Abstract: Provided herein, among other things, is an assembly consisting of a tissue cassette or slide and an affixed transponder.

Abstract: Provided is a method of synthesis comprising: (I) providing separate reaction sequences to TABs; (II) utilizing reaction vessels configured to react a separate combinatorial building block with a moiety on a surface of a TAB; and (III) operating one or more TAB sorters comprising a TAB reader, a sorting tree comprising valves or switches and sorting nodes, and a monitor configured to detect TAB location, wherein the operating comprises serially conducting: (a) reacting distinct combinatorial building blocks in the reaction chambers with surfaces of TABs distributed in the reaction chambers; (b) operating a controller to operate the TAB sorters to segregate the TABs to allocations appropriate for the next assigned reaction, the operating including recycling TABs with ambiguous identity back through the sorter; and (c) repeating steps (a) and (b) as needed to complete 30% or more of the assigned sequences.

Abstract: Provided herein, among other things, is an assembly comprising a pin or a piece of jewelry and a transponder affixed thereto. The transponder can be a very small, light-triggered transponder (“MTP”).

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel assay that allows high-throughput screening of chemical compounds for the inhibition of binding between EF-Tu and tRNA.

Abstract: Provided, among other things, is a multiplex assay comprising: conducting a fluorescence-developing assay on microtabs having at least one surface that shows plasmonic enhancement, wherein a plurality of the microtabs have unique probes affixed to their plasmonically enhanced surfaces; and measuring the fluorescence associated with the substrates and identifying the correlated probe by for the microtab. The microtabs can be, for example, MTPs that send a unique identifier, and the correlated probe can be identified by querying the MTPs for their identifier.

Abstract: Provided among other things is an analyzer for use with tabs placed in a vessel comprising: a stochastic sampling device adapted to receive the vessel; a light beam source adapted to enter the moving vessel and selectively illuminate tabs; an analytical signal receiver adapted to receive a signal indicative of an analytical process occurring on the surface of the tab as the tab is selectively illuminated; a tab ID receiver adapted to collect ID data from the tabs in coordination with their selective illumination; and a controller for associating identified tabs with analytical signals.

Abstract: Provided, among other things, is a multiplex assay comprising: conducting a fluorescence-developing assay on microtabs having at least one surface that shows plasmonic enhancement, wherein a plurality of the microtabs have unique probes affixed to their plasmonically enhanced surfaces; and measuring the fluorescence associated with the substrates and identifying the correlated probe by for the microtab. The microtabs can be, for example, MTPs that send a unique identifier, and the correlated probe can be identified by querying the MTPs for their identifier.

Abstract: Provided are methods and apparatus including an injector system adapted for injecting a microchip comprising: an inserter comprising a rod or tube having a proximal and distal end and having a point at the distal end that defines a skin-piercing side of the inserter; a means for engaging the microchip near the distal end of the inserter, but removed in the proximal direction from the distal tip of the inserter, which means prevents rotation of an engaged microchip in two or three axes of rotation; and means for releasing the microchip from the inserter once the inserter has been inserted into a perforatable substrate.

Abstract: Provided is an assay method for acquiring sequence information about a single ribonucleic acid, the method comprising: (A) contacting components including a ribosomal particle comprising a ribosome and the ribonucleic acid with a complex comprising moieties that are aa1-tRNA, EF-Tu and GTP or a functional analog, wherein at least one said moiety is labeled with a fluorescent molecule, wherein aa1-tRNA is a tRNA for first amino acid aa1; (B) providing, in conjunction with the contacted components, a ribosomal translation component mixture; (C) generating a fluorescent signal from a labeled moiety in correlation with the incorporation of aa1 into protein and the labeled moiety is thereby separated from the complex; and (D) detecting the signal to provide sequence information about the ribonucleic acid.

Abstract: Provided are methods and apparatus including an injector system adapted for injecting a microchip comprising: an inserter comprising a rod or tube having a proximal and distal end and having a point at the distal end that defines a skin-piercing side of the inserter; a means for engaging the microchip near the distal end of the inserter, but removed in the proximal direction from the distal tip of the inserter, which means prevents rotation of an engaged microchip in two or three axes of rotation; and means for releasing the microchip from the inserter once the inserter has been inserted into a perforatable substrate.

Abstract: The present invention provides peptides that bind to the active site of the growth hormone receptor. The present invention also provides methods of using these peptides to identify small organic molecules, which are novel agonists or antagonists of the growth hormone receptor. In addition, the present invention provides kits and therapeutic compositions comprising the peptides that bind to growth hormone receptor.

Abstract: An assay method for acquiring sequence information about a single nucleic acid molecule is provided. Probes and kits are also provided for practicing the method of the invention.

Abstract: Disclosed are materials and methods for detecting biomolecules in samples employing transponders associated with the bead(s) used as the solid phase in the assay, and information pertinent to the assay is encoded on the transponders memory elements. A dedicated read/write device is used remotely to encode or remotely to read the information. The invention can be used in direct or competitive ELISA-type assays, or in multiplex assays for the simultaneous assay of several analytes.

Abstract: A method is described for determining the sequence of nucleic acids. The method employs small solid phase particles having transponders, with a primary layer of an oligonucleotide of known sequence attached to the outer surface of the particle. A read/write scanner device is used to encode and decode data on the transponder. The stored data includes the sequence of the oligonucleotide immobilized on the transponder. The sequence of sample nucleic acids is determined by detecting annealing to an oligonucleotide bound to a particle, followed by decoding the transponder to determine the sequence of the oligonucleotide.

Abstract: An identification system having a light source, an identifiable object and a receiver. The identifiable object having one or more photo-activated microtransponders operatively connected to an article. The photo-activated microtransponders are operative to transmit one or more output signals to the receiver in response to one or more light signals from the light source.

Abstract: A microtransponder sensing system having a light source and receiver device. The light source provides a light signal that is positioned with the receiver device and in relation to a microtransponder. The microtransponder transmits an output signal in response to the light signal. The receiver device receives the output signal.

Abstract: Materials and methods are disclosed for identifying chemical compounds having desired binding properties towards a binding partner of pharmaceutical interest. The method employs transponders associated with the solid phase material used in the assay and a scanner to encode and decode data stored electronically on the transponder. The data stored on the transponder identifies the monomeric building blocks added during the synthesis. The structural identification of synthesized compounds bound to the solid phase is done by decoding the transponder.

Abstract: Disclosed are materials and methods for practicing combinatorial protein synthesis based on ribosomal frameshifting. The genes, encoding the proteins to be synthesized, are constructed by assembly of several double-stranded DNA fragments and are cloned into bacteria. The genes include interspersed frameshifting sequences. Proteins are made in the cell by translating nucleotide sequences in a combinatorial mode. The invention can be used for the selection of new, modified or improved proteins.

Abstract: Materials and methods are disclosed for identifying chemical compounds having desired binding properties towards a binding partner of pharmaceutical interest. The method employs transponders associated with the solid phase material used in the assay and a scanner to encode and decode data stored electronically on the transponder. The data stored on the transponder identifies the monomeric building blocks added during the synthesis. The structural identification of synthesized compounds bound to the solid phase is done by decoding the transponder.

Abstract: Disclosed are materials and methods for detecting biomolecules in samples employing transponders associated with the bead(s) used as the solid phase in the assay, and information pertinent to the assay is encoded on the transponders memory elements. A dedicated read/write device is used remotely to encode or remotely to read the information. The invention can be used in direct or competitive ELISA-type assays, or in multiplex assays for the simultaneous assay of several analytes.