Abstract: A method of making steel beams in accordance with the present invention comprises sending web fabrication information to a web cutting station indicative of web sizes needed to make webs for steel beams and indicative of a web discharge sequence in which the webs are to be discharged from the cutting station. Steel plate is cut at the cutting station to form webs having the indicated web sizes. A series of the webs are transported from the cutting station to a beam station according to the web discharge sequence. Flange fabrication information is sent to a flange station indicative of flange sizes needed to make flanges for the beams and a flange discharge sequence in which the flanges are to be discharged from the flange station corresponding to the web discharge sequence. Steel stock is cut so as to form flanges having the indicated flange sizes. The flanges are transported to the beam station according to the flange discharge sequence so as to match the flanges with an associated one of the webs.

Abstract: The present invention provides modified oligomeric compounds for use in the RNA interference pathway of gene modulation. The modified oligomeric compounds are each prepared having a 5′-phosphate precursor which can be modulated to provide a 5′-phosphate group under selected conditions. In another embodiment of the invention the 5′-phosphate precursor is labile inside a target cell thereby providing an oligomeric compounds having a 5′-phosphate intercellularly.

Abstract: A wafer holder assembly includes first and second main structural members from which first and second wafer-holding arms extend. The first arm is secured to the main structural members by a graphite distal retaining member. The second arm is pivotally biased to a wafer-hold position by a graphite bias member. This arrangement provides a conductive path from the wafer to the assembly for inhibiting electrical discharges from the wafer during the ion implantation process. The assembly can further include additional graphite retaining members for maintaining the structural integrity of the assembly during the extreme conditions associated with SIMOX wafer processing without the need for potentially wafer-contaminating adhesives and conventional fasteners. The wafer-contacting pins at the distal end of the arms can be formed from silicon. The silicon pins can be coated with titanium nitride to enhance electrical contact with the wafer and to provide an abrasion resistant surface.

Abstract: A wafer holder assembly includes first and second main structural members from which first and second wafer-holding arms extend. The first arm is secured to the main structural members by a graphite distal retaining member. The second arm is pivotally biased to a wafer-hold position by a graphite bias member. This arrangement provides a conductive path from the wafer to the assembly for inhibiting electrical discharges from the wafer during the ion implantation process. The assembly can further include additional graphite retaining members for maintaining the structural integrity of the assembly during the extreme conditions associated with SIMOX wafer processing without the need for potentially wafer-contaminating adhesives and conventional fasteners. The wafer-contacting pins at the distal end of the arms can be formed from silicon. The silicon pins can be coated with titanium nitride to enhance electrical contact with the wafer and to provide an abrasion resistant surface.

Abstract: A wafer holder assembly includes first and second main structural members from which first and second wafer-holding arms extend. The first arm is secured to the main structural members by a graphite distal retaining member. The second arm is pivotally biased to a wafer-hold position by a graphite bias member. This arrangement provides a conductive path from the wafer to the assembly for inhibiting electrical discharges from the wafer during the ion implantation process. The assembly can further include additional graphite retaining members for maintaining the structural integrity of the assembly during the extreme conditions associated with SIMOX wafer processing without the need for potentially wafer-contaminating adhesives and conventional fasteners. The wafer-contacting pins at the distal end of the arms can be formed from silicon. The silicon pins can be coated with titanium nitride to enhance electrical contact with the wafer and to provide an abrasion resistant surface.

Abstract: This invention relates to compounds based on the 3-deazapurines ring system and to methods for making such compounds. The invention also generally relates to the field of "antisense" agents, agents that are capable of specific hybridization with a nucleotide sequence of an RNA. The 3-deazapurine-containing compounds of this invention can be useful for modulating the activity of RNA when incorporated into oligonucleotides. Oligonucleotides and their analogs are used for a variety of therapeutic and diagnostic purposes, such as treating diseases, regulating gene expression in experimental systems, assaying for RNA and for RNA products through the employment of antisense interactions with such RNA, diagnosing diseases, modulating the production of proteins and cleaving RNA in site specific fashions.

Abstract: This invention relates to compounds based on the 3-deazapurines ring system and to methods for making such compounds. The invention also generally relates to the field of "antisense" agents, agents that are capable of specific hybridization with a nucleotide sequence of an RNA. The 3-deazapurine-containing compounds of this invention can be useful for modulating the activity of RNA when incorporated into oligonucleotides. Oligonucleotides and their analogs are used for a variety of therapeutic and diagnostic purposes, such as treating diseases, regulating gene expression in experimental systems, assaying for RNA and for RNA products through the employment of antisense interactions with such RNA, diagnosing diseases, modulating the production of proteins and cleaving RNA in site specific fashions.

Abstract: This invention relates to compounds based on the 3-deazapurines ring system and to methods for making such compounds. The invention also generally relates to the field of "antisense" agents, agents that are capable of specific hybridization with a nucleotide sequence of an RNA. The 3- deazapurine-containing compounds of this invention can be useful for modulating the activity of RNA when incorporated into oligonucleotides. Oligonucleotides and their analogs are used for a variety of therapeutic and diagnostic purposes, such as treating diseases, regulating gene expression in experimental systems, assaying for RNA and for RNA products through the employment of antisense interactions with such RNA, diagnosing diseases, modulating the production of proteins and cleaving RNA in site specific fashions.

Abstract: For large scale preparation of pyrimidine ribonucleosides, the intermediate 2-O-methyl-(or ethyl)-1,3,5-tri-O-benzoyl-.alpha.-D-ribose can be prepared using a diazomethane (or diazoethane) reaction that is controlled via an inert solvent transferring system. This transfer system allows for large scale preparations of the pyrimidine ribonucleosides.

Abstract: This invention relates to compounds based on the 3-deazapurines ring system and to methods for making such compounds. The invention also generally relates to the field of "antisense" agents, agents that are capable of specific hybridization with a nucleotide sequence of an RNA. The 3-deazapurine-containing compounds of this invention can be useful for modulating the activity of RNA when incorporated into oligonucleotides. Oligonucleotides and their analogs are used for a variety of therapeutic and diagnostic purposes, such as treating diseases, regulating gene expression in experimental systems, assaying for RNA and for RNA products through the employment of antisense interactions with such RNA, diagnosing diseases, modulating the production of proteins and cleaving RNA in site specific fashions.

Abstract: A hydraulic pressure intensifier is used to raise the pressure in an accumulator above a given input pressure. An oscillating piston provides a boost pressure while a pilot valve and a dump valve and restrictors allow the oscillating piston to move.

Abstract: A flash chromatography apparatus and method for rapid, moderate-resolution separation of organic compounds. A solvent reservoir is pressurized with a gas, forcing solvent under pressure through tubing into and through a sorbent-packed chromatography column. More than one solvent reservoir may be provided to permit mixed-solvent elution. Alternatively, instead of pressurizing the solvent with compressed air, one or more metering pumps may be used to deliver solvent to the column. The method includes introducing a sample to be eluted into the top of a flash chromatography column, beginning elution by introducing an elution solvent under pressure into the top of the column, the elution solvent comprising a first solvent and a second solvent in a ratio from 0:1 to 1:0, modifying the elution solvent by varying the ratio of the first solvent to the second solvent, and continuing elution with the modified elution solvent.