Abstract: Hydrocarbon contaminant detection system using polymer film includes a sensor assembly, a syringe, a heater assembly and a controller. The sensor assembly includes a cyclic olefin copolymer (COC) film including electrically conductive materials, and can complete an electrical circuit. The COC film can dissolve in a presence of a hydrocarbon contaminant, breaking the electrical circuit. The syringe can carry a lubrication oil sample to be tested using the sensor assembly. The syringe is operable to contact the lubrication oil sample with the COC film of the sensor assembly. The heater assembly can heat the lubrication oil sample before the lubrication oil sample is loaded to the syringe. The controller can perform operations including operating the syringe to flow the heated lubrication oil sample onto the COC film of the sensor assembly at a pre-determined flowrate.

Abstract: A microfluidic flow channel structure and a microfluidic chip are described. The microfluidic flow channel structure includes a main chamber, wherein the main chamber includes at least two division zones and a reaction zone, and the at least two division zones are respectively connected with the reaction zone, wherein each division zone includes a first division wall, and the first division wall is provided with an opening for liquid inlet; a diversion structure is arranged at the opening of at least one division zone, and the diversion structure at least includes a first diversion wall, which is arranged opposite the first division wall; a first division channel is formed between the first diversion wall and the first division wall, and the first division channel includes at least two liquid outlets.

Abstract: An example method includes: analyzing a clot curve for a test sample that is based on an assay performed on the test sample in order to obtain two or more parameters associated with the clot curve; analyzing the two or more parameters to determine at least one of (i) whether a fibrinogen concentration in the test sample is below a threshold, or (ii) whether there is a therapeutic or pharmaceutical anticoagulant present in the test sample; and outputting, to a user interface, information based on the determination.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an ELISA-based, liquid-phase immunoassay apparatus optimized for detecting particular ingredients contained in a biological sample, etc., and a method therefor.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a system and a method for detecting different developmental stages of fungi life cycle in postharvest crops. More particularly, the system comprises a measuring transducer, such as a CMOS photodetector and immobilized fungal nucleic acid strands. RNA from the tested postharvest produce sample is loaded onto the system of the present invention, and specific fungal mRNA transcripts anneal to the immobilized strands. A reporter strand conjugated to a signal-generating component further binds the mRNA transcripts, and when a detectable reaction is produced post binding, the transducer captures said reaction and converts it to measurable values, indicating the quantity, presence and the developmental stage of the fungus.

Abstract: This disclosure includes a control system for operating a pollution removal system. The system includes a power relay coupled to a power supply and a controller communicatively coupled to the power relay. The controller receives sensor data corresponding to properties of at least one of (i) a dosing solution tank of the pollution removal system, (ii) a heater assembly configured to vaporize dosing solution provided by the dosing solution tank, and (iii) a flue system configured to receive a flue gas and the vaporized dosing solution and remove pollutants from the flue gas. Using the sensor data, a control operation is determined for improving removal of pollutants from the flue gas. A control signal corresponding to the control operation is transmitted for use by the power relay. The power relay provides a corresponding power signal to adjust operation of at least one component of the pollution removal system.

Abstract: A process is described for the determination of soluble aldehydes in a composition including one or more of (a) 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA), (b) terephthalic acid (TPA), (c) an ester of 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid and (d) an ester of terephthalic acid. The process can indicate the presence in the composition of even those very low levels of such soluble aldehydes that have been associated with the development of unacceptable color in a) the composition, b) some portion of the composition or c) a prepolymer, oligomer or polymer prepared, directly or indirectly, at least in part from the composition or some portion of the composition, so that mitigating or corrective measures can be undertaken in response.

Abstract: A card reading system in which electrical contacts between the assay card and the card reader are made through vertical actuation of a card interface relative to the assay card. In one embodiment, the assay card reading system comprises: (a) a card reader comprising at least one card interface, the card interface having a plurality of card interface contacts; (b) an assay card having card contacts; (c) a vertical actuation mechanism for causing relative vertical movement between the assay card and the card interface to contact at least a portion of the card interface contacts with the card contacts.

Abstract: A method of conducting a biological assay, comprises obtaining data corelative to a temperature of a reagent, mixing the reagent with a sample to provide a mixture, receiving from the mixture a signal indicative of an amount of an analyte in the sample, and correcting the amount based on the obtained data and on a type of the reagent.

Abstract: A device (1) for sensing an analyte, the device (1) comprises at least a sample inlet (10) for receiving a sample, affinity probes (111) selected to have a preferential binding to the analyte, a transducer (11) sensitive to a characteristic of the analyte and/or a label attached to the analyte, the transducer not being a FET transducer, and a desalting unit (13) for desalting the received sample.

Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing a vapor phase reactant to a reaction chamber is disclosed. The apparatus may include: a vessel having an inner volume configured to contain a liquid chemical; an array of sensors configured for detecting a fill level of the liquid chemical disposed within the inner volume, wherein the array of sensors are vertically distributed within the inner volume with an irregular vertical interval between adjacent sensors. The apparatus may also include: an inlet disposed in the vessel and configured for providing a carrier gas into the inner volume; and an outlet disposed in the vessel and configured for dispensing the vapor phase reactant from the inner volume to the reaction chamber. A sensor array for detecting the fill level of a liquid chemical is also disclosed, as well as methods for dispensing a vapor phase reactant to a reaction chamber.

Abstract: Magnetic assisted separation apparatuses for separating a target substance from a medium in which the target substance is suspended, and related methods, are provided. According to one aspect, a magnetic separator may include a frame having an opening configured to receive one or more containers containing the medium. Additionally, the magnetic separator may include first and second magnetic field generating elements mounted on opposing sides of the frame such that one or more containers can be positioned between the first and second magnetic field generating elements. According to another aspect, a workstation includes a work surface for receiving one or more containers containing the medium, a fluid transfer member, an automated manipulator configured to move the fluid transfer member, and a plurality magnetic field generating elements each being moveable between a position remote from the one or more containers and another position adjacent to the one or more containers.

Abstract: A distillation device may comprise a source fluid input and an evaporator in fluid communication therewith. The device may further comprise a compressor having an impeller coupled to a motor, the compressor having a low pressure inlet for vapor from the evaporator and a high pressure outlet for compressed vapor. The device may further comprise at least one temperature sensor configured to monitor temperature of vapor in the inlet and a condenser in heat transfer relationship with exterior surfaces of the evaporator and in fluid communication with the compressor outlet. The device may further comprise a controller configured to govern rotation speed of the impeller with an impeller motor command based on a calibrated motor speed for the distillation device. The controller may be configured to determine an adjusted motor speed for a next use of the device and overwrite the calibrated motor speed with the adjusted motor speed.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for controlling at least one of aspirating and of dispensing a liquid dose or of producing a liquid dose in a pipette or in receptacle, the method having the steps of first loading a first pipette with a first working medium at a first pressure having a first sign with respect to a reference pressure, thereby dispensing the liquid dose into the receptacle or aspirating the liquid dose into the first pipette, second loading a second pipette with a second working medium at a second pressure having a second sign with respect to the reference pressure, thereby dispensing the liquid dose into the receptacle or aspirating the liquid dose into the second pipette, discharging a pressure in the first working medium through a controlled valve arrangement to the reference pressure between first and second loadings. A pipetting device is also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention relates generally to biochemical assays and more particularly to digital microfluidics multi-dynamic range parallel biochemical assays. The invention provides methods that enable improved precision and linearity for digital microfluidics analyses (i.e., analyses performed on a droplet actuator using droplet operations), including for example, assays related to measuring analytes in a biological sample. Examples of assays that may be performed using a method of the invention include measuring analytes in blood, including analytes from blood components, such as analytes present in plasma. The invention provides a digital microfluidics device (or cartridge) and methods for performing a biochemical assay using the microfluidics device to measure an analyte in a sample.

Abstract: A molecular point-of-care testing (POCT) diagnostic device for molecular detection of various diseases with “sample-in-result-out” principle is provided. The device has a sample tube in which a test sample is mixed with a sample buffer, a microfluidic-based reaction tube with a simple flow-based system for amplifying the sample buffer mixed with the test sample to form an amplified result, and a closed-system, disposable result interpretation using colorimetric- or lateral flow assay-based for assaying the amplified result. The device is portable and simple to use, which can help bring laboratory detection to the field.

Abstract: A method is provided of controlling the functionality of a substrate containing at least one nanopore. The method includes the steps of: introducing to the substrate a solution containing a molecular construct having a body formation which defines an aperture and a tail formation extending from the body formation; applying a potential difference across the substrate to thread the tail formation through the nanopore thereby docking the molecular construct to the substrate with the aperture aligned with the nanopore such that the sleeve formation lines the nanopore; and expelling the molecular construct from the substrate by varying the potential difference. A DNA construct for docking to a substrate having a nanopore is also provided, the construct having a body formation which defines an aperture, and a tail formation extending from the body formation for threading through the nanopore to dock the construct to the substrate with the aperture and nanopore in alignment.

Abstract: The present invention provides a device for detecting an analyte in a sample, including a chamber for receiving a testing element, where the testing element has a first position and a second position in the chamber; the testing element is not in contact with a fluid sample when the testing element is located in the first position, and the testing element is in contact with a fluid sample when the testing element is located in the second position.

Abstract: To provide an automatic analyzer with improved workability when a flow cell is loaded and unloaded. The automatic analyzer includes: a photomultiplier tube; a board disposed vertically below the photomultiplier tube; and a flow cell disposed vertically below the board. A lower surface of the board has a protrusion portion and/or a recess portion, and an upper surface of the flow cell has a recess portion and/or a protrusion portion. The automatic analyzer includes a pressing member configured to press the flow cell vertically upward from below in a state in which the recess portion and/or the protrusion portion of the flow cell is fitted to the protrusion portion and/or the recess portion of the board.

Abstract: A packaging system includes a holder and an inner container. The holder includes a top portion and a bottom portion that cooperate to form a cavity configured to receive one or more medical products therein and to retain the one or more medical products therein. The inner container defines an interior region configured to receive the holder therein. The holder includes sidewalls that form the cavity, and the sidewalls include channels configured to fluidly connect the cavity to the interior region of the inner container.