Abstract: A process for forming an article includes locating a container containing a charge of semi-solid metal alloy in a passage in front of a plunger arranged to travel relative to the passage to force the charge of semi-solid metal alloy into a desired shape, and displacing the charge of semi-solid metal alloy from the container and forming it into the desired shape by causing relative travel between the plunger and the passage. The plunger can push a displaceable closure member to displace the closure member and the charge of semi-solid metal alloy along an interior volume of the container from a first opening proximal the plunger and closed by the closure member towards a second opening remote from the first opening.

Abstract: The invention provides flagellin-based fusion proteins (FBFP) are useful for a variety of purposes, in bioremediation to remove metal ions from a liquid, to express an enzyme or an immunogen, nucleic acids encoding the FBFP, vectors containing the nucleic acids, and host cells harboring the vectors. Furthermore, the invention provides methods for obtaining over-expression and surface display of heterologous polypeptides in Gram-positive bacterial cells in Bacillus halodurans in particular. In addition, the invention features gene-disrupted bacterial are useful for expressing the recombinant FBFP on their surfaces. Also included in the invention genetic constructs are useful for making FBFP and methods of using the FBFP.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for the production of nanoparticle carriers for drug delivery, said nanoparticles being produced by preparing a double emulsion of water-oil-water including one or more polymer which forms the basis of the nanoparticle carrier, blending the drug to be delivered into one of the emulsion phases, doping either the oil-phase or the outer-water phase with a carbohydrate, and spray drying the emulsion to form nanoparticles of a narrow particle size distribution of 100 nm to 1000 nm, which nanoparticles are substantially spherical.

Abstract: A composition from which a coating or film can be formed comprises at least one prolamin protein, gluconic acid and/or a gluconic acid derivative as a plasticizer, and a solvent for the protein and the plasticizer. The composition is in the form of a solution.

Abstract: A method for assessing the integrity of a rock mass, the method including impacting the rock mass, capturing an acoustic signal generated as a result of the impact, deriving a frequency distribution for the captured acoustic signal, processing data from the frequency distribution by means of a neural network process applying artificial intelligence to assess the inputted data, and presenting a signal from the neural network process which is indicative of the integrity of the rock mass.

Abstract: An emulsion-derived particle includes a lattice of polymeric strands cross-linked by means of a cross-linking agent, and interstitial openings adjacent and around the strands. Functional groups are provided on the lattice and proteins and/or modified proteins can react with these, thereby to be bonded to the lattice and hence immobilized.

Abstract: A rheo-casting container for containing a charge of semi-solid metal alloy includes an elongated body defining a side wall of the container, a mouth at a first end of the body, an opening at a second end of the body, and a closure member to close the opening. The closure member is configured to be displaceable along an interior volume of the body from the second end towards the first end to displace a charge of semi-solid metal alloy contained in the container. The closure member is of a metal alloy the same as or similar to the semi-solid metal alloy for which the container is to be used and has a melting point which is not less than the temperature at which the metal alloy is to be introduced into the container.

Abstract: A method for the cyclodehydration of a 1,4- or 1,5-diol includes the step of exposing a 1,4- or a 1,5-diol to an activated zeolite at a temperature of between about 0° C. and about 110° C. for a period of between about 1 and 24 hours. The activated zeolite is prepared from an inactive NaY or CaY type zeolite by ion exchange with an ammonium salt, to produce an ammonium zeolite and exchange of at least part of the ammonia of the ammonium zeolate with a group II A metal.

Abstract: A cell proliferation apparatus for the automated culturing of cells, the proliferation apparatus including a bioreactor having contained therein a stimulus-responsive three dimensional (3D) cell scaffold, the stimulus-responsive three-dimensional (3D) cell scaffold being operable reversibly to change its surface properties between hydrophilic and hydrophobic states. The cell scaffold comprises a surface layer of thermo-responsive polymer.

Abstract: A rheo-casting container for containing a charge of semi-solid metal alloy includes an elongate body defining a side wall of the container, a mouth at a first end of the body, an opening at a second end of the body, and a closure member to close the opening. The closure member is configured to be displaceable along an interior volume of the body from the second end towards the first end to display a charge of semi-solid metal alloy contained in the container. The closure member is of a metal alloy the same as or similar to the semi-solid metal alloy for which the container is to be used and has a melting point which is not less than the temperature at which the metal alloy is to be introduced into the container.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of detection of predisposition to emphysema in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It particularly relates with the regulation of the key molecular and biochemical components of the pathway leading to the manifestation of emphysema in COPD.

Abstract: The invention provides the use of at least one plant selected from plants of the family Zingiberaceae in the preparation of a medicament for use in the treatment or prophylaxis of allergic diseases. The plant is optionally selected from the genera Siphonochilus, Kaempferia, Cienkowskia and Cienkowskiella and the species is optionally selected from Siphonochilus aethiopicus, Siphonochilus natalensis, Kaempferia aethiopica, Kaempferia natalensis, Kaempferia ethelae, Cienkowskia aethiopica and Cienkowskiella aethiopica. The allergic disease is selected from asthma and atopy.

Abstract: A body and any occupant of a land vehicle (10) is protected against effects of a landmine explosion, by conducting shock waves laterally outwardly by means of one or more shock wave guide members (16, 18) of a material having high acoustic velocity, and located proximate a ground engaging element (12) of the vehicle. The material may be glass, ceramic or the like having an acoustic velocity of about 6000 m/sec or more, i.e. higher than other materials of other components of the land vehicle. Shock waves encounter less resistance in high-acoustic velocity materials and are thus conducted laterally outwardly, i.e. away from the body. The shock wave guide members may be located immediately above bottom runs of tracks (12) and annularly within wells of bogey wheels (14) of track vehicles; and annularly around hubs or within tyres of wheels of wheeled vehicles.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of actuating by means of a wax actuator and to a wax actuator. The wax actuator (10, 100, 200) includes a wax expansion generator comprising a housing (12) defining a chamber (18) which is partially filled with wax (20.1) and partially filled with hydraulic fluid, the wax (20.1) and the hydraulic fluid being separated by at least one sealing interface (20.2, 202), and heating means (22) for heating the wax (20.1) to cause it to melt and expand. The wax actuator (10, 100, 200) further includes a hydraulic transmission device comprising a hydraulic line (38) in communication with the hydraulic fluid within the chamber (18) and a connector (40) at a downstream end of the hydraulic line (38) for use in connecting the hydraulic line (38) to a working object.

Abstract: A process for producing enzymes structures includes providing an emulsion of droplets of a first liquid phase dispersed in a second liquid phase. The one liquid phase is a hydrophilic phase, while the other liquid phase is a hydrophobic phase which is immiscible with the hydrophilic phase. Enzyme molecules are located at or within interfacial boundaries of the droplets and the second liquid phase. The enzyme molecules of the respective droplets are cross-linked so that individual enzyme structures, which are stable and in which the enzymes are immobilized with a majority of active sites of the enzymes being orientated either internally or externally, are formed from individual droplets.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of encapsulating an active substance in an interpolymer complex, to make an encapsulated product in particulate form. The method comprises forming a mixture of a supercritical fluid, an interpolymer complex and an active substance and then causing or allowing the interpolymer complex to encapsulate the active substance. The encapsulated product is then separated from the supercritical fluid and, if necessary, the product is subjected to size reduction to ontain particles in which the active substance is encapsulated by the interpolymer complex.

Abstract: An indirect fire weapon aiming device (10) is provided for providing aiming information to an indirect fire weapon comprising a launcher mounted to a base. The device (10) includes an angular displacement sensor (12) mountable to the base to provide an angular displacement output, and an azimuth communicator (14) mountable to the launcher to communicate the launcher azimuth to the angular displacement sensor (12) so that the angular displacement sensor (12) can measure the angular displacement of the launcher relative to a reference bearing and provide the angular displacement output.

Abstract: A soft tissue bulking material includes a plurality of particles. Each particle comprises a rounded polymeric shell defining an internal cavity and having a maximum outer dimension of 50 ?m-250 ?m. A port or opening is provided in the shell. The port or opening thus provides access to the cavity. The port or opening has a size or dimension that ranges from one tenth of the particle's outer dimension up to the particle's outer dimension.

Abstract: A process for the production and maintenance of pluripotent and/or totipotent progenitor cereal cells from undifferentiated callus cells is described. Production of the progenitor cells takes place via direct organogenesis on a medium containing at least one auxin and at least one cytokinin. For example, the auxin may be 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, indole-3-acetic acid, picloran, naphthelenacetic acid, indole-3-propionic acid, indole-3-butyric acid, phenyl acetic acid, benzofuran-3-acetic acid or phenyl butyric acid, and the cytokinin may be benzyl amino purine, benzyladenine, thidiazuron, zeatin, isopentyladenine, trans-zeatin or dimethylallyladenine. Processes for transformation of the undifferentiated callus cells and/or the progenitor cereal cells are also described. Typical cereal cells are sorghum, maize, wheat, barley, millet, rye, canola, alfalfa, triticale and rice.

Abstract: A method for regulating expression of a virulence gene of Agrobacterium is described. The method comprises the steps of stimulating cereal cells, such as sorghum, so as to produce an active, typically phenolic, compound and exposing the Agrobacterium to this compound. The compound induces expression of the virulence gene of the Agrobacterium, effecting T-DNA transfer from the Agrobacterium to the cereal cells, which are thereby transformed.