, related substances identified thereby, and a method for evaluating a pharmaceutical composition by using the same are provided. Preferably, the method comprises evaluating a polymeric micelle pharmaceutical composition, which comprises an amphiphilic block copolymer comprising a hydrophilic block (A) and a hydrophobic block (B), and paclitaxel or docetaxel as a poorly water-soluble drug, by using a compound represented by Chemical Formula 1, wherein the hydrophilic block (A) comprises one or more selected from the group consisting of polyethylene glycol or derivatives thereof, polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyvinyl alcohol, polyacrylamide and combinations thereof; and the hydrophobic block (B) is polylactide.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present application sets forth a method for predicting recurrence of cancerous cells in a patient that includes measuring, by a first subset of electrodes included in an electrode array operating at a first frequency, a first impedance of a first section of a first sample of tissue excised from the patient, computing a first Cole relaxation frequency for the first section of the first sample based on the first impedance, and generating a first prediction relating to cancerous cells in the patient based at least in part on the first Cole relaxation frequency.

Abstract: A method of diagnosis or prediction of infection of a mammalian wound, said method comprising the step of detecting the presence of a cytokine selected from the group comprising procalcitonin, amino procalcitonin (N-ProCT), eotaxin, granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF), interleukins IB monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1), macrophage inflammatory protein-1 alpha (MIP-1a), regulated upon activation normal T expressed and secreted (RANTES) in fluid taken from the wound. Also claimed is the device for use in the method.

Abstract: A portable analytical device includes a housing, a measuring facility and a processor in the housing, and an electrical connector having one end electrically connected to the processor and an opposite end operatively connectable to an external electronic device. The measuring facility is configured to analyze a change in a test element resulting from receipt thereon of a liquid sample of a body fluid and to generate measuring values resulting from the analysis. A memory has instructions stored therein executable by the processor to process the measuring values to generate analytical measuring data based thereon and to output the generated analytical measuring data onto the electrical connector. The analytical device does not include an intrinsic user interface for displaying the generated analytical measuring data. Display of the generated analytical measuring data is implemented exclusively by the external electronic device having received the generated analytical measuring data via the electrical connector.

Abstract: A multi-phase system includes a phase-separated solution comprising at least two phases, each phase having a phase component selected from the group consisting of a polymer, a surfactant and combinations thereof, wherein at least one phase comprises a polymer, wherein the phases, taken together, represent a density gradient. Novel two-phase, three-phase, four-phase, five-phase, or six-phase systems are disclosed. Using the disclosed multi-phase polymer systems, particles, or other analyte of interest can be separated based on their different densities or affinities.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods of measuring a hydrogen diffusivity of a metal structure including during operation of the metal structure, are provided. A hydrogen charging surface is provided at a first location on an external surface of the structure. In addition, a hydrogen oxidation surface is provided at a second location adjacent to the first location on the external surface of the structure. Hydrogen flux is generated and directed into the metal surface at the charging surface. At least a portion of the hydrogen flux generated by the charging surface is diverted back toward the surface. A transient of the diverted hydrogen fluxes measured, and this measurement is used to determine the hydrogen diffusivity of the metal structure in service.

Abstract: A compound is provided which has dual emission properties and which is useful in light devices, and which has formula (I): wherein: A represents an electron-withdrawing group; D represents an electron-donating group; X is selected from the group consisting of: O, S and NR, wherein R is selected from the group consisting of: H, an alkyl group preferably comprising from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, an aryl group preferably comprising from 6 to 22 carbon atoms, and a heteroaryl group; n is an integer from 1 to 4; m is an integer from 1 to 6; and represents a condensed bicyclic aromatic radical comprising from 6 to 22 carbon atoms, and from 1 to 3 heteroatom(s) selected from the group consisting of: N, S and O; the OH group being in ortho position of the condensed bicyclic aromatic radical relative to the radical.

Abstract: The present invention relates to new probes and methods for determining the concentration of copper. In particular the present invention refers to a method for determining the concentration of “free” copper in a serum or blood sample with a high degree of sensitivity and accuracy.

Abstract: Device and method for extraction of nucleic acids, comprising a hollow body, preferably a pipette tip, through which a liquid is passed, characterized in that a material with rough or structured surface is disposed in this hollow body in such a way that it can be circumcirculated by a liquid. After lysis of the sample and adjustment of necessary binding conditions for adsorption of the nucleic acids on the carrier material, the mixture, by means of pipetting processes, is repeatedly “pipetted along” the material for binding nucleic acids, introduced vertically in the pipette tip. The nucleic acids bind to the material. Thereupon washing buffers are likewise “pipetted along” the material for binding nucleic acids. Then a drying step is performed. Finally, the eluent is again repeatedly “pipetted along” the vertically disposed material for binding nucleic acids, and in the process the bound nucleic acid is detached. The nucleic acid is now available for necessary downstream application.

Abstract: A detection method for a quaternary ammonium compound having a ?-carboxyl group includes: mixing a sample including the quaternary ammonium compound having the ?-carboxyl group, a fluorescent compound having a fluorophore and a polar aprotic solvent to form a reaction solution. A SN2 nucleophilic substitution reaction is performed between the fluorophore of the fluorescent compound and the ?-carboxyl group of the quaternary ammonium compound to obtain a derivation solution including a derivative which is a quaternary ammonium compound with the ?-carboxyl group substituted with the fluorophore of the fluorescent compound. An extractant and a cosolvent are added to the derivation solution to form a water-in-oil emulsion which disperses in the derivation solution, followed by extracting the derivative from the derivation solution by the extractant to obtain an analytic solution, wherein a polarity of the extractant is higher than a polarity of the polar aprotic solvent.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for automating laboratory protocols utilizing cooperative efforts between differing components including fluidics, agitation and thermal control 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 temperature input capable of interfacing with a temperature controller, a fluid input capable of interfacing with an input fluid controller, a fluid output capable of interfacing with an output fluid controller, and a standardized agitation connector capable of interfacing with an agitator. A control system interfaces with the temperature input, fluid input, fluid output, and agitation connector to enable the system to perform laboratory protocols that require complex, sequential fluidic steps in association with the temperature and agitation control.

Abstract: A method is provided for in vitro identification of drug-resistant epilepsy, which is based on the evaluation, in a biological sample, of the concentration of the metabolites 3-OH-butyrate, acetoacetate, choline, alanine, glutamate, scyllo-inositol, glucose, lactate and citrate.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a fluorescent compound represented by the following general formula and having fluorescence characteristics that vary in the presence of a subject substance, wherein R1 and R2 each independently represent a carboxyl group, or a substituent containing a carboxyl group, and R3 and R4 each independently represent a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an alkoxy group, a halogen atom, a hydroxyl group, a carboxyl group, or a substituent containing a carboxyl group.

Abstract: A sensor can include a conductive region in electrical communication with at least two electrodes, the conductive region can include a complex, and the complex can include a carbon nanotube that is functionalized by a porphyrin.

Abstract: A sample receptacle including one or more receptacle cavities each having an opening dimensioned such that a liquid within the cavity is retained when the cavity opening is oriented downwardly and/or a gas vent in the base of each cavity sized and positioned to allow gases contained within the cavity to egress whilst preventing the egress of liquid at atmospheric pressure. A sample liquid may be poured into the sample receptacle so that the level of the sample liquid is above each cavity opening and the sample receptacle inverted so as to remove liquid above each cavity whilst retaining sample liquid in each sample receptacle when inverted. This may be used for sample separation or to provide relatively uniform sample volumes to sample wells of a sample container when mated. In another embodiment plungers may be used to eject liquid from receptacle wells via an aperture in the base of each receptacle well.

Abstract: Disclosed is a platelet-testing chip. The platelet-testing chip includes a plurality of sample chambers storing blood samples, stirrers provided in the sample chambers to apply shearing force to the blood samples, a plurality of waste sample chambers provided so as to correspond to the plurality of the sample chambers, microchannels, through which the sample chambers and the waste sample chambers corresponding to each other are independently connected to thus form paths through which the blood samples flow from the sample chambers to the corresponding waste sample chambers, and microbeads which are received in one or more of the plurality of the sample chambers and which are coated with a reagent for activating platelets on an outer surface thereof. When the blood samples are transferred from the sample chambers through the microchannels, the microbeads are transferred together with the blood samples.

Abstract: Devices for non-invasive, label-free separation of particles in liquid, including circulating tumors cells in blood, are provided. Embodiments of the disclosure provide for devices employing magnetic fluids and magnets for separation of circulating tumor cells from blood. Methods for separation of particles including circulating tumor cells are also provided.