Abstract: The invention provides methods and compositions for separately denaturing a probe and target in hybridization applications. The invention may, for example, eliminate the use of, or reduce the dependence on formamide in hybridization applications. Compositions for use in the invention include an aqueous composition comprising at least one polar aprotic solvent in an amount effective to denature double-stranded nucleotide sequences.

Abstract: An electrostatic lens for transporting charged particles in an axial direction includes a first group of first electrodes configured to receive a first DC potential from a DC voltage source, and a second group of second electrodes configured to receive a second DC potential from the DC voltage source different from the first DC potential. The first electrodes are interdigitated with the second electrodes. The first group and/or the second group has a geometric feature that progressively varies along the axial direction. The lens generates an axial potential profile that progressively changes along the axial direction, and thereby reduces geometrical aberrations. The lens may be part of a charged particle processing apparatus such as, for example, a mass spectrometer or an electron microscope.

Abstract: A valve arrangement includes a valve module and a base module. The valve module includes a stator and a rotor, which is rotatable relative to the stator such that at least one fluid connection is formable between the stator and the rotor. The base module includes at least a part of a force control mechanism for selectively implementing a force-releasing or force-coupling of the rotor and the stator, whereby the valve module and the base module are selectively coupleable to or decoupleable from each other.

Abstract: A vacuum pump includes a housing, a rotatable shaft extending in an axial direction within the housing, a first pumping arrangement including a first stator arrangement and a first rotor arrangement, and a second pumping arrangement including a second stator arrangement and a second rotor arrangement. The vacuum pump further includes a spacer arranged between the first pumping arrangement and the second pumping arrangement. The spacer is coupled between the first stator arrangement and the second stator arrangement and is configured to provide a defined elasticity in the axial direction allowing an elastic deformation of the spacer in the axial direction.

Abstract: A coated capillary tube having a tunable resistance in an ion transfer device, including an inlet end in communication with an atmospheric-pressure ion source, an outlet end in communication with a vacuum region of a mass spectrometer, a body elongated along an axis from the inlet end to the outlet end, and an inside surface defining a bore having an inner diameter is disclosed. The coated capillary tube also includes a resistive coating on the inside surface of the capillary tube, in which the resistive coating includes at least one layer comprising oxides or nitrides of a metal and discrete metal particles of a different metal embedded therein.

Abstract: A fluid valve for a sample separation apparatus includes a first valve component and a second valve component, which are adjacent to one another and movable relative to one another. The valve components are configured such that, in at least one switching state, at least one switchable fluid channel is formed between the valve components, and at least one part of a surface of at least one of the first valve component and the second valve component is provided with a coating containing gold and/or platinum.

Abstract: A degasser for at least partially degassing a gas-containing liquid, in particular for a sample separation device, includes a circulation path along which the liquid can be circulated between a liquid accommodation volume and one of an inlet to a consumer unit consuming degassed liquid or a conduit leading to the inlet, a drive unit configured for circulating the liquid in the circulation path, and a filter in the circulation path for filtering particles or debris out of the liquid, wherein the liquid is forced through the filter by the drive unit. The drive unit includes a movable body, in particular a movable piston or a movable membrane, configured for at least partially degassing the liquid by generating a negative pressure in the liquid.

Abstract: Mutant polymerases are provided that have improved ability to incorporate modified nucleotides, including 3?-OH unblocked reversible terminators. The mutant polymerases may be used in a variety of applications, such as for polynucleotide sequencing, primer extension reactions, and template-independent enzymatic oligonucleotide synthesis.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method of producing etched non-porous particles. The method includes, in some examples, coating a non-porous particle with a hydrophilic polymer and treating the coated particle with acid or base. Also provided is etched non-porous particles capable of separating a variety of analytes, including biomolecules.

Abstract: Novel tools and techniques are provided for implementing digital microscopy imaging using deep learning-based segmentation and/or implementing instance segmentation based on partial annotations. In various embodiments, a computing system might receive first and second images, the first image comprising a field of view of a biological sample, while the second image comprises labeling of objects of interest in the biological sample. The computing system might encode, using an encoder, the second image to generate third and fourth encoded images (different from each other) that comprise proximity scores or maps. The computing system might train an AI system to predict objects of interest based at least in part on the third and fourth encoded images. The computing system might generate (using regression) and decode (using a decoder) two or more images based on a new image of a biological sample to predict labeling of objects in the new image.

Abstract: A gas leak detector cartridge includes a cartridge housing that is removably installed in a handheld device. The cartridge housing includes a sensor that detects a presence of a contaminant in a sample gas and is connected to a printed circuit board. The cartridge housing also includes a pump positioned in a manifold and introduces a sample gas to the sensor. The sensor is at least partially inserted into the manifold that includes the pump.

Abstract: Methods of inducing functional maturation of immature cardiomyocytes derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and embryonic stem cells (ESCs) by electrically pacing the immature cardiomyocytes according to a pulse profile that induces maturation until the immature cardiomyocytes mature into functionally adult cardiomyocytes.

Abstract: Provided herein are compositions and methods to assess the genomic landscape of fixed cells using light activated oligonucleotides that can be directed to the nucleus, mitochondria, or cytoplasm of fixed cells and that, upon activation, can be extended for in situ copying of nuclear single-stranded DNA (i.e., open chromatin), open mitochondrial DNA, and/or cytoplasmic RNA into barcoded complementary DNA. These methods also provide for gene specific 3D chromatin structural niche analysis.

Abstract: A chromatography column includes a first flow distributor, a second flow distributor, and a media chamber having an inlet and an outlet. The second flow distributor is different from the first flow distributor. The first flow distributor is secured to the inlet of the media chamber and the second flow distributor is secured to the outlet of the media chamber.

Abstract: Methods and compositions are provided for amplifying a pool of oligonucleotides, such as dual guide oligonucleotide constructs comprising sequences encoding a first guide RNA segment and a sequence encoding a second guide RNA segment. An amplification mixture is formed comprising the pool of oligonucleotides, an amplification enzyme, deoxyribonucleotide triphosphates, and primers. The amplification mixture is thermocycled a sufficient number of times and under conditions to produce a library of oligonucleotide constructs. The present methods and compositions provide dual guide libraries, including libraries that are essentially free of scrambled library members.

Abstract: The present invention relates to libraries of phosphopeptide-encoding oligonucleotides and methods of preparing such libraries. The present invention also relates to methods of detecting, visualizing, or screening for phosphorylation-dependent protein-protein interactions using recombinant phosphopeptides and/or phosphopeptide-encoding oligonucleotides. The present invention also relates to sets or kits of oligonucleotides having regions that encode phosphopeptides.

Abstract: A method of optical analysis comprises receiving light at an optical spectrometer module from a light source, distributing the received light into two or more light beams with a light distribution component of the optical spectrometer module, concurrently exposing each of a reference and one or more test samples to one of the two or more light beams, and concurrently measuring a property of the light associated with each of the reference sample and one or more test samples with a corresponding detector.

Abstract: The invention provides metal liquid chromatography components with uniformly coated internal surfaces and methods for achieving the same. The invention addresses the problem of corrosion or interference of metal components in the flow path for LC analyses in which the sample interacts with metal ions or surfaces. The invention also alleviates the difficulties in coating very long metal tubes and very small metal channels with an inert, continuous coating that adheres well to metal surfaces. The metal flow path is rendered inert by the coating, and thus compatible with bioanalytical separations, for example, by using a vapor phase deposition process to coat the inner surfaces with a coating that continuously covers all metal surfaces in the flow path.

Abstract: A fluid pump includes a pump head and a motor coupled by a drive shaft. The pump head includes a pump inlet, a pump outlet, and a pumping stage in which a movable pump element is driven by the drive shaft. The motor includes a motor rotor and a motor stator. A connector couples the motor rotor and the drive shaft. The connector includes a plate rotatable with the drive shaft, fan blades attached to the plate for establishing a flow of air for cooling the motor, and one or more counterweights attached to the plate for reducing or eliminating imbalance created by certain forces generated by the pump during operation.

Abstract: In some examples, an instrument closure may include an instrument closure retainer to retain the instrument closure onto a container. The instrument closure may further include a sensor retainer including a plurality of apertures for transfer or removal of material, respectively, into or from the container. The sensor retainer may further include a sensor mount to retain a sensor.