Abstract: The present invention relates to a reactor for the treatment of a liquid stream, the reactor comprising: a liquid stream inlet, a reaction zone for holding the liquid stream, at least one rotating contactor in the reaction zone arranged to rotate through the liquid stream, and a liquid outlet, wherein the at least one rotating contactor includes a fabric mesh.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a gel having a three dimensional matrix structure and a drug in the form of a solid contained within the three dimensional matrix. Gels of the invention are preferably for implantation into a patient. Storing the drug as a solid within the gel means that the drug density is high in those areas of the gel which contain solid drug. The high drug density means that a larger amount of drug can be stored in a gel of a given size relative to the amount of drug that can be stored as individual molecules. The large deposit of solid drug means that the gel can sustain release of the drug for an extended period of time. This is advantageous because it minimises the frequency of replacement or replenishment of the implanted gel, thereby minimising discomfort and inconvenience to the patient.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a container for an analyte-sensitive gel. When analyte contacts such a gel it causes a gel-sol transition resulting in decreased viscosity of the gel. Such gels can be used for controlling the rate of release of an agent from a reservoir in response to the concentration of an analyte. The container is configured to allow analyte to pass into the container and contact the gel and to allow agent to diffuse out of the container. Such a container may be implantable in the body of a subject and therefore it is preferred if the container is constructed from materials that can be tolerated by the body for a period of time. Advantageously, the container limits the swelling and dilution of gel contained within the container caused by the influx of water into the gel by osmosis. The container therefore maintains the gel in a desired conformation and ensures a predictable release profile of the agent.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a reactor for the treatment of a liquid stream, the reactor comprising: a liquid stream inlet, a reaction zone for holding the liquid stream, at least one rotating contactor in the reaction zone arranged to rotate through the liquid stream, and a liquid outlet, wherein the at least one rotating contactor includes a fabric mesh.

Abstract: The present invention provides an isolated or recombinant polypeptide comprising or consisting of a modified P450 reductase which lacks N-terminal amino acids relative to the corresponding wild type P450 reductase and comprises an epitope tag comprising the sequence HDEL or KDEL. The modified P450 reductase, when co-expressed with a cytochrome P450, increases the activity and/or expression of the cytochrome P450 compared to the activity and/or expression of the cytochrome P450 when co-expressed with the wild type P450 reductase.

Abstract: A multi-spectral holographic security marker is made by a novel method according to the invention involving a replay frequency shift to one or more final replay frequencies of a part or parts only of a recorded image plane volume hologram. The marker comprises an optional surface hologram and an image plane volume hologram. The volume hologram is divided into discrete areas which have mutually different final replay frequencies. The security information carried by the marker is a combination of the size and shape of those different replay areas together with the hologram content itself which is spread across the different replay areas. If the marker also includes a surface hologram, then that is preferably aligned with the junctions between the replay areas. Preferably one volume hologram replay frequency is in the visible spectrum and the other is in the invisible part of the spectrum (IR or UV).

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for preparing a fibrous catalyst for the treatment of a waste stream, the method comprising the steps of: (i) treating a fabric comprising polyacrylonitrile fibers with a hydrazine salt and a hydroxylamine salt in the presence of a base to provide a modified fabric; (ii) treating the modified fabric with a base; and (iii) treating the modified fabric with an aqueous solution comprising a sulfate salt of a first metal cation and a salt of a second metal cation, wherein the first metal cation is selected from an iron and nickel cation, and mixtures thereof, and wherein the second metal cation is selected from a lithium, sodium, potassium, rubidium, caesium, beryllium, magnesium, calcium, strontium, barium, zinc, cadmium, mercury, aluminum, gallium, indium, thallium, tin, lead, antimony and bismuth cation, and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: A multi-spectral holographic security marker is made by a novel method according to the invention involving a replay frequency shift to one or more final replay frequencies of a part or parts only of a recorded image plane volume hologram. The marker comprises an optional surface hologram and an image plane volume hologram. The volume hologram is divided into discrete areas which have mutually different final replay frequencies. The security information carried by the marker is a combination of the size and shape of those different replay areas together with the hologram content itself which is spread across the different replay areas. If the marker also includes a surface hologram, then that is preferably aligned with the junctions between the replay areas. Preferably one volume hologram replay frequency is in the visible spectrum and the other is in the invisible part of the spectrum (IR or UV).

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of killing and/or inactivating microbes, the method comprising the step of placing the microbes in contact with a catalyst by means of a fluid medium, wherein the catalyst comprises a solid support, which solid support comprises one or more fibers, and a first metal cation fixed to the support. The fibers are keratinous fibers like wool fibers, or polyacrylonitrile (PAN) fibers. The first metal cation is selected from transition metal copper, silver and gold included. A second non-transition metal cation can be present. The catalyst is prepared by first treating the fibers with hydrazine and/or hydroxylamine salt in presence of a base, the modified fibers are then treated with an aqueous solution of containing the metal cations.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel methods for preparing fibrous catalysts, to fibrous catalysts, to catalysts systems and to uses of the fibrous catalysts in the treatment of a waste stream. The method comprising the steps of: (i) treating a fabric comprising polyacrylonitrile fibers with a hydrazine salt and a hydroxylamine salt in the presence of a base to provide a modified fabric; (ii) treating the modified fabric with a base; and (iii) treating the modified fabric with an aqueous solution comprising a salt of a transition metal cation and a salt of a non-transition metal cation. The transition metal cation is selected from a scandium, titanium, vanadium, chromium, manganese, iron, cobalt, nickel and copper cation, and mixtures thereof; the non-transition metal cation is selected from a calcium, magnesium, lithium and zinc cation, and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: A method of electrical impedance imaging using multiple electrodes in which each of the multiple electrodes does not contact the object to be imaged but is electrically coupled to the object via electrically conductive fluid in which the object is at least partially immersed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a gel composition, comprising first and second gel-forming moieties which bind reversibly to one another to form a gel. The binding of the moieties is sensitive to the level of an analyte, and either or both of the gel-forming moieties are attached to cross-linked particulate entities such that the interstices between the entities allow gel-sol and sol-gel transformation, and yet are not so small that the analyte cannot diffuse therethrough. The invention also provides drug delivery systems and sensors for detecting an analyte utilizing such a gel.

Abstract: A method for producing a drug system which is a reversible gelled matrix with entrapped drug. The gel is made by combining a polysaccharide, such as dextran, a polymer of glucose, with a natural macromolecule, such as the lectin, concanavalin A, with binding sites for monomers of the polysaccharide. The drug is released in response to exposure of the matrix to free carbohydrate containing the monomer of the polysaccharide for which the natural macromolecule binds.

Abstract: There is disclosed electrical impedance tomography apparatus adapted to detect abnormalities in bodily matter comprising: electrical signal generating means for generating electrical signals at a plurality of frequencies; an electrode arrangement for applying the electrical signals to the bodily matter and detecting electrical impendance properties of the bodily matter; and data processing means for correlating the detected electrical impedance properties with the presence or absence of abnormalities in the bodily matter; in which electrical signals of a frequency greater than 1 MHz, preferably greater than 2 MHz, more preferably greater than 3 MHz and most preferably greater than 4 MHz are applied to the bodily matter.

Abstract: The present invention concerns prodrugs whose aromatic oxidation, particularly their enzymatic aromatic hydroxylation, results in their activation by the release of a drug moiety. It particularly concerns anti-tumor prodrugs and those which are specifically activated by the hydroxylation activity of the P-450 enzyme CYP1B1. Also provided are methods of detection of aromatic oxidation activity.

Abstract: There is disclosed a semiconductor device comprising: at least one cell comprising a base region (32) of a first conductivity type having disposed therein at least one emitter region (36a, 36b) of a second conductivity type; a first well region (22) of a second conductivity type; a second well region (2a) of a first conductivity type; a drift region (24) of a second conductivity type; a collector region (14) of a first conductivity type; a collector contact (16) in which each cell is disposed within the first well region (22) and the first well region (22) is disposed within the second well-region (20); the device further comprising: a first gate (61) disposed over a base region (32) so that a MOSFET channel can be formed between an emitter region (36a, 36b) and the first well region (22); the device further comprising: a second gate disposer over the second well region (20) so that a MOSFET channel can be formed between the first well region (22) and the drift region (24).

Abstract: The present invention concerns enzymatic aromatic hydroxylation-activated prodrugs, particularly anti-tumor prodrugs and those which are specifically activated by the hydroxylation activity of the enzyme CYP1B1.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method for storing and/or transmitting 3D image information comprising the steps of: producing an image to be stored and/or transmitted comprising an array of strongly correlated neighbouring sub-images; casting the sub-images on to a pixel screen capturing the sub-images as electronic data; compressing the electronic data by eliminating redundancies associated with the sub-images; storing and/or transmitting the compressed data; the compression being reversible so as to expand the data to re-create the sub-images for viewing as a 3D image through an optical viewing system comprising a microlens or lenticular array.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method for producing a system for delivering a drug for the treatment of a condition, comprising immobilizing a drug or other agent in a bio-compatible matrix containing at least one receptor for a physiological substance which will be in the environment of the matrix when administered, said receptor being anchored within the matrix but remaining biologically active being activated in response to the levels of said physiological substance to effect a conformational change in the matrix allowing mobilization and release of the drug only into the environment.

Abstract: The present invention concerns enzymatic aromatic hydroxylation-activated prodrugs, particularly anti-tumor prodrugs and those which are specifically activated by the hydroxylation activity of the enzyme CYP1B1.