Abstract: The present disclosure provides, among other things, systems for nucleic acid amplification. Provided systems for nucleic acid amplification substantially irreversibly seal the contents of a nucleic acid amplification reaction vessel. Provided systems reduce amplification contamination, for example amplification carryover contamination. Provided systems reduce amplification of spurious nucleic acids or amplification products. The present disclosure also provides methods of amplifying nucleic acids. The present disclosure also provides methods of amplifying nucleic acids using provided systems. Provided systems and methods are useful for nucleic acid amplification.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides, among other things, systems for nucleic acid amplification. Provided systems for nucleic acid amplification substantially irreversibly seal the contents of a nucleic acid amplification reaction vessel. Provided systems reduce amplification contamination, for example amplification carryover contamination. Provided systems reduce amplification of spurious nucleic acids or amplification products. The present disclosure also provides methods of amplifying nucleic acids. The present disclosure also provides methods of amplifying nucleic acids using provided systems. Provided systems and methods are useful for nucleic acid amplification.

Abstract: A computing device having a unique form factor and adapted for connecting to an external device is described. The computing device includes external connector(s), computing node(s), a power unit, and a flexible enclosure structure encasing them. The enclosure structure is made of flexible materials so that the computing device forms a physically integrated unit free of a rigid frame and can be mechanically supported by its external connectors without a chassis. At least one computing node has a computing state machine and programs that controls the behavior of the computing nodes at least during a connection event and a disconnection event. The computing device can be hot-swapped and function properly between these events. Also described is a reconfigurable computing system that includes one or more computing devices described above and one or more host computers, as well as programming techniques for accomplishing hot swapping of the computing devices.

Abstract: A general RAID conversion method is described for converting between different RAID configurations. The method includes reading a unit of user data from the source devices according to the source RAID algorithm, writing the user data together with redundant data (if any) to the target devices according to the target RAID algorithm, and from time to time releasing portions of the source devices containing data that has been converted. The conversion may be used to expand or contract the array, to increase or decrease usable capacity, and to increase or decrease the device-loss insurance level. Conversion may be performed on line (dynamically) or off line. The flexibility of the method allows the implementation of manual and/or rule-based RAID reconfiguration that automatically adjusts system parameters based on user request and/or a set of rules and conditions respectively. It may also be used to perform self-healing after one or more devices in the array have failed.