Abstract: Disclosed herein is a composite superhydrophobic material comprising: a substrate layer comprising a set of positively or negatively charged functional groups; a metal nanoparticle coating on top of the substrate layer, comprising a set of negatively or positively charged functional groups; a metal layer on top of the metal nanoparticle coating; and a first superhydrophobic layer on top of the metal layer. Also disclosed herein is a method of making said material, and a method of predicting increased risk of spontaneous miscarriage using said material.

Abstract: Provided are methods of detecting the presence or amount of the active form of vitamin B6, pyridoxal 5?-phosphate, in a body fluid sample using tandem mass spectrometry coupled with liquid chromatography.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the structure of an analysis plate applied to a high-speed polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and to a PCR analysis plate used for implementing an analysis of a real-time PCR, a real-time nested PCR and a post-PCR lateral flow hybridization reaction. The present invention is provided with: a check valve for enabling the maintaining of positive pressure when an elastic film expands into a convex form by having a solution pushed therein by the positive pressure; a lateral flow analysis module for analyzing a post-PCR follow-up PCR or lateral flow; and a shut-off valve enabling the controlling of the movement of the solution after each reaction ends.

Abstract: A method for calibrating an imager of a reagent analyzer, comprises positioning a dry reagent pad at a first read position in a field of view of the imager, the first read position illuminated by an illumination source with a first intensity, detecting a reference optical signal by the imager, indicative of a first reflectance value of the dry reagent pad at the first read position, positioning the dry reagent pad at a second read position, the second read position illuminated with a second intensity different from the first intensity, detecting a first optical signal by the imager, indicative of a second reflectance value of the dry reagent pad at the second read position, and calculating, by a processor, a calibration factor for the dry reagent pad at the second read position based on a difference between the reference optical signal and the first optical signal.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods for high throughput quantitation of testosterone utilizing at least two different derivatizing agents of different masses. In another aspect, provided herein are methods for determining the amount of testosterone in each of a plurality of human samples with a single mass spectrometric assay by subjecting each of a plurality of human samples to a different derivatizing agent to generate a differently derivatized testosterone in each of the plurality of samples; combining the plurality of samples to form a multiplex sample; and quantifying the amount of testosterone in each sample by mass spectrometry.

Abstract: Provided are methods for determining the amount of thyroglobulin in a sample using various purification steps followed by mass spectrometry. The methods generally involve purifying thyroglobulin in a test sample, digesting thyroglobulin to form peptide T129, purifying peptide T129, ionizing peptide T129, detecting the amount of peptide T129 ion generated, and relating the amount of peptide T129 ion to the amount of thyroglobulin originally present in the sample.

Abstract: A method of identifying tobacco carbonyl components using non-targeted mass spectrometry is disclosed, which includes the following steps: (1) preparing a tobacco sample extract; (2) derivatizing (part of) the sample/extract with 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine (DNPH); (3) derivatizing (another part of) the sample/extract with DNPH-d3; (4) mixing the derivatized tobacco samples; (5) preparing blank samples; (6) performing ultra performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) and ion trap (Orbitrap) high resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) on the (derivatized) tobacco samples; (7) processing the LC-MS data; (8) filtering the mass spectrometric characteristic data to retain final chromatographic peaks; and (9) structurally annotating or identifying the retained final chromatographic peaks to obtain the tobacco carbonyl components.

Abstract: The disclosure generally relates generally to lipid nanodiscs, in particular to lipid nanodiscs formed from acryloyl-based copolymers. A lipid nanodisc according to the disclosure includes a lipid bilayer having a first hydrophilic face and a second hydrophilic face opposing the first hydrophilic face, and a hydrophobic edge between the opposing hydrophilic faces, and an acryloyl-based copolymer encircling the hydrophobic edge of the lipid bilayer. The acryloyl-based copolymer includes a first monomer unit having a pendant hydrophobic group and a second monomer unit having a pendant hydrophilic group. Methods of making and characterizing the lipid nanodiscs are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present disclosure is notably directed to a microfluidic probe head, or MFP head, comprising a processing surface having a liquid injection aperture and a liquid aspiration aperture thereon. The aspiration aperture is generally shaped so as to partly extend around the injection aperture on the processing surface, although such injection apertures are not completely surrounded by the slit on the processing surface. Further, fluidic and solid barriers to aspiration are considered. The disclosure is further directed to related microfluidic probe devices, and methods of operation of such an MFP head, notably to deposit cells on a surface.

Abstract: A reagent composition for releasing vitamin D compounds bound to vitamin D-binding protein and an in vitro method for the detection of a vitamin D compound in which the vitamin D compound is released from vitamin D-binding protein by the use of this reagent composition as well as the reagent mixture obtained in this manner. Also disclosed is the use of the reagent compositions to release vitamin D compounds as well as a kit for detecting a vitamin D compound.

Abstract: A system, device and method for measuring markers for a periprosthetic joint infection in a sample of synovial fluid. A sensor reader device includes a vial receptacle for receiving a vial containing synovial fluid. A light source illuminates the vial and an optical sensor detects light scattered and/or absorbed by white blood cells in the fluid sample. An electrical signal corresponding to the intensity of the light received at the optical sensor is detected. A white blood cell concentration is determined from the electrical signal value. The sensor reader device also includes one or more immunoassay strip receptacles. Immunoassay strips for other marker are inserted into the receptacles. Immunoassay optical sensors detect light generated by the immunoassay reaction on the immunoassay strip to determine the concentration of the marker. In example implementations, the device includes an immunoassay strip reader for leukocyte esterase and c-reactive protein.

Abstract: A method for detecting cancerous status of a biological sample. The method includes calculating a charge transfer resistance (Rct) of an electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) associated with lipid secretion of a biological sample, detecting a cancerous state for the biological sample responsive to the calculated Rct being equal to or more than a threshold value, and detecting a normal state for the biological sample responsive to the calculated Rct being less than the threshold value. The biological sample includes a biological sample suspected to be cancerous.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and compositions for hybridizing at least one molecule to a target. The invention may, for example, eliminate the use of, or reduce the dependence on formamide in hybridization. Compositions for use in the invention include an aqueous composition comprising at least one nucleic acid sequence and at least one polar aprotic solvent in an amount effective to denature double-stranded nucleotide sequences.

Abstract: The invention relates to the quantitative measurement of steroidal compounds by mass spectrometry. In a particular aspect, the invention relates to methods for quantitative measurement of steroidal compounds from multiple samples by mass spectrometry.

Abstract: Provided are methods of detecting the presence or amount of the active form of vitamin B6, pyridoxal 5?-phosphate, in a body fluid sample using tandem mass spectrometry coupled with liquid chromatography.

Abstract: The invention relates to the quantitative measurement of steroidal compounds by mass spectrometry. In a particular aspect, the invention relates to methods for quantitative measurement of steroidal compounds from multiple samples by mass spectrometry.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods for high throughput quantitation of testosterone utilizing at least two different derivatizing agents of different masses. In another aspect, provided herein are methods for determining the amount of testosterone in each of a plurality of human samples with a single mass spectrometric assay by subjecting each of a plurality of human samples to a different derivatizing agent to generate a differently derivatized testosterone in each of the plurality of samples; combining the plurality of samples to form a multiplex sample; and quantifying the amount of testosterone in each sample by mass spectrometry.

Abstract: Embodiments may include an automated method for evaluating a sepsis status associated with a blood sample obtained from an individual. Methods may include determining a standard deviation of monocyte volume associated with the blood sample. Methods may include determining a white blood cell count (WBC) associated with the blood sample. Methods may include evaluating, using a data processing module, the sepsis status associated with the blood sample. The data processing module may include a processor and a computer application. This computer application may cause the processor to compare the standard deviation of monocyte volume with a first cutoff value to provide a comparison. The computer application may cause the processor to compare the WBC to a second cutoff to provide a second comparison. The computer application may also cause the processor to evaluate the sepsis status associated with the blood sample based on the first comparison and the second comparison.

Abstract: The disclosed apparatus, systems and methods relate to devices, systems and methods for the collection of bodily fluids. The collector can make use of microfluidic networks connected to collection sites on the skin of a subject to gather and shuttle blood into a removable cartridge. The collected fluid is supplied to substrate for drying, storage and transport.

Abstract: In various aspects, the present disclosure pertains to methods of performing a sample enrichment procedure, which comprise: adding a sample fluid that comprises at least one phospholipid and at least one target analyte to a sorbent that comprises a hydrophobic component and a cation exchange component, thereby resulting in sorbent with bound phospholipid and bound target analyte; adding an aqueous solution comprising an acidic compound and a salt; adding an organic solution to the sorbent thereby desorbing at least a portion of the bound phospholipid from the sorbent; and adding an elution solution to the sorbent, thereby desorbing at least a portion of the bound target analyte from the sorbent and forming a solution of the target analyte in the elution solution. In other aspects, the present disclosure pertains to kits, which may be used in conjunction with such methods.