Abstract: A microbial detection device and methods of use are provided. The device comprises a water-proof pouch that includes a first wall portion, a second wall portion, and a porous membrane filter disposed in the pouch between the first and second wall portions. The filter membrane divides the pouch into first and second compartments. A dry, cold water-soluble gelling agent is adhered to the pouch in the first compartment and an absorbent pad is disposed in the second compartment. A sealable sample port provides access to deposit a liquid into the first compartment.

Abstract: Synthetic human cell mimic hydrogel particles and their use in cytometric or coulter device applications are described. The synthetic human cell mimic hydrogel particles described herein are selectively tunable to have at least one optical, volumetric, or capacitance property that is substantially similar to a corresponding optical, volumetric, or capacitance property of the human cell mimic hydrogel particle's natural biological cell counterpart.

Abstract: A method of controlling a bioreactor system includes providing a cell culture in a bioreactor, wherein conditions in the bioreactor enable the cell culture to produce a protein of interest (POI), measuring process parameters (PPs) of the culture within the bioreactor by RAMAN, wherein the process parameters are selected from the group consisting of nutrient concentration, viable cell concentration, and protein attributes, measuring a predetermined weight of the bioreactor with the cell culture, removing cell-free spent media from the cell culture using a first output conduit at a first specified rate, removing cells from the cell culture using a second output conduit at a second specified rate, and introducing one or both of fresh media or nutrients into the cell culture using an input conduit at a third specified rate.

Abstract: Provided are methods for repairing a wound or inducing the proliferative phase of a wound comprising administering a composition comprising a protease mixture comprising collagenases and a neutral protease to the wound in an amount effective for repair of wound tissue or for inducing the proliferative phase in the wound.

Abstract: Methods of making synthetic yeast cells by mating together two diploid (or higher ploidy) yeast species or hybrids to generate multi-ploid yeast hybrids are provided herein. The synthetic yeast cells made by this process and kits for performing the process are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to a controlled fluidic device to develop spatially complex environments to enhance the rate of evolution in cell populations. The method further provides an enhanced understanding in the emergence, for example, drug resistance during cancer chemotherapy.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and systems for rapidly testing antimicrobial susceptibility, wherein the qualitative and quantitative susceptibility of an inoculated microorganism against an antimicrobial agent or a combination of antimicrobial agents is determined as a function of one or more slopes of linear trends ? of data of readouts.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes methods, devices and systems comprising materials comprising dielectrics. In various aspects, electrodes layered or imbedded with these dielectrics provide enhanced properties for a wide range of applications, such as the enhanced separation of analytes, such as biological molecules or particles (nucleic acids, viruses) with an electrokinetic field.

Abstract: Methods and systems for recovering terpenes and controlling the composition of terpenes collected from wood drying processes are provided. In particular, a sorbent having adsorbed materials, including terpenes, from a wood drying process can be desorbed in a desorber, resulting in a gaseous stream containing terpenes, which can be condensed and collected from the gaseous stream. The conditions of desorption can be controlled to ensure a desirable amount of alpha-pinene and beta-pinene relative to other terpenes, such as dipentene and camphene, in the collected terpenes.

Abstract: A Raman spectroscopy integrated perfusion cell culture system for monitoring and auto-controlling perfusion cell culture, comprising: a bioreactor, comprising: (1) an interior chamber for receiving a cell culture, (2) a port for feeding nutrient materials from a feed reservoir into the interior chamber, (3) a port for auto-bleeding from the interior chamber, and (4) a port for continuously harvesting materials from the interior chamber with the help of a cell retention system; a Raman analyzer, comprising (i) one or more Raman probes which are immersed into the bioreactor and is configured to collect Raman spectrum in the bioreactor, and (ii) a host computer which is configured to receive the Raman spectrum collected and transferred by the Raman probe and turn it into values; and a controller in communication with the Raman analyzer, the feed reservoir and an auto-bleeding device, the controller being configured to receive the values from the Raman analyzer and compare them with preset parameters, based on re

Abstract: The present invention includes methods, devices and systems for isolating, identifying, analyzing, and quantifying biological materials from fluid samples. In various aspects, the methods, devices and systems may allow for a rapid procedure that requires a minimal amount of material and/or results in high purity biological materials from complex fluids such as blood, serum, or plasma.

Abstract: A platform and method for testing antibiotic sensitivity of a polymicrobial infection is provided. The platform includes a body defining a plurality of sets of chambers and a plurality of wells. Each set of chambers has a plurality of chambers adapted for culturing microbes of the polymicrobial infection therein. Each well is associated with a corresponding set of chambers and has an input in fluidic communication with the outlets of the plurality of chambers in the corresponding set of chambers. Selected antibiotic therapies may be received in the wells which fluidically connect the plurality of chambers in a corresponding set of chambers such that microbes cultured in the plurality of chambers in the corresponding set of chambers are in soluble factor contact.

Abstract: Methods for diagnosing, treating, and monitoring the treatment of invasive aspergillosis (IA) are described. The methods can include detecting the presence of one or more volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the breath of subjects suspected of having IA.

Abstract: A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a control program for causing a computer to execute for acquiring, from a sensor, multiple monitored values in multistep processes including a process related to fermentation of microbes; setting probability distributions for multiple specific parameters related to unmonitored data and included in multiple parameters included in a nonlinear mathematical model related to the fermentation of the microbes corresponding to the multistep processes; generating monitoring predicted values at next monitoring time of the mathematical model based on the multiple monitored values and the probability distributions; using a distribution of the monitoring predicted values and values monitored at the next monitoring time to update the multiple parameters; and controlling the mathematical model so that errors of the multiple specific parameters generated using the mathematical model including the updated multiple parameters are reduced.

Abstract: The invention refers to a method and a device for the phenotypic detection of carbapenemases and carbapenemase producers by adding a substrate of general formula A-(L)-M1-(X)—Z, where M1 is a carbapenem backbone, A or Z is a quencher, the other one of the two, Z or A, is a fluorophore, L is an optional linker, X is an optional leaving group for linking Z to the carbapenem backbone, and Z is an optional leaving group, to a sample suspected of containing such carbapenemase producers and/or carbapenenmases. The invention further refers to a method for the phenotypic detection of resistant bacteria, in particular 3MRGN or 4MRGN, by releasing the enzymes of a bacterial culture into a lysate during lysis and then subjecting the lysate, as the sample to be analyzed, to an aforementioned method in order to phenotypically detect the presence of resistance-conferring carbapenemases.

Abstract: Cell separation systems, and methods for separating cells from microcarriers, and harvesting the separated cells, are provided, wherein the system comprises a cell separation device, a cell settling device, and a cell screening device.

Abstract: A medium containing (A) a chromogenic substance which develops a color when decomposed by ?-glucosidase or a fluorogenic substance which develops a fluorescence when decomposed by ?-glucosidase; (B) a chromogenic substance which develops a color when decomposed by phosphatidyl inositol-specific phospholipase C or a fluorogenic substance which develops a fluorescence when decomposed by phosphatidyl inositol-specific phospholipase C; and (C) a sugar that is useful for the detection of Listeria monocytogenes and/or Listeria ivanovii.

Abstract: The present invention concerns the use of a fat composition for sustaining an enhanced palatability of a food for pet over time, wherein said fat composition has a C12:0/C10:0 fatty acid weight ratio from about 0.85 to about 2.5 and/or a C14:0/C12:0 fatty acid weight ratio from about 0.45 to about 4.3. The present invention further concerns the use of said fat composition for preparing other enhanced palatability-sustaining fat compositions as well as foods for pet, all compositions and foods having an enhanced palatability sustained over time.

Abstract: A system for analyzing a wound fluid. The system includes a transparent layer, a membrane layer, and an indicator layer that contains a colorimetric or fluorescent indicator reagent for detecting pH, a nitrite, an enzyme, a reactive oxygen species, a reactive nitrogen species, a nucleic acid, or a combination thereof. The membrane layer is impermeable to blood clots and cellular debris and is permeable to wound fluid. Also provided are methods for analyzing a wound fluid and for detecting biological fluid on biomedical instruments and waste materials using the system.

Abstract: A urine analysis system according to an embodiment includes: a testing apparatus that measures particles included in a urine sample according to a flow cytometry method; an image capturing apparatus that captures images of particles in the urine sample to acquire particle images; and a management apparatus that receives a measurement result obtained by the testing apparatus and the particle images acquired by the image capturing apparatus. The management apparatus generates an order to capture an image of the urine sample based on the measurement result obtained by the testing apparatus. The image capturing apparatus executes the image capturing processing of the particles in the urine sample for which the image capturing order has been generated by the management apparatus, and transmits the acquired particle images to the management apparatus.

Abstract: The present invention includes a novel method and system for identification of microorganisms in samples that proteins and other biological material from non-microorganism sources (e.g., proteins of mammalian origin) that can interfere with identification of the microorganisms. The methods and systems described herein include use of a single-use chromatography medium to purify intact proteins prior to mass spectrometry analysis. The chromatography medium and the methods described herein can rapidly and efficiently remove of a substantial portion of interfering biological material (e.g., mammalian proteins) from a crude cell lysate while preserving high signal strength and removing enough of the interfering protein(s) to allow for identification of the microorganism(s) by mass spectrometry analysis.

Abstract: A pathogen detection apparatus includes a collector that collects a pathogen in air; a reactor that causes the pathogen collected by the collector to react with a labeled substance; a time measurer that measures time from start of reaction in the reactor; a detector that detects a quantity of labeled substance that has reacted with the pathogen; and a controller. The controller calculates a gradient value on the basis of a predetermined time period from the start of reaction measured by the time measurer and the quantity of labeled substance detected by the detector, and determines, on the basis of the gradient value, a time interval to next collection that is to be performed by the collector.

Abstract: A method for observation of a sample, the sample comprising microorganisms immersed in a nontransparent culture medium, the culture medium being favorable to the development of the microorganisms, and the sample being arranged between a light source and an image sensor, includes illuminating the sample with the light source, the light source emitting light propagating along an axis of propagation; acquiring an image of the sample by the image sensor; and, from the image acquired, characterizing the microorganisms. Light travels along the microorganisms through the culture medium to the sensor.

Abstract: A thin film culture device for detecting aerobic bacteria in a sample is provided. The culture device comprises a self-supporting substrate sheet having a first major surface and a second major surface; a cover sheet attached to the substrate sheet, a sample-receiving zone disposed between the substrate sheet and the cover sheet, a first layer comprising a substantially dry, cold-water-soluble first hydrogel-forming composition adhered to a portion of the sample-receiving zone; and a plurality of indicator agents disposed in at least one layer adhered to the substrate sheet or the cover sheet. The plurality of indicator agents comprises three indicator agents for detecting distinct glycosidase enzyme activities, an indicator agent for detecting an alkyl esterase enzyme activity, an indicator agent for detecting a phosphatase enzyme activity, and a redox indicator. A method of using the culture device is also provided.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to the specific detection of MIF, in particular oxMIF, in tissues. A detection method is provided which uses immunohistochemistry and wherein specific anti-oxMIF antibodies are used.

Abstract: A system for determining the viability of an embryo comprises an imaging device, an excitation device configured to direct an excitation energy at an embryo, a controller communicatively connected to the imaging device and the excitation device, configured to drive the excitation device and collect images from the imaging device at an imaging frequency, a processor performing steps comprising acquiring a set of images from the imaging device, performing a Fourier Transformation to generate a set of phasor coordinates, computing a D-trajectory, computing a set of values of additional parameters, comparing the set of values to a set of stored values related to embryos of known viability, and calculating a viability index factor of the embryo from the set of values and the set of stored values. Methods of calculating embryo viability and determining one or more properties of a tissue are also described.

Abstract: A medical apparatus and method of preparing one or more cell blocks. The medical apparatus comprises at least one elongate tubular body having a proximal end and a distal end and filter assembly comprising a filter membrane and a border configured to engage the tubular body. The filter membrane and the border are each formed from material that is sectionable.

Abstract: Provided are a cell screening device and a cell screening method, for use in performing screening on different cells. The cell screening device is provided with: at least two flowing channels, used for allowing a solution containing cells to flow through; a communicating path, used for allowing the adjacent flowing channels to communicate with each other; a detection unit, used for detecting the types of cells in the solution flowing in the flowing channels; and a screening actuator, generating push force according to the detection result of the detection unit, so as to push cells in the solution flowing in the flowing channel to flow into the adjacent flowing channel through the communicating path.

Abstract: In the present invention, a fraction (A) is labeled, the fraction (A) being a fraction obtained from a maternal blood sample and in which nucleated red blood cells (NRBCs) are concentrated in a population of whole blood cells. Then, a fraction (B) having increase purity of NRBCs is obtained by sorting out blood cells in the labeled fraction A by at least cell sorting. Next, fractions (C) are obtained by separating each blood cell in the fraction (B) at a single-cell level and independently performing a process for extracting a nucleic acid for each separated blood cell, each of the fractions (C) containing a nucleic acid distinguishable at a single-cell level. Then, a fraction (D) containing a nucleic acid derived from a fetus is sorted out from a group of fractions (C) by performing a molecular biological analysis for each of the fractions (C).

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods for identifying one or more diseased cells in a subject. Some embodiments include providing a biological sample derived from a subject, analyzing the biological sample by mass spectrometry, and determining the abundance of one or more lipids in the biological sample, wherein an altered abundance of the one or more lipids in the biological sample, as compared to a reference level, indicates a presence of one or more diseased cells in the subject from which the biological sample is derived.

Abstract: There is provided a computer system for evaluating the quality of a fertile ovum. The computer system includes computer processing circuitry configured to receive a plurality of images of a fertile ovum captured in time-series by an imaging apparatus, provide as input to at least one learned model, the plurality of images of the fertile ovum or information based on the plurality of images of the fertile ovum, wherein the at least one learned model has been trained to output, based at least in part, on the plurality of images, fertile ovum analysis information describing characteristics of the fertile ovum used to evaluate a quality of fertile ovum, and provide evaluation support information based, at least in part, on the fertile ovum analysis information, wherein the evaluation support information enables a quality evaluator to interact with the web dashboard to modify at least some of the evaluation support information.

Abstract: A method for determining whether a testing specimen is supplied to a testing system, which includes a reaction tank in which the testing specimen reacts; a light source for emitting testing light into the reaction tank from one side of the reaction tank; and a photoelectric sensor that is placed on the side of the reaction tank opposite to the light source for receiving the testing light traveled through the reaction tank and that converts the received testing light into an electrical signal. The amount of the testing specimen to be added into the reaction tank is set so that the level of the testing specimen is above the light path of the testing light while the reaction tank is cleaned. Whether the testing specimen is supplied is determined based on the presence of change of the electrical signal output from the photoelectric sensor.

Abstract: An apparatus and kit for performing water testing and a method for using the same.

Abstract: Sensors arrays that include indicators arranged in a pattern on a substrate. The indicators include nucleophilic indicators. In some examples, the sensor arrays with multiple nucleophilic indicators provide superior detection and identification of microorganisms, cancer biomarkers, formaldehyde, organophosphates, and aldehydes.

Abstract: The abstract particularly describes the nature of this invention and the manner in which it is to be performed:— 1. Specific process and apparatus developed The inventor has prepared a novel process to speedily and accurately detect pathogens present in a fluid sample, identify the pathogens and it's count and determine the level of their susceptibility levels to multiple antimicrobial agents and portability of the apparatus for speedy determination of antibiotic susceptibility levels of pre-separated pathogens from a biological sample cultured in a multi-well strip, in any field location 2. Disadvantage and shortcomings in earlier method and benefit of this invention It provides result in a ready to use format in four hours time from the start of the assay as against the waiting period of 48 to 72 hours for a sample cultured and tested in a lab using the conventional clinical microbiology.

Abstract: Described herein are monitoring systems and methods, including for airborne molecular contamination (AMC), that combine a sampler, such as an impinger or sorbent tube with a real time analyzer, such as an ion mobility spectrometer (IMS) or optical particle counter. The system may allow for selective sampling in which the sampler is only exposed to the target fluid during periods in which the real time analyzer detects analytes, such as molecular contamination or particles, meeting particular criteria such the composition and/or concentration of analytes. The invention also includes impinger systems having a sampler reservoir comprising an anion leaching resistant material characterized by low anion leach rates in the presence of deionized water.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer readable medium are provided that monitors at least one of an input and output stream for at least one of a presence of a material of interest and a concentration of the material of interest; when the material of interest is present and/or has at least a threshold concentration, directs the at least one of an input and output stream to a waste location or path to discard the material of interest; and when the material of interest is either not present or does not have at least a threshold concentration, directs the at least one of an input and output stream to a byproduct location or path to recover the material of interest.

Abstract: Various embodiments disclosed herein provide for reagents and methods for rapidly isolating viable microbial cells, including S. pneumoniae, from positive blood culture samples. The resulting microbial pellet can be used for both identification and growth-based methods such as antimicrobial susceptibility testing. The buffers described herein may contain a base solution, non-ionic detergents, thiols, and optionally, ammonium chloride. The disclosed methods provide a process for rapidly isolating and concentrating viable microorganism(s) from PBC samples using only one sample preparation tube and centrifugation while removing cellular debris from the mammalian blood cells that may interfere with identification methods.

Abstract: According to some aspects, a method for analyzing a cell is provided. The method includes trapping the cell by binding a first molecule to the cell. The method further includes binding a second molecule to the cell. The second molecule includes a binding portion capable of specific binding to a cell-surface molecule of the cell. The second molecule further includes an identifying portion, a labeling portion coupled to the identifying portion, and a stimulus-degradable linker between the binding portion and the identification portion. The method further includes detaching the identifying portion from the binding portion by stimulating the stimulus-degradable linker where the detached identifying portion is coupled to the labeling portion. The method further includes binding the detached identifying portion through specific binding to an identifying portion recognizing molecule and detecting the labeling portion.

Abstract: A method of controlling a bioreactor system includes providing a cell culture in a bioreactor, wherein conditions in the bioreactor enable the cell culture to produce a protein of interest (POI), measuring process parameters (PPs) of the culture within the bioreactor by RAMAN, wherein the process parameters are selected from the group consisting of nutrient concentration, viable cell concentration, and protein attributes, measuring a predetermined weight of the bioreactor with the cell culture, removing cell-free spent media from the cell culture using a first output conduit at a first specified rate, removing cells from the cell culture using a second output conduit at a second specified rate, and introducing one or both of fresh media or nutrients into the cell culture using an input conduit at a third specified rate.

Abstract: Rapid methods that identify sepsis-causing bacteria or yeast aid the physician in critical therapeutic decision-making, thus decreasing patient mortality rates. The methods described herein employ plating microorganisms directly on to a MALDI-MS plate, adding concentrated formic acid, and identifying the microorganism by mass spectrometry. Optionally, an organic solvent may be combined with the formic acid, or added to the sample before or after the concentrated formic acid is added thereto. The methods enable direct extraction of proteins from microorganisms without the need for liquid protein extraction methods and yields positive identification results for gram-positive bacteria, gram-negative bacteria and yeast in minutes.

Abstract: Functional in vitro assays are provided for determining patient specific responsiveness to immunotherapy agents within a clinically actionable time frame.

Abstract: A cell visualization system includes a digital holographic microscopy (DHM) device, a training device, and a virtual staining device. The DHM device produces DHM images of cells and the virtual staining device colorizes the DHM images based on an algorithm generated by the training device using generative adversarial networks and unpaired training data. A computer-implemented method for producing a virtually stained DHM image includes acquiring an image conversion algorithm which was trained using the generative adversarial networks, receiving a DHM image with depictions of one or more cells and virtually staining the DHM image by processing the DHM image using the image conversion algorithm. The virtually stained DHM image includes digital colorization of the one or more cells to imitate the appearance of a corresponding actually stained cell.

Abstract: Various sensors, sensor controllers, and sensor control methods are provided with model-based sideband balancing. In one illustrative embodiment, a controller for a piezoelectric transducer includes a transmitter, a receiver, and a processing circuit coupled to the transmitter and receiver. The processing circuit performs calibration and echo detection, the calibration including: sensing the piezoelectric transducer's phase response as a function of frequency; deriving equivalent circuit parameters for the piezoelectric transducer from the phase response; and determining a sideband imbalance based on one or more of the equivalent circuit parameters. Once the sideband imbalance is identified, the processing circuit may perform echo-detection processing that accounts for the sideband imbalance.

Abstract: A sensor to sense pressure in a pressure bottle and a method of assembling the sensor involve two or more fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs) affixed to a different radial location of a diaphragm seal of the pressure bottle. The sensor includes a light source to provide incident light to the two or more FBGs, and a photodetector to detect reflected light resulting from the two or more FBGs. Processing circuitry determines a pressure change in the pressure bottle based on the reflected light resulting from each of the two or more FBGs.

Abstract: A method for controlling infections in a facility such as a hospital or foodservice establishment is provided. The method comprises tagging assets, monitoring asset location and pathogen contamination for each asset over time, analyzing data sets to identify which assets are the critical control points for pathogen transfer, and coating a residual self-sanitizing coating composition on each asset identified as a critical control point. The infection control method shuts down pathogen transfer routes by mitigating or eliminating pathogen growth on the critical control points.

Abstract: The present invention is based on the advantageous use of single-stranded oligonucleotides in the in vivo (within a cell) assembly of double-stranded oligonucleotides into a single double-stranded nucleic acid construct. The present invention relates to the use of at least a first and a second single-stranded oligonucleotide in the assembly within a cell of at least two double-stranded nucleic acid molecules into a single double-stranded nucleic acid construct of pre-determined sequence, wherein the first and second single-stranded oligonucleotide are essentially complementary to each other.

Abstract: Disclosed are nucleated red blood cell warning devices and methods, and flow cytometers using the same. The devices, methods and flow cytometers can warn whether nucleated red blood cells exist in a blood sample. The warning device may obtain forward-scattered light information, side-scattered light information and fluorescence information when cells in the blood sample pass through a detection region of the flow cytometer. The warning device may generate a side-scattered light-fluorescence dot plot, so as to classify leucocytes into four groups, and may generate a forward-scattered light-fluorescence dot plot, where the forward-scattered light-fluorescence dot plot can include a leucocyte group region. The warning device may obtain a predetermined feature region located at the left side of the leucocyte group region, perform statistics on the amount of characterization cells in the predetermined feature region, and provide a warning when the number of the characterization cells exceeds a threshold value.

Abstract: Provided are a method for detecting a free rare tumor cell in a human biological fluid sample and assay kit. Specifically, the method of the invention determines the existence of an active tumor cell in a biological fluid sample of a cancer patient by detecting and confirming the existence of glucose absorption capability of a karyocyte and expression of a leukocyte marker (CD45).

Abstract: A method for determining whether a test sample contains a phytopathogenic fungus, which includes (a) putting the test sample on a front surface of a substrate having a through hole; the substrate having a cellulose film on the back surface thereof; the through hole has a cross-sectional area of not less than 7.065 square micrometers and not more than 19.625 square micrometers; and the cellulose film has a thickness of not less than 0.5 micrometers and not more than 3.7 micrometers; (b) leaving the test sample at rest after the step (a); (c) irradiating the cellulose film with ultraviolet light after the step (b); (d) bringing a back surface of the cellulose film into contact with a fungus color reaction reagent after the step (c); and (e) determining that the test sample contains the phytopathogenic fungus, if a color is given to the fungus color reaction reagent.