Abstract: A method for detecting a microorganism comprising reducing the complexity of a microbial genome or microbial nucleic acid by generating a simplified form of the microbial genome or microbial nucleic acid in which substantially all of the positions naturally occupied by cytosines are occupied by uracil or thymine; and assaying for a microbial specific nucleic acid in the simplified form of the microbial genome or microbial nucleic acid, wherein presence of the microbial specific nucleic acid is indicative of the microorganism.

Abstract: Use of a non-natural base with an enzyme capable of degrading a nucleic acid containing a non-natural base in an amplification reaction to eliminate carry-over contaminants in the amplification reaction.

Abstract: A method for determining the methylation status of a potential methylation site in genomic nucleic acid comprising treating genomic nucleic acid with an agent which modifies cytosine bases but does not modify 5methyl-cytosine bases under conditions to form a.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of enzymes for copying or amplifying bisulphite modified or treated nucleic acids, wherein the enzymes are more effective in copying or amplifying the nucleic acid compared with native Taq polymerase under substantially the same conditions.

Abstract: A method for simplification of a microbial genome or microbial nucleic acid comprising treating microbial genome or nucleic acid with an agent that modifies cytosine to form derivative microbial nucleic acid and amplifying the derivative microbial nucleic acid to produce a simplified form of the microbial genome or nucleic acid.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for bisulphite treating RNA comprising reacting RNA with a bisulphite reagent at 50-90° C. for 5-180 minutes so as to form treated RNA and recovering the treated RNA.

Abstract: An amplification blocker comprising an intercalating nucleic acid (INA) containing two or more internal intercalating pseudonucleotides (IPNs) capable of blocking or reducing nucleic acid amplification. Use of the amplification blocker to block or reduce nucleic acid amplification.

Abstract: A method for whole genome amplification comprising (a) treating genomic DNA with a modifying agent which modifies cytosine bases but does not modify 5?-methyl-cytosine bases under conditions to form single stranded modified DNA; (b) providing a population of random X-mers of exonuclease-resistant primers capable of binding to at least one strand of the modified DNA, wherein X is an integer 3 or greater; (c) providing polymerase capable of amplifying double stranded DNA, together with nucleotides and optionally any suitable buffers or diluents to the modified DNA; and (d) allowing the polymerase to amplify the modified DNA.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method for isothermal DNA amplification comprising providing to the DNA to be amplified an amplification mix comprising a first primer at least partially complementary to a region of DNA and containing a non-regular base, a second primer at least partially complementary to a region of DNA and containing a non-regular base, a DNA polymerase, an enzyme capable of strand displacement, an enzyme that recognises a non-regular base in double-stranded DNA and causes a nick or excises a base in one DNA strand at or near the non-regular base; and amplifying the DNA substantially without thermal cycling.

Abstract: An assay for gene expression comprising treating RNA with an agent such as bisulphate that substantially removes secondary structure of the RNA; and measuring the presence or amount of treated RNA so as to obtain an indication of gene expression. The invention also includes use of oligonucleotide, PNA, LNA or INA probes in the assay.

Abstract: The invention relates to an assay for determining a health state of a subject using a combination of detecting the presence of a virus and detecting the presence of a genomic target or marker indicative of a health state.

Abstract: Damping systems and engines including the damping systems are provided. In one embodiment, and by way of example only, the damping system includes a rotor, a bearing assembly mounted to the rotor, a spring cage disposed around the bearing assembly, an axially-extending housing surrounding the spring cage, a first squeeze film damper formed between the bearing assembly and the spring cage, and a second squeeze film damper formed between the spring cage and the axially-extending housing.

Abstract: Methods for treating nucleic acid including: (a) providing an alkali environment to a nucleic acid sample; (b) reacting the nucleic acid sample with a bisulphite reagent and incubating the reaction so as to form a treated nucleic acid sample where methylated nucleotides in the nucleic acid sample remain unchanged while unmethylated nucleotides are converted to another form; (c) removing unwanted reagents or diluents from the treated nucleic acid sample; and (d) carrying out de-sulphonation of the precipitated treated nucleic acid at a temperature from 70° C. to 95° C. by adjusting the precipitated treated nucleic acid to a pH of between 10 and less than 12.5 to remove sulphonate groups present on the treated nucleic acid and obtain a nucleic acid sample substantially free of sulphonate groups.

Abstract: An amplification blocker comprising an intercalating nucleic acid (INA) containing two or more internal intercalating pseudonucleotides (IPNs) capable of blocking or reducing nucleic acid amplification. Use of the amplification blocker to block or reduce nucleic acid amplification.

Abstract: A method for simplification of a microbial genome or microbial nucleic acid comprising treating microbial genome or nucleic acid with an agent that modifies cytosine to form derivative microbial nucleic acid and amplifying the derivative microbial nucleic acid to produce a simplified form of the microbial genome or nucleic acid.

Abstract: An assay for detecting HPV comprising treating the viral nucleic acid with an agent that modifies cytosine to form derivative viral nucleic acid, amplifying at least a part of the derivative viral nucleic acid to form an HPV-specific nucleic acid molecule, and looking for the presence of an HPV-specific nucleic acid molecule, wherein detection of the HPV-specific nucleic acid molecule is indicative HPV.

Abstract: The invention provides methods for treating methylated nucleic acids. In one embodiment, the method can include the steps of (a) providing an alkali environment to a nucleic acid sample; (b) reacting the nucleic acid sample with a bisulphite reagent and incubating the reaction so as to form a treated nucleic acid sample where methylated nucleotides in the nucleic acid sample remain unchanged while unmethylated nucleotides are converted to another form; (c) diluting the treated nucleic acid sample so as to reduce salt concentration to a level which will not substantially interfere with a nucleic acid precipitating step; (d) precipitating the diluted treated nucleic acid to substantially remove any unwanted reagents or diluents from treated nucleic acid; and (e) carrying out de-sulphonation of the precipitated treated nucleic acid so as to remove sulphonate groups present on the treated nucleic acid so as to obtain a nucleic acid sample substantially free of sulphonate groups.

Abstract: The casing cutter disclosed herein is useful for severing downhole tubulars and comprises a body, slips, a cutting head, cutting blades, and actuators for operating the cutting head and cutting blades. The casing cutter can be anchored within casing wellbore with the slips to provide anchoring support during the cutting operation. Cutting is accomplished by rotatingly actuating the cutting head with an associated motor, and then radially extending the cutting blades away from the cutting head. The cutting blades are actuated by a hydraulic motor operatively coupled to the cutting blades by a series of gears.

Abstract: Providing a systematic and comprehensive mechanism for applying echo cancellation within a telecommunication switching system by a local switching system such as a PBX. Echo cancellation circuits are deployed throughout the telecommunication switching system using different types of echo cancellation circuits with each type having different capabilities with respect to a time offset of an echo return signal relative to when an voice signal was generated by a talker. The echo cancellation circuits deployed within the local telecommunication switch are an integral part of trunk circuits and provide the largest time offset. Further, the echo cancellation circuits deployed within in the local telecommunication switch are capable of controlling echoes in either direction with respect to the integral trunk circuit and may be used as service circuits if not needed by the integral trunk circuit.

Abstract: A casing inspection device with magnets and a multi-component flux sensors. The multicomponent sensor enables better definition of the size of defects, particularly in the azimuthal direction.