Abstract: A sample testing chip includes a first layer formed of a porous hydrophilic material. One or more hydrophobic barriers are located in the first layer to define one or more testing areas configured to receive a volume of a sample and one or more auxiliary areas. The one or more testing areas and the one or more auxiliary areas are separated from one another by the hydrophobic barrier and are not fluidically connected. Methods of fabrication and use of the sample testing chip are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present disclosure, pertaining to the technical field of tree skirt stands, relates to a cross-type tree skirt stand including a plurality of tree skirt stand units that are engaged with each other, the tree skirt stand unit being formed of two fixation bars that are rotatably connected to each other, an insertion member and an insertion slot being respectively connected to upper and lower ends of the fixation bar, the insertion member and the insertion slot being engaged with each other, one of the fixation bars being provided with upper and lower retaining protrusions, a tree skirt fixation member being connected to a side wall of the insertion slot. The tree skirt stand according to the present disclosure has a small volume, and is convenient to be transported and stored. In addition, the difficulty of deployment and disassembling is lowered.

Abstract: The present disclosure, pertaining to the technical field of tree skirt stands, relates to an I-shaped tree skirt stand including a plurality of tree skirt units that are engaged with each other. The tree skirt stand unit is formed of an upper connection bar, a lower connection bar, and a vertical fixation bar. Upper and lower ends of the vertical fixation bar are respectively fixedly connected to middle portions of the upper connection bar and the lower connection bar. The upper connection bar, the vertical fixation bar, and the lower connection bar are arranged in an I shape. The tree skirt stand is simple in assembling, the volume of the tree skirt stand in a disassembled state is reduced, and transportation and storage are eased.

Abstract: Provided are systems, devices, kits, and methods that are used for antimicrobial sensitivity testing (AST). The systems, devices, kits, and methods provide a capillary-based antimicrobial susceptibility testing platform referred to as “cAST” that provides faster determination of antimicrobial susceptibility using lower sample volumes than previous approaches. The cAST approach includes performing AST by measuring colorimetric or fluorescent signal changes in samples in conduits that contain antimicrobial agents and one or more dyes. The conduits are operably linked to a light source and a light detecting component through a mount configured to hold the conduits and thereby determine changes in light that indicates changes in bacteria growth in the present of the antimicrobial agents.

Abstract: Systems and methods for generating building contours from point cloud data. The point cloud data is analyzed to identify one or more buildings. The contours of these buildings are then determined and these contours are decomposed into linear primitives. The results are then regularized and the final contours are generated from these regularized primitives. The contours can then be used in visualizations of building models.