Described herein is a method for detecting the presence of circulating extracellular vesicles in a subject. The method comprises contacting a biological sample from the subject with an antibody mimetic that specifically binds to a cell surface marker on the vesicles, wherein the antibody mimetic is coupled to a detectable label; and detecting presence of extracellular vesicles in the sample by detecting the presence of the detectable label coupled to the antibody mimetic bound to the vesicles.

An integrated microtomography and optical imaging system includes a rotating table that supports an imaging object, an optical stage, and separate optical and microtomography imaging systems. The table rotates the imaging object about a vertical axis running therethrough to a plurality of different rotational positions during a combined microtomography and optical imaging process. The optical stage can be a trans-illumination, epi-illumination or bioluminescent stage. The optical imaging system includes a camera positioned vertically above the imaging object. The microtomography system includes an x-ray source positioned horizontally with respect to the imaging object. Optical and x-ray images are both obtained while the imaging object remains in place on the rotating table. The stage and table are included within an imaging chamber, and all components are included within a portable cabinet. Multiple imaging objects can be imaged simultaneously, and side mirrors can provide side views of the object to the overhead camera.

A diagnostic test system, including: a diagnostic test assembly and a diagnostic test apparatus to perform a test on a biological or environmental sample; the diagnostic test assembly includes: a sample preparation reservoir to receive the sample into a sample preparation fluid, such that a swab carrying the sample can be used to stir the preparation fluid and to wash the swab; a sample dispensing mechanism for insertion into the sample preparation reservoir; a closure to seal the sample preparation reservoir; at least one diagnostic test reservoir coupled to the sample preparation reservoir; and at least one seal between the sample preparation reservoir and the diagnostic test reservoir to prevent fluid movement between the respective reservoirs; wherein the sample dispensing mechanism is operable to disrupt the seal to allow sample fluid to enter the diagnostic test reservoir from the sample preparation reservoir, and to dispense a predetermined amount of fluid.

Disclosed is a method for selecting a cancer treatment regimen for a subject.

Described are coelenterazine analogues, methods for making the analogues, kits comprising the analogues, and methods of using the compounds for the detection of luminescence in luciferase-based assays.

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.

A bioluminescent single photon bioreactor for performing absolute quantification of light-producing activity by enzymes includes: a bioreactor that produces a bio-electronic signal; an electronic sensor that receives the bio-electronic signal and produces an electrical transduction signal; and an analyzer that receives the electrical transduction signal and absolutely quantifies light-producing activity by enzymes from the electrical transduction signal, such that the absolute quantification is accomplished quantum mechanically by determination of a second order autocorrelation function.

A device for base calling is provided. The device includes a receptacle configured to hold a biosensor having a sample surface holding a plurality of clusters during a sequence of sampling events, an array of sensors sensing information from clusters disposed in corresponding pixel areas of the sample surface during the sampling events and generate sequences of pixel signals and a communication port configured to output the sequences of pixel signals. The device also includes a signal processor coupled to the communication port and configured to receive and process at least one pixel signal in the sequences of pixel signals that mixes light gathered from at least two clusters in a corresponding pixel area, and to base call each of the at least two clusters using the at least one pixel signal.

Disclosed are isothiocyanate (ITC)-detecting biosensors that utilize recombinant host cells containing an ITC responsive genetic element such as a saxA promoter, operably linked with a reporter element, such as a luxCDABE operon or ilux operon. Such biosensors can detect the presence of diverse ITCs in samples such as plant extracts, biofumigated soils and seed meal amended soils.

The present invention provides a method for determining a sensitivity to ultraviolet light non-invasively and immediately. A method for determining a UV sensitivity is provided involving: a step of irradiating the skin of a test subject with ultraviolet light to determine the UV sensitivity using the amount of biophotons to be detected within a specific period after the irradiation, wherein 50% or more of the specific period overlaps a period from 1 to 3 minutes after the irradiation.