Abstract: The present invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of disease associated with fibrosis in a vertebrate, said composition comprising at least one activin antagonist, and optionally a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, adjuvant and/or diluent. The invention also relates to methods of treatment of disease associated with fibrosis in a vertebrate, as well as methods for diagnosing such conditions, and kits therefor.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of depositing a metallic layer on to a surface of a piezoelectric substrate, which method comprises the application of cold spraying to deposit the metallic layer or layers.

Abstract: A service value calculation system includes: crisis problem inspection means which detects a crisis or a problem of a service object; and virtual damage amount calculation means which calculates a virtual damage amount generated if a detected crisis or problem is not solved when a service is not applied and calculates the service value.

Abstract: According to the present invention, there is provided a range of new conotoxin derivatives and methods for synthesizing these analogues and other intramolecular dicarba bridge-containing peptides, including dicarba-disulfide bridge-containing peptides.

Abstract: This invention relates to a prophylactic and/or therapeutic treatment of footrot, and in particular to a vaccine effective in prophylactic and/or therapeutic treatment of footrot. Specific polypeptides of Dichelobacter nodosus have been identified as vaccine candidates. In some embodiments the polypeptide is expressed more strongly when the bacterium is grown in vivo or is expressed more strongly in the presence of ovine hoof powder. In other embodiments the polypeptide are reactive against sera recovered from animals repeatedly infected with D. nodosus.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for determining a collision between a first deformable object and a second deformable object in a virtual reality simulation, the method including the steps of providing a first test capable of determining the proximity of the first object to the second object, providing a second test capable of determining the proximity of the first object to the second object, wherein the second test is more comprehensive than the first test, and wherein the second test is capable of being implemented once the first test returns a positive result. Since the more comprehensive test is implemented only when a collision is likely or imminent (as determined by the first test), the processor executing the simulation is not unduly burdened, and can devote resources to other tasks required by the simulation program.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for forming dicarba bridges in organic compounds. This involves the use of a pair of complementary metathesisable groups on the organic compound, and subjecting the compound to cross-metathesis under microwave radiation conditions. In an alternative, the compounds contain a turn-inducing group between the pair of cross-metathesisable groups to facilitate the cross-metathesis.

Abstract: According to the present invention, there is provided a range of new conotoxin derivatives and methods for synthesizing these analogues and other intramolecular dicarba bridge-containing peptides, including dicarba-disulfide bridge-containing peptides.

Abstract: A method of communicating digital information over a dispersive optical channel includes encoding the digital information into a plurality of data blocks, each of which includes a number of bits of the information. A time-varying electrical signal is generated which corresponds with each of said data blocks. The time-varying electrical signal is applied to an optical transmitter (122) to generate an optical signal which includes an asymmetrically amplitude limited transmitted signal modulated onto an optical carrier. The optical signal is then transmitted over the dispersive optical channel (106). At a receiving apparatus (104) the optical signal is detected to produce an electrical signal which corresponds with the asymmetrically amplitude limited transmitted signal.

Abstract: A method of manipulating particles suspended within a fluid droplet using a microfluidic system including a piezo-electric substrate (1) and a wave generation means (3) for generating a wave within the piezoelectric substrate (1), and a working surface (2) through which the wave can be distributed and upon which fluid droplets (9) can be located, the method including locating one or more droplets of fluid on the working surface (2), varying the power applied to the wave generation means (3) or varying the distribution of the wave across the working surface (2), such that particles (1 1) suspended within the fluid droplet (9) are either dispersed within the droplet or concentrated in an area within the droplet in dependence on the power or wave distribution applied by the wave generation means (3) to the piezoelectric substrate (1), or to facilitate rotation of the fluid within said fluid droplets (9) located jn the path of the wave.

Abstract: A system (100) for transmitting digital information includes a transmitting apparatus (102) for generating an optical signal bearing digital information, a dispersive optical channel (104), and a receiving apparatus (110) for receiving the optical signal. The dispersive optical channel (104) is disposed to convey the optical signal from the transmitting apparatus (102) to the receiving apparatus (110). The transmitting apparatus includes an encoder (114) for encoding digital information into a series of blocks, each including a plurality of data symbols corresponding with one or more bits of digital information. A signal generator (118) generates a time-varying signal corresponding with each of said blocks.

Abstract: Described herein are methods for forming two or more dicarba bridges, as well as new compounds containing dicarba bridges.

Abstract: A method of estimating contact forces between the wheels of a railway wagon and a rail track, for use in determining information such as the likelihood of derailment. Accelerations of the body of the wagon are measured using motion sensors located at suitable points on the body. Forces on the side frames of the wagon are calculated based on the accelerations of the body and predetermined parameters of the body. Forces on the wheels of the wagon are calculated based on the accelerations of the body and predetermined parameters of the body. The contact forces between the wheels and the rails are then calculated based on the forces calculated for the side frames and the wheels. The calculations are carried out using an inverse model of the wagon system. Equipment which implements the method is also described.

Abstract: Pyrrolidinium-based room temperature ionic liquids, and phosphorus and arsenic analogues, are used as electrolytes in energy storage devices including secondary lithium batteries, supercapacitors and asymmetric battery-supercapacitors. The electrolytes preferably contain lithium ions as the charge-carrying species. The electrolytes are in a liquid state at the operating temperature.

Abstract: Elucidation of the crystal structure of an ADAM10 substrate-recognition and proteinase-positioning module comprising the protein cysteine-rich and disintegrin domains, and detailed functional analysis revealed that an acidic pocket within the cysteine-rich domain forms a substrate-recognition site. The binding of this pocket to receptor/ligand complexes facilitates effective ligand cleavage, which is prevented when critical residues within the pocket are changed. This provides use of the surface pocket within the extracellular domain of ADAM10, and the corresponding structure in related proteases such as ADAM17, as a target for structure-based computational and high-throughput screens for small-molecule substrate-specific inhibitors or monoclonal antibodies that inhibit ADAM protease cleavage of ephrins and other ADAM10 or ADAM17 substrates.

Abstract: A polymer substrate functionalized with a functionality comprising at least one cyclic, metal ion coordinating ligand group, the cyclic ligand group comprising at least 3 metal ion coordinating donor atoms independently selected from the group consisting of N, O and S.

Abstract: A polymer substrate functionalized with a functionality comprising at least one cyclic, metal ion coordinating ligand group, the cyclic ligand group comprising at least 3 metal ion coordinating donor atoms independently selected from the group consisting of N, O and S.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and compositions comprising anti-EphA3 antibodies for the treatment of solid tumors.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods for preventing or treating illness, improving responsiveness to immunization, and improving the efficacy of gene therapy in a patient by disrupting sex steroid signalling in the patient, wherein the bone marrow and other immune cell functionality is improved without, prior to, or concurrently with, thymic regeneration. In some embodiments, sex steroid signalling is interrupted or ablated in the patient by the administration of LHRH agonists, LHRH antagonists, anti-LHRH receptor antibodies, anti-LHRH vaccines, anti-androgens, anti-estrogens, selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs), selective androgen receptor modulators (SARMs), selective progesterone response modulators (SPRMs), ERDs, aromatase inhibitors, or various combinations thereof.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods for enhancing the response of a patient's immune system to vaccination. This is accomplished by reactivating the thymus. Optionally, hematopoietic stem cells, autologous, syngeneic, allogeneic or xenogeneic, are delivered to increase the speed of regeneration of the patient's immune system. In one embodiment the hematopoietic stem cells are CD34+. The patient's thymus is reactivated by disruption of sex steroid mediated signaling to the thymus. In one embodiment, this disruption is created by administration of LHRH agonists, LHRH antagonists, anti-LHRH receptor antibodies, anti-LHRH vaccines or combinations thereof.