Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of site-specific nucleic acid nicking enzymes to create single-stranded regions in duplex nucleic acids. Such single-stranded regions can take the form of gaps interior to the duplex, or terminal single-stranded regions. Single-stranded termini can be crafted to allow linkage of various elements via base-pairing with elements containing a complementary single-stranded region. This joining is useful, for example, in an ordered, oriented assembly of DNA modules to create cloning or expression vectors. This joining is also useful in attaching detection probes and purifying DNA molecules containing the single-stranded region. Gaps are useful in similar applications, including attaching detection or purification probes.

Abstract: This invention relates to an improvement in a liquid phase process for the direct fluorination of borohydride salts including the B10H10−2 and B12H12−2 salts wherein said borohydride salt is contacted with fluorine, under conditions for forming said fluorinated borohydride salt. The improvement in the liquid phase process resides in effecting the fluorination of said borohydride salt in the presence of a reaction medium having an acidity between that of water and anhydrous HF. More specifically, the reaction medium should have a Hammett acidity, Ho, between 0>Ho>−11.

Abstract: A process for producing BrSF5 includes providing a first reactant including a metal fluoride of fluorine and a metal M selected from the group consisting of alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, and Ag, providing a second reactant including BrF3, combining the first reactant and the second reactant to form a mixture, wherein the first reactant and the second reactant are allowed to contact for a period of time sufficient to produce MBrF4 in an amount stoichiometrically equivalent to a quantity of BrF3, and providing a third reactant including SF4, wherein the third reactant reacts with MBrF4. The process for producing BrSF5 can further include providing a fourth reactant including Br2, wherein the fourth reactant is provided before, during and/or after providing the first reactant, the second reactant and/or the third reactant. BrSF5 is produced in a yield of from about 50% to about 99.99% based on the amount of SF4.

Abstract: A process for fluorinating &bgr;-dicarbonyls to form the corresponding &agr;-fluorinated-&bgr;-dicarbonyl compounds is provided. The process is represented by the following reaction scheme: where R1 is H, alkyl or alkoxy, R2 is H, alkyl or perfluoroalkyl, and R3 is H, Cl, Br, I or alkyl. Use of oxygen in the fluorine stream yields a product which is 90-96% pure and contains radical fluorination impurity levels which are 10-20% lower than when oxygen is not used.

Abstract: A process for providing an &agr;-fluorinated-&bgr;-dicarbonyl includes electrophilically fluorinating a &bgr;-dicarbonyl with bis-fluoroxydifluoromethane in the presence of an acid to provide the &agr;-monofluorinated-&bgr;-dicarbonyl. The acid is preferably hydrofluoric acid. Preferred &bgr;-dicarbonyls include methyl-3-oxopentanoate and ethyl-4,4,4-trifluoroacetoacetate. The process can limit radical impurity byproducts to no more than 4% in some cases, and less than 0.5% in other cases. Theoretical yields of 95% &agr;-monofluorinated-&bgr;-dicarbonyl are possible in some cases.

Abstract: An improved cup for use as a part of a pipeline pig is in the form of an elastomeric cup member having an outer circumferential pipe engaging portion defined by a plurality of at least three closely spaced apart integral circumferential lip portions, the lip portions being separately flexible with respect to each other and each of the lip portions having a length that is at least twice its thickness. The multiple-lip cup may be removably attached to a pipeline pig body or be made integral with an elastomeric pipe pig body.

Abstract: A protective device for covering and protecting golf clubs in a golf bag comprises an inflatable body portion, the body portion comprising a tubular sleeve having a closed end and an open end for slipping over the golf clubs, and a valve for inflating the body portion wherein the inner body portion is shaped to the contour of the clubs for enveloping and resiliently securing the head and upper shaft portions of the golf clubs against movement. The inner and outer walls of the body portion are sealed together at their peripheral edges, and at a plurality of points over their respective areas forming a plurality of fluid chambers, preferably in fluid communication with each other, for conforming to the clubs. The golf club protective device may also be secured to the inside of a conventional golf bag cover, whether the cover is of the travel bag type fully enclosing the golf bag, or a hood enclosing only the club heads and the upper end of the golf bag.

Abstract: A cleaning device for passing through a pipeline for removal of ferro-magnetic debris includes an elongated body having at least two spaced apart elastomeric cups that fit within a pipeline to be cleaned, the cups supporting the body so that its elongational axis is substantially co-axial with the pipeline cylindrical wall. A carrier is supported by the body and has a peripheral surface spaced adjacent to the pipeline internal wall. At least one permanent magnet is supported by the carrier peripheral surface and adjacent to the pipeline internal wall. A structure is provided to maintain the magnet oriented in the direction of, or parallel to, and adjacent the pipeline internal wall bottom portion so that the magnet attracts and retains ferro-magnetic debris. In one embodiment the carrier is free to rotate about the elongated body so that if the cleaning device rotates as it moves through a pipeline the magnet or magnets carried thereby are always positioned adjacent the pipeline bottom interior surface.

Abstract: The present invention is a system and technique for reducing the effective beam width of a receive beam for a sensing system, for example a sonar or radar system. The sensing system includes a plurality of physical sensors each for measuring a receive signal wherein each receive signal includes a first and second data processing unit. The sensing system may include means for computing sensor data for at least one extrapolated-sensor, including, first extrapolation means for computing a first extrapolated-sensor data unit of the at least one extrapolated-sensor by extrapolation of a first data processing unit of the plurality of physical sensors, and second extrapolation means for computing a second extrapolated-sensor data unit of the at least one extrapolated-sensor by extrapolation of a second data processing unit of the plurality of physical sensors.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for calculating roll bias data which is representative of the differences in attitude between an array of sensors of a sensing system on a vessel and an attitude sensing system on the vessel. The attitude sensing system measures the attitude of the vessel in the roll axis. The technique includes measuring first bathymetric data at a first locale at time t.sub.1 using a first beam projected at the first locale at a substantially 45.degree. angle from the vertical of the array; measuring second bathymetric data at the first locale at a time t.sub.2 using a second beam projected at substantially the same angle from the vertical of the array as the first beam from the opposite side of the vessel; and calculating roll bias data by comparing the first and second bathymetric data at the first locale. The roll bias data may be used to further calculate a roll bias correction factor.

Abstract: A section for a telescopically extensible crane is octagonal in cross-section. The section has relatively thick upper and lower parallel plates, and side members each having a part inclined outwardly for each of the upper and lower plates and a central part generally perpendicular to the upper and lower plates. The central part of each side member may extend over more than half the height of the boom section and the inclined sections may be of differing lengths and thus inclined at different angles to the respective upper and lower plates. Preferably, the lower inclined sections are shorter than the upper inclined sections. The boom section may be reinforced by external belts, or by internal support plates.

Abstract: Starch-thickened compositions containing particulate peroxygen compounds, especially diperazelaic acid, provide stable, effective compositions especially adapted for use as color-safe fabric bleaches at alkaline pH's, e.g., in laundry baths.

Abstract: Articles releasably containing starch-thickened peroxygen bleaches are provided.