Abstract: A method of sequencing a DNA molecule is disclosed. This method comprises the step of exposing the molecule to a mixture of dITP/dGTP in a sequencing elongation reaction whereby compression artifacts are reduced.

Abstract: The invention relates to foam structures with enhanced physical properties which can be used in the areas of packaging, athletics, water sports, and construction. In general, the structures are laminated polymer foams that include a core of a low density foam and one or more skins of relatively high density foam covering the core. The skins provide improved physical properties to the foam structures by improving the flexural strength, resistance to bending, and resulting damage from bending in the laminated foam structure while modestly increasing the weight of the laminated structure, for example. Uses of the foam structures include, but are not limited to, packaging materials, gym mats, body boards, or eaves fillers. The skin can act as a hinge to fold a die cut piece into a collapsible packaging system.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a process which can be fully automated for accurately determining the alleles of genetic markers. More specifically, the present invention is related to performing PCR amplification on locations of DNA to generate a reproducible pattern, labeling the PCR products, converting the labels into a signal, operating on the signal, and then determining the genotype of the location of the DNA. An amplification can include multiple locations from the DNA of one or more individuals. The invention also pertains to genetics applications and systems which can effectively use this genotyping information.

Abstract: The inner surface of ethylene furnace tubes is diffusion coated with a sufficient amount of chromium or chromium and silicon to form a first coating having a thickness of at least two mils. This coating is then cleaned, neutralized, and grit blasted. Then a second coating of a sufficient amount of aluminum or aluminum and silicon is diffused onto the first coating to form a total coating thickness of at least five mils. The surface of the second coating is cleaned and polished to remove the nickel and iron-rich overlay which is present as a result of the coating process and to provide a smooth uniform surface. When ethelyene is produced using furnace tubes which are coated in this manner less coking occurs.

Abstract: Methods for concurrently processing multiple biological chip assays by providing a biological chip plate comprising a plurality of test wells, each test well having a biological chip having a molecular probe array; introducing samples into the test wells; subjecting the biological chip plate to manipulation by a fluid handling device that automatically performs steps to carry out reactions between target molecules in the samples and probes; and subjecting the biological chip plate to a biological chip plate reader that interrogates the probe arrays to detect any reactions between target molecules and probes.

Abstract: A plasma processing apparatus is provided. In the apparatus, an inside surface of a process chamber is prevented from having its quality varied or becoming a heavy metal contamination source by plasma in the chamber, and at the same time the plasma characteristic is stabilized over time. In a plasma processing apparatus including a plasma generating unit, a process chamber capable of having its inside pressure reduced, a gas supply system for supplying a gas to the process chamber, a sample table for holding a sample and a vacuum pumping system, the process chamber has an outer cylinder capable of withstanding depressurization and an inner cylinder arranged inside the outer cylinder and being spaced therefrom through a gap, and a heater and a temperature control are provided in the outer cylinder. A non-magnetic metallic material not containing heavy metals, or ceramic, carbon, silicon or quartz is used for the inner cylinder.

Abstract: A vibration damping liner adapted to pass through a relatively small diameter end of a tubular shaft for accommodation in a relatively large diameter section of such shaft, the liner being formed of a plurality of coaxial, helically wound paperboard strips forming inner and outer layers. The confronting edges of adjacent convolutions of each layer are coplanar and unjoined, and the confronting edges of the convolutions of all but one of such layers register with one another. The paperboard strip forming the one layer bridges the confronting edges of the adjacent convolutions of the other layers and is adhesively secured to that layer adjacent such one layer. Such one layer has less resistance to rupture than any of the other layers.

Abstract: It has been discovered that any RNA can be targeted for cleavage by RNase P from prokaryotic or eukaryotic cells using a suitably designed oligonucleotide ("external guide sequence", or EGS) to form a hybrid with the target RNA, thereby creating a substrate for cleavage by RNase P in vitro. The EGS hydrogen bonds to the targeted RNA to form a partial tRNA like structure including the aminoacyl acceptor stem, the T stem and loop, and part of the D stem. An EGS can be modified both by changes in sequence and by chemical modifications to the nucleotides. The EGS can be a separate molecule or can be combined with an RNase P catalytic RNA sequence to form a single oligonucleotide molecule ("RNase P internal guide sequence" or RIGS). Methods are also disclosed to randomly select and to express a suitable EGS or RIGS in vivo to make a selected RNA a target for cleavage by a host cell RNase P or introduced RIGS, thus preventing expression of the function of the target RNA.

Abstract: A method for the detection of nucleic acid sequence variants is disclosed which method comprises the stabilization of a portion of the sequence by a covalent bond with a photoactivatable intercalating agent and compositions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a procedure for the qualitative and/or quantitative analysis of biological substances, which are preferably biological substances, that are present in a conductive liquid medium, with the aid of at least one affinity sensor that includes at least one structure that includes at least one semiconductor material, which is coated on one of its surface with at least one layer of an isolating material, which in turn is affixed adhesively to at least one sensitive membrane, which is in contact with the conductive medium and which includes ligands that are complementary to the biological substances in question and which are capable of, and suitable for, forming pairs specifically with the latter biological substances, with the said procedure being characterized by the fact that it consists essentially of applying a voltage between the semiconductor and the conductive medium; of gathering the variations in the electrical signals induced by a charge-effect phenomenon directly and essent

Abstract: A process for detecting the presence or absence of a specific nucleic acid sequence or antibody in a sample using an oligonucleotide to bind to the nucleic acid sequence or antibody to be detected, forming double-stranded nucleic acid sequence using the bound oligonucleotide in conjunction with another oligonucleotide or DNA synthesis, synthesizing RNA transcripts from the thus-formed double-stranded nucleic acid sequence, and detecting the existence of the RNA transcripts, and oligonucleotides and kits useful in carrying out such a process.

Abstract: Methods for determining quantities of nucleic acid sequences in samples include the steps of amplifying a plurality of known quantities of a nucleic acid sequence in respective calibration samples and an unknown quantity of a nucleic acid sequence in a test sample, in parallel, during a time interval. These samples may be amplified using an isothermal amplification method such as Strand Displacement Amplification (SDA), or a thermal cycling amplification method such as Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), for example. Indicia of the quantities of a nucleic acid sequence being amplified in the calibration and test samples are then measured using conventional techniques, at measurement points in the time interval. Steps are then performed to determine for a first potential cutoff level, a corresponding first set of time points in the time interval at which the indicia of the quantities of a nucleic acid sequence being amplified in each of the calibration samples equal the first cutoff level.

Abstract: The present invention makes available assays and reagents for identifying agents which can be used to modulate at least one proliferation, differentiation and cell death by apoptosis.

Abstract: A method of quantitating genomic DNA in a sample is provided. The method comprises the steps of adding to the sample a given amount of at least one nucleic acid as an internal standard, wherein the standard nucleic acid differs from the genomic DNA to be quantified in at least one detectable characteristic; amplifying the genomic DNA and the internal standard nucleic acid by means of a nucleic acid amplification process employing primers complementary to repetitive genomic sequences; determining as a first amount the amount of amplified genomic DNA, and determining as a second amount the amount of amplified standard nucleic acid; and determining from the first and second amounts, as a third amount, the amount of genomic DNA originally contained in the sample. Kits for performing the method and products substantially free of foreign DNA as determined by the method also are provided.

Abstract: The dependence of ionizing radiation-induced GADD45 mRNA and protein expression on the presence of functional p53 in mammalian cells is disclosed. First and second oligonucleotide sequences are provided which can form a double-stranded oligomer capable of binding to functional p53 protein. The present invention demonstrates that the dependence of ionizing radiation-induced GADD45 mRNA and protein expression on the presence of functional p53 and the binding of functional p53 to a double-stranded oligomer binding sequence can serve as the bases for methods for determining the presence of functional p53 in mammalian cell lines and tumors.

Abstract: A process for lysing Mycobacteria to liberate nucleic acids such as DNA and RNA comprises heating the Mycobacteria in an aqueous solution to lyse the Mycobacteria and release the nucleic acids, with the aqueous solution containing a chelating agent such as EDTA or EGTA in an amount effective to inhibit degradation of the released nucleic acids. Examples of Mycobacteria which can be lysed include Mycobacterium fortuitum and Mycobacterium tuberculosis. After lysis, the nucleic acid is preferably then amplified and detected. Kits useful for carrying out the present invention are also disclosed.

Abstract: This invention relates to nucleic acid, or fragments thereof, encoding the retinoblastoma polypeptide, the retinoblastoma polypeptide itself, methods of detecting a defective retinoblastoma gene in human patients, and methods of treating these patients.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to a method of characterizing a sample of genomic DNA and to nucleotide sequences employed in the method as well as kits comprising these. In particular the invention involves the use of primers which selectively prime specific type(s) of internal repeat unit in a tandemly repeated region. The method of the invention is particularly useful in forensic or paternity studies and provides individual sample codes suitable for computerized storage on, and retrieval from, a database.

Abstract: The present invention provides chemically regulatable DNA sequences capable of regulating transcription of an associated DNA sequence in plants or plant tissues, chimeric constructions containing such sequences, vectors containing such sequences and chimeric constructions, and transgenic plants and plant tissues containing these chimeric constructions. In one aspect, the chemically regulatable DNA sequences of the invention are derived from the 5' region of genes encoding pathogenisis-related (PR) proteins. The present invention also provides anti-pathogenic sequences derived from novel cDNAs coding for PR proteins which can be genetically engineered and transformed into plants to confer enhanced resistance to disease.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to the DNA mapping and sequencing technologies. In particular, the present invention provides enhanced methods and compositions for the physical mapping and positional cloning of genomic DNA. The present invention also provides a useful analytical technique to directly map cloned DNA sequences onto individual stretched DNA molecules.