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: The invention provides a method for gassing an explosive to sensitise the explosive and/or modify the density of the explosive. The method comprises reacting at least one oxidiser with at least one nitrogen containing compound in the explosive to generate nitrogen gas. The explosive is formulated to effect diffusion of the oxidiser and/or the compound into contact with each other, the nitrogen gas being generated by oxidation of the compound by the oxidiser. The invention extends to the explosive compositions themselves.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for the treatment or prevention of allergic airways diseases, the suppression of allergic immune responses, and the induction protective immunity against allergic airways diseases wherein the methods comprise administering to subjects in need thereof an effective amount of a Streptococcus pneumoniae capsular polysaccharide and a Streptococcus pneumoniae exotoxin or exotoxoid, optionally together with one or more additional antigenic or immunomodulatory constituents, components or fractions of Streptococcus pneumoniae and/or immunopotentiators. Administration of individual components is also contemplated. Also provided are vaccine compositions suitable for use in accordance with methods disclosed herein.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for power generation, and in particular a method and apparatus for the control of electrical power generation for use primarily with wind turbines. A method of electrical power generation is described including the steps of: receiving power in the form of alternating current; rectifying said alternating current power to direct current power; control said direct current power to produce controlled direct current power; and inverting said near constant direct current power to produce alternating current.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of online analysis of mineral waste content of a slurry in a mineral separation process, said method including the steps of: measuring the density of said slurry (10); measuring the concentration of solids in said slurry (12); calculating the density of solids in said slurry from said slurry density and said solids concentration (20); and calculating said mineral waste content from said solids density (22). The present invention also provides an online analyzer for mineral waste content of a slurry in a mineral separation process.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to diagnostic and prognostic protocols for schizophrenia and its manifestations including sub-threshold phenotypes and states thereof. Profiling and stratifying individuals for schizophrenia and its various manifestations also form part of the present invention as well as monitoring and predicting efficacy of therapeutic, psychiatric, social or environmental intervention. The present invention further contemplates methods of treatment of schizophrenia and symptoms thereof.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for introducing wash water into a flotation froth in a flotation separation system, where the wash water is injectioned into the froth in the form of a horizontal sheet of water. The sheet is typically formed by impinging a downwardly directed liquid jet issuing from a nozzle onto a horizontal plate or disc where it changes direction and travels radially outwards as an axi-symmetric planar liquid jet or sheet. The depth of the disc can be adjusted by a support rod. Other embodiments are described where the horizontal sheet is ejected through a horizontal slit, or where the sheet of wash water is rectangular rather than axi-symmetric.

Abstract: Separation of hydrophobic particles from a mixture of particles in a fluid is performed by providing a fluidized bed as a relatively non-turbulent contacting mechanism in a flotation cell incorporating a settling chamber located immediately above the fluidized bed. Hydrophobic particles attach to bubbles in the fluidized bed and rise to the interface with the settling chamber where non-hydrophobic particles flow over the lip of an internal launder and are removed as tailings at. The hydrophobic particles attached to bubbles float upwardly in the relatively placid settling chamber where unwanted gangue can fall back to interface. The bubbles form a froth layer at the upper surface of the settling chamber, and flow over the launder lip carrying the hydrophobic particles. An operation of the apparatus is kept stable by recirculating fluid from the settling chamber via pip and pump to mix with new feed entering at duct.

Abstract: The invention relates to screening methods for determination of the risk of preterm delivery and/or pregnancy associated conditions. The methods involve detection of the level of one or more biomarkers in a biological sample from the patient. In particular, in embodiments of the invention there are provided methods for determining the risk of pre-eclampsia and other hypertensive disorders, and intrauterine growth retardation (IGUR).

Abstract: Assays and kits for detecting aberrant cells of neuroectodermal origin in a body fluid of an individual, comprising testing for expression of GLAST1b as a biomarker of the cells are disclosed. Intact GLAST1b and/or fragments thereof may be detected in the fluid. Alternatively, another analyte indicative of the expression of GLAST1b by the cells may be detected. The assay is particularly suitable for detecting expression of aberrant neuronal populations such as resulting from brain hypoxia. The fluid can be cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for the treatment or prevention of an allergic airways disease in a subject, the method comprising administering to the subject a composition comprising Streptococcus pneumoniae or one or more antigens derived therefrom. Also provided are methods and compositions for inducing protective immunity against an allergic airways disease, suppressing an allergic immune response, and treating or preventing conditions such as eosinophilia, mucous secreting cell expression, airway hyperresponsiveness and Th2-mediated disease.

Abstract: A method for gassing an emulsion explosives to sensitise 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: 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: The present invention provides a device (10) for detecting the frothing ability of a fluid, said device including: an inlet (11) for receiving a portion of said fluid; means (12) for entraining air into said fluid portion; a mixing chamber (13) for receiving said air entrained fluid portion, said mixing chamber (13) being adapted for mixing said fluid portion and said air; and a detector (15) for detecting the amount of froth (18) generated in said mixing chamber (13). The invention also provides a method for detecting the frothing ability of a fluid.

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 forming Mn+1AXn, where M is an early transition metal (such as Ti) or mixtures thereof, A is a group III or IV element (such as Si) or mixtures thereof and X is C, N or mixtures thereof, the method comprising the steps of providing a precursor of formula Mn+1AXn and reacting the Mn+1Xn with A to provide Mn+1AXn. The Mn+1Xn may be ordered and/or twinned (eg by mechanical alloying, thermal treatment etc. prior to reacting with A, ordered and/or twinned during its formation from M and X. A may be present during the formation of Mn+1Xn from M and X or during the ordering and/or twinning of disordered Mn+1Xn. The Mn+1AXn produced is substantially free from MX and or other residual phases.

Abstract: Inhibitors of syndapin I binding to dynamin I (DynI) are provided. Examples include mimetics of a region of DynI including the serine residues S774 and S778 or phosphorylatable amino acids in homologous positions. Typically, the mimetics exclude or do not imitate at least one phosphorylation site provided by the serine residues or phosphorylatable amino acids. Peptide fragment inhibitors comprising or consisting of this region of DynI are also described. The inhibitors have application in the prophylaxis or treatment of neurological diseases or conditions. The inhibitors can also be used to inhibit neuronal cell vesicle trafficking and synaptic signal transmission.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of online analysis of mineral waste content of a slurry in a mineral separation process, said method including the steps of: measuring the density of said slurry (10); measuring the concentration of solids in said slurry (12); calculating the density of solids in said slurry from said slurry density and said solids concentration (20); and calculating said mineral waste content from said solids density (22). The present invention also provides an online analyser for mineral waste content of a slurry in a mineral separation process.