An object of the present invention is to provide a color developing composition which develops colors in a high density and does not significantly discolor when aged, a lithographic printing plate precursor which has excellent plate-inspecting properties by means of color development and is capable of maintaining strong color development even when aged after color development, a plate making method for a lithographic printing plate in which the lithographic printing plate precursor is used, and a new compound that can be preferably used as a color developer.

The color developing composition of the present invention includes a compound represented by Formula 1. The compound in the present invention is represented by Formula 1. In Formula 1, R.sup.1 represents a group in which an R.sup.1O bond is cleaved by heat or exposure to infrared rays.

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Compounds used as labels with properties comparable to known fluorescent compounds. The compounds can be conjugated to proteins and nucleic acids for biological imaging and analysis. Synthesis of the compounds, formation and use of the conjugated compounds, and specific non-limiting examples of each are provided.

A photoelectric conversion element including a photoconductor layer, wherein the photoconductor layer contains semiconductor fine particles carrying a metal complex dye of Formula (I); a metal complex dye, a dye solution, a dye-adsorbed electrode, a dye-sensitized solar cell, and a method for producing the solar cell:
M(LD)(LA).Math.(CI) Formula (I) wherein M represents a metal ion; LD represents a tridentate ligand of formulas (DL-1) to (DL-4); LA represents a specific tridentate ligand; and CI represents a counter ion: ##STR00001## Y.sup.1 and Y.sup.2 represent an oxygen, sulfur, nitrogen, or phosphorus atom; AD and BD represent a hydrocarbon or hetero ring; L represents a linking group of formulas (L-1) to (L-4); and Ra and Rb represent a substituent, ##STR00002## X represents a nitrogen or carbon atom; CD represents hetero ring; T represents O, S, NR.sup.L2 or PR.sup.L3; R.sup.L1 to R.sup.L3 represent a hydrogen atom or a substituent; and Alk represents an alkylene group.

pH-sensitive fluorescent compounds that can generate a detectable signal for the relatively small changes in proton concentration associated with cancerous tissue are described. Methods of making and using the compounds to help detect cancerous tissue are also disclosed.

A luminescent solar concentrator (LSC) device is provided. The LSC device has an active layer including a modified luminophore having a polymethine component including a plurality of methine groups (CH).sub.n, where n is an odd integer greater than 1. A hydrogen atom (H) of one of the plurality of methine groups is replaced by one of -AR.sub.1R.sub.2 or -DR.sub.3, where A is selected from nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), arsenic (As) and antimony (Sb) and D is selected from oxygen (O), sulfur (S), selenium (Se), and tellurium (Te), R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are independently selected from H, aliphatic groups, and aromatic groups bound to A through a carbon atom, or R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 together form an alicyclic ring containing A, and R.sub.3 is selected from H, aliphatic groups, aromatic groups, and alicyclic groups bound to D through a carbon atom.

The application provides fluorescent dyes, which are cyanine dyes that incorporate additional aza moieties in the indolenium heterocycles and/or in the methine chains connecting them. Symmetrical and unsymmetrical chemically reactive azacyanine dyes are described for conjugation, as well as their bioconjugates for in-vitro and in-vivo assays and fluorescence imaging.

Glucose-sensing luminescent dyes, polymers, and sensors are provided. Additionally, systems including the sensors and methods of using these sensors and systems are provided.

Hydrogels that degrade under appropriate conditions of pH and temperature by virtue of crosslinking compounds that cleave through an elimination reaction are described. The hydrogels may be used for delivery of various agents, such as pharmaceuticals.

The invention provides a novel class of cyanine dyes that are functionalized with sulfonic acid groups and a linker moiety that facilitates their conjugation to other species and substituent groups which increase the water-solubility, and optimize the optical properties of the dyes. Also provided are conjugates of the dyes, methods of using the dyes and their conjugates and kits including the dyes and their conjugates.