Abstract: An adhering element (10) has a sucker (12) made of an elastomeric plastic and a connecting element (14) made of a more rigid plastic. The connecting element (14), which has a flange border (24), is connected non-releasably to the sucker (12) by virtue of the two parts (12), (14) being produced preferably by two-component injection moulding. This increases the stability of the adhering element (10), in particular when the latter is connected to an elongate object, for example a self-supporting toothbrush.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing black leaf tea with improved aroma. The process involves treating freshly plucked tea leaves with jasmonic acid or one of more derivatives thereof, macerating and fermenting the leaves, firing the fermented leaves to arrest fermentation and then drying them to yield black leaf tea. Treating the leaves in this way, preferably prior to a withering step, enhances aroma in the tea and infusions made from it.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of detecting the presence of an analyte of interest in a sample, the method comprising the steps of: providing a binding partner reversibly immobilised on a solid support, said binding partner having binding specificity for the analyte; contacting the sample with the solid support; specifically displacing the binding partner from the solid support in response to the presence of the analyte of interest in the sample, said displacement causing a reduction in the mass of material immobilised on the solid support, thereby generating a detectable change in a mass-dependent property of the solid support; and detecting said change. Also disclosed is an assay device for performing the method of the invention.

Abstract: Novel fat-continous emulsion, containing a blend with emulsifying properties is obtained by the blending of: 0-90% of a partial glyceride (=A); 0-80% of a phospholipid (=B); 0.01-99.98% of a long chain alcohol having >20 C-atoms in the alcohol chain, while the amount of (A)+(B)≧0.02% and incorporating this blend in a fat-continuous emulsion.

Abstract: Small specific binding molecules, such as single variable domain antibodies (Dabs) and Fv fragments, can be coupled to solid plastics surfaces or to tracers such as enzymes by means of linkers comprising polypeptides containing from 5 to 20 amino acids and which are hydrophobic and/or contain at least one lysine residue. The coupling can be achieved without significant loss of specific binding activity. The combined Dab/linker or Fv/linker can be prepared by expression in genetically-modified organisms.

Abstract: Aliphatic, saturated or unsaturated, straight or branched chain C2-C24 monocarboxylic acids and polyhydric alcohols, particularly glycerol are selectively reached to monoesters in the presence of an enzyme which comprises potato lipid acyl hydrolase. The process can be used too for upgrading technical monoglycerides which contain free fatty acids.

Abstract: The invention concerns an isomerisation process, wherein materials comprising non-congugated long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids are subjected to base in the presence of an alcohol with ≧3 C-atoms and ≧2 OH groups and having ratio C-atoms: OH-groups of ≧1.25. The resulting reaction product, containing the conjugated isomers is obtained in higher yield at lower temperatures and are not contaminated by presence of non food grade solvent.

Abstract: A multivalent antigen-binding protein comprises a first polypeptide comprising, in series, three or more variable domains of an antibody heavy chain and a second polypeptide comprising, in series, three of more variable domains of an antibody light chain, said first and second polypeptides being linked by association of the respective heavy chain and light chain variable domains, each associated variable domain pair forming an antigen binding site. Methods for their production and uses thereof, in particular for therapeutic and diagnostic applications, are disclosed.

Abstract: A method of monitoring the status of a current ovulation cycle of an individual human female subject, involving testing of the body fluid concentration of an analyte of significance in relation to the status of the ovulation cycle, such as urinary E3G, during at least part of the pre-ovulation phase of the current ovulation cycle of the individual subject, and identification from the results of such testing an analyte concentration change indicative of imminent ovulation, relative to an analyte concentration reference value that has been adapted to the individual human subject on the basis of analyte concentration test data obtained from the individual human subject during one or more previous ovulation cycles.

Abstract: Disclosed are nucleic acids from tomato encoding polypeptides having xyloglucan endo-transglycosylase (XET) activity, comprising residues 21-289 of the amino acid sequence shown in FIG. 1 (SEQ ID NO:2) or or comprising residues 19-287 of the amino acid sequence shown in FIG. 5 (SEQ ID NO:8), and transgenic plants comprising said nucleic acids.

Abstract: Described is a time release fragrance sachet for air freshening, particularly for use in clothing storage cabinets. The sachets comprise a container fabricated from a substance either sufficiently porous for perfumes to pass therethrough or having openings capable of permitting fragrances to pass through the walls thereof. The sachets each contain thermoplastic particles which have contained in the interstices thereof fragrance materials. The polymer particles can be foamed particles produced using chemical blowing agents or direct gas extrusion processes. Also described are methods for fabricating such sachets and methods of using same.

Abstract: A reshaped human antibody or reshaped human antibody fragment having specificity for human polymorphic epithelial mucin (PEM) is produced by transferring the complementarity determining regions (CDRS) from a murine anti-HMFG hybridoma cell line HMFG1 into a human antibody variable region framework. The reshaped molecule can be used in the treatment or diagnosis of cancer.

Abstract: The present invention concerns the technical field of edible spreads. Consumers have exhibited a preference for fats which are relatively low in saturates, low in trans fatty acids, low in sixteen-carbon fatty acids and contain some polyunsaturated fats. In a known product the fat phase comprises around 80 wt % of the product and consists of a blend of around 40 wt % olive oil and 60 wt % partially hardened olive oil. The invention provides an edible spread comprising from 80-5 wt % fat and 95-20 wt % of an aqueous phase dispersed in the fat, CHARACTERIZED IN THAT;a) the oleic acid content of the fat phase is 45-80 wt % on fat phase,b) the saturated fatty acid content of the fat phase is 5-20 wt % on fat phase,c) the trans fatty acid content of the fat phase is 0-10 wt % on fat phase, and,d) the 18-carbon fatty acid content of the fat phase is 70-100 wt % on fat phase.

Abstract: An assay device incorporates a composite strip comprising at least two bodies of porous liquid-conductive material in liquid-flow contact with each other via an interface and together defining at least part of a liquid flow path through which liquid must flow during the performance of an assay, wherein at said interface the lateral dimension, relative to the direction of the liquid flow path, of the contact area of the upstream body is narrowed such that liquid flow from the upstream body into the downstream body is focused towards the centre-line of the flow path in the downstream body, thereby reducing the likelihood that liquid will deviate from the intended flow path. The upstream body can be a sample-collecting wick, terminating at the interface as a point or prow (FIG. 7).

Abstract: The invention relates to laundry detergents containing lipase and new perfumes and to the new perfumes themselves. Such new perfumes counteract residual malodors of lipase treated laundry. They comprise at least 25% by weight of one or more fragrance materials chosen from: aliphatic ketones with m(olecular) w(eight) between 200 and 350 A(tomic) M(ass) U(nits), aromatic ketones with mw between 150 and 350 AMU, aliphatic aldehydes with mw between 160 and 350 AMU, aromatic aldehydes with mw between 130 and 350 AMU, nitriles with mw between 150 and 350 AMU, condensation products of aldehydes and amines with mw between 190 and 350 AMU, macrocyclic lactones with mw below 350 AMU and aromatic nitromusks, and less than 50% by weight of esters from fatty acids with 1-7 carbon atoms. Preferably they contain more than 30% of the specified fragrance materials and less than 30% of the esters.

Abstract: A process of manufacturing test strips of the type comprising a length of porous carrier material capable of acting as a liquid flow path for a sample liquid and having at least zone downstream from a first end of the strip which zone contains an immobilized specific binding agent to act as a capture means during an assay to reveal the presence of an analyte in applied sample liquid, and in which process the specific binding agent is deposited onto a sheet of the porous carrier material which is then blocked and subdivided into a plurality of individual identical test strips, wherein blocking of the porous carrier material is achieved by applying a solution of blocking agent to the sheet upstream from the zone in an amount sufficient to ensure that the solution permeates downstream to beyond the zone.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for preparing a protein by a eukaryote transformed by multicopy integration of an expression vector into the genome of a yeast, such as Saccharomyces, Hansenula, and Kluyveromyces, or of a mould such as Aspergillus, Rbizopus and Trichoderma, the expression vector containing both an "expressible gene" encoding the protein and a so-called "deficient selection marker meeded for the growth of the yeast or mould in a specific medium", such as the LEU2d, TRP1d or URA3d gene, in combination witha ribosomal DNA sequence, resulting in stable high copy integration of 100-300 copies per cell. This multicopy integration results in an increased production of the desired protein, which can be guar .alpha.-galactosidase, an oxidase or a hydrolytic enzyme such as a lipase.

Abstract: A composite electrode, comprising:a solid non-metallic substrate, (such as ceramic, glass, or epoxy resin,)and, bonded directly or indirectly to said substrate,a non-conducting matrix, incorporating particles which are accessible to the electrode surface and contain an insoluble metal salt (e.g. halide) in direct electrical contact with the metal corresponding to said salt, said metal being present either (i) in the form of metallic particles incorporated in a non-conducting matrix zone disposed so that said metal salt-containing particles are located between said metallic particles and said electrode surface, and/or (ii) a solid metallic surface in the form of an intermediate layer between said matrix and said substrate.

Abstract: A method is provided for immobilizing an enzyme, comprising immobilizing the enzyme or a functional part thereof to the cell wall of a microbial cell using recombinant DNA techniques. The enzyme is immobilized by linking it to the C-terminal part of a protein that ensures anchoring in the cell wall. Also provided is a recombinant polynucleotide comprising a structural gene encoding an enzyme protein, a part of a gene encoding the C-terminal part of a protein capable of anchoring in a eukaryotic or prokaryotic cell wall, as well as a signal sequence, in addition to a chimeric protein encoded by the recombinant polynucleotide and a vector and a microorganism containing the polynucleotide. The microorganism is suitable for carrying out enzymatic processes on an industrial scale.