Method and compositions using transition metal salts and/or ammonium chloride to liberate toxins and other molecules from cyanobacteria, useful for assaying for total cyanobacterial toxins in lakes, reservoirs and other waters.

A gas sensing element reflects light incoming along an optical path on a sensing face. The light reflected by the gas sensing element changes in a characteristic depending on quantity of a specific gas that is in contact with the gas sensing element. Each of a first optical element and a second optical element bends the optical path. The gas sensing element, a light source, a photodetector, and a magnetic field applicator are disposed on the same side with respect to a virtual plane that is perpendicular to an incident plane of the incoming light to the sensing face of the gas sensing element and includes a point on the optical path where light goes out from the first optical element and a point on the optical path where light enters the second optical element.

A liquid crystal composition includes a nematic liquid crystal, and a compound of Formula (I) where R is an alkyl, aryl, aralkyl or heteroaryl having 6 to 30 carbon atoms, wherein the compound accounts for 0.3 to 0.6% of the liquid crystal composition. ##STR00001## Further, a sensing device includes a substrate, a frame, an alignment film, the liquid crystal composition as described above, and two polarizers. The frame is connected to the substrate and forms an accommodation space having an opening, and the alignment film and the liquid crystal composition are both located inside the accommodation space. One of the polarizers is arranged in correspondence with the opening such that a channel exists between the polarizer and the frame, the other polarizer is located at a lateral side of the substrate, and the polarization directions of the two polarizers intersect with each other.

A method for the detection of adulterated gasoline in a sample is disclosed. The method includes contacting a sample with an immobilized molecular probe, the immobilized molecular probe having a photoluminescence which is environmentally sensitive; collecting the photoluminescence from the immobilized molecular probe; and determining whether the photoluminescence is indicative of adulterated gasoline. A test strip for the detection of adulterated gasoline in a sample is also disclosed, including an immobilized molecular probe embedded in a substrate and/or immobilized to the substrate, the immobilized molecular probe having photoluminescence which is environmentally sensitive to adulterated gasoline. The method and test strips are designed to be robust, portable, and within the capabilities of untrained personnel.

An optically transparent matrix including a molecule containing a hydroxyazobenzene group or its derivative embedded in the matrix. An optical system including the optically transparent matrix, an isomerizing light source, and means for measuring absorbance changes from the optically transparent matrix. A method for measuring the quantity of hydrogen bonding gaseous molecules.

The present invention is to present a status notification method for the sample analyzer. The method includes a detection step for detecting the status of the sample analyzer for analyzing the sample, and an irradiating step for irradiating light upward in accordance with the detection step.

An optical sensing element for use in the detection of hydrogen peroxide, the sensing element comprising a sensing compound provided as a coating on a substrate. The sensing compound, on exposure to hydrogen peroxide, forms a luminescent reporter compound when excited with stimulating radiation at a predetermined wavelength that the sensing compound does not absorb.

Method and compositions using transition metal salts and/or ammonium chloride to liberate toxins and other molecules from cyanobacteria, useful for assaying for total cyanobacterial toxins in lakes, reservoirs and other waters.

Certain embodiments are directed to sensors that enable the use of optimized biocompatible materials such as pre-anodized paper printed electrode transducer to detect binding of a target agent, wherein the surface is modified or functionalized through zero length cross-linker so that it interacts with or specifically binds a target such as sugars (glucose) or glycated proteins (HgbA1c).

Methods and apparatuses for determining levels of gaseous elements and optionally utilizing the determined levels to calibrate one or more sensors of an air purifier. For example, in some implementations a first image is captured of a colorimetric sensor device at the start of a sensing period and a second image is captured of the colorimetric sensor device at the end of the sensing period. The colorimetric sensor device includes at least one colorimetric sensor configured to change colors in response to reaction with a gaseous pollutant. Values may be determined based on the colors of the colorimetric sensor in the first and second images and the values may be utilized to determine a pollution value indicative of the amount of the gaseous pollutant to which the colorimetric sensor was exposed during the sensing period.