Abstract: Microspheroidal particles, suitable as fluidized bed catalyst supports, are prepared by incorporating a portion of small, preferably recycled, particles into a slurry of inorganic oxide sol and inorganic particles which is spray dried to form microspheroidal particles.

Abstract: A metallocene catalyst may be temporarily and reversibly passivated by contact with an effective amount of an unsaturated hydrocarbon passivating compound.

Abstract: The flexible compositions having no elastomeric fractions comprise: A) from 10 to 90 parts by weight of random copolymer of propylene and at least one comonomer selected from ethylene and C4-C8 alpha-olefins having a melting point of at least 100° C. and not exceeding 140° C. and a flow index measured at 230° C. under a weight of 2.16 kg (ASTM standard D1238, 1986) of from 0.5 to 15 g/10 min, and B) from 90 to 10 parts by weight of plastomer prepared with participation of a metallocene catalyst and consisting of a random copolymer of ethylene and at least one C3-C10 alpha-olefin having a density of from 0.860 to 0.920 g/cm3, a melt flow index measured at 190° C. under a weight of 2.16 kg (ASTM standard D1238, 1986) of from 0.5 to 30 g/10 min, and a molecular mass distribution Mw/Mn of at most 4. These compositions provide an excellent compromise between flexibility and low-temperature impact resistance and heat resistance.

Abstract: The biaxially oriented hollow bodies are obtained by employing random propylene terpolymers which comprise ethylene (0.5 to 5% by weight) and 1-butene (2 to 12% by weight), which have a melting temperature of 120 to 150° C., which are degraded by a free radical generator and which have a degradation factor A of from 1.5 to 10, the said factor being represented by MFIg/MFIi, in which MFIg is the melt flow index of the degraded terpolymer (of between 3 and 30 g/10 min) and MFIi is the melt flow index of the initial terpolymer (of between 2 and 15 g/10 min). The process for the manufacture of the biaxially oriented hollow bodies is by injection stretch blowmoulding. The biaxially oriented hollow bodies are used for packaging.

Abstract: A catalyst system useful to polymerize and co-polymerize polar and non-polar olefin monomers is formed by in situ reduction with a reducing agent of a catalyst precursor comprising {Cp*MRR′n}+{A}− wherein Cp* is a cyclopentadienyl or substituted cyclopentadienyl moiety; M is an early transition metal; R is a C1-C20 hydrocarbyl; R′ are independently selected from hydride, C1-C20 hydrocarbyl, SiR″3, NR″2, OR″, SR″, GeR″3, SnR″3, and C═C-containing groups (R″=C1-C10 hydrocarbyl); n is an integer selected to balance the oxidation state of M; and A is a suitable non-coordinating anionic cocatalyst or precursor. This catalyst system may form stereoregular olefin polymers including syndiotactic polymers of styrene and methylmethacrylate and isotactic copolymers of polar and nonpolar olefin monomers such as methylmethacrylate and styrene.

Abstract: A catalyst system useful to polymerize and co-polymerize polar and non-polar olefin monomers is formed by in situ reduction with a reducing agent of a catalyst precursor comprising {CP* MRR′n}+{A}− wherein Cp* is a cyclopentadienyl or substituted cyclopentadienyl moiety; M is an early transition metal; R is a C1-C20 hydrocarbyl; R′ are independently selected from hydride, C1-C20 hydrocarbyl, SiR″3, NR″2, OR″, SR″, GeR″3, SnR″3, and C═C containing groups (R″═C1-C10 hydrocarbyl); n is an integer selected to balance the oxidation state of M; and A is a suitable non-coordinating anionic cocatalyst or precursor. This catalyst system may form stereoregular olefin polymers including syndiotactic polymers of styrene and methylmethacrylate and isotactic copolymers of polar and nonpolar olefin monomers such as methylmethacrylate and styrene.

Abstract: Nucleic acids having approximately 10 to 250 nucleotides which are capable of hybridizing to rRNA and RDNA of mycoplasma etiological agents of nongonococcal urethritis, pelvic inflammatory disease, salpingiuis, and other infections due to mycoplasmas from the genital areas, Mycoplasma hominis, Mycoplasma genitalium, and Ureaplasma urealyticum.

Abstract: Fluorescence-based assay methods for detecting biological analytes in a sample. The fluorescence background in these methods is significantly lower than in conventional assay methods. Also provided are methods of attaching nucleic acids to a metallic or metalloid surface.

Abstract: Fluorescence-based assay methods for detecting biological analytes in a sample. The fluorescence background in these methods is significantly lower than in conventional assay methods. Also provided are methods of attaching nucleic acids to a metallic or metalloid surface.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for linking a detectable label to a nucleic acid by (1) providing a nucleic acid bound to a solid support, the nucleic acid having a cytidine base; (2) transaminating the cytidine base with a reactive group to form a covalent linkage between the cytidine base and the reactive group; and (3) linking a detectable label to the reactive group. The invention also includes compositions containing a labeled nucleic acid produced by the methods of the invention immobilized on a solid support, and a kit containing a solid support, a bisulfite, a reactive group, and a detectable label.

Abstract: The invention provides devices and methods for use in detecting nucleic acid analytes in samples. The devices each include a solid support to which is bound a two-dimensional distribution or field of nucleic acid probes that each bind to a nucleic acid analyte, which is detected by use of amplification methods.

Abstract: A large-field fluorescence imaging apparatus couples an excitation beam produced by a high-power white light source to a sample with reflective optics to achieve high illumination intensity on the sample. The reflective optics includes a concave mirror which projects the filtered and collimated excitation beam from the white light source onto the sample surface. The concave mirror images a field stop onto the sample surface to define an illumination area which matches the field of view of the imaging optics. The fluorescent light generated in the sample is filtered and imaged on a charge coupled device. The combination of the high illumination intensity and the imaging efficiency allows the imaging apparatus to acquire fluorescent images at an improved rate. A sample-height alignment arrangement using fixed alignment stops allows the sample to be positioned quickly and repeatably in the focal plane of the imaging optics without the need for fine adjustments.

Abstract: A method of detecting cellular types in a biological sample supported on an infrared absorptive substrate, such as a plain glass slide, analyzes infrared light reflected from the sample using an Attenuated Total Reflection (ATR) technique. An infrared beam is directed to the sample through an ATR microscope objective. The depth of penetration of the infrared beam in the sample is controlled to avoid infrared spectral response from the absorptive substrate. The attenuated total reflection from the sample is detected and analyzed to determine the cellular types or the presence of anomalies in the sample. The method allows infrared measurements on cell samples mounted on plain glass slides, as are normally used by pathologists and other medical investigators.

Abstract: The invention features nucleic acid probes and methods for detecting Pneumocystis carinii (e.g., human or ferret P. carinii) in hybridization assays.

Abstract: Nucleic acids having approximately 10 to 250 nucleotides which are capable of hybridizing to rRNA and rDNA of mycoplasma etiological agents of nongonococcal urethritis, pelvic inflammatory disease, salpingitis, and other infections due to mycoplasmas from the genital areas, Mycoplasma hominis, Mycoplasma genitalium, and Ureaplasma urealyticum.

Abstract: The invention provides devices and methods for use in detecting nucleic acid analytes in samples. The devices each include a solid support to which is bound a two-dimensional distribution or field of nucleic acid probes that each bind to a nucleic acid analyte, which is detected by use of amplification methods.

Abstract: The invention features methods for detecting a target analyte in a sample. In these methods, a sample is contacted with a detector probe and a capture probe to form a detector probe-analyte-capture probe complex. The detector probe includes a new moiety, having a predetermined pI and containing a detectable label. The complex is isolated from detector probe that is not bound in the complex, the moiety is released from the complex, and the released moiety is concentrated, e.g., by isoelectric focusing or other methods. Detection of the moiety, e.g., at a position in a pH gradient corresponding to its pI, can be used as a measure of the presence and concentration of the analyte in the sample.

Abstract: The invention features devices that each consist of a tube containing a linear array of specific binding elements that each have capture probes specific for a target analyte linked thereto. The devices of the invention can be used in methods for detecting target analytes in samples.

Abstract: Nucleic acid fragments capable of hybridizing to rRNA of a Salmonella species and not capable of hybridizing to rRNA of Escherichia coli.

Abstract: Novel insertion elements, recombinant molecules and amplifiable nucleic acids and methods for making them are disclosed. The insertion elements and amplifiable nucleic acids can be used with nucleic acid hybridization assays. Also disclosed are libraries of the novel insertion elements, recombinant molecules and amplifiable nucleic acids and the use of such libraries in identifying preferred insertion elements, recombinant molecules and amplifiable nucleic acids of the invention.