The United States of America, as Represented by the Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services

University of Arkansas

Vivione Biosciences, LLC

Other

The United States of America

Dan Alexander Buzatu

Jon Gardner Wilkes

Jerry Darsey

Dwight Wayne Miller

Alexandru S Biris

Alexandru Radu Biris

Dan Lupu

Richard D Beger

Tom Heinze

Randal K Tucker

Pierre Alusta

Alexandre A Shvartsburg

Freddy T Nguyen

Ryan M Kretzer

Cameron Dorey

Jason T Taylor

Thaddeus John Moskal, Jr

William Ryan Parker

Alex Birls

Ted A Moskal

Paul Chiarelli

Ricky D Holland

Michael A Beaudoin

Bruce Pearce

Alex Biris

Richard Berger

Melinda Miller

Inessa Im

Mark Diggs

Bill Nevius

Shawn Ramsanoop

In various embodiments, the present disclosure describes methods and systems for detecting microbes in a sample. The methods are generally applicable to quantifying the number of target bacteria in a sample counted from a detection region of a flow cytometer histogram. The detection methods can be employed in the presence of other microorganisms and other non-target microbe components to selectively quantify the amount of a target microbe. The methods are advantageous over those presently existing for testing of foodstuffs and diagnostic evaluation in their speed, accuracy and ease of use. Various swab collection devices and kits useful for practicing the present disclosure are also described herein.

Flow cytometry-based systems and methods for detecting microbes

Methods for detecting one or more target bacteria in a test sample are provided. It is shown herein that photosensitizers combined with intense light exposure reduce fluorescing background due to non-bacterial particles. This permits detection of subsequently labeled target bacterial cells (e.g., using a fluorescently labeled antibody) against a largely black background. In particular examples, the methods include incubating the test sample in a growth medium that permits growth of bacteria present in the sample, contacting the sample with a photo-sensitizer; exposing the sample to light under conditions sufficient for the photo-sensitizer to photobleach contaminating non-bacterial particulates present in the sample. The bacteria can then be substantially separated from the sample, thereby generating an isolated bacterial sample. The method can also include contacting the isolated bacterial sample with a binding agent specific for the one or more target bacteria, and detecting the one or more target bacteria.

Detection of bacterial contamination in a sample

A system and method for preprocessing magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) data of brain tissue for pattern-based diagnostics is disclosed. The MRS preprocessing system includes an MRS preprocessing module that executes an operation that normalizes MRS spectrum data, recalibrates and scales the normalized MRS spectrum data, and then renormalizes the scaled MRS spectrum data. The resulting preprocessed MRS data is used to assist in identifying abnormalities in tissues shown in MRS scans.

System for magnetic resonance spectroscopy of brain tissue for pattern-based diagnostics

Disclosed is a mass spectrometer for analyzing a sample that has or is suspected of having microorganisms. The disclosed mass spectrometer has been uniquely configured to include a sample platform which functions as a counter electrode or discharge electrode and a surface to provide the sample to be analyzed. The mass spectrometer also includes an ion source positioned adjacent to the sample platform for ionizing and volatizing molecules within the sample, wherein the sample platform and the ion source are positioned such that during operation of the mass spectrometer an electrical discharge takes place between the ion source and the sample platform. Also disclosed are methods for generating a mass spectrum profile/fingerprint of a sample. The methods include positioning a sample platform having a sample adjacent to an ion source.

Direct impact ionization (DII) mass spectrometry

An apparatus and method for synthesizing nanostructures. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a reactor having a reaction zone and a conductive susceptor positioned in the reaction zone. The method includes the steps of transporting a gas mixture having an aerosolized catalyst, a feedstock and a carrier gas into the reaction zone of the reactor, inductively heating the reaction zone, and regulating a flow rate of the gas mixture to allow the catalyst to spend a sufficient amount of time in the reaction zone for the growth of nanostructures.

Apparatus and methods for synthesis of large size batches of carbon nanostructures

The present invention provides a novel approach to cancer therapy and diagnostics that utilizes nanotubes and other similar nanostructures as both an indirect source of radiation therapy (BNCT), and as delivery vehicles for other types of radio- and chemo-therapeutic materials, as well as imaging agents for diagnostic purposes.

Nanotubes for cancer therapy and diagnostics

A molecular structure. In one embodiment, the molecular structure includes a nanotube formed with a plurality of carbon atoms having a first end, an opposite, second end, and a body portion defined therebetween, wherein the body portion has an interior surface defining a cavity, an opposite, exterior surface and a longitudinal axis therethrough the cavity, and a porphyrin molecule having a plurality of carbon atoms and a first plurality of hydrogen atoms, wherein at its original state the porphyrin molecule has a plurality of pyrrole units and each pyrrole unit is coupled to another pyrrole unit through a methine bridge so as to form a ring structure with a second plurality of hydrogen atoms positioned peripherally along the ring structure. The porphyrin molecule is chemically coupled to the interior surface of the nanotube such that at least one of the second plurality of hydrogen atoms positioned peripherally along the ring structure is replaced by a carbon atom of the nanotube.

Nanotube-porphyrin molecular structure and applications of same

A method for reproducibly analyzing mass spectra from different sample sources is provided. The method deconvolutes the complex spectra by collapsing multiple peaks of different molecular mass that originate from the same molecular fragment into a single peak. The differences in molecular mass are apparent differences caused by different charge states of the fragment and/or different metal ion adducts and/or reactant products of one or more of the charge states. The deconvoluted spectrum is compared to a library of mass spectra acquired from samples of known identity to unambiguously determine the identity of one or more components of the sample undergoing analysis.

Pattern recognition of whole cell mass spectra

An apparatus for synthesizing nanostructures. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a heating device that defines a reaction zone therein and a susceptor made of a ferromagnetic material with a Curie temperature and placed in the reaction zone, where the Curie temperature substantially corresponds to a temperature at which the growth of desired nanostructures occurs and the heating device is capable of heating the susceptor substantially at the Curie temperature.

Production of nanostructures by curie point induction heating

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Benton, AR, United States of America

Dan Alexander Buzatu