Abstract: A method for predicting the athletic performance potential of a subject comprising the step of assaying a biological sample from a subject for a genetic variant in linkage disequilibrium with MSTN-66493737 (T/C) SNP. The invention also provides an assay for determining the athletic performance potential of a subject.

Abstract: The current invention relates to a diagnostic kit for a bacterial species and/or fungal and/or yeast species comprising at least one oligonucleotide probe capable of binding to at least a portion of the LepA and/or Guf1 genes or its corresponding mRNA.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method, computer program product, and computing system is provided for managing quality of service for communication sessions. In an implementation, a method may include determining network condition associated with a communication session. The method may also include calculating one or more anticipated performance attributes for each of a plurality of error correction codes based on the network condition. The method may also include determining a quality of experience metric for each of the plurality of error correction codes based on the calculated one or more anticipate performance attributes for each of the plurality of error correction codes. The method may further include establishing one of the plurality of error correction codes for the communication session based on the quality of experience metric for each of the plurality of error correction codes.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a multiplex in vitro nucleic acid amplification method for identifying a species of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex present in a sample. The method includes detecting the presence or absence of a plurality of nucleic acid molecule targets in the sample in one reaction, wherein at least one of the nucleic acid molecule targets is present in the genome of one or more, but not all, of the species of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex. The invention also includes kits containing primers or probes for conducting this method, nucleic acids useful for performing this method and diagnostic techniques using these nucleic acids.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method, computer program product, and computing system is provided for managing quality of service for communication sessions. In an implementation, a method may include determining network condition associated with a communication session. The method may also include calculating one or more anticipated performance attributes for each of a plurality of error correction codes based on the network condition. The method may also include determining a quality of experience metric for each of the plurality of error correction codes based on the calculated one or more anticipate performance attributes for each of the plurality of error correction codes. The method may further include establishing one of the plurality of error correction codes for the communication session based on the quality of experience metric for each of the plurality of error correction codes.

Abstract: A thoracoscopic electroporation device for carrying out electroporation on tissue includes a suction head and a plurality of needle electrodes. The needle electrodes include a central needle providing a first electrode and a plurality of second needles which are spaced-apart around the periphery of the suction head. The electrodes are movable from a retracted configuration to a deployed configuration and in the deployed configuration the needles extend from the suction head. The suction head has a retracted delivery configuration and an expanded deployed configuration. The suction head includes a suitable flexible material for biasing the suction head into the expanded deployed configuration. The suction head has channels for the needles and the needles are movable through the channels from the retracted to the deployed configuration. In the deployed configuration, the central first needle extends beyond the peripheral needles.

Abstract: A non-therapeutic method of accumulating a polymeric or high molecular weight molecular product within a bacterial microcompartment in bacterial cytoplasm, which method employs a recombinant bacteria which is transformed to express a microcompartment containing an enzyme capable of converting a low molecular weight substrate into a polymeric or high molecular weight product, the method comprising the steps of: incubating the recombinant bacteria with the low-molecular weight substrate, or a precursor of the low molecular weight substrate which is capable of being metabolized to the substrate within the recombinant bacteria, such that the substrate or precursor is taken up by the bacteria, wherein the substrate enters the microcompartment and the enzyme within the microcompartment converts the substrate to a polymeric or high molecular weight molecular product, and wherein the polymeric or high molecular weight molecular product is accumulated within the microcompartment due to its size.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for use in treating tinnitus, employs a sound processing unit, a tactile unit, and an interface therebetween. The tactile unit comprises an array of stimulators each of which can be independently actuated to apply a tactile stimulus to a subject, and an input for receiving a plurality of actuation signals from the interface and directing individual actuation signals to individual stimulators. The sound processing unit receives an audio signal at an input, analyses the signal with a digital signal processor to generate the actuation signals which are representative of the audio signal, and provides the plurality of actuation signals to the interface. In a preferred embodiment the digital signal processor divides the audio signal into a series of frames in the time domain, performs a transform on each frame to generate a set of coefficients representing said frame, and maps the set of coefficients to a set of actuation signals to be applied to the array.

Abstract: In one embodiment the invention relates to a photodetector device sensitive for wavelengths comprising a doped Ge absorbing material bonded to a substrate material locally of opposite doping polarity and an interface layer formed between the Ge absorbing material and the substrate material to form a p-n junction. In one embodiment the bonded material comprises a p-doped Ge wafer and n-doped Si or So I wafer and obtained from a low-temperature heat treatment after bonding. The invention also discloses a process for making a photodetector.

Abstract: The invention is based on the surprising finding that treatment with a chemotherapeutic agent such as 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and an autophagy inducer effectively inhibit the continued growth of, and prevent the recovery following drug withdrawal, of cancer cells. In vivo, drug resistance from a failure to adequately engage in apoptotic programmed cell death leads to a recurrence of cancer and tumors can remain dormant for periods of time before re-emerging as drug resistant metastases. It has been hypothesized that autophagy (Type II cell death) may help cancer cells survive in response to growth limiting conditions, such as nutrient depletion, hypoxia, absence of growth factor, or presence of cytotoxic drug. LiCl is a known autophagy inducer and accelerates cell survival to autophagic programmed cell death.

Abstract: A hyperbranched copolymer comprising PEG-based monomers is described wherein the hyperbranched copolymer comprises a double bond content in the range 5 mol % to 50 mol %. RAFT (Reverse Addition-Fragmentation chain Transfer) polymerisation is used to synthesise the PEG-based hyperbranched copolymer described herein. The hyperbranched copolymer can be used for the preparation of antibacterial hydrogels.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for use in treating tinnitus, employs a sound processing unit, a tactile unit, and an interface therebetween. The tactile unit comprises an array of stimulators each of which can be independently actuated to apply a tactile stimulus to a subject, and an input for receiving a plurality of actuation signals from the interface and directing individual actuation signals to individual stimulators. The sound processing unit receives an audio signal at an input, analyses the signal with a digital signal processor to generate the actuation signals which are representative of the audio signal, and provides the plurality of actuation signals to the interface. In a preferred embodiment the digital signal processor divides the audio signal into a series of frames in the time domain, performs a transform on each frame to generate a set of coefficients representing said frame, and maps the set of coefficients to a set of actuation signals to be applied to the array.

Abstract: The current invention relates to the use of a bacterial species in the preparation of a composition adapted for oral administration for the delivery of an agent to a site in the body. The site in the body may be an organ or a tumour site. The bacterial species is a food grade, non-pathogenic, gram-positive bacteria capable of anaerobic growth.

Abstract: There is provided a method of producing microparticles using an emulsion based synthesis route including: Providing a first fluid phase and a second fluid phase, wherein the first fluid phase is a continuous phase and the second fluid phase is a dispersed phase comprising a dispersed material, wherein the continuous phase is immiscible with the dispersed phase; Mixing the first continuous phase and the second dispersed phase in the presence of a surfactant in a shear device to form an emulsion of droplets of controllable size and having a narrow drop size distribution; Drying the emulsion to form microparticles of controllable size and having narrow size distribution, and wherein the microparticles may comprise spherical, crumpled, dimpled, porous or hollow microparticles morphology. Also provided is a system including shear device and drying arrangement. Also provided are micro particles of controllable size and morphology formed by the method.

Abstract: An integrated LED device is provided. The LED device includes a substrate. The LED device includes a semiconductor material including a light generating layer and positioned on the substrate. The semiconductor material and/or the substrate are configured to control light internally to output quasi-collimated light from a light emitting surface of the LED device. The LED device includes an optical component positioned at the light emitting surface and configured to receive quasi-collimated light exiting the light emitting surface and to alter one or more optical properties of at least some beams of the quasi-collimated light.

Abstract: A method of predicting a SGA infant in a patient at a pre-symptomatic gestational stage is described. The method comprises a step of assaying a biological sample from the patient for an abundance of a plurality of metabolite biomarkers selected from the 19 metabolite biomarkers of Table IV, correlating the abundance of the plurality of metabolite biomarkers with a metabolite fingerprint of SGA shown in Table IV, and predicting SGA based on the level of correlation between the abundance of the plurality of metabolite biomarkers and the metabolite fingerprint of Table IV.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for thawing and delivery of cryogenically frozen biological material, such as stem cells includes a housing for receiving a pouch of frozen cells, a heating element against which the pouch is placed for applying defrosting heat to the pouch, and a squeezing apparatus for applying a squeezing force to the pouch after or upon thawing of the cells. The squeezing force may be applied by a roller pressing the pouch against the heating element, which forces the thawed cells from a needle or tube connected to the housing and/or to the pouch. A rechargeable battery in the housing supplies power to the heating element and the squeezing apparatus.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a life attenuated Bordetella pertussis vaccine which is deficient for tracheal cytotoxin (TCT), pertussis toxin (PTX), and dermonecrotic toxin (DNT) for prophylaxis or treatment of an allergen-driven airway pathology.

Abstract: A Nisin derivative or variant, comprising an amino acid substitution at amino acid position 29 in the amino acid sequence. The Nisin derivative exhibits enhanced antimicrobial activity when compared to wild type Nisin. The Nisin derivative has an application as a natural food additive and as a therapeutic agent.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to the treatment of demyelination as an underlying cause of the disease of multiple sclerosis (MS) in a mammal, the method comprising promoting remyelination of myelination of axonal cells by administering to the mammal a 2-oxopyrrolidine compound having a general formula I: wherein R?R??H, and R??CH2CONH-(2,6CH3)C6H3 or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.