Abstract: The present invention provides methods, nucleic acids, compositions, and kits for detecting microRNA (miRNA) in samples. The methods comprise designing mRNA-specific primers, adding a polyA tail to the miRNA, and using reverse transcription and amplification to detect the miRNA. The nucleic acids, compositions, and kits typically comprise some or all of the components necessary to practice the methods of the invention.

Abstract: A method and apparatus generate a measured data set by: (i) providing a probe tip at a selected height from a doped region of a substrate, (ii) applying a probing signal to the probe tip, (iii) measuring a characteristic of an electrical interaction between the probe tip and the doped region of the substrate, and (iv) repeating steps (i) through (iii) for a plurality of different selected heights. A plurality of reference data sets are provided characterizing the electrical interaction between the probe tip and the doped region of the substrate as a function of height between the probe tip and the doped region of the substrate. Each data set corresponds to a different dopant density. The measured data set is compared to the plurality of reference data sets and based on the comparison, the dopant density of the doped region of the substrate is determined.

Abstract: A method for amplifying a target nucleic acid is disclosed, which includes: (a) fragmenting a nucleic acid sample to create a target fragment comprising a target nucleic acid and two probe-complementary portions; (b) contacting said fragmented nucleic acid sample with a probe comprising two target fragment-complementary portions complementary to the probe-complementary portions of the target fragment; (c) rendering the fragmented nucleic acid sample single-stranded; (d) allowing the probe-complementary portions to hybridise with the target-fragment complementary portions; (e) if the probe in step (b) is not immobilised, immobilising the probe-target fragment hybrid on a solid phase via immobilisation moiety; (f) separating non-immobilised nucleic acid fragments from the solid phase; (g) contacting the solid phase with a ligase to ligate ligatable 5? and 3? ends of the target fragment whereby the target fragment is circularized; and (h) amplifying said circularized target fragment.

Abstract: A fluid pump for a fluid separation device for separating a fluid includes a fluid inlet being supplyable with fluid at an inlet pressure (pI), and a fluid conducting mechanism configured for conducting the fluid supplied to the fluid inlet towards a connected fluidic path, in which the fluid conducting mechanism is controllable so that, regardless of a value of the inlet pressure (pI), the fluid is continuously conducted away from the fluid inlet with a definable flow rate (FT).

Abstract: A method of deprotecting a solid support bound polynucleotide includes the step of contacting the polynucleotide with a composition comprising a diamine under conditions sufficient to deprotect the 2?-protected ribonucleotide residue. The solid support bound polynucleotide has at least one 2?-protected ribonucleotide residue, which has the following structure: wherein BP is a protected or unprotected heterocycle; R12 is a protecting group selected from a hydrocarbyl, a substituted hydrocarbyl, an aryl, and a substituted aryl; X is O or S; and PG is a thionocarbamate protecting group.

Abstract: In a mass spectrometer, a dual stage axial extraction field is applied to transport ions from an accumulator to a detector cell. Ions of a same mass may be transported to the detector cell or a point axially preceding the detector cell at the same time. This may be done by selecting the relative strengths of a first axial electric field applied to the accumulator and a second axial electric field applied to a shutter located at an exit end of the accumulator. This may also be done by selecting relative axial lengths of the accumulator, shutter, and an ion guide located at an exit end of the shutter. A dual stage decelerating field may also be applied to slow ions down prior to and after entering the detector cell.

Abstract: A method and compositions for sulfurizing at least one phosphite or thiophosphite linkage in an oligonucleotide. The addition of N-alkyl imidazole to the acetyldisulfide sulfurization solution enables the use of industrially preferred solvents or solvents that are derived from renewable resources.

Abstract: The invention provides methods for synthesizing oligonucleotides using nucleoside monomers having carbonate protected hydroxyl groups that are deprotected with ?-effect nucleophiles. The ?-effect nucleophile irreversibly cleave the carbonate protecting groups while simultaneously oxidizing the internucleotide phosphite triester linkage to a phosphodiester linkage. The procedure may be carried out in aqueous solution at neutral to mildly basic pH. The method eliminates the need for separate deprotection and oxidation steps, and, since the use of acid to remove protecting groups is unnecessary, acid-induced depurination is avoided. Fluorescent or other readily detectable carbonate protecting groups can be used, enabling monitoring of individual reaction steps during oligonucleotide synthesis. The invention is particularly useful in the highly parallel, microscale synthesis of oligonucleotides.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to spatial and structural genomic analysis compositions, which can be used for the mapping of chromosomes and structural analyses of chromosomal rearrangements, including the entire chromosome, as well as specific portions or regions of interest of the chromosomes. In some embodiments, multiple portions of the genome can be distinguished, for instance, using a first detection entity and a second detection entity different from the first detection entity. The detection entities may be immobilized relative to oligonucleotides, which may be selected to bind to different locations within the chromosome. For instance, the oligonucleotides may be at least substantially complementary to the chromosome, e.g., substantially complementary to a specific location of the chromosome.

Abstract: Computer-readable code stored on computer-readable media includes code to allocate at least one data structure in computer memory. The at least one data structure has a plurality of message parameter fields, and each of the message parameter fields has a deterministic position within the at least one data structure. The computer-readable code also includes code to navigate to different ones of the message parameter fields by interpreting non-compiled instructions. The instructions have a form that specifies a position of a particular message parameter field within the at least one data structure, and a number of bits in the particular message parameter field. The position of the particular message parameter field is specified in terms of a number of data offsets in the at least one data structure. The computer-readable code also includes code to configure a communications test-set following navigation to at least one of the message parameter fields.

Abstract: The invention relates to a protocol for pre-staining a protein prior to electrophoresis, an electrophoresis method including the protocol, and a kit for carrying out the protocol. The protocol comprises the steps of incubating the protein sample with a pyrylium dye in the presence of a buffer, a detergent and a denaturing agent.

Abstract: A method for displaying a plurality of error measures for an error-containing digitally modulated signal formed of a first and a second orthogonal component includes: determining for each digital value a value for an error-free version of the modulated signal; determining for each digital value a value for the error-containing version of the modulated signal; determining for each digital value a vector difference between the value for the error-containing version of the modulated signal and the respective value for the error-free version of the modulated signal; and displaying the vector differences on a two-dimensional display, each difference being displayed with respect to the respective value for the error-free version of the modulated signal, the display providing the plurality of error measures.

Abstract: An oscilloscope includes at least one demonstration signal generator integrated as part of the oscilloscope. The demonstration signal generator generates stimulus signals that consist of digital samples of various different stored waveforms without the need of a separate demonstration board or signal source. The demonstration signal generator may loop through different sections of the stored waveforms to generate respective stimulus signals that include sequences of digital samples from the different waveforms in combination, to provide a broad range of stimulus signals. The stimulus signals may be displayed on the oscilloscope or output from the oscilloscope as demonstration mode stimulus signals to demonstrate the capabilities of the oscilloscope to customers or for training.

Abstract: A sample is ionized by chemical ionization by flowing the sample and a reagent gas into an ion source at a pressure below 0.1 Torr. While maintaining the ion source at a pressure below 0.1 Torr, the reagent gas is ionized in the ion source by electron ionization to produce reagent ions. The sample is reacted with the reagent ions at a pressure below 0.1 Torr to produce product ions of the sample. The product ions are transmitted into an ion trap for mass analysis.

Abstract: A method for controlling movement of a piston in a metering device is described. The method comprises supplying a fluid by actuating the metering device's piston, wherein compression or expansion of the fluid causes corresponding temperature variations. The method further comprises superposing a corrective movement onto the piston movement, with the corrective movement at least partly compensating for at least one of thermal expansion and contraction of the fluid induced by the temperature variations. In one embodiment, the corrective movement imposed onto the piston movement comprises two components: a reduction (74) of the compression jump (73), and a subsequent increase (75) of the piston's forward displacement rate (71) during a period (76) of time (72).

Abstract: A method for receiving spread spectrum signals and for initial code acquisition from the received signals comprises de-spreading the received signals, based on code phase synchronization, to produce a de-spread signal; and performing a modulation detection based on a change of time-domain characteristic of the de-spread signal.

Abstract: An apparatus, includes an oscilloscope and a waveform generator. The waveform generator is integrated in a common housing with the oscilloscope, and configured to provide a stimulus signal as an output of the apparatus and to provide a trigger signal that is connected internally to the oscilloscope for triggering the oscilloscope.

Abstract: A device for processing measurement data assigned to a measurement on a fluidic sample to be separated, the measurement data having multiple features being indicative of different fractions of the fluidic sample, the device includes a feature position analysis unit configured for analyzing positions (p1, p2, d1, d2) of at least a part of the features relative to one another, and a display adjustment unit configured for adjusting, based on a result of the analyzing, a mode of displaying at least a part of the features along at least one display axis of a display diagram so that at least a part of adjacent features is positioned equidistantly along the at least one display axis or so that at least a part of adjacent features is positioned to have a distance (d) from one another which is larger than or equal to a predefined threshold value (dth).

Abstract: An optical spectrum analyzer and a method of spectrally analyzing an optical signal. The optical spectrum analyzer includes a wave shaper such as an optical modulator that shapes an optical signal, a dispersive element such as a dispersive fiber in which the shaped optical signal is dispersed, a detector that provides an output signal indicative of the dispersed shaped optical signal, and a signal processor that analyzes the output signal, for example by calculating a transform such as an inverse Fourier transform or a Fourier transform of the output signal, to provide a frequency spectrum of the optical signal.

Abstract: An apparatus for atomic force microscopy (AFM) comprises a first actuator configured to move a cantilever along an axis; a second actuator configured to move the cantilever along the axis; an amplifier; and a crossover network connected between the amplifier, and the first actuator and the second actuator. The crossover network is adapted to provide a first drive signal to the first actuator over a first frequency range and to provide a second drive signal to the second actuator over a second frequency range.