Abstract: The heat treatment of an age-hardenable aluminium alloy, having alloying elements in solid solution includes the stages of holding the alloy for a relatively short time at an elevated temperature TA appropriate for ageing the alloy; cooling the alloy from the temperature TA at a sufficiently rapid rate and to a lower temperature so that primary precipitation of solute elements is substantially arrested; holding the alloy at a temperature TB for a time sufficient to achieve a suitable level of secondary nucleation or continuing precipitation of solute elements; and heating the alloy to a temperature which is at, sufficiently close to, or higher than temperature TA and holding for a further sufficient period of time at temperature TC for achieving substantially maximum strength.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a nasogastric formulation comprising an amino acid source, a carbohydrate source, a lipid source, and a fatty acid delivery agent wherein the fatty acid has a bond hydrolysable in the colon to deliver free fatty acids such as short chain fatty acid acetate without having an adverse affect on the capacity to pass through a tube for tube feeding.

Abstract: A calcium and/or nutritional mineral fortified milk or milk powder product utilizes pyrophosphates or orthophosphates in combination with maintenance of pH within the range of 6.5 to 7.5 to render the milk heat stable. Additional calcium and/or nutritional mineral is added in soluble form either before or after the phosphate addition. The preferred orthophosphates are one or more of monosodium dihydrogen orthophosphate, disodium hydrogen orthophosphate, trisodium orthophosphate, monopotassium dihydrogen orthophosphate, dipotassium hydrogen orthophosphate and tri potassium orthophosphate. Addition of an alkaline agent to adjust the pH is not needed if an appropriate mix of orthophosphates is used. The milk products or milk products recombined from milk powders are heat stable and do not have the problems of translucency, gritty mouth feel or sedimentation which can be associated with other stabilized fortified milks.

Abstract: A filter comprising a polymer material comprising a polymer matrix such as polyacrylonitrile containing dispersed metal oxide particles. The metal oxide particles are for example ferric oxide particles, and the polymer material contains generally 0.25-3% by weight of these particles. The filters are resistant to thermo-oxidation and have reduced shrinkage or degradation.

Abstract: A semiconductor wafer composite is used as a basis for fabricating semiconductor chips, especially compound semiconductor devices. The semiconductor wafer composite advantageously comprises a metallic substrate 210 and multiple semiconductor tiles 220 bonded to the surface of the metallic substrate 210. The semiconductor wafer composite is effectively used as a single large semiconductor wafer for volume fabrication, and can be used to fabricate semiconductor devices in a similar manner.

Abstract: Methods and means are provided for reducing the phenotypic expression of a nucleic acid of interest in eukaryotic cells, particularly in plant cells, by providing aberrant, preferably unpolyadenylated, target-specific RNA to the nucleus of the host cell. Preferably, the unpolyadenylated target-specifc RNA is provided by transcription of a chimeric gene comprising a promoter, a DNA region encoding the target-specific RNA, a self-splicing ribozyme and a DNA region involved in 3? end formation and polyadenylation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of designing compounds able to bind to a molecule of the EGF receptor family and to modulate the activity mediated by the receptor molecule based on the 3-D structure coordinates of the EGF receptor crystal of FIG. 6.

Abstract: The present invention provides T helper cell epitopes and compositions for use in inducing an immune response comprising at least one of these epitopes. The epitopes are contained within a peptide sequence selected from the group consisting of PRTSDRPVSYTMNRTRS (SEQ ID NO: 4); TRSRKQTSHRLKNIPVH (SEQ ID NO: 5); SHQYLVIKLIPNASLIE (SEQ ID NO: 6); and SPDKLLTFIASDTCPLV (SEQ ID NO: 25).

Abstract: A semiconductor wafer composite is used as a basis for fabricating semiconductor chips, especially compound semiconductor devices. The semiconductor wafer composite advantageously comprises a metallic substrate 210 and multiple semiconductor tiles 220 bonded to the surface of the metallic substrate 210. The semiconductor wafer composite is effectively used as a single large semiconductor wafer for volume fabrication, and can be used to fabricate semiconductor devices in a similar manner.

Abstract: A method for producing a modified glutenin or seed-storage protein, the method comprising adding to the protein an exogenous amino acid domain which confers to the modified protein the ability to bind a ligand or other macromolecule. Wherein the modified protein has an ability to incorporate into gluten, modified glutenin or seed-storage proteins, and uses thereof.

Abstract: A cutting tool for cutting hard rock, the cutting tool including one or more cutting elements each including a pointed or chisel-shaped body including a diamond composite material including diamond crystals bonded together by a silicon carbide matrix, the each cutting element being mounted into a supporting matrix including a metal matrix composite material, such that the point or chisel edge of the each element protrudes from the matrix.

Abstract: A self-advancing drilling system comprising a drilling apparatus, the drilling apparatus having at least one leading fluid cutting nozzle, an advancing device on the drilling apparatus to provide forward movement to the drilling apparatus, the drilling system further comprising a drill string formed from recoverable flexible hose and a steering device having at least one jet nozzle.

Abstract: A control system for a mining machine which moves in passes across a seam to be mined using absolute coordinates is disclosed. The machine is carried on rail and co-ordinates of the rail are measured along the length of rail. The rail is then moved to a new position for a next pass, and the distance of moving is determined from the co-ordinates previously measured. By knowing the co-ordinates, the rail can be moved to assume a desired profile, so that a desired profile of the seam can be achieved on the next pass. Co-ordinates of the up and down movement of a shearing head can also be measured and stored with the co-ordinates along the rail to provide a profile of the seam being cut, and so that on a next pass the intended position of the shearing head can be predicted and moved accordingly.

Abstract: Methods and means are provided to increase the efficiency of gene silencing when using dsRNA sequences which have a stem length shorter than about 200 base pairs by providing chimeric genes encoding such dsRNA sequences with a promoter recognized by DNA dependent RNA polymerase III comprising all cis-acting promoter elements which interact with DNA dependent RNA polymerase III.

Abstract: A valve-regulated lead acid (VRLA) battery cell (2,40) has positive and negative plates (10,11,41,42) separated by separator media (12,43) and held together under pressure. The separator is adapted to support therein an electrolyte. Each plate has a first single or plurality of tabs (12,13,46) on a first side and a second single or plurality of tabs (15,16,47) on a second side of the plate, each tab being connected to a busbar (17,18,49,50) to form positive and negative busbars on each of the first and second sides of the plate. The cell may be alternatively configured in a spirally-wound arrangement or in a prismatic arrangement of flat plates. The cell may be constructed of a plurality of such positive and negative plates. A VLRA battery (1, 40) may be constructed of one or a plurality of such VLRA cells, in which case the busbars of neighboring cells are connected by welded joints. The busbars are serviced by at least plural pairs of positive and negative terminals (24,25,33,34,52,53,54,55).

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.

Abstract: A hydrophilic ethylenically unsaturated macromonomer is disclosed that is prepared by the addition polymerization of addition polymerizable monomers that include monomers that have hydroxyl or amino functional groups, some of which may be subsequently reacted to provide (meth)acryl ethylenic unsaturation. The macromonomers may be used to form intraocular lenses in situ by polymerization of the macromonomers.

Abstract: The specification discloses a process for recovering chlorine from a chlorinator waste. The process involves treating the chlorinator waste with oxygen in a fluidised bed under conditions which promote the conversion of metal chlorides to metal oxides and discourage the oxidation of carbon contained in the waste. Suitable conditions include a bed temperature in a range from 400 to 700° C., a superficial velocity in a range from 0.2 to 1 metre/second and stoichiometric ratio, R, in a range from 0.2 to 1.2.

Abstract: A method of producing a transgenic monocotyledonous plant includes culturing a thin section explant from a monocotyledonous plant, such as sugarcane, wheat or sorghum, in the presence of an auxin and, optionally, a cytokinin, prior to transformation. Optimally, the thin section is oriented during this pre-transformation culture period of 1-6 days so that a basal surface is substantially not in contact with the culture medium. The cultured explant is then transformed followed by a rest period of 4-15 days in a culture medium without selection agent but comprising an auxin and, optionally, a cytokinin. After this rest period, transgenic plants are selectively propagated from the transformed plant tissue in the presence of a selection agent such as paromomycin sulphate or geneticin. This system provides rapid, efficient generation of transgenic monocotyledonous plants from transformed, non-callus tissue and thereby reduces the likelihood of somaclonal variation among transgenic progeny.

Abstract: A free radical polymerization process suitable for synthesizingpolymers is disclosed. The process utilizes novel sulfur based chain transfer agents and is widely compatible over a range of monomers and reaction conditions. Novel polymers having low pollydispersity and predictable specific polymer architecture and molecular weight are produced by the process. The polymers produced by the process are suitable for use as binders in automotive OEM and refinish coatings.