Abstract: Compositions and methods are provided for simple, instrument-free and sensitive methods that enable rapid, point-of-care detection of nucleic acid molecules of interest. This is based on a surprising discovery that the relative efficiencies of amplification and CRISPR-based cleavage and detection can be tuned to favor amplification until sufficient amplified products are generated to enable detection. Example approaches include design of guide RNA and primers to target nonoptimal PAM sequences, or sequence-engineering Cas nucleases to reduce activities informing a ribonucleoprotein with the guide RNA or binding to or cleaving the substrate nucleic acid.

Abstract: Systems and methods for synchronizing data between an online data source and a client application. The method includes, in response to a change in a permission associated with a user to a protected data set included in a shared data space of the online data source, receiving, with the client application associated with the user, a protected data synchronization token issued by the online data source associated with the protected data set and downloading, with the client application, the protected data set included in the shared data space from the online data source to the client application using the protected data synchronization token without re-downloading a public data set included in the shared data space. After downloading the protected data set, the method includes synchronizing the shared data space, including the protected data set and the public data set, using a stored data space synchronization token.

Abstract: Systems and methods for synchronizing data between an online data source and a client application. The method includes, in response to a change in a permission associated with a user to a protected data set included in a shared data space of the online data source, receiving, with the client application associated with the user, a protected data synchronization token issued by the online data source associated with the protected data set and downloading, with the client application, the protected data set included in the shared data space from the online data source to the client application using the protected data synchronization token without re-downloading a public data set included in the shared data space. After downloading the protected data set, the method includes synchronizing the shared data space, including the protected data set and the public data set, using a stored data space synchronization token.

Abstract: There is provided a method and apparatus for authenticating user equipment access to a device over a communications network. The method comprises: sending a first message to the user equipment, the first message requesting the user to power off the device; detecting that the device is not available; sending a second message to the user equipment, the second message requesting that the user power on the device; detecting that the device is available; and if both detections are positive, then authenticating user equipment access to the device.