Abstract: A method, composition, and device for determining the specific gravity of a liquid. In the method, a sample of the liquid to be tested is contacted with standardized quantities of substances which participate in a reaction that is affected by the level of solute in said liquid. The resulting effect of the solute on the reaction is a reproducible function of the concentration or amount of solute in the sample and relates to the specific gravity of the liquid tested. A unitized test composition is provided comprising at least one substance which participates in the standardized reaction. The standardized reaction is preferably chemical in nature and, in such a case, the test composition preferably includes an indicator responsive to a product of the chemical reaction.

Abstract: Means are provided for determining the TOD (total oxygen demand) of combustible materials contained in water, principally, sea water.Test water containing halides of alkali metals or alkaline earth metals, such as sea water, is burned in an oxygen-containing inert gas flowing through a combustion tube which contains a catalyst and which is heated to a combustion supporting temperature. The amount of oxygen consumed is measured.Inside the said combustion tube, down the gas stream from the catalyst, is provided a decomposing agent which consists of a hydroxide or carbonate of an alkali metal, or a hydroxide, oxide or carbonate of an alkaline earth metal, or of any mixture of them, thereby to decompose into sodium chloride and oxygen the sodium hypochlorite which was formed from the combustion of the test water.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for accelerating the coagulation of blood and the components thereof uses the injection of an additive and gas to trigger coagulation. The appartus is designed to include a disposable multi-cell pack for minimizing manual handling of the blood and for minimizing exposure thereof to foreign surfaces with each cell containing a specimen of blood disposed above, but separated from, a predetermined amount of additive by means of a releasable cap. The cell pack containing the multiplicity of cells is inserted over a corresponding multiplicity of gas injection nozzles which effect the release of the caps in each cell for injecting the additive and the gas into the blood. As the gas passes through the blood, bubbles that are continually formed in the space above the blood burst and blood transported therein refluxes back into the blood below until coagulation occurs.

Abstract: A device for supporting sample-containing tubes in generally vertical parallel adjacency, one of the tubes containing an unknown sample and the other containing a reference or comparison sample, with the bottoms of the tubes located in predetermined relationship with a color table or chart having colored or shaded portions preselected and calibrated in accordance with the particular comparison to be made, the table or chart being movable at a right angle relative to the tubes such as to provide visual comparison between the samples based on color or optical density.

Abstract: Apparatus for performing binder-substrate processing of clinical substances is disclosed. An operating head is provided which includes an array of upwardly opening receptacles each having a closed bottom. A temperature control element is located in the operating head proximate the receptacles. The operating head also includes a manifold having an influx chamber, an efflux chamber and a plurality of hollow prongs emanating from the influx chamber and through the efflux chamber. The prongs extend downwardly into respective of the receptacles to provide fluid communication between the influx chamber and the interior of the receptacles through the prongs. The efflux chamber is in fluid communication with the open ends of the receptacles to drain fluid therefrom. A solid phase binder is located in the bottoms of the respective receptacles, and may be coated on solid phase elements located in the receptacles or on the receptacles themselves.

Abstract: A gas detector consists of a heatable wire filament which exhibits a change in resistance when its temperature rises due to the oxidization of a combustible gas pouring over it. The filament is embedded in a pellet consisting of a homogeneous mixture of an oxidization catalyst material and a substantially non-catalytic carrier material. A layer of the oxidization catalyst material is produced on the outside of the pellet.

Abstract: A test composition, device, and method for determining the presence of a peroxidatively active substance in a sample are disclosed. The composition comprisesA. an organic hydroperoxide,B. an indicator capable of producing a detectable response in the presence of a hydroperoxide and a peroxidatively active substance,C. a diluent compound having the structure ##STR1## or mixtures thereof, in which R.sub.1 and R.sub.2, same or different, are hydrogen, alkyl or alkoxy having 1 to about 6 carbon atoms, or aryl, andD. a borate ester having the structure ##STR2## in which m, n and p, same or different, are integers of 1 to about 4. The device comprises a carrier matrix incorporated with the composition, and the method comprises contacting a sample, suspected of containing a peroxidatively active substance, with said composition.

Abstract: A test composition and device are disclosed for determining the presence of peroxidatively active substances, such as hemoglobin, in a test sample. Also disclosed is a one-dip method for preparing the device.The test composition comprises:An organic hydroperoxide,An indicator capable of producing a detectable response in the presence of a hydroperoxide and a peroxidatively active substance, andA borate ester having the structure ##STR1## in which m, n and p, same or different, are integers of 1 to about 4. The test device comprises a carrier matrix incorporated with the test composition.

Abstract: A test composition is disclosed which is useful in determining the presence of a peroxidatively active substance, such as hemoglobin, in a test sample. The composition comprises an organic hydroperoxide, an indicator capable of producing a detectable response in the presence of a peroxide, and a diluent having the structure ##STR1## IN WHICH R.sub.1 and R.sub.2, same or different, are hydrogen, alkyl or alkoxy having 1 to about 6 carbon atoms, or aryl. The method comprises preparing the test composition and incorporating it with a carrier matrix.

Abstract: A convenient, useful and efficient method and apparatus for determining the amount of alcohol contained in fuels. It is particularly useful for measuring the alcohol content of jet fuel, and is practiced by mixing a known amount of the fuel to be measured with a known amount of emulsion, the emulsion comprising a known amount of 8-Hydroxyquinoline ester of the O-vanadic acid. A resulting reaction causes a portion of the mixture to discolor, the amount of discoloration indicating the alcohol content of the fuel. This process can be performed in an apparatus comprising a tube with all of the necessary chemicals pre-mixed, thereby only requiring the addition of the fuel to be tested. Such an apparatus can be prepared in advance, sealed, and stored for a period of up to 2 years.

Abstract: Monitoring of the recirculated atmosphere of an oxygen pulping reactor to determine when the inflammability level of combustible gases in the reactor atmosphere has reached a predetermined percentage of the lower explosive limit (LEL) of the reactor atmosphere in terms of combustible organic vapors and carbon monoxide is disclosed. Continuous or discrete samples of the reactor atmosphere are taken at spaced regions, and the samples are applied to: (1) flame ionization detectors, which determine the concentration of combustible organic vapors (e.g., aliphatic, olefinic, aromatic, acetylenic, alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, etc.) in the samples; and, (2) carbon monoxide analyzers, which determine the concentration of carbon monoxide in the samples. The outputs of the flame ionization detectors are calibrated in terms of percent LEL for the contributing combustible organic vapors and, thus, provide percent combustible organic vapor LEL information.

Abstract: A colorimetric assay method for the detection of bilirubin in various liquid samples, particularly biological liquids. A multi-zone analytical element based on this assay method is also disclosed. The assay method employs an interactive mordant composition for bilirubin having one or more binding sites for bilirubin, such composition comprising a hydrophobic organic matrix and at least one charge-bearing cationic group. Upon mordanting of bilirubin by the interactive mordant composition, the mordanted bilirubin exhibits an absorption peak shift of at least 10 nm. and at least a 50% increase in molar extinction coefficient.

Abstract: A method for the determination of bilirubin in liquid samples, particularly biological liquid samples. An assay method, as well as an analytical element, is disclosed. In accord with the assay method there are contacted together a liquid sample containing bilirubin as analyte and an interactive composition containing a bilirubin-active complex, the complex comprising a diffusible, bilirubin-displaceable, detectable ligand bound to a carrier which can also bind bilirubin. As a result of a competitive binding-displacement interaction between bilirubin and the complex, bilirubin binds to the carrier and displaces detectable ligand which can be selectively detected and used to determine the presence or amount of bilirubin. Appropriate carriers and detectable ligands can be chosen on the basis of their first order binding constants.

Abstract: A method for locating subterranean sulfide mineral ore deposits by analyzing the soil at a plurality of locations in an area of interest to determine the ratio between mercury present in the soil as mercury sulfide and the total mercury present in the soil and, thereafter, comparing the ratios to determine the location of sulfide mineral ore deposits.

Abstract: A gas sensing element which varies its resistivity upon the adsorption of gas and which has a sintered body including an oxyacid salt semiconductor and which may also contain carbon.

Abstract: Water samples having a predetermined concentration of deuterium are equilibrated with a hydrogen containing reagent at such conditions as to allow migration of hydrogen and deuterium ions between the reagent and water. The reagent is then analyzed to determine the isotope ratio of molecules containing deuterium to those containing hydrogen. From the data, a correlation between isotope ratio and the concentration of deuterium in water is established. The sample of water having an unknown concentration of deuterium is then equilibrated under the same conditions with the same reagent. The equilibrated reagent is analyzed to determine mass isotope ratio which is converted to deuterium concentration in water using previously established correlation. Deuterium concentration in water is then used for obtaining geothermal data.

Abstract: A gas component detection apparatus for detecting gas components contained in an exhaust gas from a combustion device and determining an air-fuel ratio of an air-fuel mixture supplied thereto. A gas component detecting element composed of a semiconductive metal oxide is contacted by the exhaust gas andexhibits variable electric resistances according to the concentrations of the gas components. The electric resistance is taken out as an electric signal through two electrodes disposed either on the surface of the detecting element exposed to the exhaust gas or within the detecting element adjacent that exposed surface. A porous coating layer having an exhaust gas permeability covers the surface of the detecting element exposed to the exhaust gas so as to prevent poisonous substances contained in the exhaust gas from depositing on that exposed surface of the detecting element.

Abstract: An analytical element for assay of complex fluids, such as blood, the element comprising two reagents and a barrier composition separating the reagents. Such an element is particularly useful in the analysis of blood for urea nitrogen and cholesterol content.

Abstract: A "single tube" thyroid hormone assay is provided whereby endogenous thyroid hormone is initially separated from a serum sample with an acid reagent and thereafter a tracer amount of radioactive labelled thyroid hormone is allowed to competitively bind with antibodies for thyroid hormone. The resulting free hormone (not bound to antibody) is separated from the hormone bound to such antibodies by contacting the solution with an aqueous solution of water-soluble sulfate salt containing a minor but effective amount of added animal serum to cause precipitation of the hormone bound to the thyroid hormone binding protein material. Thereafter, either the free hormone in supernatant fluid or the bound hormone that has precipitated is counted with a scintillation counter.

Abstract: A one piece tube and microscope slide manipulative laboratory device, for use in clinical procedures employing a liquid test specimen. The device is significantly characterized by a normally upright tubular reservoir which is structurally equivalent to a normal test tube, and particularly of the type used for specific gravity measurements in a urine analysis procedure. Frangibly connected to the lower end of the tubular reservoir is a microscope slide chamber, comprising closely spaced opposed planar walls of optically transparent material. The upper portion of the slide chamber is adapted for flow communication to the lower end of the superposed tubular reservoir. Between the microscope slide chamber, and the tubular reservoir, is a transition member having a bore to allow the flow communication between the reservoir and the slide chamber.