Abstract: The present invention discloses novel methods for the integrated synthesis and purification of oligonucleotides. The methods employ novel capping reagents carrying two functional groups. The first functional group provides for a smooth and efficient capping process and incorporates the second functional group into contaminant oligonucleotides during solid phase oligonucleotide synthesis. The second functional group functions as a chemical purification handle in the trapping of truncated oligonucleotides (failure sequences) on a solid support. The trapping process creates covalent bonds between the solid support and the truncated oligonucleotides and therefore allows the removal of the truncated sequences from the desired full length oligonucleotide product by filtration. The chemical trapping process employed in this invention is based on cycloaddition reactions, particularly Diels-Alder reactions between the truncated oligonucleotides and the trapping agent.

Abstract: The present invention relates to semiconductor devices. According to the present invention a semiconductor device is described, comprising: a substrate for carrying a semiconductor chip on a first surface of said substrate; said semiconductor chip being punctually attached to said substrate on said first surface of said substrate via a single attachment point; and means for protecting said semiconductor chip on said first surface of said substrate at least protecting said semiconductor chip laterally.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an elastic contact-connecting device. An elastic elevation 3 is applied to a carrier area 2 of a carrier 1. The elastic elevation 3 has a first oblique area 4, a second ramp 5 and a roof area 6. The first oblique area 4 has a lesser inclination (30) with regard to the carrier area 2 than the second oblique area 5. A contact region 20 is applied to the roof area 6 of the elastic elevation. The contact region 20 is connected to other structures 12 on the carrier 1 via a conductor track 10. For this purpose, the conductor track 10 is guided over the first oblique area 4. If a mating contact is pressed onto the contact region 20, the elastic elevation yields, but presses against the mating contact on account of its elastic property and thus enables a reliable contact. In this case, essentially only the second oblique area 5 is deformed; the first oblique area 4 and the conductor track 10 applied thereto are not subjected to any mechanical stress.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an elastic contact-connecting device. An elastic elevation 3 is applied to a carrier area 2 of a carrier 1. The elastic elevation 3 has a first oblique area 4, a second ramp 5 and a roof area 6. The first oblique area 4 has a lesser inclination (30) with regard to the carrier area 2 than the second oblique area 5. A contact region 20 is applied to the roof area 6 of the elastic elevation. The contact region 20 is connected to other structures 12 on the carrier 1 via a conductor track 10. For this purpose, the conductor track 10 is guided over the first oblique area 4. If a mating contact is pressed onto the contact region 20, the elastic elevation yields, but presses against the mating contact on account of its elastic property and thus enables a reliable contact. In this case, essentially only the second oblique area 5 is deformed; the first oblique area 4 and the conductor track 10 applied thereto are not subjected to any mechanical stress.

Abstract: The invention comprises novel methods and strategies to detect and/or quantify nucleic acid analytes. The methods involve nucleic acid probes with covalently conjugated dyes, which are attached either at adjacent nucleotides or at the same nucleotide of the probe and novel linker molecules to attach the dyes to the probes. The nucleic acid probes generate a fluorescent signal upon hybridization to complementary nucleic acids based on the interaction of one of the attached dyes, which is either an intercalator or a DNA groove binder, with the formed double stranded DNA. The methods can be applied to a variety of applications including homogeneous assays, real-time PCR monitoring, transcription assays, expression analysis on nucleic acid microarrays and other microarray applications such as genotyping (SNP analysis). The methods further include pH-sensitive nucleic acid probes that provide switchable fluorescence signals that are triggered by a change in the pH of the medium.

Abstract: The invention comprises novel methods and strategies to detect and/or quantify nucleic acid analytes. The methods involve nucleic acid probes with covalently conjugated dyes, which are attached either at adjacent nucleotides or at the same nucleotide of the probe and novel linker molecules to attach the dyes to the probes. The nucleic acid probes generate a fluorescent signal upon hybridization to complementary nucleic acids based on the interaction of one of the attached dyes, which is either an intercalator or a DNA groove binder, with the formed double stranded DNA. The methods can be applied to a variety of applications including homogeneous assays, real-time PCR monitoring, transcription assays, expression analysis on nucleic acid microarrays and other microarray applications such as genotyping (SNP analysis). The methods further include pH-sensitive nucleic acid probes that provide switchable fluorescence signals that are triggered by a change in the pH of the medium.

Abstract: The present invention discloses novel phosphoramidite reagents for use in oligonucleotide synthesis. The present invention further discloses novel methods for the conversion of terminal hydroxyl groups of oligonucleotides into phosphate monoesters. By employing novel reagents, as also disclosed herein, the methods are fully compatible with standard procedures for solid phase oligonucleotide synthesis and do not require additional processing steps. The inventive reagents to phosphorylate terminal hydroxyl groups of oligonucleotides are superior to the prior art in that they for the first time combine the desired attributes of being a solid compound for facile handling, comprising two &bgr;-eliminating protective groups removable as fast or faster than the standard cyanoethyl group, providing a DMT-group for easy monitoring of the coupling efficiency, and enabling a fast final deprotection of the phosphorylated oligonucleotide without any extra manipulation steps.

Abstract: The present invention discloses novel methods and solid supports for the synthesis of 3′-amino oligonucleotides. The novel supports are based on an unsubstituted or ring-substituted hydroxymethylbenzoyl linker element wherein the hydroxymethyl group is esterified to a solid phase bound carboxylic acid and the carbonyl group is linked to an amino alcohol as an amide. Oligonucleotides are conveniently synthesized on the novel supports with no modifications in the standard phosphoramidite synthesis scheme. The ester function of the support is cleaved under the alkaline deprotection conditions for oligonucleotides to provide a free hydroxymethyl group that aids in the release of the 3′-amino oligonucleotide products with a free amino group through neighbor group participation. The free amino group of the oligonucleotides is available for further conjugation reactions to haptens, reporter groups, surfaces or other small molecules or biomolecules.

Abstract: This invention discloses a novel method for immobilizing molecules to a support. Specifically, this invention discloses a method of immobilizing derivatized biomolecules, such as oligonucleotides, using cycloaddition reactions, such as the Diels-Alder reaction. Included in this invention are the novel immobilized biomolecules that can be prepared according to the method of this invention.

Abstract: The present invention discloses novel methods for the integrated synthesis and purification of oligonucleotides. The methods employ novel capping reagents carrying two functional groups. The first functional group provides for a smooth and efficient capping process and incorporates the second functional group into contaminant oligonucleotides during solid phase oligonucleotide synthesis. The second functional group functions as a chemical purification handle in the trapping of truncated oligonucleotides (failure sequences) on a solid support. The trapping process creates covalent bonds between the solid support and the truncated oligonucleotides and therefore allows the removal of the truncated sequences from the desired full length oligonucleotide product by filtration. The chemical trapping process employed in this invention is based on cycloaddition reactions, particularly Diels-Alder reactions between the truncated oligonucleotides and the trapping agent.

Abstract: The invention comprises novel methods and strategies to detect and/or quantify nucleic acid analytes. The methods involve nucleic acid probes with covalently conjugated dyes, which are attached either at adjacent nucleotides or at the same nucleotide of the probe and novel linker molecules to attach the dyes to the probes. The nucleic acid probes generate a fluorescent signal upon hybridization to complementary nucleic acids based on the interaction of one of the attached dyes, which is either an intercalator or a DNA groove binder, with the formed double stranded DNA. The methods can be applied to a variety of applications including homogeneous assays, real-time PCR monitoring, transcription assays, expression analysis on nucleic acid microarrays and other microarray applications such as genotyping (SNP analysis). The methods further include pH-sensitive nucleic acid probes that provide switchable fluorescence signals that are triggered by a change in the pH of the medium.

Abstract: The present invention comprises methods for detecting specific binding interactions through measuring the heat of binding generated when members of specific binding pairs interact with each other. The invention also comprises methods to detect analytes in a solution through measurement of the heat of binding or reaction generated from the interaction of the analytes with binding or reaction partners. In addition, the invention comprises detection devices that consist of spatially addressable arrays of thermistors, which are useful in the multi-parallel thermal analysis of samples. The analytical methods and devices described are particularly useful in the analysis of nucleic acids.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a detergent and a method of producing the same. The detergent is for textile surfaces and especially for textile floor coverings. The detergent includes a pulverized, porous carrier including a foamed, plastified urea-formaldehyde resin foam. The carrier material is enriched with detergent so that the finished product with respect to the carrier material has a weight per unit volume of 60 kg/m.sup.3 and an apparent density of 50 to 150 grams/liter; the granular size of the carrier material is between 0.01 and 12 mm; the surfactant containing water, which adheres to the carrier material, is stored in the carrier material in a completely homogeneous manner in a share of maximally 80% by weight referred to the weight of the carrier material; and, the detergent is produced from the mixture of the carrier material with a highly concentrated aqueous cleaning solution.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a detergent and a method of producing the same. The detergent is for textile surfaces and especially for textile floor coverings. The detergent includes a pulverized, porous carrier including a foamed, plastified urea-formaldehyde resin foam. The carrier material is enriched with detergent so that the finished product with respect to the carrier material has a weight per unit volume of 60 kg/m.sup.3 and an apparent density of 50 to 150 grams/liter; the granular size of the carrier material is between 0.01 and 12 mm; the surfactant containing water, which adheres to the carrier material, is stored in the carrier material in a completely homogeneous manner in a share of maximally 80% by weight referred to the weight of the carrier material; and, the detergent is produced from the mixture of the carrier material with a highly concentrated aqueous cleaning solution.

Abstract: A cleaning means is disclosed for textile surfaces, particularly textile floor coverings, containing a powdery, porous carrier material based upon urea-formaldehyde-resin foam which is enriched with cleaning agent, whereby the tenside-containing water adhered within the carrier material from the foaming-up process is stored completely homogeneously in the carrier material, and forms together with the cleaning agent the prepared product. It is suggested for lowering the free formaldehyde content, to add to the tenside-containing water adhering within the carrier material, a salt of sulfurous acid in an effective portion, relative to the anion of the acid, from 0.01-2% by weight. This strongly reduces the portion of free formaldehyde and adjusts the pH-value of the cleaning means between 6 and 9.