Abstract: A capillary mixing device, comprising a liquid impervious housing; an interior space in the housing comprising a chamber in the housing having capillary spacing in one dimension and non-capillary spacing in other dimensions; and a plurality of magnetic or magnetically inducible particles in the chamber. The chamber is normally accessed through one or more capillary passageways leading to a surface of the housing and is adapted to be retained by a magnetic device that comprises means for generating a moving magnetic field and means for retaining the chamber device in an orientation so that the magnetic field has a field vector that intersects the capillary chamber perpendicular to the dimension having capillary spacing.

Abstract: An electrolyte composition for a solid state electrochemical cell comprising at least 65% by weight of a plasticizer, a thermoplastic or thermoset polymer derived from monomers containing a heteroatom and a dissolved alkali metal salt; this composition is useful in providing electrolyte layers less than 100 microns thick for solid state electrochemical cells having a very thin construction.

Abstract: Purified virus particles, antigens, antibodies reactive with viral antigens, and a viral genetic material associated with non-A, non-B hepatitis are provided by the present invention. Cloned genetic material useful both in identifying intact virus particles of the invention and for use in diagnostic techniques and/or production of antigens is also disclosed.

Abstract: The subject of the present invention is a nucleic acid probe containing a nucleic acid sequence, wherein the said sequence is linked at its 5' end, via a divalent bifunctional chemical "arm" L, to a "labeling component" M, M being a synthetic or natural molecule which is directly or indirectly detectable in a non-isotopic manner, according to the formula I: ##STR1## in which J=H or OHn denotes the number of nucleotides from 1 to 100,000B is a purine or pyrimidine nucleic acid base, which varies according to the nucleotide, as appropriate.The subject of the invention is also a process for preparing such probes, employing an intermediate compound consisting of a nucleotide synthon of formula IV ##STR2## in which J, B, L and R.sub.1 have the meanings given above, B optionally being protected,R.sub.2 denotes H or any phosphorylated group, optionally protected, suited to the introduction of the compound of formula IV at the 5' end of another nucleotide, for a given type of internucleotide-assembling synthesis.

Abstract: Genetic material encoding the P22 peptide of Toxoplasma gondii has been isolated and characterized. This genetic material allows the production of peptides for use in diagnosis or immunization or can itself be directly used in hybridization assays.

Abstract: A human serine protease expressed in cytotoxic killer cells, having a mass of about 25.8kD, and having the amino acid residues of the serine protease charge-relay catalytic mechanism conserved is provided. The protease can be produced by recombinant DNA technology. The cDNA is also provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to ars sequences which are efficacious in Yarrowia lipolytica, as well as to plasmids carrying these sequences.The strains of Y. lipolytica transformed with the said plasmids may be used in fermentation processes enabling proteins of industrial importance to be prepared.

Abstract: Novel assays employing enzyme fragments which complex to form an active enzyme are provided. The reagents involved are a member of a specific binding pair bound to a solid surface, a first enzyme fragment conjugated to a member of a specific binding pair complementary or cross-reactive in relation to the analyte or antianalyte and a second enzyme fragment which binds to the conjugate to form an active enzyme, where the first enzyme fragment conjugate may be present in up to substantial excess to ensure at least substantially complete binding of all of the analyte. By distributing the conjugate between the solid surface and the medium in relation to the amount of analyte present, the enzyme activity may be determined in relation to the amount of analyte present, without separating the solid surface and the medium.

Abstract: Enzyme-donor fragments and other unstructured peptides are stabilized against proteolytic degradation by including a mixture of soluble, random-sequence peptides in the assay medium or in the medium in which the enzyme-donor fragment or other peptide is stored.

Abstract: Novel methods and devices are provided involving at least one chamber, at least one capillary, and at least one reagent involved in a system providing for a detectable signal. As appropriate, the devices provide for measuring a sample, mixing the sample with reagents, defining a flow path, and reading the result. Of particular interest is the use of combinations of specific binding pair members which result in agglutination information, where the resulting agglutination particles may provide for changes in flow rate, light patterns of a flowing medium, or light absorption or scattering. A fabrication technique particularly suited for forming internal chambers in plastic devices is also described along with various control devices for use with the basic device.

Abstract: An apparatus for killing insects in produce, which comprises an outer container; means for dividing a space enclosed by the outer container into first and second internal chambers; means for supporting a plurality of bulk produce bins in the first internal chamber; first and second air passage means for selectively allowing passage of air between the first internal chamber and the second internal chamber; means for circulating air in the second internal chamber successively through one of the air passage means, the first internal chamber, the other of the air passage means, and back into the second internal chamber; and means for heating the circulating air.

Abstract: A newly discovered lignin peroxidase enzyme is provided. The enzyme is obtained from a bacterial source and is capable of degrading the lignin portion of lignocellulose in the presence of hydrogen peroxide. The enzyme is extracellular, oxidative, inducible by lignin, larch wood xylan, or related substrates and capable of attacking certain lignin substructure chemical bonds that are not degradable by fungal lignin peroxidases.

Abstract: A flash lamp power supply system, comprising (a) a simmer power supply circuit, comprising (i) a DC simmer power supply, (ii) means for connecting a flash lamp in series with the DC power supply, and (iii) a capacitor connected in parallel to the power supply and to the flash lamp connecting means, wherein the impedance and capacitance of the simmer power supply are selected so as to provide dV/dT for the simmer power supply circuit equal to or greater than the rate at which the lamp impedance changes during a flash cycle; and (b) a pulse power supply circuit, comprising (i) a DC pulse source voltage supply, (ii) a thyristor, and (iii) means for connecting the lamp in series with the DC pulse source voltage supply and the thyristor, wherein the pulse power supply circuit further comprises a capacitor connected in parallel with the pulse source voltage supply.

Abstract: Diagnostic assays are provided comprising complementary enzyme fragments of .beta.-galactosidase, where one of the fragments is bound to a support and the other fragment is conjugated to an immunologically cross-reactive epitope of the analyte or complementary to an analyte receptor. Binding to the receptor allows for discrimination between complexed enzyme fragment conjugate and uncomplexed enzyme fragment conjugate. The assay medium is then allowed to wick onto a support to which the complementary fragment is substantially uniformly bound in the detection region. The support is then developed, where color formation from the substrate in the detection region is used as a measure of the presence of analyte in the sample.

Abstract: A method for the preparation of compounds of the formula ##STR1## wherein X represents a group of the formula OR.sub.1 or NR.sub.1 R.sub.2, wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 independently represent H or an organic group that forms a stable covalent bond with the N or O of said X; Y is H or an organic group that forms a stable ester with the adjacent COO group; R is an alkyl or aryl group optionally substituted with one or more stable organic substituents; each R.sub.3 independently represents a stable organic group; and n is an integer from 0 to 3;the method using new intermediates of the formula ##STR2## wherein R.sub.3 and Y have the foregoing meanings; W is either F or Cl;and R.sub.9 is a hydrocarbon such as a C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl or alkenyl group.

Abstract: A method and structure are provided for processing checks in an extremely timely and cost-effective manner. A check recipient, such as a merchant, utility billing department, and the like, utilize hardware and software for quickly gathering data from checks received in order to allow prompt processing of those checks. Such hardware preferably includes a reader for reading the MICR account information printed on the check, and means for associating that data with information pertaining to the transaction at hand, including for example, the dollar amount of the transaction. This information is combined in a data record which is stored for future batch data transmission to a clearing house or the issuing bank itself. In an alternative embodiment, this data is communicated in real time to the clearing house or issuing bank. In another embodiment, one or more selection criteria are used to determine which checks will be processed in real time, with the remaining checks being processed in the batch mode.

Abstract: A process for forming a layer of metal on a substrate which comprises the steps of: (a) forming a bath of a molten metal in a vessel; (b) circulating said molten metal in said bath such that said molten metal is projected above the upper surface of said vessel (c) transporting a substrate along a path which traverses the upper surface of said vessel; and (d) transferring said molten metal to one surface of said substrate by directly or indirectly contracting said molten metal with said surface of said substrate, and an apparatus for performing the method is disclosed.

Abstract: In situ transcription is provided by hybridizing cells or tissue with a primer, and extending the primer bound to any template mRNA or DNA with transverse transcriptase or DNA polymerase in the presence of labeled nucleotides, which allows for detection of cells containing the template. The resulting cDNA may be eluted and used in a polymerase chain reaction for isolation of the DNA, and/or the cDNA electrophoresed, which may provide for information concerning the sequence, or the like.

Abstract: Genetic material encoding dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) of Pneumocystis carinii has been isolated and characterized. This genetic material allows the production of peptides for use in the design of inhibitors specific for P. carinii DHFR (as opposed to DHFR in the host infected with P. carinii) or can itself be directly used in hybridization assays.

Abstract: Novel methods and devices are provided involving at least one chamber, at least one capillary, and at least one reagent involved in a system providing for a detectable signal. As appropriate, the devices provide for measuring a sample, mixing the sample with reagents, defining a flow path, and reading the result. Of particular interest is the use of combinations of specific binding pair members which result in agglutination information, where the resulting agglutination particles may provide for changes in flow rate, light patterns of a flowing medium, or light absorption or scattering. A fabrication technique particularly suited for forming internal chambers in plastic devices is also described along with various control devices for use with the basic device.