Abstract: Exosomes are a small type of extracellular vesicles containing nucleic acids, lipids, and proteins that are implicated in tumorigenesis, metastasis, and cardiac regeneration, and therefore serve as potentially useful biomarkers from fluids or as vehicles for drug delivery. Global bottom-up mass spectrometry-based proteomics has been previously used to profile exosome cargo for diagnostic purposes. However, the current protocols for MS analysis of extracellular vesicles and exosome proteomics are challenging due to labor-intensive sample preparation, including lengthy digestion times and removal of MS incompatible reagents, and the need for high sensitivity. To address these challenges, the present invention provides a novel, high-throughput strategy for extracellular vesicle analysis and exosome proteomics using a photo-cleavable, anionic surfactant, preferably 4-hexylphenylazosulfonate (Azo).

Abstract: A method and kit for detecting the presence of diesel exhaust fluid in fuel is disclosed. The method includes obtaining a fuel sample, combining the fuel sample with a buffered urease solution to make a test solution, agitating the test solution, allowing the test solution to separate into layers and convert urea to ammonia. The method also includes adjusting a pH of the aqueous layer of the test solution, isolating the aqueous layer, immersing, agitating and then removing a reagent strip, and allowing the aqueous layer to develop a color change for an indication of presence of ammonia from any DEF contamination.

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: The present application relates to a microfluidic system and its method for use for the separation of motile sperm from immotile sperm or motile bacteria from immotile bacteria. The system includes a housing having a first end, and a second end, with a passage connecting the first and second ends. There is an inlet at the first end of the housing for charging fluids into the passage and an outlet at the second end of said housing for discharging fluids from the passage. There are one or more corrals within the passage, each of the corrals including a closed side and a partially open side. The closed side of the corrals is closer to the first end than the partially open side, with the closed side and partially open side defining between them a confinement region suitable for retaining motile sperm or motile bacteria.

Abstract: A monitoring device for a system for measuring process variables, in particular in liquid analysis, which measuring system comprises a sensor (2) for recording a process variable and a contactless, inductive plug-in connection (5) between the sensor (2) and a cable (6) for preferably bidirectional transfer of digital signals between the sensor (2) and a remote transducer (7), the monitoring system comprising: a coupling device (17) that can be placed on the plug-in connection (5) and operates without contact to record the signals transferred via the plug-in connection (5), an evaluation device (21) for evaluating the recorded signals, and a display device (22) for presenting the evaluated signals.

Abstract: An automatic analyzer for analyzing samples includes a lift, a part take-out station and a rack recovery station. The lift is configured to raise and lower a plurality of stacked part racks to the part take-out station and to the rack recovery station while keeping the part racks together. The part take-out station comprises a first rack separator configured to prevent the uppermost one of said stacked part racks from being lowered when the lift lowers, while allowing the other part racks to lower, so that the uppermost rack is separated from the other part racks so as to remain in the part take-out station. The rack recovery station comprises a second rack separator configured to prevent the uppermost one of said stacked part racks from being lowered when said lift lowers, while allowing the other part racks to lower, so as to remain in the rack recovery station.

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: An automatic sample introduction device includes a needle, a sample loop, a mixer and a suction injection switch mechanism. The mixer is provided between the needle and the sample loop. The suction injection switch mechanism sequentially sucks first and second fluids into the sample loop through the needle and the mixer and injects the first and second fluids held in the sample loop into a predetermined injection port. A chromatograph includes the automatic sample introduction device having the above-mentioned configuration, an analysis column and a detector. The analysis column is connected to the injection port of the automatic sample introduction device, and the detector is connected to the analysis column.

Abstract: An in vitro microfluidic intestine on-chip is described herein that mimics the structure and at least one function of specific areas of the gastrointestinal system in vivo. In particular, a multicellular, layered, microfluidic intestinal cell culture, which is some embodiments is derived from patient's enteroids-derived cells, is described comprising L cells, allowing for interactions between L cells and gastrointestinal epithelial cells, endothelial cells and immune cells. This in vitro microfluidic system can be used for modeling inflammatory gastrointestinal autoimmune tissue, e.g., diabetes, obesity, intestinal insufficiency and other inflammatory gastrointestinal disorders. These multicellular-layered microfluidic intestine on-chips further allow for comparisons between types of gastrointestinal tissues, e.g., small intestinal duodenum, small intestinal jejunum, small intestinal ileum, large intestinal colon, etc., and between disease states of gastrointestinal tissue, i.e.

Abstract: Nitrogen containing compounds may have formulas (I), (II) and (IV), and such compounds may be suitable for detecting alkyne group containing organic compounds by mass spectrometry. Furthermore, methods may also include synthesizing these compounds, detecting of organic compounds containing the specific compounds, uses of the compounds in mass spectrometry for determining enzyme activity or monitoring the lipid metabolism in a cell, and a kit which contains at least one of these compounds and at least one internal standard.

Abstract: A granule for detecting protein in pet urine comprises 60-80 parts by weight of silicone particles, 40-50 parts by weight of a filler, 10-20 parts by weight of an adhesive, 1-3 parts by weight of a bacteriostatic agent, 3-5 parts by weight of a deodorant, and 5-10 parts by weight of an tetrabromophenol blue indicator.

Abstract: A method includes flowing a first fluid through a first channel of a microfluidic apparatus and flowing a second fluid through a second channel of the microfluidic apparatus. The first fluid comprises biological material and a matrix material and is immiscible with the second fluid. The first and second fluids are combined at a junction to form droplets of the first fluid dispersed in the second fluid in a third channel. Multiple exposures of a droplet in the third channel are captured in a single image, comprising: illuminating a region of the third channel with multiple successive illumination pulses during a single frame of the imaging device; identifying the droplet and determining a velocity or a size of the droplet based on an analysis of the captured exposures; and controlling the flow of the first fluid or second fluid to obtain droplets of a target size or velocity.

Abstract: The present description provides methods, assays and reagents useful for sequencing proteins. Sequencing proteins in a broad sense involves observing the plausible identity and order of amino acids, which is useful for sequencing single polypeptide molecules or multiple molecules of a single polypeptide. In one aspect, the methods are useful for sequencing multiple polypeptides. The methods and reagents described herein can be useful for high resolution interrogation of the proteome and enabling ultrasensitive diagnostics critical for early detection of diseases.

Abstract: The sample preparation apparatus includes a measurement unit configured to measure a sample containing particles acquired from a sample container and detect measurement target particles in the sample, a sample preparation unit capable of adjusting the concentration of measurement target particles in a sample acquired from a sample container and configured to prepare a measurement sample by mixing a sample and any of a plurality of types of particle detection reagents including a particle labeling substance, and a control unit for controlling the sample preparation unit so as to generate concentration information of the measurement target particles in the sample in the sample container based on the measurement data of the measurement unit and adjust the concentration of the measurement target particles in the sample acquired from the sample container according to the generated concentration information and the type of particle detection reagent used for preparing the measurement sample.

Abstract: A sliding removable coaxial capillary microfluidic chip and a preparation method therefor. The chip comprises a substrate which has a hole as a window; an alignment platform I and II are respectively fixed on both sides of the window, and the alignment platform I is internally provided with a circular groove I and a square groove I formed successively on the same axis; the alignment platform II is internally provided with a circular groove II and a square groove II formed successively on the same axis; both ends of a square capillary are respectively placed in the square groove I and II, one circular capillary enters the square groove I through the circular groove I, one end of another circular capillary is placed in a sliding platform, and the other end slides through the sliding platform and enters the square groove II through the circular groove II.

Abstract: A method for assessing an effect, such as a treatment, disease, or passage of time on a cellular unit of an organism includes providing a sample including a cellular unit subject to the effect in a supporting medium in a hermetically sealed container. The container is deoxygenated to induce at least one of a predetermined amount of hypoxia and a predetermined rate of oxygen consumption in the medium. Values for variables associated with the medium and/or the cellular unit are determined at each of a plurality of different times. Various combinations of the predetermined amount of hypoxia, the predetermined rate of oxygen consumption, the values for the variables associated with the medium and/or cellular unit, and the times and then correlated to generate a multi-dimensional surface. This surface is compared with another surface correlating corresponding values relating to another cellular unit such as one not subject to the effect.

Abstract: A method for in vitro simulation and evaluation of platelet adhesion in blood-contacting medical devices is disclosed, including the following steps: (1) using a glycerin aqueous solution with a mass percentage concentration of 40% in an extracorporeal circulation circuit to simulate a viscosity and hydrodynamic characteristics of blood, and adding fluorescent particles with a diameter of 3 ?m to 5 ?m to the solution to simulate platelets; (2) after the solution circulates in the circuit for a specified time period, removing flow passage components of a tested device, and observing the deposition of the fluorescent particles on a blood-contacting surface inside the device by naked eyes and photographs; and (3) using laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) technique to apply laser light on a device surface deposited with the fluorescent particles and in contact with blood, and using charge-coupled device (CCD) camera imaging to photograph the aggregation and adhesion of laser-induced fluorescent particles.

Abstract: This disclosure provides devices and methods for the isolation of single cells or particles of interest from a solution comprising a plurality of cells or a solution composed of a homogenous population of particles. Specifically, the present disclosure is directed to microfluidic devices and methods for analyzing cells in a sample. More specifically, the present disclosure provides droplet microfluidic devices and methods for using the same to obtain (trap), encapsulate, and retrieve (isolate) single cells or particles from a sample with improved efficiency.

Abstract: The present invention is an exosome isolation method for obtaining high purity exosomes inexpensively from samples of large and small amounts and types of samples from which exosomes could not be obtained before such as plant lysates. The exosome isolation method incorporates a two phase fluid extraction system, and includes the steps of isolation using dextran and PEG for removing proteins and undesired substances therein, and the steps of washing and dextran removal to collect exosomes in a pure form.

Abstract: According to an example aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus comprising a volume for receiving a gas sample; and an ultrasonic transducer; wherein the ultrasonic transducer is caused to generate a standing wave to the volume, said standing wave comprising at least one particle trapping zone for trapping particles carried by the gas sample, and to release particles trapped to the at least particle trapping zone by decreasing power of the standing wave to at least one lower power level and/or switching off the standing wave.