Abstract:
Sensor assay methods for detecting the presence of an analyte in a sample are provided. Aspects of the methods include providing a sensor, e.g., a proximity sensor, in contact with an assay composition that includes a sample and a proximity label. Next, a capture probe configured to bind to the proximity label and the analyte is introduced into the assay composition to produce a labeled analyte. Following capture probe introduction, a signal is obtained from the sensor to detect the presence of the labeled analyte in the sample. Also provided are sensor devices, including hand-held devices, and kits that find use in practicing the subject methods.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a portable reflectometer and to a method for characterizing the collector mirrors used in solar power plants for the in-field characterization of reflection coefficients. The equipment includes all of the components required for this measurement, such as a module to measure the reflection coefficient of the mirror, an electronic data acquisition and processing system, a system for processing data and controlling the equipment, a system for storing the data of interest, a user interface system, and a system allowing communication between the aforementioned systems and an outer casing. The equipment can be used to characterize the specular reflection coefficient of flat or curved mirrors of different thicknesses, without requiring adjustments to be made to the equipment, minimizing the influence of diffuse reflection on the measurement.
Abstract:
A method of identifying the presence of heroin in an impure heroin composition which contains heroin and at least one fluorescent contaminant which interferes with a Raman signal from the heroin. The method may include contacting the mixture with a solvent such as an alcohol, then contacting the resulting alcohol composition with a SERS surface. The surface may then be exposed to laser light from a hand-held Raman spectrometer to detect a Raman signal from the heroin. An apparatus for performing the method is also provided.
Abstract:
A method of determining contamination on a material having suspected contamination includes irradiating the material having suspected contamination with infrared energy over a spectrum of wavelengths; detecting the infrared energy reflected from the material having suspected contamination over the spectrum of wavelengths; performing multivariate analysis on the spectrum of the reflected infrared energy; comparing results of the multivariate analysis with a predetermined calibration of infrared energy spectra comprising the spectrum of wavelengths collected from at least one reference material; and determining presence or absence of contamination on the material having suspected contamination based on the predetermined calibration.
Abstract:
Apparatus and systems, preferably using UV spectroscopy, for the dynamic and continuous detection and quantification of a range of chemicals, particularly pollutants, in the environment, and to the production of a real-time display or map to display chemical levels in the environment are provided. By providing data packets which combine details of pollutants in the atmosphere with very accurate position and temporal information, and real-time map of pollution is provided.
Abstract:
The invention provides an interchangeable tip-open cell fluorometer comprising: a housing and a fluorometric probe tip (10) interchangeably connected to the housing, the probe tip (10) including a probe tip housing defining an open cell (28) and enclosing a probe optical arrangement, the probe optical arrangement including an excitation source (12) and a fluorescence detector (36) wherein the excitation source is aimed at the fluorescence detector (36) such that a sample (30) in the open cell (28) can be fluorometrically detected, wherein said interchangeable tip fluorometer has an aperture (38) that is in communication with said fluorescence detector (36).