Abstract:
The invention relates to methods, reagents and apparatus for detecting protein isoforms (e.g., those due to alternative splicing, or different disease protein isoforms or degradation products) in a sample, including using combinations of capture agents, each combination being unique to the splicing variant to be detected/measured.
Abstract:
This invention relates to methods and apparatus for detecting the pattern of post translational modification in a protein or in a plurality of proteins in a sample. One or more target proteins are subjected to predetermined proteolysis to yield plural peptide fragments comprising potential post translational modification sites. The fragments and the state of such sites are analyzed to yield a post translational pattern for the protein or proteins.
Abstract:
An activated carbon-metal oxide matrix is disclosed. The activated carbon-metal oxide matrix may be obtained by a method including the steps of: preoxidizing a carbon material, grinding the preoxidized carbon material; mixing the ground preoxidized material with a metal oxide to form a carbon mixture; extruding the carbon mixture; carbonizing and activating the extrudate. The activated carbon-metal oxide matrix may be used to remove odorous compounds, acidic gases, and volatile organic compounds from a gas.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus are disclosed for identifying protein-coding regions in a nucleic acid sequence. In order to predict the coding regions within a sequence, a single metric is used without reference or comparison to a predetermined noise level or signal-to-noise ratio. This single metric, periodicity at ⅓, is analyzed using a discrete cosine transformation (DiCTion) function. For each open reading frame or sequence region, a score is generated using the discrete cosine transformation function. Regions within a sequence that have a score above a predetermined threshold are identified as protein-coding regions. The aspects of the invention may also be applied to gather other information from sequences, such as the location of the borders of a putative coding region, within a genomic sequence.
Abstract:
A hinge assembly which has a limited number of stable positions and in which the hinge automatically moves to the closest of such stable positions is disclosed. The movement of the hinge is accomplished in one illustrative embodiment by positioning the protrusion on one of a pair of ramps inclined opposite to one another and toward the adjacent recess so that the parts of the hinge rotate relative to one another, moving the protrusion into the adjacent recess. The protrusion is pressed against the ramps and the grooves by a connecting portion that joins the arm portions and is flexed when the hinge parts are assembled so as to bias the arm portions toward one another.
Abstract:
This invention relates to a method of producing benzene carboxylic acids from an aromatic material, especially coal, by the oxidation of the aromatic material in an aqueous alkaline mixture containing an aliphatic organic acid promoter agent with a source of gaseous oxygen. Use of the aliphatic organic acid promoter agent results in a surprising and unexpected increase in the benzene carboxylic acid yield which is higher than that obtained without the promoter agent.A finely divided coal, potassium carbonate, water, and aliphatic carboxylic acid promoter agent are charged to a feed tank (10) where they are mixed with an agitator (14). A slurry pump (18) pumps the mixture through a preheater (20) to an autoclave (30). Air is continuously fed to the autoclave (30) by a gas compressor (34). The coal slurry is oxidized in the autoclave (30) while being agitated by a mixer (36). Gaseous products, and in particular carbon dioxide, is continuously removed from the autoclave (30) through a vent conduit (42). Benzene carboxylic acid salts produced in the autoclave (30) are removed and cooled in a cooler (52) and stored in a product tank (54).