Abstract: An apparatus for measuring a characteristic of a sample using a centrifuge and optical components is disclosed. The centrifuge may be a standard benchtop centrifuge. The optical components may be sized and dimensioned to fit, along with the sample, inside the centrifuge.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a polynucleotide capable of signaling under preselected conditions. For example, the present disclosure relates to a method of reconfiguring a nucleic acid or polynucleotide, including: contacting a deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) nanoswitch and nucleic acid to form a DNA nanoswitch-nucleic acid complex having a first conformation, wherein the first conformation is characterized as locked; contacting the DNA nanoswitch-nucleic acid complex with a biological specimen to form a mixture, wherein when the nucleic acid is ribonucleic acid (RNA) and the biological specimen includes one or more ribonucleases, the first conformation changes to a second conformation characterized as open; processing the mixture under conditions sufficient to separate the first conformation, and when present, the second conformation; and reacting the first conformation, and when present, the second conformation with an indicator under conditions sufficient to form a signal.

Abstract: The invention provides compositions comprising nucleic acid complexes for use in monitoring binding interactions and in measuring association and/or dissociation kinetics, detecting analytes including low concentration analytes, and screening library members. In some instances, the nucleic acid complexes are double-stranded nicked nucleic acids comprising a scaffold nucleic acid hybridized to one or more oligonucleotides. In some instances, a first, a second, a third, and optionally a fourth oligonucleotide are linked to moieties that are known to interact with each other or which are suspected of interacting with each other or of interacting with a common moiety such as an analyte. Changes in topology of the complex are used to determine the binding interactions of the various binding partners.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring a characteristic of a sample using a centrifuge and optical components is disclosed. The centrifuge may be a standard benchtop centrifuge. The optical components may be sized and dimensioned to fit, along with the sample, inside the centrifuge.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring a characteristic of a sample using a centrifuge and optical components is disclosed. The centrifuge may be a standard benchtop centrifuge. The optical components may be sized and dimensioned to fit, along with the sample, inside the centrifuge.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring a characteristic of a sample includes a sample measurement apparatus (1404), which includes a light source (1406) configured to illuminate the sample; and a detector (1412) configured to receive light from the sample. The sample measurement apparatus is sized and dimensioned to fit within a centrifuge receptacle, the centrifuge receptacle (1416) coupled to a spindle configured to rotate the centrifuge receptacle to apply a force to the sample.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring a characteristic of a sample using a centrifuge and optical components is disclosed. The centrifuge may be a standard benchtop centrifuge. The optical components may be sized and dimensioned to fit, along with the sample, inside the centrifuge.

Abstract: The invention provides compositions comprising nucleic acid complexes for use in monitoring binding interactions and in measuring association and/or dissociation kinetics with or without force, detecting analytes, screening aptamers, and encoding/encrypting information. In some instances, the nucleic acid complexes are double- stranded nicked nucleic acids comprising a scaffold nucleic acid hybridized to one or more oligonucleotides. In some instances, a first and/or a second oligonucleotide are linked to moieties that are known to interact with each other or which are suspected of interacting with each other.

Abstract: Provided herein are nucleic acid-based nanoswitches that can detect specific nucleic acids and other analytes types by for example a simple gel electrophoresis readout. Binding of the target to the nanoswitches induces a conformation change from a linear, open conformation to a looped, closed conformation. These nanoswitches may be used in diagnostic assays such as nucleic acid-based diagnostic assays, to detect, measure and/or purify a variety of targets including low abundance targets.

Abstract: The invention provides compositions comprising nucleic acid complexes for use in monitoring binding interactions and in measuring association and/or dissociation kinetics with or without force, detecting analytes, screening aptamers, and encoding/encrypting information. In some instances, the nucleic acid complexes are double-stranded nicked nucleic acids comprising a scaffold nucleic acid hybridized to one or more oligonucleotides. In some instances, a first and/or a second oligonucleotide are linked to moieties that are known to interact with each other or which are suspected of interacting with each other.

Abstract: The invention provides compositions comprising nucleic acid complexes for use in monitoring binding interactions and in measuring association and/or dissociation kinetics, detecting analytes including low concentration analytes, and screening library members. In some instances, the nucleic acid complexes are double-stranded nicked nucleic acids comprising a scaffold nucleic acid hybridized to one or more oligonucleotides. In some instances, a first, a second, a third, and optionally a fourth oligonucleotide are linked to moieties that are known to interact with each other or which are suspected of interacting with each other or of interacting with a common moiety such as an analyte. Changes in topology of the complex are used to determine the binding interactions of the various binding partners.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring a characteristic of a sample includes a sample measurement apparatus (1404), which includes a light source (1406) configured to illuminate the sample; and a detector (1412) configured to receive light from the sample. The sample measurement apparatus is sized and dimensioned to fit within a centrifuge receptacle, the centrifuge receptacle (1416) coupled to a spindle configured to rotate the centrifuge receptacle to apply a force to the sample.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring a characteristic of a sample includes a sample measurement apparatus (1404), which includes a light source (1406) configured to illuminate the sample; and a detector (1412) configured to receive light from the sample. The sample measurement apparatus is sized and dimensioned to fit within a centrifuge receptacle, the centrifuge receptacle (1416) coupled to a spindle configured to rotate the centrifuge receptacle to apply a force to the sample.

Abstract: The invention provides compositions comprising nucleic acid complexes for use in monitoring binding interactions and in measuring association and/or dissociation kinetics with or without force, detecting analytes, screening aptamers, and encoding/encrypting information. In some instances, the nucleic acid complexes are double-stranded nicked nucleic acids comprising a scaffold nucleic acid hybridized to one or more oligonucleotides. In some instances, a first and/or a second oligonucleotide are linked to moieties that are known to interact with each other or which are suspected of interacting with each other.

Abstract: A spinning force system and methods of operation are provided for measuring a characteristic of a sample. The system includes a detection module having a light source for illuminating the sample and an objective being aligned to the light source to define a light path for producing an image of the sample. A rotor is mechanically coupled to the detection module and configured to rotate the light path for applying a force to the sample. The force may include a centrifugal force and other forms of force (such as a viscous drag force) resulted from the rotation. In some examples, the force is applied in a direction that is not parallel to a surface of the sample.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus and systems for determining a power spectral density (PSD) of a signal, in which modulation of the signal is employed to facilitate determination of one or more PSD values over a wide range of frequencies. In some implementations, the signal may represent a wide-sense stationary random process. In one example, the signal is measured/sampled during a plurality of measurement windows, during which an intensity of the signal is modulated at one or more modulation frequencies. A variance of a set of quantities determined from the signal samples is calculated and used to determine respective values of the power spectral density (PSD) for the signal at the one or more modulation frequencies. The one or more modulation frequencies may be chosen in excess of the Nyquist frequency of the sampling process, such that the signal may be characterized for one or more frequencies above the Nyquist limit.

Abstract: A spinning force system and methods of operation are provided for measuring a characteristic of a sample. The system includes a detection module having a light source for illuminating the sample and an objective being aligned to the light source to define a light path for producing an image of the sample. A rotor is mechanically coupled to the detection module and configured to rotate the light path for applying a force to the sample. The force may include a centrifugal force and other forms of force (such as a viscous drag force) resulted from the rotation. In some examples, the force is applied in a direction that is not parallel to a surface of the sample.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring a characteristic of a sample includes a sample measurement apparatus (1404), which includes a light source (1406) configured to illuminate the sample; and a detector (1412) configured to receive light from the sample. The sample measurement apparatus is sized and dimensioned to fit within a centrifuge receptacle, the centrifuge receptacle (1416) coupled to a spindle configured to rotate the centrifuge receptacle to apply a force to the sample.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus and systems for determining a power spectral density (PSD) of a signal, in which modulation of the signal is employed to facilitate determination of one or more PSD values over a wide range of frequencies. In some implementations, the signal may represent a wide-sense stationary random process. In one example, the signal is measured/sampled during a plurality of measurement windows, during which an intensity of the signal is modulated at one or more modulation frequencies. A variance of a set of quantities determined from the signal samples is calculated and used to determine respective values of the power spectral density (PSD) for the signal at the one or more modulation frequencies. The one or more modulation frequencies may be chosen in excess of the Nyquist frequency of the sampling process, such that the signal may be characterized for one or more frequencies above the Nyquist limit.