Abstract: A system for diagnosing a heart condition comprises an imaging system (102) arranged to acquire two images of the heart at respective points in the cardiac cycle, and locating means, which may be manually operated or automatic, for locating a series of pairs of points on the images. Each pair of points indicates the respective positions of a single part of the heart in the two images. The system further comprises a processor (108) arranged to calculate from the positions of said pairs of points a value of at least one parameter of the deformation of the heart. It may further be arranged to compare the value of the at least one parameter with reference data to generate a diagnostic output.

Abstract: A photonic device (100) comprising: an optical waveguide (101), and a modulating element (102) that is evanescently coupled to the waveguide (101); wherein the modulating element (102) modifies a transmission, reflection or absorption characteristic of the waveguide (101) dependant on its state, and the state of the modulating element (102) is switchable by an optical switching signal (125) carried by the waveguide (101), or by an electrical signal that heats the modulating element (102).

Abstract: The invention concerns a fusion polypeptide comprising a plurality of conserved peptide sequences, or variants thereof, wherein at least one of the conserved sequences is conserved across: i) HCV genotypes 1a and 1b; ii) HCV genotypes 1 and 3; or iii) HCV genotypes 1 to 6; and wherein at least one of the conserved peptide sequences comprises at least part of a sequence of a non-structural protein of the HCV genotypes; including associated nucleic acid and vector sequences, and use in methods of treatment or prophylaxis, such as vaccination.

Abstract: A system for diagnosing a heart condition comprises an imaging system (102) arranged to acquire two images of the heart at respective points in the cardiac cycle, and locating means, which may be manually operated or automatic, for locating a series of pairs of points on the images. Each pair of points indicates the respective positions of a single part of the heart in the two images. The system further comprises a processor (108) arranged to calculate from the positions of said pairs of points a value of at least one parameter of the deformation of the heart. It may further be arranged to compare the value of the at least one parameter with reference data to generate a diagnostic output.

Abstract: A re-configurable magnetoinductive waveguide (300), comprising a plurality of resonator cells, wherein each resonator cell comprises a primary resonator (110) that is inductively coupled to a primary resonator (110) of at least one other resonator cell, and wherein at least one of the plurality of resonator cells is a controllable cell (100) which further comprises a control element (120), the control element (120) having an active control component (125) that is operable to adjust the impedance of the primary resonator (110) of the controllable cell (100) in response to a control signal; wherein: the control element (120) comprises a secondary resonator, the secondary resonator is inductively coupled to the primary resonator (110), and the active control component (125) is arranged to vary the electrical properties of the secondary resonator in response to the control signal.

Abstract: A smart cell, comprising: a positive terminal; a negative terminal; a switching circuit which is arranged to select between a first switching state in which an energy storage device is connected between the positive terminal and the negative terminal and a second switching state in which bypasses said energy storage device; and an inductor provided between the positive terminal and the negative terminal. The inductor provides a means by which to monitor current changes in the rest of the circuit. The inductor can thus be used to detect current changes as seen by the smart cell and this sensed information can be used to control the smart cell, e.g. to control an energy source (energy storage device) that forms part of the smart cell. As the inductor is part of the smart cell, it forms part of a decentralized controller strategy to regulate the state of charge of cells within a larger system.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of identifying a subject suspected of having or being susceptible to an autoimmune disease, such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), comprising: contacting a sample of bodily fluid obtained from the subject with (i) a binding pair member having a binding affinity for citrullinated tenascin (cTNC) or a fragment thereof or (ii) a cTNC peptide; determining in a sample of bodily fluid obtained from the subject the presence or amount of (i) a citrullinated peptide derived from tenascin or (ii) an anti cTNC antibody; comparing the presence or amount of (i) the citrullinated peptide derived from tenascin or (ii) the anti cTNC antibody with a pre-defined threshold value; and assigning a diagnosis of RA or a future likelihood of developing RA when the presence or amount of (i) cTNC or (ii) an antibody against cTNC is detected or exceeds the threshold; and associated kits, peptides, binding members and uses thereof.

Abstract: A smart cell, comprising: a positive terminal; a negative terminal; a switching circuit which is arranged to select between a first switching state in which an energy storage device is connected between the positive terminal and the negative terminal and a second switching state in which bypasses said energy storage device; and an inductor provided between the positive terminal and the negative terminal. The inductor provides a means by which to monitor current changes in the rest of the circuit. The inductor can thus be used to detect current changes as seen by the smart cell and this sensed information can be used to control the smart cell, e.g. to control an energy source (energy storage device) that forms part of the smart cell. As the inductor is part of the smart cell, it forms part of a decentralized controller strategy to regulate the state of charge of cells within a larger system.