Abstract: A method of operating a drive train for a hybrid electric vehicle, and a drive train, is disclosed. The drive train includes an internal combustion engine, a first electrical machine and electrical energy storage. The engine is coupled to drive the first electrical machine as a generator and the first electrical machine connected to supply electrical energy to the electrical energy storage. The electrical energy storage is arranged for supplying electrical energy to at least a second electrical machine for driving wheels of a hybrid electric vehicle. The method includes sensing a parameter indicating the voltage across the electrical energy storage and, in response to this sensed parameter, controlling the internal combustion engine and/or the first electrical machine such that the first electrical machine gives rise to a voltage output of the first electrical machine such that the electrical energy storage is charged without the need for power electronics.

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.

Abstract: A soluble compound for preventing or reducing blood coagulation comprising an antithrombotic agent and a membrane binding element, wherein the antithrombotic agent has a weight of less than about 5,000 daltons. Also disclosed is a soluble compound for preventing or reducing blood coagulation comprising an anticoagulant joined to a membrane binding element via a joining element, wherein the joining element between the anticoagulant and the membrane binding element is less than about 10,000 daltons in weight. These compounds can be used in therapy and, in particular, in preventing or reducing blood coagulation. As a result, a method of treatment is provided comprising administering an effective amount of the compounds to a subject to prevent or reduce blood coagulation as well as a method of perfusing an organ, tissue or cell comprising contacting the compounds with the organ, tissue or cell to prevent or reduce blood coagulation.

Abstract: The present invention provides, among other things, methods of processing medical images for producing images with labeled anatomical features, including obtaining images containing labeled anatomical features, obtaining unlabelled images, comparing and selecting unlabelled images that most closely resemble labeled images, and propagating label data from labeled images to unlabelled images, thereby labeling corresponding anatomical features on unlabelled images. The present invention also provides systems for performing such methods.

Abstract: Agents and compounds which can be used to modulate the activity of the complement system, novel biological targets associated with such modulation, and pharmaceutical compositions, medicaments and methods of treatment for use in preventing, ameliorating or treating diseases that are characterised by inappropriate complement activity. These diseases include age-related macular degeneration (AMD), meningitis, renal disease, autoimmune disease and inflammation. Therapeutic antibodies and screening assays for identifying agents useful in treating these diseases are also provided.

Abstract: A method of identifying a cell with increased production of a desired product, the method comprising: (a) providing a population of cells which produce the desired product; (b) introducing a plurality of distinct nucleic acid molecule species into the population of cells, wherein the nucleic acid molecules comprise a first region which is operably-linked to a second region, wherein the first region comprises a promoter region from a first gene, and the second region comprises a nucleic acid sequence from a second gene that is capable of expressing a regulatory product under control of the promoter region; (c) culturing the population of cells under conditions in which the cells express the regulatory product under control of the promoter region; and (d) testing the population of cells for production of the desired product, thereby to identify a cell or cells with increased production of the desired product.

Abstract: Determining a property of an electrical signal at a node instant at the current instant (INSTC); determining a previous function indicative of a property of the signal at the node at a previous instant; determining an error function in a previous frequency estimation at the node at a previous instant; determining a first current function indicative of the property of the signal at the node at INSTC in accordance with the determined property, the previous function, and the error function; receiving, from another node, a second current function indicative of a property of an electrical signal at the at least one other node at INSTC; combining the first current function and the second current function to produce a current combined function (CCF) indicative of a property of the signal at the node at INSTC; and estimating a current frequency of the signal at the node in accordance with the CCF.

Abstract: The present invention relates to method for forming a porous ceramic material, the method comprising the steps of: providing a suspension of polymer-coated ceramic particles in a first solvent; contacting the suspension with a second solvent, whereby a ceramic material precursor is formed from the polymer and ceramic particles, heating the ceramic material precursor to at least partially decompose the polymer within the precursor into solid deposits, and then sintering the ceramic material precursor to form a porous ceramic material.

Abstract: This invention relates to the synthesis of polymers. More specifically, the present invention relates to the synthesis of heterobifunctional polymers and polymers with narrow and mono-disperse molecular weight distributions, and especially to the application of membranes to the synthesis of these polymers.

Abstract: The present invention provides a rechargeable high temperature battery comprising a chamber defined by at least one wall formed at least in part as a solid membrane capable of passing oxide anions, and electrodes which are present on the inside and outside of the membrane that sandwich the membrane between them. The electrode on the outside of the chamber is an oxygen redox electrode, and the membrane exhibits good conductivity for the transport of oxide anions when it is at a temperature in the range of between about 500° C. and about 1000° C.

Abstract: The present invention provides the use of IFN-?, an agent that increases the expression of IFN-?, or a polynucleotide which is capable of expressing IFN-? or said agent for the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment of rhinovirus-induced exacerbation of a respiratory disease selected from asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, wherein said treatment is by airway delivery of said medicament, e.g. by use of an aerosol nebuliser. Also provided is IFN-? for the same purpose.

Abstract: A method of raising an immune response in an individual against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) the method comprising: (a) administering to the individual DNA or SFV encoding an HIV Env protein and optionally nucleic acid encoding one, any two or all three of the HIV Gag, Pol and Nef proteins; (b) subsequently administering to the individual viral vector encoding an HIV Env protein and optionally viral vector encoding one, any two or all three of the HIV Gag, Pol and Nef proteins; and (c) administering to the individual oligomeric HIV Env protein; and an adjuvant.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions capable of emitting circularly polarized electroluminescence comprising an electroluminescent polymer and a chiral dopant, processes for the synthesis of such compositions and light emitting devices incorporating such compositions.

Abstract: The invention relates to a microfluidic system for generating droplets, the controlled merging of two or more droplets, and the analysis of droplets.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of radio fluorination of biological targeting molecules (BTMs) with the radioisotope 18F. Also provided are novel conjugates useful in the 18F-radio fluorination method, and the use of such conjugates and automated synthesizer apparatus including cassettes for carrying out the method.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for the preparation of surface-functionalised metal oxide, metal sulphide, metal selenide or metal telluride nanoparticles, a process for the preparation of a composite material comprising such nanoparticles, nanoparticles and a composite material produced thereby, the use of such nanoparticles in catalysis and a catalyst comprising such nanoparticles.

Abstract: A bacterial spore comprising a modified prkC protein, wherein the extracellular domain of the modified prkC protein binds an agent which is not bound by the extracellular domain of the wild-type prkC protein, and wherein the agent is a germinant that stimulates germination of the bacterial spore, or a bacterial spore comprising a modified gerA protein, wherein the gerA protein has been modified such that the spore undergoes germination in the presence of a germinant which does not stimulate germination of a bacterial spore comprising wild-type gerA protein.

Abstract: A variable-geometry suspension apparatus for a vehicle is disclosed. The apparatus having a resiliently compressible member, such as a coil-over damper, an actuator and support structure, such as a chassis of a vehicle. The resiliently compressible member is mounted to the support structure for compression under the weight of a mass suspendable by the apparatus. The compressible member is mounted with at least one end of the compressible member displaceable in a displacement direction having a component perpendicular to the direction of compression, so that such displacement varies the geometry of the suspension apparatus and thereby varies the compression of the compressible member. The actuator is arranged for displacing the end of the compressible member in the displacement direction to vary the geometry and thereby vary the compression. Applications include motor vehicles such as cars and motorcycles.

Abstract: A power compensator for compensating voltage at a location along a power transmission line, the compensator having a controller for controlling a voltage generated across the compensator, wherein the voltage is controlled to maintain a power transmission line voltage at a value dependent on the power transmission line location.

Abstract: Peptide analogues of PYY, compositions comprising said analogues and methods of using said analogues for the treatment and prevention of metabolic disorders, for example disorders of energy metabolism such as diabetes and obesity, and for a reduction in appetite, reduction in food intake or reduction of calorie intake in a subject.