A reagent test paddle includes a contamination detection medium, a reference color bar, at least one chemical test medium, and a unique identifier. The contamination detection medium includes a reagent that changes color in the presence or when exposed to a hostile or inhospitable environment. Each chemical test medium includes a regent that is responsive to a respective analyte in a biological sample. The reference color bar includes reference color samples of different colors. The unique identifier, like a serial number, identifies the particular paddle and its chemical test medium so it can be uniquely and anonymously associated with a user. A method includes capturing and interpreting digital images of a biologically unexposed and subsequently exposed reagent test paddle at various delay times within an automatically calibrated environment; locating the paddle in a plurality of digital images, extracting the reference color bar and locating the contamination detection medium and chemical test medium in each digital image. Color changes of the chemical test medium and contamination medium are detected at various delay times after sample exposure. To determine validity of test results, the method further compares the detected colors of the contamination detection medium with predetermined colors expected for no contamination and contamination.

A reagent test paddle includes a contamination detection medium, a reference color bar, at least one chemical test medium, and a unique identifier. The contamination detection medium includes a reagent that changes color in the presence or when exposed to a hostile or inhospitable environment. Each chemical test medium includes a regent that is responsive to a respective analyte in a biological sample. The reference color bar includes reference color samples of different colors. The unique identifier, like a serial number, identifies the particular paddle and its chemical test medium so it can be uniquely and anonymously associated with a user. A method includes capturing and interpreting digital images of a biologically unexposed and subsequently exposed reagent test paddle at various delay times within an automatically calibrated environment; locating the paddle in a plurality of digital images, extracting the reference color bar and locating the contamination detection medium and chemical test medium in each digital image. Color changes of the chemical test medium and contamination medium are detected at various delay times after sample exposure. To determine validity of test results, the method further compares the detected colors of the contamination detection medium with predetermined colors expected for no contamination and contamination.

Disclosed herein are methods of controlling, modulating, increasing, or improving protein yield in a sample mixture comprising a target protein and impurities comprising monitoring in real-time an ultraviolet (UV) signal of the sample mixture during protein filtration in a harvest skid.

Disclosed herein are methods of controlling, modulating, increasing, or improving protein yield in a sample mixture comprising a target protein and impurities comprising monitoring in real-time an ultraviolet (UV) signal of the sample mixture during protein filtration in a harvest skid.

A photometric method for determination of a film forming amine in a liquid, comprises a) providing a buffer solution of a weak acid having a pKa4.5 and a strong acid having a pKa1; b) diluting an aliquot of the buffer solution with water, and determining the pH of said diluted buffer solution; c) adding reagent to said diluted buffer solution and measuring an initial absorbance of said diluted buffer/reagent solution; d) preparing a sample solution by adding liquid containing the film forming amine to an aliquot of the buffer solution and measuring the pH of the sample solution; e) adjusting the pH of the sample solution to match the pH of the diluted buffer solution by adding strong acid; and f) adding said reagent to the pH adjusted sample solution to form a colored complex, and measuring the absorbance of the resulting solution a photometer.

A photometric method for determination of a film forming amine in a liquid, comprises a) providing a buffer solution of a weak acid having a pKa4.5 and a strong acid having a pKa1; b) diluting an aliquot of the buffer solution with water, and determining the pH of said diluted buffer solution; c) adding reagent to said diluted buffer solution and measuring an initial absorbance of said diluted buffer/reagent solution; d) preparing a sample solution by adding liquid containing the film forming amine to an aliquot of the buffer solution and measuring the pH of the sample solution; e) adjusting the pH of the sample solution to match the pH of the diluted buffer solution by adding strong acid; and f) adding said reagent to the pH adjusted sample solution to form a colored complex, and measuring the absorbance of the resulting solution a photometer.

The inventions described herein relate generally to the methods for monitoring the health of the mammalian gut by checking for whether dysbiotic parameters exceed a threshold level or not. In particular, this invention is directed to the use of parameters which correlate with the level of bifidobacteria, especially Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis in the mammalian colon.

The inventions described herein relate generally to the methods for monitoring the health of the mammalian gut by checking for whether dysbiotic parameters exceed a threshold level or not. In particular, this invention is directed to the use of parameters which correlate with the level of bifidobacteria, especially Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis in the mammalian colon.

Method, systems, and techniques for determining the age of an underground space are provided. In some embodiments, determining the age of an underground space comprises taking soil samples from a plurality of surface locations within a second underground space, analyzing the soil samples from the plurality of surface locations to determine an amount of a chemical compound for each soil sample, and determining an age of the second underground space using one or more relationships based on amounts of the chemical compound measured in a plurality of soil samples taken over a period of time in a first underground space and a baseline amount of the chemical compound at one or more locations remote from both the first underground space and the second underground space.

Method, systems, and techniques for determining the age of an underground space are provided. In some embodiments, determining the age of an underground space comprises taking soil samples from a plurality of surface locations within a second underground space, analyzing the soil samples from the plurality of surface locations to determine an amount of a chemical compound for each soil sample, and determining an age of the second underground space using one or more relationships based on amounts of the chemical compound measured in a plurality of soil samples taken over a period of time in a first underground space and a baseline amount of the chemical compound at one or more locations remote from both the first underground space and the second underground space.