A nucleic acid tag comprising a nucleotide-support platform attached to a nucleic acid molecule, an odorant, and an encapsulant. Unique nucleic acid-containing tags containing an odorant are seeded at one or more geographic locations. Using odorant-detection systems, the person or object of interest is examined for the presence of one or more of the odorant, thereby revealing the presence of the seeded nucleic acids and eliminating the expense and time associated with unnecessary screening. The geographic location associated with each detected nucleic acid is used to backtrack the item's path or extrapolate a probable point of origin.

Functionalized fluorescent tracers, methods of making the tracers, and methods of using the tracers are provided. In some implementations, the fluorescent tracers include a functionalized fluorescent dye. The functionalized fluorescent dye includes an isothiocyanate-containing dye functionalized with a functional group that includes a primary amine. In some implementations, a method of tracing fluid flow in a subterranean formation includes mixing the functionalized fluorescent tracer into a fluid, flowing the tracer fluid into a subterranean formation, recovering a sample from a subterranean formation, and analyzing the sample for a fluorescent signal and a barcode functional group.

The present invention provides a method for monitoring precipitation of at least one wax component from a hydrocarbon-containing fluid stream during the flow of said fluid stream through a fluid transport system having at least one in-flow point and at least one out-flow point. The method comprises: i) introducing at least one labelled wax into said hydrocarbon-containing fluid stream at at least one in-flow point; and ii) measuring the relative or absolute concentration of said labelled wax in at least one sample taken at at least one out-flow point. The method may comprise sampling and analysing wax components from the hydrocarbon-containing fluid, identifying suitable wax components and generating labelled waxed based upon such components. Methods of generating labelled waxes and their uses are provided, along with corresponding methods for asphaltenes.

Systems and methods are provided for authenticating working fluids. The systems and methods include exposing at least a portion of a working fluid containing a UV-reactive chemical marker to light having wavelengths in the range of about 10-400 nm, thereby causing the chemical marker to generate a signal. The signal can be detected via a sensor system and compared to a reference signal that is associated with an authentic working fluid. An output may be generated to indicate whether the working fluid is the authentic working fluid.

Hydrogel microparticles spatially and spectrally encoded using upconverting phosphor nanoparticles are described for use in biochemical testing. In each microparticle, upconversion nanocrystals having spectrally distinguishable emission spectra are disposed in different partions of an encoding region of the microparticle.

Methods and compositions are provided that include a multichromophore and/or multichromophore complex for identifying a target biomolecule. A sensor biomolecule, for example, an antibody can be covalently linked to the multichromophore. Additionally, a signaling chromophore can be covalently linked to the multichromophore. The arrangement is such that the signaling chromophore is capable of receiving energy from the multichromophore upon excitation of the multichromophore. Since the sensor biomolecule is capable of interacting with the target biomolecule, the multichromophore and/or multichromophore complex can provide enhanced detection signals for a target biomolecule.

Methods and compositions are provided that include a multichromophore and/or multichromophore complex for identifying a target biomolecule. A sensor biomolecule, for example, an antibody can be covalently linked to the multichromophore. Additionally, a signaling chromophore can be covalently linked to the multichromophore. The arrangement is such that the signaling chromophore is capable of receiving energy from the multichromophore upon excitation of the multichromophore. Since the sensor biomolecule is capable of interacting with the target biomolecule, the multichromophore and/or multichromophore complex can provide enhanced detection signals for a target biomolecule.

Compositions and methods for determining the origin location of subterranean rock samples. In some implementations, the compositions include a nanoparticle tag that includes a natural polysaccharide, a fluorescent dye, and superparamagnetic nanoparticles. In some implementations, a method of determining the origin location of a subterranean rock sample includes mixing the nanoparticle tag into a fluid, flowing the fluid into a subterranean formation, recovering subterranean rock samples from the formation, separating tagged rock samples from untagged rock samples using a magnet, and determining the origin location by analyzing a fluorescent signal of the nanoparticle tag.

Methods and compositions are provided that include a multichromophore and/or multichromophore complex for identifying a target biomolecule. A sensor biomolecule, for example, an antibody can be covalently linked to the multichromophore. Additionally, a signaling chromophore can be covalently linked to the multichromophore. The arrangement is such that the signaling chromophore is capable of receiving energy from the multichromophore upon excitation of the multichromophore. Since the sensor biomolecule is capable of interacting with the target biomolecule, the multichromophore and/or multichromophore complex can provide enhanced detection signals for a target biomolecule.

Methods and compositions are provided that include a multichromophore and/or multichromophore complex for identifying a target biomolecule. A sensor biomolecule, for example, an antibody can be covalently linked to the multichromophore. Additionally, a signaling chromophore can be covalently linked to the multichromophore. The arrangement is such that the signaling chromophore is capable of receiving energy from the multichromophore upon excitation of the multichromophore. Since the sensor biomolecule is capable of interacting with the target biomolecule, the multichromophore and/or multichromophore complex can provide enhanced detection signals for a target biomolecule.