Abstract: The invention provides a process for preparing polymeric beads of complexing resin incorporating magnetic particles, which process comprises: producing a dispersion having a continuous aqueous phase and a dispersed organic phase, said organic phase comprising one or more polymerisable monomers, magnetic particles and a dispersing agent for dispersing said magnetic particles in the organic phase; polymerising said one or more polymerisable monomers to form polymeric beads incorporating said magnetic particles, wherein said polymeric beads include amine groups capable of complexing a transition metal cation, or wherein said polymeric beads are reacted with one or more compounds to provide amine groups capable of complexing a transition metal cation, complexing resins prepared by this process, and polymeric beads of complexing resin comprising a polymer matrix having magnetic particles dispersed substantially uniformly therein, wherein the polymer matrix incorporates amine groups capable of complexing a transiti

Abstract: Methods and means are provided to modulate fiber quality in fiber-producing plants, such as cotton by modulating sucrose synthase activity and/or expression in such plants. The methods and means may also be used to obtain plants with seedless fruits or male-sterile plants.

Abstract: An example method for determining at least one characteristic of a multiphase fluid includes applying alternating energy of predetermined amplitude to a portion of a multiphase fluid and measuring the electrical impedance spectrum across the portion of the multiphase fluid, whereby a characteristic of the multiphase fluid can be determined from the measured electrical impedance spectra.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for producing titanium by reaction of titanium tetrachloride with magnesium in a reactor, wherein the temperature in the reactor is above the melting point of magnesium and below the melting point of magnesium chloride, wherein the reaction results in formation of particles comprising titanium, and wherein the particles are removed from the reactor and processed in order to recover the titanium.

Abstract: A method for modifying a substrate containing a natural polymeric material to improve its interaction with other materials, the method comprising: A) Treating the substrate containing the natural polymeric material with a modifying agent selected from the group consisting of organo-functional coupling agents and multi-functional amine containing organic compounds; and B) optionally exposing the substrate containing natural polymeric material with one or more treatments selected from the group consisting of: i) subjecting the substrate to extraction with a solvent to reduce the content of extractable materials associated with the natural polymeric material prior to or during treatment with the modifying agent; ii) treatment with a physical field selected from static physical fields, high-frequency alternating physical fields and combinations of two or more thereof either prior to, during or after treatment with the modifying agent; and iii) oxidation of at least part of the natural polymeric material prior to

Abstract: A method (100) of watermarking an image (101) is disclosed. The method (100) segments the image (101) into regions. Each region is then characterised based upon one or more statistical features of the respective regions. For each region, a watermarking method and a number of bits to be embedded into the respective region are selected based on the characterization of the region. The number of bits of data is then embedded into the respective region using the watermarking method selected for that region. A method (105) of decoding a watermarked image (145) is also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention pertains to low polydispersity copolymers useful for photoimaging and photoresist compositions, and to the photoimaging processes which use these compositions. The low polydispersity copolymers of this invention are prepared using controlled radical polymerization (CRP) techniques, such as RAFT (reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer) polymerization.

Abstract: An erectable arm assembly for use in a borehole, the erectable arm assembly comprising a main body and an arm member, the arm member being able to move between a collapsed position in which the assembly can be removed from the borehole and an erected position, the erectable arm assembly being adapted to house a fluid drilling assembly comprising a fluid cutting device and a flexible hose drill string such that the arm member during erection can contain at least part of the fluid drilling assembly, and when in the erected position the arm member is able to guide the fluid cutting device towards the borehole wall, the assembly further including at least one sensor for monitoring the arm member or the fluid drilling assembly.

Abstract: Methods and means are provided for reducing the phenotypic expression of a nucleic acid of interest in eucaryotic cells, particularly in plant cells, by introducing chimeric genes encoding sense and antisense RNA molecules directed towards the target nucleic acid, which are capable of forming a double stranded RNA region by base-pairing between the regions with sense and antisense nucleotide sequence or by introducing the RNA molecules themselves. Preferably, the RNA molecules comprises simultaneously both sense and antisense nucleotide sequence.

Abstract: The invention concerns radiographic equipment. The equipment includes a source of substantially mono-energetic fast neutrons produced via the deuterium-tritium or deuterium-deuterium fusion reactions, comprising a sealed-tube or similar generator for producing the neutrons. The equipment further includes a source of X-rays or gamma-rays of sufficient energy to substantially penetrate an object to be imaged and a collimating block surrounding the neutron and gamma-ray sources, apart from the provision of one or more slots emitting substantially fan-shaped radiation beams. Further included is a detector array comprising a multiplicity of individual scintillator pixels to receive radiation energy from the sources and convert the received energy into light pulses, the detector array aligned with the fan-shaped beams emitted from the source collimator and collimated to substantially prevent radiation other than that directly transmitted from the sources reaching the array.

Abstract: This invention concerns a free radical polymerization process, selected chain transfer agents employed in the process and polymers made thereby, in which the process comprises preparing polymer of general Formula (A) and Formula (B) comprising contacting: (i) a monomer selected from the group consisting of vinyl monomers (of structure CH2?CUV), maleic anhydride, N-alkylmaleimide, N-arylmaleimide, dialkyl fumarate and cyclopolymerizable monomers; (ii) a thiocarbonylthio compound selected from Formula (C) and Formula (D) having a chain transfer constant greater than about 0.

Abstract: The present invention provides a strain gauge comprising a resistive layer. The resistive layer comprises metallic or semiconducting nanoparticles or aggregates thereof in which the nanoparticles or aggregates thereof are separated by insulating and/or semiconducting material.

Abstract: A novel cotton variety, designated as FM 989B2R, is disclosed. The invention relates to seeds, plants, plant cells, plant tissue, harvested products and cotton lint as well as to hybrid cotton plants and seeds obtained by crossing plants of variety FM 989B2R with other plants. The invention also relates to plants and varieties produced by the method of essential derivation from plants of FM 989B2R and to plants of FM 989B2R reproduced by vegetative methods, including but not limited to tissue culture of regenerable cells or tissue from FM 989B2R.

Abstract: A novel cotton variety, designated as FM 800B2R, is disclosed. The invention relates to seeds, plants, plant cells, plant tissue, harvested products and cotton lint as well as to hybrid cotton plants and seeds obtained by crossing plants of variety FM 800B2R with other plants. The invention also relates to plants and varieties produced by the method of essential derivation from plants of FM 800B2R and to plants of FM 800B2R reproduced by vegetative methods, including but not limited to tissue culture of regenerable cells or tissue from FM 800B2R.

Abstract: A novel cotton variety, designated as FM 960B2R, is disclosed. The invention relates to seeds, plants, plant cells, plant tissue, harvested products and cotton lint as well as to hybrid cotton plants and seeds obtained by crossing plants of variety FM 960B2R with other plants. The invention also relates to plants and varieties produced by the method of essential derivation from plants of FM 960B2R and to plants of FM 960B2R reproduced by vegetative methods, including but not limited to tissue culture of regenerable cells or tissue from FM 960B2R.

Abstract: A novel cotton variety, designated as FM 991B2R, is disclosed. The invention relates to seeds, plants, plant cells, plant tissue, harvested products and cotton lint as well as to hybrid cotton plants and seeds obtained by crossing plants of variety FM 991B2R with other plants. The invention also relates to plants and varieties produced by the method of essential derivation from plants of FM 99IB2R and to plants of FM 991B2R reproduced by vegetative methods, including but not limited to tissue culture of regenerable cells or tissue from FM 991B2R.

Abstract: A closed cycle gas turbine system (40) comprising system comprising a compressor (52) for producing compressed gas, a gas turbine (42) for receiving the compressed gas, a heat storage means (44) having a first heat transfer means and adapted to receive the compressed gas from the compressor (52) and transmit the compressed gas to the gas turbine (42) and a second heat transfer means (46) for receiving exhaust gas from the gas turbine (42) and transmitting it to the compressor (52) and wherein the second heat transfer means (46) is adapted to transfer at least some heat from the exhaust gas prior to it being transferred to the compressor (52).

Abstract: A communications system, including at least one base station (8) at the surface, at least one repeater station (6) below the surface, and at least one mobile station (4) below the surface, the stations (4, 6, 8) establishing a bidirectional communications path between the mobile station (4) and the base station (8).

Abstract: The process is for ageing heat treatment of an age-hardenable aluminium alloy which has alloying elements in solid solution. The process includes holding the alloy at an elevated ageing temperature which is appropriate for ageing the alloy to promote precipitation of at least one solute element, herein termed “primary precipitation” for a period of time which is short relative to a T6 temper. Resultant underaged alloy then is cooled from the ageing temperature to a lower temperature and at a sufficiently rapid rate to substantially arrest the primary precipitation. The cooled alloy then is exposed to an ageing temperature, lower than the elevated ageing temperature for primary precipitation, so as to develop adequate mechanical properties as a function of time, by further solute element precipitation, herein termed “secondary precipitation”.

Abstract: An apparatus and process for preparing activated carbon from a wood or wood residue feedstock using fluidized bed technology. The fluidized bed apparatus has a number of wood residue inlets that allow differing residence times in the fluidized bed apparatus appropriate for the wood or wood residue feedstock to be carbonized. The carbonized material may then be activated to form activated carbon.