Abstract: A method for assessing the status of degradation and/or integrity of one or more nucleic acids in a sample, which includes amplifying at least two overlapping regions within at least one locus and detecting the amount of the amplification products using at least two probes, where one probe binds to an overlapping region and the other probe binds to a non-overlapping region. Also, a method of designing primers and/or probes for amplifying at least two overlapping regions within at least one single copy locus or multicopy locus. Also a primer and a primer pair for amplifying at least two overlapping regions from one nucleic acid template which is a multicopy locus present in loci in the human genome. Also a kit including primers and/or probes for assessing the status of degradation and/or integrity of one or more nucleic acids in a sample.

Abstract: Oligonucleotide primers and probes for quantifying and/or detecting human male DNA in a forensic sample. The oligonucleotides are useful for amplifying a multicopy locus within the human Y-chromosome (MCL-Y) that shares at least 80% sequence identity to a sequence according to SEQ ID NO. 3 over a stretch of at least 60 base pairs. The oligonucleotides hybridize under stringent conditions to a nucleic acid having at least one sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO. 3 to SEQ ID NO. 11 and/or SEQ ID NO. 17 to SEQ ID NO. 25. Kits including the oligonucleotide primers, probes and/or primer pairs and reagents for performing an amplification reaction on DNA recovered from a forensic sample are also disclosed.

Abstract: A new method for selecting clones and recloning mammalian cells which are of importance for the production of biopharmaceuticals, preferably hamster or mouse myeloma cells, with a high degree of automation and throughput. The invention relates to methods of depositing and replicating single cell clones of the cells in question. The invention also relates to methods of preparing proteins using cells which have been obtained and replicated by single cell deposition as well as compositions which allow the replication of single cells.

Abstract: The invention relates to modified neomycin phosphotransferase genes and their use in a selection method for high-producing recombinant cells. The invention further relates to expression vectors which contain a modified neomycin phosphotransferase gene and a gene of interest functionally linked to a heterologous promoter and a method of preparing heterologous gene products using these expression vectors.

Abstract: A new method for selecting clones and recloning mammalian cells which are of importance for the production of biopharmaceuticals, preferably hamster or mouse myeloma cells, with a high degree of automation and throughput. The invention relates to methods of depositing and replicating single cell clones of the cells in question. The invention also relates to methods of preparing proteins using cells which have been obtained and replicated by single cell deposition as well as compositions which allow the replication of single cells.

Abstract: A new method for selecting clones and recloning mammalian cells which are of importance for the production of biopharmaceuticals, preferably hamster or mouse myeloma cells, with a high degree of automation and throughput. The invention relates to methods of depositing and replicating single cell clones of the cells in question. The invention also relates to methods of preparing proteins using cells which have been obtained and replicated by single cell deposition as well as compositions which allow the replication of single cells.

Abstract: The invention relates to modified neomycin phosphotransferase genes and their use in a selection method for high-producing recombinant cells. The invention further relates to expression vectors which contain a modified neomycin phosphotransferase gene and a gene of interest functionally linked to a heterologous promoter and a method of preparing heterologous gene products using these expression vectors.

Abstract: Production of biopharmaceuticals from CHO cells requires generation of master-, working- and post-production cell banks of high quality, partly under GMP conditions. An optimal cryopreservation strategy is needed for each new production cell line, particularly with regard to the desire to establish production processes that are completely devoid of serum or even any animal components and to ensure robust thaw performance for reliable production. Here we describe a novel strategy employing flow cytometric (FC) analysis of Annexin V-stained cells for high-throughput characterization of CHO cell banks. Our data show that this method enables evaluation of a cryopreservation procedure just 6 h after thaw.

Abstract: Production of biopharmaceuticals from CHO cells requires generation of master-, working- and post-production cell banks of high quality, partly under GMP conditions. An optimal cryopreservation strategy is needed for each new production cell line, particularly with regard to the desire to establish production processes that are completely devoid of serum or even any animal components and to ensure robust thaw performance for reliable production. Here we describe a novel strategy employing flow cytometric (FC) analysis of Annexin V-stained cells for high-throughput characterization of CHO cell banks. Our data show that this method enables evaluation of a cryopreservation procedure just 6 h after thaw.

Abstract: An expression vector for eukaryotic cells comprising a gene which codes for a protein of interest, functionally linked to a hamster-ubiquitin/S27a-promoter and a gene which codes for a fluorescent protein. Preferably the expression vector also contains an amplifiable selectable marker gene. The invention also describes host cells, preferably mammalian cells, which have been transfected with the expression vector, processes for producing heterologous gene products and a method of selecting high-producing cells.

Abstract: The invention relates to modified neomycin phosphotransferase genes and their use in a selection method for high-producing recombinant cells. The invention further relates to expression vectors which contain a modified neomycin phosphotransferase gene and a gene of interest functionally linked to a heterologous promoter and a method of preparing heterologous gene products using these expression vectors.

Abstract: Substituted and unsubstituted flavone or isoflavone glycoside derivatives of the formula [A1-C(?O)O]m—[X—O-Z]—[O—C(?O)-A2]n, wherein [X—O-Z] represents a flavone or isoflavone glycoside structure, particularly a naringin residue, X is a flavone or isoflavone corresponding to formula (IIa) or formula (IIb): wherein the flavone or isoflavone residue is substituted one or more times and/or reduced one or more times; Z represents a mono-, di- or polysaccharide, which is acetally-bound at the benzopyran group to X and ester-substituted by —O—C(?O)-A2; [A1-C(?O)] is an acyl group on the flavone or isoflavone; A1 and A2 independently, represent a polyunsaturated C15-26 alkenyl group containing at least four isolated and/or at least two conjugated double bonds, or an arylaliphatic radical with 1-to-4 methylene groups between the ester group and the aromatic ring; [C(?O)A2] is an acyl group; n is an integer other than 0; m is an integer, including 0; and R1, R2 and R are hydroxyl groups or hydrogen atoms.

Abstract: An expression vector for eukaryotic cells comprising a gene which codes for a protein of interest, functionally linked to a hamster-ubiquitin/S27a-promoter and a gene which codes for a fluorescent protein. Preferably the expression vector also contains an amplifiable selectable marker gene. The invention also describes host cells, preferably mammalian cells, which have been transfected with the expression vector, processes for producing heterologous gene products and a method of selecting high-producing cells.

Abstract: The invention relates to modified neomycin phosphotransferase genes and their use in a selection method for high-producing recombinant cells. The invention further relates to expression vectors which contain a modified neomycin phosphotransferase gene and a gene of interest functionally linked to a heterologous promoter and a method of preparing heterologous gene products using these expression vectors.

Abstract: A method is provided for determining the end point during cleaning etching of processing chambers by means of plasma etching, which is used for carrying out coating or etching processes during the manufacture of semiconductor components. The invention provides a method for effectively and reliably determining the end point during cleaning etching of processing chambers. The end point is determined by monitoring the DC bias voltage on the plasma generator which is used for the plasma cleaning etching in the processing chamber in an evaluation unit. The plasma cleaning etching process is terminated by stopping the supply of the process gases in the gas supply unit and by switching off the plasma generator upon reaching a predetermined DC bias voltage value which corresponds to completion of the cleaning etching process.

Abstract: The invention relates to modified neomycin phosphotransferase genes and their use in a selection method for high-producing recombinant cells. The invention further relates to expression vectors which contain a modified neomycin phosphotransferase gene and a gene of interest functionally linked to a heterologous promoter and a method of preparing heterologous gene products using these expression vectors.

Abstract: Production of biopharmaceuticals from CHO cells requires generation of master-, working- and post-production cell banks of high quality, partly under GMP conditions. An optimal cryopreservation strategy is needed for each new production cell line, particularly with regard to the desire to establish production processes that are completely devoid of serum or even any animal components and to ensure robust thaw performance for reliable production. Here we describe a novel strategy employing flow cytometric (FC) analysis of Annexin V-stained cells for high-throughput characterization of CHO cell banks. Our data show that this method enables evaluation of a cryopreservation procedure just 6 h after thaw.

Abstract: Processes for preparing fatty acids are described wherein a C4-C12 fatty acid methyl ester is subjected to hydrolysis in the presence of an enzyme to form an organic phase comprising a C4-C12 fatty acid and an aqueous phase comprising methanol, wherein at least a portion of the methanol is continuously removed; and the organic phase is subsequently separated from the aqueous phase, and optionally, where the organic phase further comprises an unhydrolyzed portion of the C4-C12 fatty acid methyl ester, the unhydrolyzed portion of the C4-C12 fatty acid methyl ester is separated from the C4-C12 fatty acid.

Abstract: A batch of semiconductor wafers are exposed after an alignment in a wafer stepper or scanner and each of their alignment parameters are determined. Using, e.g., a linear formula with tool specific coefficients, the overlay accuracy can be calculated from these alignment parameters in advance with a high degree of accuracy as if a measurement with an overlay inspection tool had been performed. The exposure tool-offset can be adjusted on a wafer-to-wafer basis to correct for the derived overlay inaccuracy. Moreover, the alignment parameters for a specific wafer can be used to change the tool-offset for the same wafer prior to exposure. The required inspection tool capacity is advantageously reduced, the wafer rework decreases, and time is saved to perform the exposure step.

Abstract: A single stage process for deacidifying glycerides involving: (a) providing a glyceride having an acid value of from about 5 to 20; (b) providing a lower alcohol; (c) providing an enzyme catalyst immobilized on a support material; and passing a mixture of (a) and (b), over (c), thereby deacidifying the glycerides.