Abstract: A method for aligning the axis of an atom beam with the orientation of an electric field at a particular location within an enclosure for use in creating a charged particle source by photoionizing a cold atom beam. The method includes providing an atom beam in the enclosure, providing a plurality of electrically conductive devices in said enclosure, evacuating the enclosure to a pressure below about 10?6 millibar, and aligning the axis of the atom beam with the orientation of the electric field, relative to each other, within less than about two degrees. Alignment may be facilitated by applying at least one voltage to the electrically conductive devices, mechanically tilting the atom beam's axis orientation of the electric field relative to each other and/or causing a deflection of the atom beam.

Abstract: A downwind morphing rotor that exhibits bending loads that will be reduced by aligning the rotor blades with the composite forces. This reduces the net loads on the blades which therefore allow for a reduced blade mass for a given maximum stress. Also provided is a pre-aligned configuration rotor whereby the rotor geometry and orientation does not change with wind speed, and instead is fixed at a constant downwind deflection consistent with alignment at or near the rated wind speed conditions. Also provided is a twist morphing rotor where the airfoil-shapes around the spars twist relative to the wind due to aerodynamic forces so as to unload the rotors when there is a gust. This can help reduce unsteady stresses on the blade and therefore may allow for reduced blade mass and cost. The twist morphing rotor may be combined with either downwind morphing rotor or pre-alignment rotor.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for generating at least one partially double-stranded target nucleic acid, which contains at least one single-stranded region at a terminal end. The process comprises the steps of (a) providing at least one primer, P1, containing at least one labile nucleotide; (b) combining at least one target nucleic acid sequence with P1 to generate a double-stranded polynucleotide containing at least one labile nucleotide; (c) exposing the double-stranded polynucleotide to conditions that promote single-strand cleavage of the polynucleotide at the site of the at least one labile nucleotide of primer P1; and (d) exposing the cleaved polynucleotide to conditions that promote the dissociation of the cleaved portions of primer P1 from a terminal end. The labile nucleotide may be dUTP, wherein the single-stranded cleavage of the polynucleotide at the site of the labile nucleotide occurs by treatment with uracil N-glycosylase.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for generating at least one partially double-stranded target nucleic acid, which contains at least one single-stranded region at a terminal end. The process comprises the steps of (a) providing at least one primer, P1, containing at least one labile nucleotide; (b) combining at least one target nucleic acid sequence with P1 to generate a double-stranded polynucleotide containing at least one labile nucleotide; (c) exposing the double-stranded polynucleotide to conditions that promote single-strand cleavage of the polynucleotide at the site of the at least one labile nucleotide of primer P1; and (d) exposing the cleaved polynucleotide to conditions that promote the dissociation of the cleaved portions of primer P1 from a terminal end. The labile nucleotide may be dUTP, wherein the single-stranded cleavage of the polynucleotide at the site of the labile nucleotide occurs by treatment with uracil N-glycosylase.

Abstract: A fluorescently labeled nucleic acid having a hairpin structure between the fluorophore label and a point of attachment to a solid phase is useful as a probe to detect nucleic acid from a sample. The solid phase quenches the fluorophore label when the hairpin structure exists but this quenching is relieved by duplex formation between probe and a sample oligonucleotide. Probes for specific nucleic acid sequences can be immobilized as arrays on solid phase surfaces for detection of multiple nucleic acid sequences simultaneously from electrophoresis gels and from aqueous solutions. These probes and methods for their use can be combined with known solid phases, particularly those used for plasmon surface detection and electron transfer detection of nucleic acid. The probes can be washed and reused, and have other advantageous features over known probe methods.