Abstract: Described is a microfluidic serial dilution platform based well-plate using an oil-free immiscible phase driven by manual or electronic pipettors. The well-plate includes a plurality of fluidic traps, a plurality of hydrophilic capillary constriction channels and a plurality of bypass channels. Each of the plurality of bypass channels is associated with one of the plurality of fluidic traps, each of the plurality of hydrophilic capillary constriction channels is associated with one of the plurality of fluidic traps, and each of the plurality of fluidic traps is associated with one of the plurality of bypass channels and one of the plurality of hydrophilic capillary constriction channels. The well-plate further includes an inlet, an outlet, and a main channel with a plurality of portions that connects the inlet to the plurality of fluidic traps, associated hydrophilic capillary constriction channels and associated bypass channels, and the outlet.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an organ-on-a-chip, and according to the present disclosure, the organ-on-a-chip includes a first layer having a first microfluidic channel to culture a first organ cell, a second layer having a second microfluidic channel, a third layer having a third microfluidic channel to culture a second organ cell, a first membrane to spatially separate the first microfluidic channel from the second microfluidic channel, and a second membrane to spatially separate the second microfluidic channel from the third microfluidic channel, thereby measuring the rate of absorption of a test drug into the first organ cell and the second organ cell at the same time.

Abstract: A wearable sensor for monitoring an external bodily fluid includes a sensor thread, a wick, a substrate, and a communication interface all of which are disposed on a substrate. The wick wicks the external bodily fluid to a functionalized region of the thread. The communication interface transmits, to an external device, data indicative of what the sensor thread has measured in said external bodily fluid. The external device can then carry out real-time analysis or storage.

Abstract: A system and method facilitates transfers of specimen containers (e.g., vials with caps) between storage cassettes and carrier cassettes. The storage cassettes are designed to be stored in cryogenic refrigerators while the carrier cassettes are designed to be temporarily stored in a portable carrier. Identification information is read from wireless transponders carried by the specimen containers. Visual mappings of the positions of the specimen container in the cassettes is provided. Presence and position of the specimen containers in the cassettes is verified, and alerts of inconsistencies provided along with corrective commands. Inventories of specimen container and even specific specimen holders are provided.

Abstract: Disclosed is a genetic diagnosis chip. The genetic diagnosis chip includes one or more unit processing parts, wherein the unit processing part includes a pretreatment unit that loads a sample and performs a pretreatment process on a target material in the loaded sample, and a distribution unit which is located radially outward from the pretreatment unit and in which the target material pretreated through the pretreatment unit is distributed and detection of the distributed target material is performed, the pretreatment unit includes a sample loading unit that loads the sample, and a capture channel which captures the target material from the loaded sample, and the sample loading unit is formed on the capture channel.

Abstract: A method for visualizing a macromolecule fragment pattern resulting from gel electrophoresis has steps for preparing a polyacrylamide gel in an electrophoresis apparatus, treating the polyacrylamide gel with Meldrum's acid Activated Furan (MAF) dissolved in a suitable solvent, loading a protein sample to a prepared position in the gel, and resolving the protein sample by applying an electrical potential across the gel for a period of time, separating molecular fragments of the protein into the fragment pattern in the gel. The method is characterized in that the MAF stains the molecular fragments in a manner to be discernible by human vision and by conventional analysis techniques.

Abstract: A vehicle subsystem for cleaning a vehicle cabin may include one or more light sources, a sensor module, and a vehicle cleaning control module. The one or more light sources are mounted in the vehicle cabin to project a collimated beam of light to contact one or more target surfaces in the vehicle cabin. The sensor module includes an array of one or more sensors mounted adjacent to the one or more target surfaces, to detect as sensor data the light reflected from the one or more target surfaces. The vehicle cleaning control module includes one or more processors, coupled to the sensor module, to execute a set of instructions to conduct, in response to the detection, specular reflection analysis of the sensor data, and determine, in response to the specular reflection analysis, a state of cleanliness of the vehicle cabin.

Abstract: Devices and methods for performing pre-analysis sample processing of biological and chemical samples using robotic liquid handlers are disclosed. Methods for solid phase extraction, protein precipitation and filtration of biological and chemical samples using automation and the devices in a rapid and convenient way are described.

Abstract: In biosciences and related fields, it can be useful to modify surfaces of apparatuses, devices, and materials that contact biomaterials such as biomolecules and biological micro-objects. Described herein are surface modifying and surface functionalizing reagents, preparation thereof, and methods for modifying surfaces to provide improved or altered performance with biomaterials.

Abstract: A sterilization packaging includes an interior space for receiving medical packaged goods and a sensor unit adapted to measure a first parameter in the interior space. The packaging has a data transmission unit for receiving and transmitting parameter values measured by the sensor unit. The packaging and data transmission unit are matched to one another to allow transmission of parameter values received by the data transmission unit into an outer space around the packaging. A sterilization method includes: introducing packaged goods into packaging and closing the packaging; introducing the closed packaging into a receiving chamber of a sterilizer; starting a sterilization process flow in the sterilizer; detecting parameter values in the packaging and transmitting the parameter values to a control unit of the sterilizer; and controlling the sterilization process flow as a function of the parameter values.

Abstract: Provided are methods and materials for assaying known and candidate therapeutics for inotropic cardiac effects in one or more in vitro assay formats comprising preloaded cardiac tissues and/or organoids.

Abstract: A membrane structure body having a matrix structure and a biomolecule filter using the same are disclosed. The membrane structure body having a matrix structure, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, comprises: a filtering part which includes a window region in which a plurality of window cells are formed in a matrix shape and a blocking region in which the window cells are not formed, and which filters biomolecules from a sample moving along the window region; and a support part extending from the filtering part so as to support the filtering part, wherein each of the window cells formed in the window region of the filtering part has have micro-holes allowing the biomolecules having a predetermined size or less to pass therethrough.

Abstract: An electronic-sensing & magnetic-modulation (ESMM) biosensor device and methods of using the same, where the device incorporates electrical, microfluidic, and magnetic subsystems. The device and methods of using such a device can be applied to high throughput point-of-care screening for the quantification and evaluation of a subject's immune response to pathogenic infections, which can be useful for: early diagnosis, stratifying high-risk subjects infected with a pathogen; and determining the status or effectiveness of a therapeutic response.

Abstract: Various devices, systems and methods for detecting infectious agents or determining a susceptibility of an infectious agent to an anti-infective are described herein. One example method comprises introducing a fluid sample to a surface; exposing the surface to a solution; sampling the solution after exposing the solution to the surface; and detecting a change in an electrical characteristic of a sensing device exposed to the solution sampled corresponding to a presence of the infectious agent in the fluid sample.

Abstract: A method of generating an inclusion list for targeted mass spectrometric analysis is disclosed. Experimentally-acquired data for a plurality of isobarically-labeled peptides derived by proteolytic digestion of a corresponding protein. The data includes, for each of the isobarically-labeled peptides, a mass-to-charge (m/z) ratio, a charge state, and a chromatographic retention time (RT). The method includes determining a hydrophobicity index (HI) of an unlabeled peptide corresponding to the isobarically-labeled peptide. If the determined HI is less than a threshold value, a substitute unlabeled peptide is selected in accordance with predetermined criteria and predicted properties for the substitute peptide are determined and stored on an inclusion list. If the determined HI for the unlabeled peptide is at least as great as the threshold value, predicted properties for the unlabeled peptide are determined and stored on an inclusion list.

Abstract: A sterilization system includes a vial, a carrier of microorganisms disposed in the vial, and a fluid management system having an output connectable to the vial for delivering a liquid chemical sterilant and a neutralizer thereto. Additionally, a growth medium may be delivered to the vial such that the vial and growth medium may assessed for a change to a visual characteristic indicative of sterilization inefficacy.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system (8) for cleaning and/or disinfecting a hollow tube (4), comprising: —The hollow tube (4), —a ring (18) mounted so as to slide over the hollow tube (4), the ring (18) enclosing an absorbent pad impregnated with a disinfecting and/or degreasing liquid, and arranged around the hollow tube (4). The system (8) further comprises an electromechanical actuation device (20) for actuating the ring arranged inside the hollow tube, the device being a motorised linear potentiometer and comprising a longitudinal translational drive element (26). Moreover, a longitudinal slot (11) is provided in the hollow tube (4), the element (26) protruding through the longitudinal slot (11) and being mechanically connected to the ring (18), in order to move the ring (18) in longitudinal translation along the hollow tube (4). The hollow tube (4) can be a lever for operating a door handle (2), or indeed a tube of a bar equipping a transport means, a T-bar door pull handle or a ramp.

Abstract: A microfluidic device includes first and second substrate structures. The first substrate structure has a first substrate surface configured to receive one or more droplets. A plurality of electrodes configured to apply an electric field to the droplets. The second substrate structure has a second substrate surface facing the first substrate surface and spaced apart from the first substrate surface to form a fluid channel. The microfluidic device has a first heating element adjacent to the first substrate structure and disposed on an opposite side of the first substrate surface, and a second heating element adjacent to the second substrate structure and disposed on an opposite side of the second substrate surface. The microfluidic device further includes one or more temperature sensors disposed adjacent to the fluid channel between the first substrate structure and the second substrate structure.

Abstract: Improved methods and devices using reduction of pressure for removing ethanol from filters in a fluidic or microfluidic system in point of care devices involve filters that are solid state extraction filters used to capture and/or concentrate nucleic acids prior to further downstream processing such as amplification by polymerase chain reaction. The method uses the induction of negative pressure with respect to atmospheric pressure to improve the efficiency of the ethanol removal process.

Abstract: The present application relates to a biochemical reaction test tube and a use method thereof, and a gene amplification kit. The biochemical reaction test tube includes a tube portion and a cover portion. The tube portion includes: a tube body including a first chamber and a second chamber, where a bottom of the second chamber is spaced apart from a bottom of the first chamber; and a limit unit provided at an outer side of the tube body. The first chamber and the second chamber are provided at different heights and used to hold different reaction components and solutions. Only one of the first chamber and the second chamber is heated to complete a biochemical reaction. When the test tube is vertically flipped at 180° and shaken, the solutions in the first chamber and the second chamber are mixed to further achieve a reaction, which eliminates harmful results.