Abstract: The invention relates to methods for capturing a polynucleotide comprising a DNA target segment from a population of polynucleotide molecules. The method may use a mixture comprising the population of the polynucleotide molecules, one or more polynucleotide primers, nucleotides, biotinylated nucleotides, a polymerase enzyme and a buffered liquid medium. The method may denature the polynucleotide molecules in the mixture so as to create single stranded portions of the polynucleotide molecules which can be accessible to the polynucleotide primers; hybridizing the polynucleotide primers to the polynucleotide comprising the DNA target segment. The method may create an extended polynucleotide primer by using the nucleotides, the biotinylated nucleotides and the polymerase enzyme as a means for labeling with biotin and increasing the extent of hybridization of the extended polynucleotide primer to the polynucleotide comprising the DNA target segment.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods for capturing a polynucleotide comprising a DNA target segment from a population of polynucleotide molecules using a rotation of a magnetic field to move streptavidin-labeled magnetic beads relative to a buffered liquid medium to increase the probability of capturing and preventing damage to a long polynucleotide comprising a DNA target segment. The methods may use a rotation of the magnetic field relative to the mixture or a rotation of the mixture relative to the magnetic field for causing magnetic bead rotation in the buffered liquid medium and increasing the binding of biotinylated nucleotides of an extended polynucleotide primer to streptavidin-labeled magnetic beads, and winding or condensation of a polynucleotide onto the streptavidin-labeled magnetic beads to prevent damage to the long polynucleotide comprising a DNA target segment.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods for capturing a polynucleotide comprising a DNA target segment from a population of polynucleotide molecules. The method may use a mixture comprising the population of the polynucleotide molecules, one or more polynucleotide primers, nucleotides, biotinylated nucleotides, a polymerase enzyme and a buffered liquid medium. The method may denature the polynucleotide molecules in the mixture so as to create single stranded portions of the polynucleotide molecules which can be accessible to the polynucleotide primers; hybridizing the polynucleotide primers to the polynucleotide comprising the DNA target segment. The method may create an extended polynucleotide primer by using the nucleotides, the biotinylated nucleotides and the polymerase enzyme as a means for labeling with biotin and increasing the extent of hybridization of the extended polynucleotide primer to the polynucleotide comprising the DNA target segment.

Abstract: A holder and apparatus for terahertz imaging and/or spectroscopy of beads, particles or microparticles, and methods for terahertz imaging and/or spectroscopy of beads, particles or microparticles and making the holder are disclosed. The holder includes a tray having a substantially planar upper surface, and one or more offsets above or below the substantially planar upper surface. Each offset is configured to hold one of the beads, particles or microparticles, and has a height or depth configured to minimize or eliminate interference between reflections of the terahertz radiation from the tray and reflections of the terahertz radiation from the bead, particle or microparticle in or on the offset.

Abstract: A holder and apparatus for terahertz imaging and/or spectroscopy of beads, particles or microparticles, and methods for terahertz imaging and/or spectroscopy of beads, particles or microparticles and making the holder are disclosed. The holder includes a tray having a substantially planar upper surface, and one or more offsets above or below the substantially planar upper surface. Each offset is configured to hold one of the beads, particles or microparticles, and has a height or depth configured to minimize or eliminate interference between reflections of the terahertz radiation from the tray and reflections of the terahertz radiation from the bead, particle or microparticle in or on the offset.

Abstract: Image quality is assessed for a digital image that is a composite of tiles or other image segments, especially focus accuracy for a microscopic pathology sample. An algorithm or combination of algorithms correlated to image quality is applied to pixel data at margins where adjacent image segments overlap and thus contain the same content in separately acquired images. The margins may be edges merged to join the image segments smoothly into a composite image, and typically occur on four sides of the image segments. The two versions of the same image content at each margin are processed by the quality algorithm, producing two assessment values. A sign and difference value are compared with other image segments, including by subsets selected for the orientation of the margins on sides on the image segments. The differences are mapped to displays. Selection criteria determine segments to be re-acquired.

Abstract: Digital image quality is assessed, especially focus accuracy for a microscopic pathology sample image, using quality assessment criteria that differ among zones distinguished by a structural classification process. An image or area is divided into sub-regions such as adjacent pixel blocks. At least one metric or algorithm is applied, such as a Brenner gradient correlated with focus quality or a Laplacian transform correlated with structural difference. Spatial zones are distinguished by associating blocks of pixels that produced comparable values from the metric. The quality results of an objective metric such as the Brenner gradient are graded separately using statistical or pass/fail grading criteria in each spatial zone, independent of other zones. Focus quality across the image is mapped for display and/or used to queue a re-imaging step.

Abstract: Image quality is assessed for a digital image that is a composite of tiles or other image segments, especially focus accuracy for a microscopic pathology sample. An algorithm or combination of algorithms correlated to image quality is applied to pixel data at margins where adjacent image segments overlap and thus contain the same content in separately acquired images. The margins may be edges merged to join the image segments smoothly into a composite image, and typically occur on four sides of the image segments. The two versions of the same image content at each margin are processed by the quality algorithm, producing two assessment values. A sign and difference value are compared with other image segments, including by subsets selected for the orientation of the margins on sides on the image segments. The differences are mapped to displays. Selection criteria determine segments to be re-acquired.