Abstract: A postforming process for an oriented film or tape of polymer material, which process comprises subjecting at least one layer of such an oriented film or tape to a pressure greater than ambient pressure while heating the oriented film or tape at a temperature at which partial melting thereof occurs but which does not exceed 145.degree. C.

Abstract: A prosthetic device (10) suitable for use in the treatment of stress incontinence in women by location as a cuff around the urethra, to elevate the bladder following prolapse, comprises a body (11) composed predominantly of a cross-linked synthetic polymer hydrogel having a water content of the order of 90%, and preferably about 95%, by weight. The hydrogel can be homogeneous through the body but in this event the body suitably has a local reinforcement (12), such as by embedded plastics material mesh, in at least one relatively small edge portion to enhance its tear resistance in relation to sutures (13) passed therethrough. The body is suitably of kidney shape having dimensional proportions of approximately 5.times.3.times.1. cms.

Abstract: A synthetic peptide, suitable for use in vaccination against or diagnosis of a disease caused by an enterovirus and especially by a poliovirus, is the peptide coded for by codons 286-290 in the RNA sequence coding for the structural capsid protein VP1 of poliovirus type 3 Sabin strain or by equivalent codons of another enterovirus or is an antigenic equivalent thereof, the numbers of the codons being counted from the 5'-terminus of the nucleotide sequence coding for the VP1 capsid protein.

Abstract: A process for the continuous preparation of an oriented film of a polymer material comprising shearing at least one film of a solution and/or gel of the polymer material between at least one set of two solid surfaces which are in motion relative to one another. At least one of which surfaces is endless, so as to cause by the shearing, solidification of the polymer material from the solution or gel to a degree sufficient that a coherent, oriented film of the polymer material is formed on one of the surfaces. The film is sufficiently coherent so as to be capable of being removed from the surface on which it is formed in a continuous manner.

Abstract: In order to supply a d.c. bias to the drain electrodes of MESFETS (1-4) in a distributed amplifier operating in the 500 MHz to 20 GHz or above, a d.c. source (15) is connected to the drain line (5,9,11,14) via a feed component (16) which comprises a ferrite bead (17) having an axial aperture (18). A coil (19) comprising, for example, four turns of 20 micron gold wire is wound on the bead in toroidal fashion. The bead may be of the kind which is used for low-frequency interference suppression or for encircling the emitter lead-out wire of a bipolar transistor operating in the lower megahertz range. At these relatively low frequencies in the conventional use of the bead, the bead material will exhibit low magnetic losses and high permeability. However, in the present invention, due to the microwave signal in the coil, the bead operates over a frequency band which is many times higher than its normal operating band. At these high frequencies the bead material exhibits quite large losses.

Abstract: A thin film semiconductor device, for example a transistor, is fabricated by depositing layers of materials of appropriate electrical characteristics on an insulating substrate 1. To manufacture a transistor, firstly an insulating base layer 2 is applied which is then followed by a gate electrode 3, an insulation layer 4 and a semiconductor layer 5. Source and drain electrodes 6 and 7 are then applied and finally a protective layer 8 encapsulates the device. In order to improve the life of the device it is annealed firstly in a reducing atmosphere and then in an oxidizing atmosphere.

Abstract: A compound of formula I ##STR1## in which formula: D represents hydrogen or a cyano group;X represents halogen;A represents an alkyl group (typically a C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl group);n is 0 to 4;RCOO. represents a residue of an acid RCO.sub.2 H, which acid, or an ester-forming derivative of which acid, on reaction with .alpha.-cyano-3-phenoxybenzyl alcohol or an ester-forming derivative thereof, give rise to an .alpha.-cyano-3-phenoxybenzyl ester having pesticidal properties.

Abstract: In a row crop harvester a rotor 11 has rows of crop engaging elements 15 extending transversely across the direction of forward travel of the machine, the elements being aligned with the rows to be harvested. Each element has inwardly converging side edges for gathering the crop of a row and for detaching required crop parts which are impelled in a high-speed stream upwardly and rearwardly over the rotor beneath a hood 18. At the junction of each inwardly converging pair of edges a space 21 is provided for stripping crop and releasing stripped stems. Preferably the space 21 is a relief space having re-entrant edges 20 for stripping forwardly facing parts of the crop.

Abstract: Compounds of formula ##STR1## in which R represents hydrogen, formyl or an alkanoyl group of two to twenty-five carbon atoms and R' represents an alkyl group of one to thirty-five carbon atoms are of value as mosquito attractants, mosquitoes being attracted to a location where they and/or their eggs or larvae are then destroyed.

Abstract: A wide band amplifier for operation at very high frequencies, for example in the 20 MHz to 50 GHz range comprises a MESFET distributed amplifier (22) having a gate and a drain transmission line, a first hybrid circuit (18) to apply a first and second input signal to opposite ends of the gate transmission line, and a second hybrid circuit (26) connected to opposite ends of the drain transmission line to receive and combine first and second output signals from the drain transmission line to provide an amplified output signal. The use of two input signals travelling in opposite directions along the gate transmission line increases the gain which can be achieved in the distributed amplifier and reduces the noise component of the output signal. It is particularly useful for enhancing the performance of a distributed amplifier containing only a few MESFETs.

Abstract: Assays, e.g. immunoassays, based on the chemiluminescent reaction between a peroxidase enzyme, e.g. horse radish peroxidase, a chemiluminescent 2,3-dihydro-1,4-phthalazinedione, e.g. luminol or isoluminol and an oxidant, e.g. hydrogen peroxide or a perborate, are improved by carrying out the reaction in the presence of a 6-hydroxybenzothiazole, especially 6-hydroxybenzothiazole itself or firefly luciferin. Light emission from the reaction is significantly enhanced by the 6-hydroxybenzothiazole.

Abstract: A monoclonal antibody preparation having a single binding activity, which activity is in respect of a cell surface antigen, comprises IgG antibody molecules in which only one of the two light chains will bind to said antigen, the proportion of such antibody molecules being enhanced relative to IgG antibody molecules having two light chains which will bind to said antigen to thereby produce an enhancement of the binding activity of the preparation. Such preparations containing predominatly "monovalent antibodies" are of particular value in the areas of transplantation immunity, the treatment of neoplastic disease and cell sorting.

Abstract: Pharmaceutical compositions containing a 3-hydroxyprid-2-one or 3-hydroxypyrid-4-one in which the hydrogen atom attached to the nitrogen atom is replaced by an aliphatic hydrocarbon group of 1 to 6 carbon atoms and, optionally, in which one or more of the hydrogen atoms attached to ring carbon atoms are replaced by an aliphatic hydrocarbon group of 1 to 6 carbon atoms, or a salt thereof containing a physiologically acceptable cation, are of value for removing toxic amounts of metals, particularly iron, from the body. These compositions are useful in the treatment of iron overloads.

Abstract: Iodotamoxifen derivatives which are compounds of formula (3) ##STR1## wherein X represents 3- or 4- iodo and R.sup.1 and R.sup.2, which may be the same or different, represent C.sub.1-3 alkyl, especially methyl or ethyl, groups or R.sup.1 represents a hydrogen atom and R.sup.2 a C.sub.1-3 alkyl group or R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 together with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached represent a saturated heterocyclic group, especially a pyrrolidino, piperidino, 4-methylpiperidino or morpholino group, and their pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salts are potent anti-estrogenic compounds useful for treatment of estrogen receptor-positive (hormone-dependent) breast cancers.Radioisotopic iodotamoxifen derivatives of formula (3) are useful in radiotherapy or gamma ray imaging of these cancers.

Abstract: Novel compounds have a formula (I) ##STR1## wherein ##STR2## represents a bicyclo [2,2,1] hept-2Z-ene, bicyclo [2,2,1] heptane, 7-oxa-bicyclo [2,2,1] hept-2Z-ene, 7-oxa-bicyclo [2,2,1] heptane, bicyclo [2,2,2] oct-2Z-ene or bicyclo [2,2,2] octane substituted at the 5-position by the group R.sup.1 and at the 6-position by the group ANR.sup.2 R, a 6,6-dimethyl-bicyclo [3,1,1] heptane substituted at the 2-position by the group R.sup.1 and at the 3-position by the group ANR.sup.2 R or at the 2-position by the group ANR.sup.2 R and at the 3-position by the group R.sup.1, a cyclohex-1-ene or cyclohexane substituted at the 4-position by the group R.sup.1 and at the 5-position by the group ANR.sup.2 R or a 1-hydroxycyclopentane substituted at the 2-position by the group R.sup.1 and at the 2-position by the group ANR.sup.2 R, R.sup.

Abstract: A body having a substrate surface which comprises corrodible material and on which substrate surface is present a coherent protective layer of an anti-corrosion composition which comprises a solid matrix of electrical conductivity .gtoreq.10.sup.-6 mho cm.sup.-1 and formed by reaction between at least water-soluble Bronsted acid and at least one Lewis base in which matrix is incorporated an elemental metal, or an alloy thereof, the matrix and metal being effective in service as electrolyte and sacrificial anode, respectively.

Abstract: A process in which a culture of a methane-oxidizing bacterium or an extract thereof containing a methane oxidizing system is used as oxidizing agent for the oxidation of a higher short-chain alkane, an alkene or a cyclic organic compound.

Abstract: Phenyl-3-aminoalkyl-4-methyl-2,6-dioxopiperidines of the Formula I ##STR1## wherein: R.sub.1 represents methoxy, ethoxy or hydroxy,R.sub.2 represents methoxy, ethoxy, hydroxy or hydrogen;each R.sub.3 independently represents methyl or ethyl;R.sub.4 represents hydrogen or methyl;R.sub.5 represents hydrogen or methyl; andn represents 2 or 3,and a pharmacologically acceptable acid addition salt thereof (a) have anxiolytic activity, (b) antagonize the anxiogenic activity of benzodiazepine inverse agonists, (c) reduce chronic abnormally high brain levels of serotonin or its metabolite 5-hydroxy-indoleacetic acid and (d) have antibacterial and antiviral activity. These activities are believed to be related to a reduction in serotonin turnover caused by blocking the depolarization activation of tryptophan hydroxylase. Novel compositions comprise the compounds with a benzodiazepine agonist or benzodiazepine inverse agonist.

Abstract: Pharmaceutical compositions containing an iron complex of 3-hydroxy-4-pyrone or of a 3-hydroxy-4-pyrone in which one or more of the hydrogen atoms attached to ring carbon atoms are replaced by an aliphatic hydrocarbon group of 1 to 6 carbon atoms, are of value for the treatment of iron deficiency anaemia.

Abstract: A sequence of a pair of r.f. pulses (90.sub.x .degree. and 90.sub.y .degree.) is applied to a solid being imaged with a time interval (.tau.) after each pulse. A static magnetic field is maintained and a magnetic gradient field is superimposed in the said time intervals, the time integrals of the gradient magnitudes of the gradient fields being equal. A free induction solid echo signal is detected at the end of the second time interval. The sequence is repeated for different values of the time integral are to obtain a set of signals and Fourier transformations with respect to the said time integral are then carried out on the set to obtain one-dimensional information. Two-dimensional information can be obtained from a plurality of sets of signals, each set being obtained in the presence of an additional orthogonal gradient field of differing value for each set.