Abstract: This invention demonstrates that silver nanoparticles can be synthesized by reducing silver nitrate with sodium borohydride in a presence of surface stabilizer polystyrene-block-poly(2-vinyl pyridine) in order to overcome the aggregation of silver nanoparticles.

Abstract: A specimen liquid sensor apparatus includes a specimen liquid sensor having an external terminal and a reader on which the specimen liquid sensor can be detachably attached. The reader includes a first portion, a second portion that can be displaced with respect to the first portion. A connection terminal located on an upper surface of the first portion, and an external terminal of the specimen liquid sensor and a connection terminal of the reader are in contact with each other in a closed state in which the specimen liquid sensor is located between an upper surface of the first portion and a lower surface of the second portion.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are evacuated blood collection tubes comprising protease inhibitor cocktails in liquid form and uses thereof for assessing features associated with the contact system in a subject, including the endogenous level of contact system activation, the endogenous level of a drug that targets a component of contact system during treatment, and/or the immunogenicity of such a drug.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for quantitatively sensing and analyzing a concentration of biomolecules using Raman peak shift are disclosed. The quantitative molecular sensing apparatus includes an illumination optical system including a light source configured to irradiate excitation light onto an object, a detection optical system including an optical detector configured to detect light scattered from the object, and a signal processor configured to analyze properties of the object based on signal output by the detection optical system and to calculate a concentration of target molecules in the object based on a Raman peak shift value over a predetermined time period.

Abstract: An object is to stably, continuously and easily detect reactions of filamentary biomolecules or polymers bridging between a pair of electrodes against reagents without employing any marker or labeling substances.

Abstract: At least one electrode is integrated on a lab on a chip cartridge in a sample preparation chamber of the cartridge, a DNA hybridization chamber of the cartridge, a protein assay chamber of the cartridge, and/or a detection chamber of the cartridge, for example, where the electrode is used to generate pH electrochemically in order to activate, deactivate, or intermediately attenuate an enzyme's activity on demand, in order to increase the fidelity of analyte detection, for cell lysis, for protein extraction, for DNA dehybridization, for primer hybridization control, for sample pre concentration, and/or for washing to remove non target species.

Abstract: A binary cleanup device for sample pretreatment of compound analysis and a simplified sample pretreatment method using the binary cleanup device are disclosed. The simplified sample pretreatment method includes a homogenization step to crush the sample, an extraction/partition step to mix the crushed sample with a solvent and a salt reagent into a sample liquid, a filtration step to remove solid matters from the sample liquid, and a cleanup step to clean up the filtered sample liquid using a binary cleanup device, which is consisting of a liquid transfer device and a filter tube filled up with a cleanup agent. Draw a defined portion of the filtered sample extracts via the liquid transfer device, and then let the aspirated sample liquid pass through the cleanup agent of the filter tube. Thus, a single liquid transfer step that achieving accurate sampling and rapid cleanup, simultaneously.

Abstract: An apparatus for isolating bubbles from a liquid comprises at least a main body; an inlet tube and an outlet tube disposed at a side of the main body which includes an accommodation chamber and a column disposed atop, the inlet tube is formed with an aperture within the accommodation chamber, and the outlet tube is disposed at a position below the inlet tube; and a coupling tube disposed within the accommodation chamber, and includes a first end connected to the inlet tube and a second end corresponding to and separating from the outlet tube by a gap. During use, a liquid dispersed with bubbles is introduced through the inlet tube. The bubbles pass through the aperture along with a small portion of the liquid and ascend toward a top of the accommodation chamber and are then collected by the column.

Abstract: An ascorbic acid responsive electrode comprising an electrode, and a detection layer comprising a non-catalytic electron acceptor that receives an electron from ascorbic acid, an amino acid, and a saccharide and/or a soluble protein; wherein in the detection layer the electron acceptor is reduced by the ascorbic acid, and the reduced electron acceptor is oxidized at the electrode.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a kit and a method by which a quantitative determination of a substance to be measured in a biological sample can be carried out with high accuracy while avoiding the influence of an antibody such as an anti-serum albumin antibody present in blood. According to the present invention, a kit for quantitatively determining a substance to be measured in a biological sample, the kit including: a labeled particle that has a first binding substance capable of binding to the substance to be measured, and a first blocking agent; and a substrate that has a detection region having a second binding substance capable of binding to any one of the substance to be measured and the first binding substance, and a second blocking agent, in which the first blocking agent and the second blocking agent are different from each other, is provided.

Abstract: To provide: a composition for oxygen detection, which has excellent oxygen detection characteristic (ability), and which is safer than conventional compositions for oxygen detection, thereby being able to be sealed in packages containing food, pharmaceutical products or the like without anxiety; and an oxygen detector onto which this composition for oxygen detection is applied or printed. This composition for oxygen detection contains a redox dye, a food dye, a reducing sugar, an edible reduction promoter and an edible humectant in the composition, and enables quick detection of the presence or absence of oxygen by means of color change. Since this composition for oxygen detection is composed only of food, a pharmaceutical product and edible components allowed to be used for the food or pharmaceutical product, this composition for oxygen detection is safe to the human body.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a biomarker capable of determining the onset risk or the stage of diabetic nephropathy (early-stage diabetic nephropathy in particular). Diabetic nephropathy is determined by measuring or quantitatively determining a concentration of phenyl sulfate or a salt thereof (a phenyl sulfate) contained in a biological sample, preferably plasma or urine, collected from a test subject to detect a phenyl sulfate. The present invention exhibits excellent effects particularly for stage determination for stage 1 (pre-nephropathy stage) to stage 3 (overt nephropathy stage), or for determination of onset risk of diabetic nephropathy (diabetic nephropathy at pre-nephropathy stage).

Abstract: Disclosed are a blood coagulation system examination module, a blood coagulation system examination system, and a blood coagulation system examination method, all of which enable to simply and easily measure thrombin potential with a whole blood sample. The blood coagulation system examination module includes a thrombin potential examination unit configured to examine thrombin potential on the basis of an electrical property of blood as measured at a specific frequency and predetermined time intervals in a predetermined period after reversal of an anticoagulation action working on the blood.

Abstract: Disclosed are a sample pretreatment module and a sample pretreatment method using the same. The sample pretreatment module including: a body having a chamber for accommodating a sample therein; a cap coupled to one end of the body; a dotting substrate provided to have at least some portion of it dotted with the reagent and be inserted into the chamber; a discharge tip movably coupled to the other end of the body for discharging a sample accommodated in the chamber; a permanent magnet provided to be inserted in the chamber and mix the sample by rotating owing to a magnetic force acting in accordance with a change in a magnetic field externally applied; and a moving unit movably provided in the cap and pressing the sample in the chamber according to the movement to discharge the sample to the outside.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of acoustic waves for the manipulation and sorting of particles and cells. In an embodiment, there is provided a microfluidic device for manipulating a particle in a fluid suspension, the device comprising: (a) a substrate; (b) a channel defined in the substrate, the channel having an inlet for receiving the fluid suspension and an outlet for discharging the fluid suspension; and (c) an acoustic source configured to deliver a travelling surface acoustic wave transverse the flow of the fluid suspension in the channel, wherein the acoustic source is an interdigital transducer (IDT), the IDT comprises a plurality of concentric circular arcs having a tapered end directed at the channel, and the tapered end has an aperture of between 4 ?m and 150 ?m. In an alternative embodiment, the device comprises a second channel disposed intermediate the first channel and the acoustic source wherein the first and second channels are connected by a pumping channel.

Abstract: A method of evaluating the corrosion resistance of a coated metal substrate, the method including putting a liquid composition into contact with a corrosion protection coating present on the surface of a metal substrate, the liquid composition including water, a gelling agent, corrosion-catalyst ions, and a color pH indicator; gelling the liquid composition in order to form a corrosion-accelerator gel in contact with the coating; performing a corrosion test during which the gel that has formed is left in contact with the corrosion protection coating; and evaluating the corrosion resistance of the substrate coated by the corrosion protection coating by observing the color of the color pH indicator present in the gel after performing the corrosion test.

Abstract: The invention relates to the detection of non-metabolized vitamin D. In a particular aspect, the invention relates to methods for detecting underivatized non-metabolized vitamin D by mass spectrometry.

Abstract: A microfluidic chip for collecting dielectric particles in a fluid sample to be tested includes an insulating substrate, a first interdigitated electrode, a second interdigitated electrode, and a dielectric layer. The dielectric layer is formed on the first and second interdigitated electrodes and is made from a semiconductive inorganic material having a dielectric constant of from 3.7 F/m to 80 F/m.

Abstract: Endotoxin is detected by electrochemical measurement. A detection device 15 of endotoxin detects endotoxin contained in a fluid to be tested (for example, a dialysate) specifically in the following manner. First, the fluid to be tested is brought into contact with an adsorbent 17 that adsorbs endotoxin to cause the adsorbent 17 to adsorb the endotoxin. Then, a basic solution is brought into contact with the adsorbent 17 to desorb the endotoxin. Electrochemical measurement of the basic solution containing the desorbed endotoxin is performed. The endotoxin can be detected by the electrochemical measurement with high sensitivity at low cost.

Abstract: The invention relates to a flow element for transferring fluids comprising a capillary cartridge (1) having an integrated capillary line (3). The capillary cartridge according to the invention (1) has a ring-shaped channel (8) and securing grooves (6, 6?), wherein the flow element is characterized in that the capillary line (3) is arranged in the ring-shaped channel (8). The ends of the capillary lines (3) are connected to connection elements (9) in which securing grooves (6, 6?) are secured in a positive locking manner. The flow elements according to the invention contribute toward improved manageability and effectiveness of components. In a preferred embodiment, the flow elements are used as a distribution system in the form of a plurality of capillary cartridges (1-1, 1-2, . . . ). Such distribution systems are of technical importance in the field of catalyst testing apparatuses with reactors arranged in parallel.