Abstract: A method for characterizing DNA, which comprises: (i) providing a population of DNA fragments, each fragment having cleavably attached thereto a mass label for identifying a feature of that fragment; (ii) separating the fragments on the basis of their length; (iii) cleaving each fragment in a mass spectrometer to release its mass label; and (iv) determining each mass label by mass spectrometry to relate the feature of each fragment to the length of the fragment.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for searching for text passages in text documents. The method uses computerized prediction-based and ontology-based semantic language processing. Both the text passages that are to be located, as well as the text of the documents that are searched, are transformed on the basis of surface-syntactic and deep-syntactic information to generate a semantic network structure. The semantic network structure is linguistically processed based on information about other parts of the semantic network structure in order to improve the accuracy of the semantic network structure. Nodes in the semantic network structure are classified by linking the nodes in the semantic network structure to nodes in a pre-existing ontological network structure representing concepts in a language.

Abstract: Generating contract documents in a recurring contracting environment comprises receiving a contract renewal indication, generating a bid invitation having a plurality of offered terms and a plurality of requested terms in response to the renewal indication, receiving one of more bid responses, and generating a contract by incorporating information from a previous contract and one of the responsive bids. The contract renewal indication may be associated with the expiration of a prior contract, and may comprise instructions from a user to initiate a new contract. In addition, the bids may be scored according to a predetermined scoring standard, one of the responsive bids may be selected from which the new contract is formed, and the highest scoring bidder may be the one selected for the new contract.

Abstract: The invention relates to mammalian cell lines and transgenic mammals. More particularly, it relates to a method for producing a rat cell line, a method for producing a transgenic rat, a transgenic rat, a rat cell line, cells and tissue obtained therefrom and uses therefore. The cell line derived from a transgenic mammal comprises: (i) a conditional oncogene, transforming gene or immortalising gene or a cell cycle affecting gene; and (ii) a cell type specific promoter. They include a neuronal cell line in which the cell type specific promoter is an NF-L gene promoter, and a mammary cell line in which the cell type specific promoter is a MMTV gene promoter. The conditional oncogene, transforming gene or immortalising gene is preferably a SV40tsA58 gene.

Abstract: The invention is based on an apparatus and a method for scanning specimens (1) using an optical imaging system (3) and a scanning stage (2), images of the specimen (1) being acquired by means of a camera (4), and/or measurements on the specimen (1) being made by means of an optical measurement device (5), at specimen points Xp, Yp. For that purpose, the scanning stage (2) is calibrated by obtaining and storing height values Z at different calibration positions X, Y of the scanning stage (2), and thereby generating a running height profile of the scanning stage (2). For the scanning of specimens (1), the specimen height positions Zp at specimen points Xp, Yp are determined by means of a reference height Zref of the specimen (1) together with the running height profile of the scanning stage (2).

Abstract: A method for fractal-darwinian object generation consists of the steps of: preparing a fractal object library including predetermined objects and associated rules of property and context, forming objects and comparing the formed objects with the objects in the fractal object library. By using the property rules, a local classification likelihood is allocated to each formed object. Thereupon, by using the context rules for each object, a respective fractal classification likelihood is formed. For optimisation of the fractal classification likelihood, alteration rules are applied to the objects. The above method is carried out iteratively, whereby a process of gradual optimisation takes place.

Abstract: An array of hybridisation probes, each of which comprises a mass label linked to a known base sequence of predetermined length, wherein each mass label of the array, optionally together with the known base sequence, is relatable to that base sequence by mass spectrometry.

Abstract: Multiphase soaps in which the individual phases are highly visible when viewed from above and from the side have high stability. Their use permits various scent experiences to be achieved during the washing operation.

Abstract: The present invention involves a method for categorizing nucleic acid which comprises: producing a nucleic acid population by action of an endonuclease on double-stranded nucleic acid, such that each nucleic acid in the nucleic acid population has a double-stranded portion; contacting the nucleic acid population with one or more oligonucleotide sequences; and isolating nucleic acid which correctly hybridizes to an oligonucleotide sequence. In the method of the present invention, each oligonucleotide sequence has a pre-determined recognition sequence. Furthermore, the nucleic acid is categorized by its ability to correctly hybridize to oligonucleotide sequences having the recognition sequence, the recognition sequence being situated such that it recognizes a sequence in the double-stranded portion of the nucleic acid. The oligonucleotide sequence can comprise one or more different recognition sequences.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for dynamically obtaining relevant traffic information and/or for dynamically optimizing a route followed by a first vehicle which belongs to a self-organizing traffic information and/or traffic guidance system to which other vehicles belong as well. Said method consists of the following steps: generating own data by means of vehicle-mounted sensors and/or other information sources in the first vehicle; transmitting data relevant to the first vehicle or other vehicles; receiving data transmitted by other vehicles; storing data obtained from received and/or own data; generating and transmitting requests regarding data which can possibly be provided by other vehicles; and potential relaying received data by retransmitting said data in processed or unprocessed form.

Abstract: A method for identifying an antisense oligonucleotide capable of binding to a target mRNA, which comprises contacting the target mRNA with each member of an oligonucleotide library separately under hybridization conditions, removing unhybridized material and determining which member or members hybridize; wherein the oligonucleotide library comprises a plurality of distinct nucleotide sequences of a predetermined common length, and wherein each nucleotide sequence comprises a known sequence of 4 to 8 bases and all possible combinations of the known sequence are present in the library.

Abstract: The present invention involves a method for characterizing nucleic acid which comprises generating Sanger ladder nucleic acid fragments from a plurality of nucleic acid templates present in the same reaction zone, wherein at least one terminating base is present in the reaction zone. Prior to generating nucleic acid fragments, a labeled primer nucleotide or oligonucleotide is hybridized to each template. The label on each primer is specific to the template to which that primer hybridizes, thereby allowing for identification of the template. The method of the present invention further comprises identifying the length of each nucleic acid fragment produced, the template from which the fragment is derived and the terminating base of the fragment.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method for characterizing one or more nucleic acids. This method involves immobilizing double-stranded nucleic acids on a solid phase support and cleaving the immobilized nucleic acids with an endonuclease, such that each cleaved nucleic acid has a double-stranded portion. The cleaved nucleic acids are then denatured to form single-stranded cleaved nucleic acids. One or more oligonucleotide sequences are then hybridized to the resulting single-stranded cleaved nucleic acid. The oligonucleotide sequences used each comprise a pre-determined recognition sequence situated such that it recognizes a sequence which was part of the double-stranded portion of the nucleic acid and a label specific to the recognition sequence. The hybridized oligonucleotide sequences are then extended along the single-stranded portion of the immobilized nucleic acid to form an extended strand which is then denatured from the immobilized strand.

Abstract: The present invention provides a compound having the following formula: N-L-M wherein N comprises one or more nucleic acid bases, L is either a direct bond between N and M or L comprises a linker moiety, and M comprises a mass marker comprising an aryl ether.

Abstract: A method for classifying and recognizing patterns which includes producing a pattern to be classified and recognized of an m-dimensional object. The object to be classified and recognized is provided in the form of an m-dimensional traverse. The method also acquires a property represented by an s-dimensional value for selected points of the traverse, whereby the s-dimensional value reflects a relationship between a respective selected point and a point preceding it and a point succeeding it on the traverse, links the s-dimensional values for the selected points of the traverse in such a manner that an overall property represented by a q-dimensional value characterizing the traverse is obtained, and smooths the traverse in order to form a new traverse.

Abstract: A method for characterizing cDNA, which comprises: (a) cutting a sample comprising a population of one or more cDNAs or isolated fragments thereof, each having a strand complementary to the 3′ poly-A terminus of an mRNA and bearing a tail, with a first sampling endonuclease at a first sampling site of known displacement from a reference site proximal to the tail to generate from each cDNA or isolated fragment thereof a first and second sub-fragment, each comprising a sticky end sequence of predetermined length and unknown sequence, the first sub-fragment bearing the tail; (b) sorting either the first or second sub-fragments into sub-populations according to their sticky end sequence and recording the sticky end sequence of each sub-population as the first sticky end; (c) cutting the sub-fragments of each sub-population with a second sampling endonuclease, which is the same as or different from the first sampling endonuclease, at second sampling site of known displacement from the first sampling site to

Abstract: In the device, the turbine blades are anchored with blade feet, which are profiled like teeth, to correspondingly shaped axial grooves of a wheel disk. An axial gap is left between each blade foot end and the base of an axial groove, in which gap a securing element is disposed. The securing element can be bent on both ends, which protrude out from the gap, directed opposite each other against faces of the wheel disk and a blade foot, and is clamped in a wedged manner in the relevant axial gap between the groove base and the blade foot. The securing element bridges over a recess, which is formed in the blade foot to receive a balancing mass.

Abstract: The present invention provides an aqueous dispersion comprising gypsum and a surface-active, anionic compound, wherein the surface-active compound is a phosphoric acid ester selected from the group consisting of (1) an acidic phosphoric acid ester of the formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are the same or different and are alkyl poly(oxyethylene), alkyl poly(oxypropylene), alkylphenoxy- alkyl or alkylphenyl polyoxyalkyl radicals, (2) a monophosphoric acid ester of a mono- or dihydroxyalkylurea or of an alkoxylated mono- or dihydroxyalkylurea, and (3) a monophosphoric acid ester of a polyalkoxylated amine, in which several hydroxyl groups can be esterified with phosphoric acid.

Abstract: Scale formation as well as deposition of incrustations in aqueous systems are prevented by the addition of a monophosphoric acid ester of a hydroxy alkyl urea compound or of salts of such an ester. Preferred esters of this type are the esters obtained by reacting hydroxyl alkyl urea compounds with urea phosphate. The esters are highly effective even when they are added in substoichiometric amounts calculated with respect to the scale and hardness causing compounds present in aqueous systems.