Abstract: Apparatus and method for performing a nucleic acid amplification reaction and preferably a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in a reaction mixture in at least one capillary tube. Several different embodiments are disclosed. One embodiment cycles a sample through a capillary tube loop passing through two thermostatted fluid baths. Another embodiment has the capillary tube routed alternatingly between two heat exchangers to that the sample makes only one pass through the tube. Other embodiments maintain the heat exchangers stationary and translate the samples between them. Still further embodiments maintain the samples stationary and either automatically translate or rotate the heat exchangers past the samples contained within the capillary tubes to perform the thermal cycles necessary for the amplification reaction.

Abstract: The present invention refers to a spectrometer device comprising a monochromator means, a light-measuring means receiving light from said monochromator means, and a calibration means comprising a calibration light source. The present invention provides a new spectrometer device whose light-measuring means comprises a plurality of light-measuring elements in an array extending in the direction of dispersion of the monochromator means, and whose calibration means carries out, on the basis of a spectral light measurement with the aid of the calibration light source, an association between the light-measuring elements and the wavelengths of the spectral light which is adapted to be detected by the respective light-measuring elements. These measures substantially facilitate the calibration and especially the automatic execution of said calibration, if desired simultaneously with a spectra measurement, and they improve the accuracy of the calibration.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for determining an unknown starting molar concentration of target nucleic acid molecules at the beginning of a polymerase chain reaction in a sample reaction mixture containing suitable buffers, two complementary kinds of oligonucleotide primers, a molar excess of four kinds of nucleoside triphosphates, a DNA polymerase, and the unknown starting molar concentration of target nucleic acid molecules, wherein the two kinds of primers are provided in a known concentration (C.sub.

Abstract: A connecting apparatus for conveyance of cryogenic fluid has a pair of connecting members formed of thermal insulating material. Each has a flange with an axial tubular protrusion and a rim extending over the protrusion so as to form an annular cavity therebetween. Each flange and its protrusion has a central bore. When the two members are fitted together, the combined bore conveys of cryogenic fluid therethrough. The protrusions have overlapping lips with a snug fit to substantially retain the cryogenic fluid in the combined bore. A detachable retainer holds the members in union with an o-ring seal between the rims. The respective cavities form an enclosed cavity that provides thermal insulation between the ring seal and the tubular protrusions for the cryogenic fluid in the common bore.

Abstract: In a direct access storage device having a head for interaction with a storage medium and a moving actuator on which the head is mounted, the improvement comprises a compound bearing system for the actuator, the bearing system including a first bearing of low friction for small movements of the actuator; and a second bearing of higher friction for coarse movements of the actuator. The storage medium is preferably a rotating magnetic disk having a series of concentric circular tracks. A single servo system drives the actuator so that the head follows a selected track with motion of the first bearing, and movement of the head to a new track causes motion of the second bearing. Preferably the first bearing is a flex bearing and the second bearing is a ball bearing.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for removing the effect of data voltages for the last display line of a liquid crystal display (LCD) on the first line of the display. Prior to a horizontal line period, immediately before a data signal for the last display line is transferred to a driver, and a scanning electrode for the first display line of the following frame is turned on, signal electrodes are precharged with a voltage corresponding to data for the first display line of the following frame.

Abstract: The invention relates to optical instrment engineering. It is suggested that a liner solid state detector (photodiode array detector, charge coupled device, charge transfer device) that is positioned along the image of entrance slit of the monochrometer be used in an atomic absorption spectrophotometer. This will improve the analytical performance of an atomic absorption spectrophotometer--lower the detection limits, extend the range of concentrations to be measured, increase the reproducibility of measurements by taking into account the temporal and spatial non-uniformities of the analyte distribution over the atomizer volume and will simultaneously provide atomizer walls and of the platform temperatures.

Abstract: An ATR crystal (40) for use in microscopy has a conical portion (65) for contacting a sample under investigation. The apex of the cone can be provided with a small flat surface which enables reliable and reproducible ATR analysis to be undertaken. An assembly is for mounting such a crystal.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for performing a nucleic acid amplification reaction and preferably a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in a reaction mixture in at least one capillary tube. Several different embodiments are disclosed. One embodiment cycles a sample through a capillary tube loop passing through two thermostatted fluid baths. Another embodiment has the capillary tube routed alternatingly between two heat exchangers to that the sample makes only one pass through the tube. Other embodiments maintain the heat exchangers stationary and translate the samples between them. Still further embodiments maintain the samples stationary and either automatically translate or rotate the heat exchangers past the samples contained within the capillary tubes to perform the thermal cycles necessary for the amplification reaction.

Abstract: In a computer apparatus including an enclosure and a direct access storage device mounted within the enclosure, a mounting apparatus for the direct access storage device including: a plurality of a relatively rigid shock isolators and at least one stress sensor mounted in series with are of said shock isolators and disposed between the enclosure and the direct access storage device. The enclosure may include a user frame and the mounting apparatus may be disposed between the direct access storage device and the frame. There may be one stress sensor for each of the shock isolators. The shock isolators may be coupled to the direct access storage device. Each stress sensor may include a piezoelectric element. Preferably the shock isolators are rigid enough so that the resonant frequency of said mounting apparatus is at least 800 Hz, but can be 800 Hz or higher.

Abstract: The invention relates to the structure of a field emitter device, to the method of fabricating a field emitter device and to the use of the field emitter device in the technical field of flat panel displays. The field emission device comprises an array (1) of widely-spaced tips (2) for emitting electrons and a perforated extracting electrode (3) facing the array of tips. An individual series resistor is formed by each of said tips itself. The widely-spaced tips are not surrounded by a layer of electrically insulating material. The tips are not surrounded by an insulating layer and the tip end is not surrounded by a gate or extraction electrode. This avoids failures like shorts between the cathode electrode and the gate or extraction electrode which could occur due to inaccurate coating or etching processes, and enhances the reliability and the life-time of the array of tips.

Abstract: A cryogenic fluid conveying device has removable connection of a metal tube and a receptor for the tube. The receptor is formed of a housing member with an aperture therein for conveying the fluid. A tubular member of resilient PTFE has a bore size so as to be slidingly receptive of the rigid tube. A ferrule is disposed on the tubular member which is positioned in the housing member. An annular nut is threaded onto an end of the housing to constrict the ferrule and thereby constrict an annular section of the tubular member. This constriction provides a sealingly tight fit for the rigid tube such that the metal tube can be inserted into and removed from the tubular member.

Abstract: In a gas chromatographic system that includes a column and an injector with a chamber, a carrier gas normally flows into the chamber at a constant rate, and a constant primary pressure is maintained at the column inlet. A sampling receptacle selectively communicates a sample vessel with a source of transfer gas or the chamber. The vessel is pressurized with the transfer gas to a starting pressure greater than the primary pressure. Analyte sample in transfer gas is then tranferred from the vessel to the chamber by the vessel pressure while the vessel pressure remains greater than the primary pressure. Carrier gas flow is discontinued during transfer, so that analyte sample transfers through the chamber into the column by the primary pressure linearly with time. Standby and venting states are provided.

Abstract: A two-piece plastic holder for loosely holding microliter sample tubes of a preselected design, each tube having a cylindrically shaped upper section open at its top end, a closed, tapered lower section extending downwardly therefrom, and a circumferential shoulder extending outwardly from the upper section at a position on the upper section spaced from the open end thereof. The holder includes a one-piece tray member and a one-piece retainer. The one-piece tray member including a flat, horizontal plate section containing holes in a rectangular array, a first vertical tray sidewall section around the plate extending upwardly to a height greater than the height of a tube resting in one of the holes, and a second vertical tray sidewall section around the plate extending downwardly approximately to the bottom of the upper section of a tube resting in one of the holes. The one-piece retainer is releasably engageable inside the tray over any sample tubes resting in the tray.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for controlling the temperature of a system in accordance with a desired temperature curve which is divided into predetermined time intervals. It is the object of the present invention to control the temperature of the system in such a manner that the predetermined and desired temperature curve is observed as exactly as possible.

Abstract: A carrier for use in preparing samples for spectroscopic analysis comprises a layer of abrasive material, e.g. sandpaper, created with a highly reflective material e.g. aluminium. The novel carrier reduces the effect of unwanted spectral components generated by the grit particle of the abrasive.

Abstract: A complete in situ PCR system for amplification of nucleic acids contained in a prepared cell or tissue sample. The containment system for the PCR sample comprises a glass microscope slide, a specimen sample containing the target nucleic acid sequence mounted on the slide, a flexible plastic cover over the sample, and a retaining assembly fastened to the slide and to the cover to retain and seal a reaction mixture against the sample during thermal cycling. The retaining assembly includes a rigid ring on a rim portion of the cover, a cross beam having spaced parallel rails joined by opposite flat ends, and a pair of clips which are pressed over the ends and opposite sides of the slide to fasten the cross beam and cover to the slide.

Abstract: To obtain a liquid crystal display device which has no leakage of light and has excellent contrast in the minimum number of manufacturing processes. To obtain cell gap Ga on the array panel 12, first projecting sections 38A are formed in a black matrix 38, and, on the color filter panel 13, second projecting sections 50 are formed in which a red color filter 46R, a green color filter 46G, and a blue color filter 46B are placed one upon another. Since the heights of the first projecting sections 38A and the second projecting sections 50 can be made, for instance, half of cell gap Ga, the rubbing process of orientation films 40 and 54 can be performed reliably. In this way, liquid crystal elements can be fully aligned, preventing the leakage of light. Further, since no transparent spacer is required, there is no leakage of light due to this. In addition, the projecting sections can be formed simply by the processes for forming the color filter 46 and the black matrix 38.

Abstract: A complete in situ PCR system for amplification of nucleic acids contained in a prepared cell or tissue sample. The containment system for the PCR sample comprises a glass microscope slide, a specimen sample containing the target nucleic acid sequence mounted on the slide, a flexible plastic cover over the sample, and a retaining assembly fastened to the slide and to the cover to retain and seal a reaction mixture against the sample during thermal cycling.The retaining assembly includes a rigid ring on a rim portion of the cover, a cross beam having spaced parallel rails joined by opposite flat ends, and a pair of clips which are pressed over the ends and opposite sides of the slide to fasten the cross beam and cover to the slide.

Abstract: A Control circuit for a differential scanning calorimeter which includes a sample heater, a reference heater, a system for generating a sample heater DC voltage and a system for generating a reference heater DC voltage. A balanced operational amplifier arrangement is provided which includes a circuit for controlling the differential heater voltage and a circuit for independently controlling the average heater voltage, so that the average heater power and the differential heater power are independently controlled.