Abstract: The present invention provides a method of forming coatings of at least two different coating molecules on at least two electrodes, the method comprising: (a) providing an array of at least two individually-addressable electrodes, (b) allowing a layer of a masking molecule to adsorb onto all electrodes, (c) inducing electrochemical desorption of the masking molecule from at least one but not all electrodes to expose a first set of exposed electrodes, (d) allowing a first coating molecule to adsorb onto the first set of exposed electrodes, (e) exposing all electrodes to a masking molecule to allow adsorption of the masking molecule onto all electrodes, (f) inducing electrochemical desorption of masking molecule from a second set of electrodes to expose a second set of exposed electrodes, (g) allowing a second coating molecule to adsorb onto the second set of exposed electrodes.

Abstract: A method for forming an electronic device having a semiconducting active layer comprising a polymer, the method comprising aligning the chains of the polymer parallel to each other by bringing the polymer into a liquid-crystalline phase.

Abstract: A packet switch having plural input sectors and output sectors, each input sector being arranged to hold at least one queue per output sector, each output sector having plural output ports and being arranged to hold at least one queue per output port wherein the input sectors are connected to the output sectors via links configured to afford speed-up of data transfer, wherein the links comprise a set of links, and wherein the switch has means for cyclically connecting different subsets of the set of links between the input sectors and the output sectors, and means responsive to statistical variations in traffic applied to input ports of said input sectors to vary the set of links.

Abstract: A method of determining aggregation rate data predicting an aggregation rate of a polypeptide defined by an amino acid sequence, the method comprising determining a hydrophobicity value, a charge value, and at least one shape propensity value for said sequence; identifying one or more aggregation-influencing patterns within said sequence; determining a pattern value for the sequence responsive to said identifying; and determining said aggregation rate data by determining a weighted combination of said hydrophobicity value, said charge value, said at least one shape propensity value, said pattern value and at least one factor extrinsic to said amino acid sequence.

Abstract: Disclosed are processes for producing a variant polypeptide (e.g. antibodies) having increased binding affinity for an Fc?R, which processes comprise modifying the polypeptides by substitution of the amino acid at position 268 of a human IgG CH2 region for a non-native polar or charged amino acid e.g. Gln, Asn, Glu, or Asp. also provided are corresponding polypeptides, nucleic acids, and methods of use of the same e.g. in improved lytic therapies.

Abstract: A method for producing aligned carbon nanotubes and/or nanofibres comprises providing finely divided substrate particle having substantially smooth faces with radii of curvature of more than 1 ?m and of length and breadth between 1 ?m and 5 mm and having catalyst material on their surface and a carbon-containing gas at a temperature and pressure at which the carbon-containing gas will react to form carbon when in the presence of the supported catalyst, and forming aligned nanotubes and/or nanofibres by the carbon-forming reaction.

Abstract: A method of making a transistor having first and second electrodes, a semiconductive layer, and a dielectric layer; said semiconductive layer comprising a semiconductive polymer and said dielectric layer comprising an insulating polymer; characterised in that said method comprises the steps of: (i) depositing on the first electrode a layer of a solution containing material for forming the semiconductive layer and material for forming the dielectric layer; and (ii) optionally curing the layer deposited in step (i); wherein, in step (i), the solvent drying time, the temperature of the first electrode and the weight ratio, of (material for forming the dielectric layer): (material for forming the semiconductive layer) in the solution are selected so that the material for forming the semiconductive layer and the material for forming the dielectric layer phase separate by self-organisation to form an interface between the material for forming the semiconductive layer and the material for forming the dielectric l

Abstract: A method of determining aggregation rate data predicting an aggregation rate of a polypeptide defined by an amino acid sequence, the method comprising determining a hydrophobicity value, a charge value, and at least one shape propensity value for said sequence; identifying one or more aggregation-influencing patterns within said sequence; determining a pattern value for the sequence responsive to said identifying; and determining said aggregation rate data by determining a weighted combination of said hydrophobicity value, said charge value, said at least one shape propensity value, said pattern value and at least one factor extrinsic to said amino acid sequence.

Abstract: A conductive polymer composition comprising: a polymer having a HOMO level greater than or equal to ?5.7 eV and a dopant having a LUMO level less than ?4.3 eV.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of producing an ultrahydrophobic surface, the method comprising providing a mixture comprising low surface energy material and a sacrificial material, forming a layer from the mixture wherein the layer contains particles of the sacrificial material, treating the layer so as to destroy the particles of sacrificial material and generate a laterally continuous matrix of solid low surface energy material containing an array of depressions.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of a macrolide antibiotic, tylvalosin, as an anti-viral agent. Tylvalosin is particularly useful for the treatment of PRRSV.

Abstract: A support structure (1) is provided comprising a plurality of curved surfaces A, B hingedly interconnected along their edges such as to provide effective deployment in two separate stages. Preferably, the structure has only two curved surfaces hingedly interconnected at a single non-planar hinge line. In FIG. 1(a), the two sheets A, B are coplanar in that they lie in the same horizontal plane, permitting the structure to be in a flat, first stage deployment position. In Figure (b), the structure is fully deployed in a second stage deployment position by bringing sheet A out of plane through some angle in relation to the position of sheet B, resulting in both sheets becoming curved. The structure has utility in various space-based as well as terrestrial reflective and absorbing applications, and bears definite advantage in terms of weight saving, high stiffness and well-defined surface precision.

Abstract: A method for forming an organic or partly organic switching device, comprising: depositing layers of conducting, semiconducting and/or insulating layers by solution processing and direct printing; defining microgrooves in the multilayer structure by solid state embossing; and forming a switching device inside the microgroove.

Abstract: This invention relates to methods of testing, diagnosing, monitoring, prognostically stratifying and classifying disease, disorders and other medical conditions and physiological states through the detection and analysis of soluble CD antigens in a body fluid sample.

Abstract: A patterning method comprises selectively depositing droplets of a first material solvent solution onto a layer of a second material. The solvent is chosen to dissolve both materials, which are selected so as to exhibit phase separation upon the removal of the solution to provide domains of the first material embedded in and extending through the second material. By selection of appropriate materials the patterning method may be used, for example, to fabricate light emitting devices, optical color filters, or vertical interconnects in electronic devices.

Abstract: Inducing tolerance in a primate by use of a compound, or a combination of at least two compounds, that has certain characteristics when tested in vitro. The compound, alone or in combination, is preferably TRX1 antibody and the compound or combination is preferably used in accordance with a specified dosing regimen.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a probe for measuring hydrogen concentration in molten metals comprising a probe body and a hydrogen sensor. The sensor structure is based on a sensor body having a wall within which a sealed cavity is defined. The cavity contains a solid reference material for generating a reference partial pressure of hydrogen within the cavity. At least a portion of the wall of the cavity is formed from a solid electrolyte material carrying a measurement electrode on a surface of the solid electrolyte outside the cavity and a reference electrode on a surface of the solid electrolyte within the cavity, exposed to the reference partial pressure of hydrogen. An electrical conductor extends from the reference electrode through the wall of the cavity to an external surface of the sensor body. The probe body comprises a chamber for receiving the sensor and a reference-signal connection for connecting to the electrical conductor when the sensor is received in the chamber.

Abstract: A dendron (2) comprising a focal point (4) and a plurality of fluorinated end groups (9) is disclosed, including one having a thiol, a silane, a carboxylic acid, a phosphonate or another moiety at the focal point suitable for chemisorption to a substrate (3). A self-assembled monolayer comprising a plurality of dendrons bonded to a substrate and a device comprising the self-assembled monolayer are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of identifying features within a dataset such as an image comprises applying a multiscale transform such as a dual tree Complex Wavelet Transform to generate a plurality of scale-related transform levels each having a plurality of transform coefficients defining magnitude and phase; determining the phase difference between a first coefficient on one level, and a second coefficient on the same or a different level; and identifying the feature in dependence on the phase difference. Each quadrant of the phase difference, when plotted as an angle, is indicative of a different type of feature. The invention is equally applicable to the identification of two-dimensional features such as images, as well as to the identification of features within one-dimensional data streams such as audio.

Abstract: The invention relates to improved terahertz radiation sources and associated methods. A terahertz radiation source is described, comprising: an emitter (202) comprising a semiconductor material (12); a pair of electrodes (204a,b) adjacent a face of said semiconductor, said pair of electrodes defining a gap between said electrodes; a pulsed light source input for illuminating said semiconductor to excite photo-carriers in said semiconductor to generate terahertz radiation; and a radiation collector (212) to collect said terahertz radiation; and wherein said radiation collector is disposed on the same side of said semiconductor as said electrodes. A related method of providing terahertz radiation is also described.