Abstract: Provided are methods for determining the amount of thyroglobulin in a sample using various purification steps followed by mass spectrometry. The methods generally involve purifying thyroglobulin in a test sample, digesting thyroglobulin to form peptide T129, purifying peptide T129, ionizing peptide T129, detecting the amount of peptide T129 ion generated, and relating the amount of peptide T129 ion to the amount of thyroglobulin originally present in the sample.

Abstract: The invention includes a method of detecting impurities in a metal-containing article. A portion of metal material is removed from a metal article and is solubilized in an acid or base-comprising liquid to produce a liquid sample. The liquid sample is subjected to an incident laser beam and light scattered from the sample is detected. The invention includes a method of analyzing a physical vapor deposition target material. A portion of target material is removed from the target and is rinsed with an acid-comprising solution. The portion of target material is dissolved to produce a liquid sample. The sample is subjected to an incident laser beam and scatter of the laser beam is detected to determine the number of particles present in the sample within a particular size range.

Abstract: A biosensor system determines an analyte concentration of a biological sample using an electrochemical process without Cottrell decay. The biosensor system generates an output signal having a transient decay, where the output signal is not inversely proportional to the square root of the time. The transient decay is greater or less than the ?0.5 decay constant of a Cottrell decay. The transient decay may result from a relatively short incubation period, relatively small sample reservoir volumes, relatively small distances between electrode surfaces and the lid of the sensor strip, and/or relatively short excitations in relation to the average initial thickness of the reagent layer. The biosensor system determines the analyte concentration from the output signal having a transient decay.

Abstract: Provided are methods of detecting the presence or amount of the active form of vitamin B6, pyridoxal 5?-phosphate, in a body fluid sample using tandem mass spectrometry coupled with liquid chromatography.

Abstract: A diagnostic test kit for detecting the presence or absence of nitrites within a test sample is provided. The test kit comprises an aromatic primary amine that is capable of reacting with a nitrite to form a diazonium ion. The test kit also comprises a lateral flow device that comprises a chromatographic medium and an absorbent material that receives the test sample after flowing through the chromatographic medium. The chromatographic medium defines a detection zone within which is contained a detection reagent (e.g., nucleophilic aromatic amine) that is capable of reacting with the diazonium ion to form an indicator (e.g., azo compound). The indicator exhibits a color that is different than the color of the detection reagent.

Abstract: The present invention provides a performance assay that measures the total antioxidant activity of a composition using oxygen uptake in contrast to prior art methods that measure antioxidant capacity by indirectly measuring degradation of a fluorescent compound by following the disappearance of fluorescence. Using the performance antioxidant assay of the present invention, an antioxidant composition having synergistic activity is provided by the present inventors that includes flavonoids such as the flavonol quercetin, mixed tocopherols or tocotrienols, grape skin extract, green tea extract and bush plum. The antioxidant activity of the present composition exceeds 6,000 micromoles Trolox equivalent units per gram using the present invention.

Abstract: High resolution particle differentiation process and separation system that provides enhanced resolution of particles based upon selected particle characteristics. In particular, the system may include an enhanced resolution flow cytometer. In an embodiment, the invention can include at least one fluid source conduit (24) that introduces 0 fluid source stream (24) into an enhanced resolution nozzle (25) at an angle that enhances particle resolution by the cell sensing system (13).

Abstract: A method for distinguishing between kidney dysfunctions in a mammal, including pre-renal azotemia, an acute renal injury that may progress to acute renal failure, and chronic kidney disease, using a urinary or circulating NGAL assay result that is compared to a predetermined NGAL cutoff level, and a single serum or plasma creatinine measurement. Typically the single creatinine measurement cannot distinguish acute renal injury from chronic kidney disease or pre-renal azotemia, a single measurement of urinary NGAL, combined with the single serum or plasma creatinine measurement, has sufficient sensitivity and specificity to distinguish acute renal injury from normal function, prerenal azotemia, and chronic kidney disease and predicts poor inpatient outcomes.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel integrated PCR-free signal amplification polynucleotide detection system which combines a specific receptor, an optical transducer, and an amplification mechanism. This novel detection system is based on different electrostatic interactions and confirmations between a cationic polythiophene (i.e., polymer 1) and single-stranded or double-stranded polynucleotides (such as ss-DNA or ds-DNA), and the efficient energy transfer between the triplex (complexation between the cationic polythiophene and ds-DNA) and neighboring fluorophores attached to ss-DNA or ds-DNA probes. It is to be understood that in the case of ss-DNA, triplex formation occurs via the hybridization of complementary ss-DNA strands, combined with complexation and with the cationic polythiophene. The present detection system allows for the detection of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from samples in only a few minutes, without the need for nucleic acid amplification.

Abstract: A sensor for detecting and differentiating chemical analytes includes a microscale body having a first end and a second end and a surface between the ends for adsorbing a chemical analyte. The surface includes at least one conductive heating track for heating the chemical analyte and also a conductive response track, which is electrically isolated from the heating track, for producing a thermal response signal from the chemical analyte. The heating track is electrically connected with a voltage source and the response track is electrically connected with a signal recorder. The microscale body is restrained at the first end and the second end and is substantially isolated from its surroundings therebetween, thus having a bridge configuration.

Abstract: The invention relates to devices for continuously measuring the concentrations of more than one target analyte. Specifically, the devices comprise a plurality of analyte binding domains, with each domain being capable of specifically and reversibly binding to at least one of the target analytes. The devices further comprise a membrane surrounding these binding domains that is permeable to the target analytes. The devices convey binding information to a detector. The invention also relates to methods of using the devices, including monitoring chronic disease states in an individual.

Abstract: The invention relates to indicator molecules for detecting the presence or concentration of an analyte in a medium, such as a liquid, and to methods for achieving such detection. More particularly, the invention relates to copolymer macromolecules containing relatively hydrophobic indicator component monomers, and hydrophilic monomers, such that the macromolecule is capable of use in an aqueous environment.

Abstract: Systems, including apparatus and methods, for microfluidic processing and/or analysis of samples. The systems include a microfluidic device having a substrate and a thin-film layer formed on the substrate. The thin-film layer may be included in electronics formed on the substrate. The electronics may provide electronic devices configured to sense or modify a property of the sample. The thin-film layer defines an opening for routing movement of fluid and/or sample within the device.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and methods for the identification or authentication of liquid products by the addition of an anti-Stokes marker. The invention features an apparatus and method for the identification of a liquid, dynamic or static, that includes adding an anti-Stokes luminescent marker compound to the liquid followed by exposing the compound to a light source of a known wavelength or known wavelengths and then detecting one or more shorter wavelength emissions from the marker, where the identity of the liquid is confirmed by the emission wavelength or wavelengths that are detected and quantified. The irradiating source of light includes, but is not limited to, a laser and other conventional light sources.

Abstract: A method for marking a liquid petroleum hydrocarbon. The method comprises adding to the liquid petroleum hydrocarbon at least one substituted anthraquinone dry having formula (I) wherein X is O or S; Y is O, NR7 or S; R1 and R2 independently are hydrogen, alkyl, aryl, aralkyl, heteroalkyl, heterocyclic or alkanoyl; R3 and R5 independently are alkyl, aryl, aralkyl, heteroalkyl or heterocyclic; R4 and R6 independently are hydrogen or alkyl; R7 is hydrogen or alkyl; and wherein the substituted anthraquinone dye(s) has an absorption maximum in the range from 600 nm to 750 nm.

Abstract: A method for investigating the thrombocyte function of the blood, and particularly of platelet aggregation, wherein the following steps are carried out: a) cross-flowing an aperture with blood or blood components; b) determining the active radius of the aperture depending on time and c) evaluating the time-dependent modification of the radius as a measure for blood cell and/or thrombocyte function.

Abstract: A countercurrent chromatography apparatus includes a plurality of plates, at least one plate (16) having first and second interleaved spiral flow channels (52, 54, 56, 58) therein. Each spiral flow channels (52, 54, 56, 58) has a first end (I1, I2, I3, I4) near the central axis and a second ends (O1, O2, O3, O4) near the periphery. The outlet of the first channel (O1) is connected to the inlet of the second channel (I2) by a connecting channel (72). Septa may be provided between the plates to connect the spiral channels of one plate to the spiral channels of the next plate.

Abstract: An artificial test soil comprises particulate, hair, and fiber components, wherein said particulate component consists of mineral, food, and plant materials, so chosen and proportioned as to correlate to a typical soil found in the home. The test soil may be used to test cleaning products by application of a known amount thereof to a surface, cleaning of said surface, and determination of the amount of said soil removed from said surface.

Abstract: High resolution particle differentiation process and separation system that provides enhanced resolution of particles based upon selected particle characteristics. In particular, the system may include an enhanced resolution flow cytometer. In an embodiment, the invention can include at least one fluid source conduit (24) that introduces 0 fluid source stream (24) into an enhanced resolution nozzle (25) at an angle that enhances particle resolution by the cell sensing system (13).

Abstract: In order to determine the gas hydrate anti-agglomeration power of a system composed of an aqueous phase dispersed in a liquid hydrocarbon phase in the presence of a gas, at least two successive cycles of hydrate formation and dissociation is carried out by cooling and reheating a sample of said system placed in the cell of a calorimeter to record thermograms; the anti-agglomeration power of said system is determined by comparing the thermograms obtained during the various cycles.