Abstract: Compounds of formula (I) ##STR1## in which X represents a group >O, >S, >C.dbd.O or >NR wherein R is hydrogen, C.sub.1-6 alkyl, phenyl or C.sub.7-12 phenalkyl, R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 each represent hydrogen or together represent an oxo group and R.sub.3, R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 each represent hydrogen or R.sub.1 represents hydrogen and two of R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 together represent the second bond of a double bond joining positions 7 and 8, 8 and 9 or 9 and 10 with the remaining two of R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 representing hydrogen, the compound optionally being in the form of a salt thereof formed with a physiologically acceptable inorganic or organic acid, are of value for the treatment of anxiety and in the improvement of learning ability and/or the reversal of amnesia.

Abstract: An arrangement for the automatic application of milking apparatus to a milk animal including a milking apparatus store, a milking apparatus handling device including a milking apparatus carrier movable on the device and a teat sensor on the handling device together with at least one animal position sensor and a control unit responsive to the animal and teat sensors to operate the handling device, the arrangement being such that when an animal is sensed to be in milking position the control unit operates the handling device to take milking apparatus for a teat of the animal from the store in the carrier to a specific teat with the carrier moved to a sideways offset at a selected angle to the device and the teat sensor in range of the teat.

Abstract: A chimaeric protein is provided, capable of forming part of a capsid assembly and comprising the amino acid sequence of the coat protein of phage MS-2, or a conservatively modified variant thereof, or sufficient of said sequence or variant to retain the capability of forming a capsid assembly, which amino acid sequence has been modified by removal of the cysteine residues present externally of the N-terminal protruberant .beta.-hairpin of the coat protein and insertion of a cysteine residue within the region corresponding to the N-terminal protruberant .beta.-hairpin.

Abstract: The invention provides a physiologically acceptable polymer comprising a backbone to which are attached guanidino groups, the polymer having a minimum molecular weight of 10,000. The invention also extends to foodstuffs and pharmaceutical compositions comprising the physiologically acceptable polymer. Such foodstuffs and compositions are of value in controlling phosphate levels in the body.

Abstract: Nucleoside thiotriphosphates carrying .sup.32 P in the gamma-thiophosphate group, prepared by reaction between a nucleoside diphosphate and .sup.32 p labelled thiophosphate salt, are used as thiophosphorylating agents for antibodies that bind to tumour-associated antigens. The labelled thiotriphosphates can be used to introduce a therapeutically useful .sup.32 P atom into an antibody that has been modified by the incorporation into its structute of a peptide region capable of acting as a substrate for a phosphokinase. The resulting labelled antibody can then be used for injection in anti-tumour therapy and has clinical advantages over the corresponding phosphoylated analogue.

Abstract: Diacetyl, especially resulting from spoilage of chilled red meat, is monitored by exposing an aromatic ortho-diamine at acidic pH to an environment containing, or possibly containing, diacetyl and detecting any change in absorption or reflection of electromagnetic radiation due to the ortho-diamine.

Abstract: A device to facilitate self-catheterisation in women suffering from deviation from normal bladder function is provided. The device includes a handle designed for manipulation by a patient and a catheter co-operable with the handle such that the catheter can be inserted into the patient's urethra by manipulation of the handle. The device has a flexion portion to allow the catheter to be positioned in a desired orientation relative to the handle for ease of insertion. The handle and catheter may be designed as a one-piece disposable construction or may be separate elements, the handle being useable with disposable catheters. The flexion portion may be an articulation structure, such as a ball-and-socket joint. Catheterisation is further facilitated by the provision of a mirror and/or light source on or associated with the handle.

Abstract: A surface-measuring apparatus comprising a probe and means for moving the probe towards and away from a surface under examination and for monitoring such movement, the probe comprising a plurality of closely spaced light-collecting elements arranged in a light-collecting plane, lens means positioned to produce a sharply focussed image of said light collecting elements at an image plane movable relative to said surface by movement of the probe, illuminating means so arranged that the lens unit forms an illuminated spot image of it in the image plane in co-incidence with the image In the image plane of one of the light-collecting elements, and means for measuring the incidence of light on the said one of the light-collecting elements and on surrounding ones of those elements. In one embodiment (FIG.

Abstract: A magnetic material of at least two component parts arranged to have respective structures which mutually are not homogenous, the structure of one part cooperating with the structure of the other to assist the magnetostrictive behaviour of the material. The cooperation can be the structure of one part altering the atomic spacing of the other part. The alteration can be an increase from the usual atomic spacing. There can be contiguous component parts and the cooperation can be a pseudo free surface on at least one part or a reduced restriction of the local moment otherwise achieved by the contiguous component parts. A component can be at least partly an alloy and the alloy can have a ratio other than the usual one for the alloy. One of the components can be non-magnetic.

Abstract: Antigens present in the plasma membrane of mature porcine white adipocytes, which are not present in porcine liver, kidney, spleen, brain, cardiac muscle, skeletal muscle or lung or in porcine erythrocytes, which react with antisera raised against said adipocytes and which on SDS-PAGE give rise to protein bands of relative molecular mass (r.m.m.) about 37, 50, 51 and 121 KiloDaltons, respectively and antibodies thereto are useful for the reduction of fat in pigs.

Abstract: A device is provided for interrogating airborne SSR transponders at an airport, in which in certain regions which are made non-active, P1 pulses are transmitted followed, with the correct timing, by P2 pulses which have the same or a larger amplitude than the P1 pulses. As a consequence, SSR transponders in these regions are blocked or muted, and this blocking or muting is repeated, whereas in one or a few selected regions, normal interrogating signals are transmitted. Spreading of transmitted pulses to higher levels above ground is countered by keeping the energy of the pulses low and the vertical gain of transmitter antennas small.

Abstract: A safety device for a hypodermic needle or for a similar instrument used in the clinical puncture of the skin comprises a sheath (6, 25 or 32) adapted to be connected to the needle (5, 21 or 33) or to a support (4 or 31) for the needle. The sheath is so connected in a first position (FIG. 1A, 2A, or 3A) which permits normal use of the needle and can be placed, by movement relative to the needle (FIG. 1B or 3B) or by folding upon itself (FIGS. 2B and 2C) in a second position in which the needle is encapsulated by the sheath. The sheath is retained in that second position, for example by a projection (9, 27 or 35) extending into a slot (10 or 36) or through an aperture (28).

Abstract: Optical measuring apparatus including an acousto-optical device (3) which molulates either the angle or the wavelength of a light beam (1) at a frequency determined by a signal generator (15). A detector (13) detects the modulated beam after interrogation of a sample under test; and a lock-in amplifier (14) is connected to the signal generator (15) and to the detector (13) to determine the differential of an optical property of the sample under test.

Abstract: Use of a compound having the general formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 which may be the same or different represent hydrogen atoms or alkyl groups of 1-6 carbon atoms, or NR.sup.1 R.sup.2 and/or NR.sup.3 R.sup.4 together represent a heterocyclic group having 5 or 6 ring atoms, x is 0 or 1 and when x is 0, the dashed line represents a double bond, W represents a saturated or ethylenically unsaturated divalent hydrocarbyl group required to complete a cycloalkane, cycloalkene or cycloalkadiene ring of 3 to 6 ring atoms and from 0 to 2 double bonds, in the form of the free base or an acid addition salt tolerable to plants, as a plant fungicide, as a fungicide, especially as a mildewicide.Some of the compounds of formula (1) are new and are claimed per se.

Abstract: A mould for cast moulding a contact lens includes a first cup member having a male mould surface and a second cup member with a female mould surface. The two cup members form a piston and cylinder and are used in a pressure vessel so as to apply loading pressure to deflect the mould surfaces to maintain the surfaces in contact with a lens being cast. The mould is opened with the mould surface facing upwardly. Hydrating fluid is added to the first cup member and a cover sealed to the top of the first cup member.

Abstract: A multi-sample spectrometer which finds particular application in such applications as on-line process control and monitoring, employs a Hadamard encoding scheme and comprises a source of radiation, a primary encoder to encode radiation from the source, a sample receiver to position the samples in the radiation path, a secondary encoder to modulate the intensity of radiation directed to individual samples, and a detector for receiving radiation from the samples.

Abstract: A mould for cast moulding a contact lens includes a first cup member having a male mould surface and a second cup member with a female mould surface. The two cup members form a piston and cylinder and are used in a pressure vessel so as to apply loading pressure to deflect the mould surfaces to maintain the surfaces in contact with a lens being cast. The mould is opened with the mould surface facing upwardly. Hydrating fluid is added to the first cup member and a cover sealed to the top of the first cup member.

Abstract: A safety device for a hypodermic needle or for a similar instrument used in the clinical puncture of the skin comprises a sheath (6, 25 or 32) adapted to be connected to the needle (5, 21 or 33) or to a support (4 or 31) for the needle. The sheath is so connected in a first position (FIGS. 1A, 2A, or 3A) which permits normal use of the needle and can be placed, by movement relative to the needle (FIGS. 1B or 3B) or by folding upon itself (FIGS. 2B and 2C) in a second position in which the needle is encapsulated by the sheath. The sheath is retained in that second position, for example by a projection (9, 27 or 35) extending into a slot (10 or 36) or through an aperture (28).

Abstract: An optical interferometer includes a beam splitter 131 having a partially reflecting metallic film 135, 137 adapted to induce phase difference between the transmitted and reflected component beams. It incorporates bidirectional fringe counter which includes a switching circuit to convert coupling with the fringe counter means from ac coupling to dc coupling when the counting rate falls below a predetermined threshold value.

Abstract: The present invention relates to doubly salient reluctance machines (DSRMs) including switched reluctance machines, stepping motors and hybrid stepping motors. To improve the utilization of the machine windings and associated electronic circuits the windings are fully pitched across the stator poles, preferably with each stator slot containing conductors from a single winding only, and the power supply is switched to the windings to provide the required current sequence.