Embodiments described herein generally relate to: sensing and/or authentication using luminescence imaging; diagnostic assays, systems, and related methods; temporal thermal sensing and related methods; and/or to emissive species, such as those excitable by white light, and related systems and methods.

Embodiments described herein generally relate to: sensing and/or authentication using luminescence imaging; diagnostic assays, systems, and related methods; temporal thermal sensing and related methods; and/or to emissive species, such as those excitable by white light, and related systems and methods.

A reagent kit comprising a first polypeptide including a part in any one of amino acid sequences (A) to (C), and a second polypeptide including a part in any one of amino acid sequences (A) to (C), which are consistent of different sequences from a sequence of the first polypeptide; (A) an amino acid sequence in SEQ ID NO: 1 with deletion of an amino acid sequence from position 1 to 69 and an amino acid sequence from position 204 to 221, (B) an amino acid sequence in SEQ ID NO: 1 with deletion of an amino acid sequence from position 1 to 69 and deletion or substitution of at least one of amino acid residues at positions 146 to 156, (C) the amino acid sequence (A) or (B) with further deletion of at least one of amino acid residues at positions 70 to 74.

The present invention provides for a method to detect and/or quantify a gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCA) in a sample, the method comprising: (a) providing a sample, (b) contacting the sample with a luminescent agent so that luminescent agent chelates a Gd.sup.3+ cation of the GBCA, and (c) measuring quenching of a luminescence emission within a range of wavelength; wherein the quenching of the luminescence emission corresponds to the amount of luminescent agent chelating a Gd.sup.3+ cation.

The present invention provides for a method to detect and/or quantify a gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCA) in a sample, the method comprising: (a) providing a sample, (b) contacting the sample with a luminescent agent so that luminescent agent chelates a Gd.sup.3+ cation of the GBCA, and (c) measuring quenching of a luminescence emission within a range of wavelength; wherein the quenching of the luminescence emission corresponds to the amount of luminescent agent chelating a Gd.sup.3+ cation.

Provided are a flow cell and an automatic analysis device which are excellent in the long-term stability of the flow path shape of the flow cell and can improve the reproducibility of analysis. The flow cell (6) of the present invention includes a base (18) including an inlet and outlet (35, 36) for a flow path of a reaction solution containing an analyte; an electrode (16A, 16B) for applying a voltage to the analyte; a light receiving window (22) made of a member that transmits light emitted from the analyte by the voltage applied on the electrode, a gasket (18A) provided between the base (18) and the light receiving window (22), and a flow chamber (17) surrounded by the base (18), the light receiving window (22) and the gasket (18A), in which the gasket (18A) has a deformation amount of 0 mm or more and 0.2 mm or less in a chemical immersion test, and the surface adhesive force of 14 N/cm.sup.2 or more and 40 N/cm.sup.2 or less in a surface adhesion evaluation

Systems and methods for monitoring, characterizing and controlling operation of LEDs are provided herein. Methods includes measuring a voltage across the LED, and correlating the voltage to a junction temperature of the LED. This correlation can be used to improve operation of the LED by increasing the signal to noise ratio of the LED signal, characterize the LED by comparing to an I-V curve, control LED operation to compensate for LED degradation and avoid crosstalk, and/or to generally improve performance and life expectancy of the LED. Improved performance of the LED can include stabilizing the photon output during performance of an assay to provide a desired dye reporter signal required for the assay and/or reducing an intra-shot during of the LED output during the assay. System and device with control units configured to perform these methods are also described herein.

Systems and methods for monitoring, characterizing and controlling operation of LEDs are provided herein. Methods includes measuring a voltage across the LED, and correlating the voltage to a junction temperature of the LED. This correlation can be used to improve operation of the LED by increasing the signal to noise ratio of the LED signal, characterize the LED by comparing to an I-V curve, control LED operation to compensate for LED degradation and avoid crosstalk, and/or to generally improve performance and life expectancy of the LED. Improved performance of the LED can include stabilizing the photon output during performance of an assay to provide a desired dye reporter signal required for the assay and/or reducing an intra-shot during of the LED output during the assay. System and device with control units configured to perform these methods are also described herein.

A method for detecting the presence of bacterial spores is described by measuring microbial metabolic activity over time. Spores are distinguished from vegetative cells and other microorganisms by detecting a burst of metabolic activity indicating germination of spores. This method may be used to detect bacterial spores in a commercial process system, such as a papermaking system within the time frame of a typical work shift.

A method for detecting the presence of bacterial spores is described by measuring microbial metabolic activity over time. Spores are distinguished from vegetative cells and other microorganisms by detecting a burst of metabolic activity indicating germination of spores. This method may be used to detect bacterial spores in a commercial process system, such as a papermaking system within the time frame of a typical work shift.