Abstract: The invention relates to a method for modifying a template double stranded polynucleotide, especially for characterisation using nanopore sequencing. The method produces from the template a plurality of modified double stranded polynucleotides. These modified polynucleotides can then be characterised.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods and devices for preparing synthetic nucleic acids.

Abstract: Methods of detecting the absence or presence of a micro-organism in a sample comprising: contacting the sample with a nucleic acid molecule which acts as a substrate for nucleic acid modifying activity of the micro-organism in the sample, incubating the thus contacted sample under conditions suitable for nucleic acid modifying activity; and specifically determining the absence or presence of a modified nucleic acid molecule resulting from the action of the nucleic acid modifying activity on the substrate nucleic acid molecule to indicate the absence or presence of the micro-organism. Corresponding kits are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides a solid carrier capable of easily and accurately evaluating the activity of mycobacteriosis or the presence or absence of mycobacterial infection. The solid carrier for detecting mycobacteriosis or mycobacterial infection includes at least one probe including a polynucleotide consisting of a base sequence complementary to all or a part of a base sequence having 85% or more identity with respect to a base sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1, which is immobilized on a surface thereof.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a detection method for Mycoplasma by which a greater number of Mycoplasma species can be more quickly and easily detected with high sensitivity and accuracy, a set of a forward primer, a reverse primer and a probe for the detection and a kit containing the set.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of performing in situ hybridization such as fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) using liposomal spherical nucleic acids (L-SNAs) nanoparticles labeled with dye molecules. The nanoparticles contain one or more nucleic acids that recognize a target of interest in a sample.

Abstract: Nucleoside analogues and methods of using such nucleoside analogues for sequencing of nucleic acids are provided.

Abstract: Methods for fabricating at least one nanoparticle include providing one or more substrates and depositing a substance on the one or more substrates. At least one portion of the substance is heated or annealed so the at least one portion beads up on the one or more substrates due to cohesive forces of the substance being greater than adhesive forces between the substrate and the substance. In some methods, a pattern generation process is performed to define the at least one portion. A combination of a substance material for the substance and a substrate material for the one or more substrates may also be selected so that the at least one portion beads up into a predetermined shape. The substance may also be deposited on the one or more substrates with a sub-monolayer thickness or with gaps to further reduce a nanoparticle size.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods, compositions and kits for detecting duplicate sequencing reads. In some embodiments, the duplicate sequencing reads are removed.

Abstract: The present invention provides genetic markers for identifying engraftable human cardiac ventricular progenitor cells. The engraftment markers of the invention include angiogenic markers and extracellular matrix markers. Human ventricular progenitor cells expressing these markers are capable of forming ventricular tissue in vivo that is vascularized and supported by an extracellular matrix. Methods of engrafting human cardiac ventricular progenitor cells by transplanting into a subject progenitor cells that express the engraftment markers are also provided.

Abstract: Provided herein is a method, comprising: obtaining a sample from the subject; assaying the sample to detect the risk alleles at one or more SNPs; calculating a genetic risk score (GRS) of the subject based on the detected risk alleles at the one or more SNPs; determining that the subject has an increased likelihood of poor prognosis if the GRS of the subject is above the mean or median GRS of the sample population or determining that the subject has an increased likelihood of good prognosis if the GRS of the subject is the same as or above the mean or median GRS of the sample population; and selecting a therapy if poor prognosis is determined.

Abstract: The invention relates to gene polymorphisms and genetic profiles associated with an elevated or a reduced risk of a complement cascade dysregulation disease such as AMD. The invention provides methods and reagents for determination of risk, diagnosis and treatment of such diseases. In an embodiment, the present invention provides methods and reagents for determining sequence variants in the genome of an individual which facilitate assessment of risk for developing such diseases.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of assessing the susceptibility of a subject to, or aiding the diagnosis of, an anxiety disorder or depression, the method comprising determining whether the subject has a haplotype comprising rs3216799, rs6814934, rs7658048, rs2070950 and rs2070951 with respective alleles ‘+CT, ‘C’, ‘T’, ‘C’ and ‘C’. The invention provides a kit of parts or solid substrate for use in assessing the susceptibility of a subject to an anxiety disorder or depression, the kit comprising or the solid substrate having attached thereto one or more nucleic acid molecules that hybridise selectively to a genomic region encompassing any two or more SNPs selected from the group consisting of rs3216799, rs6814934, rs7658048, rs2070950 and rs2070951, and/or that hybridise selectively to a genomic region encompassing two or more polymorphic sites in linkage disequilibrium with any one or more SNPs selected from the group consisting of rs3216799, rs6814934, rs7658048, rs2070950 and rs2070951.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for determining an individual's risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. The methods include collecting a biological sample from an individual; genotyping a nucleic acid in the biological sample for a genetic polymorphism in a RAB10 gene or a SAR1A gene or both the RAB10 gene and the SAR1A gene, and determining from the genotyping a decreased risk of developing Alzheimer's disease when the genetic polymorphism in the RAB10 gene or the SAR1A gene or both the RAB10 gene and the SAR1A gene is present. The methods may also include determining the presence of SNP rs 142787485 which comprises an adenine (A) to guanine (G) change in the 3? untranslated region of the RAB 10 gene, and/or determining the presence of SNP rs7653 which comprises a cytosine (C) to thymine (T) change in the 3? untranslated region of the SAR1A gene.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a a method for predicting mortality of a test patient with acute kidney injury comprising (a) detecting the expression level of the non-coding RNA (ncRNA) of SEQ ID NO: 1 in a sample obtained from said test patient with acute kidney injury, (b) comparing said expression level of the ncRNA with the expression level of this ncRNA in a sample obtained from control patients with acute kidney injury or with a predetermined standard expression level of this ncRNA which was obtained on the basis of a sample from control patients with acute kidney injury, wherein the control patients were alive at least about 4 weeks after diagnosis of the acute kidney injury, and a greater than 1.

Abstract: Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) is a developmental defect of the diaphragm, causing abdominal viscera to herniate into the thorax. A common genetic cause for CDH and the associated abnormal lung development has not been identified. We have found that human fetal hypoplastic CDH lungs have a specific microRNA miR-200/miR-10a signature, which changes in response to fetal therapy.

Abstract: The present invention is related to a kit for cancer diagnosis or prognosis analysis. MEST in the present invention is a biomarker for cancer having significantly improved accuracy and reliability, especially, breast cancer and liver cancer as well as metastatic cancer. In addition, the present invention could be used for cancer diagnosis and prognosis in a biological sample (for example, blood or serum) by using MEST only specifically expressed from cells and tissues of cancer patients.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for determining gene fusion by determining a fused read containing sequencing data of a portion of a fused chromosome DNA molecule; determining a predetermined point on the genome with least one mapped portion of the fused read clipped at the predetermined point (a breakpoint); identifying two mapped read portions from two breakpoints (breakpoint pair) as a potential fusion candidate; creating one or more fusion sets based on breakpoint pairs and clustering the fusion sets into one or more fusion clusters; and identifying each fusion cluster meeting a predetermined criterion as a gene fusion.

Abstract: Methods are provided herein to improve automatic detection of copy number variation in nucleic acid samples. These methods provide improved approaches for determining baseline copy number of genetic loci within a sample, reduce variation due to features of genetic loci, sample preparation, and probe exhaustion.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods, reagents and kits for detecting the susceptibility to cervical cancer. In particular, it relates to novel methylation markers to improve screening for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2/3 (CIN2/3) and the use thereof for identifying a cervical cell as neoplastic or predisposed to neoplasia in an isolated sample.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for screening a subject for a cancer. In particular, the present invention relates to a method (A) for screening a subject for a cancer comprising the steps of i) extracting the cell free nucleic acids from a sample obtained from the subject, ii) determining the total concentration of mitochondrial cell free nucleic acids, ii) determining the total concentration of nuclear cell free nucleic acids iv) calculating the ratio of the level determined at step ii) to the concentration determined at step iii), v) comparing ratio determined at step iv) with a predetermined corresponding reference value and vi) concluding that the subject suffers from a cancer when the ratio determined at step iv) is lower than the predetermined corresponding reference value or concluding that the subject does not suffer from a cancer when the ratio determined at step iv) is higher than the predetermined corresponding reference value.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a kit and nucleic acid chip for diagnosing bladder cancer using a bladder cancer-specific marker gene. More particularly, the invention relates to a kit and nucleic acid chip for diagnosing bladder cancer, which can detect the promoter methylation of a bladder cancer-specific gene, the promoter or exon region of which is methylated specifically in transformed cells of bladder cancer. The use of the diagnostic kit or nucleic acid chip of the invention enables diagnosis of bladder cancer at an early stage of transformation, thus enabling early diagnosis of bladder cancer, and can diagnose bladder cancer in a more accurate and rapid manner compared to a conventional method.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a kit and nucleic acid chip for diagnosing bladder cancer using a bladder cancer-specific marker gene. More particularly, the invention relates to a kit and nucleic acid chip for diagnosing bladder cancer, which can detect the promoter methylation of a bladder cancer-specific gene, the promoter or exon region of which is methylated specifically in transformed cells of bladder cancer. The use of the diagnostic kit or nucleic acid chip of the invention enables diagnosis of bladder cancer at an early stage of transformation, thus enabling early diagnosis of bladder cancer, and can diagnose bladder cancer in a more accurate and rapid manner compared to a conventional method.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of biotechnology, and in particular to SNP markers as well as use and detection method thereof. The present invention employs whole genome sequencing to conduct whole genome sequencing on a large number of individuals of Apis mellifera sinisxinyuan, and obtains 21 pieces of SNP information specific in Apis mellifera sinisxinyuan, which become marker SNP sites for identifying Apis mellifera sinisxinyuan. The SNP sites provided by the present invention, which are specific in Apis mellifera sinisxinyuan, play important roles in the differentiation of western honey bee in China from the western honey bees in other regions, and in the adaptive evolution of western honey bee in China to the local environment.

Abstract: Described herein are glucose and insulin sensors. The sensors are composed of host cells with DNA specifically designed to produce fluorescence when the cells come into contact with glucose and/or insulin in the sample. Once the fluorescence has been quantified, it can be correlated with the amount of glucose and/or insulin present in the sample.

Abstract: A method for tanning an animal substrate comprising the steps: i) agitating the animal substrate with a chromium-free tanning agent; and ii) agitating the animal substrate with a tanning agent having an oxazolidine group; wherein at least some of the agitation is performed in the presence of a solid particulate material having an average particle size of from 1 to 500 mm.

Abstract: The invention relates to an improved method and apparatus for the treatment of animal skin substrates which employs a multiplicity of solid particles.

Abstract: Animal skin substrate treatment apparatus and method An apparatus for treating at least one animal skin substrate with a multiplicity of solid particles comprises a rotatably mounted drum for containing said animal substrate, said solid particulate material and a treatment liquor, said drum comprising an outlet opening and a closure. The closure can be moveable between a first position wherein said outlet opening is closed and the animal substrate, the solid particulate material and the treatment liquor cannot pass through the outlet and are retained within the drum and a second position wherein said outlet opening is open such that solid particulate material and the treatment liquor can exit the drum through the outlet opening.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an access port arrangement and in particular an access port arrangement capable of enabling stirring of a molten metal in a vessel. Such arrangements are often called tuyeres. The access port arrangement comprises an inner part forming a core with an outer periphery and an outer part comprising a bore therethrough having an inner periphery positioned around the outer periphery of the inner part with the path way defined by a gap between the outer periphery of the inner part and the inner periphery on the outer part. The arrangement further comprises one or more bridges that span the gap between the outer periphery of the inner part and the inner periphery of the outer part. The inner and outer part are formed of a refractory material.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method for improving the fatigue behavior of the body (2) of a gas valve, the body comprising at least two bores (4, 10) and at least one bore intersection (20) defining an internal volume; wherein the method comprises the following step: subjecting the internal volume to an autofrettage by applying a pressure of comprised between 100 MPa and 500 MPa by means of a liquid. 10. The invention is also directed to a gas valve body (2) comprising at least two bores (4, 10) and at least one bore intersection (20) defining an internal volume with an internal wall; wherein the internal wall is treated by autofrettage resulting in compressive stresses at the intersection or at least one of the intersections.

Abstract: A method of treatment includes laser-hardening a portion of a component and texturing a treated surface of the portion with a hydrophobic surface texture. In some embodiments, the method includes polishing the treated surface after laser-hardening the portion and prior to texturing the treated surface. A component includes a component body having a portion that is laser-hardened. The treated surface is hydrophobic with a hydrophobic surface texture. In some embodiments, the component is a turbine component. In some embodiments, the portion is a leading edge. A turbine system includes a turbine shaft and a turbine component attached to the turbine shaft. The turbine component includes a component body having a leading edge. The leading edge is laser-hardened and the treated surface of the leading edge is hydrophobic with a hydrophobic surface texture.

Abstract: A method of modifying material properties of a fragmentation device, includes providing a fragmentation device with a first surface, a first section, a second section, a second surface spaced apart from the first surface, a third section, and a fourth section disposed between the first, second, and third sections. The method further includes positioning the fragmentation device within a carbon-rich environment, and absorbing carbon from the carbon-rich environment into the first and second surfaces of the fragmentation device. Additionally, the method further includes increasing a content of carbon at the first and second surfaces of 0.06 wt. % carbon to 1.0 wt. % carbon and maintaining an original content of carbon of 0.01 wt. % carbon to 0.05 wt. % carbon at the fourth section of the fragmentation device by controlling penetration of the carbon into the fourth section.

Abstract: A grain oriented electrical steel sheet comprising a grain oriented electrical steel sheet having a surface and a forsterite film formed on the surface of the steel sheet, wherein a total area percentage of defective parts scattered on the forsterite film is less than 1.5% relative to a surface area of the forsterite film when viewed from above the surface, and methods for evaluating a grain oriented electrical steel sheet comprising a grain oriented electrical steel sheet having a surface and a forsterite film formed on the surface of the steel sheet.

Abstract: A steel slab having a composition not containing an inhibitor component further contains, in mass %, at least one selected from: Sn: 0.010% to 0.200%; Sb: 0.010% to 0.200%; Mo: 0.010% to 0.150%; and P: 0.010% to 0.150%, and annealing that satisfies a relationship Td?Tf is performed, where Td (° C.) is a highest temperature at which the steel sheet is annealed in decarburization annealing and Tf (° C.) is a highest temperature before secondary recrystallization of the steel sheet starts in final annealing. Thus, a grain-oriented electrical steel sheet with significantly reduced magnetic property scattering in a coil is obtained without using an inhibitor component.

Abstract: A sheet metal component that is made of a press-hardened steel sheet material and is to be used as a vehicle body component for a motor vehicle, is provided. The sheet metal component has at least one overhardened component region which is provided to act as a predetermined breaking point in the event of being subject to a crash load. A component assembly and a motor vehicle body, which have at least one such press-hardened sheet metal component, are also provided.

Abstract: A dual phase or complex phase steel strip showing no tiger stripes. The steel strip having an ultimate tensile strength Rm classifying for 1000 MPa steel category, includes (in mass percent) C 0.09-0.19%; Mn 1.9-2.6%; Si at most 0.1%; Cr 0.4-0.8%; Mo at most 0.3%; Ni at most 0.4%; Al 0.02-1.3%; and optionally one or more of the following elements: Nb at most 0.08%; P equal to or more than 0.0005%; N equal to or less than 0.015%; Ti equal to or less than 0.1%; V equal to or less than 0.1%; B equal to or less than 0.01%; wherein the sum of Cr, Mo and Ni is at least 0.5%; the balance being Fe and inevitable impurities.

Abstract: The invention relates to a flat steel product, which is intended to be formed into a component by hot press forming and has a base made of steel, onto which a metal anti-corrosion coating is applied, which is formed by Zn or a Zn alloy. This is achieved as per the invention in that a separate finishing coat is applied to at least one of the free surfaces of the flat steel product which contains at least one base metal compound (oxide, nitride, sulphide, sulphate, carbide, carbonate, fluoride, hydrate, hydroxide, or phosphate). Furthermore the invention relates to a method enabling the production of a flat steel product of this kind.

Abstract: A method of making weathering steel by preparing a molten melt producing an as-cast carbon alloy steel strip with a corrosion index of at least 6.0 comprising, by weight, 0.02%-0.08% carbon, <0.6% silicon, 0.2%-2.0% manganese, <0.03% phosphorus, <0.01% sulfur, <0.01% nitrogen, 0.2%-0.5% copper, 0.01%-0.2% niobium, 0.01%-0.2% vanadium, 0.1%-0.4% chromium, 0.08%-0.25% nickel, <0.01% aluminum, and the remainder iron and impurities. The molten melt is solidified and cooled into a cast strip ?4 mm in thickness in a non-oxidizing atmosphere. The strip is hot rolled in an austenitic temperature range above Ar3 to between 10% and 50% reduction, cooled at above 20° C./s and coiled below 700° C. to form a steel strip with a microstructure comprising bainite and acicular ferrite with more than 70% niobium in solid solution. Then, age hardening the strip resulting in a yield strength of at least 550 MPa and a total elongation of at least 8%.

Abstract: A device for the production of a metallic strip using a rapid solidification technology is specified, which device includes a movable heat sink with an external surface onto which a melt is poured and on which the melt solidifies to produce the strip, and which device includes a rolling device which can be pressed against the external surface of the movable heat sink while the heat sink is in motion.

Abstract: A nickel recovery process capable of decreasing nickel remaining in a byproduct by recovering nickel from the byproduct of electrolytic nickel manufacturing process by chlorine-leaching, and also, capable of simplifying a cementation step simultaneously, is provided. In a nickel recovery step S60, a nickel recovery step S70 and a nickel recovery step S80, nickel is recovered in each step from S0 slurry, residue flaker and chlorine-leached residue, which are byproducts of electrolytic nickel manufacturing process by chlorine-leaching, by using an aqueous solution containing 80 g/L to 390 g/L of chlorine and 30 g/L to 70 g/L of copper.

Abstract: Disclosed is a shape memory alloy. The shape memory alloy is composed of Ti, Ni and Si, wherein Si is contained in an amount of 0.1 to 0.3 at. %.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an Ni-based superalloy for hot forging, containing, in terms of % by mass, C: more than 0.001% and less than 0.100%, Cr: 11% or more and less than 19%, Co: more than 5% and less than 25%, Fe: 0.1% or more and less than 4.0%, Mo: more than 2.0% and less than 5.0%, W: more than 1.0% and less than 5.0%, Nb: 0.3% or more and less than 4.0%, Al: more than 3.0% and less than 5.0%, Ti: more than 1.0% and less than 3.0%, and Ta: 0.01% or more and less than 2.0%, with the balance being unavoidable impurities and Ni, in which the component composition satisfies the following two relationships: 3.5?([Ti]+[Nb]+[Ta])/[Al]×10<6.5 and 9.5?[Al]+[Ti]+[Nb]+[Ta]<13.0.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an Ni-based superalloy for hot forging, containing, in terms of % by mass, C: more than 0.001% and less than 0.100%, Cr: 11% or more and less than 19%, Co: more than 5% and less than 25%, Fe: 0.1% or more and less than 4.0%, Mo: more than 2.0% and less than 5.0%, W: more than 1.0% and less than 5.0%, Nb: 2.0% or more and less than 4.0%, Al: more than 3.0% and less than 5.0%, and Ti: more than 1.0% and less than 3.0%, with the balance being unavoidable impurities and Ni, in which the component composition satisfies the following two relationships: 3.5?([Ti]+[Nb])/[Al]×10<6.5 and 9.5?[Al]+[Ti]+[Nb]<13.0.

Abstract: Provided are an aluminum alloy having an adjusted microstructure in an aluminum matrix or an aluminum alloy matrix for high elongation percentage or high strength and a method of fabricating the same. The aluminum alloy includes an aluminum-based matrix; and a nonmetal element solidified in the aluminum-based matrix, wherein stacking fault energy of the aluminum alloy is decreased compared to that of pure aluminum.

Abstract: A high-strength galvanized steel sheet comprising a cold-rolled steel sheet, an intermetallic compound formed on the cold-rolled steel sheet, and a galvanizing layer formed on the intermetallic compound, the cold-rolled steel sheet having a specific composition and a microstructure having a martensite area ratio of 7% or more and less than 25% and a ferrite area ratio of 50% or more and which includes a base metal surface portion in which the amount of internal oxides per single side is 0.05 g/m2 or less.

Abstract: A steel wire for drawing includes, as a chemical composition, by mass %: C: 0.9% to 1.2%, Si: 0.1% to 1.0%, Mn: 0.2% to 1.0%, and Cr: 0.2% to 0.6%, limits Al, N, P, and S to be predetermined ranges, and includes one or more selected from the group consisting of Mo: 0% to 0.20%, and B: 0% to 0.0030%, a remainder of Fe and impurities; in which a metallographic structure includes pearlite, a volume fraction of the pearlite is 95% or higher, an average lamellar spacing of the pearlite is 50 nm to 75 nm, an average length of cementite in the pearlite is 2.0 ?m to 5.0 ?m, and a ratio of the number of grains of cementite with a length of 0.5 ?m or smaller to the cementite in the pearlite is 20% or lower.

Abstract: A steel wire rod includes, in terms of mass %, 0.95-1.10% C, 0.10-0.70% Si, 0.20-1.20% Mn, 0.90-1.60% Cr, 0-0.25% Mo, 0-25 ppm B, 0-0.020% P, 0-0.020% S, 0-0.0010% O, 0-0.030% N, and 0.010-0.100% Al. In a surface area of the steel wire rod, the Vickers hardness is HV 300 to HV 420, the area ratio of pearlite is 80% or more, and the area ratio of pro-eutectoid cementite is 2.0% or less. In an inner area of the steel wire rod, the area ratio of pearlite is 90% or more, and the area ratio of pro-eutectoid cementite is 5.0% or less. In the steel wire rod, the area ratio of pearlite blocks having an equivalent circle diameter of more than 40 ?m is 0.62% or less, and the difference in Vickers hardness between the surface area and a center portion is HV 20.0 or less.

Abstract: A non-oriented electrical steel sheet has excellent magnetic properties and a chemical composition including C: not more than 0.01 mass %, Si: not more than 6 mass %, Mn: 0.05-3 mass %, P: not more than 0.2 mass %, Al: not more than 2 mass % but preferably not more than 0.005 mass %, N: not more than 0.005 mass %, S: not more than 0.01 mass %, Ga: not more than 0.0005 mass % even if hot band annealing is omitted.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides Au-based alloys comprising Si capable of forming metallic glass matrix composites, and metallic glass matrix composites formed thereof. The Au-based metallic glass matrix composites according to the present disclosure comprise a primary-Au crystalline phase and a metallic glass phase and are free of any other phase. In certain embodiments, the metallic glass matrix composites according to the present disclosure satisfy the 18-Karat Gold Alloy Hallmark.

Abstract: An amorphously solidifying noble metal alloy has the following composition of AaBbCc, wherein: A represents at least one noble metal from a group of platinum and palladium; B represents at least one element from a group of Al, Au, Ag and Cu; and C represents at least one element from a group of Ga and Ge. The mass fraction a lies in a region of 45-60 mass percent. The mass fraction b lies in the region of 39-55 mass percent. The mass fraction c lies in the region of 0-13 mass percent. Where platinum and palladium are both present, the amorphous noble metal alloy does not have aluminum as the sole alloy component from group B. The above mass fractions a, b and c, aside from typical admixtures, impurities and alloy tolerances, add up to 100 mass percent.