Abstract: The present disclosure, among other things, describes a reader system comprising a casing, an optical system, an electromechanical motor system, and one or more digital processors.

Abstract: A system for identifying and targeting individual cells within a cell population for selective extraction of cellular content. The system includes a digital microfluidic device having at least one hydrophilic site for receiving cells, an imaging system including a stage for receiving the digital microfluidic device and an imaging module for identifying at least one targeted cell among the cells at the at least one hydrophilic site and a pulsed laser source for lysing the targeted cell to produce a lysate. A control system controls the pulsed laser source, the imaging system and the digital microfluidic device and is programmed for coordinating steps of i) moving droplets on the digital microfluidic device, ii) selecting the targeted cell to be lysed located at the hydrophilic site, iii) illuminating the selected targeted cell by the pulsed laser source to lyse the selected targeted cell to produce lysate, and iv) collecting the lysate.

Abstract: According to one embodiment of the present invention, a structure includes: a substrate having a patterned surface of one or more binding sites; and a molecular shape made by a polynucleotide platform having a shape corresponding to a shape of a binding site of the one or more binding sites, the molecular shape being bound to one of the one or more binding sites.

Abstract: An apparatus for directing a liquid through a porous medium includes a fluidic module rotatable about a center of rotation and including a fluid chamber and an inflow structure. A porous medium is disposed in the fluid chamber to allow centrifugal force-effected flow of the liquid impinging on a radially inner portion of the porous medium, to a radially outer portion of the porous medium. The porous medium is laterally at least partially spaced apart from chamber walls of the fluid chamber with respect to the flow, so that a fluid connection exists between the radially inner portion of the porous medium and the radially outer portion of the porous medium outside the porous medium. The inflow structure is configured to limit a centrifugal force-effected inflow of the liquid to the radially inner portion of the porous medium to a first flow rate, wherein a ratio of the first flow rate to a maximum possible flow rate through the porous medium is not greater than two.

Abstract: A gas concentration regulator for use in culture of anaerobic bacteria, including: (a) dehydroascorbic acid; (c) a transition metal catalyst; (d) activated carbon; (e) at least one selected from the group consisting of an alkali metal carbonate, an alkali metal hydroxide, and an alkaline earth metal hydroxide; and (f) water.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a near-field acoustic platform capable of synthesizing high resolution, arbitrarily shaped energy potential wells. A thin and viscoelastic membrane is utilized to modulate acoustic wavefront on a deep, sub-wavelength scale by suppressing the structural vibration selectively on the platform. This new acoustic wavefront modulation mechanism is powerful for manufacturing complex biologic products.

Abstract: Provided herein are devices and methods for the rapid processing and analysis of samples. In particular, a small-volume sample (e.g., nucleic acid sample) is exposed to (e.g., contacted with) different temperature zones within a device to process (e.g., amplify) and/or analyze (e.g., quantitate) the sample in an assay.

Abstract: A method for determining ciprofloxacin in a meat product based on an enzyme-linked upconversion fluorescence and potassium titanium oxalate system is provided. An enzyme-linked upconversion nanoparticle solution is mixed with an aptamer-bound magnetized polydopamine solution to obtain a fluorescence-ultraviolet dual-signal detection system. A fluorescence standard curve and a colorimetric standard curve for the ciprofloxacin content determination are created through the fluorescence-ultraviolet dual-signal detection system in combination with potassium titanium oxalate and hydrogen peroxide. A fluorescence intensity signal characteristic value and an ultraviolet absorbance signal characteristic value of a meat sample solution are determined. A ciprofloxacin content in the meat sample is calculated according to the fluorescence standard curve and the colorimetric standard curve.

Abstract: A cell culture system includes a culture bag made of a flexible packaging material and having a plurality of ports, a medium container that stores a medium to be transferred to the culture bag, and a control part that controls the supply of the medium, tubular members are connected to the respective ports to circularly connect the culture bag and the medium container through the tubular members, the tubular member connected to a first port of the plurality of ports is provided with first supply unit (e.g., pump), and the tubular member connected to a second port of the plurality of ports is provided with second supply unit (e.g., pump), and the control part controls the operation of at least the first supply unit or the second supply unit to circulate the medium in the culture bag and the medium container.

Abstract: Multi-stage sample-recovery systems, including automated 2-stage and 3-stage sample-recovery systems, are provided. Such systems enable the rapid screening and recovery of samples, including viable cell-based samples, from high-throughput screening systems, including systems utilizing large-scale arrays of microcapillaries. In specific screening systems, each microcapillary comprises a solution containing a variant protein, an immobilized target molecule, and a reporter element. Immobilized target molecules may include any molecule of interest, including proteins, nucleic acids, carbohydrates, and other biomolecules. The association of a variant protein with a molecular target is assessed by measuring a signal from the reporter element. The contents of microcapillaries identified in the assays as containing variant proteins of interest can be identified and recovered using the multi-stage systems disclosed herein.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure include flow cytometers configured to compensate for optical noise caused by operational change of a laser. Flow cytometers according to certain embodiments include a laser assessor configured to assess operational change of a laser. In embodiments, the laser assessor includes a reference detector and a mirror positioned between the reference detector and the flow cell that is configured to reflect forward scattered light to a forward scatter detector and allow non-scattered laser light to pass through to the reference detector. Methods for assessing laser functionality and, where desired, dynamically adjusting flow cytometer data, based on laser reference data from the laser assessor are also provided.

Abstract: Provided is a method by which the disaccharides derived from glycosaminoglycans can be analyzed in a stable and highly reproducible manner. A method for analyzing a glycosaminoglycan according to the present invention includes: a first process for producing a plurality of kinds of disaccharides derived from a glycosaminoglycan in a biological sample by adding a plurality of kinds of glycosaminoglycan-specific enzymes to the biological sample; and a second process for separating and analyzing the plurality of kinds of disaccharides by a liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry method, where a column used for liquid chromatography in the liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry method is a column packed with a stationary-phase support to which an amide group as a functional group is bound, or a column packed with a stationary-phase support to which an adamantyl group as a functional group is bound.

Abstract: A plurality of color sensing sections are attached to a toilet seat so as to test a health state or a fecal occult blood portion every time by capturing the feces surface color during defecation. Before feces which have been excreted from a body sink into a water-seal portion, the circumference of the feces is optically captured to detect the color of the surface of the feces. By monitoring changes in color, the health state of the defecator is monitored. In particular, by checking the presence/absence of an occult blood portion, the present invention assists in early detection of colorectal cancer and allows a fecal occult blood test to be performed in a hygienic manner without burdening the user.

Abstract: Systems, including methods and apparatus, for growing viable monoclonal colonies, identifying them as monoclonal after their viability has been demonstrated, and picking and placing them into a target environment. The methods may include plating cells at low density in a well, capturing at a first time shortly after plating a series of vertically spaced-apart images of the well showing locations of the cells, capturing at a second, later time images of the same well showing locations of candidate cell colonies, determining a likelihood that the candidate colonies are monoclonal based on information in the first set of images, and, based on the likelihood, picking candidate colonies using a picking head for transfer to a target environment.

Abstract: Biosensors and methods for localized surface plasmon resonance biosensing are disclosed. The biosensor can include a substrate having a substrate surface to which a plurality of localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) antennae are affixed. The LSPR antennae can be affixed via an affixation surface of the LSPR antenna. The LSPR antennae can have a functional surface opposite the affixation surface. Each functional surface can be functionalized by a plurality of single-stranded DNA.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus, such as an acoustic for parallel profiling cell-matrix adhesion at single-cell level via the introduction of localized and uniform acoustic streaming into an open chamber microfluidic device. The adherent cells within the open chamber can be detached by the streaming-induced Stokes drag force, thereby allowing an accurate determination of the relevant forces and kinetics. The current device and method includes the digital regulation of acoustic streaming from a low level to high levels, and a large number of adherent cells can be ruptured from the substrate, and the particular adhesive forces and kinetics can be determined by the applied power. The acoustic device and the associated detachment technique can characterize the adhesion dynamics and kinetics of cells, such as mammalian cells and bacterial cells.

Abstract: A cover member for a substrate supporting a biological sample comprises first and second opposing ends, first and second opposing surfaces, a void in the second surface which, when juxtaposed with a substrate, forms a chamber, and a fluid inlet toward the first end and in fluid communication with the void. The void is bounded by void walls having one or more contoured regions for enhancing fluid movement within the chamber. A treatment module for a biological sample comprises the cover member, a support surface for a substrate bearing the biological sample and clamp means operable to releasably retain the cover member in juxtaposition with the substrate for an incubation period. A method for incubating the biological sample with one or more reagents uses the cover member.

Abstract: An automated analyzer includes two or more types of photometers to obtain suitable output of the measurement results of the plurality of photometers and suitable data alarm output even if there is an abnormality, or the like, at the time of measurement. The automated analyzer includes, for example, two types of photometers having different quantitative ranges and an analysis control unit for controlling analysis that includes measurement of a given sample using the two types of photometers. If two types of data alarms corresponding to abnormalities, or the like, during measurement have been added to the two types of measurement results from the two types of photometers, the analysis control unit selects measurement result and data alarm output corresponding to the combination of the two types of data alarms and outputs the same to a user as analysis results.

Abstract: Biosensor including a device base having a sensor array of light sensors and a guide array of light guides. The light guides have input regions that are configured to receive excitation light and light emissions generated by biological or chemical substances. The light guides extend into the device base toward corresponding light sensors and have a filter material. The device base includes device circuitry electrically coupled to the light sensors and configured to transmit data signals. A passivation layer extends over the device base and forms an array of reaction recesses above the light guides. The biosensor also includes peripheral crosstalk shields that at least partially surround corresponding light guides of the guide array to reduce optical crosstalk between adjacent light sensors.

Abstract: An integrated detection, flow cell and photonics (DFP) device is provided that comprises a substrate having an array of pixel elements that sense photons during active periods. The substrate and pixel elements form an IC photon detection layer. At least one wave guide is formed on the IC photo detection layer as a photonics layer. An optical isolation layer is formed over at least a portion of the wave guide. A collection of photo resist (PR) walls patterned to define at least one flow cell channel that is configured to direct fluid along a fluid flow path. The wave guides align to extend along the fluid flow path. The flow cell channel is configured to receive samples at sample sites that align with the array of pixel elements.