Abstract: Cigarettes are manufactured using modified automated cigarette making apparatus. Those cigarettes possess smokable rods having paper wrapping materials having additive materials applied thereto as patterns. The additive materials, which can have the forms of liquid or paste formulations (e.g., aqueous formulations incorporating starch or modified starch), are applied to a continuous paper web on the cigarette making apparatus. The formulation is applied to the paper web using application apparatus possessing rollers, and one of those rollers has a series of pockets in its roll face to receive additive formulation from a reservoir and to define the pattern of the formulation on the paper. For example, additive material located in the recessed pockets of a first roller is transferred in a controlled manner to the roll face of a second roller in roll contact with that first roller; and the additive material on the roll face of the second roller is transferred to desired locations on the surface of the paper web.

Abstract: A monitoring system is provided for monitoring business and financial information. A user creates a customer application from a downloadable data integration toolkit. The user subscribes to a monitoring service by registering a set of cases. Then, the user requests notifications, including notifications that contain data products that are directly insertable into the user's database system. The monitoring service is uniform for all businesses globally.

Abstract: The present invention describes methods of using terminal-phosphate-labeled nucleotides in the presence of a manganese salt to enhance their substrate properties towards various enzymes. Particularly described are methods of detecting a nucleic acid in a sample, based on the use of terminal-phosphate-labeled nucleotides as substrates for nucleic acid polymerases, in the presence of a manganese salt. Further provided are manganese complexes of terminal-phosphate-labeled nucleotides as well as terminal-phosphate-labeled nucleotides with new linkers with enhanced substrate properties.

Abstract: A method of characterizing an analyte sample is provided that includes the steps of: (a) anchoring the analyte to a nucleic acid template of known sequence; (b) conducting a DNA polymerase reaction that includes the reaction of a template, a non-hydrolyzable primer, at least one terminal phosphate-labeled nucleotide, DNA polymerase, and an enzyme having 3′→5′ exonuclease activity which reaction results in the production of labeled polyphosphate; (c) permitting the labeled polyphosphate to react with a phosphatase to produce a detectable species characteristic of the sample; (d) detecting the detectable species. The method may include the step of characterizing the nucleic acid sample based on the detection. Also provided are methods of analyzing multiple analytes in a sample, and kits for characterizing analyte samples.

Abstract: An intake manifold for a V-type engine includes an air inlet for admitting air into the manifold, a first plenum in fluid communication with the air inlet, and second and third plenums that are each in fluid communication with the first plenum. The intake manifold also includes a short runner for each cylinder of the engine, which short runner connects the first plenum to the cylinder. The intake manifold further includes two sets of long runners. The first set of long runners connects the second plenum to one bank of engine cylinders, and the second set of long runners connects the third plenum to the other bank of cylinders.

Abstract: This invention presents a new cDNA amplification method. RNA is first converted to cDNA. The synthesis of cDNA can include a promoter tagged oligonucleotide, and then this cDNA is ligated to form circles (or possibly concatemers). This is then amplified using a Phi29 DNA polymerase based rolling circle and strand displacement amplification. The invention allows for RNA promoter sequences to be attached to the cDNA to facilitate additional amplification through the generation of RNA from the amplified cDNA. The resulting product can then be used to make materials for gene expression studies or other RNA analysis procedures.

Abstract: Queries are evaluated against received event information and notifications that events specified in the queries have occurred are generated by following the steps of recording the number of queries; receiving an item of event information; comparing the received item of event information with the queries; and generating a notification if the item of event information matches the query. Normally, a series of items of event information will be received and these are compared sequentially with the queries. Each query can be arbitrarily complex comprising a plurality of sub-queries, each requiring a different item or items of event information to be matched.

Abstract: The present invention describes methods of sequencing a nucleic acid in a sample, based on the use of terminal-phosphate-labeled nucleotides as substrates for nucleic acid polymerases. The methods provided by this invention utilize a nucleoside polyphosphate, dideoxynucleoside polyphosphate, or deoxynucleoside polyphosphate analogue which has a calorimetric dye, chemiluminescent, or fluorescent moiety, a mass tag or an electrochemical tag attached to the terminal-phosphate. When a nucleic acid polymerase uses this analogue as a substrate, an enzyme-activatable label would be present on the inorganic polyphosphate by-product of phosphoryl transfer. Cleavage of the polyphosphate product of phosphoryl transfer via phosphatase leads to a detectable change in the label attached thereon. In some instances the labeled polyphosphate may be detected directly via the label and provide information on the nucleic acid.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to the use of terminal-phosphate-labeled nucleotides having three or more phosphates as substrates for nucleic acid polymerases and their use in DNA amplification. The labels employed are chemiluminescent, fluorescent, electrochemical and chromogenic moieties as well as mass tags and include those that are directly detectable, detectable after enzyme activation or feed into other processes to generate a different signal. The signal generated from the attached dyes may also be used to quantify the amount of amplification. Further provided are stabilizers that enhance the stability of terminal-phosphate labeled nucleoside polyphosphates in aqueous solutions and are useful for reducing non-enzymatic hydrolysis of these nucleotides, hence decrease background.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a disengageable interconnecting flooring system for use in forming a temporary or permanent flooring surface on top of a support structure from individual flooring panels. The system includes two or more flooring panels comprising a top wear surface and a bottom surface for contact with the support structure. The panels have at least three edges and all edges have recesses formed therein. The system further comprises a connector having a base and a projection extending vertically from the base. The projection extending from the base is shaped to be received in a disengageable vertical connected fashion into the recesses of the panels. Preferably, the connector is comprised of a base having a projection extending the entire length thereof. In a preferred embodiment, the connector and panels further comprise means for connecting the panels in a disengageable horizontal fashion.

Abstract: A trench DMOS transistor device that comprises: (a) a substrate of a first conductivity type; (b) an epitaxial layer of first conductivity type over the substrate, wherein the epitaxial layer has a lower majority carrier concentration than the substrate; (c) a trench extending into the epitaxial layer from an upper surface of the epitaxial layer; (d) an insulating layer lining at least a portion of the trench; (e) a conductive region within the trench adjacent the insulating layer; (f) a body region of a second conductivity type provided within an upper portion of the epitaxial layer and adjacent the trench; (g) a source region of first conductivity type within an upper portion of the body region and adjacent the trench; and (h) one or more low resistivity deep regions extending into the device from an upper surface of the epitaxial layer. The low resistivity deep region acts to provide electrical contact with the substrate, which is a common drain region for the device.

Abstract: An intake manifold for a V-type engine includes an air inlet for admitting air into the manifold, a first plenum in fluid communication with the air inlet, and second and third plenums that are each in fluid communication with the first plenum. The intake manifold also includes a short runner for each cylinder of the engine, which short runner connects the first plenum to the cylinder. The intake manifold further includes two sets of long runners. The first set of long runners connects the second plenum to one bank of engine cylinders, and the second set of long runners connects the third plenum to the other bank of cylinders.

Abstract: An electrical generator (80) utilizes supplemental blowers or fans (140) to move additional cooling fluid through coolant flow paths (116, 124) in the generator, thus reducing the internal temperature of the generator. The supplemental blower comprises a blower (160) for supplementing cooling fluid flow through a discharge coolant flow path (155) and/or a supplemental blower (176, 178) for supplementing cooling fluid flow through an inlet coolant flow path (156). Either supplemental blower has the effect of lowering the peak internal generator temperature (134).

Abstract: This invention is related to an apparatus for attaching resists and wafers to substrates, including: first and a second moving devices for moving substrates and wafers respectively; a first tank for containing an adhesive agent; a dispensing device which dispenses a predetermined amount of the adhesive agent at the central region of the wafer; a third moving device for placing the substrate on the wafer, a compressing device which compresses the substrate to squeeze out any possible air bubble existing within the adhesive agent between the substrate and the wafer; a second tank for containing the adhesive agent; a fourth moving device for moving the attached substrate and the wafer together to the second tank such that the complete area of the wafer at the side thereof opposite to the substrate is covered with the adhesive agent in an appropriate amount; a mold having a plurality of cavities arranged in a required pattern; a supplying device for providing a plurality of resists on the mold; a shake-and-load d

Abstract: A method of characterizing a nucleic acid sample is provided that includes the steps of: (a) conducting a DNA polymerase reaction that includes the reaction of a template, an allele specific primer, at least one terminal phosphate-labeled nucleotide, DNA polymerase, and optionally an enzyme having 3′→5′ exonuclease activity when the primer is non-hydrolyzable, which reaction results in the production of labeled polyphosphate; (b) permitting the labeled polyphosphate to react with a phosphatase to produce a detectable species; (c) detecting the detectable species; and (d) characterizing the nucleic acid sample based on such detection.

Abstract: The present invention describes terminal phosphate blocked nucleoside polyphosphates that are stable at high temperature and their use in nucleic acid amplification and analysis. Current invention further describes charge modified terminal phosphate blocked nucleoside polyphosphates for improved incorporation and direct loading of nucleic acid sequencing reactions onto separating media.

Abstract: Oligonucleotide tagged nucleoside triphosphates, OTNTPs, which are substrates for polymerases and or terminal nucleotidyl transferases are provided as well as methods of making these OTNTPs. Further provided are OTNTPs with fluorescent dyes including energy transfer dyes, attached to the oligonucleotide chain, OTNTPs with unnatural bases incorporated in the oligonucleotide sequence and methods for incorporating these OTNTPs in DNA or RNA. Also provided are methods for using the oligonucleotides on OTNTPs for amplifying the oligo sequence on the OTNTP using an amplification method described above. Further provided are reactive bifunctional amidites, methods of making these compounds and methods for detecting single nucleotide polymorphisms using the above OTNTPs. Methods for detecting differential gene expression using the OTNTPs and methods of separating specifically modified DNA or RNA using the OTNTPs are also provided.

Abstract: A trench DMOS transistor device that comprises: (a) a substrate of a first conductivity type; (b) an epitaxial layer of first conductivity type over the substrate, wherein the epitaxial layer has a lower majority carrier concentration than the substrate; (c) a trench extending into the epitaxial layer from an upper surface of the epitaxial layer; (d) an insulating layer lining at least a portion of the trench; (e) a conductive region within the trench adjacent the insulating layer; (f) a body region of a second conductivity type provided within an upper portion of the epitaxial layer and adjacent the trench; (g) a source region of first conductivity type within an upper portion of the body region and adjacent the trench; and (h) one or more low resistivity deep regions extending into the device from an upper surface of the epitaxial layer. The low resistivity deep region acts to provide electrical contact with the substrate, which is a common drain region for the device.

Abstract: Processes for the amplification of target DNA sequences in the form of single or double stranded circular DNA molecules, especially those present in colony and plaque extracts, using multiple specific and/or random sequence oligonucleotide primers are disclosed along with methods for detecting such amplified target sequences. A kit containing components for use in the invention is also described.

Abstract: The present invention relates to improved methods of detecting a target using a labeled substrate or substrate analog. The methods comprise reacting the substrate or substrate analog in an enzyme-catalyzed reaction which produces a labeled moiety with independently detectable signal only when such substrate or substrate analog reacts. The present invention, in particular, describes methods of detecting a nucleic acid in a sample, based on the use of terminal-phosphate-labeled nucleotides as substrates for nucleic acid polymerases. The methods provided by this invention utilize a nucleoside polyphosphate, dideoxynucleoside polyphosphate, or deoxynucleoside polyphosphate analogue which has a colorimetric dye, chemiluminescent, or fluorescent moiety, a mass tag or an electrochemical tag attached to the terminal-phosphate. When a nucleic acid polymerase uses this analogue as a substrate, an enzyme-activatable label would be present on the inorganic polyphosphate by-product of phosphoryl transfer.