Abstract: Provided are methods of engulfing particles into droplets. The methods use a microfluidic device comprising a droplet generator and a chamber, the chamber comprising a liquid medium disposed on a voltage supply electrode and a ground electrode. The methods comprise dispensing a particle and a droplet into the liquid medium, and dielectrophoretically trapping the particle and the droplet using the voltage supply electrode and the ground electrode. The methods further comprise engulfing the particle into the droplet, wherein the engulfing comprises increasing a supply voltage between the voltage supply electrode and the ground electrode, thereby moving the droplet toward the voltage supply electrode and engulfing the particle into the droplet. In certain embodiments, the methods further comprise modifying the engulfed particle, assessing the engulfed particle, or both. Devices that find use in practicing the methods of the present disclosure are also provided.

Abstract: A shower gripping accessory device is provided which may comprise an elongate cylindrical body having a plurality of terminal ends. The elongate cylindrical body may comprise an outer shell body and a cavity therein. The thickness value of the outer shell body may be substantially between one-quarter to one-half a radius value of the cavity. Further, a multilayered frictional surface substrate may be disposed over the outer shell body. The multilayered frictional surface substrate may comprise a flexible polymer base layer, one or more adhesive resin layers and a frictional material layer. The one or more adhesive resin layers may couple the frictional material layer to the flexible polymer base layer.

Abstract: A locking tool extension apparatus and painting tool assembly for preventing threaded tool handles from loosening on an extension pole includes a plurality of painting tools having a threaded female handle aperture. An extension pole has a threaded male pole end coupled to a pole top side. A locking tool extension apparatus comprises a sleeve body having a threaded female receiving. The female receiving aperture selectively receives the threaded male pole end of the extension pole. A threaded male extension end is coupled to the sleeve body. The male extension end is selectively engageable with the threaded female handle aperture of the tool handle. A first spring lock washer is coupled to the sleeve body. The first spring lock washer prevents the tool handle from unintentionally loosening on the male extension end.

Abstract: A shower gripping accessory device is provided which may comprise an elongate cylindrical body having a plurality of terminal ends. The elongate cylindrical body may comprise an outer shell body and a cavity therein. The thickness value of the outer shell body may be substantially between one-quarter to one-half a radius value of the cavity. Further, a multilayered frictional surface substrate may be disposed over the outer shell body. The multilayered frictional surface substrate may comprise a flexible polymer base layer, one or more adhesive resin layers and a frictional material layer. The one or more adhesive resin layers may couple the frictional material layer to the flexible polymer base layer.

Abstract: The present invention provides apparatus and methods for enriching components or cells from a sample and conducting genetic analysis, such as SNP genotyping to provide diagnostic results for fetal disorders or conditions.

Abstract: An interchangeable strap facade system for a bag is disclosed. The system includes a strap connected to the bag, a first portion of hook and loop fabric disposed on a first side of the strap; stitching located around a circumference of the first portion, wherein the stitching couples the first portion to the first side of the strap, a removable strap facade having an outward facing side and an inward facing side, wherein the outward facing side comprises a portion of fabric having a design and wherein the inward facing side comprises a second portion of hook and loop fabric, stitching located around a circumference of the second portion, wherein the stitching couples the second portion to the inward facing side of the façade, and wherein the second portion is coupled to the first portion so as to removably couple the strap with the facade.

Abstract: A method for producing a single stranded DNA (ssDNA) molecule of a defined length and sequence is disclosed. This method enables the preparation of, inter alia, probes of greater length than can be chemically synthesized. The method starts with a double stranded molecule, such as genomic, double stranded DNA (dsDNA) from any organism. A fragment of the starting molecule (dsDNA) is amplified by specific primers engineered to introduce cleavage sites on either side of the desired sequence. Cleavage steps on the amplified, engineered fragment are combined with a phosphate removal step, thereby creating a construct that can be digested with an exonuclease without damage to the desired ssDNA. Probes, which hybridize with large gaps between the ends of the probes, are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of determining the length of a polynucleotide target is provided. With this method, a target is first hybridized to an array of first probes having different, determined lengths, resulting in the formation of duplexes between the polynucleotide target and the first probes. These duplexes have a single stranded section of target if the target is longer than the first probe it is in a duplex with, and a single stranded section of probe if the target is shorter than the first probe it is in a duplex with. Next, a series of probes is hybridized to the duplexes, breaking apart duplexes in which the target and probe have unequal lengths through the process of branch migration. Thus, the target only remains bound in the duplex if the target and probe are of equal lengths. The length of the polynucleotide target can thereby be determined.

Abstract: The invention is directed to novel methods of multiplexing nucleic acid reactions, including amplification, detection and genotyping. The invention relies on the use of precircle probes that are circularized in the presence of the corresponding target nucleic acids, cleaved, and then amplified.

Abstract: The invention encompasses methods for enriching for and identifying a polymorphism within a nucleic acid sample either by separating a subset of a nucleic acid sample or by selectively replicating a subset of a nucleic acid sample such that the polymorphism is contained within a nucleic acid population with reduced complexity, and then identifying the polymorphism within the enriched nucleic acid sample.

Abstract: The invention encompasses methods for enriching for and identifying a polymorphism within a nucleic acid sample either by separating a subset of a nucleic acid sample or by selectively replicating a subset of a nucleic acid sample such that the polymorphism is contained within a nucleic acid population with reduced complexity, and then identifying the polymorphism within the enriched nucleic acid sample.

Abstract: The invention encompasses methods for enriching for and identifying a polymorphism within a nucleic acid sample either by separating a subset of a nucleic acid sample or by selectively replicating a subset of a nucleic acid sample such that the polymorphism is contained within a nucleic acid population with reduced complexity, and then identifying the polymorphism within the enriched nucleic acid sample.

Abstract: A DNA microarray, preferably in the form of a chip, contains probes which hybridize to generate primers capable of amplifying approximately 89 HPV types. These target the E1 region of the gene. The design of the chip allows for the detection of any known HPV type, based on a unique probe sequence derived from the HPV E1 region. The present assay utilizes a number of primers that can amplify from about one to six different types of HPV. A large number of primers can be used together. After amplification, the amplicons are contacted with specific probes that are unique for each HPV type. The array further employs a control sequence, which normalizes variability due to sample size.

Abstract: The invention is directed to novel methods of multiplexing nucleic acid reactions, including amplification, detection and genotyping. The invention relies on the use of precircle probes that are circularized in the presence of the corresponding target nucleic acids, cleaved, and then amplified.

Abstract: A method for monitoring a chemical component in an industrial water system comprises irradiating a liquid sample from an industrial water system, containing at least one chemical component to be monitored, with light from an excitation light source. Room temperature phosphorescence emitted from the sample is detected after irradiation. The concentration of the chemical component to be monitored is then calculated from the detected room temperature phosphorescence. The liquid sample includes at least one room temperature phosphorescent material (RTPM) and at least one heavy atom perturber (HAP) dissolved therein. The HAP is present in the sample at a concentration sufficient to induce phosphorescence activity in the RTPM. The liquid sample is irradiated in a manner sufficient to induce the RTPM within the sample to emit room temperature phosphorescence, and the calculated concentration of the chemical component to be monitored is a function of the room temperature phosphorescence intensity or temporal metric.

Abstract: An illumination system includes a plurality of radiation generating sources, such as LED dies. A corresponding plurality of optical waveguides is also provided, with each waveguide having a first and a second end, with each first end being in optical communication with the corresponding LED die. An array of corresponding passive optical elements is interposed between the plurality of LED dies and the corresponding first ends of the plurality of optical waveguides. The illumination system provides for substantially high light coupling efficiency and an incoherent light output that can appear to the human observer as arising from a single point of light. In addition, the light can be output remotely at one or more locations and in one or more directions.

Abstract: The present invention features methods and compositions for the renaturation, hybridization, association, or reassociation of nucleic acids that combines both acceleration of the reaction rate and improved specificity.

Abstract: A method of determining the length of a polynucleotide target is provided. With this method, a target is first hybridized to an array of first probes having different, determined lengths, resulting in the formation of duplexes between the polynucleotide target and the first probes. These duplexes have a single stranded section of target if the target is longer than the first probe it is in a duplex with. Next, a second probe having a determined length is hybridized to these duplexes. If the length of the target is greater than the length of the first probe it is displaced during this hybridization step by the process of branch migration. In contrast, if the length of the target is less than or equal to the length of the first probe, it is not displaced. Thus, the length of the polynucleotide target can be determined.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner includes a housing, a suction generator carried by the housing, a bag compartment and a bag cage. The bag compartment is defined by a bag compartment wall including an airflow inlet and an airflow outlet. The bag cage is received in the bag compartment. The bag cage defines a bag cavity that hold a filter bag in a position spaced from the bag compartment wall so as to maintain a clear airflow passage.

Abstract: The invention is directed to novel methods of multiplexing nucleic acid reactions, including amplification, detection and genotyping. The invention relies on the use of precircle probes that are circularized in the presence of the corresponding target nucleic acids, cleaved, and then amplified.