Abstract: A system and a method for slug edge detection in a microchannel of a microfluidic device is provided. Specifically, the system comprises an image sensor in communication with the microchannel. The microchannel has at least two fluid slugs each of which has a marker of different color providing color gradient across the edge between the adjacent fluid slugs. An edge score function is generated for each channel segmentation dividing the microchannel into two segments at a specific location along the microchannel. The edge score function is proportional to a between class variance for intensity values associated with the two selected channel segments. The edge location is determined as the location along the channel defining one of the channel segmentations based at least in part on the edge score function.

Abstract: Biomolecules are specifically captured with magnetic particles and the biomolecules are labeled with fluorescence. A magnetic field generator, for attracting the magnetic particles to the support substrate, is provided on the reverse face of the support substrate, and an adhesion layer is provided on the surface of the support substrate to hold the magnetic particles. First, a dispersing solution for the magnetic particles is placed on the surface of the support substrate with the magnetic field in an off state. Next, the magnetic field is turned on, and the magnetic particles in solution are attracted to the support substrate surface. The magnetic particles colliding with the support substrate adhere to the adhesion layer of the support substrate surface, and then the magnetic field is turned off. Thus, aggregations can be broken up while the magnetic particles are held, and a magnetic particle layer on the support substrate can be a single layer.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for enriching an oxygen isotope which enables the oxygen isotope to be enriched without requiring regular replenishment of large amounts of the nitric oxide raw material and with a small liquid NO hold-up volume, without reducing the separation efficiency for the oxygen isotope. By performing a chemical exchange between a water acquired by adding hydrogen to an oxygen having a crudely enriched oxygen isotope produced by a first distillation device, and a nitric oxide discharged from a second distillation device, a nitric oxide having an enriched concentration of the oxygen isotope and a water having a reduced concentration of the oxygen isotope are obtained, and the nitric oxide is supplied to the second distillation device, while an oxygen obtained by electrolysis of the water having a reduced concentration of the oxygen isotope is returned to the first distillation device.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a biochip having improved fluorescent signal sensing properties, and a biochip manufactured by the manufacturing method. A filter layer is provided between a bio-layer and a light sensor layer so as to remove noise generated by stray light during a bio-reaction process. Thereby, the sensitivity of the light sensor layer can be enhanced.

Abstract: Apparatus, sensor chips and techniques for optical sensing of substances by using optical sensors on sensor chips.

Abstract: Detector data representative of an intensity of light that impinges on a detector after being emitted from a light source and passing through a gas over a path length can be analyzed using a first analysis method to obtain a first calculation of an analyte concentration in the volume of gas and a second analysis method to obtain a second calculation of the analyte concentration. The second calculation can be promoted as the analyte concentration upon determining that the analyte concentration is out of a first target range for the first analysis method.

Abstract: The invention relates to a sensor assembly to detect and quantify organic and/or inorganic mercury compounds, including elemental mercury that may be present in gases or liquids, such as natural gas, air, condensates, crude oil, refined petroleum gas or liquids, and water including connate water, condensed water and water containing hydrate inhibitor(s). The sensor assembly includes a housing having a flow channel defined by an inlet, a sensor array, and an outlet. The sensor array is based on the differential sorption properties measured using a surface acoustic wave (SAW) sensor array, a chemiresistor array, or a combination of the two.

Abstract: High quality titanium ingot is produced by using recovered titanium scrap as a raw material and adding additives. Scrap, each having individual information of identification and process profile information, is passed through automatic reading means to obtain the information and to store it in a data server.

Abstract: In a sample analyzing apparatus, an injector assembly injects a reagent onto a sample, and luminescent light from the sample is transmitted to a detector. The assembly may be movable toward and away from the sample. The assembly may include one or more needles that communicate with one or more reservoirs supplying reagent or other liquids. The assembly may include a light guide for communicating with the detector. A cartridge may be provided in which the assembly, one or more reservoirs, and one or more pumps are disposed. The cartridge and/or the apparatus may be configured for enabling rinsing or priming to be done outside the apparatus. The cartridge and/or the apparatus may include one or more types of sensors configured for detecting, for example, the presence of liquid or bubbles in one or more locations of the apparatus and/or the cartridge.

Abstract: Apparatus derives a sample liquid property and has a container with an outlet section having an overflow edge at a horizontal sample surface. A light source above the surface generates a probe light beam at a non-zero angle ?1 to a normal to the surface. A detector above the surface detects intensity of light emitted out through the surface along a first detection axis forming a non-zero angle ?1 with the surface. An optical barrier between the probe light beam and the first detection axis blocks reflected or scattered light. An inlet section receives sample liquid and has an opening to the main section beneath the sample surface. A separating member separates the sample surface of the inlet section from the sample surface of the main section.

Abstract: In a device for the optical imaging of a sample, having at least one light source for excitation light in order to excite a fluorescent dye in a sample, which is held by a sample holder, for spontaneous emission of fluorescent light over a limited period of time in a spatial region having increased resolution, and for de-excitation light in order to de-excite the fluorescent dye again except for a residual zone that is reduced in size relative to the spatial region, wherein light from the sample having wavelengths other than those of the excitation light and of the de-excitation light is assignable to the spontaneous emission of fluorescent light from the residual zone of the spatial region (STED, GSD, etc.), the de-excitation light (3) is arranged to be transmitted in two parallel planes which are separated by a gap (2).

Abstract: Described herein is a time-gated, two-step FRET relay effective to provide temporal transference of a prompt FRET pathway, or provide spectro-temporal encoding analytical signals and other information. A FRET relay assembly includes a long lifetime FRET donor (for example, a lanthanide complex), a semiconductor quantum dot (QD) configured as an intermediate acceptor/donor in FRET, and a fluorescent dye configured as a terminal FRET acceptor, wherein the long lifetime FRET donor has an excited state lifetime of at least one microsecond and the QD and fluorescent dye each have excited state lifetimes of less than 100 nanoseconds.

Abstract: The present invention relates to systems and methods for monitoring the amplification of DNA molecules and the dissociation behavior of the DNA molecules.

Abstract: Disclosed is an assay result reading apparatus for use with an assay in which a detectable substance tends to accumulate within a detection zone of the assay, the reading apparatus comprising: a housing or baffle, having a window therein; a light source which emits light through the window so as to illuminate the detection zone of the assay; and a light detector to detect the amount of light reflected and/or transmitted by the detection zone, which amount is at least partly dependent on the amount of detectable substance accumulated in the detection zone; wherein the shape of the window is adapted to render the reading apparatus less sensitive, preferably insensitive, to minor mis-positioning of the detection zone relative to one or more of the window, the light source and the light detector.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an assembly for use in detecting an analyte in a sample based on thin-film spectral interference. The assembly comprises a waveguide, a monolithic substrate optically coupled to the waveguide, and a thin-film layer directly bonded to the sensing side of the monolithic substrate. The refractive index of the monolithic substrate is higher than the refractive index of the transparent material of the thin-film layer. A spectral interference between the light reflected into the waveguide from a first reflecting surface and a second reflecting surface varies as analyte molecules in a sample bind to the analyte binding molecules coated on the thin-film layer.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for detecting molecules of interest within a collected sample are described herein. In certain embodiments, self-contained sample analysis systems are disclosed, which include a reusable reader component, a disposable cartridge component, and a disposable sample collection component. The reader component may communicate with a remote computing device for the digital transmission of test protocols and test results. In various disclosed embodiments, the systems, components, and methods are configured to identify the presence, absence, and/or quantity of particular nucleic acids, proteins, or other analytes of interest, for example, in order to test for the presence of one or more pathogens or contaminants in a sample.

Abstract: Provided is a specimen analysis apparatus. The specimen analysis apparatus includes an image photographing unit photographing an identification code disposed on a kit for specimen analyzing and a specimen reaction result reacting by injecting a specimen into the kit for specimen analyzing and a main body on which the image photographing unit is mounted. The image photographing unit photographs the identification code and the specimen reaction result with a time difference.

Abstract: An apparatus for enumerating one or more specific elements within a biologic fluid sample is provided. The apparatus includes a first planar member that is transparent, and a second planar member. The members are separated from one another by a substantially uniform height, and the height is sized relative to the specific elements within the sample such that the specific elements non-uniformly distribute within the sample upon introduction into the chamber.

Abstract: Improvements in and relating to devices for receiving liquid samples A device for receiving a liquid sample may form part of a micro sampling head for an instrument such as a spectrophotometer. The device receives a liquid sample to be analyzed by a process involving the passing of electromagnetic radiation through the sample, and comprises a light inlet guide (20) for directing electromagnetic radiation into the sample, a light receiving element (23) situated in an opposed relationship to the guide and spaced from the guide by a fixed distance to define a fixed path length gap (21), which is, in use, filled with the sample. In use, radiation is passed from the light inlet guide to the light receiving element (23), and the path length of radiation through the sample is defined by the gap (23). The device is open or openable to allow a droplet of sample to be deposited directly in the gap.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for determining a water treatment parameter includes receiving, by a computer, measurements of a fluorescence emission spectrum of a water sample including a first peak emission wavelength and at least a second peak emission wavelength, emitted in response to an excitation wavelength, receiving, by the computer, an absorbance measurement obtained at the excitation wavelength of the water sample, determining, using the computer, a ratio of the measurements at either the second peak emission wavelength, or a sum of measurements at a plurality of peak emission wavelengths including at least the first peak emission wavelength and the second peak emission wavelength, to the first peak emission wavelength, and calculating, using the computer, a value for the water treatment parameter based on a combination of at least the ratio and the absorbance measurement.