Abstract: A system is provided for use with an on-chip fuse. If the fuse (40) is to be blown, the system blows the fuse, then performs a test read by comparing it with a larger-than-normal reference resistance (41, 42). If, even using the larger-than-normal reference resistance, the fuse reads as blown, then it is possible to be much more confident that the fuse will read correctly when compared against the normal reference resistance (42), even with aging and with variations of temperature and supply. For future reads during normal operation, the system compares it with the normal reference resistance (42). If, on the other hand, the fuse does not read as blown during the test read then the device can be rejected as a failed device.

Abstract: An apparatus for the rapid preparation of electrophoresis gels comprises: (a) a housing; (b) a support fixture removably disposed within the housing and adapted to receive a gel holder having an internal gel compartment, the support fixture being optionally adapted to permit filling of the gel holder within the housing; (c) an optional injection system, which is connectible to a reservoir for holding a polymerizable solution; (d) an optional solution injection connector adapted to couple the injection system to a gel holder placed within the filling fixture, (e) an optional controller for the injection system, which causes the injection system to inject polymerizable solution from the reservoir into the gel compartment; and (f) a radiation source disposed within the housing in a location effective to irradiate polymierizable solution within the gel compartment of a gel holder in the support fixture.

Abstract: Changes in polarized light incident on a detection zone within a separation matrix are used to detect optically active molecules within the separation matrix. The separation and detection of optically active molecules within the detection zone is done by loading a sample containing optically active molecules onto a separation matrix; applying a motive force to cause the sample to migrate though the separation matrix and to separate into a plurality of subgroups of optically active molecules; directing an incident beam of polarized radiation to the detection zone; processing the collected exiting beam with an optical component which discriminates between radiation having the same polarization as the incident beam and radiation having a different polarization from the incident beam; and measuring the intensity of the processed exiting beam.

Abstract: A ligase-based assay which relies only upon knowledge of the wild-type sequence of a gene or gene fragment is used to detect all types of mutations, i.e., point mutations, insertions and deletions. The assay makes use of a set of oligonucleotide probes, which may be packaged in kit form, which hybridize in series along the length of the gene. The ligation of the probes together form a ligation product, the size of which is evaluated. When the gene or gene fragment being analyzed corresponds to the normal sequence and thus perfectly matches the probes, all of the probes in the set are ligated together, and the ligation product has a certain resulting size. When a mutation appears in the gene, the hybridization of the probe overlapping the mutation is impaired, with the result that some or all of the ligation product is of smaller size. By evaluating the size of the ligation product, both the existence of a mutation and its approximate position can be identified.

Abstract: A high-conductivity ceramic coil form with an internal water jacket is used to simplify water cooling for 3-axis MRI gradient coil configurations on a single cylindrical coilform. Crescent-shaped, axially aligned coils are symmetrically employed on either side of the axial symmetry plane to increase transversely the region of field linearity. These crescent coils may be used in conjunction with Golay-type coils for improved switching efficiency. Lead-filled copper tubing may be used to reduce acoustic noise from pulsed coils in high external magnetic fields.

Abstract: An electrophoresis microgel is formed in a gel holder. The gel holder comprises a top substrate, a bottom substrate and a spacer disposed between the top substrate and the bottom substrate. The spacer establishes a separation of from 25 to 250 microns between the top substrate and the bottom substrate. A gel compartment is formed by partially sealing the top substrate to the bottom substrate, while leaving an opening for the introduction of unpolymerized gel. The gel compartment is then filled with an unpolymerized gel, which is polymerized in the gel compartment. Electrodes may be printed on the substrates, may be contacts to an exposed edge of gel, or may be applied through windows cut into one of the substrates. One type of gel holder makes use of graded beads having a diameter of 25 to 250 microns slurried in an adhesive such as an acrylate adhesive as the spacer. The slurry is printed onto the surface of one or both substrates to form a spacer of the desired shape, and then hardened using heat or light.

Abstract: A signal processing system for a strain-gauge pointing device has a reduced parts count and permits the use of relatively inexpensive low-tolerance components. The system can process signals from two or three or more strain gauges, permitting additional inputs by users without a linear increase in the number of signal processing components. The system employs an RC network to develop an offset for the signal to be provided to an analog-to-digital converter. The system performs each measurement twice, once with a particular excitation polarity and again with the opposite excitation polarity, which permits correction for drift and temperature instability.

Abstract: A controller contains software which, when triggered in some prearranged way such as assertion of an input to the controller, calculates a digital signature for the contents of the protected memory of the controller. The digital signature is preferably extracted from the contents of the memory with a function that varies greatly with even small changes to the memory contents. The function preferably is such that one cannot easily determine from the output what input generated the output. The function is preferably such that one cannot easily create a data set for input that yields any particular predetermined output. The circuitry generating the signature may be embedded in hardware of the controller so that its digital signature function is unknown even to the programmer writing the main body of code to be stored in the protected memory. With such a hardware configuration, it is possible to have a very high degree of confidence that the memory contents are what they are expected to be.

Abstract: In a method for excavating rock cavities in the form of substantially cylindrical, vertical or low placed rock cavities for the storage of gas, fluid, solid products or for another purpose, one first, from a transport tunnel (2), excavates an upper circular room (3). From this circular room (3), one excavates the roof shape of the rock cavity (1) to be; and then, from a second transport tunnel (7) excavates a second annular tunnel (5) from a middle level in the rock cavity (1) to be. From the second transport tunnel (7), one also excavates a lower circular room (8) situated on a level which is substantially at the level where the lowest level of the rock cavity (1) to be, is. At this lowest level one excavates a third annular tunnel (13); between the circular room (8) and the third annular tunnel (13) provides tap holes (9).

Abstract: Xylanase DNA is recovered from soil by PCR amplification using degenerate primers. Because of the complexity of the soil samples, it is likely that the recovered product will include more than one species of polynucleotide. These recovered copies may be cloned into a host organism to produce additional copies of each individual species prior to characterization by sequencing. Recovered DNA which is found to vary from known xylanases can be used in several ways to facilitate production of novel xylanases for industrial application. First, the recovered DNA, or probes corresponding to portions thereof, can be used as a probe to screen DNA libraries and recover intact xylanase genes including the unique regions of the recovered DNA. Second, the recovered DNA or polynucleotides corresponding to portions thereof, can be inserted into a known xylanase gene to produce a recombinant xylanase gene with the sequence variations of the recovered DNA.

Abstract: An objective refraction measurement apparatus includes a separate chart having a pair of charts arranged separately, an optical system for projecting the separate chart to an eye to be examined through a focusing lens and a diaphragm having a pair of through holes arranged corresponding to the separate arrangement of the pair of charts, an operating unit for performing focusing operation to the eye, and a control unit for moving the focusing lens on the basis of the focusing operation along the optical axis direction by the operating unit to obtain the projection images of the pair of charts in the separate chart to the eye in an identical condition or a non-identical condition, thereby to perform a subjective measurement of the eye.

Abstract: An objective refraction measuring system of an ophthalmic apparatus measures a refractive power of an eye to be examined in an objective manner under the condition that a gazing chart of a gazing target system is fixed to the eye to be examined. An arithmetic-logic unit obtains an objective measurement value of the eye to be examined on the basis of the measurement result by the objective refraction measuring system and the gazing target system. A control unit controls a continuous objective measurement while fogging the gazing chart after setting the gazing chart of the gazing chart system to a far-sight position of the eye to be examined which is obtained by using the gazing target system. With such measurement, the continuous objective measurement values by fogging the gazing chart of the gazing target system is obtained from the far-sight position based upon the objective measurement of the eye to be examined. Thus, the limit of the adjustment force of the eye to be examined is precisely measured.

Abstract: The allelic type of a polymorphic genetic locus in a sample is identified by first combining the sample with a sequencing reaction mixture containing a polymerase, nucleotide feedstocks, one type of chain terminating nucleotide and a sequencing primer to form a plurality of oligonucleotide fragments of differing lengths, and then evaluating the length of the oligonucleotide fragments. As in a standard sequencing procedure, the lengths of the fragments indicate the positions of the type of base corresponding to the chain terminating nucleotide in the extended primer. Instead of performing and evaluating four concurrent reactions, one for each type of chain terminating nucleotide, however, the sample is concurrently combined with at most three, and preferably only one, sequencing reaction mixtures containing different types of chain terminating nucleotides. The information obtained from this test is evaluated prior to performing any additional tests on the sample.

Abstract: Suspended conveyor systems frequently employ threaded spindles as the drive mechanism to transport trolleys within a track. The spindle cooperates with drive blocks positioned adjacent to wheels on the trolleys. To facilitate switching and turning of the trolleys with two sets of wheels, a modified spindle system is employed which has alternating threaded and non-threaded regions. The spacing of the threaded and non-threaded regions corresponds to the spacing between the sets of wheels on the trolley.

Abstract: The invention relates to a clasp (1) for a band or bracelet (2) having two strips (6, 8) articulated with respect to one another by one of their ends across a common hinge (10), having a cover (3) and a base (9) detachably arranged around a common rod (11), which is guided by a transverse branch (6.4) firmly fixed to the first strip (6), having a first bracelet strand (2.1) fixed to the second strip (8), having a tongue (4) mounted on the base (9) permitting the fixing of a second bracelet strand (2.2), a reinforcement of said fixing taking place by lowering the cover (3) onto the tongue (4) and the lowered cover (3) and base (9) are jointly articulated with respect to the first strip (6), making it possible to open the clasp (1) in order to remove the bracelet (2) without undoing the fixture.

Abstract: Sequencing of a selected region of a target nucleic acid polymer in a genomic DNA sample can be performed in a single vessel by combining the sample with a sequencing mixture containing a primer pair, a thermally stable polymerase such as Thermo Sequenase.TM. which incorporates dideoxynucleotides into an extending nucleic acid polymer at a rate which is no less than about 0.4 times the rate of incorporation of deoxynucleotides, nucleotide feedstocks, and a chain terminating nucleotide. The mixture is processed through multiple thermal cycles for annealing, extension and denaturation to produce a product mixture which is analyzed by electrophoresis.

Abstract: An improved system for space management in retail stores is described. The space management system includes price display labels mounted on rails along the edges of shelves in a store. A communications link between the computer and the labels permits the computer to address each label by a logical address and to determine the physical location of each label to within a resolution of typically four feet. The system prepares price audit lists and adjacency audit lists that permit economical use of the time of store personnel during the audit. The lists are generated in such a way that the items on a particular list are physically contiguous; thus once the correct general area has been located by the auditor little additional time need be spent locating the individual items. In performing an audit of product facings, the user is able to use the display hardware, including the pushbutton on each label, as a data collection system for product facing information.

Abstract: A hydraulic cylinder, comprising a cylindric tube (10) with two end covers (11, 12). One of the end covers (11) is provided with an opening for a piston rod (13) connected to a piston (14) which is displaceable between the end covers. The end covers (11, 12) are on one hand connected to the tube (10) via a screw joint (15, 16), on the other are provided with channels (18) for inlet and outlet of a hydraulic medium, to and from the respective spaces between the piston (14) and the end covers (11, 12). Each end cover (11, 12) comprises an outer member (19, 20) and an insert member (21, 22). The channels (18) for the hydraulic medium extend through the outer member (19, 20) and the insert member (21, 22).

Abstract: A method for quantitative and qualitative analysis of a nucleic acid analyte in a sample suspected to contain the nucleic acid analyte first combines the sample with a control nucleic acid, and two primer pairs, a first primer pair effective to amplify a conserved region of the nucleic acid analyte if present in the sample to produce a conserved fragment having a first length and to amplify the control nucleic acid to produce a control fragment having a second length different from the first length, and a second primer pair effective to amplify a second region of the nucleic acid analyte to produce a sequencing fragment. One member of the first primer pair is labeled with a detectable label, and one member of the second primer pair may be labeled with a label such as biotin effective to permit capture of the primer.