Abstract: A method and a device for measuring an oxygen content of a headspace gas in a beverage can. The beverage can is oriented upside down to allow the headspace gas to collect at the bottom. A hollow piercer on a piercing head forms a sampling opening in the bottom of the can through which the sampling tube penetrates. The liquid level in the beverage can is lowered to establish a direct connection of the gas-filled headspace and the sampling opening. Then the headspace gas is transported from the headspace to a sensor unit via the sampling tube and/or the hollow piercer or the piercing head. The oxygen content and/or an oxygen partial pressure and/or a headspace volume of the headspace gas are determined by the sensor unit. The sampling opening is closed off airtight by sealing elements arranged on the piercer or the piercing head.

Abstract: A method for measuring a proportion of sA1c (%), which includes, when a peak derived from abnormal hemoglobin D, abnormal hemoglobin S or abnormal hemoglobin C is identified, calculation of the peak area, and measurement of the proportion of sA1c (%) corrected by using the calculation results. Results of measurement are obtained, by cation exchange chromatography, of sA1c (%) with a subject who provided a blood sample containing abnormal hemoglobin D, abnormal hemoglobin S or abnormal hemoglobin C by eliminating influences by such abnormal hemoglobin.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are compositions that include oxygen, a sugar or sugar alcohol, and an amino acid, wherein the amino acid is present in an amount sufficient to stabilize the oxygen. Also provided are aqueous diagnostic quality controls or calibration reagents and methods of stabilizing oxygen in a liquid solution.

Abstract: A reagent dispenser includes a housing. A container of microbial inhibitor is disposed within the housing. A dispensing system is disposed within the housing and operable to dispense the microbial inhibitor from the container. The dispensing system is calibrated to dispense a calibrated weight per water sample of the microbial inhibitor, such that a ratio of the calibrated weight per water sample to inner volume of a sample bottle substantially equals a predetermined concentration of microbial inhibitor per liter of water determined to acidify water to a pH of 4 or less.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide an interrogation device that is operable to apply one or more source signals to one or more coils surrounding a volume, where a material is disposed within the volume. Each of the one or more source signals may excite one of the one or more coils, and the behavior of each the one or more coils responsive to the exciting may be monitored. One or more parameters may be determined based on the behavior of each the one or more coils, and the one or more parameters may be utilized to generate a signature for the material within the volume. The signature may be compared to one or more signatures of known materials to identify the material within the volume.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods for detecting a presence or absence of an antimicrobial surface coating including applying at least one detectable fluorophoric dye compound to a substrate, irradiating the surface of the substrate with ultraviolet radiation in the 100-415 nm wavelength range to excite the detectable fluorophoric dye compound, observing fluorescence of the excited fluorophoric dye compound, and determining the presence or absence of the antimicrobial surface coating based on the observed fluorescence. Further disclosed are antimicrobial surface coating solutions, methods for their application, and methods for confirming the presence and coverage of antimicrobial surface coatings.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method for enhancing the recovery factor of heavy oil by in-situ oil-water emulsion with high phase inversion point, and the method is aimed at the development of heavy oil reservoir by water injection under the condition that the performance parameters of crude oil emulsion meet the following three specific requirements: (A) The viscosity of the crude oil is less than 6,000 mPa·s; (B) At the reservoir temperature, the phase inversion point of the crude oil emulsion is greater than or equal to 70%, and the emulsion viscosity corresponding to the phase inversion point is 2-6 times of the crude oil viscosity; (C) At the reservoir temperature, when the water cut is less than or equal to the phase inversion point, the flow rate ratio of crude oil emulsion to crude oil is 0.2 to 0.9.

Abstract: A device for detecting volatile compounds. The device includes a substrate and a matrix disposed on the substrate. The matrix includes a carboxyl-rich binder, a clay, and a pH-sensitive indicator dye admixed with the binder and the clay. The pH-sensitive indicator dye is dimensioned and configured to change color in response to contact with a pre-determined concentration of a volatile compound.

Abstract: Environmentally-friendly, aqueous concentrated reagent compositions are provided for dilution and use in suitable hematology analyzers for analyzing blood cells including for enumeration and sizing of blood cells, determination of hemoglobin parameters and differentiation of leukocyte subpopulations in a single blood cell sample.

Abstract: Methods are described for measuring the amount of one or more of vitamin A, ?-tocopherol, and the combination of ?-tocopherol and ?-tocopherol in a sample. More specifically, mass spectrometric methods are described for detecting and quantifying one or more of vitamin A, ?-tocopherol, and the combination of ?-tocopherol and ?-tocopherol in a sample.

Abstract: The present invention relates to new biomarkers for assessing ovarian cancer being more sensitive, particularly at early stage of disease. Moreover, the present invention relates to a method for assessing ovarian cancer from a patient to be examined, and to a kit for carrying out the method.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to systems and methods for quantifying an analyte extracted from a sample. In certain embodiments, the invention provides methods that involve introducing a solvent into a capillary, introducing the capillary into a vessel including a sample such that a portion of the sample is introduced into the capillary, moving the sample and the solvent within the capillary to induce circulation within the sample and the solvent, thereby causing the analyte to be extracted from the sample and into the solvent, analyzing the analyte that has been extracted from the sample, and quantifying the analyte. In certain embodiments, the quantifying step is performed without knowledge of a volume of the sample and/or solvent.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a metabolic biomarker set for use in assessing breast cancer in a mammalian subject. In particular, the invention relates to a metabolic biomarker set for screening and/or diagnosing breast cancer, the metabolic biomarker set including at least (a) one amino acid selected from glutamine, glutamate and serine, and one lipid, or (b) glutamine and glutamate. Further, the invention relates to a metabolic biomarker set for prediction of therapeutic response to breast cancer neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Moreover, the present invention relates to a method for assessing breast cancer, which includes obtaining a biological sample, preferably blood, from a mammalian subject and measuring in the biological sample the amount and/or ratios of metabolites. By employing the specific biomarkers and the method according to the present invention it becomes possible to more properly and reliably assess breast cancer.

Abstract: Provided is a quick and accurate way of assessing harshness of a surfactant towards a protein, which can be easily carried out under non-laboratory conditions and which facilitates recommendations for making suitable products. Particularly, provided are methods of measuring the harshness of a surfactant, which includes (a) providing an aqueous solution of surfactant and taking a first colour measurement; (b) adding a solid protein-dye complex to the aqueous solution of surfactant; (c) taking a second colour measurement and measuring the change in colour between the first colour measurement and the second colour measurement; and (d) matching the change in colour with a reference scale. The solid protein-dye complex can be prepared by dissolving a non-denatured corn protein and a protein binding dye in aqueous alcohol, and removing the aqueous alcohol.

Abstract: A photometric method for determination of a concentration of a film forming amine in a liquid, including providing a buffer solution of a weak acid having a pKa?4.5 and a strong acid having a pKa?1; diluting an aliquot of the buffer solution with water, and determining the pH of the diluted buffer solution; adding reagent to the diluted buffer solution and measuring an initial absorbance of the diluted buffer/reagent solution; preparing a sample solution by adding liquid containing the film forming amine to an aliquot of the buffer solution and measuring the pH of the sample solution; adjusting the pH of the sample solution to match the pH of the diluted buffer solution by adding strong acid; and adding the reagent to the pH adjusted sample solution to form a colored complex, and measuring the absorbance of the resulting solution in a photometer.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a color chart and a test kit for estimating chemical oxygen demand of water. The color chart includes a blue component, an indigo component, an umber component, and an orange component. The test kit includes an oxidant, a reductant, an indicator, and the color chart. The present disclosure also provides a method for estimating chemical oxygen demand of water. The method includes providing a water sample; adding an oxidant to the water sample; heating the water sample; adding a reductant to the water sample; adding an indicator to the water sample, such that the water sample develops a color; and matching the color of the water sample with the color components of the color chart to estimate the chemical oxygen demand of the water sample.

Abstract: Artificial blood for a bloodstain pattern analysis includes water, an amino acid solution, bovine serum albumin, hemoglobin from bovine blood, potassium ferricyanide, sodium hyaluronate, sodium chloride, and tar color.

Abstract: A method of mass and/or ion mobility spectrometry is disclosed that includes ionising analyte from a sample so as to generate a plurality of ions, separating precursor ions from first fragment and/or other ions of the plurality of ions, fragmenting or reacting at least some of the precursor ions using a fragmentation, reaction or collision device so as to generate second fragment ions, and then analysing at least some ions that emerge from the fragmentation, reaction or collision device. The sample is classified and/or identified based on the analysis of the second fragment ions.

Abstract: A dose determination program for an erythropoiesis-stimulating agent that is executable by a computer. The program causes the computer to perform: obtaining a predetermined target hemoglobin concentration; obtaining a first concentration and a first dose in a stable state in which a hemoglobin concentration is stable at the first concentration by repeatedly administering the first dose a plurality of times, and calculating a second dose of the erythropoiesis-stimulating agent based on the obtained target hemoglobin concentration, the obtained first concentration, and the obtained first dose, the second dose of the erythropoiesis-stimulating agent being to be administered by a fixed amount.

Abstract: A rack for holding samples and various reagents, wherein the rack may be used for loading the samples and reagents prior to using the reagents. The rack accepts complementary reagent holders, each of which contain a set of reagents for carrying out a predetermined processing operation, such as preparing biological samples for amplifying and detecting polynucleotides extracted from the samples.