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: 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 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: The present invention addresses the problem of providing a novel method for the pretreatment of a biological sample containing lenalidomide enantiomer and thereby establishing a simple and accurate method for the quantitative analysis of lenalidomide enantiomer. In the present invention, the racemization and decomposition of lenalidomide enantiomer in a biological sample can be prevented by the deproteinization under acidic conditions of the biological sample containing lenalidomide enantiomer, and the lenalidomide enantiomer can be simply and accurately quantitatively analyzed by subjecting to HPLC the biological sample that has been pretreated in such a way.

Abstract: A water hardness-measuring method and a fouling prevention method for hardness-measuring device include adding a colorant containing Eriochrome Black T and/or Calmagite and a sulfate ester-type anionic surfactant having a bonding unit derived from a sulfate ester including an alkyl group having 8 to 18 carbon atoms that may have one or more substituent in its chemical formula to a sample water.

Abstract: In the method of preparing a sample for analysis, a reaction is performed that produces different modified product depending on the sialic acid linkage type when a sialic acid is bound to a sugar chain of an analyte. In this reaction, an analyte containing a sugar chain, an amine containing two or more carbon atoms, and a dehydration-condensation agent are used. The sialic acid linkage type can be identified by analyzing the resulting sample with mass spectrometry etc. This method is applicable not only to free sugar chains but also to glycopeptides and glycoproteins.

Abstract: Fluid storage containers and analysis cartridges for use in assay processes are presented. In addition, systems comprising such storage containers and analysis cartridges and methods of using such containers and cartridges are presented as well. In specific embodiments, fluid storage containers are configured to be coupled to analysis cartridges in a first stage and a second stage.

Abstract: Fluidic devices and methods associated with mixing of fluids in fluidic devices are provided. In some embodiments, a method may involve the mixing of two or more fluids in a channel segment of a fluidic device. The fluids may be in the form of, for example, at least first, second and third fluid plugs, composed of first, second, and third fluids, respectively. The second fluid may be immiscible with the first and third fluids. In certain embodiments, the fluid plugs may be flowed in series in the channel segment, e.g., in linear order, causing the first and third fluids to mix without the use of active components such as mixers. The mixing of fluids in a channel segment as described herein may allow for improved performance and simplification in the design and operations of fluidic devices that rely on mixing of fluids.

Abstract: A micro-fluidic reactor may comprise a photosensitive glass substrate with a plurality of features produced by etching. The features may include micro-channels, micro-lenses, and slots for receiving optical fibers. During operation of the micro-fluidic reactor, the optical fibers may transmit optical signals for measuring characteristics of fluid reagents and reactions taking place. The micro-lenses may focus optical signals from the optical fibers to create an approximately collimated optical path for the optical signals, reducing optical spread and enhancing fiber-to-fiber optical power coupling.

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: 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: The present invention relates to a new method for the determination of free copper in serum. In particular to a method with a high degree of sensitivity and accuracy for the determination of free copper in serum samples of patients with Alzheimer's disease and Wilson's disease and other forms of free copper dyshomeostasis. The invention also relates to kits for the determination of free copper in serum comprising filter devices and coumarin fluorescent probe.

Abstract: A microfluidic device includes a substrate, a microchannel, a plurality of spaced-apart pillars, and a porous nanofiber structure. The substrate has a substrate top surface. The microchannel is indented downwardly from the substrate top surface. The pillars are disposed in the microchannel. Each of the pillars has a pillar top surface that is lower in level than the substrate top surface. The porous nanofiber web structure is formed in the microchannel, and includes a first web portion residing in a space formed among the pillars.

Abstract: A compact explosive detecting system collects explosive residues in the form of vapor powder. The residues are accumulated on a desorber which is subjected to pyrolysis to release a gaseous sample. The sample is pumped to a detecting system through a metering valve. A luminol cell reacts with the gaseous sample to create chemiluminescence, the light output of which is measured by a photo multiplier tube. The light intensity is indicative of the amount of explosive present. Based on the amount of explosive present, a metering valve is adjusted to pass the gaseous sample into a highly sensitive metal oxide sensor array to detect NO2 from nitrogen containing explosive and CO/CO2 from non nitrogen containing explosive. The metal oxide sensor array reliably selects explosives from those compounds indicating chemiluminescence.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a compound for detecting phosgene and DCP (diethyl chlorophosphate) and a composition for detecting phosgene and DCP (diethyl chlorophosphate) comprising the said compound. More precisely, the compound for detecting phosgene and DCP of the present invention can selectively detect phosgene and DCP either in the liquid phase of gas phase by detecting the changes of fluorescence and color development very quickly within a few seconds with nM sensitivity. Therefore, the compound can also be effectively used as an ingredient for the composition and kit for the detection of one or more materials selected from the group consisting of phosgene and DCP.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for specifically cleaving a C?-C bond of a peptide backbone and/or a side chain of a protein and a peptide, and a method for determining amino acid sequences of protein and peptide. A method for specifically cleaving a C?-C bond of a peptide backbone and/or a side chain bond of a protein or a peptide, comprising irradiating a protein or a peptide with laser light in the presence of at least one hydroxynitrobenzoic acid selected from the group consisting of 3-hydroxy-2-nitrobenzoic acid, 4-hydroxy-3-nitrobenzoic acid, 5-hydroxy-2-nitrobenzoic acid, 3-hydroxy-5-nitrobenzoic acid, and 4-hydroxy-2-nitrobenzoic acid. A method for determining an amino acid sequence of a protein or a peptide, comprising irradiating a protein or a peptide with laser light in the presence of the above specific hydroxynitrobenzoic acid to specifically cleave a C?-C bond of a peptide backbone and/or a side chain bond, and analyzing generated fragment ions by mass spectrometry.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to improved methods for separating and analyzing compounds by liquid chromatography, particularly when coupled with mass spectrometry. The methods include the addition of an additive to a mobile phase carrying a sample. The mobile phase additive may be effective for improving peak shapes of targeted analytes in acquired data, and/or eliminating or at least reducing ion suppression. The methods are particularly suited for anionic compounds such as phosphorylated compounds.

Abstract: A saturation indication system includes a sorbent body with a film backing being irreversibly bonded to the sorbent body. A universal indicating ink formulation is at least partially coated onto the film backing such that the ink formulation is disposed between the film backing and the sorbent body. The universal indicating ink formulation includes a resin and a dye dispersed in the resin. The dye is configured to indicate a state of saturation of the sorbent body, with the resin and the dye being soluble in a plurality of categories of sorbates consisting of hydrophobic sorbates, hydrophilic sorbates, neutral sorbates, and amphiphilic sorbates.

Abstract: A method of selective detection of a concentration of a metal ion species in a subject is provided in which a biofluid sample is obtained from the subject. The biofluid sample is exposed to a functionalized porous aromatic polymer. The polymer selectively captures and concentrates the metal ion species from the biofluid. Subsequently, the biofluid is washed from the polymer. The polymer is then exposed to a solution comprising a colorimetric indicator that extracts the metal ion species from the washed polymer thereby changing a color of the solution as a function of an amount of the metal ion species in the polymer. The concentration of the metal ion species in the subject is then spectroscopically determined from the color of the solution.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a multi-functional microfluidics device capable of isolation of nucleic acids, purification of nucleic acids, performance of Polymerase Chain Reactions (PCRs), in situ hybridization of nucleic acids, fluorescent signal detections and the like. The apparatus comprises an integration of a plurality of reagent chambers, a sample input, a reaction chamber, a detection chamber, and a waste chamber; wherein the plurality of reagent chambers is fluidly connected to the reaction chamber, and is configured to store a plurality of reagents; wherein the sample input is fluidly connected to the reaction chamber, and is configured to receive a sample; wherein the waste chamber is fluidly connect to the reaction chamber and is configured to receive a reaction waste from the reaction chamber.