Abstract: A method of producing a polyamide elastomer comprising feeding a salt solution having a solids content of greater than or equal to 80% to a reactor having a phosphorous containing catalyst having a phosphorous level from 5 to 1000 part by million based on the total weight of the catalyst, feeding a polyether amine to the reactor, and reducing the pressure in the reactor once a target temperature is reached to polymerize the salt solution and the polyether amine to form the polyamide elastomer. The polyamide elastomer has particular uses as a cable tie and demonstrates improved cold-temperature applications while maintaining high strength, good flammability rating, and excellent processability.

Abstract: An antimicrobial film comprising antimicrobial film comprising from 50 wt % to 99.99 wt % of a polyamide composition, and from 10 wppm to 6000 wppm of zinc (and/or copper) dispersed within the film; wherein the film demonstrates: an antimicrobial efficacy to Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli log reduction greater than 2.0, as determined by ISO 22196 (modified), and a slow rate puncture resistance greater than 1.5 N/?m as measured according to ASTM F1306.

Abstract: A polyamide composition comprising a base polyamide and an elastomer concentrate comprising: 20-80 wt % of an elastomeric aliphatic polyether having a molecular weight ranging from 400-4000 g/mol; and 80-20 wt % of a concentrate polyamide. The polyamide composition has particular uses as a cable tie and demonstrates improved cold-temperature applications while maintaining high strength, good flammability rating, and excellent processability.

Abstract: Provided herein are polymer films including a polyamide composition of PA6 and PA66/6. The provided films are particularly useful as packaging materials as they exhibit improved toughness, e.g., puncture and impact resistance, relative to that of conventional films that include only PA6 as a polyamide component. Also provided are methods for making the provided films, and articles that include the provided films.

Abstract: A polyamide composition comprising from 45 wt % to 95 wt % of polyamide polymer and from 5 wt % to 55 wt % of a modifier comprising a C18-44 dimer acid or a C18-44 dimer amine or a combination thereof. A number average molecular weight of the polyamide polymer is less than 30,000 g/mol. The polyamide composition has a chemical resistance, as measured by exposure to HCl (10%) for 14 days at 58° C., resulting in a weight loss of less than 3.0 wt %; and a moisture uptake of less than about 2.0 wt % moisture at 95% RH. A process for preparing the polyamide composition is also disclosed.

Abstract: Provided herein are polymer films including a polyamide composition of PA6 and PA66/6. The provided films are particularly useful as packaging materials as they exhibit improved toughness, e.g., puncture and impact resistance, relative to that of conventional films that include only PA6 as a polyamide component. Also provided are methods for making the provided films, and articles that include the provided films.

Abstract: This invention provides a technology for isolating nucleic acids from wax-embedded samples that is superior to the current state of the art. Standard protocols with this objective typically comprise dissolving the wax-embedded sample in an organic solvent, extracting nucleic acids from the organic solvent into an aqueous buffer, and isolating the nucleic acids from the aqueous buffer. The technology described here includes using hexadecane as the solvent to dissolve the sample, precipitating and washing the extracted nucleic acids, and dissolving the nucleic acids in a lysis buffer that includes NP40 and SDS. By implementing the reagents and techniques described in this disclosure, the user can obtain a product that has better yield, less degradation, and contains more unique mRNA transcripts for subsequent sequencing and analysis.

Abstract: Methods and reagents for detection and analysis of nucleic acids and proteins using proximity extension assays.

Abstract: This invention provides a technology for isolating nucleic acids from wax-embedded samples that is superior to the current state of the art. Standard protocols with this objective typically comprise dissolving the wax-embedded sample in an organic solvent, extracting nucleic acids from the organic solvent into an aqueous buffer, and isolating the nucleic acids from the aqueous buffer. The technology described here includes using hexadecane as the solvent to dissolve the sample, precipitating and washing the extracted nucleic acids, and dissolving the nucleic acids in a lysis buffer that includes NP40 and SDS. By implementing the reagents and techniques described in this disclosure, the user can obtain a product that has better yield, less degradation, and contains more unique mRNA transcripts for subsequent sequencing and analysis.

Abstract: A method of estimating a concentration of DNA molecules in a biological sample includes storing a number of a plurality of reaction sites in a memory and distributing the biological sample among the plurality of reaction sites. The method also includes determining a number of the plurality of reaction sites characterized by a presence of one or more of the DNA molecules and computing a portion of the plurality of reaction sites characterized by the presence of the one or more of the DNA molecules. The method further includes estimating the concentration of the DNA molecules as a function of the portion of the plurality of reaction sites and computing a confidence interval for the estimated concentration of DNA molecules.

Abstract: Methods and reagents for detection and analysis of nucleic acids and proteins using proximity extension assays.

Abstract: The present invention provides for determining relative copy number difference for one or more target nucleic acid sequences between a test sample and a reference sample or reference value derived therefrom. The methods facilitate the detection of copy number differences less than 1.5-fold.

Abstract: The present invention provides assay methods that increase the number of samples and/or target nucleic acids that can be analyzed in a single assay.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for selectively enriching a biological sample for short nucleic acids, such as fetal DNA in a maternal sample or apoptic DNA in a biological sample from a cancer patient and for subsequently analyzing the short nucleic acids for genotype, mutation, and/or aneuploidy.

Abstract: The present invention provides amplification-based methods for detection of genotype, mutations, and/or aneuploidy. These methods have broad applicability, but are particularly well-suited to detecting and quantifying target nucleic acids in free fetal DNA present in a maternal bodily fluid sample.

Abstract: A method of adjusting amplification curves in a PCR experiment includes receiving a plurality of amplification curves for a sample and computing a first parameter for each of the plurality of amplification curves. The method also includes computing a second parameter for each of the plurality of amplification curves and computing a third parameter using at least a portion of the first or second parameters. The method further includes computing an offset for each of the plurality of amplification curves. The offset is a function of the first parameter and the third parameter. Moreover, the method includes adjusting at least one of the plurality of amplification curves by subtracting the offset.

Abstract: The present invention provides assay methods that increase the number of samples and/or target nucleic acids that can be analyzed in a single assay. In certain embodiments, an assay method entails separately subjecting S samples to an encoding reaction that produces a set of T tagged target nucleotide sequences, each tagged target nucleotide sequence including a sample-specific nucleotide tag and a target nucleotide sequence. In some embodiments, an assay method entails separately subjecting S samples to an encoding reaction that produces a set of T tagged target nucleotide sequences, each tagged target nucleotide sequence including a first nucleotide tag linked to a target nucleotide sequence, which is linked to a second nucleotide tag. In either case, the tagged target nucleotide sequences from the S samples can be mixed to form an assay mixture and subsequently assayed.

Abstract: The present invention methods and systems for determining copy number variation of a target polynucleotide in a genome of a subject including amplification based techniques. Methods can include pre-amplification of the sample followed by distribution of sample and a plurality of reaction volumes, quantitative detection of a target polynucleotide and a reference polynucleotide, and analysis so as to determine the relative copy number of the target polynucleotide sequence in the genome of the subject.

Abstract: A method of adjusting amplification curves in a PCR experiment includes receiving a plurality of amplification curves for a sample and computing a first parameter for each of the plurality of amplification curves. The method also includes computing a second parameter for each of the plurality of amplification curves and computing a third parameter using at least a portion of the first or second parameters. The method further includes computing an offset for each of the plurality of amplification curves. The offset is a function of the first parameter and the third parameter. Moreover, the method includes adjusting at least one of the plurality of amplification curves by subtracting the offset.

Abstract: The present invention provides for determining relative copy number difference for one or more target nucleic acid sequences between a test sample and a reference sample or reference value derived therefrom. The methods facilitate the detection of copy number differences less than 1.5-fold.