Abstract: A rotary analysis apparatus and related methods are disclosed. The apparatus generally includes a rotary machine operable to rotate or spin a removable disk-type analytical cartridge. The cartridge includes a plurality of fluidly isolated processing trains for processing multiple samples simultaneously. Each process train includes an extractant mixing chamber, slurry filtration chamber, supernatant collection chamber, and reagent mixing chamber in fluid communication. In one use, soil sample slurry is prepared and added to the extractant mixing chamber. The slurry is mixed with an extractant by rotating the cartridge to separate out an analyte from the mixture. A sediment filter in the filtration chamber deliquifies and traps soil particles to produce clear supernatant. A color changing reagent or fluorescent agent may be mixed with the collected supernatant for subsequent colorimetric, fluorescent, turbidimetric, or other type of analysis.

Abstract: Provided herein are processes for preparing fluorescent 1-cyano-2-substituted isoindole compounds or N-substituted phthalazinium compounds, comprising reacting an aromatic dialdehyde or aromatic aldehyde-ketone compound with a material that contains primary amino or hydrazine groups, and assaying methods involving the processes thereof.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to methods of monitoring an environment for the presence of a solvent by: (i) exposing the environment to a luminescent compound, where the relative luminescence emission intensity of the luminescent compound changes upon interaction with the solvent; and (ii) monitoring a change in the relative luminescence emission intensity of the luminescent compound, where the absence of the change indicates the absence of the solvent from the environment, and where the presence of the change indicates the presence of the solvent in the environment. The luminescent compounds include a phosphorous atom with one or more carboxyl groups, where the carboxyl groups are coordinated with one or more metallic ions (e.g., lanthanide ions and yttrium ions). The present disclosure also pertains to sensors for monitoring an environment for the presence of a solvent, where the sensors include one or more of the aforementioned luminescent compounds.

Abstract: Compositions for testing soil to measure one or more of the following properties of soil: pH, buffer pH, potassium, phosphorus, calcium, and/or magnesium. Test methods for testing soil to measure one or more of the following properties of soil: pH, buffer pH, potassium, phosphorus, calcium, and/or magnesium. A multichamber cartridge containing two or more of the compositions in separate chambers.

Abstract: The synthesis and characterization of a platinum (II) terpyridine system tethered with a latent organic dye of rhodamine derivative as colorimetric and fluorescent sensory moiety has been reported to show selective Hg2+ ion sensing behavior. The interplay of aggregation/de-aggregation behavior of the alkynylplatinum(II) terpyridine complex and the ring-opening process of rhodamine derivative has been investigated. The spectral change of aggregation NIR emission at 800 nm and rhodamine fluorescence at 585 nm provides a possible ratiometric luminescence measurement. Morphological studies from TEM and SEM images showing nanospherical structures confirmed the aggregation in the absence of Hg2+ ion.

Abstract: A method for analyzing a diagnostic test may include receiving an image depicting a diagnostic test, wherein the diagnostic test comprises a test region indicating a test result, validating quality of the image, locating a test region image portion of the image depicting the test region of the diagnostic test; and predicting the test result based on the test region image portion. Furthermore, a method for facilitating analysis of a diagnostic test may include receiving one or more images depicting one or more control markings on a scan surface, wherein the one or more control markings are representative of one or more predetermined test results for the diagnostic test, and verifying detection of the one or more control markings in the one or more images using at least one computer vision technique.

Abstract: Cross-linked polymer networks that are at least partially conjugated (e.g., phenylene vinylene polymer networks). The cross-linked polymer networks may be thin-films disposed on a substrate. The cross-linked polymer network may be covalently bonded to the substrate. The cross-linked polymer networks can be used, for example, in methods of detecting explosives (e.g., RDX (cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine)) and degradation products thereof.

Abstract: The invention relates generally to compositions and methods for the detection of zinc. Provided herein is a class of zinc-responsive probes with tunable photophysical properties that can be modified for coupling to a solid support or other chemical moieties. In particular, modifications to the 5-position of the BODIPY core allows for alteration of probe properties and functionalities.

Abstract: Compositions, kits, and methods of using the kits and compositions to determine the hardness of and/or magnesium concentration in a solution are described. The kit can include a lyophilized composition that has an absorbance at a detectable wavelength in response to the hardness of the solution and or the concentration of magnesium in the solution.

Abstract: The teachings herein provide for a method of analyzing testosterone using mass spectrometry. The method entails combining in a vial or well, a tagging reagent that is reactive with testosterone, an aqueous precipitation agent that precipitate proteins from solution, and an internal standard solution, the internal standard solution containing a known concentration of an isotopically enriched testosterone and then adding to the vial or well, a sample containing or suspected to contain testosterone. The vial can then be mixed to cause simultaneous precipitation of proteins and reaction of any testosterone present with the tagging reagent to form a mixture of a precipitate and a liquid solution. The liquid solution can then be separated from any precipitate and then analyzed for testosterone using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry.

Abstract: Described are precursor compounds and methods for atomic layer deposition of films containing scandium(III) oxide or scandium(III) sulfide. Such films may be utilized as dielectric layers in semiconductor manufacturing processes, particular for depositing dielectric films and the use of such films in various electronic devices.

Abstract: A microfluidic structure in which a plurality of chambers arranged at different positions are connected in parallel and into which a fixed amount of fluid may be efficiently distributed without using a separate driving source, and a microfluidic device having the same. The microfluidic device includes a platform having a center of rotation and including at least one microfluidic structure. The microfluidic structure includes a sample supply chamber configured to accommodate a sample, a plurality of first chambers arranged in a circumferential direction of the platform at different distances from the center of rotation of the platform, and a plurality of siphon channels, each of the siphon channels being connected to a corresponding one of the first chambers.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to mass spectral analysis. In certain embodiments, methods of the invention involve analyzing a lipid containing sample using a mass spectrometry technique, in which the technique utilizes a liquid phase that does not destroy native tissue morphology during analysis. Due to the use of a liquid phase that does not destroy native tissue morphology during analysis, a subsequent staining technique can be performed on the tissue sample and an overlaid image can be produced of a mass spectral image and a staining image.

Abstract: A pipette tip for and method of automatically maintaining pipette tip depth in a fluid during a fluid transfer operation is disclosed. The pipette tip includes, for example, two electrodes that run substantially the full length of the pipette tip for measuring the resistance therebetween when submerged in a conductive fluid. A method is provided of automatically maintaining the depth of the pipette tip in a liquid throughout a pipetting operation, as the liquid surface rises or falls in its container, without any prior knowledge of the container geometry.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a nucleic acid collection column that collects a nucleic acid from a liquid sample containing the nucleic acid. The nucleic acid collection column includes a sample injection portion having an opening into which the liquid sample containing the nucleic acid is injected, a support adsorption portion that houses a support for adsorbing the nucleic acid and in which the nucleic acid is adsorbed on the support, and a discharge portion that discharges a liquid passed through the support adsorption portion. The support includes aluminum oxide having a surface where a water-soluble neutral polymer is adsorbed. A space that houses the support in the support adsorption portion has a cylindrical shape, and has a volume of 0.13 ?L or more and 13.5 ?L or less. An aspect ratio (d1/d2) of the space satisfies 1.0?d1/d2<15.0.

Abstract: The invention relates to strong hydrogen-bond acidic sorbents. The sorbents may be provided in a form that limits or eliminates intramolecular bonding of the hydrogen-bond acidic site between neighboring sorbent molecules, for example, by providing steric groups adjacent to the hydrogen-bond acidic site. The hydrogen bond site may be a phenolic structure based on a bisphenol architecture. The sorbents of the invention may be used in methods for trapping or detecting hazardous chemicals or explosives.

Abstract: Methods are provided for making rapid labeled dextran ladders and other calibrants useful in liquid chromatography. The methodologies include a two-step process comprising a reductive amination step of providing a reducing glycan and reacting it with a compound having a primary amine to produce an intermediate compound. The intermediate compound is then rapidly tagged with a rapid tagging reagent to produce the rapid labeled dextran ladder.

Abstract: A fluorescent compound for acid detection is strongly emissive in the solid state and can aggregate in the presence of an acid. As such, a fluorescent intensity emitted from the compound can be enhanced from an original intensity level in the presence of an acid. The fluorescent compound can emit an enhanced fluorescent intensity in the presence of an ultra-low acid concentration, for example, a concentration of at least about 10?20 M.

Abstract: The invention relates to strong hydrogen-bond acidic sorbents. The sorbents may be provided in a form that limits or eliminates intramolecular bonding of the hydrogen-bond acidic site between neighboring sorbent molecules, for example, by providing steric groups adjacent to the hydrogen-bond acidic site. The hydrogen bond site may be a phenolic structure based on a bisphenol architecture. The sorbents of the invention may be used in methods for trapping or detecting hazardous chemicals or explosives.

Abstract: An assay system for measuring transfer of lipid from a donor model biomembrane to an acceptor model biomembrane generally includes a donor model biomembrane that has a lipid with a detectable label, a lipid transfer protein that specifically binds the detectable lipid, and an acceptor model biomembrane. At least one of the donor model biomembrane and the acceptor model biomembrane is a bicelle-dilution model membrane.