Abstract: An immunobiosensor is disclosed. The immunobiosensor is based on a membrane lateral flow immuno-chromatographic assay (LF-ICA). The immunobiosensor includes: a metal binding protein 10 whose conformation changes upon reaction with a metal ion 1 in a sample; a sensing antibody 20 reacting with the conformationally changed metal binding protein 10 as an antigen; a signal substance 30 conjugated with the metal binding protein 10 or the sensing antibody 20 to form a signal conjugate 30a or 30b; a signal generator 40 reacting with the signal conjugate 30a or 30b to generate a reaction signal; and a reaction strip 50 in the form of a porous membrane adapted to move the sample and where the antigen-antibody reaction occurs and the reaction signal is generated. Also disclosed is a sensor system including the immunobiosensor.

Abstract: Lateral flow immunoassay devices for determining the concentration of an analyte in a sample and methods for measuring analyte concentration in sample using such lateral flow immunoassay devices.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of immunological methods, more precisely to the field of detection methods for antibodies against double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) for diagnostics of chronic autoimmune diseases, such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The fluorometric immunoassay method for detection of anti-dsDNA solves the technical problem of designing a method for detection of the aforesaid antibodies, which would be faster, cheaper and less toxic as the standard Farr-RIA method, but would have the same diagnostic specificity (which is 100%) and improved diagnostic sensitivity (for 3%). Detection of anti-dsDNA is based on detection of fluorescence in two fractions of samples, in the supernatant and in the sample with a precipitate, which contains immune complexes composed of added dsDNA and anti-dsDNA present in the patient's serum, wherein the detected fluorescence is a consequence of binding fluorescent dyes with dsDNA bound in the complexes or with free dsDNA.

Abstract: The present invention relates to improved screening methods and, in particular, to methods of screening anti-ligand libraries for identifying anti-ligands specific for differentially and/or infrequently expressed ligands.

Abstract: This invention relates to novel rationale and methods for identifying human and primate taste-specific genes, including genes involved in salty taste perception, especially human salty taste perception, but also genes involved in sweet, bitter, umami, and sour taste perception, and genes involved in other taste cell or taste receptor related activities such as digestive function and digestive related diseases, taste cell turnover, immunoregulation of the oral and digestive tract, and metabolic regulation such as in diabetes and obesity, the genes identified using these methods, and assays for identifying taste modulators (enhancers or blockers) and potential therapeutics using these genes. These compounds have potential application in modulating (enhancing or blocking) taste perception, especially salty taste perception and as potential therapeutics.

Abstract: Methods and compositions are provided where a transfected cell that produces a hybrid protein with a reporter-containing portion and a botulinum toxin cleavage site is contacted with a botulinum toxin in media having a reduced sodium concentration, thereby increasing the sensitivity. Such media can also be used in combination with elevated cell culture temperatures. Kits that include such media and a botulinum toxin are also described.

Abstract: The invention relates to biomarkers for diagnosing, monitoring and/or treating tuberculosis in both immunocompetent and immunocompromised individuals with or without co-infection with HIV, monitoring the responses of individuals to anti-mycobacterial chemotherapy, monitoring the progression of latent tuberculosis to active tuberculosis, differentiating active tuberculosis from latent tuberculosis, and from other clinical conditions that mimic tuberculosis (TB). The invention also relates to methods for diagnosing, monitoring and/or treating tuberculosis using said biomarkers. The above pertain in all aspects both to pulmonary and extrapulmonary Mycobacterium tuberculosis infections, with Mycobacterium tuberculosis being the causative organism in tuberculosis. The invention therefore finds great utility in assisting with future drug discovery efforts for tuberculosis and also provides proxy clinical end points as well as being an effective predictor of a response to treatment.

Abstract: The disclosure concerns a method for measuring and reporting vascularity in a biological tissue sample. The method generally includes: within a digital image of a tissue section, (i) identifying endothelial cells, lymphatic cells, or a combination thereof; (ii) mapping one or more proximity regions, each of the proximity regions defining an area between detected vessels and a first distance outwardly therefrom; and (iii) calculating one or more of: a vessel proximity score or a hypoxia score, wherein the vessel proximity score relates a composition of objects within the proximity regions, and wherein the hypoxia score relates a composition of tissue within or outside of the proximity regions, respectively.

Abstract: A device for full blood count includes first channel and second channels separated from each other. The device further includes a first inlet configured to provide a whole blood sample to the first and second channels, a second inlet configured to provide a lysis agent for white blood cell count in to the first channel, a third inlet configured to provide a quench solution to the first channel, and a fourth inlet configured to provide a lysis agent for hemoglobin measurement to the second channel.

Abstract: The present invention relates to diagnostic screens, gene expression profiles, methods and kits for detection of acute myeloid leukaemia leukaemic stem cells. Diagnostic and prognostic methods based on said diagnostic screens and/or gene expression profiles also form part of the invention.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a plurality of antigens that together form a panel of immunoreactive molecules suitable for identifying candidates for prostate cancer examination. Methods for identifying antibodies indicative of a pre-malignant or malignant prostate are disclosed. Further disclosed are kits that can be used to practice the above methods.

Abstract: Diagnostic and therapeutic applications for endometrial cancer are described. The diagnostic and therapeutic applications are based on certain activation mutations in the FGFR2 gene and its expression products. The present invention is directed to nucleotide sequences, amino acid sequences, probes, and primers related to FGFR2 activation mutants and kits comprising these mutants to diagnosis and classify endometrial cancer in a subject.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for diagnosis of a cancer, comprising the steps of (i) determining the level of antibodies against vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR) in a sample from a subject to be diagnosed, (ii) comparing the determined level in the sample to a control level derived from subjects without cancer; wherein a decreased level in the sample from the subject to be diagnosed as compared to the control level is indicative for cancer in the subject. Furthermore, the invention relates to method of predicting response and outcome of a treatment of a cancer with an angiogenesis inhibitor.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the prognosis of the outcome of a cancer in a patient, which prognosis is based on the quantification of one or several biological markers that are indicative of the presence of, or alternatively the level of, the adaptive immune response of said patient against said cancer.

Abstract: The present invention provides, among other aspects, functionalized chromophoric polymer dots comprising a hydrophobic core and a hydrophilic cap, and bioconjugates thereof. Also provided are improved methods for preparing functionalized chromophoric polymer dots. Methods for in vivo imaging and molecular labeling are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for extracting an analyte in a sample is described. A sample and a solution in a microwave-extraction vial are microwave-heated and agitated. A vapor produced in the vial can be extracted into a liquid-phase medium contained in a porous membrane bag situated in the vial. The liquid-phase medium containing the vapor extract may then be analyzed for an analyte with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

Abstract: The invention relates to a Model Gut System (MGS) comprising a pancreatic phase consisting essentially of synthetic pancreatic juice comprising pancreatin and one or more suitable pancreatic diluent(s) at a pH from about 7 to about 9, preferably about 7.9 to about 8.2, and porcine bile.

Abstract: The present invention provides biomarkers, methods and kits for diagnosing a Brucellosis, Q-Fever, and/or Lyme Disease, methods and kits for monitoring the effectiveness of treatment for Brucellosis, Q-Fever, or Lyme Disease, as well as methods for identifying a compound that can treat Brucellosis, Q-Fever, and/or Lyme Disease reduce or inhibit the development of complications associated with the disease in a subject, and methods to treat a Brucellosis, Q-Fever, and/or Lyme Disease.

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: Methods are described for measuring the amount of C peptide in a sample. More specifically, mass spectrometric methods are described for detecting and quantifying C peptide in a sample utilizing on-line extraction methods coupled with tandem mass spectrometric or high resolution/high accuracy mass spectrometric techniques.

Abstract: The present invention describes the method for determining the risk of future major adverse cardiovascular events, which comprises detection proteolytic fragments of IGFBP-4 or IGFBP-5 (insulin-like growth factor binding protein 4 or insulin-like growth factor binding protein 5) in patients' blood. The present invention provides antibodies and immunoas-says, suitable for specific measurement of proteolytic fragments of IGFBPs. In current invention the IGFBP fragments are suggested to be utilized as blood biomarkers for the risk prediction of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE).

Abstract: Biomarkers for pre-Diabetes, Diabetes and/or a Diabetes related conditions, and methods of their use, including the biomarkers in Tables 1 and 2 such as peroxiredoxin-2, complement C1q subcomponent subunit B, sulfhydryl oxidase 1 and apolipoprotein A-IV.

Abstract: The invention relates to antibodies, antibody fragments and binding agents that specifically recognize TDP-43 associated with frontotemporal dementia (FTD), but not TDP-43 associated with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) or TDP-43 associated with healthy human brain tissue, and antibodies, antibody fragments and binding agents that specifically recognize TDP-43 associated with ALS, but not TDP-43 associated FTD or TDP-43 associated with healthy human brain tissue.

Abstract: Methods are disclosed for determining an actual concentration of a hydrophobic haptenic analyte in an unknown sample suspected of containing the hydrophobic haptenic analyte, wherein the unknown sample is suspected of containing an interfering substance. A first assay method is conducted on an unknown sample to obtain a measured concentration of the hydrophobic haptenic analyte in the unknown sample. A second assay method is conducted on the unknown sample to obtain a concentration of the interfering substance in the unknown sample. A predetermined correction formula that utilizes the measured concentration of the hydrophobic haptenic analyte and the measured concentration of the interfering substance obtained in step (a) is applied to determine an actual concentration of the hydrophobic haptenic analyte in the unknown sample.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and systems for measuring serotonin in a sample using liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry.

Abstract: Provided herein are instruments and cartridges for processing samples. The cartridges include fluidic circuits in which fluid movement can be regulated by diaphragm valves. In certain cartridges, deformable material providing a diaphragm contacts an interface in the instrument that actuates the diaphragm directly, without intervening actuation layer. Certain cartridges have a plurality of fluidic circuits and fluid distribution channels or pneumatic distribution channels configured to deliver fluids or pneumatic pressure to any of the fluidic circuits, selectively. Certain cartridges have compartments containing on-board reagents. Compartments can be closed by a film attached to a body the cartridge through a heat seal.

Abstract: A handling device for samples and reagents to be used in testing in a system. Carriers of samples and reagents are loaded on a platform which detects the presence of, and proper loading of, such carriers. The carriers are moved from the platform by a transporter to a bar code reader for identification. A reagent container is rotated during reading to facilitate identification. The transporter further moves identified reagent carriers to a carousel on which the carriers automatically secured for storage awaiting use in testing. The carousel rotates, and selected reagent containers rotate on the rotating carousel, during storage.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing a sample is presented. The apparatus comprises a chamber, a first input for inputting a first vessel into the chamber, a second input for inputting a second vessel into the chamber, the second input is different from the first input, a rotor comprising a first compartment for receiving the first vessel and a second compartment for receiving the second vessel, a gripper to grip the first vessel and to transport the first vessel to the first compartment, and a pipettor to pipette a sample from the first vessel and/or second vessel. The rotor rotates between a first position where the first vessel is transportable to the first compartment by the gripper, a second position where the second vessel is loadable into the second compartment, and a third position where the sample of the first vessel and/or second vessel is aspiratable by the pipettor.

Abstract: An automatic analyzing apparatus capable of eliminating static electricity charged in a specimen container at a specimen dispensing position provided. The automatic analyzing apparatus includes a dispensing mechanism having a probe that aspirates a liquid and an arm that holds the probe, and a static eliminator having a generation source of neutralizing ions and a neutralizing ion blowing mechanism for blowing the neutralizing ions generated in the generation source to a target, which are provided in the dispensing mechanism.

Abstract: An apparatus to detect a direction or velocity of a movement of equipment by using a single sensor. The apparatus includes a conversion unit that converts sensed information obtained from the single sensor into a voltage value corresponding to the movement of the equipment, a determination unit that determines whether one of a first interrupt and a second interrupt occurs, the first interrupt occurring when the converted voltage value reaches a threshold value and the second interrupt occurring when a preset amount of time passes from a time when the single sensor starts operating, and a calculation unit that calculates one of the direction and the velocity of the movement of the equipment by using voltage information at time s when the first interrupt or the second interrupt occurs and voltage information at a predetermined time before the times when the first interrupt or the second interrupt occurs.

Abstract: A flow of air induces vibration of a tip of an airflow sensor. A cantilever coupled to the tip vibrates as the tip is displaced, and a piezoelectric element associated with the cantilever generates an electrical signal in response to mechanical stress or strain induced by vibration of the cantilever. A control element that is in communication with the piezoelectric element of the cantilever receives the electrical signal and derives at least one parameter indicative of the flow of air sensed by the sensor. The control element communicates or otherwise transmits an output signal that is indicative of the parameter to an output device to display sensor data to a user as desired.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for indicating the presence of a directional differential pressure between separated adjacent spaces are provided. A differential pressure set point indicator may be configured to correlate multiple potential angles of inclination of an elongated conduit to respective threshold differential pressures between two spaces which generate net flow of fluid sufficient to cause a lightweight ball to move from one region of the conduit to an opposing region. The elongated conduit may be adjustable in length so as to accommodate installation of the device into walls of varying thickness. The device may include a sound attenuator that reduces noise upon impact of the ball with either end of the conduit. The device may also include a sealing material that is flexible yet firm enough to provide both a seal with the exterior surface of the conduit and support for the conduit when oriented in a tilted configuration.

Abstract: An acceleration sensor includes a detection device, an opposed electrode, and a top lid. The detection device includes an active layer, a base layer, an oxide layer disposed between the active layer and the base layer, a first insulating layer, a contact portion, and a self-check electrode. The first insulating layer is disposed on the active layer at a side opposite to the oxide layer and provided with a first opening. The contact portion is disposed on a part of the first insulating layer at a side opposite to the active layer and includes a first metal layer connected to the active layer through the first opening. The opposed electrode is disposed at a location opposing the self-check electrode, and the top lid supports the opposed electrode.

Abstract: A dual-mode actuation and sensing circuit actuates both modes of an axisymmetric gyroscope and senses both outputs thereof. The sum of the two outputs provides a self-sustaining closed-loop oscillation signal, while the difference of the two mode outputs is used for extracting differential rate information while rejecting the common-mode bias terms of the gyroscope to provide online bias calibration. The proposed system and method facilitates scale factor calibration of an axisymmetric gyroscope. Furthermore, the difference output of the dual-mode gyroscope can provide a mode-split indicator signal which can be used to automatically match the gyroscope modes.

Abstract: The inertial unit, IMU, of the drone is mounted on a main circuit board. The IMU (26) includes an internal temperature sensor delivering a chip temperature signal (?°chip). A heating component (36) is mounted on the circuit board near the IMU, and it is provided a thermal guide, incorporated to the circuit board, extending between the heating component and the IMU so as to allow a transfer to the IMU of the heat produced by the heating component. This thermal guide may in particular be a metal planar layer incorporated to the board, in particular a ground plane. A thermal regulation circuit (44-62) receives as an input the chip temperature signal (?chip) and a set-point temperature signal (?°ref), and delivers a piloting signal (TH_PWM) of the heating component, so as to control the heat supply to the IMU. It is in particular possible to use this fast increase in temperature to perform a complete calibration of the IMU in a few minutes.

Abstract: Provided is a measuring method for an atomic force microscope that scans a surface of a sample with a probe to measure a surface property of the sample, the measuring method including detecting a motion of the probe while vibrating the probe on the surface of the sample, acquiring surface information on the sample by using a variation in the motion of the probe, and controlling the probe by using the surface information on the sample. The surface information on the sample may include a position and a slope of the surface. The vibrating of the probe on the surface of the sample may include performing a circular motion by the probe around axes perpendicular to a scan direction of the probe and to a height direction of the sample.

Abstract: A carbon nanotube or similar structure is used as the final end tip structure in a Scanning Probe Microscope to measure, modify or identify material and reentrant structures in typical recesses or very small recesses. Further the nanotube or similar structure is acoustically driven such that its locus of motion forms a dynamic reentrant probe. The nanotube is calibrated by known vertical or reentrant structures.

Abstract: A probe card includes a mechanical support fixture having an inner aperture with a plurality of probes secured to the fixture that includes probe tips that extend into the inner aperture for contacting probe pads on die of a wafer to be probed. At least one magnetic shield includes a magnetic material that at least substantially surrounds a projected volume over an area that encloses the probe tips. The magnetic material has a relative magnetic permeability of at least 800.

Abstract: Embodiments are directed to techniques for providing a user-selected target resistance across a set of output terminals of a resistance-generating apparatus.

Abstract: A wired rubber contact including a lower film, an upper film, a plurality of conductive wires, a rubber layer, and a film guide. The lower film includes a plurality of lower electrode parts formed in openings. A periphery of the upper film is disposed within an interface between the central area and the peripheral area. The conductive wires are disposed between the lower film and the upper film, and connect between the lower electrode parts and the upper electrode parts. The rubber layer includes elastic material. A periphery of the rubber layer is protruded toward an outer side from the periphery of the upper film. The rubber layer maintains a constant distance between the lower film and the upper film. The film guide is disposed in the peripheral area of the lower film along a side surface of the rubber layer and integrally formed with the lower film.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting a change in a voltage level of a power supply is disclosed. An inverter coupled to a first power supply may generate a signal dependent upon a voltage level of a second power supply. A latch coupled to the first power supply may be set based on a first voltage level of the second power supply and a first value of the signal, and re-set based on a second voltage level of the second power supply and a second value of the signal different than the first value of the signal.

Abstract: A digital multimeter stores multiple sequential measurements of physical or electrical parameters. Each of the sequential measurements has a name including an automatically generated descriptor. The descriptor for each sequential measurement may indicate a relative position of the measurement within the sequence. For instance, the descriptor may indicate whether the measurement was obtained before or after other measurements in the sequence.

Abstract: An interconnect device includes a body portion with conductors passing through the body portion. An energy harvesting device, a power controller device and a rechargeable DC power source are configured such that the power controller device includes instructions programmed thereon for controlling the flow of power between the energy harvesting device, the DC power source, and a microcontroller. Sensor devices are in electrical communication with the microcontroller. The sensors are arranged to detect parameters associated with the interconnect device and communicate the parameters to the microcontroller. An output device communicates data from the microcontroller associated with the at least one sensor.

Abstract: A current sensing assembly includes a conductor having a first side, a second side opposite the first side, a third side, and a fourth side opposite the third side. The first side has a first notch formed therein and the second side has a second notch formed therein opposite the first notch. The current sensing assembly also includes a sensor assembly including a first magnetic sensor disposed in the first notch or proximate to the third side of the conductor between the first and second notches, and a second magnetic sensor disposed in the second notch or proximate to the fourth side of the conductor between the first and second notches.

Abstract: Systems and methods according to these exemplary embodiments provide for methods and systems related to optical current sensors used to monitor standby power transformers, specifically fiber optical current and voltage sensors and, more particularly, to applications involving filters for use in such sensors, such as frequency tracking comb filters. According to one embodiment, a method for monitoring a connection condition of a stand by power transformer includes the steps of measuring a current flowing through a high voltage side of the standby power transformer using at least one optical current sensor disposed proximate to a current flow path of the high voltage side, using a comb filter to filter the measured current, determining whether the filtered, measured current is less than a predetermined threshold value; and generating an alarm indication that the high voltage side of the standby power transformer is unconnected.

Abstract: A circuit board with a conductor path having a recess, an implant with left, right, lower and upper edges arranged in the recess, where the implant has first and second optical layers, a second optical layer and a conductor arranged between them, the first and the second optical layer each have at least one light-conducting structure with first and second ends, where a light-conductor is arranged in a right edge of the implant, in which respective second ends of the light-conducting structures are located, such that light fed in at the first end of the optical fiber of the first optical layer is deflected to the second end of the light-conducting structure of the second optical layer such that a beam path of the light encompasses the conductor, and the circuit also includes an optical transmitter and an optical receiver with and evaluator that form a fiber optic current sensor.

Abstract: A method for determining an electric voltage u(t) and/or an electric current i(t) of an HF signal in an electrical cable on a calibration plane by measuring in the time domain. Using a directional coupler, a first portion v3(t) of a first HF signal is decoupled, fed to a time domain measuring device, and a second portion v4(t) of a second HF signal is decoupled. The signal portions v3(t), v4(t) are converted into the frequency domain, then absolute wave frequencies in the frequency domain are determined and converted into the electric voltage u(t) and/or the electric current i(t). In a previous calibration step, the calibration parameters are determined, and the absolute wave frequencies on the calibration plane are determined using the calibration parameters (e00,r(?3, ?4), e01,r(?3, ?4), e10,r(?3, ?4), e11,r(?3, ?4)), wherein ?3, ?4 are the reflection factors of the inputs of the time domain measuring device.

Abstract: A device for measuring voltage across a remote load includes a power supply configured to output a first output voltage to the remote load. A switch is selectively movable from a closed position to an open position. A measuring circuit measures a load voltage across the load when the switch is in the open position and determines a voltage difference between the first output voltage and the load voltage. The measuring circuit adjusts the first output voltage to a second output voltage to compensate for the voltage difference. A second A/D converter can also be coupled to the power supply. The second A/D converter measures a voltage across a resistor such that a change in the voltage indicates a change in the load voltage. The power supply is then adjusted to output a second output voltage to compensate for any change in load voltage.

Abstract: A synchrophasor measurement method for a device configured to take synchronized measurements in a power system is provided. The synchrophasor measurement method includes receiving global positioning system (GPS)-synchronized samples of a signal sensed by the device from the power system; determining a level of distortion of the signal; selecting, based on the level of distortion, a computation method, the computation method being one of an improved zero-crossing (IZC) method and an enhanced phase-lock-loop (EPLL) method; performing the selected computation method to determine at least one parameter of the signal at a reporting frequency, which is at least twice a line frequency of the power system; and outputting, at the reporting frequency, the at least one parameter to an operator of the power system to allow the operator to perform at least one of a monitoring and a controlling of at least one element of the power system.

Abstract: There is described a system to measure the electrical consumption of a household. This system consists of a network of measuring devices that are attached to wires between electrical appliances and circuit breakers and of a communication and processing unit that receives measurement data from the measuring devices. Low precision sensors based on the Hall effect may be used for obtaining precise measurements of energy consumption by providing a casing for the measuring devices that ensures a fixed, known, and precise alignment with respect to the wire to which it is attached. Low precision sensors based on the Hall effect may also be used by performing a correction calibration of measured data.