Methods of measuring attributes of animal urine, using a test pad comprising multiple test patches and urine detection patches in a BAYER pattern is described. The pad comprises different test patches, each surrounded by urine detection patches. When a camera, electronics and software automatically detect fresh urine from a color change of a detection patch, nearby test patches are read with a color camera, after a specific time delay, and compared to color reference spots. Multiple layers and isolation zones in the test pad allow urine to enter the test and detection patches, while keeping urine puddles from spreading. Once used, detection and test patches are not used again. An array of many detection and test patches allows the test pad to be used for multiple urine samples in one vivarium cage before replacing. Embodiments use a mix of IR and white light, and IR cameras and color cameras.

The invention relates to a device comprising a first optical Mach-Zehnder interferometric sensor (MZI1) with a large FSR, wherein a plasmonic waveguide (107) thin-film or hybrid slot, is incorporated as transducer element planar integrated on Si3N4 photonic waveguides and a second optical interferometric Mach-Zehnder (MZI2), both comprising thermo-optic phase shifters (104, 106) for optimally biasing said MZI sensor (MZI1) and MZI as variable optical attenuator VOA. It further comprises an overall chip (112), being remarkable in that it comprises a set of Photonic waveguides (103) with a high index silicon nitride strip (303, 603), which is sandwiched between a low index oxide substrate (SiO2) and a low index oxide superstrate (LTO); Optical coupling structures (102, 109) at both ends of the sensor acting as the optical I/Os; an Optical splitter (102) and an optical combiner (109) for optical splitting at the first junction (102) of said first sensor (MZI1) and optical combining at the second junction (109) of said first MZI (MZI1); a variable optical attenuator (VOA) with said additional second MZI (MZI2), which is nested into said MZI1 (sensor)), deploying an optical splitter and an optical combiner for optical splitting at the first junction of said additional second MZI (MZI2), and optical combining at the second junction of said second MZI (MZI2); a set of Thermo-optic phase shifters (104, 106) to tune the phase of the optical signal in the reference arm (104, 106) of each said MZI (MZI1, MZI2-VOA); wherein Thermo-optic phase shifters are formed by depositing two metallic stripes parallel to each other on top of a section of the photonic waveguide and along the direction of propagation of light; and a plasmonic waveguide (107) in the upper branch (103) of said first MZI (MZI1), that confines light propagation through coupling to Surface Plasmon Polaritons (SPP) at the metal-analyte interface, and method associated thereto.

The present disclosure relates to an optochemical sensor element, comprising: a substrate layer having a first substrate side facing toward a measuring medium and a second substrate side opposite the first substrate side; a functional layer arranged on the first substrate side and is subdivided into functional segments separate from one another, wherein a first functional segment has a second reference dye and a second functional segment has an indicator dye, wherein the second reference dye comprises an organic material and is insensitive to oxygen, and is suitable to emit a second luminescence signal upon stimulation with a first stimulation signal, wherein the indicator dye comprises an organic material and is sensitive to oxygen, and is suitable to emit a third luminescence signal upon stimulation with the first stimulation signal, wherein the substrate layer is transparent to the stimulation signal and to the second and third luminescence signals.

A water monitoring device monitors and maintains swimming pool chemistry. The device mixes reagents with water in flowcells. The water chemistry is detected by measuring the light transmitted through the flowcells. The water monitoring device can communicate with computers, servers and mobile computing devices which can store and display the water chemistry information. The reagents can be stored in a replaceable reagent cartridge which can provide reagents for water testing and can be replaced when the reagents need to be replenished.

A method of testing central heating system water for concentration of molybdate corrosion inhibitor is disclosed. The method comprises use of a dip test pad to test for iron concentration, and use of a dip test pad to test for molybdate concentration. In assessment of the dip test pad to test for molybdate concentration, the assessed iron level is taken into account. This leads to a more accurate and reliable result than is realised with known dip test.

Disclosed is a method for characterizing target compounds using an analyzing system comprising a measurement chamber intended to receive the target compounds contained in a fluid sample and in which a plurality of separate sensitive sites each comprise receivers able to interact with the target compounds. The method includes supplying a fluid sample, determining a measurement signal S.sub.k(t.sub.i) representative of the interactions between the target compounds and the receivers; computing a normed vector Sn(t.sub.i); and reiterating the determining and computing steps, while incrementing the measurement time, until a stability criterion is met, so as to obtain a characterization of the target compounds from the normed vector Sn(t.sub.i).

Sensors arrays that include indicators arranged in a pattern on a substrate. The indicators include nucleophilic indicators. In some examples, the sensor arrays with multiple nucleophilic indicators provide superior detection and identification of microorganisms, cancer biomarkers, formaldehyde, organophosphates, and aldehydes.

A device and method for collecting, analyzing, and identifying chemical and biological samples in solid or liquid form is disclosed. The analysis compares the color change of Colorimetric Sensor Arrays (CSAs) over time with images for known materials/compounds contained in a library. The device can be used as a handheld or standalone device and integrates the sampling and detecting functions of the prior art into a single device that analyzes and identifies the sample without destroying it. The inventive volatile organic compound (VOC) technology device is also unique in that it relies on a comparison to a proprietary compound library that is supported by lab data. This compound library identifies the unique dye signature combinations that provide very accurate classification of a wide variety of chemical and biological agents.

This disclosure provides for methods and reagents for rapid multiplex RPA reactions and improved methods for detection of multiplex RPA reaction products. In addition, the disclosure provides new methods for eliminating carryover contamination between RPA processes.

The present disclosure provides methods and systems for performing single-molecule detection using fabricated integrated on-chip devices. In an aspect, the present disclosure provides a method for on-chip detection of an array of biological, chemical, or physical entities, comprising: (a) providing an array of light sensing devices; (b) immobilizing the array of biological, chemical, or physical entities on a substrate of the array of light sensing devices; (c) exposing the array of biological, chemical, or physical entities to electromagnetic radiation sufficient to excite the array of biological, chemical, or physical entities, thereby producing an emission signal of the array of biological, chemical, or physical entities; (d) using the array of light sensing devices, acquiring pixel information of the emission signal of the array of biological, chemical, or physical entities without scanning the array of light sensing devices across the array of biological, chemical, or physical entities; and (d) detecting the array of biological, chemical, or physical entities based at least in part on the acquired pixel information.