Abstract: The invention provides compounds that comprise a 4?-thio nucleoside that is a derivative of 4?-thiothymidine or 4?-thio-2?-deoxyuridine comprising a positron or single photon emitting radioisotope or corresponding non-radioactive isotope attached via a triazole link to the N-3 position. Methods for preparing such compounds and uses of the compounds in medicine are also provided.

Abstract: According to the present invention, there is provided a process for synthesis of a first compound selected from peptides, oligonucleotides, and peptide nucleic acids, which comprises synthesis of the first compound linked to a soluble support, wherein the soluble support is degraded following the synthesis so that it can be separated from the first compound.

Abstract: A method to determine properties of a porous material, in which: a porous sample is prepared and sealed; first the sample is evacuated to near vacuum; then a non-wetting and electrically conducting fluid is passed through the sample at a known pressure and the volume of the fluid taken up by the sample is measured; then a small differential pressure is applied across the sample and the flow rate of the fluid through the sample is measured; and an alternating current is passed through the sample and the resistance across the sample is measured.

Abstract: Isatin 5-sulfonamide derivatives, pharmaceutical compositions comprising the derivatives, their use as molecular imaging agents, their use for the diagnosis or treatment of diseases or disorders associated with dysregulation of apoptosis, methods for synthesizing the derivatives, methods for the molecular imaging of caspase activity and apoptosis, and methods of assessing the therapeutic effect of a test substance on caspase activity are disclosed.

Abstract: The current invention provides a method for aiding in the assessment of prostate cancer (including metastatic prostate cancer) and/or benign prostate hyperplasia in a patient, wherein the method comprises the step of determining the level of Glycine N-methyltransferase (GNMT) nucleic acid and/or protein in a sample from the patient. The invention also provides compounds that target Glycine N-methyltransferase (GNMT) protein and/or nucleic acid for use in treating prostate cancer. Also provided are screening methods for selecting a compound considered to be useful in treating prostate cancer, comprising the steps of determining the ability of a test compound to reduce GNMT activity and selecting a compound that reduces GNMT activity. The invention also provides methods for aiding in the diagnosis of prostate cancer in a patient comprising obtaining a sample from the patient and assessing said sample for a marker of GNMT activity.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for producing a porous glass construct with interconnected porosity, the resulting porous construct and its use as a macroporous scaffold in bone repair and regeneration.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a glass composition formulated to provide the controlled release of certain transition metal ions to regulate the cellular hypoxia pathway and the use of these hypoxia-pathway regulating glasses in medicine and in biomedical research, including in the repair, restoration or regeneration of diseased or damaged tissue.

Abstract: An endoscope includes a light source operable to generate coherent incident light, and a plurality of imaging optical fibres that are arranged in a fibre bundle, arranged to receive light at a proximal end of the fibre bundle, and arranged to transmit light to a distal end of the fibre bundle. The endoscope further includes a spatial light phase modulator between the light source and the fibre bundle, and arranged to receive the incident light from the light source and to adjust the relative phase of the incident light entering each of the plurality of imaging optical fibres.

Abstract: A method of monitoring respiratory activity includes obtaining a respiration sound signal. The respiration sound signal is processed to identify a frequency component corresponding to respiration, and an amplitude related parameter of the component is measured. If the measured parameter is in an indeterminate region then a temporal domain related parameter of the identified frequency component is measured. An apparatus for monitoring respiratory activity is also disclosed.

Abstract: The subject invention concerns methods for interrogating a surface using scanning ion conductance microscopy (SICM). In one embodiment, a method of the invention comprises the steps of: a) repeatedly bringing a SICM probe into proximity with the surface at discrete, spaced locations in a region of the surface and measuring surface height at each location; b) estimating surface roughness or other characteristic for the region based upon the surface height measurements; and c) repeatedly bringing the probe into proximity with the surface at discrete, spaced locations in the region, the number and location of which is based upon the estimated surface roughness or other characteristic in the region, and obtaining an image of the region with a resolution adapted to the surface roughness or other characteristic.

Abstract: A T cell receptor molecule (TCR) containing an alpha chain portion and a beta chain portion wherein the alpha chain portion contains three complementarity determining regions (CDRs): CDR1?: SSYSPS CDR2?: YTSAATL CDR3?: VVSPF-SGGGADGLT or comprising or consisting of SPFSGGGADGLT and the beta chain portion contains three complementarity determining regions (CDRs): CDR1?: DFQATT CDR2?: SNEGSKA CDR3?: comprising SARDGGEG or comprising or consisting of RDGGEGSETQY, or wherein up to three amino acid residues in one or more CDRs are replaced by another amino acid residue. The invention also includes polynucleotides encoding the TCR molecules, and host cells containing the said polynucleotides. Patient derived T cells may have the polynucleotides encoding the TCR molecules introduced therein, and the engineered T cells may be introduced into the patient in order to combat a WT1-expressing malignancy.

Abstract: The invention relates to a biomaterial having a latent form of a growth factor immobilised thereon, and to a method of producing the biomaterial, comprising immobilising the latent form of the growth factor on the biomaterial. The biomaterial may be used in medicine, such as in tissue regeneration or repair.

Abstract: A low-voltage thin-film field-effect transistor is formed by forming a gate, forming a dielectric layer on the surface of the gate, forming a source region and a drain region, and forming a semiconductor layer adjacent the dielectric layer. The dielectric layer is formed as a native oxide layer by oxidizing the surface of the gate. The semiconductor layer is deposited by spray pyrolysis. The dielectric layer may be functionalized with a self-assembling monolayer dielectric layer. The dielectric layer may be formed as a self-assembling monolayer, without first forming a native oxide (or other) dielectric layer.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel catalyst of formula (I): wherein M is selected from Zn(H), Co(II), Mn(II), Mg(II), Fe(II), Cr(III)-X or Fe(III)-X, and the use thereof in polymerising carbon dioxide and an epoxide.

Abstract: A method of processing image data for registration of multiple images to a common reference space comprising the step of computing a mapping between each image and a common reference image comprising an average of all of the images.

Abstract: A fluid flow modification apparatus for creating turbulence in a moving fluid includes turbulence-creating elements arranged in a fractal configuration, each element having a first surface portion against which the fluid can flow and a second surface portion along which the fluid can flow, and further includes an insert for arrangement to obstruct the flow of fluid between adjacent second surface portions of at least two turbulence-creating elements. A support holds the turbulence-creating elements in the fluid to allow movement of the fluid relative to the turbulence-creating elements and the insert. The insert may be attachable to at least two turbulence-creating elements, such that the arrangement of the inserts is symmetrical about a centre point of the fluid flow field for improved mixing.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel carbohydrate lactone, functionalized aliphatic polyesters and copolymers formed therefrom, and processes for the preparation thereof from renewable resources.

Abstract: A method of pre-treating lignocellulosic and cellulosic biomass for utilization of carbohydrate or lignin from the biomass, the method comprising the steps of inoculating the lignocellulosic biomass with lignocellulose degrading brown rot fungus and incubating the inoculated biomass under conditions in which growth of the lignocellulose degrading brown rot is promoted. The incubation may be under conditions in which growth of the lignocellulose degrading brown rot is promoted is terminated after less than 50 days or before substantial depletion of glucose in the biomass occurs.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for use in the prevention or treatment of excess weight in a mammal have been developed. The compositions comprise oxyntomodulin which is shown to reduce food intake.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for ultrasonic non-destructive testing provides an elongate strip of ultrasound transmissive material coupled at a proximal end to an object under test. The elongate strip has a transverse cross-section with a width and thickness giving an aspect ratio greater than unity and matched to the ultrasonic transducer such that excitation induces a substantially non-dispersive ultrasonic signal to propagate along the elongate strip to the proximal end and to enter the object under test. These non-dispersive pulses are particularly suited for time-of-flight measurements, thickness measurements, crack measurements and the like. The elongate strip helps to separate the transducer from a potentially hostile environment associated with the object under test. The elongate strip also has a large area of contact with the object under test allowing efficient transmission of energy into the object under test.