Abstract: Embodiments of microfluidic systems and methods of manufacturing are described herein, which utilize an automated microfluidic plumbing technology with addressable ports capable of minimally disruptive additive and subtractive (including probing) cell and/or fluid manipulation at any desired location(s) within living cultures. The addressable microfluidic ports may be integrated throughout cell cultures in microfluidic systems for microfluidic tissue scaffolds, in two- or three-dimensional spatial arrangements. The addressable microfluidic ports may be used for controlling and/or monitoring cell behavior over time at different user-selected locations within cell cultures. Also provided are methods for fabricating such microfluidic devices and microfluidic tissue scaffolds.

Abstract: The current invention relates to the device and method to separate biological entities from a sample fluid by a microfluidic device. The claimed methods separate biological entities by differentiating the sizes of the biological entities with ultrasound modes. The claimed methods further utilize a multi-staged design that removes smaller size entities at earlier and wider sections and concentrates larger entities at later and narrower sections of a microfluidic channel.

Abstract: Systems and methods wherein well-treatment fluids are evaluated for use in a subterranean reservoir. The systems and methods utilize quartz crystals configured to be quartz crystal microbalances (QCM). The QCM has a surface with a reservoir-specific material deposited on the surface. The reservoir-specific material is representative of formation material or proppant. Changes in mass of the reservoir-specific material are measured using the QCM. The changes reflect the interaction of the treatment fluid with the reservoir-specific material and/or hydrocarbons in the reservoir-specific material.

Abstract: The present application relates to systems, methods, and computer-readable media for providing generating odors. In aspects, the disclosed methods may include generating, by a chemistry dispersion element, a signal configured to act upon a surface of a chemistry reservoir to disperse an odorous substance retained within the chemistry reservoir. The chemistry reservoir and the chemistry dispersion element may be disposed within a housing. The method also includes generating, by an air pump, a volume of air, and transporting, by an airflow pathway, the volume of air from the air pump to an air outlet. The volume of air passes through at least a portion of the housing as it flows through the airflow pathway from the air pump to the air outlet, and transports at least a portion of the odorous substance dispersed by the chemistry reservoir within the housing to the air outlet.

Abstract: A system may be introduced for detecting biomarkers in a sweat sample. The system may include a skin patch and a fluorescence detector. The skin patch may include an adhesive tape with a central hole. The skin patch may further include a fluorescence sensor removably attached on the adhesive tape. The skin patch may further include at least one cotton thread. The fluorescence detector may include a light-tight chamber. The fluorescence detector may further include a sample holder removably disposed within the light-tight chamber. The fluorescence detector may further include at least one UV-LED light source may be positioned above the sample holder. The fluorescence detector may further include at least a light filter may be disposed within the light-tight chamber above the UV-LED light source. The fluorescence detector may further include an image capturing device may be disposed within the light-tight chamber.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and systems for detecting a target gas, which involve a configuration of a light source (120) and paper tape (110) such that light (112) emitted from the light source (120) can transmit through the paper tape (110). At least some of the portion of light (112) which transmits through a paper tape (110) can be detected with a detector (130). Detection of the light (112) can be used to determine presence or absence of low concentrations of the target gas.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a detection device comprising sensors with spin torque oscillators (STOs), at least one fluidic channel configured to receive molecules to be detected, and detection circuitry coupled to the sensors. At least some of the molecules to be detected are labeled by magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs). The presence of one or more MNPs in the vicinity of a STO subjected to a bias current changes the oscillation frequency of the STO. The sensors are encapsulated by a material, such as an insulator, separating the sensors from the at least one fluidic channel. A surface of the material provides binding sites for the molecules to be detected. The detection circuitry is configured to detect changes in the oscillation frequencies of the sensors in response to presence or absence of one or more MNPs coupled to one or more binding sites associated with the sensors.

Abstract: Provided is a fiber web for a gas sensor. In one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a fiber web for a gas sensor including nanofibers including a fiber-forming material and a sensing material for reacting with a target substance in a test gas. According to the exemplary embodiment, the fiber web for a gas sensor is capable of identifying the presence or absence of a target substance in a test gas and quantitatively determining the concentration of a target substance, and exhibits improved sensitivity due to having an increased area of contact and reaction with a target substance contained in a test gas.

Abstract: The invention relates to strong hydrogen-bond acidic sorbents. The sorbents may be provided in a form that limits or eliminates intramolecular bonding of the hydrogen-bond acidic site between neighboring sorbent molecules, for example, by providing steric groups adjacent to the hydrogen-bond acidic site. The hydrogen bond site may be a phenolic structure based on a bisphenol architecture. The sorbents of the invention may be used in methods for trapping or detecting hazardous chemicals or explosives.

Abstract: A collecting apparatus for bacteria includes: a laser beam source configured to emit a laser beam; and a container configured to hold a dispersion liquid in which a plurality of bacteria are dispersed. The container has a bottom surface and an inner side surface. A thin film for converting the laser beam from the laser beam source into heat is formed on the bottom surface. At the inner side surface, immersion wetting occurs by the dispersion liquid when the inner side surface comes into contact with the dispersion liquid. The thin film is configured to produce a thermal convection in the dispersion liquid by heating the dispersion liquid. The inner side surface is configured to produce a Marangoni convection at a gas-liquid interface as an interface between the dispersion liquid and gas around the dispersion liquid.

Abstract: A dispensing apparatus, a liquid dispensing method, and a cell dispensing method which can dispense liquid with very high accuracy. A dispensing apparatus includes a glass pipette, a tubular elastic member, a rod-shaped member, and a piezoelectric element actuator. A portion of the tubular elastic member located adjacent to a first open end thereof covers a portion of the glass pipette located adjacent to an opening portion thereof. A portion of the tubular elastic member located adjacent to a second open end thereof covers at least a forward end portion of the rod-shaped member. When the piezoelectric element actuator pushes the rod-shaped member toward the opening portion of the glass pipette, the tubular elastic member deforms such that the volume of the internal space of the tubular elastic member decreases.

Abstract: Examples herein provide a device. The device includes a sample delivery component, which includes: a reagent chamber to contain at least one reagent; a sample chamber to contain a fluid sample; and a delivery channel extending from the reagent chamber and in fluid communication with the sample chamber and an output port, wherein the delivery channel is conducive mixing the at least one reagent and the fluid sample to form a mixture before the mixture reaches the output port and be discharged therefrom. The device includes a testing cassette detachable from the delivery component, which includes: an input port in fluid communication with a microfluidic reservoir, the input port to receive the discharged fluid sample from the output port; and a micro-fabricated integrated sensor in a microfluidic channel extending from the microfluidic reservoir.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for a chemical sensor architecture based on a fabric-based spectrometer. An example apparatus implementing the techniques includes a portable spectrometer device including a first fabric layer and a second fabric layer coupled to the first fabric layer to form a pouch. The second fabric layer includes a fiber fabric spectrometer substrate comprising a fiber material including one or more electronic devices, wherein the pouch is configured to receive a colorimetric substrate and the fiber fabric spectrometer substrate is configured to measure reflectance of a colorimetric substrate disposed in the pouch.

Abstract: The disclosed apparatus, systems and methods relate to sample preparation and shipping technologies in a single shippable container. The shipping container contains a single use centrifuge. The centrifuge can be temperature controlled and meets all standards and regulations for the shipping and transport of biological specimens.

Abstract: A workspace isolated from an exterior space by a partition, a glove provided to the partition so that an external surface thereof is exposed to the workspace and an internal surface thereof communicates with the exterior space, and a robot configured to insert an arm into the glove and perform a work in the workspace. The glove includes, at a tip-end part thereof, an operating part provided inside the glove, and a hand part provided so as to be exposed to the workspace.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of diagnosing or screening for 27-hydroxylase (CYP27A1) deficiency in an animal comprising: determining in a biological sample the intensity signal by mass analysis of at least a bile alcohol glucuronide and a C24- or C27-bile acid or a conjugate thereof, comparing the intensity signals to a control sample or control value, and determining 27-hydroxylase (CYP27A1) deficiency based on said comparison.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an optoelectronic device (1) for detection of a target substance dispersed in a fluid (50). The optoelectronic device comprises:—a light source (2) adapted to emit a light radiation (LE) having an adjustable wavelength ?S;—an integrated electronic circuit (100) comprising a photonic circuit (10) operatively coupled to said light source;—a control unit (9) operatively coupled to said light source and to said photonic circuit.

Abstract: A method for measuring bilirubin concentration in a sample includes preparing a sensing element, where the sensing element may include a plurality of carbon dots, adding the sample to the sensing element, where the sample may include a plurality of bilirubin molecules, obtaining a first grayscale image of the sensing element under ultra-violet (UV) irradiation, irradiating visible light with a wavelength between 470 nm and 490 nm on the sensing element, obtaining a second grayscale image of the sensing element under ultra-violet (UV) irradiation, calculating a light intensity difference by calculating a difference between a first average light intensity of the first grayscale image and a second average light intensity of the second image, and determining the bilirubin concentration based on a correlation between the bilirubin concentration and the light intensity difference.

Abstract: A histologic tissue sample support device includes a tissue cassette, a frame, and a lid. The tissue cassette has a recess including a body with at least one side wall and a bottom wall and is formed of material that can be successfully sectioned in a microtome and is resistant to degradation from solvents and chemicals used to fix, process and stain tissue. The tissue cassette is movably coupled to the frame by a frame-cassette connector. The lid is coupled to a peripheral portion of the frame by a lid-frame connector. The lid and the tissue cassette are capable of moving from a first position to a second position with respect to the frame, and in the second position the bottom wall and at least a portion of the side wall extend beyond a bottom edge of the frame for sectioning in a microtome.

Abstract: A digitally encoded microflake includes a polymer layer, which has a top surface and a bottom surface substantially parallel to the top surface. At least one of the top surface and the bottom surface is to be coupled to target-specific probes for bonding with a target analyte. The microflake is identified by a binary sequence of bits encoded by an edge outline on a plane substantially parallel to the top surface and the bottom surface. The bits in the binary sequence are encoded at respective predefined locations surrounding the edge outline.