Abstract: A wearable sensor system includes a flexible patch, an electronic circuit disposed on the flexible patch, and a disposable sensor disposed on the flexible patch and connected to the electronic circuit via a socket. The disposable sensor detects a chemical compound. The electronic circuit generates a detection signal commensurate with the chemical compound detected by the disposable sensor. The disposable sensor is removably plugged into the socket, thereby permitting replacement of the disposable sensor upon satisfaction of a predetermined condition. A battery disposed is on the flexible patch and connected to the electronic circuit to power the electronic circuit. A transceiver is connected to the electronic circuit, wherein the transceiver transmits the detection signal.

Abstract: A microfluidic apparatus is provided that includes a thermoelectrically-activated pixel array, a microfluidic chip, and control circuitry. The pixel array may include a plurality of thermal pixels, with each thermal pixel including a thermoelectric device. The microfluidic chip may include a microfluidic channel disposed adjacent to the thermal pixels such that thermal energy generated by the thermal pixels is received by the microfluidic channel to form a localized spot within the microfluidic channel corresponding to each thermal pixel. The control circuitry may be electrically coupled to each of the thermal pixels and configured to control the thermal energy being generated by each thermal pixel to control a temperature at each localized spot within the microfluidic channel.

Abstract: A method for identifying a predefined target organism includes extracting a nucleic acid from a sample to form an extracted nucleic acid, amplifying the extracted nucleic acid to form a nucleic acid amplicon, tagging the nucleic acid amplicon with a capture probe and a detector partner to form a detector partner-nucleic acid amplicon-capture probe complex, and performing a detection assay on the detector partner-nucleic acid amplicon-capture probe complex to identify whether the predefined target organism is present in the sample.

Abstract: A method for determining past exposure to chemical agents or heavy metals may include coating a capture material with a capture reagent. The capture reagent may be selected based on an ability of the capture reagent to bind with a target antibody, and the target antibody may be an indicator associated with a particular chemical agent or heavy metal. The method may further include interrogating a clinical sample associated with an individual by forming a mixture of the capture material and the clinical sample, and determining an exposure status of the individual to the particular chemical agent or heavy metal based on whether the capture material demonstrates capture of the indicator.

Abstract: A method for a pre-symptomatic diagnosis of a viral illness in a subject is provided. The method may include obtaining a biological sample that includes at least one peripheral blood mononuclear cell from a subject prior to the subject experiencing any symptoms associated with the viral illness. The method may further include extracting proteins from the biological sample. The method may also include analyzing the extracted proteins, via mass spectrometry, for the presence of a predefined viral protein biomarker associated with the viral illness. If the predefined viral protein biomarker is present, the subject is diagnosed with the viral illness prior to experiencing the symptoms associated with the viral illness.

Abstract: A method for a pre-symptomatic diagnosis of a viral illness in a subject is provided. The method may include obtaining a biological sample that includes at least one peripheral blood mononuclear cell from a subject prior to the subject experiencing any symptoms associated with the viral illness. The method may further include extracting proteins from the biological sample. The method may also include analyzing the extracted proteins, via mass spectrometry, for the presence of a predefined viral protein biomarker associated with the viral illness. If the predefined viral protein biomarker is present, the subject is diagnosed with the viral illness prior to experiencing the symptoms associated with the viral illness.

Abstract: A wearable sensor system includes a flexible patch, an electronic circuit disposed on the flexible patch, and a disposable sensor disposed on the flexible patch and connected to the electronic circuit via a socket. The disposable sensor detects a chemical compound. The electronic circuit generates a detection signal commensurate with the chemical compound detected by the disposable sensor. The disposable sensor is removably plugged into the socket, thereby permitting replacement of the disposable sensor upon satisfaction of a predetermined condition. A battery disposed is on the flexible patch and connected to the electronic circuit to power the electronic circuit. A transceiver is connected to the electronic circuit, wherein the transceiver transmits the detection signal.

Abstract: A method for determining past exposure to chemical agents or heavy metals may include coating a capture material with a capture reagent. The capture reagent may be selected based on an ability of the capture reagent to bind with a target antibody, and the target antibody may be an indicator associated with a particular chemical agent or heavy metal. The method may further include interrogating a clinical sample associated with an individual by forming a mixture of the capture material and the clinical sample, and determining an exposure status of the individual to the particular chemical agent or heavy metal based on whether the capture material demonstrates capture of the indicator.

Abstract: A method for identifying a predefined target organism includes extracting a nucleic acid from a sample to form an extracted nucleic acid, amplifying the extracted nucleic acid to form a nucleic acid amplicon, tagging the nucleic acid amplicon with a capture probe and a detector partner to form a detector partner-nucleic acid amplicon-capture probe complex, and performing a detection assay on the detector partner-nucleic acid amplicon-capture probe complex to identify whether the predefined target organism is present in the sample.

Abstract: A method for determining past exposure to chemical agents or heavy metals may include coating a capture material with a capture reagent. The capture reagent may be selected based on an ability of the capture reagent to bind with a target antibody, and the target antibody may be an indicator associated with a particular chemical agent or heavy metal. The method may further include interrogating a clinical sample associated with an individual by forming a mixture of the capture material and the clinical sample, and determining an exposure status of the individual to the particular chemical agent or heavy metal based on whether the capture material demonstrates capture of the indicator.

Abstract: A microfluidic apparatus is provided that includes a thermoelectrically-activated pixel array, a microfluidic chip, and control circuitry. The pixel array may include a plurality of thermal pixels, with each thermal pixel including a thermoelectric device. The microfluidic chip may include a microfluidic channel disposed adjacent to the thermal pixels such that thermal energy generated by the thermal pixels is received by the microfluidic channel to form a localized spot within the microfluidic channel corresponding to each thermal pixel. The control circuitry may be electrically coupled to each of the thermal pixels and configured to control the thermal energy being generated by each thermal pixel to control a temperature at each localized spot within the microfluidic channel.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel primers and methods for the detection of specific nucleic acid sequences. The primers and methods of the invention are useful in a wide variety of molecular biology applications and are particularly useful in allele specific PCR.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel primers and methods for the detection of specific nucleic acid sequences. The primers and methods of the invention are useful in a wide variety of molecular biology applications and are particularly useful in allele specific PCR.

Abstract: A method for a pre-symptomatic diagnosis of a viral illness includes obtaining a biological sample with a peripheral blood mononuclear cell from a subject. The method further includes stimulating the biological sample, where the stimulation of the biological sample includes adding to the biological sample a predetermined amount of antigen configured to trigger a T-cell IFN-? response in the biological sample and a predetermined amount of reagent configured to capture the T-cell IFN-? response. The method may even further include comparing the level of the T-cell IFN-? response detected in the biological sample to a control sample level, the control sample level including a control sample T-cell IFN-? response level detected in a control sample of the subject, where if the level of the T-cell IFN-? response in the biological sample is at a predetermined amount greater than the control sample level, the subject is diagnosed with the viral illness.

Abstract: A method for identifying a target organism includes extracting a nucleic acid from a sample to form an extracted nucleic acid, amplifying the extracted nucleic acid to form a nucleic acid amplicon, tagging the nucleic acid amplicon with a capture probe and a detector probe to form a detector probe-nucleic acid amplicon-capture probe complex, and performing a detection assay on the detector probe-nucleic acid amplicon-capture probe complex to identify whether the target organism is present in the sample.

Abstract: A method for determining past exposure to chemical agents or heavy metals may include coating a capture material with a capture reagent. The capture reagent may be selected based on an ability of the capture reagent to bind with a target antibody, and the target antibody may be an indicator associated with a particular chemical agent or heavy metal. The method may further include interrogating a clinical sample associated with an individual by forming a mixture of the capture material and the clinical sample, and determining an exposure status of the individual to the particular chemical agent or heavy metal based on whether the capture material demonstrates capture of the indicator.

Abstract: The present invention relates to nucleic acid inhibitors, compositions and method for enhancing synthesis of nucleic acid molecules. In a preferred aspect, the invention relates to inhibition or control of nucleic acid synthesis, sequencing or amplification. Specifically, the present invention discloses nucleic acids having affinity for polypeptides with polymerase activity for use in such synthesis, amplification or sequencing reactions. The nucleic acid inhibitors are capable of inhibiting nonspecific nucleic acid synthesis under certain conditions (e.g., at ambient temperatures). Thus, in a preferred aspect, the invention relates to “hot start” synthesis of nucleic acid molecules. Accordingly, the invention prevents, reduces or substantially reduces nonspecific nucleic acid synthesis. The invention also relates to kits for synthesizing, amplifying, reverse transcribing or sequencing nucleic acid molecules comprising one or more of the nucleic acid inhibitors or compositions of the invention.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel primers and methods for the detection of specific nucleic acid sequences. The primers and methods of the invention are useful in a wide variety of molecular biology applications and are particularly useful in allele specific PCR.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel primers and methods for the detection of specific nucleic acid sequences. The primers and methods of the invention are useful in a wide variety of molecular biology applications and are particularly useful in allele specific PCR.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel primers and methods for the detection of specific nucleic acid sequences. The primers and methods of the invention are useful in a wide variety of molecular biology applications and are particularly useful in allele specific PCR.