Abstract: A device for online detection of an atmospheric salt fog content and a detection method thereof are provided. The device comprises a sampling module and an analysis module. The sampling module comprises a liquid absorbent storage tank (64), a liquid reagent storage tank (61), an air pump (51), a relay pump (52), a sampling bottle (212), a reaction bottle (21), a sampling syringe (29), and a cuvette (32). The air pump (51) is used to draw air into the sampling bottle (212). The relay pump (52) is used to draw a liquid absorbent in the liquid absorbent storage tank (64) into the sampling bottle (212), to draw a solution in the sampling bottle (212) into the reaction bottle (21), and to draw a liquid reagent in the liquid reagent storage tank (61) into the reaction bottle (21). The cuvette (32) is provided on a conveyor (33). The sampling syringe (29) can draw all solution in the reaction bottle (21) into the cuvette (32) provided on the conveyor (33). The analysis module comprises a spectrophotometer.

Abstract: A system for stretching a polynucleotide structure includes a first electrode configured to generate an electrostatic force perpendicular to a surface of the first electrode and to apply the electrostatic force to the polynucleotide structure to pin an end region of the polynucleotide structure near the surface of the first electrode, and a second electrode configured to generate an electric force along an axial direction of the polynucleotide structure to stretch the polynucleotide structure along the axial direction of the polynucleotide structure into a fully extended form.

Abstract: A system includes a source, a detector, and a controller. The source is configured to emit electromagnetic energy toward two plies of film. A portion of the emitted electromagnetic energy is within a range of wavelengths. The detector is arranged to detect electromagnetic energy propagating away from the two plies of film. The detector detects electromagnetic energy within the range of wavelengths and generates signals indicative of intensity of detected electromagnetic energy. The controller controls operation of the foam-in-bag system based the signals from the detector. The film is transmissive of electromagnetic energy in the range of wavelengths. When dispensed between the two plies of film, one or both of foaming chemical precursors or foam formed from a reaction thereof is opaque to electromagnetic energy in the range of wavelengths.

Abstract: An isolation device for isolation of target particles from a plurality of liquid samples includes a plurality of isolation chips and a vacuum system. Each of the plurality of isolation chips includes a sample reservoir, and a first outlet and a second outlet disposed at opposite sides of the sample reservoir. The vacuum system includes a first vacuum pump connected to the first outlet of each of the plurality of isolation chips and a second vacuum pump connected to the second outlet of each of the plurality of isolation chips. The first vacuum pump generates a negative pressure in each of the plurality of isolation chips through a corresponding first outlet. The second vacuum pump generates a negative pressure in each of the plurality of isolation chips through a corresponding second outlet. The target particles are isolated from each of the plurality of liquid samples in a corresponding sample reservoir.

Abstract: A microfluidic device may include at least four interconnected microfluidic channels and a set of fluid actuators. The set of fluid actuators may include a fluid actuator asymmetrically located within at least two of the at least four interconnected microfluidic channels. Each of the at least four interconnected microfluidic channels may be activated to a fluid inputting state, a fluid outputting state and a fluid blocking state in response to selective actuation of different combinations of fluid actuators of the set.

Abstract: A colorimetric sensor for detecting bacteria and/or viruses includes one or more layers having a photonic crystal structure, a functional layer comprising a nanomaterial capable of generating bacteria- and/or viruses-bioresponsive surface plasmon overlapping the one or more layers having the photonic crystal structure. The bacteria- and/or viruses-bioresponsive nanomaterial of the functional layer is doped with proteinic substances or antibodies acting as virus receptors, or the colorimetric sensor comprises a receptor layer comprising proteinic substances or antibodies acting as virus receptors. The functional layer and receptor layer overlap each other. Alternatively, or in addition to, the colorimetric sensor comprises a plasmonic nanostructured layer comprising nanostructures such to generate plasmonic colors, overlapping the one or more layers having the photonic crystal structure.

Abstract: Methods and systems for preparing and preserving biological samples are disclosed herein. A method comprises contacting a preserving agent with a biological sample to form a mixture, wherein the preserving agent is selected from at least one of a metal-organic framework (MOF) encapsulant or a precursor forming a MOF encapsulant, and wherein the biological sample comprises at least one target analyte. A system comprises a preserving agent selected from at least one of a metal-organic framework (MOF) encapsulant or a precursor forming a MOF encapsulant; and a substrate configured to receive a drop cast mixture of the preserving agent and a biological sample, wherein the biological sample comprises at least one target analyte.

Abstract: A test cell useful for determining the photosensitivity of a photopolymerizable material, includes a support plate having a top surface portion, a bottom surface portion, and an opening extending therebetween, a light-transmissive base member removably or permanently connected to said bottom surface portion to form with said opening a well, into which well photopolymerizable material can be deposited, and a sensor comprising a thermal sensor, strain sensor, or combination thereof operatively associated with said light-transmissive base member.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions and methods for determining the absolute configuration of D/L-cysteine and/or the enantiomeric composition of cysteine and/or the concentration of total cysteine in a sample. Uses of the composition and method are also described.

Abstract: A structure, apparatus, and method are disclosed. A silicon substrate with a microfluidic system that receives a sample fluid and prepares an analyte solution received by a reservoir containing a sensing surface is electrically connected to a semiconductor device. The structure includes a component for receiving a sample fluid, a component for preparing the sample fluid, a CRISPR system for cleaving a reporter species when the sample fluid contains a target sequence, a sorting component for separating the cleaved reporter species from the sample fluid and the CRISPR products, a cavity for receiving an analyte solution containing the cleaved reporter species, and a sensing surface in the cavity. The sensing surface detects electrical signals induced by reaction events in the analyte solution.

Abstract: Provided are valveless microfluidic flowchips comprising fluid flow barrier structures or configurations. Further provided are systems and methods having increased fluid transfer control in a valveless microfluidic flowchip. The systems and methods can be used in the present valveless microfluidic flowchips as well as in currently available valveless microfluidic flowchips.

Abstract: Embodiments of fiber substrate-based fluidic device and methods of manufacturing the same are described herein. In one example, a method of manufacturing a fiber substrate-based fluidic device comprises bonding a hydrophobic film that is substantially transparent to a laser beam (e.g., a film that transmits at least 80% of the incident radiant power of the laser beam) to a hydrophilic substrate and ablating the hydrophilic substrate with the laser beam without ablating the hydrophobic film to form one or more fluidly sealed channels in the hydrophilic substrate.

Abstract: A sample vessel includes a biological sample container and a sample stabilizer container. The biological sample container is configured to receive a biological sample and to store the biological sample. The sample stabilizer container is configured to contain a stabilizer associated with the biological sample. The sample stabilizer container is assembled from a stabilizer vial, an adaptor, and a fluid channel. The stabilizer vial is configured to store an amount of the stabilizer. The adaptor is configured to secure the biological sample container and the stabilizer vial such that the biological sample container and the stabilizer vial form the sample vessel. The fluid channel extends through the adaptor from the stabilizer vial to the biological sample container, the biological sample moving from the biological sample container into the stabilizer vial through the fluid channel.

Abstract: This application relates to a movable apparatus for collecting and analyzing specimens. In one aspect, the movable apparatus includes a transport means configured to be moved independently and to maintain negative pressure therein by a negative pressure module, and a specimen collecting device arranged in the transport means and configured to collect a specimen under remote control by inserting a specimen collecting member into the nasal cavity of a testee who enters the transport means. The apparatus may also include a specimen transport device arranged in the transport means and configured to transport the specimen collecting member under remote control that has collected the specimen in one direction, and a specimen analysis device arranged in the transport means and configured to extract the specimen from the specimen collecting member that has been transported by the specimen transport device under remote control and to analyze the specimen.

Abstract: Various fluidic structures are described that may be implemented between two portions of material, at least one of which may be made of a flexible but inelastic material, such as Mylar. Such fluidic circuits may be configured such that applying a clamping pressure zone to such fluidic circuits and then moving the clamping pressure zone along the fluidic circuit and along a particular axis may cause the fluidic circuit to operate in a particular manner, thereby driving fluids contained within the fluidic circuit around the fluidic circuit according to a desired flow sequence.

Abstract: The invention relates to a microfluidic system based on active control of flow resistance and balancing pressures in microfluidic channels and an improved method for disposable microfluidic devices and cartridges for use in, but not limited to, in-vitro diagnostics. The microfluidic system and device of the invention does not utilize mechanical moving parts to control the fluid flow and has no external fluidic connection to the instrument or fluidics controller.

Abstract: Highly accurate oxygen sensors made of graphene and titanium dioxide hybrid material are provided. With UV illumination, the disclosed sensors are capable of detecting O2 gas at room temperature and ambient pressure. The sensors are able to detect oxygen at concentrations ranging from about 0.2% to about 10% by volume under 365 nm UV light, and at concentrations ranging from 0.4% to 20% by volume under short wave UV light. The disclosed sensors have fast response and recovery times and can also be used to detect ozone.

Abstract: A dispensing tip holder is used when a dispensing tip is attached to a tip of a pipette, and includes a peripheral wall having a shape surrounding an outer peripheral surface of the dispensing tip, and an insertion portion having an insertion opening into which the dispensing tip is to be inserted. The peripheral wall has a first end into which the dispensing tip is to be inserted, and has a second end provided at a position opposite to the first end. The insertion portion is formed in the peripheral wall such that an outer peripheral surface of the dispensing tip abuts against an edge of the insertion opening, and is formed in the peripheral wall such that a tip of the dispensing tip does not project from the second end of the peripheral wall, when the dispensing tip is inserted into the insertion opening from the first end.

Abstract: An example microfluidic device comprises a plurality of fluidic channels and a fluidic multiplexor. The fluidic multiplexor includes a plurality of fluidic micro-valves fluidically coupled to the plurality of fluidic channels, and a plurality of control lines that cross the plurality of fluidic channels proximal to the plurality of fluidic micro-valves.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are solvent reservoir systems for steady flow delivery and simultaneous monitoring of solvent level and solvent density within the solvent reservoir systems and methods for monitoring the solvent reservoir systems and providing feedback to a user or adjusting the systems in response to the monitored characteristics.