Abstract: Provided herein are cell free protein synthesis (CFPS) systems comprising a plurality of ribosomes attached to or encapsulated within a structure, or a plurality of structures, and, optionally, a solid support. Also provided are related kits and uses of the CFPS systems. Methods of producing a protein and methods of treating a disease are provided herein.

Abstract: Techniques, systems, and devices are described for implementing a droplet array for single-cell analysis. A method of conducting single-cell analysis comprises generating a plurality of droplets, wherein each of the plurality of droplets contains a core material surrounded by a protective shell; loading the plurality of droplets, via a carrying fluid, onto an array including a plurality of trap structures, wherein the plurality of droplets are held by the plurality of trap structures; selecting a target droplet, held by a trap structure, from the plurality of droplets; and releasing the target droplet from the trap structure.

Abstract: A system for determining optimal paths without collision through a travel volume for a swarm of vehicles is disclosed. The system determines a travel path for the swarm leader vehicle using a minimal cost path derived from various measures of environmental cost for avoiding objects in traveling from leader location to target location. The system also determines, for each empty neighbor location of each follower vehicle, relational costs for follower vehicle travel relative to leader vehicle travel. The various measures of relational cost seek to maintain a prescribed positional relationship between each follower vehicle and the leader vehicle given the leader vehicle travel path. Based on various measures of environmental and relational cost, the system determines the best travel path for the each follower vehicle relative to the leader vehicle.

Abstract: A system for determining a travel direction that avoids objects when a vehicle travels from a current location to a target location is provided. The system determines a travel direction based on an attract-repel model. The system assigns a repel value to the object locations and an attract value. A repel represents a magnitude of a directional repulsive force, and the attract value represents the magnitude of a directional repulsive force. The system calculates an attract-repel field having an attract-repel magnitude and attract-repel direction for the current location based on the repel values and their directions and the attract value and its direction. The system then determines the travel direction for a vehicle to be the direction of the attract-repel field at the current location.

Abstract: Devices, techniques, and processes are disclosed that use electrical impedance to detect of the presence and contents of droplets including cells, nucleic acids, proteins, or solute concentrations in an array of retrievable, trackable, trapped droplets in a fluidic system. Electrodes may be positioned underneath individual droplet traps in a microchannel to assay droplet contents and/or actuating droplets for the release of the droplets from corresponding traps.

Abstract: Techniques, systems, and devices are disclosed for implementing a portable lab system for PCR testing. The portable lab system comprises a thermal cycling device including a first well and a second well to receive samples to be thermally cycled, a thermoelectric cooling (TEC) element coupled to the first well and the second well, and a controller to control operation of the TEC element. The portable lab system further includes an electronic interface including a power interface to supply power to the TEC element and the controller of the thermal cycling device to allow the TEC element to transfer energy from the first well to the second well when current flows through the TEC element in a first direction, and from the second well to the first well when current flows through the TEC element in a second direction, and a data interface to collect data from the controller.

Abstract: The disclosed technology includes a planar device for performing multiple biochemical assays at the same time, or nearly the same time. Each assay may include a biosample including a biochemical, enzyme, DNA, and/or any other biochemical or biological sample. Each assay may include one or more tags including dyes and/or other chemicals/reagents whose optical characteristics change based on chemical characteristics of the biological sample being tested. Each assay may be optically pumped to cause one or more of luminescence, phosphorescence, or fluorescence of the assay that may be detected by one or more optical detectors. For example, an assay may include two tags and a biosample. Each tag may be pumped by different wavelengths of light and may produce different wavelengths of light that is filtered and detected by one or more detectors. The pump wavelengths may be different from one another and different from the produced wavelengths.

Abstract: A configuration system for identifying a target configuration of agents for acquiring data is provided. In some embodiments, the configuration system generates sample configurations, each of which has a location within the space for each agent. The configuration system selects as the target configuration a sample configuration that is suitable to acquire data. The configuration system selects the target configuration by, for at least one or more sample configurations, directing that the agents assume the sample configuration and then acquire data when in the sample configuration. The configuration system then stores, for each sample configuration, an indication of suitability for acquiring data based on the sample configuration. The configuration system selects a sample configuration that is deemed to be suitable as the target configuration.

Abstract: A configuration system for identifying a target configuration of agents for acquiring data is provided. In some embodiments, the configuration system generates sample configurations, each of which has a location within the space for each agent. The configuration system selects as the target configuration a sample configuration that is suitable to acquire data. The configuration system selects the target configuration by, for at least one or more sample configurations, directing that the agents assume the sample configuration and then acquire data when in the sample configuration. The configuration system then stores, for each sample configuration, an indication of suitability for acquiring data based on the sample configuration. The configuration system selects a sample configuration that is deemed to be suitable as the target configuration.

Abstract: A micro-electro-mechanical system for heating a sample including a substrate, a micro-channel flow channel in the substrate, a carrier fluid within the micro-channel flow channel for moving the sample in the micro-channel flow channel, and a microwave source that directs microwaves onto the sample in the micro-channel flow channel for heating the sample. The carrier fluid and the substrate are made of materials that are not appreciably heated by the microwaves. The microwave source includes conductive traces or strips and a microwave power source connected to the conductive traces or strips.

Abstract: A detection system that detects subsurface objects within a medium and estimates various features of the objects is provided. The detection system receives a streaming sequence of image frames of the medium at various along-medium locations. An image frame contains voxel values (intensities) representing characteristics of the medium across the medium and in the depth (range) direction. The detection system depth-compensates the intensities for determining which voxels are part of an object using an unsupervised binary classifier. The detection system then connects object voxels into distinct objects and recursively estimates the features of those objects as the image frames stream based on the locations and intensities of the object voxels.

Abstract: Techniques, systems, and devices are described for implementing a droplet array for single-cell analysis. A method of conducting single-cell analysis comprises generating a plurality of droplets, wherein each of the plurality of droplets contains a core material surrounded by a protective shell; loading the plurality of droplets, via a carrying fluid, onto an array including a plurality of trap structures, wherein the plurality of droplets are held by the plurality of trap structures; selecting a target droplet, held by a trap structure, from the plurality of droplets; and releasing the target droplet from the trap structure.

Abstract: The rapid thermal cycling of a material is targeted. A microfluidic heat exchanger with an internal porous medium is coupled to tanks containing cold fluid and hot fluid. Fluid flows alternately from the cold tank and the hot tank into the porous medium, cooling and heating samples contained in the microfluidic heat exchanger's sample wells. A valve may be coupled to the tanks and a pump, and switching the position of the valve may switch the source and direction of fluid flowing through the porous medium. A controller may control the switching of valve positions based on the temperature of the samples and determined temperature thresholds. A sample tray for containing samples to be thermally cycled may be used in conjunction with the thermal cycling system. A surface or internal electrical heater may aid in heating the samples, or may replace the necessity for the hot tank.

Abstract: A configuration system for identifying a target configuration of agents for acquiring data is provided. In some embodiments, the configuration system generates sample configurations, each of which has a location within the space for each agent. The configuration system selects as the target configuration a sample configuration that is suitable to acquire data. The configuration system selects the target configuration by, for at least one or more sample configurations, directing that the agents assume the sample configuration and then acquire data when in the sample configuration. The configuration system then stores, for each sample configuration, an indication of suitability for acquiring data based on the sample configuration. The configuration system selects a sample configuration that is deemed to be suitable as the target configuration.

Abstract: A non-contact system for sorting monodisperse water-in-oil emulsion droplets in a microfluidic device based on the droplet's contents and their interaction with an applied electromagnetic field or by identification and sorting.

Abstract: A detection system that detects subsurface objects within a medium and estimates various features of the objects is provided. The detection system receives a streaming sequence of image frames of the medium at various along-medium locations. An image frame contains voxel values (intensities) representing characteristics of the medium across the medium and in the depth (range) direction. The detection system depth-compensates the intensities for determining which voxels are part of an object using an unsupervised binary classifier. The detection system then connects object voxels into distinct objects and recursively estimates the features of those objects as the image frames stream based on the locations and intensities of the object voxels.

Abstract: A method of rapid, genome and proteome based identification of unknown pathogenic or non-pathogenic organisms in a complex sample. The entire sample is analyzed by creating millions of emulsion encapsulated microdroplets, each containing a single pathogenic or non-pathogenic organism sized particle and appropriate reagents for amplification. Following amplification, the amplified product is analyzed.

Abstract: An apparatus for chip-based sorting, amplification, detection, and identification of a sample having a planar substrate. The planar substrate is divided into cells. The cells are arranged on the planar substrate in rows and columns. Electrodes are located in the cells. A micro-reactor maker produces micro-reactors containing the sample. The micro-reactor maker is positioned to deliver the micro-reactors to the planar substrate. A microprocessor is connected to the electrodes for manipulating the micro-reactors on the planar substrate. A detector is positioned to interrogate the sample contained in the micro-reactors.

Abstract: The cooling of injection molded plastic is targeted. Coolant flows into a porous medium disposed within an injection molding component via a porous medium inlet. The porous medium is thermally coupled to a mold cavity configured to receive injected liquid plastic. The porous medium beneficially allows for an increased rate of heat transfer from the injected liquid plastic to the coolant and provides additional structural support over a hollow cooling well. When the temperature of the injected liquid plastic falls below a solidifying temperature threshold, the molded component is ejected and collected.

Abstract: Apparatus for heating a sample includes a microchip; a microchannel flow channel in the microchip, the microchannel flow channel containing the sample; a microwave source that directs microwaves onto the sample for heating the sample; a wall section of the microchannel flow channel that receives the microwaves and enables the microwaves to pass through wall section of the microchannel flow channel, the wall section the microchannel flow channel being made of a material that is not appreciably heated by the microwaves; a carrier fluid within the microchannel flow channel for moving the sample in the microchannel flow channel, the carrier fluid being made of a material that is not appreciably heated by the microwaves; wherein the microwaves pass through wall section of the microchannel flow channel and heat the sample.