Abstract: The present invention provides a reporter system comprising a reporter gene encoding a reporter protein that is secretable from cells in which it produced or expressed either in vitro or in vivo and excretable in a body fluid from whole animals comprising such systems. The reporter system is useful for the detection of gene activation events or biochemical changes related to, or that occur, as a result of altered metabolic or disease status or toxicological stress in toxicological screening.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention is a smoothing pad for bare semiconductor wafers the smoothing pad for bare semiconductor wafers. The smoothing pad comprises a smoothing body having a closed-cell thermoplastic foam comprising an ethylene vinyl acetate block copolymer comprising a vinyl acetate content ranging from about 1 to about 18 wt %. The smoothing body is substantially free of particles having an average size of greater than about 1 micron. Other aspects of the invention comprise a method of preparing a bare semiconductor wafer and a method of manufacturing a pad for smoothing bare semiconductor wafers.

Abstract: The present invention is directed, in general, to a chemical mechanical polishing pad comprising a closed-cell thermoplastic foam polishing body. The polishing body comprises an ethylene vinyl acetate block copolymer. The ethylene vinyl acetate block copolymer comprises a vinyl acetate content ranging from about 1 to about 18 wt %. The closed-cell thermoplastic foam polishing body also comprises filler particles comprising an average size ranging from about 1 to about 20 microns. Other aspects of the invention comprise a method for manufacturing the above-described chemical mechanical polishing pad and chemical mechanical polishing apparatus comprising the chemical mechanical polishing pad.

Abstract: A photochromic yarn can be formed by combining one or more photochromic dyed synthetic fiber filaments and can be formed by combining one or more photochromic dyed synthetic fiber filaments with one or more natural fiber filaments. A photochromic fabric can be formed by weaving one or more photochromic yarns together and by weaving one or more photochromic yarns with one or more natural fiber yarns. A method of making photochromic yarns and fabrics that have improved photochromic qualities, includes the steps of dyeing, buffer coating, spinning and weaving.

Abstract: A system for the detection of gene activation events is provided which comprises a nucleic acid construct encoding a protein of the lipocalin protein family and a peptide tag in which the expression of the construct in a cell or in the cells of a transgenic animal demonstrates the activation of a gene or genes of interest, in which the protein expressed is secreted from the cell and in which detection of the peptide tag indicates expression of the construct.

Abstract: A nipple reconstruction device includes a core component having a substantially circular hollow opening therein for receiving a person's nipple; padding attached to a lower part of the core and substantially lining the lower part of the core and at least a portion of the hollow opening in the core, and an attaching component constructed and adapted to hold the device in place on the person's skin. The core may be a semi-rigid, pliable, high durometer material. The padding may be gauze, woven rayon cellulose, cotton, a cotton/polyester blend material; or a non-woven, one-sided medical tape. The attaching component may be an adhesive tape having a plurality of tabs for holding the device in place on the person's skin.

Abstract: A Stirling engine assembly comprising a Stirling engine (1) with a hot head (3) and a cold region (4). An annular burner (9) surrounds the head and is arranged to provide heat to the head. A corrugated seal (2) between the Stirling engine and the burner prevents the flow of combustion gases from the head into the surrounding environment. The Stirling engine is supported by a mounting frame (23) at least in part via the seal.

Abstract: A domestic combined heat and power system comprising a Stirling engine (1) and water heater in the form of a supplementary burner (17). The exhaust gas from the Stirling engine is used to preheat combustible gas entering the Stirling engine and subsequently used to heat the water. The water heater (15) has a helical water duct (41) towards the periphery of a housing (39). Separate parts of this duct are heated, in series, by the exhaust gas from the Stirling engine and the supplementary burner (17) firing radially outwardly through the helical duct.

Abstract: A seal between the head of a Stirling engine (1) and surrounding burner assembly (2). The seal comprises an annular trough (11) attached to one component and filled with a viscous liquid (14), and an annular blade attached to the other component inserted into the viscous liquid. This forms a seal to the gas path between the engine and burner.

Abstract: A Stirling engine assembly for a DCHP system. A Stirling engine (1) is suspended from a mounting frame (5) by a plurality of tension springs (6). An annular absorber mass (2) surrounds the Stirling engine and is suspended from the engine on a plurality of resilient members (3) arranged asymmetrically about the main axis. The asymmetric arrangement is provided by members of different stiffnesses, or irregular spacing of the members. The absorber mass (2) itself may be reduced adjacent to the resilient members.

Abstract: A wall mounted domestic combined heat and power appliance comprising housing (1) containing a prime mover to generate electrical power and heat output. At least one bracket (2) at each side of the housing mounts the housing to a wall (W). Each bracket comprises a main body which is elongate in a vertical direction and has a L-shape cross section. Each extremity of the L-shape cross section has an enlarged portion (22, 23), a first (23) of which provides a spacer between the main body and the housing, and a second (22) of which provides a spacer between the main body and the wall.

Abstract: A method of producing a substance comprising a peptide, involves incorporating a DNA sequence coding for the peptide into a gene of a mammal (such as a sheep) coding for a milk whey protein in such a way that the DNA sequence is expressed in the mammary gland of the adult female mammal. The substance may be an (optionally modified) protein such as a blood coagulation factor. The DNA sequence is preferably inserted into the first exon of a gene coding for a whey protein such as beta-lactoglobulin. The substance will generally be recovered from milk of the female mammal, but may (for example if it is an enzyme) be used in situ.

Abstract: A self-latching device is disclosed which is arranged to latch, in a predetermined position, two members which are otherwise movable relative to each other such as a hinged gate. The device comprises a latch arm having a latch element and a manual actuator mounted on one of the members and which is movable between a latched and a retracted position, by upward manual displacement of the actuator, and a retaining element incorporating a permanent magnet mounted on the other member. The latch arm is spring biased into the retracted position but, when in the predetermined position, is caused to move by the magnetic field generated by the magnetic into the latched position wherein any substantial relative movement of the two members is prevented by the latch arm engaging the retaining element.

Abstract: The invention relates to sesquiterpene synthases and methods of their production and use. In one embodiment, the invention provides nucleic acids comprising a nucleotide sequence as described herein that encodes for at least one sesquiterpene synthases. In a further embodiment, the invention also provides for sesquiterpene synthases and methods of making and using these enzymes. For example, sesquiterpene synthases of the invention may be used to convert farnesyl-pyrophosphate to various oxygenated and aliphatic sesquiterpenes including valencene, bicyclo-germacrene, cubebol and delta-cadinene.

Abstract: The heating appliance, and particularly a dchp system, comprising two burners (3, 17). A splitter valve (23) splits a stream of air (24) into two streams, one for each burner. Combustible fuel is mixed with the air. A controller controls the combustible fuel, and the splitter valve position, thereby controlling the portion of air fed to each burner.

Abstract: A fan assembly comprising two fans (4, 10) for supplying combustible gases to two burners (5, 9) respectively. The flow parts from the first and second burners are combined in a common manifold. Temperature censor (6, 11) detect the temperature of the gases passing through each fan, and the speed of a particular fan is increased if the temperature sensor detects reverse flow of combustion gases.

Abstract: A magnetic self-latching device for a gate has a main body with handles on either side for operation or has an arrangement to be remotely actuated, for example electrically. A latching body has a high strength magnet usually provided at the bottom of a cavity which defines a latching shoulder. The latching body is adapted to be fixed to a gate post. The main body, with its housing, can be mounted on the gate frame and incorporates a latch pin which, in the door-closed position, is displaced by magnetic attraction to an extended latching position and against the biasing of a return spring. The gate cannot be opened until actuation of the mechanism occurs, for example by rotating a handle to retract the pin against the magnetic force; the gate can then be swung open. When the handle is released, the biasing spring retains the latch pin in a retracted position.

Abstract: A domestic combined heat and power (dchp) unit includes a Stirling engine (1) to provide heat for a domestic dwelling along with a source of electrical power. Under normal operation, the dchp is supplied with power from the national grid. When there is an interruption in the mains power from the grid, the dchp switches into a grid independent mode wherein power is generated by the dchp and is supplied to a controller (26) and to a water pump so as to maintain integrity of heat supply to the dwelling; the remaining power after that is supplied to selected domestic electrically powered equipment such as lights or television sets. The invention also discloses methods for black start of the dchp during a mains power loss, and also modification of the operating voltage on start up of electrical equipment during a power loss, to prevent the Stirling engine stalling.

Abstract: A seal between the head of a Stirling engine (1) and surrounding burner assembly (2). The seal comprises an annular trough (11) attached to one component and filled with a viscous liquid (14), and an annular blade attached to the other component inserted into the viscous liquid. This forms a seal to the gas path between the engine and burner.