Abstract: The invention relates to the rapid enrichment of nucleic acid molecules of interest from complex mixtures of nucleic acids for the purpose of sequencing genes and variants, e.g. for clinical uses as well as other applications. A hybridisation column comprising an inner channel, wherein a portion of said channel is filled completely with a porous solid support comprising (a) a plurality of interconnected, micron-sized voids that permit a fluid to flow between them and the remainder of the channel, and (b) a plurality of hybridisation probes, which are bound to the surfaces of the solid support forming the voids is disclosed.

Abstract: An integrated shifting and suspension system for a bicycle coordinates suspension settings with gear selections. A mechanical cable linkage between a derailleur and an adjustable shock absorber couples the shifting and suspension settings of a bicycle. This coupling automatically adjusts the suspension to a firm setting when a rider selects a low gear and a soft setting when a rider selects a high gear. Movement of the derailleur corresponding to a gear selection moves the cable, thus actuating a firmness control mechanism on the shock absorber. Various interconnections, including those linking front or rear derailleurs to front or rear suspensions are possible with the integrated systems described herein.

Abstract: An integrated shifting and suspension system for a bicycle coordinates suspension settings with gear selections. A mechanical cable linkage between a derailleur and an adjustable shock absorber couples the shifting and suspension settings of a bicycle. This coupling automatically adjusts the suspension to a firm setting when a rider selects a low gear and a soft setting when a rider selects a high gear. Movement of the derailleur corresponding to a gear selection moves the cable, thus actuating a firmness control mechanism on the shock absorber. Various interconnections, including those linking front or rear derailleurs to front or rear suspensions are possible with the integrated systems described herein.

Abstract: The present invention provides use of a protein conjugate comprising a “ble” protein, which has specific binding properties. The protein conjugates are capable of binding reversibly to an antibiotic from the bleomycin family, which property is exploited in a variety of immobilisation methods. In preferred aspects of the invention, the conjugates are used as markers for protein expression and/or folding, or for affinity tagging. The present invention also provides a probe comprising an array of an immobilised antibody from the bleomycin family, which acts as an analyte capture moiety. In another aspect, a purification media is provided, which comprises an antibiotic of the bleomycin family as an analyte capture moiety. Also provided is a method for generating soluble forms of an insoluble protein by expressing the protein as a “ble” fusion protein and selecting in the presence of an antibiotic from the bleomycin family.

Abstract: A shock absorbing fork for a bicycle or other two-wheeled vehicle of the type having a pair of telescoping struts, with upper tubes which are interconnected by an upper crown to a steerer tube at an upper end portion thereof and lower tubes which are which mount a wheel axle at a bottom end thereof. Within at least one of the telescoping struts a spring arrangement and/or a hydraulic damping arrangement is provided which is acted upon as the upper tube and the lower tube move toward each other for absorbing impact shocks experienced by the wheel of the bicycle.

Abstract: A front fork for bicycles which has a shock absorbing system having both a spring type shock absorbing unit and a hydraulic shock damping unit with variable and adjustable damping characteristics that will allow a wide range of adjustments for adapting the suspension to widely differing circumstances of rider weight and riding experience and has a spring type shock absorbing system which can be interchangeably be used with both stacked elastomeric pad and coil spring type spring shock absorbing units. Stacked elastomeric pad arrangements are provided which allow the pad stack to be exchanged as a unit with another pad stack or with a coil spring and an adjustment mechanism allows the performance characteristics of a particular pad stack to be changed. Alternatively, a leaf spring arrangement can be provided formed of pairs of oppositely facing convex-concave carbon fiber composite leaf springs can be employed to produce a unit that is especially light in weight.

Abstract: Shock absorbing fork, especially a front fork, for a two-wheeled vehicle, particularly a bicycle, of the type having a pair of telescoping struts and a hydraulically damped shock absorbing arrangement disposed within each of the telescoping struts, the shock absorbing arrangement having a piston which divides a hydraulic fluid containing cylinder into upper and lower chambers, a valve regulating flow of hydraulic fluid through the piston between the upper and lower chambers, and a piston rod connected to the piston. Among the improvements of the invention is the provision of a spring for absorbing shocks that acts on the piston of the hydraulic shock damping arrangement upon compression of the telescopic struts, and a location sensitive flow control arrangement having a flow path extending between opposite sides of said piston and a flow adjusting element which is displaceable into and out of said flow path as a function of the extent which the spring is compressed by compression of the telescopic struts.