Abstract: The instant disclosure provides spectrophotometric methods for assessing histological stains used in a histology analyzer. The methods find use in various assessments including determinations of the identity of a histological stain, determinations of the quality of a histological stain, etc. Also included are devices and systems for practicing the described methods. The instant disclosure also provides computer readable media containing libraries of reference spectrophotometric characteristics of histological stains useful in assessing a histological stain used in a histology analyzer. Also provided is computer readable media containing instructions that cause a computing device to perform steps for making an assessment of a histological stain.

Abstract: A hematology analyzer is provided. In certain embodiments, the hematology analyzer comprises: a) a flow cell; b) a light source for directing light to the flow cell; c) a plurality of detectors for detecting a plurality of optical characteristics of a blood cell passing through the flow cell; and d) a data analysis workstation programmed to: i. enumerate test blood cells passing through the flow cell; and ii. flag a blood sample as containing lysis-resistant red blood cells or fragile white blood cells.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods for predicting or determining whether a subject with coronary artery disease is likely to experience or develop a major adverse cardiovascular event (MACE) based on determining cardiac troponin (cTnI) levels in a human at rest and during or after exercise.

Abstract: Disclosed are nutritional compositions including human milk oligosaccharides in combination with long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids and/or carotenoids that can be administered to preterm infants, term infants, toddlers, and children for reducing inflammation and the incidence of inflammatory diseases.

Abstract: Inductive heating systems and method of controlling the same to reduce biological carryover are disclosed herein. An example system includes an induction heater including a tank circuit. The example system includes a controller to drive the tank circuit to selectively oscillate at a resonant frequency for the tank circuit to inductively heat a work piece disposed proximate to the tank circuit.

Abstract: An automated smear making apparatus used to prepare and smear samples on glass slides. In one embodiment, there is provided a smearing subsystem that generally includes a smear cartridge having: an input reel; at least one roll bar; a take-up reel; and a smearing tape. The smearing tape is initially wound within the input reel and coupled to the take-up reel such that the smearing tape can be drawn from the input reel and into the take-up reel. The smearing tape may include a plurality of perforations formed therein. The smearing tape may then be wrapped around the roll bar such that each of the plurality of perforations forms a blade that extends from the smearing tape to expose a smear surface as the smearing tape is drawn into the take-up reel. Alternatively, the smearing tape may be bent such that an edge of the smearing tape forms a smear surface between two roll bars. A slide transport surface is also provided to move a slide across the smear surface.

Abstract: In some aspects, a keyed cap for a container is provided. Furthermore, in some aspects, a keyed container device including a container and the keyed cap for the container is also provided. Still further, in some aspects, a keyed containing system including a container, keyed cap for the container, and an electronic device having a keying element that is adapted to mate or otherwise fit with a specific keying element on the keyed cap. If a keyed cap has a keying element that does not correctly correspond to a specific keying element on an electronic device, then the keyed cap will not properly mate with the keying element on the electronic device. For example, the two keying elements that do not match may not fit sufficiently far enough within each other to permit the piercing member on the electronic device to reach a septum on the cap.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods, and kits for use in said methods, that aid in the diagnosis and evaluation of a subject that has sustained an orthopedic injury and sustained or may have sustained an injury to the head, such as mild traumatic brain injury (TBI), using ubiquitin carboxy-terminal hydrolase L1 (UCH-L1), glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), or a combination thereof. Also disclosed herein are methods, and kits for use in said methods, that aid in determining whether a subject that has sustained an orthopedic injury and sustained or may have sustained an injury to the head would benefit from and thus receive an imaging procedure, such as MRI or head computerized tomography (CT) scan based on the levels of GFAP and/or UCH-L1. These methods involve detecting levels and changes in levels of GFAP and/or UCH-L1 in biological samples taken from a subject at time points within 48 hours after the subject has sustained or may have sustained an injury to the head.

Abstract: Methods, devices, and systems for analyte analysis using a nanopore are disclosed. The methods, devices, and systems utilize a first and a second binding member that each specifically bind to an analyte in a biological sample. The method further includes detecting and/or counting a cleavable tag attached to the second binding member and correlating the presence and/or the number of tags to presence and/or concentration of the analyte. Certain aspects of the methods do not involve a tag, rather the second binding member may be directly detected/quantitated. The detecting and/or counting may be performed by translocating the tag/second binding member through a nanopore. Devices and systems that are programmed to carry out the disclosed methods are also provided.

Abstract: Methods, devices, and systems for analyte analysis using a nanopore are disclosed. The methods, devices, and systems utilize a first and a second binding member that each specifically bind to an analyte in a biological sample. The method further includes detecting and/or counting a cleavable tag attached to the second binding member and correlating the presence and/or the number of tags to presence and/or concentration of the analyte. Certain aspects of the methods do not involve a tag, rather the second binding member may be directly detected/quantitated. The detecting and/or counting may be performed by translocating the tag/second binding member through a nanopore. Devices and systems that are programmed to carry out the disclosed methods are also provided. Also provided herein are instruments that are programmed to operate a cartridge that includes an array of electrodes for actuating a droplet and further includes an electrochemical species sensing region.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods of aiding in the diagnosis and evaluation of a subject that has sustained or may have sustained an injury to the head. For example, the present disclosure provides methods for aiding in the diagnosis and evaluation of a subject to determine whether the subject has sustained a traumatic brain injury (TBI) by detecting or measuring a combination of the levels of ubiquitin carboxy-terminal hydrolase L1 (UCH-L1) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) in samples taken at various time points within 48 hours after the subject has sustained or may have sustained an injury to the head.

Abstract: A diagnostic analyzer includes a rotating device, a first optical reader, and a second optical reader. The rotating device includes a first darkened compartment, a second darkened compartment, and an optical path along which the first darkened compartment and the second darkened compartment travel. The first optical reader is operable to read the first darkened compartment and the second optical reader is operable to read the second darkened compartment.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods that aid in the diagnosis and evaluation of a human subject that has sustained or may have sustained an injury to the head, such as mild or moderate to severe traumatic brain injury (TBI), using an early biomarker, ubiquitin carboxy-terminal hydrolase L1 (UCH-L1). Also disclosed here are methods that aid in determining whether a human subject that has sustained an injury or may have sustained to the head would benefit from and thus receive a head computerized tomography (CT) scan based on the levels of UCH-L1. These methods involve detecting levels and changes in levels of UCH-L1 in one or more samples taken from a human subject at time points within 24 hours after the subject has sustained or may have sustained an injury to the head.

Abstract: Liquid nutritional compositions include functional ingredients such as beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate, docosahexaenoic acid, and lutein. The nutritional compositions are useful to promote at least one of physical performance (e.g., body composition, muscle mass, muscle strength) and cognitive function (e.g., focus, attention, alertness, executive function) in an individual. The functional ingredients are incorporated into the nutritional composition in such a way that they do not adversely affect the desirable properties of the nutritional composition such as, for example, nutritional value, stability, solubility, taste, and mouthfeel.

Abstract: In one aspect, a computer readable memory medium comprising program instructions for graphically developing a connectivity driver is provided. The computer readable memory medium is a non-transitory medium. The program instructions are executable by a processor to generate a purchase order for a laboratory item, transmit the purchase order to a remote computer in order to communicate the purchase order to a vendor, receive an advance shipping notice generated in response to the purchase order, receive item information stored in an RFID tag of a tagged item received at the delivery location, and check the item information against the advance shipping notice in order to verify that the tagged item is the same as the ordered laboratory item. The purchase order specifies a delivery location.

Abstract: At least a portion of sheet materials for use in medical devices is formed from polymeric materials. The sheet materials may be partially coated or fully coated with one or more additional layers of a polymer. The sheet materials may be used for the leaflets and/or cuffs of prosthetic heart valves and as a component of other medical devices.

Abstract: Digital pass verification systems and methods are disclosed herein. One or more servers are to distribute instructions on a network. The instructions, when executed, cause a first device carried by a person to at least: access a result of a diagnostic test performed on the person, the result provided by a second device; generate a machine-readable code in response to the result being negative; and display the machine-readable code on a display of the first device to enable the person to gain access to a location.

Abstract: Digital pass verification systems and methods are disclosed herein. An apparatus disclosed herein includes memory including instructions that, when executed, cause processor circuitry to: access a result of a diagnostic test associated with a test kit identification; associate the result of the diagnostic test with a user identification; and transmit the result of the diagnostic test and the test kit identification to a first device to cause the first device to generate a machine-readable pass on a display of the first device.

Abstract: Disclosed are nutritional compositions including 2?-fucosyllactose (2?-FL) in combination with lutein and RRR-alpha-tocopherol. The nutritional compositions are useful for improving at least one of gut function, health, and development in an individual. In certain embodiments, the nutritional compositions can improve growth or maturation of the gut, as well as promote a healthy balance of beneficial bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract thereby treating and/or preventing formula intolerance or other gastrointestinal diseases and/or disorders resulting from suboptimal gastrointestinal flora population/balance.

Abstract: Methods, systems and devices for automatically focusing a microscope on a specimen and collecting a focused image of the specimen are provided. Aspects of the methods include detecting the presence of a substrate in a microscope, determining whether the substrate is in a correct orientation for imaging, focusing the microscope on a specimen that is placed on the substrate, and collecting one or more images of the specimen. Systems and devices for carrying out the subject methods are also provided.