This disclosure relates generally to the differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells, and more particularly to a method of spatially adsorbing morphogens to differentiate human pluripotent stem cells.

A method for achieving microfluidic perfusion of a spheroid, the method being implemented in a microfluidic device that includes a cavity for hydrodynamically trapping the spheroid, the method including performing a first injection of a gel containing the spheroid into the microfluidic network, hydrodynamically trapping the spheroid in the trapping cavity of the microfluidic network, performing a second injection of a fluid that is non-miscible with the gel into the microfluidic network with a view to flushing away gel present in the network, except in the trapping cavity, cross-linking the gel present around the spheroid, in the trapping cavity, performing a third injection of a culture medium into the microfluidic network with a view to perfusing the spheroid petrified in its gelled environment, and located in the trapping cavity.

To determine the sex of a bird egg, a hole is produced at the blunt end of the bird egg, wherein the hole affects the calcareous shell and the outer shell membrane, whereas the inner shell membrane remains intact. In the region of the hole at the blunt end, beneath the intact inner shell membrane, at least one blood vessel is registered and the blood therein is excited by means of a preset incident radiation, the back-scattered radiation of which blood is measured, detected and evaluated for the sex determination.

To determine the sex of a bird egg, a hole is produced at the blunt end of the bird egg, wherein the hole affects the calcareous shell and the outer shell membrane, whereas the inner shell membrane remains intact. In the region of the hole at the blunt end, beneath the intact inner shell membrane, at least one blood vessel is registered and the blood therein is excited by means of a preset incident radiation, the back-scattered radiation of which blood is measured, detected and evaluated for the sex determination.

A method for determining in a sample, by mass spectrometry, the amount of one or more analytes selected from the group consisting of 12,13-DiHOME, 3-hydroxybutyrate (BHBA), 3-hydroxyoctanoate, 3-methylglutarylcarnitine, 3-ureidopropionate, 7-alpha-hydroxy-4-cholesten-3-one (7-Hoca), citrate, fucose, fumarate, gamma-tocopherol, glutamate, glutarate, glycerol, glycochenodeoxycholate, glycocholate, hypoxanthine, maleate, malonate, mannose, orotate, 2,3-pyrdinedicarboxylate, ribose, serine, taurine, taurochenodeoxycholate, taurocholate, palmitoleate, linolenate, xanthine, xylitol, and combinations thereof is described. The method comprises subjecting the sample to an ionization source under conditions suitable to produce one or more ions detectable by mass spectrometry from each of the one or more analytes; measuring, by mass spectrometry, the amount of the one or more ions from each of the one or more analytes; and using the measured amount to determine the amount of each of the one or more analytes in the sample.

A method for determining in a sample, by mass spectrometry, the amount of one or more analytes selected from the group consisting of 12,13-DiHOME, 3-hydroxybutyrate (BHBA), 3-hydroxyoctanoate, 3-methylglutarylcarnitine, 3-ureidopropionate, 7-alpha-hydroxy-4-cholesten-3-one (7-Hoca), citrate, fucose, fumarate, gamma-tocopherol, glutamate, glutarate, glycerol, glycochenodeoxycholate, glycocholate, hypoxanthine, maleate, malonate, mannose, orotate, 2,3-pyrdinedicarboxylate, ribose, serine, taurine, taurochenodeoxycholate, taurocholate, palmitoleate, linolenate, xanthine, xylitol, and combinations thereof is described. The method comprises subjecting the sample to an ionization source under conditions suitable to produce one or more ions detectable by mass spectrometry from each of the one or more analytes; measuring, by mass spectrometry, the amount of the one or more ions from each of the one or more analytes; and using the measured amount to determine the amount of each of the one or more analytes in the sample.

Disclosed is a sensor for identifying the presence of a biological material in a sample, the sensor comprising: an antenna apparatus for transmitting and receiving microwave electromagnetic (EM) signals; a signal transmitter apparatus coupled to the antenna apparatus and arranged to transmit a microwave-frequency output signal to the antenna apparatus for emission therefrom as an output electromagnetic (EM) signal for reflection at a said sample and to receive a microwave-frequency return signal from the antenna apparatus in response to a return electromagnetic (EM) signal received thereat by reflection from a said sample; a signal processor arranged to calculate a complex-valued reflection coefficient, comprising a real component and an imaginary component, according to said return signal and said output signal, and to detect the presence of said biological material in said sample according to both the real component and the imaginary component of said reflection coefficient.

Disclosed is a sensor for identifying the presence of a biological material in a sample, the sensor comprising: an antenna apparatus for transmitting and receiving microwave electromagnetic (EM) signals; a signal transmitter apparatus coupled to the antenna apparatus and arranged to transmit a microwave-frequency output signal to the antenna apparatus for emission therefrom as an output electromagnetic (EM) signal for reflection at a said sample and to receive a microwave-frequency return signal from the antenna apparatus in response to a return electromagnetic (EM) signal received thereat by reflection from a said sample; a signal processor arranged to calculate a complex-valued reflection coefficient, comprising a real component and an imaginary component, according to said return signal and said output signal, and to detect the presence of said biological material in said sample according to both the real component and the imaginary component of said reflection coefficient.

Medication dispensing devices and methods of using such devices for identifying patients and automatically dispensing medications to the patients in a secure manner. Such devices may include a medication storage unit, a medication dispensing unit, a user interface, a user identification element, and a processor. The device may further include an enclosure defining a patient area at which a patient may interact with the machine portion of the medication dispensing device. Such medication dispensing devices may be particularly useful for medications which require daily delivery of a medication in a controlled manner, such as methadone and suboxone.

Medication dispensing devices and methods of using such devices for identifying patients and automatically dispensing medications to the patients in a secure manner. Such devices may include a medication storage unit, a medication dispensing unit, a user interface, a user identification element, and a processor. The device may further include an enclosure defining a patient area at which a patient may interact with the machine portion of the medication dispensing device. Such medication dispensing devices may be particularly useful for medications which require daily delivery of a medication in a controlled manner, such as methadone and suboxone.