A method and apparatus for detecting microorganisms in ballast water, the apparatus including: an excitation light source provided with light sources for emitting excitation light to irradiate an irradiated surface of sample solution continuously; photodetector detecting light of fluorescence emission caused by excitation light from the excitation light source control means converting the light detected by the photodetector to an electrical signal to detect and count number of light emissions, and estimating the number of microorganisms included in a sample within the sample container from the number of light emissions; and an operation unit electrically connected to the control means. The excitation light source uses two different kinds of excitation light sources including a light source emitting light with a wavelength region causing phytoplankton to emit chlorophyll fluorescence and a light source emitting light with a wavelength region causing microorganisms stained by the fluorescent staining reagent to emit fluorescence.

The present invention provides a device for DNA sequencing, comprising DNA base calling at an early stage in the detection and processing of time controlled fluorescence detection for DNA sequencing applications.

To show a highly accurate cell measurement method. A cell measurement method comprises: a step of staining a cultured target cell with a dye; a step of obtaining a first image and a second image which are transmission images for a first light and a second light to which the dye has different absorbance; a step of dividing each of the first image and the second image into a plurality of divided regions and comparing the first image and the second image for each of the divided regions so as to eliminate noises; and a step of integrating an indicator of a cell amount in each of the divided regions in the images from which the noises were eliminated so as to evaluate a target cell amount.

Provided are FRET-based biosensor constructs, and multiplexed platforms or arrays of these biosensor constructs useful for screening candidate drug molecules for efficacy and/or specificity of drug activity. Optionally the biosensor constructs may be located on an inner membrane within a cell or engineered to be located on the cell's surface. The cells or cell lines displaying the biosensors on a cell surface may be arranged as an array of cells for high throughput evaluation of the efficacy and/or specificity of drug candidates, such as a library of candidate drug compounds.

A self-contained biological indicator (SCBI) is disclosed. The SCBI may include a first ampule and a second ampule. The first ampule may contain a first volume of a first growth medium, and the second ampule may contain a second volume of a second growth medium. The SCBI is configured such that the first ampule may be broken before the second ampule. The SCBI may be analyzed for changes in fluorescence of the first growth medium. Then, the SCBI may be analyzed for changes in a color of the second growth medium.

The present invention provides systems, devices, signaling polynucleotides (SPNs), detection agents and methods for detecting the presence and/or absence of one or more allergens in a sample particularly a food sample. The detection system includes a separate sampler, at least one disposable detection vessel for receiving and processing a test sample and a detection device for measuring a fluorescent signal. SPNs derived from aptamer that bind allergens are provided as detection agents. SPNs have a single open structure, and are labeled with a fluorophore. Changes in fluorescence polarization of SPNs upon the binding of allergens are measured to calculate the allergen content in a sample.

Disclosed are an apparatus and methods for rapid amplification of nucleic acids. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to an apparatus for mixing a reaction solution during amplification of nucleic acids and to methods for amplifying nucleic acids. Also disclosed are methods for lysing cells in a sample and amplifying nucleic acids.

A method and apparatus for monitoring deposit formation in a process having an aqueous flow is provided. According to exemplary embodiments, a feed flow of an aqueous liquid is provided onto a receiving surface to be monitored. At least part of a receiving surface is illuminated with at least one light source. Visual data is collected across the receiving surface and analyzed. The quality and type of deposition attached to the receiving surface is classified based on information obtained from the analyzed visual data, and a quantitative scaling and/or fouling indication is computed based on the classification.

The present invention provides a miniaturizable tool that can analyze a target in a sample by a simple operation and an analysis method using the tool. An analysis chip is a syringe-type chip including: a syringe main body having an openable and closable tip; and a piston to be inserted into the syringe main body, the piston being a hollow body having a translucent closed-end at a side to be inserted into the syringe main body and an open-end at the other side. Analysis device includes a main body case that is a housing, the housing including: an insertion opening into which the syringe-type chip is to be inserted; and a void in communication with the insertion opening, wherein an opposite end of the insertion opening in an axial direction is a bottom; a heating unit that heats the syringe-type chip; a light source unit that emits light to the syringe-type chip; and a detection unit that is a columnar body that can be inserted into the hollow body of the piston and disposed at the bottom of the housing in the axial direction. In use, the syringe-type chip is inserted into the analysis device from a side of the piston and the detection unit of the analysis device is inserted into the piston of the syringe-type chip.

In one aspect, optofluidic lasers are described herein. In some embodiments, an optofluidic laser described herein comprises a first liquid having a first refractive index, a second liquid having a second refractive index that is different than the first refractive index, and a liquid-liquid interface defined by the first and second liquids and disposed between the first and second liquids. Moreover, the first and second liquids are immiscible. Additionally, the optofluidic laser further comprises a layer of gain material disposed at the liquid-liquid interface between the first and second liquids.