Abstract: A solar collector device for mounting on the outside of a support structure and including a fluid circuit for receiving a fluid for heating by solar radiation, the device further comprising a length of connection piping connected to the fluid circuit and moveable relative to the fluid circuit while thus connected thereto from a protected position to an installation position where the distal end thereof extends to the inside of said support structure.

Abstract: A respiratory interface device (10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80) comprising a main body (12, 22, 32, 42, 52, 62, 72, 82) that includes a fluid conduit adapted to be connected to a breathing circuit, and a sealing member (15, 25, 35, 45, 55, 65, 75, 85) adapted to engage a surface of a patient, such that the fluid conduit is in fluid communication, in use, with an airway of the patient, wherein the sealing member (15, 25, 35, 45, 55, 65, 75, 85) includes a plasticising agent, and a barrier member (18, 28, 38, 48, 58, 68, 78, 88) is provided between the sealing member (15, 25, 35, 45, 55, 65, 75, 85) and the main body (12, 22, 32, 42, 52, 62, 72, 82) of the device(10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80), the barrier member (18, 28, 38, 48, 58, 68, 78, 88) at least impeding the migration of plasticising agent from the sealing member (15, 25, 35, 45, 55, 65, 75, 85) to the main body (12, 22, 32, 42, 52, 62, 72, 82) of the device(10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80).

Abstract: A method of, and a system for promoting the flow of air from a lower location to an upper location, the method comprising: using heat from a heat source to provide a first heat store; and making a secondary use of heat from said heat source to power a heating device for heating an air conduit connecting said lower and upper locations; wherein said secondary use of heat from said heat source is controlled on the basis of an indicator of whether or not there is an excess of heat in the heat store.

Abstract: An approach to monitoring, evaluation, diagnosis, treatment or conditioning of animals such as horses does not require use of restrictive equipment such as treadmills or force plates and that can provide either or both of more or less immediate or continuous processing of data to perform the monitoring or diagnosis. One or more wireless sensors are attached to the animal, for example, to measure motion-related parameter associated with one or more parts of the animal. Sensor data is received from the sensors and processed to identify a characteristic of the motion of the animal, such as a quality of gait. The sensor data can also be used to avoid injury to the animal and/or the rider, and to verify the identity of an animal.

Abstract: An approach to monitoring, evaluation, diagnosis, treatment or conditioning of animals such as horses does not require use of restrictive equipment such as treadmills or force plates and that can provide either or both of more or less immediate or continuous processing of data to perform the monitoring or diagnosis. One or more wireless sensors are attached to the animal, for example, to measure motion-related parameter associated with one or more parts of the animal. Sensor data is received from the sensors and processed to identify a characteristic of the motion of the animal, such as a quality of gait. The sensor data can also be used to avoid injury to the animal and/or the rider, and to verify the identity of an animal.

Abstract: An approach to monitoring, evaluation, diagnosis, treatment or conditioning of animals such as horses does not require use of restrictive equipment such as treadmills or force plates and that can provide either or both of more or less immediate or continuous processing of data to perform the monitoring or diagnosis. One or more wireless sensors are attached to the animal, for example, to measure motion-related parameter associated with one or more parts of the animal. Sensor data is received from the sensors and processed to identify a characteristic of the motion of the animal, such as a quality of gait. The sensor data can also be used to avoid injury to the animal and/or the rider, and to verify the identity of an animal.

Abstract: A roof-penetrating structure for incorporating into a roof, the structure including a portion extending along one or more sides of the roof-penetrating structure for receiving an edge section of one or more sheets of flashing to provide a weather-proof connection therebetween; said portion including one or more resilient members such that, in use, the insertion of flashing into said portion automatically forces at least one of said one or more resilient members into a configuration in which they are biased against the flashing.

Abstract: An approach to monitoring, evaluation, diagnosis, treatment or conditioning of animals such as horses does not require use of restrictive equipment such as treadmills or force plates and that can provide either or both of more or less immediate or continuous processing of data to perform the monitoring or diagnosis. One or more wireless sensors are attached to the animal, for example, to measure motion-related parameter associated with one or more parts of the animal. Sensor data is received from the sensors and processed to identify a characteristic of the motion of the animal, such as a quality of gait. The sensor data can also be used to avoid injury to the animal and/or the rider, and to verify the identity of an animal.

Abstract: A solar collector device for mounting on the outside of a support structure and including a fluid circuit for receiving a fluid for heating by solar radiation, the device further comprising a length of connection piping connected to the fluid circuit and moveable relative to the fluid circuit while thus connected thereto from a protected position to an installation position where the distal end thereof extends to the inside of said support structure.

Abstract: An optical fibre unit having a sheath and a plurality of optical fibre elements loosely housed in the sheath. The sheath is coated with particles of an adherence reducing substance and has a radial thickness that is not substantially greater than 0.3 mm. The coating of adherence reducing particles is applied as a liquid coating. The liquid coating is a dispersion of the particles and heat is applied to evaporate the liquid content of the liquid coating to produce a dry coating of particles on the sheath.

Abstract: An approach to monitoring, evaluation, diagnosis, treatment or conditioning of animals such as horses does not require use of restrictive equipment such as treadmills or force plates and that can provide either or both of more or less immediate or continuous processing of data to perform the monitoring or diagnosis. One or more wireless sensors are attached to the animal, for example, to measure motion-related parameter associated with one or more parts of the animal. Sensor data is received from the sensors and processed to identify a characteristic of the motion of the animal, such as a quality of gait. The sensor data can also be used to avoid injury to the animal and/or the rider, and to verify the identity of an animal.

Abstract: The invention comprises novel methods and strategies to detect and/or quantify nucleic acid analytes. The methods involve nucleic acid probes with covalently conjugated dyes, which are attached either at adjacent nucleotides or at the same nucleotide of the probe and novel linker molecules to attach the dyes to the probes. The nucleic acid probes generate a fluorescent signal upon hybridization to complementary nucleic acids based on the interaction of one of the attached dyes, which is either an intercalator or a DNA groove binder, with the formed double stranded DNA. The methods can be applied to a variety of applications including homogeneous assays, real-time PCR monitoring, transcription assays, expression analysis on nucleic acid microarrays and other microarray applications such as genotyping (SNP analysis). The methods further include pH-sensitive nucleic acid probes that provide switchable fluorescence signals that are triggered by a change in the pH of the medium.

Abstract: An optical fibre unit having a sheath and a plurality of optical fibre elements loosely housed in the sheath. The sheath is coated with particles of an adherence reducing substance and has a radial thickness that is not substantially greater than 0.3 mm. The coating of adherence reducing particles is applied as a liquid coating. The liquid coating is a dispersion of the particles and heat is applied to evaporate the liquid content of the liquid coating to produce a dry coating of particles on the sheath.

Abstract: The invention comprises novel methods and strategies to detect and/or quantify nucleic acid analytes. The methods involve nucleic acid probes with covalently conjugated dyes, which are attached either at adjacent nucleotides or at the same nucleotide of the probe and novel linker molecules to attach the dyes to the probes. The nucleic acid probes generate a fluorescent signal upon hybridization to complementary nucleic acids based on the interaction of one of the attached dyes, which is either an intercalator or a DNA groove binder, with the formed double stranded DNA. The methods can be applied to a variety of applications including homogeneous assays, real-time PCR monitoring, transcription assays, expression analysis on nucleic acid microarrays and other microarray applications such as genotyping (SNP analysis). The methods further include pH-sensitive nucleic acid probes that provide switchable fluorescence signals that are triggered by a change in the pH of the medium.

Abstract: An assembly comprises two structural elements 12, 14 secured firmly to one another while a gap G is maintained between them. The assembly comprises a threaded through bore 18 in the first 14 of the two elements and an externally threaded annular bushing 20 screwed into the through bore 18 and having one end 22 projecting from one of the opposed faces into contact with the other, so as to maintain the desired gap G. A bolt 28 passing through the annular bushing 20 is used to secure the elements 12, 14 to one another. In the invention, the end 22 of the bushing 20 is tapered and is received within a recess 24 of complementary shape in the second element 12 in order to lock the bushing in position.

Abstract: An optical fibre drop cable for suspension installation includes electrical conductors and at least one optical fibre. An electrically non-conductive reinforcing sleeve houses the conductors and the or each optical fibre. The reinforcing sleeve is housed in sheathing. In addition to or instead of the optical fibre or optical fibres, the reinforcing sleeve may house one or more elongate containers, preferably plastic tubes, for housing optical fibres.

Abstract: An optical fibre drop cable for suspension installation includes sheathing having a first portion containing a strengthening arrangement for supporting the cable in a suspension installation and a second portion that is separable from the first portion. The second sheathing portion contains a plurality of electrical conductors. The first sheathing portion defines at least one passage for optical fibres.

Abstract: The invention comprises novel methods and strategies to detect and/or quantify nucleic acid analytes. The methods involve nucleic acid probes with covalently conjugated dyes, which are attached either at adjacent nucleotides or at the same nucleotide of the probe and novel linker molecules to attach the dyes to the probes. The nucleic acid probes generate a fluorescent signal upon hybridization to complementary nucleic acids based on the interaction of one of the attached dyes, which is either an intercalator or a DNA groove binder, with the formed double stranded DNA. The methods can be applied to a variety of applications including homogeneous assays, real-time PCR monitoring, transcription assays, expression analysis on nucleic acid microarrays and other microarray applications such as genotyping (SNP analysis). The methods further include pH-sensitive nucleic acid probes that provide switchable fluorescence signals that are triggered by a change in the pH of the medium.

Abstract: A method of mounting a radiator onto a support member in a vehicle includes the steps of securing to the radiator a resilient mounting bush having a first annular groove in its outer surface, providing a second annular groove in the inner surface of a radiator mounting bore formed in the support member, positioning a spring clip in one of the two annular grooves and inserting the bush into the bore, the spring clip being compressed radially during insertion of the bush into the bore and being released when the annular grooves are axially aligned with one another to lock the bush within the bore.

Abstract: A method of mounting a radiator onto a support member in a vehicle comprises the steps of securing to the radiator a resilient mounting bush having a first annular groove in its outer surface, providing a second annular groove in the inner surface of a radiator mounting bore formed in the support member, positioning a spring clip in one of the two annular grooves and inserting the bush into the bore, the spring clip being compressed radially during insertion of the bush into the bore and being released when the annular grooves are axially aligned with one another to lock the bush within the bore.