Abstract: The invention relates to polynucleotide combinations and their use in allele-specific enrichment, amplification, and detection. The disclosure also provides methods to multiplex various target DNA molecules in a single tube with high sensitivity and specificity. The disclosure provides a polynucleotide competitor that comprises a sequence that is fully complementary to a first target DNA polynucleotide region (T1) such that the competitor polynucleotide will hybridize to the first target DNA polynucleotide region under appropriate conditions. In another aspect, the polynucleotide competitor comprises a mismatch to a non-target DNA polynucleotide that is a sequence variant of the first target DNA polynucleotide region (T1*).

Abstract: Unbiased, genomewide and highly sensitive methods for detecting mutations, e.g., off-target mutations, induced by engineered nucleases.

Abstract: The present invention relates to amplification primers with a universal tag and sequencing primers comprising at least one non-natural nucleobase capable of hybridizing to a complementary non-natural nucleobase. The present invention further relates to amplification methods of nucleic acid amplification and sequencing using an amplification primer with a universal tag and sequencing primers, as well as kits and solid supports comprising such primers and tags.

Abstract: The invention provides in situ nucleic acid sequencing to be conducted in biological specimens that have been physically expanded. The invention leverages the techniques for expansion microscopy (ExM) to provide new methods for in situ sequencing of nucleic acids as well as new methods for fluorescent in situ sequencing (FISSEQ) in a new process referred to herein as “expansion sequencing” (ExSEQ).

Abstract: Disclosed are compositions and methods for enriching a non-host sequence from a host sample. Also disclosed are compositions and methods for detecting a non-host sequence in a host sample. For example, a pathogen can be enriched and detected in a sample taken from a human without knowing what the pathogen is.

Abstract: In some aspects, the present disclosure provides methods for identifying sequence variants in a nucleic acid sample. In some embodiments, a method comprises identifying sequence differences between sequencing reads and a reference sequence, and calling a sequence difference that occurs in at least two different circular polynucleotides, such as two circular polynucleotides having different junctions, as the sequence variant. In some aspects, the present disclosure provides compositions and systems useful in the described methods.

Abstract: The identification and the use of compounds which activate the expression of at least one gene selected from LARGE, HS6ST2 and ST8SIA1, for preventing and/or attenuating ageing, and/or for hydrating skin is provided. An in vitro method for screening for candidate compounds for preventing and/or attenuating ageing of the skin, and/or for hydrating the skin, includes the following steps: (a) bringing at least one test compound in contact with a sample of keratinocytes; (b) measuring the expression of at least one gene selected from LARGE, HS6ST2 and ST8SIA1, in said keratinocytes; (c) selecting the compounds for which an activation of at least 1.4 fold of the expression of at least one of said genes is measured in the keratinocytes treated in (a) compared with the untreated keratinocytes.

Abstract: Compositions and methods are disclosed for uniquely tagging each rearranged gene segment that encodes a T cell receptor (TCR) and/or an immunoglobulin (Ig), in a DNA (or mRNA or cDNA reverse transcribed therefrom) sample from lymphoid cells. These and related embodiments permit accurate, high throughput quantification of distinct TCR and/or Ig encoding sequences. Also provided are compositions and methods for quantitatively sequencing the genes that encode both chains of a TCR or Ig heterodimer in a single cell, for example, to characterize the degree of T or B cell clonality in a sample.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for treating modulating and/or ameliorating non-light-induced, particularly non-UV-induced, skin aging in a human, for reducing the basal MMP-10 expression in unirradiated cells of an organism and/or reducing the basal MMP-1 RNA transcription and protein translation in unirradiated cells of an organism, and/or for modulating the effects of UVA-induced RNA transcription and polypeptide translation of a matrix metalloprotease, which include administering an effective amount of ?-carotene, a precursor of ?-carotene, a salt of ?-carotene, or a combination of two or more thereof to an organism, particularly a mammal, more particularly a human, in need thereof.

Abstract: Diagnostic assays for discriminating Waldenstrom's Macroglobulinemia from IgM monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance are provided. The method comprises obtaining a biological sample from a subject in need thereof, performing an allele-specific polymerase chain reaction assay to determine in the biological sample a level of a transcript comprising a mutation at position 38182641 in chromosome 3p22.2, and providing a report indicating whether delta CT value of the biological sample is less than a reference value, wherein the subject has Waldenstrom's Macroglobulinemia if the delta CT value is less than the reference value.

Abstract: This invention generally relates to methods and biomarkers for assessing a subject's susceptibility to developing diabetic nephropathy, or for assessing the progression of diabetic nephropathy in a subject. The invention also relates to methods of treating diabetic nephropathy, and methods for identifying a candidate agent for treating diabetic nephropathy.

Abstract: The disclosure provides methods and compositions for diagnosing a patient eosinophilic esophagitis, the methods based upon the patient's gene expression profile for a panel of genes. The methods can also be used to exclude a diagnosis of chronic esophagitis.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for obtaining useful data for predicting the response to chemotherapy treatment in patients suffering from colorectal cancer, which allows a specific individual quantitative identification model to be established, based on the expression profile of certain marker genes.

Abstract: Provided are whole blood based mRNA biomarkers for predicting prostate cancer and methods of detecting the same. The disclosed mRNA markers and methods enable the identification/diagnosis of a patient with prostate cancer, identification of a patient with/prediction of high-risk prostate cancer, and treatment of a patient with prostate cancer. Also provided are gene chips comprising the disclosed whole blood based mRNA biomarkers.

Abstract: The methods and compositions described herein address the need for diagnostic method that could be offered to women during yearly checkups to allow for early detection, diagnosis and classification, and treatment of endometrial cancer. In addition, these methods and compositions address the current need for improving diagnostic accuracy of biopsy procedures in symptomatic patients.

Abstract: The invention provides methods, nucleic acids and kits for detecting, or for detecting and distinguishing between or among liver cell proliferative disorders or for detecting, or for detecting and distinguishing between or among colorectal cell proliferative disorders. The invention discloses genomic sequences the methylation patterns of which have utility for the improved detection of and differentiation between said class of disorders, thereby enabling the improved diagnosis and treatment of patients.

Abstract: The invention relates to the identification and selection of differentially expressed transcripts (biomarker) in tumour cells. Specific determination of the level of these biomarkers can be used for screening and diagnosis of prostate cancer. Clinical application of assays based on these biomarker help reduce the high number of false positives of current standard screening assays.

Abstract: The invention relates to the identification and selection of differentially expressed transcripts (biomarker) in tumour cells. Specific determination of the level of these biomarkers can be used for screening and diagnosis of prostate cancer. Clinical application of assays based on these biomarker help reduce the high number of false positives of current standard screening assays.

Abstract: The invention relates to the identification and selection of differentially expressed transcripts (biomarker) in tumour cells. Specific determination of the level of these biomarkers can be used for screening and diagnosis of prostate cancer. Clinical application of assays based on these biomarker help reduce the high number of false positives of current standard screening assays.

Abstract: The present invention provides biomarkers for identifying tumors likely to respond to treatment with Wnt pathway inhibitors. Also provided are methods for identifying tumors and/or patients that are likely to be responsive or non-responsive to treatment with a Wnt pathway inhibitor. Methods for treating a patient with cancer are provided, wherein the cancer is predicted to respond to a Wnt pathway inhibitor.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes IFN-? gene signature biomarkers that are useful for identifying cancer patients who are most likely to benefit from treatment with a PD-1 antagonist. The disclosure also provides methods and kits for testing tumor samples for the biomarkers, as well as methods for treating subjects with a PD-1 antagonist based on the test results.

Abstract: A method of identifying subjects with metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) for tumor-initiating stem-like cell (TIC) targeted therapy is provided. The method includes obtaining whole blood from a subject, retrieving circulating tumor cells (CTCs) and/or TICs from the whole blood, performing quantitative reverse transcriptase-PCR (qRT) PCR on retrieved CTCs and/or TICs, and identifying specific genes that are upregulated and specific genes that are downregulated. The upregulated genes include NANOG, TWIST1, LIN28, MSI2, ACADVL, BIRC5, miR-22, LepR, YAP1 and IGF2BP3. The downregulated genes include COX6A2, COX15, TET1, TET2 and PTEN.

Abstract: A novel family of human mitochondrial RNAs, referred to as chimeric RNAs, which are differentially expressed in normal, pre-cancer and cancer cells, are described. Oligonucleotides targeted to the chimeric RNAs are provided. The described oligonucleotides or their analogs can be used for cancer diagnostics and cancer therapy as well as for research. In one embodiment of this invention, these oligonucleotides hybridize with the sense or with the antisense mitochondrial chimeric RNAs, and the result of the hybridization is useful to differentiate between normal proliferating cells, pre-cancer cells and cancer cells. In another embodiment of the invention, the compositions comprise oligonucleotides that hybridize with the human chimeric RNAs resulting in cancer cell and pre-cancer cell death, while there is no effect in normal cells, constituting therefore, a novel approach for cancer therapy.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods and systems of molecular profiling of diseases, such as cancer. In some embodiments, the molecular profiling can be used to identify treatments for a disease, such as treatments that were not initially identified as a treatment for the disease or not expected to be a treatment for a particular disease.

Abstract: The subject invention discloses a method for determining the prognosis and probable clinical course of a subject diagnosed with B-CLL. Specifically, the invention involves comparing CD38 expression in a biological sample from the subject containing B-CLL cells to a baseline level of CD38 expression, wherein an elevated level of CD38 expression in relation to the baseline level of CD38 expression may indicate poor prognosis or aggressive course of disease in the subject. Also disclosed is a method for determining whether the Ig V genes of the B-CLL cells of a B-CLL patient are mutated, comprising comparing CD38 expression in a biological sample from the subject containing B-CLL cells to a baseline level of CD38 expression, wherein a lower level of CD38 expression in relation to the baseline level indicates IG V gene mutation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of predicting resistance to a viral infection in a subject, the method comprising determining in the subject the variant present at one or more amino acid position in a cadherin protein, and/or the alleles present at one or more DNA polymorphism in the gene for cadherin, and predicting whether or not the subject is resistant to viral infection based on the determination of the variant and/or the alleles.

Abstract: Compositions and methods useful in identifying and/or selecting maize plants that have anthracnose stalk rot resistance are provided herein. The resistance may be newly conferred or enhanced relative to a control plant. The methods use markers to identify, select and/or construct resistant plants. Maize plants generated by the methods also provided.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a method for detecting predisposition for chronicity of hepatitis B and/or the pathological progress, including an allele associated with chronicity of hepatitis B and/or the pathological progress.

Abstract: Provided is a device for producing partially reduced iron, with which partially reduced iron having a prescribed reduction ratio can be produced efficiently. The present invention is equipped with: CO sensors that detect the carbon monoxide concentration in an exhaust gas; an O2 sensor that detects the oxygen concentration in an exhaust gas; an exhaust gas circulation device that adjusts the circulating amount of the exhaust gas supplied to a reduction furnace main body, and an air feed device that adjusts the amount of air that being fed; and a control device that controls these devices. The control devices on the basis of the carbon monoxide concentration in the exhaust gas as detected by the CO sensor and the oxygen concentration in the exhaust gas as detected by the O2 sensor.

Abstract: The invention relates to a plant complex for steel production comprising a blast furnace for producing pig iron, a converter steel mill for producing crude steel and a gas-conducting system for gases that occur in the production of pig iron and/or in the production of crude steel. According to the invention, the plant complex additionally has a chemical or biotechnological plant connected to the gas-conducting system and a plant for producing hydrogen. The plant for producing hydrogen is connected to the gas-conducting system by a hydrogen-carrying line. Also the subject of the invention is a method for operating the plant complex.

Abstract: Methods and compositions are provided for heat treating, e.g. quenching a metal. The quenching composition includes a composition that comprises a polyamidopolyamine compound having a molecular weight of about 500 to about 100,000 and comprising a pendent amino group; and/or a non-polymeric amidoamine having a molecular weight of about 290 to about 5000 and comprising an amino group; and a hydroxyl containing diluent. These compositions impart one or more of the functions of quenching, lubricity, anti/low foaming and/or bioresistance to the quenching fluid.

Abstract: A method of annealing of steel sheets is provided which includes a first step consisting in fully oxidizing the surface of such steel sheet thus creating a fully oxided surface layer, a second step consisting in selectively oxidizing elements other than iron of such steel, in an area extending under said fully oxided layer, thus creating a selectively oxided internal layer and a third step consisting in fully reducing said fully oxided surface layer.

Abstract: A cold rolled and annealed martensitic steel sheet is provided. The steel sheet includes by weight percent, 0.30?C?0.5%, 0.2?Mn?1.5%, 0.5?Si?3.0%, 0.02?Ti?0.05%, 0.001?N?0.008%, 0.0010?B?0.0030%, 0.01?Nb?0.1%, 0.2?Cr?2.0%, P?0.02%, S?0.005%, Al?1%, Mo?1% and Ni?0.5%. The remainder of the composition includes iron and unavoidable impurities resulting from melting. The microstructure is 100% martensitic and a prior austenite grain size is lower than 20 ?m. The steel sheet has a delayed fracture resistance of at least 24 hours during an acid immersion U-bend test. A method, part, structural member and vehicle are also provided.

Abstract: A method for producing high-strength galvannealed steel sheets having excellent workability and fatigue resistance. The method comprises subjecting a steel sheet to an oxidation treatment, the oxidation treatment including heating the steel sheet in an upstream stage at a temperature in the range of 400° C. to 750° C. in an atmosphere having an O2 concentration of not less than 1000 ppm by volume and a H2O concentration of not less than 1000 ppm by volume and a downstream stage at a temperature in the range of 600° C. to 850° C. in an atmosphere having an O2 concentration of less than 1000 ppm by volume and a H2O concentration of not less than 1000 ppm by volume. The method further comprises subjecting the steel sheet to reducing annealing, hot-dip galvanizing treatment and alloying treatment.

Abstract: There is provided an austenitic stainless steel for high-pressure hydrogen gas consisting, by mass percent, of C: 0.10% or less, Si: 1.0% or less, Mn: 3% or more to less than 7%, Cr: 15 to 30%, Ni: 10% or more to less than 17%, Al: 0.10% or less, N: 0.10 to 0.50%, and at least one kind of V: 0.01 to 1.0% and Nb; 0.01 to 0.50%, the balance being Fe and impurities, wherein in the impurities, the P content is 0.050% or less and the S content is 0.050% or less, the tensile strength is 800 MPa or higher, the grain size number (ASTM E112) is No. 8 or higher, and alloy carbo-nitrides having a maximum diameter of 50 to 1000 nm are contained in the number of 0.4/?m2 or larger in cross section observation.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for continuous thermal treatment of a steel strip. The strip passes through consecutive thermal treatment chambers, is quickly cooled in at least one of the chambers by spraying liquid onto the strip, or by spraying a fluid made up of gas and liquid or spraying a combination of gas and liquid forming a mist. After quick cooling, a protective metal layer is deposited on the strip by dip coating. The cooling fluid strips iron oxides or other alloy elements contained in the steel to be treated, minimizing oxidation and reducing the oxides on the strip. Spray pressure and distance are chosen to facilitate the stripping property and the mechanical action of the sprayed fluid, reducing the layer of oxides on the strip. The temperature of the strip at the end of the cooling step is the temperature necessary for carrying out the desired treatment cycle.

Abstract: The invention relates to a super bainite steel consisting of the following elements in weight %: C: 0.4-1.1 Mn: 0.4-2.1 Si: 0.15-1.2 Al: 0.0-2.0 Cr: 0.0-1.4 Ni: 0.0-2.5 Mo: 0.0-0.6 V: 0.0-0.3 Co: 0.0-3.0 P: <0.025 S: <0.025 the balance being iron and unavoidable impurities. The invention also relates to a method for manufacturing such a super bainite steel.

Abstract: A liquid-liquid extraction unit includes an extraction/separation tank (10) into which an aqueous phase in bubble form is admitted from an upper inlet (20) in one sidewall and an organic phase in bubble form is admitted from a lower inlet (30) in the one sidewall. The upward moving organic phase is contacted with the downward moving aqueous phase. After contact, the organic phase is discharged through an upper outlet (40) in an opposite sidewall and the aqueous phase is discharged through a lower outlet (50) in the opposite sidewall.

Abstract: There are provided processes for preparing alumina. These processes can comprise leaching an aluminum-containing material with HCl so as to obtain a leachate comprising aluminum ions and a solid, and separating said solid from said leachate; reacting said leachate with HCl so as to obtain a liquid and a precipitate comprising said aluminum ions in the form of AlCl3, and separating said precipitate from said liquid; and heating said precipitate under conditions effective for converting AlCl3 into Al2O3 and optionally recovering gaseous HCl so-produced. These processes can also be used for preparing various other products such as hematite, MgO, silica and oxides of various metals, sulphates and chlorides of various metals, as well as rare earth elements, rare metals and aluminum.

Abstract: A method of processing a copper-containing source material is provided whereby an aqueous acidic leach solution of the copper-containing source material is formed and then contacted with a pH increasing agent to thereby cause the precipitation of a copper-containing intermediate. The copper-containing intermediate can then be collected and exposed to a high temperature treatment, such as would be encountered in smelter or converter operations.

Abstract: A method for recovering tin and/or tin alloy from a substrate comprising providing a substrate having tin and/or tin alloy thereon; contacting the tin and/or tin alloy with a stripping solution comprising an inorganic acid and a persulfate compound; recovering tin salt and/or tin alloy salt precipitated from the stripping solution; and recovering tin and/or tin alloy from the tin salt and/or tin alloy salt, respectively.

Abstract: There is provided a copper-titanium alloy with large fluctuations in Ti concentration. The copper-titanium alloy for electronic components contains 2.0 to 4.0% by mass of Ti and, as a third element, 0 to 0.5% by mass in total of one or more selected from a group consisting of Fe, Co, Mg, Si, Ni, Cr, Zr, Mo, V, Nb, Mn, B, and P, with a balance being copper and unavoidable impurities, wherein when crystal grains having <100> orientation in a section parallel to a rolling direction are subjected to area analysis of Ti concentration in a matrix phase, a difference between a maximum Ti concentration and a minimum Ti concentration is 5 to 16% by mass.

Abstract: A zirconium alloy is manufactured through melting; solution heat treatment at 1,000 to 1,050° C. for 30 to 40 min and ?-quenching using water; preheating at 630 to 650° C. for 20 to 30 min and hot rolling at a reduction ratio of 60 to 65%; primary intermediate vacuum annealing at 570 to 590° C. for 3 to 4 hr and primarily cold-rolled at a reduction ratio of 30 to 40%; secondary intermediate vacuum annealing at 560 to 580° C. for 2 to 3 hr and secondarily cold-rolled at a reduction ratio of 50 to 60%; tertiary intermediate vacuum annealing at 560 to 580° C. for 2 to 3 hr and tertiarily cold-rolled at a reduction ratio of 30 to 40%; and final vacuum annealing at 440 to 650° C. for 7 to 9 hr.

Abstract: To provide a Ni ball having a low ? dose and high sphericity even when it contains impurity elements other than Ni in certain amounts. The Ni ball contains an element U, a content thereof being 5 ppb or less, and an element Th, a content thereof being 5 ppb or less, wherein a purity of the Ni ball is 99.9% or more but 99.995% or less, an ? dose thereof is 0.0200 cph/cm2 or less, a content of either Pb or Bi, or a total content of both Pb and Bi is 1 ppm or more, and a sphericity thereof is 0.90 or more, in order to prevent any software errors and reduce connection failure.

Abstract: The present application relates to systems and methods of producing ductile nickel-based austenitic alloy coatings. The methods may include using low levels of aluminum to form protective coatings, while retaining ductility. The method can include preselecting a desired thickness of coating to maximize the desired level of aluminum and ductility.

Abstract: A manufacturing process for obtaining extruded products made from a 6xxx aluminium alloy, wherein the said manufacturing process comprises following steps: a) homogenizing a billet cast from said aluminium alloy; b) heating the said homogenised cast billet; c) extruding the said billet through a die to form at least a solid or hollow extruded product; d) quenching the extruded product down to room temperature; e) optionally stretching the extruded product to obtain a plastic deformation typically between 0.5% and 5%; f) ageing the extruded product without applying on the extruded product any separate post-extrusion solution heat treatment between steps d) and f). characterised in that: i) the heating step b) is a solution heat treatment where: b1) the cast billet is heated to a temperature between Ts-15° C. and Ts, wherein Ts is the solidus temperature of the said aluminium alloy; b2) the billet is cooled until billet mean temperature reaches a value between 400° C. and 480° C.

Abstract: The invention concerns the method for producing a rolled product 0.5 to 10 mm thick made from an aluminium alloy comprising, in particular, copper and lithium, in which, after solution annealing and quenching, a short heat treatment is carried out in which the sheet reaches a temperature of between 145° C. and 175° C. for 0.1 to 45 minutes, the speed of heating being between 3 and 600° C./min. The sheet obtained at the end of the method according to the invention has high corrosion resistance and is capable of being shaped for producing a structural element for an aircraft, in particular an aircraft fuselage skin.

Abstract: The invention provides a magnesium based alloy consisting of at least 94.8% magnesium, 2.5-4.6% neodymium, 0.05-0.40% yttrium, and 0.03-0.65% zirconium, exhibiting good castability, high strength, high corrosion resistance and high creep resistance even at high temperatures. The alloy is suitable for high pressure die casting, sand casting, investment casting, permanent mold casting, twin roll casting, or direct chill casting.

Abstract: A carburized alloy steel includes, based on a total weight of the carburized alloy steel, 0.1 to 0.35 wt % carbon, 0.1 to 2.0 wt % silicon, 0.1 to 1.5 wt % manganese, 1.5 to 3.0 wt % chromium, 0.2 to 0.5 wt % molybdenum, greater than 0 to 0.07 wt % niobium, and a balance of iron.

Abstract: A method of forming an alloy composition including spinodal based glass matrix microconstituents. The method comprises melting an alloy composition comprising iron present in the range of 49 atomic percent (at %) to 65 at %, nickel present in the range of 10.0 at % to 16.5 at %, cobalt optionally present in the range of 0.1 at % to 12 at %, boron present in the range of 12.5 at % to 16.5 at %, silicon optionally present in the range of 0.1 at % to 8.0 at %, carbon optionally present in the range of 2 at % to 5 at %, chromium optionally present in the range of 2.5 at % to 13.35 at %, and niobium optionally present in the range of 1.5 at % to 2.5 at %, cooling the alloy composition at a rate of 103 K/s to 106 K/s.