Abstract: Provided are compositions that include at least one two-dimensional layer of an inorganic compound and at least one layer of an organic compound in the form of one or more polypeptides. Methods of making and using the materials are provided. The organic layer contains one or more polypeptides, each of which have alternating repeats of crystallite-forming subsequences and amorphous subsequences. The crystallite-forming subsequences form crystallites comprising stacks of one or more beta-sheets. The amorphous subsequences form a network of hydrogen bonds. A method includes i) combining one or more polypeptides with an inorganic material and an organic solvent, and ii) depositing one or more polypeptides, the inorganic material and the organic solvent onto a substrate. These steps can be repeated to provide a composite material that is a multilayer composite material. The composite materials can be used in a wide array of textile, electronic, semi-conducting, and other applications.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to mitigate bubble formation in a liquid are disclosed. An example apparatus disclosed herein includes a bottom wall, a first baffle cantilevered from the bottom wall, and a second baffle cantilevered from the bottom wall. The first baffle is spaced apart from the second baffle, and the first baffle and the second baffle are positioned radially relative to an axis of rotation of the apparatus.

Abstract: A method for deriving a calibration curve for determining a concentration of an analyte in an electrochemical reactor comprises determining a current level between a functionalized electrode and a reference electrode in the electrochemical reactor in absence of an analyte, the current level forming a zero-concentration current; injecting a fluid comprising an analyte in a first given concentration in the electrochemical reactor, determining after the predetermined amount of time a first calibration current level corresponding to the first given concentration and calculating a first current ratio of the first current level to the zero-concentration current; repeating the previous step for at least a second given concentration of the analyte, yielding at least a second current ratio of a second current level to the zero-concentration current; obtaining a calibration curve indicative of current ratio as a function of concentration from the first current ratio and at least the second current ratio.

Abstract: A sensor apparatus capable of measuring an analyte with excellent sensitivity is provided. A sensor apparatus includes an element substrate; a detecting section disposed on an upper surface of the element substrate, the detecting element including a reaction section having an immobilization film to detect an analyte, a first IDT electrode configured to generate an acoustic wave which propagates toward the reaction section, and a second IDT electrode configured to receive the acoustic wave which has passed through the reaction section; and a protective film which covers the first IDT electrode and the second IDT electrode. The element substrate is configured so that a region where the reaction section is located is at a lower level than a region where the first IDT electrode is located and a region where the second IDT electrode is located.

Abstract: The present invention relates to systems and methods for assessing brain health and detecting neurological conditions. The invention more particularly relates to systems and methods for diagnosing neurological conditions and analyzing rain health from analysis of a biological fluid sample, such as a saliva sample, that looks for and determines the significance of peripheral markers of blood-brain barrier disruption. The present invention further provides a diagnostic system and method with a higher negative predictive value of brain injury than currently known tests are able to provide, so as to reduce the need for computerized tomography or magnetic resonance imaging scans to affirmatively determine that brain or cerebrovascular injury has not occurred, and thus to improve suspected brain injury patient health care while reducing the expense of such care.

Abstract: A chemical sensor and a system and method for sensing a chemical species. The chemical sensor includes a plurality of nanofibers whose electrical impedance varies upon exposure to the chemical species, a substrate supporting and electrically isolating the fibers, a set of electrodes connected to the plurality of fibers at spatially separated points to permit the electrical impedance of the plurality of fibers to be measured, and a membrane encasing the fibers and having a thickness ranging from 50 ?m to 5.0 mm. The system includes the chemical sensor, an impedance measuring device coupled to the electrodes and configured to determine an electrical impedance of the plurality of fibers, and an analyzer configured to identify the chemical species based on a change in the electrical impedance.

Abstract: A microfluidic apparatus is provided that includes a thermoelectrically-activated pixel array, a microfluidic chip, and control circuitry. The pixel array may include a plurality of thermal pixels, with each thermal pixel including a thermoelectric device. The microfluidic chip may include a microfluidic channel disposed adjacent to the thermal pixels such that thermal energy generated by the thermal pixels is received by the microfluidic channel to form a localized spot within the microfluidic channel corresponding to each thermal pixel. The control circuitry may be electrically coupled to each of the thermal pixels and configured to control the thermal energy being generated by each thermal pixel to control a temperature at each localized spot within the microfluidic channel.

Abstract: A gas sensing device comprising a substrate comprising an etched cavity portion and a substrate portion, a dielectric layer disposed on the substrate, wherein the dielectric layer comprises a dielectric membrane, wherein the dielectric membrane is adjacent to the etched cavity portion of the substrate, a heater located within the dielectric layer; a material for sensing a gas; and one or more polysilicon electrodes coupled with the material for sensing a gas.

Abstract: This productivity evaluation method is for evaluating productivity of a chemical substance in a process comprising a first step of obtaining gas from a waste material and a second step of synthesizing a chemical substance from the gas obtained in the first step in the presence of a catalyst, said method including: a first carbon mass calculation stage of calculating mass of carbon contained in the waste material, a second carbon mass calculation stage of calculating mass of carbon contained in the chemical substance produced in said process, and a productivity evaluation stage of evaluating the productivity of the chemical substance based on values of the mass of carbon which are calculated in the first carbon mass calculation stage and the second carbon mass calculation stage.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are compositions for permeable outer diffusion control membranes for creatinine and creatine sensors and methods of making such membranes.

Abstract: A device for measuring the total organic carbon content (TOC) of a sample fluid comprises a measuring cell (2) defining a volume (3) for containing a sample fluid and an excimer lamp (20) arranged to cause an oxidation reaction of the sample fluid by emitting radiation onto the sample fluid in the volume (3). A pair of electrodes is arranged to measure the conductivity of the sample fluid during the oxidation reaction and at least one temperature senor (31) is arranged on the measuring cell (2) to measure a temperature that is related to the sample fluid. The total organic carbon content (TOC) of the sample fluid is determined on the basis of the measured conductivity compensated by the temperature related to the sample fluid.

Abstract: Described is an oxygen permeable layer for detection of molecular oxygen, wherein the layer has a carrier material in which at least one particle is comprised, wherein the carrier material is polyvinylidene fluoride or a copolymer of polyvinylidene fluoride, and the particle comprises a polymer or a copolymer, wherein the polymer or copolymer of the particle has a chemically covalently bonded indicator compound for detection of molecular oxygen. In addition, a multilayer system for detection of molecular oxygen is described. Also described are a method for producing the layer, and the use of the layer or of the multilayer system for detection of molecular oxygen.

Abstract: A device for analysis of cells comprises: an active sensor area (104) presenting a surface for cell growth; a microelectrode array (102) comprising a plurality of pixels (110) in the active sensor area (104), wherein each pixel (110) comprises at least one electrode (120) at the surface, wherein each pixel (110) is configured to control the configuration of the pixel circuitry and set a measurement modality of the pixel; recording circuitry having a plurality of recording channels (130), wherein each pixel (110) is connected to a recording channel (130), wherein each recording channel (130) comprises a reconfigurable component (131), which is selectively controlled between being set to a first mode, in which the reconfigurable component (131) is configured to amplify a received pixel signal, and being set to a second mode, in which the reconfigurable component (131) is configured to selectively pass a frequency band of the received pixel signal.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an article for detecting a disinfectant via visual feedback. The article have a first substrate with a first major surface and opposite ends. The article also comprises a process indicator disposed on at least a portion of the first major surface. The process indicator reacts with at least one liquid disinfectant selected from the group consisting of glutaraldehyde, ortho-phthalaldehyde, hydrogen peroxide, peroxyacetic acid, and combinations thereof. The process indicator can be formed from a synthetic amine-containing polymer derived from polyethylenimine (PEI). The article can have a flow channel that is formed by a portion of the process indicator and that extends between the opposite ends. The disclosure also relates to a kit containing the article as well as a method of using the article in a disinfection process. The article is used to diagnose issues in an automated endoscope reprocessors (AERs).

Abstract: A microfluidic device may include an inlet, an outlet, first and second channels arranged in parallel, a first sensor pair positioned along the first channel, and a second sensor pair positioned along the second channel. The first channel may include a first upstream zone, a first downstream zone, and a first constriction zone. The second channel may include a second upstream zone, a second downstream zone, and a second constriction zone. The first sensor pair may include a first entry sensor configured to detect a first cell flowing through the first upstream zone, and a first exit sensor configured to detect the first cell flowing through the first downstream zone. The second sensor pair may include a second entry sensor configured to detect a second cell flowing through the second upstream zone, and a second exit sensor configured to detect the second cell flowing through the second downstream zone.

Abstract: A low-voltage microfluidic valve device and system for regulating the flow of fluid. One low-voltage microfluidic valve device for regulating the low of fluid includes a nano-textured dendritic metallic filament configured to grow and retract in response to a voltage. The low-voltage microfluidic valve device also includes a microfluidic channel configured to allow fluid flow, wherein the fluid flow is selectively interrupted by the growth of the nano-textured dendritic metallic filament. The low-voltage microfluidic valve device also includes a membrane positioned proximate to the fluid and configured to alter shape in response to the growth of the nano-textured dendritic metallic filament.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a biosensor for detecting the presence of and/or the amount of at least one fungal plant pathogen in a sample, comprising: a support structure; at least two interdigitated electrodes coupled to the support structure, wherein at least one of the interdigitated electrodes is functionalized with a linker coupled to at least one biological component that recognizes the at least one fungal plant pathogen; and an impedance measurement circuit coupled to the at least two interdigitated electrodes. The present disclosure also provides methods of detecting the presence of and/or the amount of at least one fungal plant pathogen in a sample, methods of making the biosensor described herein, as well as methods and uses of using the herein described biosensor for detecting the presence of and/or amount of at least one fungal plant pathogen.

Abstract: A detection device, a detecting method for the detection device, and a detecting system are provided. The detection device includes: a first interdigital transducer and a second interdigital transducer, wherein the first interdigital transducer is arranged opposite to the second interdigital transducer, and a surface wave of the first interdigital transducer is transmitted in a direction toward the second interdigital transducer; and a reaction layer arranged between the first interdigital transducer and the second interdigital transducer.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides an apparatus for analyzing substances included in a sample. The apparatus includes a physical enclosure for holding the sample and one or more sensors positioned on an inner surface of the physical enclosure. The sensors are configured to provide information associated with the substances included in the sample. The apparatus further includes electrical conductive traces positioned on the inner surface and coupled to the one or more sensors, thereby facilitating transmission of outputs of the sensors.

Abstract: The technology described herein generally relates to systems for extracting polynucleotides from multiple samples, particularly from biological samples, and additionally to systems that subsequently amplify and detect the extracted polynucleotides. The technology more particularly relates to microfluidic systems that carry out PCR on multiple samples of nucleotides of interest within microfluidic channels, and detect those nucleotides. The technology still more particularly relates to automated devices for carrying out pipetting operations, particularly on samples in parallel, consistent with sample preparation and delivery of PCR-ready nucleotide extracts to a cartridge wherein PCR is run.