Abstract: Fowlpox virus (FPV) promoter DNA for use in expressing a foreign gene inserted in a FPV vector by homologous recombination, which comprises the promoter of any of the following FPV genes:(1) The FB4b gene which encodes a protein of about 657 amino acids in a sequence beginning ##STR1## (2) The BamHI fragment ORF8 gene encoding a protein of about 116 amino acids in a sequence beginning ##STR2## (3) The BamHI fragment ORF5 gene encoding a protein of about 105 amino acids in a sequence beginning ##STR3## (4) The BamHI fragment ORF10 gene encoding a protein of about 280 amino acids in a sequence beginning ##STR4##

Abstract: A glass ionomer cement composition comprises poly(vinyl phosphonic acid) dissolved in its own mass of water; and (in treble the total mass of the solution) a powder, being glass or MgO or a cement. The powder has to be deactivated so that the setting reaction with the acid is not too fast, and this is achieved either by a raised Si:Al ratio or by heat-treating. The glass contains heavy ions such as La, Ba or Sr.

Abstract: Iron complexes comprising a ferric cation in combination with at least two different ligands, at least one of which is provided by a compound being:(1) 3-hydroxy-4-pyrone or 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; or(2) a 3-hydroxypyrid-2-one or 3-hydroxypyrid-4-one in which the hydrogen atom attached to the nitrogen atom is replaced by an aliphatic acyl group, by an aliphatic hydrocarbon group of 1 to 6 carbon atoms, or by an aliphatic hydrocarbon group substituted by one or more substituents selected from aliphatic acyl, alkoxy, alphatic amide, aliphatic ester, halogen and hydroxy groups and, optionally, in which one or more of the hydrogen atoms attached to ring carbon atoms are replaced by one of said substituents, by an aliphatic hydrocarbon group of 1 to 6 carbon atoms, or by an aliphatic hydrocarbon group substituted by an alkoxy, aliphatic ester, halogen or hydroxy group; the ch

Abstract: Phenyl-3-aminoalkyl-4-methyl-2,6-dioxopiperidines of the Formula I ##STR1## wherein: R.sub.1 represents hydrogen or C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl;n is 1 or 2;R.sub.2 represents hydrogen or methyl, provided that one R.sub.2 is hydrogen when n is 2;R.sub.3 represents hydrogen or C.sub.1 -C.sub.2 alkyl;R.sub.4 represents C.sub.1 -C.sub.2 alkyl;R.sub.5 and R.sub.6 independently represent hydrogen or methyl;m is 0 to 3; andeach Y is in a meta or para position and independently represents hydroxy, C.sub.1 -C.sub.2 alkoxy, C.sub.1 -C.sub.2 alkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.2 hydroxyalkyl, halogen, or trifluoromethyl, provided that hydroxy and alkoxy are not in the para position,and not pharmacologically acceptable salts thereof have memory enhancing activity and are particularly useful in the treatment of cognitive deficiencies such as senile dementia.The presently preferred compound is 3-(3'methoxyphenyl)-3-(3'-N,N-dimethylaminopropyl)-4,4-dimethyl-2,6-dioxop iperidine (AGN 2979).

Abstract: A need often arises for micro-optical components, such as optical fibres and couplers, and micromechanical components with complex cross-sections which are different at opposite ends or, for directional couplers, at points along the length of the couplers. In the present invention, a soluble material 38 is added to at least one primary preform 35 to make a secondary preform 37 of circular cross-section. The secondary preform is then drawn to reduce the cross-section of the primary preform as required but the cross-sectional shape of the secondary preform is preserved. The soluble material is then removed and then part of the resulting product is heated and plastically deformed to give the required different ends 39 and 40 or other different cross-sections. In another aspect of the invention two soluble materials are used with different solubilities.

Abstract: The blood-clotting protein, factor IX, is synthesized in the bod in liver cells, where it undergoes three distinct types of post-translational modification before it is secreted into the bloodstream as a 415 amino acid long protein. It is therefore a difficult protein to produce by recombinant DNA technology in a highly biologically active form. Nevertheless, such a result has been achieved by the present invention in which typically factor IX cDNA in a plasmid is linearized and inserted into an expression vector having a promoter sequence of SV40 early gene, an SV40 polyadenylation sequence, the TK/NEO selectable marker and an ampicillin resistance gene. Mammalian cells such as from a dog kidney or rat liver are transfected by the calcium phosphate precipitation method.

Abstract: Compounds of formula (II) ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are each separately selected from hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl and alkynyl groups having up to a maximum of four carbon atoms and being unsubstituted, and alkyl, alkenyl and alkynyl groups having up to a maximum of three carbon atoms and being substituted by one, or in the case of fluoro by one or more, substituents but with the proviso that when R.sub.1 is hydrogen then R.sub.2 is hydrogen or methyl, or R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 together constitute an ethylene bridging group, and R.sub.3 is a group which under physiological conditions undergoes elimination with the formation of a 3,5-dioxopiperazinyl ring, with the further proviso that the compound is in the meso or erythro configuration when each of R.sub.1 and R.sub.

Abstract: A nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) method of producing a series of three or four dimensional spin parameter maps of a defined region, which spin parameter maps are displayable as a set of contiguous planar spin parameter maps with arbitrary orientation.

Abstract: A strain of influenza virus, especially human influenza type A or B, for use in formulating a vaccine is selected by a process which comprises isolating candidate influenza viruses in embryonated hens' eggs, determining whether they have antigenic similarities to strains which are the same except that they have been isolated and grown exclusively in animal cells, that is to say whether they are "cell-like", and selecting at least one such cell-like strain or a reassortant thereof having its HA and NA genes for the vaccine.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of an oriented homo- or co-polyalkene material of improved strain rate sensitivity, which process comprises subjecting the oriented homo- or co-polyalkene material having a weight average molecular weight (M.sub.w).ltoreq.350,000, a number average molecular weight (M.sub.n).gtoreq.5,000, and a 2% secant modulus of at least 10 GPa at a strain rate of 2.times.10.sup.-5 sec.sup.-1 to a high energy irradiation of a dosage of at least 1 Mrad and not more than 60 Mrads at an elevated temperature in vacuo or in an inert or sensitizing atmosphere.

Abstract: A molding process, includingsupplying molten, moldable material to a mold cavity;subjecting at least a part of the supplied molten material to a shear force;causing the material to solidify while maintaining the shear force; anddemolding the molded material.

Abstract: Broadband amplifiers which are intended to be linear suffer from distortion and although many techniques have been devised to overcome this problem significant improvements are required especially at frequencies above 100 MHz. An error signal is formed from the output of an amplifier by comparison in a subtractor with its input and the error signal is combined in a coupler with the amplifier output to reduce distortion. The present invention provides automatic amplitude and phase control of the signals forming the error signal by two groups of adjustment means, one group in a multi-channel input path and one group in the error signal path. These groups receive control signals from respective feedback networks which each process two of three input signals from: couplers before the subtractor, a coupler which passes the error signal and a coupler situated after the coupler which combines the amplifier output signal and the error signal.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling a molding of a solid product in a mold cavity from molten material which solidifies in the mold cavity, in which first and second conduits are coupled to the mold cavity at spaced positions for carrying the molten material, includes first and second elements, and a controller for controlling the driving the first and second elements repeatedly during solidification of the molten material in the mold cavity so that the molten material is repeatedly moved through the mold cavity. The first element is disposed in the first conduit and the second element is disposed in the second conduit.

Abstract: A catheter or other invasive/implant device (40;52) intended for relatively long term use, of the order of a day or more, in a patient's body is provided with an electric field generator (48;53) to inhibit bacterial attachment and colonization on and adjacent the device/body interface. The generator can involve application to the device of electret material (53) or an electrode (48) in or for connection with an electrical circuit (47,50,51). The field is preferably unidirectionally negative and also continuous and constant, but pulsatile, alternating and other field forms are possible.

Abstract: Process for producing a composite material in which a cellulosic substrate is treated with a solution of a polyfunctional isocyanate in an aprotic swelling solvent and the substrate is then compressed to form the composite material. The substrate may take the form of wood chips, wood particles, wood flakes, wood fibers, wood flour, ground wood, wood veneers and wood laminates, paper, card, straw, refined cellulose such as cotton or viscose and plant fibers such as bamboo or palm fiber.

Abstract: Compounds of formula (II) ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are each separately selected from hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl and alkynyl groups having up to a maximum of four carbon atoms and being unsubstituted, and alkyl, alkenyl and alkynyl groups having up to a maximum of three carbon atoms and being substituted by one, or in the case of fluoro by one or more, substituents but with the proviso that when R.sub.1 is hydrogen then R.sub.2 is hydrogen or methyl, or R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 together constitute an ethylene bridging group, and R.sub.3 is a group which under physiological conditions undergoes elimination with the formation of a 3,5-dioxopiperazinyl ring, with the further proviso that the compound is in the meso or erythro configuration when each of R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 is the same or different unsubstituted or substituted alkyl, alkenyl or alkynyl group, and salts thereof with a physiologically acceptable inorganic or organic acid, are of value as prodrugs, particularly in the therapy of psoriasis.

Abstract: A method of volumetric measurement of a first closed space of unknown volume which comprises communicating the first space with a second closed space of known volume, changing the known volume of the second space by a predetermined amount, obtaining representations of the pressures in the spaces respectively with the second space at its original known volume and its changed volume, and determining a measure of the unknown volume of the first space from the known volume, the volume change and pressure representations. The method is preferably applied to medical usage for diagnostic purposes with the first space being a body cavity, such as the nasal airway for which a small volume correlates with predisposition to glue ear.

Abstract: Apparatus for administering an ingestible oral fluid to a patient takes the form of an elongate tubular member (10) closed at the extremity of one end portion shaped as a hook (11), the hook having a hollowed outward projection (16) which is resilient at least over its area facing in the same general direction as the mouth of the hook, with this area also being formed with an orifice (17). The overall geometry of the apparatus is such that the hook passes over the lower mouth of the patient to locate and retain the projection or oral actuation, while the remainder of the member hangs across the jaw of the patient.

Abstract: An envelope having flexible water-permeable or porous walls contains a quantity of particulate water-insoluble hydrogel. The quantity of hydrogel in the envelope is such that, when the hydrogel is fully swollen at 20.degree. C., its volume is at least 66%, preferably at least 100%, of the maximum non-stretched internal volume of the envelope. Thus, the envelope according to the invention is limp and floppy under dry conditions but in a wet environment the hydrogel absorbs water and swells accordingly causing the envelope to swell and take on a more rigid configuration. The envelope is particularly useful for the administration of sustained release pharmaceutically or veterinarily active ingredients. Thus the limp dry envelope may for example be rolled up for introduction through the throat but will swell up and therefore be retained in the stomach for sustained release of the active ingredient therein.

Abstract: A mould for cast moulding a contact lens comprises a first cup member having a male mould surface and a second cup member with a female mould surface. The two cup members form a piston and cylinder and are used in a pressure vessel so as to apply loading pressure to deflect the mould surfaces to maintain the surfaces in contact with a lens being cast. The mould is opened with the mould surface facing upwardly. Hydrating fluid is added to the first cup member and a cover sealed to the top of the first cup member.