Abstract: An apparatus for cleaning cloth which includes a body with an aperture, a closure, which is engageable with the aperture, a tub with an outer shell and a cylindrical inner cavity which corresponds with the aperture, a drum, which is positioned inside the cylindrical inner cavity and which includes a wall, with an inner surface, an outer surface and a plurality of perforations in the wait, a base and an opposing mouth which registers with the aperture, a driver which is connected to or engaged with the drum and which allows rotational movement of the drum about an axis, a generator and an electrical power supply, inside the body, wherein the power supply is adapted to provide pulsating electrical power to the generator and wherein the generator is actuable to produce pulses of microwave energy at least into part of the drum.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus for providing an improved electromagnetic radiation sensing micromechanical device to be utilized in high pixel-density pixel sensor arrays. The device includes an improved design for improved and adjustable performance through simple geometric or fabrication means. Furthermore, the design of the device lends itself to simple micromechanical manufacturing procedures. Additionally, the manufacturing procedures include a method to enable high uniformity and high yield sensor arrays. Arrays of the device can be utilized as IR imaging detectors for use in applications such as human presence detection, nonvisual environment monitoring, security and safety, surveillance, energy monitoring, fire detection and people counting.

Abstract: The present invention describes the use of metal-ligand complexes within the active material of an electrode to provide for improvement in operation as well as to mitigate the cyclic stresses of swelling of the active material during charging and discharging operations and to provide resistance to dissolution of electrode active materials.

Abstract: An integrated quantum random noise source includes a substrate, an optical oscillator that may be integral to the substrate coupled by an optical waveguide to an optical directional coupler. The optical directional coupler has two outputs that are coupled by optical waveguides to a pair of photodetectors that are part of a balanced photodetector. The balanced photodetector in response outputs an analogue signal proportional to the difference in photocurrents of the two photodetectors. The analogue output signal from the balanced photodetector is a random Gaussian-distributed signal representative of quadrature measurements on the quantum vacuum state of light. The random noise source can be coupled other apparatus to provide a source of random bits.

Abstract: A pallet moulded from plastics material for supporting a flexible intermediate bulk container. It has a generally planar central panel portion, a pair of parallel inverted open channels extending across the pallet to form a respective pair of open-ended tunnels each tunnel having an upper wall and two side walls, and a pair of edge panel portions generally co-planar with the central panel. An array of raised elongate hump portions bulges upwards from the upper walls of the tunnels, each hump portion extending laterally across an upper wall. The two ends of the hump portions abut respective buttresses which extend up the side walls.

Abstract: A method of targeting bacterially-derived, intact minicells to specific, non-phagocytic mammalian cells employs bispecific ligands to deliver nucleic acids efficiently to the mammalian cells. Bispecific ligands, comprising (i) a first arm that carries specificity for a bacterially-derived minicell surface structure and (ii) a second arm that carries specificity for a non-phagocytic mammalian cell surface receptor are useful for targeting minicells to specific, non-phagocytic mammalian cells and causing endocytosis of minicells by non-phagocytic cells.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to methods and agents for identifying and/or classifying microbes (especially bacteria), yeast organisms and filamentous fungi. In particular, the present invention concerns the discovery of unique single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in bacterial 16S ribosomal RNA (16S rRNA) and yeast organism and filamentous fungi 18S ribosomal RNA, and methods of classifying and/or identifying bacteria, yeast organisms and/or filamentous fungi in a sample based on the presence of one or more of those SNPs. The present invention also concerns probes, primers and kits that are useful in those methods.

Abstract: A position-sensitive shock absorber 1 comprising an internal fluid space 3, a piston 5 and fluid system 7. The piston divides the internal fluid space into a compression side 3a and a rebound side 3b. The fluid system fluidly connects the compression side to the rebound side. The fluid system comprises a chain 9 of three or more external fluid spaces 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d external to the internal fluid space, space flow-control-arrangements 27i, 27ii, 27iii, and passage arrangements 25a, 25b, 25c, 25d mutually spaced along the internal fluid space. Each of the space flow-control-arrangements is configured to mutually fluidly connect a respective adjacent two of the external fluid spaces. Each of the external fluid spaces has a respective one of the passage arrangements. Each of the passage arrangements comprises one or more passages opening to the internal fluid space.

Abstract: A retaining mechanism for a holster includes a body (18) mountable to or integral with a holster, and a hood unit (40) rotatably mounted to the body. The hood unit configured for rotation about a first axis between a retaining condition in which it overlies a service item in the holster to prevent its withdrawal and a retracted condition in which the service item can be withdrawn. A hand-operable lever assembly (60) is rotatably mounted to the body and configured for rotation about a second axis. The lever assembly is operably engageable with the hood unit whereby rotation of the lever assembly effects rotation of the hood unit to its retracted condition and vice versa. The lever assembly includes a first, deflectable, portion (70) and a separate second, depressible, portion (80).

Abstract: A mobile agricultural spray apparatus, the spray apparatus including at least one spray nozzle arranged to be on one side of a crop during spraying and an overspray collector arranged to be on the opposite side of the crop during spraying such that the overspray collector can capture overspray from the spray nozzle during operation, wherein the overspray collector includes: at least two curtains, the curtains including at least one pervious and flexible front curtain and an impervious rear curtain; an overspray space between the pervious front curtain and the impervious rear curtain; and an overspray chamber in fluid communication with at least the overspray space for collection of overspray captured by the overspray collector.

Abstract: A security device is disclosed including a substrate and one or more focusing elements or lens structures located on one side of the substrate. The security device includes a plurality of image elements associated with each focusing element wherein the image elements include at least first and second groups of image elements. Each image element may be composed of pixels located in an object plane to be viewable through the associated focusing element. Each image element comprises a diffractive grating element or sub-wavelength grating element which when illuminated by a light source generates a diffraction image observable at a range of viewing angles around the device. Image elements of the first group are visible in a first range of viewing angles and image elements of the second group are visible in a second range of viewing angles. The security device is particularly suitable for use on security documents, such as banknotes. A method of forming a security device is also disclosed.

Abstract: A selective transplanter is provided for transplanting seedlings from a tray to seedling planting apparatus. The tray includes a plurality of cells for holding plugs of growing medium containing seedlings. The transplanter is arranged to eject plugs from the cells of the tray to a conveyor which conveys the plugs to the seedling planting apparatus. The transplanter is arranged to remove plugs that do not contain germinated seedlings from the conveyor at a removal position before they are transferred to the seedling planting apparatus. A seedling retention roller engages with plant material of the seedlings projecting from the plugs at the removal position before the plugs are transferred to the seedling planting apparatus, preventing removal of plugs containing seedlings with projecting plant material. The transplanter provides the advantage that the plugs containing seedlings can be planted in rows in a field without dud plugs being planted, leaving the rows substantially gap free.

Abstract: The present invention provides an adjustable flow regulator for a water mixer that, when in use, is disposed in a fluid path between a mixer cartridge and a mixer outlet of the water mixer, the adjustable flow regulator comprises a regulator body having a fluid inlet in fluid communication with the mixer cartridge to receive mixed water therefrom, and a fluid outlet in fluid communication with the mixer outlet. The regulator body further comprises a control element moveable within the regulator body, wherein the control element is moveable to adjustably restrict the fluid path and thereby flow of mixed water exiting the outlet.

Abstract: The present invention provides antibodies that specifically bind to P2X7 receptors and distinguish between function and non-functional P2X7 receptors, pharmaceutical compositions and kits containing the antibodies, and methods of using the antibodies for the detection, diagnosis and treatment of disease conditions.

Abstract: A stemming plug (60) for stemming a blast hole in a mine is disclosed. The plug has first and second wedge-shaped members (62?, 62) manufactured from a suitable plastics material. The first wedge-shaped member (62?) has a first sloping face received in sliding relationship with a matching face of the second wedge-shaped member (62) wherein, in use, when the first wedge- shaped member (62?) is positioned nearest to an explosive material in the blast hole it has a larger surface area facing the explosive material than the second wedge-shaped member (62). In use, when a Shockwave from initiation of the explosive material in the blast hole encounters the first wedge-shaped member (62?) it acts as a piston, sliding on the second wedge-shaped member (62) so that both wedge-shaped members exert diametrically opposed forces against the wall of the blast hole to lock the plug (60) in place. The two wedge-shaped members (62?, 62) may be substantially identical, thus significantly simplifying the manufacturing process.

Abstract: A server computer system connected to a first communications network. The server computer includes an instrument communications component configured to communicate with and control a plurality of biological reagent instruments using the first communications network and a user interface component configured to cause user interface (UI) instances to be displayed by a client computer device connected by a second communications network to said server computer system. The UI instances control respective virtual pods representing one or more of said biological reagent instruments.

Abstract: A plug (10) for blocking off mining exploration drill holes. The plug (10) comprises an elongate body (12) of solid impervious material, and an engineered surface (14) is provided on an external circumference of the elongate body (12). The engineered surface (14) comprises an annular anchoring groove (16) having a ramp (18) extending from a maximum diameter to a minimum diameter of the engineered surface (14) in a braking direction, in which it is intended to prevent movement of the plug (10) in the drill hole. The plug (10) also comprises an O-ring (20) received in the anchoring groove (16) and having a thickness whereby it protrudes slightly above the maximum diameter of the engineered surface (14) and engages with a wall (22) of the drill hole.

Abstract: ‘Sheegene 103’ is a new grapevine plant with novel characteristics that include large, natural loose bunches and seedless berries. The berries produced by ‘Sheegene 103’ are large and exhibit a datiform shape with a sweet, prominent flavor.