Abstract: The present invent n provides a method for the preparation of triarylmethyl protecting group reagents. The reagents are prepared from reaction effluent from the cleavage step of oligonucleotide synthetic regimes.

Abstract: Sequence-specific oligonucleotides are provided having substantially pure chiral Sp phosphorothioate, chiral Rp phosphorothioate, chiral Sp alkylphosphonate, chiral Rp alkylphosphonate, chiral Sp phosphoamidate, chiral Rp phosphoamidate, chiral Sp phosphotriester, and chiral Rp phosphotriester linkages. The novel oligonucleotides are prepared via a stereospecific SN2 nucleophilic attack of a phosphodiester, phosphorothioate, phosphoramidate, phosphotriester or alkylphosphonate anion on the 3′ position of a xylonucleotide. The reaction proceeds via inversion at the 3′ position of the xylo reactant species, resulting in the incorporation of phosphodiester, phosphorothioate, phosphoramidate, phosphotriester or alkylphosphonate linked ribofuranosyl sugar moieties into the oligonucleotide.

Abstract: Sufficient 1f runout is intentionally generated on tracks on a data storage disk to prevent 2f runout from interfering with the alignment of a read/write head with respect to the tracks. The tip of a disk drive motor spindle is misaligned a predetermined distance with respect to the center of rotation of the disk drive spindle motor, a data storage disk is mounted on the spindle bushing centered on the tip, the data storage disk is spun up to an operational speed, and the read/write head is loaded onto a surface of the data storage disk, thereby generating sufficient 1f runout to prevent 2f runout from interfering with the alignment of the read/write head with respect to the tracks. Alternatively, the spindle bushing can be disposed at a non-perpendicular angle with respect to the axis of rotation of the motor spindle. The 1f runout has a peak amplitude that is at least four times greater than the 2f peak amplitude.

Abstract: A drive power transmission apparatus including a torsionally deformable spring capable of being torsionally deformed so as to permit a relative rotation between a rotor element and a drive shaft in response to a change in a load torque appearing in a drive-power-receiving unit, a releasing element operable to move the free outer end of the torsionally deformable spring from the power transmitting face of the rotor element when the relative rotation between the rotor element and the drive shaft increases due to an increase in the load torque beyond a predetermined limiting torque, and a mechanical elevation arranged in the rotor element for permitting the free outer end of the torsionally deformable spring to ride thereon to thereby promote separation of the spiral spring from the rotor element in order to interrupt the transmission of drive power.

Abstract: CD-ROMS of poor quality, such as those having eccentric center holes or uneven weight distributions circumferentially, are easy to wobble or otherwise vibrate when driven at high speed, overloading tracking and focusing servos and inviting read errors and retries. Each CD-ROM on being loaded into a CD-ROM drive is therefore checked as to its quality in terms of the speed of rotation at which the disk drive motor gains a steady state on being started up at a full supply voltage. The poorer the disk quality, the lower is the steady state speed of motor rotation. A poor quality disk is read at four times the standard audio CD speed, an intermediate quality disk at eight times that speed, and a good quality disk at twelve times that speed.

Abstract: An ink supply apparatus includes a container for storing ink jet ink having an opening for releasing ink from the container, a valve member mounted in the opening in the container, and a mechanism coupled to the valve member for biasing the valve member so as to prevent the flow of ink from the container when the ink supply is not mounted on a supply base

Abstract: Compounds of general formula (1) are described: wherein R1 is a hydrogen or halogen atom or an optionally substituted straight or branched chain alkyl, alkenyl or alkynyl group or a group selected from hydroxyl (—OH), substituted hydroxyl, thiol (—SH), substituted thiol, amino (—NH2), or substituted amino; R2 and R3, which may be the same or different, is each an optionally substituted straight or branched chain alkyl, alkenyl or alkynyl group; R4 is a hydrogen atom or a straight or branched chain alkyl group; R5 is a hydrogen atom or an optionally substituted straight or branched chain alkyl, alkenyl or alkynyl group; R6 is a hydrogen or halogen atom or an amino (—NH2), substituted amino, nitro, carboxyl (—CO2H) or esterified carboxyl group or a group —X1—R6a where X1 is a direct bond or a linker atom or group and R6a is an optionally substituted straight or branched chain alkyl, alkenyl or alkynyl group; X is a direct bond or a linker atom or

Abstract: Novel oligomers are disclosed which have enhanced ability with respect to forming duplexes or triplexes compared with oligomers containing only conventional bases. The oligomers contain the base analog 5-propynyluracil, 5-propynylcytosine or related analogs. The oligomers of the invention are capable of (i) forming triplexes with various target sequences such as virus or oncogene sequences by coupling into the major groove of a target DNA duplex at physiological pH or (ii) forming duplexes by binding to single-stranded DNA or to RNA encoded by target genes. The oligomers of the invention may be constructed to have any desired sequence, provided the sequence normally includes one or more bases that is replaced with the analogs of the invention. Compositions of the invention can be used for diagnostic purposes in order to detect viruses or disease conditions.

Abstract: A system and associated method for interactively scoring standardized test responses. The system maintains a database of tests, items that make up the tests, and features that make up the items. A user of the system requests a list of items in the database, and the system responds by presenting a list from which the user selects a plurality of items to be scored. The user selects a scoring mode, and the system scores the selected items according to the selected scoring mode. In an interactive scoring mode, the system scores the features of a selected item and presents to the user the feature scores, as well as an overall item score computed based on these feature scores. The user either accepts the scores as presented, changes one or more feature scores, or changes the overall item score. The system then rescores the item based on the user-entered scores and stores the new score in the database. This process is repeated for the remaining selected items.

Abstract: Nucleic acid molecule that comprise an incomplete hepatitis C viral genome including specifically disclosed DNA sequences are disclosed. Pharmaceutical compositions that contain nucleic acid molecules comprising an incomplete hepatitis C viral genome including a nucleotide sequence encoding a complete hepatitis C core protein operably linked to regulatory elements functional in human cells are disclosed. Methods of immunizing individuals susceptible to or infected by hepatitis C virus comprising the step of administering such pharmaceutical compositions are disclosed.

Abstract: An automated method for recycling mixed colored cutlet glass (i.e., broken pieces of glass of mixed colors and types) into new glass products. A computer controlled process identifies the virgin glass raw materials, the desired target glass properties, the composition of a batch of mixed colored cullet, and the quantity of cullet to be used in the glass melt, and the computer controlled process automatically determines the proper amounts of raw materials to add to the batch of mixed colored cullet so that recycled glass is produced having the desired coloring oxides, redox agents, and glass structural oxides in the proper proportion. The recycled glass is then used to make glass products such as beer bottles.

Abstract: An inductive coupling interface couples a first electronic device to an inductive coupling link of a second electronic device. The second device link is in a coupling zone adjacent the interface. A separation plane separates the coupling zone from the interface. The interface includes a pair of coils arranged on one side of the separation plane opposite the coupling zone. The coils are coupled in series to receive an input signal from the first device and generate flux based thereon. Each coil is wound in a coil plane in a winding direction, and has a first flux face as defined by the winding direction and a coil plane axis residing within the coil plane. The first flux faces of the coils respectively face toward and away from the separation plane. The coil plane axes are parallel to one another and the separation plane, and the same distance from the separation plane. Each coil has inner and outer sides parallel to the coil plane axis and respectively closer to and farther from the other coil.

Abstract: Improved methods for providing an image of an internal region of a patient. Embodiments of the invention involve the administration to the patient of a contrast agent which comprises, in an aqueous carrier, a lipid, protein, polymer or surfactant, and a gas. The patient is scanned using ultrasound imaging to obtain a visible image of the region. In embodiments of the invention, the scanning step may comprise applying a first quantity of ultrasound energy to the patient to provide a first image, followed by the application substantially immediately thereafter of a second quantity of ultrasound energy to provide a second image. The first and second images are then processed. The methods are particularly useful for obtaining on-line images of the cardiovascular region which may be employed, for example, to diagnose the presence of diseased tissue in the cardiovascular region of a patient.

Abstract: This invention is directed to novel purine-based compounds for inclusion into oligonucleotides. The compounds of the invention, when incorporated into oligonucleotides are especially useful as “antisense” agents—agents that are capable of specific hybridization with a nucleotide sequence of an RNA. The compounds of the invention may also be used for cross-linking oligonucleotides. Oligonucleotides are used for a variety of therapeutic and diagnostic purposes, such as treating diseases, regulating gene expression in experimental systems, assaying for RNA and for RNA products through the employment of antisense interactions with such RNA, diagnosing diseases, modulating the production of proteins, and cleaving RNA in site specific fashions. The compounds of the invention include novel heterocyclic bases, nucleosides, and nucleotides. when incorporated into oligonucleotides, the compounds of the invention can be useful for modulating the activity of RNA.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus that enable network applications executing on respective directly interconnected computer systems to communicate at high speed, with low latency, over the interconnection therebetween such that both systems may use their native mechanisms to communicate with each other without change in those mechanisms, rather than over conventional network communication paths such as Ethernet. Communication between applications in co-resident, closely coupled processing environments is provided by replacing the conventional TCP transport layer and the conventional IP network layer with a reliable messaging subsystem (“MSS”) for data transfers between the closely coupled systems which provides an interface which is independent of the communication protocol of the interconnect and a virtual transport layer (“VTL”) which simulates a known transport layer protocol, such as TCP/IP, to the network applications.

Abstract: A variable displacement compressor includes a rotary valve which can rotate synchronously with a drive shaft. The rotary valve includes a center hole with one end closed and with the other end in constant communication with a suction chamber, and a communicating hole intermittently provide a fluid communication between the center hole and a gas extracting passage extending from a crank chamber along with the rotation of the rotary valve. The amount of refrigerant gas flowing back from the crank chamber to the suction chamber through the gas extracting passage is reduced by exactly the amount of the refrigerant gas which can flow through the gas extracting passage unless it is closed by the rotary valve.

Abstract: A first MOS transistor and a second MOS transistor are interconnected in series. Basically, a set of these MOS transistors are alternately turned on according to a switching signal. The collector of a third transistor is connected to the gate of the second MOS transistor. A capacitor is provided between the base of the third transistor and the connection point between the first MOS transistor and the second MOS transistor.