Abstract: The invention relates to a surfactant comprising a grafted rosin ester which is a rosin ester grafted with a capped polyalkylene glycol, wherein the capped polyalkylene glycol is a polyalkylene glycol capped by an alkyl ether and an aqueous dispersion consisting of an aqueous phase and resin particles dispersed in the aqueous phase, wherein the dispersion comprises the surfactant according to the invention.

Abstract: Methods to increase the efficiency and throughput of hydrocarbon stream cracking by inhibiting the formation of, or resolving an emulsion, in an ethylene production quench water system. The method includes contacting a non-alkoxylated branched or linear polyethylenimine (PEI) with a quench water composition from the quench water system under conditions suitable to prevent the formation of an emulsion or to resolve the quench water composition into two immiscible phases.

Abstract: A hydrogel that exhibits excellent water absorbency even when dried, and has flexibility, shape stability, and shape retention properties, and a method for producing the hydrogel. A hydrogel comprising a water-soluble organic polymer, a silicate, a dispersant for the silicate, and a water-absorbing polymer. A method for producing a hydrogel including a formation step of forming a hydrogel comprising a water-soluble organic polymer, a silicate, a dispersant for the silicate, a water-absorbing polymer, and at least one solvent selected from the group having water and a water-soluble organic solvent, and as an optical step, a solvent removal step of removing a portion of the solvent in the hydrogel.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of methods of manufacturing of surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) tags. The manufacturing method according to the present invention is reproducible and versatile and enables the production in an expedient manner of high quantities of SERS tags characterized by a narrow size distribution and a high ratio of low-number aggregates. SERS tags manufactured by the inventive manufacturing method described herein provide increased ensemble SERS responses.

Abstract: The invention relates to isocyanate-based, storage-stable, one-part compositions that are fixable by irradiation with actinic radiation and curable by heat. The composition comprises (A) an at least bifunctional, solid isocyanate having a passivated surface and a melting point of at least 40° C.; (B) an isocyanate-reactive component selected from the group of alcohols, amines and thiols, and mixtures thereof; (C) a radiation-curable compound; and (D) a photoinitiator. Optionally, further additives (E) can be contained in the composition according to the present invention. The compositions, by fixation with actinic radiation, can be transferred into a state that ensures dimensional stability of the compositions during heat curing.

Abstract: A dispersion includes silane-bonded inorganic oxide particles having surfaces modified with a hydrolyzable silane, and a liquid dispersion medium which contains a hydrolysate of the hydrolyzable silane; the ratio of (the number of moles of silicon atoms of the hydrolysate of the hydrolyzable silane in the dispersion medium)/(the number of moles of silicon atoms of the silane bonded to the surfaces of the particles) is 0.2 to 30; and Q4 is greater than that before the surface modification with silane, wherein Q4 corresponds to the case where the number of bridging oxygen atoms between silicon atoms of the silica particles is 4/2 per one silicon atom as determined by Si-NMR observation. The inorganic oxide particles have an average diameter of 5 nm to 100 nm and are particles of silica and at least one inorganic oxide from the group of alumina, tin oxide, zirconium oxide, titanium oxide, and antimony oxide.

Abstract: A method of monitoring a location of a nanoparticle within a material is described herein. The method includes the steps of providing at least one nanoclay particle, attaching a fluorescent tag to the at least one nanoclay particle, and determining a fluorescence of the fluorescent-labeled nanoclay particle. The method also includes forming the material including the at least one fluorescent-labeled nanoclay particle, depositing the material in an aqueous solution, and detecting a movement of the fluorescent-labeled nanoclay particle from the material to the aqueous solution.

Abstract: The present invention provides fluorogenic compounds for the detection of target metal ions wherein the compounds exhibit a Stokes shift greater than 50 nm and the detectable signal is modulated by photoinduced electron transfer (PET). The present compounds consist of three functional elements, the ion sensing moiety (chelating moiety), the reporter moiety (fluorophore or fluorescent protein) and spacer or linker between the sensing and reporter moieties of the present compound that allows for PET upon binding of a metal ion and excitation by an appropriate wavelength.

Abstract: A microfluidic device can have a plurality of microchambers connected to a microchannel via siphon apertures. The microfluidic device may be formed from a thermoplastic and capped by a thermoplastic thin film. The microfluidic device may be used for digital polymerase chain reactions by forcing reagent into the microchambers at low pressure via an inlet, forcing any gas trapped in the microfluidic device to outgas through the thin film by applying high pressure to the microfluidic device via inlets and outlets of the microfluidic device, and applying air at low pressure to the inlets in order to digitize the chambers such that the reagent in each chamber is isolated from the reagent in other chambers by an air gap. After digitization, the device may be used to run a digital polymerase chain reaction process.

Abstract: The present invention relates to enhancement of detectable emissions from carbon nanodots or variants thereof by using the techniques of MEF to further enhance carbon nanodot brightness, photostability, and thus, potentially detectability in biological imaging applications by using plasmon supporting materials, such as silver island films and positioning of the carbon nanodots an optimal distance from the plasmon supporting materials.

Abstract: A process of determining whether a patient with a disease or disorder will be responsive to a drug, used to treat the disease or disorder, including obtaining a test spectrum produced by a mass spectrometer from a serum produced from the patient. The test spectrum may be processed to determine a relation to a group of class labeled spectra produced from respective serum from other patients having the or similar clinical stage same disease or disorder and known to have responded or not responded to the drug. Based on the relation of the test spectrum to the group of class labeled spectra, a determination may be made as to whether the patient will be responsive to the drug.

Abstract: A system and method for the detection of one or more analytes in a collected sample employs capillary action in a sample card containing a sample substrate, at least one test capsule and an absorbent pad. The absorbent pad absorbs the contents of the test capsule and delivers the same to the sample substrate, with the contents of the test capsule chemically reacting with at least one detection reagent to establish an optical indicator for the analyte(s). The sample card can be automatically tested within a reader device, which records and processes an optical signal produced by the chemical reaction and outputs a test result. The collected sample can then be further analyzed using a second device. Additionally, an adhesive component can be provided so that a sample can be collected thereon. Furthermore, the at least one detection reagent can include a surfactant.

Abstract: The invention includes compositions, devices, and methods for analyzing a polymer and/or polymer unit. The polymer may be a homo or hetero-polymer such as DNA, RNA, a polysaccharide, or a peptide. The device includes electrodes that form a tunnel gap through which the polymer can pass. The electrodes are functionalized with a reagent attached thereto, and the reagent is capable of forming a transient bond to a polymer unit. When the transient bond forms between the reagent and the unit, a detectable signal is generated and used to analyze the polymer.

Abstract: A handheld diagnostic test device includes a port to removably receive a test cartridge, an element connected with an electronic device, and sensors for detection of test data from a biological or environment sample after reaction with reagents onboard the cartridge. The test device also includes memory storing algorithms for upload to the electronic device to enable a processor thereof: to await elapse of a pre-determined time following reaction of the sample with the reagents; to thereafter instruct the sensors to detect the test data; to generate presentation data based on the test data; and to present the presentation data from a presentation element of the electronic device to a user. A related method includes a connecting step, an uploading step, a presentation step, a cartridge inserting step, a waiting step, a sensing step, and an electronic device processing step.

Abstract: A metal adsorption acrylic fiber wherein the strontium adsorption rate is 85% or more when the strontium adsorption rate is measured using the following measurement method. A strontium adsorption rate measurement method (strontium 0.1 ppm measurement method) involves immersing a metal adsorption acrylic fiber into an immersion fluid, collecting the immersion fluid as a testing solution 24 hours after beginning the immersion, analyzing the quantity of strontium in the testing solution, obtaining the concentration (C1) (ppm) of strontium in the testing solution, creating a contrast solution, analyzing the quantity of strontium in the contrast solution as in the case with the testing solution, obtaining the concentration (C2) (ppm) of strontium in the contrast solution, and calculating the strontium adsorption rate of the metal adsorption acrylic fiber by using the following equation: strontium adsorption rate (%)={(C2?C1)/C2}×100.

Abstract: The invention features a method of monitoring a clotting process by measuring a signal characteristic of the NMR relaxation of water in a sample undergoing clotting to produce NMR relaxation data and determining from the NMR relaxation data a magnetic resonance parameter of water in the sample characteristic of the clots being formed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of determining the purity of a sample of 3,4-diaminopyridine comprising determining the presence, absence, or amount of a dimer of 3,4-diaminopyridine or a dimer of 3,4-diaminopyridine in the form of a salt, solvate or complex or a combination thereof. The invention also relates to methods of detecting and quantitating degradation in a sample of 3,4-diaminopyridine. Dimers of 3,4-diaminopyridine and methods of making and isolating the same are also provided.

Abstract: Systems, including apparatus and methods, for the microfluidic manipulation, dispensing, and/or sorting of particles, such as cells and/or beads. The systems may include a shaped focusing chamber and/or a branched diverting mechanism.

Abstract: A programmed computer functioning as a classifier operates on mass spectral data obtained from a blood-based patient sample to predict indolence or aggressiveness of prostate cancer. Methods of generating the classifier and conducting a test on a blood-based sample from a prostate cancer patient using the classifier are described.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system for analyzing a sample liquid comprising a test tape having a plurality of test elements, a tape transport device which successively transports the test elements to a sample application site while advancing the tape, and a measuring device which scans the test elements loaded with sample liquid at a measuring site. The measuring site is located at a distance from the sample application site in the direction of tape movement. The tape transport is interrupted in order to exactly position a wetted area of the test elements carrying a sample liquid at the measuring site by means of a positioning device that responds to the presence of sample liquid on the test element.