Abstract: A rail conveyor system combining the low friction attributes of railway transportation with the continuous bulk handling advantages of belt conveyors, uses a multiplicity of spaced carriages running on steel wheels on rail tracks to support a continuous carry belt. The system is driven by various means including a rope extending between the carriages. Various other drive means including drive belt technology are also described along with loading and unloading stations and distributed drive stations.

Abstract: An integrated chemical looping air separation unit (5) in a large-scale oxy- fuel power generating plant takes a portion of recycled flue gas (6) via a recycling conduit (7) through a heat exchanger (8) to a reduction reactor (9). The reduction reactor (9) exchanges oxidised metal oxide with an oxidation reactor (11) via transfer means (10) which return reduced metal oxide from the reduction reactor (9) to the oxidation reactor (11). This enables the reduction reactor (9) to feed a mixture of oxygen and recycled flue gas into the boiler (13) of the power generating plant in a more energy efficient manner than conventional oxy-fuel power plants using air separation units.

Abstract: A method of forming a syntactic foam, including the steps of providing a predetermined amount of constituent materials, said constituent materials including hollow microspheres or buoyant particles, a solvent and a first binder; mixing the constituent materials; allowing the constituent materials to separate into at least a phase substantially including said hollow microspheres or buoyant particles and a binder phase; transferring the hollow microsphere/buoyant particle phase into a mould; and forming a syntactic foam in said mould. Also an apparatus for forming the syntactic foam and syntactic foam.

Abstract: A flotation separation apparatus for separating particles in suspensions, feeds slurry containing the particles through an inlet into a contactor where gas is fed through an inlet to mix with the slurry, for example in a downwardly plunging jet, to form a gas-liquid bubbly two-phase mixture under pressure from an outlet restriction in a throttling duct. The mixture is passed through a flow manipulator configured to induce a high energy dissipation rate, for example by way of a Shockwave formed in a diverging section of the throttling duct reducing the size of the bubbles and brining those bubbles into intimate contact with particles in the mixture which is released into a separation cell where a flow manipulating draft tube is provided to reduce turbulence in the mixture. Alternative apparatus and methods for inducing the high energy dissipation rate and for reducing turbulence in the mixture are also described and claimed.

Abstract: A system for positioning an object, having a fixed base, a support for the object, an actuator for applying a force to displace the support relative to the fixed base, a sensor for measuring the load force on the support, and a controller for processing the measured load force to control the position of the support and/or damp at least one resonance frequency of the system. A method of controlling the system is also provided.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods and compositions for modulating signal transduction pathways by regulating the expression and/or activity of Midline-1, enabling the inhibition of airways inflammation, the inhibition of airways hyperresponsiveness, the inhibition of rhinovirus-associated inflammation, and reductions in cytokine and chemokine release. Methods and compositions disclosed herein facilitate the treatment and prevention of conditions associated with airway inflammation, airway tissue remodelling and rhinovirus-associated inflammation and symptoms, manifestations and exacerbations thereof, in particular of allergic diseases such as allergic airways diseases including asthma.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for separating low density particles from feed slurries, a bubbly mixture is formed in a downcomer and issues into a mid region in a chamber. An inverted reflux classifier is formed by parallel inclined plates below the mid region allowing for efficient separation of low density particles which rise up to form a densely packed foam in the top of the chamber, and denser particles which fall downwardly to an outlet.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for the separation of materials from heterogeneous fluids and provides a means of effecting stimulant-sensitive flocculation and consolidation of solid suspensions within a liquid medium. Specifically, the present invention provides a method of controlling the state of a suspension of solid particles in a liquid, including applying to the suspension a stimulus adapted to control inter-particle forces between the solid particles. The stimulus is reversibly operable to control attraction and/or repulsion. Means of consolidating a sediment bed and of separating the resultant liquids-rich and solids-rich phases are also within the ambit of the invention.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for preparing a device comprising: (i) providing an aqueous emulsion comprising an organic solvent, a surfactant and at least one conductive organic compound; (ii) removal of the organic solvent to provide an aqueous suspension of conductive nanoparticles comprising the at least one conductive organic compound; (iii) depositing the nanoparticles onto a substrate to form a nanoparticle layer; and (iv) annealing the nanoparticle layer.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to compositions and methods for the diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of leukemia, in particular leukemia in which leukemic cells, or neoplastic precursors thereof, express Fat1 or a homolog of Fat1 that is substantially not expressed on normal blood cells.

Abstract: A rail conveyor system combining the low friction attributes of railway transportation with the continuous bulk handling advantages of belt conveyors, uses a multiplicity of spaced carriages (4) running on steel wheels (5) on rail tracks (2, 3) to support a continuous carry belt (7). The system is driven by various means including a rope (9) extending between the carriages. Various other drive means including drive belt technology are also described along with loading and unloading stations and distributed drive stations.

Abstract: Apparatus for sampling material being conveyed on a primary conveyor comprises a diverter arranged to divert material onto a sampling conveyor running alongside the primary conveyor where it can be weighed by a weightometer and elevated to a discharge point before falling into a falling-stream sample cutter. Material is then returned to the primary conveyor at by a return conveyor. Options include the use of an impact conveyor between the diverter and the sampling conveyor, and the configuration of the sampling conveyor with a wider belt running at a slower speed to improve accuracy.

Abstract: An enhanced gravity separation device rotates a plurality of rectangular section vessels about a central drive shaft. Each vessel has an array of closely spaced plates positioned with the vessel between outer regions and inner regions. A feed of mixed dense and less dense fluid matter is fed to the outer regions via a pipe and conduits, through the plate arrays and into the inner regions. Overflow of less dense matter reports to the inner regions and underflow of denser matter reports to the outer region. The vessels may be fluidised by liquid supplied into the outer regions via annulus and conduits.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of producing an electrodeposited metal oxide coating for a supercapacitor electrode. The present invention relates to the chronoamperometric electrodeposition of the metal oxide over a period from a few seconds, up to about 30 seconds leading to superior performance as a result of an increased surface area of the deposit. According to the present invention, the capacitances achieved are typically greater than 1300 F/g, and in some instances, over 4000 F/g.

Abstract: A flotation cell for separating hydrophobic particles from hydrophilic particles uses a mixer (1) with an air inlet (8) and slurry feed (7) to form a bubbly mixture in a u-tube mixer (4, 5, 6) and feed the mixture into a separation vessel (2). Plant cost and operating efficiencies are optimised by gravity feed of slurry and admitting air at atmospheric pressure. The separation vessel (2) has an upper inclined plate (9) which guides the froth layer (33) containing the hydrophobic particles to an overflow launder (11) without any significant turbulence or change in direction optimising the retention of hydrophobic particles in the froth, while the hydrophilic particles drop down in the liquid layer (34) guided along a lower inclined plate (24) to a tailings outlet (14).

Abstract: A method of generating power from a heat source, said method including: compressing (10) a working fluid to increase its temperature; exchanging (11) heat between said working fluid and said heat source to superheat said working fluid; expanding (12) said superheated working fluid to drive a turbine, thereby reducing its temperature; condensing (13) said working fluid to further reduce its temperature: and returning said working fluid to said compressing step (10), the method further including the step (14) of regenerating the heat of said working fluid wherein working fluid passing between said compressing step (10) and said heat exchanging step (11) exchanges heat with working fluid passing between said expanding step (12) and said condensing step (13); wherein said steps are performed in a thermodynamic cycle (S1-S1?-S2-S3-S3?-S4) within a supercritical region (SC) above the saturation dome (A) of said working fluid, and wherein said heat regenerating step (14) is performed under isenthalpic conditions to

Abstract: A method of separating mixed particles in a flotation cell uses a fluidized bed within the cell where particles are fluidized in a quiescent zone by liquid moving upwardly through the fluidized bed. The fluidizing liquid may be provided by the feed or by recycling liquid from upper parts of the cell such as from the disengagement zone. Bubbles are introduced into the lower part of the cell through a mechanical impeller which also breaks up any channels in the mixing zone, or by separate aeration in the bottom of the cell or by introduction through a recycle pipe.

Abstract: A process for separating a sperm type from a sperm population by electrophoresis comprising subjecting the sperm population to an electric potential such that a sperm type is separated from a sperm population through an ion-permeable barrier.

Abstract: A method for gassing an emulsion explosives to sensitize the explosive to detonation and/or for density modification is described. The method comprises reacting a compound having an enol group, or a deprotonated enolate form of the enol group, with a nitrosating agent to generate nitric oxide to gas the explosive. The compound reacted with the nitrosating agent can be a lactone such as ascorbic acid. Dinitrogen trioxide is particularly useful as the nitrosating agent.

Abstract: An idler roller (4, 5, 6) for supporting an endless belt (2) in a roller conveyor (1) that includes a frame (7) for mounting the idler roller (4, 5, 6) to the conveyor (1), a support shaft (8) mountable to the frame (7) for supporting the idler roller (4, 5, 6) and a roller casing (9) rotatably mountable to the shaft (8) by a bearing assembly (10). The bearing assembly is substantially enclosed within the roller casing. The idler roller (4, 5, 6) is cantilevered to the conveyor (1) such that the bending moment of a load exerted on the roller casing (9) is displaced onto the bearing assembly (10).