Abstract: An apparatus includes a transparent chamber having a space therein for containing an object while heating under vacuum, at least one directed energy source configured to direct energy to heat the object positioned within the space of the transparent chamber, a cap on the transparent chamber, and a connection between the transparent chamber and at least one vacuum for creating a vacuum within the transparent chamber. The apparatus may further include at least one temperature sensor to measure temperature of the object. The apparatus may further include a control system, the control system operatively connected to the at least one temperature sensor and the at least one directed energy source and wherein the control system is a closed loop system to adjust laser power to provide more or less energy to heat or maintain the temperature of the object.

Abstract: An IBC storage box assembly is elevated from a railcar. A vertical beam is used to elevate the storage box off the railcar so that the storage box is more easily accessed from a rail platform. Additionally, the vertical beam may provide some clearance for the storage box so that the storage box is not impacted by the railcar coupler during transport.

Abstract: Embodiments provide a multi-cone X-ray imaging Bragg crystal spectrometer for spectroscopy of small x-ray sources with a well-defined spectral resolution. The spectrometer includes a glass substrate machined to a multi-cone form; and a thin crystal slab attached to the glass substrate, whereby the multi-cone X-ray imaging Bragg crystal spectrometer provides rotational symmetry of a ray pattern, providing for accurate imaging, for each wavelength in the spectral range of interest. One or more embodiments include a streak camera and/or a gated strip detector.

Abstract: A system/apparatus and a positioning method for the determination of the delivery of protons within a mammalian body or inanimate medium, as well as a treatment method which comprises the delivery of protons to a mammalian body. The system/apparatus necessarily comprise the use of a detector which is placed in the proximity of the body or medium which is responsive to a signal emitted from a fiducuial marker which his positioned within or in the near proximity of target tissue within the body or target volume within the medium. A signal emitted from the fiducial marker is responsive to the impingement of protons thereon received from a controlled proton beam, the signal may be used to modify the subsequent operative characteristics of the source of protons.

Abstract: Methods of conjugating oligonucleotides are provided. The methods may include: activating a terminal of first oligonucleotide using a squarate reagent to produce an activated first oligonucleotide; and binding the first oligonucleotide and a second oligonucleotide to a splint oligonucleotide; to conjugate the activated first oligonucleotide with a terminal of the second oligonucleotide via a squaramide linkage to produce a squaramide-linked oligonucleotide. Also provided are oligonucleotides that include a squaramide internucleoside linkage. Compositions are provided that include a first oligonucleotide including 300 or more nucleosides and at least one squaramide internucleoside linkage; and a second complementary oligonucleotide not including a squaramide linkage. Kits and compositions for practicing the subject methods are also provided.

Abstract: An oligonucleotide derivative having the structure of formula (A) and methods for preparing the oligonucleotide derivative are disclosed. wherein R3 is a first oligonucleotide; R1 is selected from the group consisting of alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, heterocyclyl, heteroaryl, a polyethylene glycol, a peptide, a protein, a polysaccharide, and a second oligonucleotide; R2 is a linker or a direct bond; Z1 is NR4, S, or O, and Z2 is NR4 or S, wherein R4 is selected from H, alkyl, aryl, heterocyclyl, or heteroaryl. A method includes: synthesizing an oligonucleotide derivative comprising an amino or thiol group; and reacting a 3,4-dialkoxycyclobutene-1,2-dione with the oligonucleotide derivative to produce an oligonucleotide-squarate mono-conjugate.

Abstract: Methods of conjugating oligonucleotides are provided. The methods may include: activating a terminal of first oligonucleotide using a squarate reagent to produce an activated first oligonucleotide; and binding the first oligonucleotide and a second oligonucleotide to a splint oligonucleotide; to conjugate the activated first oligonucleotide with a terminal of the second oligonucleotide via a squaramide linkage to produce a squaramide-linked oligonucleotide. Also provided are oligonucleotides that include a squaramide internucleoside linkage. Compositions are provided that include a first oligonucleotide including 300 or more nucleosides and at least one squaramide internucleoside linkage; and a second complementary oligonucleotide not including a squaramide linkage. Kits and compositions for practicing the subject methods are also provided.

Abstract: Disclosed is an imaging apparatus for EUV spectroscopy, EUV microscopy, EUV lithography, and x-ray imaging. This new imaging apparatus could, in particular, make significant contributions to EUV lithography at wavelengths in the range from 10 to 15 nm, which is presently being developed for the manufacturing of the next-generation integrated circuits. The disclosure provides a novel adjustable imaging apparatus that allows for the production of stigmatic images in x-ray imaging, EUV imaging, and EUVL. The imaging apparatus of the present invention incorporates additional properties compared to previously described objectives. The use of a pair of spherical reflectors containing a concave and convex arrangement has been applied to a EUV imaging system to allow for the image and optics to all be placed on the same side of a vacuum chamber.

Abstract: The invention provides a novel approach for reversibly conjugating an oligonucleotide, which includes obtaining an oligonucleotide labeled with a diene moiety and a target entity labeled with a dienophile moiety; heating the oligonucleotide labeled with the diene moiety and the target entity labeled with the dienophile moiety in a solution at a first temperature to effect Diels Alder reaction to produce a conjugate; and heating the conjugate to a second temperature to effect retro Diels Alder reaction to regenerate the oligonucleotide labeled with the diene moiety and the target entity labeled with the dienophile moiety.

Abstract: An oligonucleotide derivative having the structure of formula (A) and methods for preparing the oligonucleotide derivative are disclosed. wherein R3 is a first oligonucleotide; R1 is selected from the group consisting of alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, heterocyclyl, heteroaryl, a polyethylene glycol, a peptide, a protein, a polysaccharide, and a second oligonucleotide; R2 is a linker or a direct bond; Z1 is NR4, S, or O, and Z2 is NR4 or S, wherein R4 is selected from H, alkyl, aryl, heterocyclyl, or heteroaryl. A method includes: synthesizing an oligonucleotide derivative comprising an amino or thiol group; and reacting a 3,4-dialkoxycyclobutene-1,2-dione with the oligonucleotide derivative to produce an oligonucleotide-squarate mono-conjugate.

Abstract: Disclosed is an imaging apparatus for EUV spectroscopy, EUV microscopy, EUV lithography, and x-ray imaging. This new imaging apparatus could, in particular, make significant contributions to EUV lithography at wavelengths in the range from 10 to 15 nm, which is presently being developed for the manufacturing of the next-generation integrated circuits. The disclosure provides a novel adjustable imaging apparatus that allows for the production of stigmatic images in x-ray imaging, EUV imaging, and EUVL. The imaging apparatus of the present invention incorporates additional properties compared to previously described objectives. The use of a pair of spherical reflectors containing a concave and convex arrangement has been applied to a EUV imaging system to allow for the image and optics to all be placed on the same side of a vacuum chamber.

Abstract: Spherically or toroidally curved, double focusing crystals are used in a spectrometer for X-ray diagnostics of an extended X-ray source such as a hot plasma produced in a tokomak fusion experiment to provide spatially and temporally resolved data on plasma parameters using the imaging properties for Bragg angles near 45. For a Bragg angle of 45°, the spherical crystal focuses a bundle of near parallel X-rays (the cross section of which is determined by the cross section of the crystal) from the plasma to a point on a detector, with parallel rays inclined to the main plain of diffraction focused to different points on the detector. Thus, it is possible to radially image the plasma X-ray emission in different wavelengths simultaneously with a single crystal.

Abstract: Molecules that catalyze the reaction of a cyclic conjugated diene having a fugitive leaving group in a five- or six-membered ring containing the conjugated double bonds and a dienophile that contains a reactive multiple bond to form a reaction product that contains a five- or six-membered ring and at least two endocyclic double bonds from a Diels-Alder [4+2] cycloaddition/fragmentation reaction that is followed by a reverse Diels-Alder reaction are disclosed. The catalyst molecules contain an antibody combining site that immunoreacts with an antigen whose structure (i) includes a [2.2.1] or [2.2.2] bicyclic ring system that is absent from the reaction product and (ii) contains at least one endocyclic double bond fewer than the number of endocyclic double bonds present in the reaction product. Methods of preparing and using the catalyst molecules are also disclosed.

Abstract: Dense sialon grain is produced by briquetting mixtures of micronized silicon and reactive alumina. Sialon powder is produced by ball milling the briquettes after nitriding. The starting mixtures can contain from 10 to 38% reactive alumina with the balance of the mixture micronized silicon. Mixtures made within this range when pressed into dense briquettes and nitrided produce useful sialon grain having minimal free alumina contamination.

Abstract: A storage bin for bulk ice has upper and lower sections that completely enclose a space in which ice cubes are stored. These ice cubes are produced by an ice making machine and are delivered to the ice bin by a conveyor which is inclined upwardly away from the ice making machine. One of the walls on the upper section of the ice bin is inclined to accommodate the inclination of the conveyor and this wall has an opening through which the ice cubes are discharged into the enclosed space. The lower section of the bin has an opening through which the ice cubes are withdrawn for bagging, while the upper section has another opening that provides access to the interior of the bin for breaking up ice jams. Both of these openings are normally closed by doors. Refrigeration equipment extracts heat from the enclosed space of the bin, and the water line that leads to the ice making machine passes through the space so that the water is precooled, thus rendering the ice making machine considerably more efficient.