Abstract: A buffer system for conducting discontinuous polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis comprises a separation gel buffer solution, an anodic electrode solution and a cathodic electrode solution. According to the invention, the separation gel buffer contains a base having a pK value of 8.8 or higher and an acid which titrates the pH of the gel buffer to a pH value lower than 8, and the cathodic electrode solution contains an ampholyte or weak acid having a pK value of 9.4 or higher.

Abstract: An access valve suitable for controlling fluid flow into and out of a chromatography column has a central axially movable probe with a head (71) acting as a spool valve in a barrel (6). Axial movement of the probe adjusts the valve between a fully open condition, in which both a first conduit (73) extending through the probe and a second conduit (51) defined around the probe are open to the column interior, a partly open condition in which a second sealing land (76) on the probe closes the second conduit (51), and a fully closed position in which both conduits are closed. The three positions are useful for packing and unpacking chromatography media into and from the column. In the closed condition of the valve, the first and second conduits (73, 51) communicate with one another so that the valve interior can be cleaned while the column is operating.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a cassette chemical immobilization and treatment system and method for enabling the performance of various complex chemistries with minimal human intervention, near-zero dead volume, and flow-through protocols pursuant to a predetermined instruction set encoded on a multiple-address chemical treatment cassette assembly. The cassette assembly having a high-pressure interface capability to permit direct insertion of the mini-column into a high-pressure solvent line for use as a support column for HPLC analysis. A sample loader loads analyte samples either singly or simultaneously into the multiple, addressable mini-columns without the need to load the sample funnel/column assembly into a separate reaction chamber.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the removal of polyphenols and proteins simultaneously from a beverage by contacting the beverage with an ion exchanger that is capable of adsorbing both types of substances. The characteristic feature of the ion exchanger to be used is that it is a water-insoluble porous hydrophilic matrix to which ion exchanging groups are covalently bound.

Abstract: The present invention is drawn to an apparatus for continuously measuring physical and chemical parameters in a fluid cell comprising a single flow cell having a fluid interface for conducting the fluid through the flow cell, an electrical interface connected to at least one first means provided in the flow cell wall for measuring at least one first parameter of the fluid in the flow cell, and an optical interface for transmitting light into the flow cell and for receiving light from the flow cell to measure at least one second parameter of the fluid in the flow cell.

Abstract: A method for binding albumin by contacting an aqueous liquid containing an albumin with an albumin-binding compound is selected from albumin-binding compounds containing the scaffold --CO--NH--C(.dbd.C--)--CO--, and conjugates that are capable of binding albumin and exhibiting the scaffold --CO--NH--C(.dbd.C--)--CO--.

Abstract: A method for the manufacture of a microstructure having a top face and a bottom face, at least one hole or cavity therein extending from the top face to the bottom face, and a polymer membrane which extends over a bottom opening of said hole or cavity, which method comprises the steps of: providing a substrate body having said top and bottom faces, optionally forming at least part of said at least one hole or cavity in the substrate body, providing a membrane support at the bottom face opening of said at least one hole or cavity, depositing a layer of polymer material onto the bottom face of said substrate body against said membrane support, if required, completing the formation of the at least one hole or cavity, and, if not done in this step, selectively removing said membrane support to bare said polymer membrane over the bottom opening of the at least one hole or cavity.

Abstract: A gel electrophoresis apparatus for receiving a gel cassette is adapted to receive the gel cassette inclined to such an extent that the upper edge of the gel can be seen at an angle from above through the liquid surface in the upper buffer container.

Abstract: An access valve suitable for controlling fluid flow into and out of a chromatography column has relatively movable valve elements preferably represented by a central axially movable probe with a head acting as a spool valve in a barrel. Axial movement of the probe adjusts the valve between a fully open condition, in which both a first conduit extending through the probe and a second conduit defined around the probe are open to the column interior, and a partly open condition in which a sealing component of the probe closes the second conduit. Also, further axial movement of the probe provides a fully closed position in which both conduits are closed. The partly open position is useful for packing chromatography media into its column while the third position is useful for unpacking the same. In the closed condition of the valve, the first and second conduits communicate with one another so that the valve interior can be cleaned while the column is operating.

Abstract: A method of producing open porous spherical particles by polymerizing monovinyl monomers and divinyl monomers and/or polyvinyl monomers (cross-linkers) in an emulsion with the aid of an initiator. The method is characterized by the steps of (i) preparing a w/o/w emulsion which comprises an aqueous phase having emulsified therein droplets which contain a water-in-oil emulsion, wherein the oil phase in the droplets includes vinyl monomers and an emulsifier which provides an inverse emulsion and the droplets have a diameter smaller than 2,000 .mu.m, and wherein the total amount of water is between 75-99% (w/w); and (ii) thereafter initiating polymerization and isolating the particles, optionally after sieving, from the reaction mixture after the polymerization process. A population of open spherical porous polymer particles which have a diameter within the range of 50 .mu.m-2,000 .mu.

Abstract: A method for purifying a plant protein comprises: (a) preparing a crude plant extract; (b) passing the crude plant extract with a first buffer solution through a guard column comprising a hydrophobic interaction chromatography medium of hydrophobicity sufficiently high to prevent tannins and polyphenols from eluting from the column in the presence of the buffer solution, but sufficiently low that a protein fraction elutes with the first buffer solution; (c) passing the protein fraction through a capture column coupled in series to the guard column, the capture column comprising a hydrophobic interaction chromatography medium of hydrophobicity sufficiently high to prevent the protein from eluting in the presence of the buffer solution; and (d) eluting the protein from the capture column as a purified fraction. Preferably the plant is miracle fruit, the protein is Miraculin, and the method comprises ion exchange chromatography and gel filtration chromatography of the purified fraction of the protein.

Abstract: A filter well of plastic having a bottom portion with an outlet and supporting a filter provided on top of the outlet, which filter is well sealed against leakage of liquid, is produced by first forming a bottom portion having a supporting surface for the filter and an outlet opening. Thereafter, a filter is applied on the bottom portion so that it covers at least essentially the whole bottom portion. Then, the cylindrical wall portion of the filter well is formed against the bottom portion with the lower part of the wall portion surrounding the edge of the filter and the upper edge of the bottom portion so that the bottom and wall portions form a fused unit with the outer edge of the filter being fused into the filter well material.

Abstract: A system for processing biomolecules comprising, a plurality of manifolds, each manifold having a holder portion and a number of peg members extending therefrom, a plurality of plate or strip means, each supporting a number of wells adapted to receive the manifold peg members, a processing device which comprises several processing units in the form of at least one heating plate unit adapted to receive the well plate or strip means for heating the wells thereof, at least one wash unit having a plurality of wash wells, each wash well being adapted to receive one or more manifold peg members and having at least one inlet and at least one outlet for wash liquid, and a holder device for holding a plurality of manifolds during processing in and transfer between different units of the processing device.

Abstract: Method for electrophoretic separation of nucleic acid fragments comprising the following steps:a) providing a polyacrylamide based gel prepared by photoinitiated polymerization of a mixture containing monoolefinic- and di- and/or polyolefinic monomers and a photoinitiator of the general formula: ##STR1## where R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 independently are CH.sub.3, C.sub.2 H.sub.5 or C.sub.3 H.sub.7 or R.sub.1, R.sub.2 together with the carbon atom form a cycloaliphatic ring with 4-8 carbons;R.sub.3 =H, CH.sub.3, C.sub.2 H.sub.5 or --O--(CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2).sub.n --OH with n=1-20;b) applying said nucleic acid fragments on said polyacrylamide based gel;c) electrophoretically separating said fragments on said gel. The invention also relates to a kit for use in the method for electrophoretic separation of nucleic acid fragments.

Abstract: An instrument panel for co-operation with a microprocessor storing selectable functions and selectable numerical information, comprises a knob (2'), a first switch (3'), an alphanumerical indicator (1'), and a second switch (4'). The knob (2') is rotatable to, in a first operating mode of the microprocessor, select a desired function and, in a second operating mode, selected the desired numerical information. By means of the first switch (3'), the selected function is accepted, the microprocessor is transferred to the second operating mode, the selected numerical information is accepted, and the microprocessor is returned to the first operating mode. The alphanumerical indicator (1') displays both the selected functions and the alphanurnerical information. By means of the second switch (4'), a selection is discarded and the microprocessor is returned to the first operating mode.

Abstract: Method for the purification of a synthetic oligonucleotide from failure sequences comprising contacting a sample containing the desired oligonucleotide in protected water-soluble form with a hydrophilic adsorbent exhibiting anion exchange groups under conditions permitting binding of said oligonucleotide to said adsorbent, whereafter the adsorbed oligonucleotide is deprotected and separated from failure sequences. The characteristic feature of the method is to use an anion exchange adsorbent that binds the protected oligonucleotide under conditions of high as well as low ionic strength.

Abstract: In a filter well having an inlet portion and an outlet portion and a filter arranged between these, the filter is carried by a support surface having a number of flow channels, extending radially towards an outlet. The ridges between the flow channels have a width of not more than about 0.2 mm whereby essentially the entire upper surface of the filter becomes active at filtration. The filter well is formed by forming of plastic in a forming device, whereby the flow channel pattern in the support surface for the filter is formed by a forming part in the forming device, wherein a negative corresponding to the flow channel pattern has been made in the surface of the forming part by a photolithographic etching process or by laser machining.

Abstract: A liquid chromatography column including a chromatographic matrix, liquid flow inlet means and liquid flow outlet means, and a distributor located adjacent the inlet and functioning to distribute the incoming liquid. The column includes a matrix is that is monolithic and porous; and in that when eluant passes through the matrix a liquid accommodating gap which is devoid of matrix material is present between the matrix and the distributor.

Abstract: A method for hydrophilizing a hydrophobic plastic surface which exhibits a hydrophobic polymer that has hydrogens that bind to sp.sup.3 -hybridized carbon atoms, characterized by the steps of: (i) contacting the plastic surface with a liquid having dissolved therein (a) a hydrogen-abstracting UV-initiator and (b) a hydrophilic polymer which has one or more alkene groups; and (ii) irradiating the solution with UV light which activates the initiator.

Abstract: A liquid chromatographic system comprises at least two modules, at least one fluid flow line, and at least two connector devices provided along the flow line and respectively connecting the modules to the flow line. One of the two modules comprises a separation module and the other of the two modules comprises an ancillary module having a non-separation function. Each of the two modules includes at least one end connector fit into the respective connector device, and each end connector is adapted to interchangeably fit into either connector device.