Abstract: The present invention is concerned with the process for preparing a cross-linked stabilised polymer composition using at least one graftable polymer stabiliser, and the subsequent use of that composition for forming pipes, for example PEX pipes. The graftable stabiliser becomes anchored to the polymer such that stabiliser activity is retained in the cross-linked product. Cross-linking can be achieved by conventional processes such as PEXa, PEXb and PEXc. Embodiments demonstrate excellent levels of antioxidant retention (as measured by oxidative induction retention after exhaustive solvent extraction) and the cross-linked product are suitable for portable water applications, including hot water applications.

Abstract: An uncoated polymer optical fibre (POF) that is sensitive to a chemical (e.g. water) and is used to generate a detectable change in its optical properties for the purpose of detecting that chemical when it is dissolved in liquid fuel. The presence of the chemical directly affects the optical properties of the optical fibre. The POF may be made of water-permeable plastic material and may have a grating section comprising a periodic refractive index modulation that exhibits a characteristic reflection or transmission profile to be monitored by a detector. The water-permeability of the constituent material of the POF permits diffusion of water into the fibre, thereby affecting its refractive index or geometry and hence altering the characteristic reflection or transmission profile of the grating section.

Abstract: A process for pyrolyzing biomass is provided. The process comprises providing biomass to a pyrolysis reactor to produce a vapor product and condensing said vapor product to produce a condensed product, wherein a phase separation suppression agent is added during said process so as to promote the formation of a single phase condensed product.

Abstract: Surface plasmon generation on a metal or semiconductor layer at an outer surface of an optical waveguide, using light reflected or scattered from inside the optical waveguide. One aspect provides a main optical waveguide (11) (e.g. optical fibre) having a second optical waveguide (18) adhered thereto, the second optical waveguide including an optically transparent material (610) separating two surface plasmon supporting layers (600, 620). Another aspect provides a surface plasmon supporting layer of material(s) adhered to the main optical waveguide, the layer having photo-induced regions of material compaction. The regions of compaction may cause un-inscribed refractive index modulations in the main optical waveguide. The surface plasmons are coupled to the guided mode(s) in the main optical waveguide. Surface plasmon resonance depends on sample material in contact with an outermost surface plasmon supporting layer.

Abstract: There is a distributive sensing technology that can discriminate between the causes of dynamic disturbances. The system applies sensing elements within a sensing medium, and the medium couples the dynamic disturbance and the sensors. By interpreting the responses of the medium, the nature of the disturbance can be discriminated in a way as to determine a description, class or category. There is a method of categorizing the dynamic body behavior, the method comprising: providing a sensing medium during at least a period of the dynamic behavior of the body; providing a plurality of sensors coupled to the sensing medium; obtaining a sensory data time series from each sensor, the sensing medium and the sensors being arranged such that the obtained sensory data time series are not independent from one another; specifying a dynamic behavior category; and processing the sensory data time series. Apparatus for performing the method is also described.

Abstract: The invention provides compositions and methods for ameliorating symptoms associated with hyperglycemia by administering a Zn-?2-glycoprotein or a functional fragment thereof, methods of decreasing plasma insulin levels, methods of increasing skeletal muscle mass, and methods of bringing about a weight reduction or reduction in obesity. Also provided are pharmaceutical compositions for use thereof.

Abstract: Novel Amino Acid Derivatives and Pharmaceutical Uses Thereof Provided are novel compounds of Formula I: wherein ‘X’ represents an amino acid group, ‘n’ is an integer between 1 and 4, ‘R1’ represents benzyl, t-butyl or 9-fluorenylmethyl and ‘R2’ represents a tetramethylmercaptoimidazole derivative or —S+R3R4, wherein R3 and R4 each independently represent lower alkyl, or a pharmaceutically and/or veterinarily acceptable derivative thereof. Further provided are pharmaceutical formulations of the compounds and the use thereof in the preparation of a medicament for inhibiting diseases in which transglutaminase has been implicated. Advantageously, the medicament is for treating fibrosis, scarring and/or cancer. Additionally provided are methods, of inhibiting autoimmune diseases such as coeliac disease, neurodegeneration and chronic inflammatory diseases (e.g.

Abstract: The present invention provides a medical implant material comprising mammalian transglutaminase and a polymer, wherein the transglutaminase is provided in the absence of free divalent metal ions and wherein the polymer is associated with the transglutaminase binding protein. Preferably, the transglutaminase is a tissue transglutaminase, which is coated on, impregnated into or covalently linked to the polymer. The polymer may be naturally occuring or synthetic, and may be biodegradable or non-biodegradable. The medical implant material may further comprise a reinforcing agent and/or one or more additional polymers. The invention further provides the use of a mammalian transglutaminase in a method for improving the biocompatibility of a medical implant material, the method comprising the steps of (i) providing a medical implant material comprising a polymer associated with a binding protein for binding the transglutaminase, and (ii) treating said material with a mammalian transglutaminase.

Abstract: This invention pertains generally to the field of hard enteric capsules, and more particularly, to capsules consisting of (a) a film-forming, water-soluble polymer; (b) an acid-insoluble polymer; (c) a gelatinising agent; (d) an auxiliary for gelation; (e) at least one plasticiser; (f) minor ingredients, including, optionally, a colouring agent and a flavouring agent; and the balance of the composition being water. The present invention also pertains to the use of the capsule in the delivery of active pharmaceutical ingredients or dietary supplements and methods for producing hard enteric capsules.

Abstract: The present invention relates to use of a transglutaminase in the preparation of a medicament for inhibiting angiogenesis. Preferably, the transglutaminase is a human tissue transglutaminase. Advantageously, the medicament is for treating cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, retinopathy and/or psoriasis. Additionally, the invention relates to compositions comprising a transglutaminase in an amount sufficient to inhibit angiogenesis.

Abstract: A method of coding a view in a CAD drawing comprises: identifying a feature of the view; extracting properties of the feature from the CAD drawing, the properties including vector properties associated with a graphic entity or group of entities which make up the feature; generating code bits representative of the extracted properties; adding the code bits to a view code for the view; and storing the view code. A CAD drawing is selected for retrieval from a database of drawings by producing a CAD source drawing having a source view, coding the source view to produce a source code as described above, comparing the source code with stored view codes, calculating a similarity index for each stored view code and selecting the drawing for retrieval from the database on the basis of the similarity index.

Abstract: The generation of surface plasmons on a metal layer arranged upon an outer surface of an optical waveguide, using light reflected from inside the optical waveguide. The reflected light may be a reflected part of guided light travelling along the optical waveguide and may be a back-reflected (e.g. obliquely back-reflected) part of the guided light. The reflected part of guided light may form a radiative optical mode(s) which is used to excite surface plasmons and which is also coupled to the remaining guided mode(s) of the light from which it derives. This coupling of the radiation mode(s) and the guided mode(s) enables changes in the radiation mode(s) to cause consequential changes in the guided mode(s) of light. Such changes in the radiation mode(s) may occur due to the coupling of the reflected mode(s) to the surface plasmons they excite at the metal layer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an ablative thermolysis reactor (12) comprising a reaction vessel (20), and inlet (14) into the reaction vessel (20) for receiving feedstock, and an outlet from the reaction vessel (20) for discharging thermolysis product. Within the reaction vessel (20), is provided an ablative surface (20a) defining the periphery of a cylinder, and heating means (22) are arranged to heat the ablative surface (20a) to an elevated temperature. In addition at least one rotatable surface (28) having an axis of rotation coincident with the longitudinal axis of said cylinder. The rotatable surface (28) is provided relative to the ablative surface (20a) such that feedstock is pressed between a part of the rotatable surface (28) and said ablative surface (20a) and moved along the ablative surface (20a) by the rotatable surface (28), whereby to thermolyse said feedstock.

Abstract: A process for pyrolysing biomass is provided. The process comprises providing biomass to a pyrolysis reactor to produce a vapour product and condensing said vapour product to produce a condensed product, wherein a phase separation suppression agent is added during said process so as to promote the formation of a single phase condensed product.

Abstract: A Gires-Tournois etalon (GTE) (10) comprising an optical fiber (12) in which a primary chirped fiber Bragg grating (FBG) (16) is provided, an RF signal generator (20), a piezoelectric transducer (22), and a glass horn (24), for coupling an acoustic wave (26) into the fiber (12). The acoustic wave (26) causes a periodic compression within the fiber (12), which induces a low frequency periodic refractive index modulation within the grating section (14) of the fiber (12). This causes two side frequency components to be generated for each high-frequency component of the FBG (16). Two secondary grating are thus excited, having the same spectral bandwidth as the FBG (16), but a lower reflectivity and different central wavelengths. The free spectral range of the GTE (10) can be adjusted by varying the frequency of the acoustic wave (26). The reflectivity of the excited secondary gratings can be adjusted by adjusting the amplitude of the acoustic wave (26).

Abstract: A method for diagnosing coeliac disease in a patient comprising (a) providing an antibody sample from the patient to be tested, (b) contacting said antibody sample with cross-linked extracellular matrix (ECM) material immobilized on a surface and (c) detecting binding of antibodies present in the sample to the ECM-coated surface, wherein the binding of antibodies present in the sample to the ECM-coated surface being indicative of a positive diagnosis. Preferably, step (c) comprises an ELISA. The invention further provides a kit of parts for use in diagnosing coeliac disease in a patient.

Abstract: A torsion sensor using an optical waveguide in optical communication with a diffraction grating, preferably a tilted grating, and most preferably a tilted Bragg grating, which provides the optical waveguide and grating with a torsion-dependent collective optical transmission spectrum. Changes in the collective optical transmission spectrum of the waveguide and grating, induced by changes in the amount of torsion applied to the waveguide, may be detected by detecting a corresponding change in the intensity of optical radiation transmitted through the grating from a controlled optical source. The degree of change in the collective optical transmission spectrum is dependent upon the degree of torsion (twist) applied to the optical waveguide. Measuring the magnitude and/or sense (i.e. increase/decrease) in the intensity of optical radiation transmitted through the grating from an optical source enables torsion to be sensed.

Abstract: A biologically active lipid mobilising agent for use in therapy is disclosed which has the properties and characteristics of a Zn-?2-glycoprotein, or of a fragment thereof having an apparent molecular mass Mr greater than 6.0 kDa as determined by gel exclusion chromatography. Methods of isolation and purification from biological material are also disclosed together with uses of the material for making up pharmaceutical compositions, especially pharmaceutical compositions useful for treating mammals to achieve weight reduction or for controlling obesity. In addition, uses of the material for developing diagnostic agents and for identifying inhibitors of lipolytic activity for therapeutic purposes are disclosed.

Abstract: Chronotherapeutic delivery system for treating primary open-angle glaucoma, comprising a delivery system incorporating pharmaceutical products for delivery to an eye in the treatment of primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), comprising: (a) a biocompatible erodible material incorporating a therapeutically-effective amount of a prostaglandin analogue, and (b) a reservoir containing a therapeutically-effective amount of a beta-blocker, whereby, when the delivery system is placed in the eye the prostaglandin analogue is delivered gradually as the erodible material is eroded, and the beta-blocker is delivered rapidly when at least a predetermined portion of the erodible material has been eroded.

Abstract: An optical pulse regeneration unit comprising means for broadening the temporal width and flattening the center portion of an optical pulse and slicing means for slicing the pulse at a point in time so that in use, the pulse immediately after the slicing means contains only the portions of the pulse which at the slicing means were within a specific temporal width/interval about the point in time.