Abstract: A flat plate sample holder expansion structure used in a vacuum is configured to convey a flat plate sample holder in a vacuum environment, and detachably attached to a flat plate sample holder tray through an adapter. A receiving space for receiving the flat plate sample holder is provided between the adapter and the flat plate sample holder tray. The flat plate sample holder is detachably arranged in the receiving space. A cylindrical sample holder gripper is detachably connected to the adapter. The cylindrical sample holder gripper conveys the flat plate sample holder and samples thereon into a low-temperature, high-intensity magnetic field apparatus, thereby realizing an objective of replacing samples in the vacuum environment. A vacuum test platform is built by combining the apparatuses using the two types of sample holders.

Abstract: An in vitro microfluidic “organ-on-chip” device is described herein that mimics the structure and at least one function of specific areas of the epithelial system in vivo. In particular, a stem cell-based Lung-on-Chip is described. This in vitro microfluidic system can be used for modeling differentiation of cells on-chip into lung cells, e.g., a lung (Lung-On-Chip), bronchial (Airway-On-Chip; small-Airway-On-Chip), alveolar sac (Alveolar-On-Chip), etc., for use in modeling disease states of derived tissue, i.e. as healthy, pre-disease and diseased tissues. Additionally, stem cells under differentiation protocols for deriving (producing) differentiated lung cells off-chips may be seeded onto microfluidic devices at any desired point during the in vitro differentiation pathway for further differentiation on-chip or placed on-chip before, during or after terminal differentiation.

Abstract: A rotary analysis apparatus and related methods are disclosed. The apparatus generally includes a rotary machine operable to rotate or spin a removable disk-type analytical cartridge. The cartridge includes a plurality of fluidly isolated processing trains for processing multiple samples simultaneously. Each process train includes an extractant mixing chamber, slurry filtration chamber, supernatant collection chamber, and reagent mixing chamber in fluid communication. In one use, soil sample slurry is prepared and added to the extractant mixing chamber. The slurry is mixed with an extractant by rotating the cartridge to separate out an analyte from the mixture. A sediment filter in the filtration chamber deliquifies and traps soil particles to produce clear supernatant. A color changing reagent or fluorescent agent may be mixed with the collected supernatant for subsequent colorimetric, fluorescent, turbidimetric, or other type of analysis.

Abstract: The disclosed subject matter provides a system and methods for automated imaging and manipulation of small animals. In exemplary embodiments, the disclosed subject matter provides a motorized picking assembly, that is coupled to a processor and adapted to remove selected small animals from a source plate and transfer them to a destination plate. The disclosed subject matter provides methods, which include identifying at least one parameter for the small organisms, selecting organisms based on the parameter and transferring selected organisms from the source plate to the destination plate. In certain embodiments, the disclosed subject matter provides a handheld self-sterilizing loop tool for the manual manipulation of small organisms.

Abstract: The embodiments disclose a process for manufacturing a sensor including depositing a first conductive layer on a substrate followed by curing the first conductive layer and, depositing a temperature controlling conductive ink on top of a portion of the first conductive layer followed by curing the temperature controlling conductive ink and, depositing an insulating layer on top of the temperature controlling conductive ink layer and a portion of the first conductive layer followed by curing the insulating layer and, depositing a second conductive layer on top of a portion of first conductive layer followed by curing the second conductive layer and, depositing an adhesive layer on top of a portion of the first conductive layer for adhering a memory chip to the first conductive layer followed by curing the adhesive layer and, depositing at least one biomolecule layer on top of the second conductive layer followed by drying the at least one biomolecule layer.

Abstract: Systems and methods for performing biological assays are provided herein. The systems and methods determine one or more characteristics of a nucleic acid amplification sample based on a modified optical property of the sample. The nucleic acid amplification sample is reacted with an optical property modifying reagent in a reaction chamber of within a sample preparation device.

Abstract: A method for inspecting a nozzle includes: measuring a temperature of the nozzle; comparing the temperature of the nozzle with a reference temperature; and determining whether or not the nozzle is clogged based on the temperature of the nozzle.

Abstract: A device for analyzing biological samples comprises first, second, third, and fourth layers. The first layer comprises a sample chamber in which a sample is positioned. The second layer comprises first, second, and third channels. A third, porous layer is positioned between the first layer and the second layer. A fourth layer composed of a substantially liquid-impermeable material is positioned between the second layer and the third layer. The fourth layer includes first and second pass-through channels that are aligned with the first and second channel, respectively. Fluids that flow in the first and second channels pass through the pass-through channels and diffuse into the sample chamber, establishing a chemical concentration gradient therein. A gas in the sample chamber can diffuse through the third and fourth layers and interact with a fluid flowing in the third channel, establishing a gas concentration gradient in the sample chamber.

Abstract: A microfluidic device includes a substrate having a first fluid inlet/outlet system, a second fluid inlet/outlet system, and a fluidic network between the first fluid inlet/outlet system and the second fluid inlet/outlet system and in fluid communication with the first fluid inlet/outlet system and the second fluid inlet/outlet system. The fluidic network includes a microfluidic channel network that is in fluid communication with the first fluid inlet/outlet system and spaced from the second fluid inlet/outlet system, a nanofluidic channel network fluidly connecting the microfluidic channel network and the second fluid inlet/outlet system, and a plurality of pores in fluid communication with the microfluidic channel network and the nanofluidic channel network.

Abstract: A sensor and method for the rapid detection of fluoride containing gaseous species specifically the chemical warfare agents Sarin and Soman nerve gas, in which a chemically sensitive composition containing dye indicator molecules complexed with a heavy metal salt is exposed to an environment under surveillance for toxic gasses. In one embodiment the sensing composition is introduced into a polymer-based substrate. The detection composition reacts with hydrogen fluoride which is a decomposition by-product of Sarin and Soman gas so as to change the color of the dye indicator, in one embodiment being pentamethoxy red, that is to change the color of the polymer-based substrate from colorless to a dark purple color. The complex of pentamethoxy red with the exemplary heavy metal salt, zirconyl chloride, is specific for Sarin and Soman nerve gas; it does not react to certain other toxic gases.

Abstract: Provided is a gene amplification apparatus. The gene amplification apparatus includes a supply roller, a roll-type film chip which has a plurality of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) chambers, with which PCR samples are filled, and is wound around the supply roller, a heating roller configured to rotate after being pressed against the film chip and then induce a PCR, a plurality of heating blocks which are disposed on a circumferential surface of the heating roller at preset intervals and brought into contact with the film chip, and a discarding roller configured to discard the film chip which passes the heating roller and on which the PCR is performed.

Abstract: A system includes a device configured to facilitate an interaction between a first fluid flow and a second fluid flow within a flow path of the device; an optical sensor configured to obtain one or more images representing the flow path; an image analysis module configured to: process the images to identify at least one droplet generated in a flow path of the device by the interaction between the first fluid flow and the second fluid flow, and estimate a size of the at least one droplet; and a control system configured to: determine that the size of the at least one droplet satisfies a threshold condition, and responsive to determining that the size of the at least one droplet satisfies the threshold condition, generate a signal that causes an adjustment to a flow rate of at least one of the first fluid flow or the second fluid flow.

Abstract: Provided herein are processes for preparing fluorescent 1-cyano-2-substituted isoindole compounds or N-substituted phthalazinium compounds, comprising reacting an aromatic dialdehyde or aromatic aldehyde-ketone compound with a material that contains primary amino or hydrazine groups, and assaying methods involving the processes thereof.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to methods of monitoring an environment for the presence of a solvent by: (i) exposing the environment to a luminescent compound, where the relative luminescence emission intensity of the luminescent compound changes upon interaction with the solvent; and (ii) monitoring a change in the relative luminescence emission intensity of the luminescent compound, where the absence of the change indicates the absence of the solvent from the environment, and where the presence of the change indicates the presence of the solvent in the environment. The luminescent compounds include a phosphorous atom with one or more carboxyl groups, where the carboxyl groups are coordinated with one or more metallic ions (e.g., lanthanide ions and yttrium ions). The present disclosure also pertains to sensors for monitoring an environment for the presence of a solvent, where the sensors include one or more of the aforementioned luminescent compounds.

Abstract: Methods of mitigating lipoprotein interference in in vitro diagnostic assays for target hydrophobic analytes are disclosed, as well as compositions, kits, and devices useful in said methods. A pretreatment reagent is utilized that includes at least one enzyme that digests lipoprotein.

Abstract: Compositions for testing soil to measure one or more of the following properties of soil: pH, buffer pH, potassium, phosphorus, calcium, and/or magnesium. Test methods for testing soil to measure one or more of the following properties of soil: pH, buffer pH, potassium, phosphorus, calcium, and/or magnesium. A multichamber cartridge containing two or more of the compositions in separate chambers.

Abstract: A field portable diagnostic apparatus uses a rotatable disk in which a microfluidic circuit is defined. The microfluidic circuit includes a centrifugal separation chamber receiving a sample to stratify the sample. A magnetic bead holding chamber is communicated to a mixing chamber, where mass amplifying functionalized magnetic-nanoparticles, held in a buffer solution and contained in the magnetic bead holding reservoir communicated to mixing chamber, are mixed with the separated fluid delivered to mixing chamber from the separation chamber. The functionalized magnetic nanoparticles conjugate with a target analyte in the sample. A magnet in proximity to a SAW chamber including a SAW detector draws the functionalized magnetic nanoparticles toward antibodies immobilized on the SAW sensor surface A wash reservoir is communicated to the SAW sensor chamber, and a cleanup/waste reservoir is communicated to the SAW chamber for receive fluid after it has passed through the SAW chamber.

Abstract: A method and/or system can include processing a blood sample of a patient by degrading red blood cells of the blood sample using a lysing solution, quenching the degradation of the red blood cells after a threshold lysing time, centrifuging and aspirating the quenched solution to remove degraded red blood cell debris and concentrate white blood cells of the blood sample, and suspending the concentrated white blood cells in a buffer solution; within a threshold transfer time, deforming white blood cells, of the suspended white blood cells, within a microfluidic chip; and determining a probability that the patient is in an immune activation state based on images of the white blood cells acquired while deforming the white blood cells.

Abstract: A mixed solution in which a compound which forms a nonvolatile membrane at a gas-liquid interface through self-aggregation is dispersed in a volatile liquid, is ejected and atomized in a gas or in a vacuum to produce a droplet particle, and a nonvolatile membrane is then formed at the gas-liquid interface by aligning the compound on a surface of the droplet particle having a reduced diameter due to evaporation of the volatile liquid in the gas or in the vacuum to stabilize the droplet particle. The method produces a novel droplet particle which stably exists in a gas or in a vacuum without collapsing or without evaporation of the volatile liquid inside the droplet particle.

Abstract: A fluidic system including a fluidic component in which is produced a fluidic circuit that includes at least a first aperture and a second aperture opening onto two separate regions of the component, and an instrumented device fitted on the fluidic component, the instrumented device including a first element fastened to the fluidic component to close the first aperture and a second element fastened to the fluidic component to close the second aperture, a deformable portion joining the first element to the second element, the first element and/or the second element being instrumented with at least one actuator and/or an effector arranged to interact with an internal volume of the fluidic circuit.