Abstract: A method for quantifying mRNA capping efficiency includes combining a sample, an enzyme mixture, and an isotopic standard solution in a buffer solution to create an incubation mixture, the enzyme mixture including a non-specific, single-stranded nuclease and an acid phosphatase and the isotopic standard including isotopically labeled m7G and isotopically labeled 2?-O-methylated nucleoside; incubating the mixture; and analyzing the mixture using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry to determine at least one of a capping efficiency and a 2-O-methyltransferase efficiency.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for loading individual objects into moving carriers where the carriers include receptacles for receiving the individual objects, where a hopper is provided to define a bulk supply of the objects, the carriers move past a hopper discharge orifice located close to the hopper bottom with the receptacles communicating with the hopper interior via the discharge orifice, first force is applied to objects which are close to the orifice by a roller operatively disassociated from the carriers, rotating in a direction generally toward the receptacles, to urge the objects through the orifice from the hopper towards the receptacles and second force is applied to objects further from the orifice by a rotating auger transversely disposed to the roller to move the objects along the hopper bottom towards the roller, where the receptacles ride on the surface of a rotating cylindrical drum.