Abstract: One aspect of the invention concerns a method of controlling a flow of slurry pumped through a non-vertical pipeline (10) by a pump (54). In the method, at least one sensor (12) is provided. This has a sensing face (42), and the sensor is mounted at a predetermined position along the length of the pipeline such that the sensing face is flush with the invert of the pipeline at that position. The sensor is calibrated to provide output signals related to the velocity of the slurry at the invert. The operation of the pump and/or the density of the slurry are then controlled in response to the output signals from the sensor. Other aspects of the invention relate to the apparatus and to a slurry pipeline control system incorporating the apparatus and in which the method is implemented.

Abstract: A process for the production of a substance or composition for the therapeutic or prophylactic treatment of erectile dysfunction or the enhancement of libido in a male human or animal subject comprises the step of formulating the substance or composition from at least one of plant material and an extract of plant material of at least one plant species of the family Geraniaceae.

Abstract: A process for obtaining a valuable product from plant material comprising both proteinaceous material and fibrous material includes brushing or scrubbing the plant material in a wet condition in a separation stage against a separation medium, thereby forcing proteinaceous material through the separation medium and retaining fibrous material on the separation medium, and withdrawing a fibre-rich product and a protein-rich product from the separation stage.

Abstract: An article of protective footwear in the form of a boot (10) protects a foot (12) of a user against effects of a landmine explosion. A composite sole volume (16) between an outer sole (18) and an inner sole (20) incorporates shock wave guide elements (28) of a material having a high acoustic speed, in the form of glass strips which extend spatially from the outer sole (18) obliquely laterally outwardly to a side of the sole volume. The strips (28) are surrounded by liquid. Above the strips (28) and below the inner sole (20), there is provided a barrier of material having a low acoustic speed, e.g. vermiculite. Surrounding the foot (12), opposed to the sole of the foot, there is provided a fluid having a high acoustic speed, e.g. glycerin to ensure effective transfer of any shock wave component entering the foot, away from the foot.

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 method of treating water to remove fluoride ions from the water, thereby to reduce the dissolved fluoride content of the water, is provided. The method includes, in a contacting step, contacting water containing dissolved fluoride ions with alumina, to cause the fluoride ions to react with and become bound to the alumina. In a regenerating step, the alumina, when spent, is regenerated to drive off fluoride ions bound thereto. The regenerated alumina is recycled to the contacting step where it is used to remove further fluoride ions from the water. The fluoride ions driven off the alumina in the regenerating step are passed on to downstream processing thereof.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for hydrolytically converting aloeresin A to aloesin by the following reaction: The amount of aloesin available for extraction from sap of aloe plants is thereby increased and the extraction and purification of the aloesin is also made easier and less costly. As aloesin is more commercially valuable than aloeresin A, the process also increases the commercial value of the sap or aloe bitters from the aloe plant. The process optionally also includes the step of separating the aloesin from the p-coumaric acid. Typical hydrolysis steps that are used in the process are acid hydrolysis, base hydrolysis and enzymatic hydrolysis. In the case of acid hydrolysis, the acid is any suitable organic or inorganic acid, such as hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, nitric acid or phosphoric acid. In the case of enzymatic hydrolysis, the hydrolytic enzyme is typically an esterase, a lipase or a protease.

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 novel herbal composition for treatment of arthritis and inflammation. The herbal composition comprises a therapeutically effective combination of extracts obtained from the plants Terminalia chebula, Pluchea lanceolata, Desmodium gangeticum, Vitex negunto and Zingiber officinale, optionally along with pharmaceutically acceptable additives. The invention further comprises methods of making the herbal composition and methods of use for the treatment of arthritis and inflammation.

Abstract: Apparatus for producing a semi-solid metal alloy from a molten charge includes vertically aligned treatment zones which are provided by vertically aligned passages defined by a plurality of spirally wound flow pipes which are interspersed between spirally wound induction coils. A container is mounted on a charging arrangement which displaces a first charge upwardly into the first treatment zone. Successive charges are introduced in a similar fashion thereby urging the previously introduced charge upwardly along the train of zones and until the leading charge is ejected from the top of the apparatus. The charge in each zone is subjected to controlled cooling and an induced electromagnetic field. The strength of the field and the rate of cooling are controlled to impede dendritic crystallisation and to promote globular primary crystal formation.

Abstract: A method of treating water to remove fluoride ions from the water, thereby to reduce the dissolved fluoride content of the water, is provided. The method includes, in a contacting step, contacting water containing dissolved fluoride ions with alumina, to cause the fluoride ions to react with and become bound to the alumina. In a regenerating step, the alumina, when spent, is regenerated to drive off fluoride ions bound thereto. The regenerated alumina is recycled to the contacting step where it is used to remove further fluoride ions from the water. The fluoride ions driven off the alumina in the regenerating step are passed on to downstream processing thereof.

Abstract: The invention provides yeast strains, and polypeptides encoded by genes of such yeast strains, that have enantiospecific meso-epoxide hydrolase activity. The invention also features nucleic acid molecules encoding such polypeptides, vectors containing such nucleic acid molecules, and cells containing such vectors. Also embraced by the invention are methods for obtaining optically active vicinal diols from meso-epoxides.

Abstract: An in-shell egg pasteurization process (10) includes, in a temperature raising stage (16), raising the temperature of albumen of an in-shell egg predominantly by means of microwave radiation to a temperature between 57° C. and 60° C., the albumen temperature being raised at a rate which reduces at least once over time. Simultaneously, in the temperature raising stage (16), the temperature of an external surface of the egg is raised predominantly by means of external heat radiation or conduction to a temperature of between 57° C. and 70° C., or alternatively or in addition the egg surface temperature is allowed to rise to a temperature of between 57° C. and 70° C. as a result of the microwave radiation by inhibiting heat loss from the egg. Said temperatures are then maintained by means of microwave radiation and external heat radiation or conduction for at least some time.

Abstract: The invention provides a spectrometer (10) which includes a filter arrangement (16,18), in addition to any option filters (20) for limiting an operational wavelength range of the spectrometer, the filter arrangement (16,18) comprising a plurality of broadband optical filters or broadband optical filter areas each of known transmission and being located or selectively locatable in a path of collected incident spectral radiation (44). The spectrometer further includes at least one detector (24) arranged to measure the spectral radiation passing through at least one of the broadband filters located in the path of collected incident spectral radiation, and signal-processing means (34) for recovering the spectrum of the collected spectral radiation from measurements by the detector (24).

Abstract: Apparatus for producing a semi-solid metal alloy from a molten charge includes vertically aligned treatment zones which are provided by vertically aligned passages defined by a plurality of spirally wound flow pipes which are interspersed between spirally wound induction coils. A container is mounted on a charging arrangement which displaces a first charge upwardly into the first treatment zone. Successive charges are introduced in a similar fashion thereby urging the previously introduced charge upwardly along the train of zones and until the leading charge is ejected from the top of the apparatus. The charge in each zone is subjected to controlled cooling and an induced electromagnetic field. The strength of the field and the rate of cooling are controlled to impede dendritic crystallisation and to promote globular primary crystal formation.

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: A process to identify peptide antagonists of Hsp16.3, a chaperon protein necessary for the survival of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in the dormant phase is described. Affinity selection of a 7-mer and a 12-mer random peptide libraries displayed on bacteriophage M13 was performed using recombinant Hsp16.3 as template and two peptide phage clones, which bind to the Hsp16.3 protein were identified. Synthetic peptides corresponding to the peptide sequences displayed on these phage clones were able to specifically bind and inhibit the chaperone function of Hsp16.3 in vitro in a dose dependent manner. The corresponding inhibitory effect of these peptides on the chaperon activity of alphaB-crystallin, a constituent of human eye lens and a homologue of Hsp16.3, was found to be substantially less. These peptide inhibitors, or similar inhibitors generated by the process described, which specifically target Hsp16.3, can hence be used as lead compounds to obtain better therapeutics against latent tuberculosis.

Abstract: A pharmaceutical composition contains an extract obtainable from a plant of the genus Trichocaulon or Hoodia containing an appetite suppressant agent having the formula (1). A process for obtaining the extract and a process for synthesizing compound (1) and its analogues and derivatives is also provided. The invention also extends to the use of such extracts and compound (1) and its analogues for the manufacture of medicaments having appetite suppressant activity.

Abstract: The invention provides a packaging material which comprises a polymeric base component and a barrier component which coats and lines a surface of the base component, the barrier component inhibiting migration of gases, vapours and liquids through the base component. The barrier component comprises a polymeric layer comprising at least two different polymeric species which are polar and which are water soluble. The different species have different chemical compositions and are complementary in that they are bound together physically by interpolymer complexation to form an interpenetrating physical network. The invention also provides a process for producing the packaging material which comprises coating at least one surface of the base component with the barrier component and causing the complementary species to interact together physically by interpolymer complexation to form an interpenetrating physical network.

Abstract: The invention provides a bio-reactor device and a method of cultivating live cells. The device comprises a holder which contains a matrix of porous foam material in whose interior live cells are anchored, the device comprising also a liquid contained in the holder. The liquid is an oxygen carrier and saturates the matrix, the liquid comprising a synthetic or semi-synthetic constituent. The method involves perfusing the oxygen carrier liquid through the matrix to deliver oxygen to the cells and to absorb carbo-dioxide from the cells.