Abstract: Oligonucleotide probes, kits, and methods useful for detecting more than one target nucleic acid at a time are provided. The invention provides oligonucleotides that interact with target nucleic acids to form first stage cleavage structures that are cleaved by a structure-specific nuclease. In an embodiment, the cleavage products of the first stage cleavage reactions interact with secondary cleavage oligonucleotides that are specific for each target nucleic acid and that are coupled to a solid support. The cleavage of the specific secondary cleavage oligonucleotides leads to detectible changes in fluorescence and is used to detect multiple target nucleic acids in one assay. In one embodiment, the solid support is a coded bead.

Abstract: A gel pump operated by a stepper motor may be used to deliver fresh gel to one or more capillaries through one or more manifolds and valves. By controlling the valves, fresh gel delivered by the pump will replace the old gel in the capillaries for an automated gel replacement system. In a different setting of the valves, the manifolds may be purged of the old gel prior to delivery of fresh gel to the capillaries. The gel delivery system may also be combined with an electrophoresis system so that sealing connection capable of withstanding high pressure adequate for gel injection need not be frequently broken when the gel is to be replaced. Manifold/reflector assembly is advantageously used in the system that facilitates electrical circuit for electrophoresis and for gel replacement.

Abstract: A sample having both positively and negatively charged components may be separated during the same run by injecting a plug of sample at both ends of the capillary and applying an electric field in the capillary, where there is insufficient electroosmotic flow in the capillary to reverse sample migration direction, such as in the case of a gel-filled column.

Abstract: The invention relates to a centrifugal pump particularly adapted for pumping fibrous suspensions from within a reservoir, wherein the pump includes a rotor arranged wholly within the reservoir for cooperation with the bottom wall thereof to effect fluidization of suspension and discharge of the fluidized suspension from the reservoir for passage through the pump, wherein an entrained gas, such as air, is withdrawn from the pump by means of a unique pump-out mechanism disposed rearwardly of a shroud of an impeller of the pump and including pump-out vanes and a repeller shroud cooperating with the impeller shroud and pump-out vanes to define radially opening flow paths, wherein flow openings extend across the impeller shroud for flow communication with the radially opening flow paths. The mechanism may also include repeller vanes carried by the repeller shroud to extend rearwardly of pump-out vanes.

Abstract: Solid phases such as capillary tubes or solid supports used in chromatography, and in particular electrophoresis, are treated with oxidizing or reducing agents as needed to maintain or restore surface electrical charges or the lack thereof, which become modified during electrophoresis as a result of action by system components in the separation medium or the solutes themselves. The treatment is used as a means of achieving reproducible electroosmotic bulk flow when desired or suppressing unwanted electroosmotic flow arising due to the accumulation of charges on the surface. The result is improved reproducibility of retention times and component separation.

Abstract: The invention relates to a centrifugal pump of the type adapted for use in pumping multiple phase liquids, i.e. liquids having entrained gas and liquids having both entrained gas and solids. The pump includes means for effecting an initial separation of gas from the liquid, as by centrifugal action, and a final separation by means of a unique pump-out mechanism disposed rearwardly of a shroud of an impeller of the pump and including pump-out vanes and a repeller shroud cooperating with the impeller shroud and pump-out vanes to define radially opening flow paths, wherein flow openings extend across the impeller shroud for flow communication with the radially opening flow paths. The mechanism may also include repeller vanes carried by the repeller shroud to extend rearwardly of pump-out vanes.

Abstract: Capillary zone electrophoresis systems are separated into two zones, one primarily for electroosmotic fow generation and the other dominated by electrophoretic effects, by the use of appropriately selected capillary materials for each region. Detection of the solute zones occurs in the electrophoretic region, minimizing or eliminating entirely the entry of the solutes into the electroosmotic region. The benefit acheived is avoidance or minimization of the adsorption of charged solutes by the capillary wall in electroosmotic flow.

Abstract: An improved low specific speed pump is disclosed, which provides for greater consistency of pump operating efficiencies obtainable by pumps of any given group of like size pumps. In the present pump, the internal dimensions of the pump chamber and discharge passage are enlarged to provide for a reduction in flow velocities therewithin compared to a conventional pump of a given design flow capacity and a controlled size restrictor is arranged adjacent the pump discharge in order to reduce the resultant increase in flow capacity to such given design value.