Abstract: A flame photometer detector is described which uses flame emission spectroscopy as the detection method, computer control and data acquisition, pulsed sampling and a rotating reference filter wheel to eliminate the effects of background chemical species. The detector is particularly suited to the testing of respirator equipment.

Abstract: To manufacture at a good yield a large-screen display having low resistivity of wires and excelling in flatness of substrates, a metal material, a transparent electrode material, and a conductive resin are used for forming either scanning electrodes or signal electrodes, or both of the same. Not less than two materials are used as the metal material, while amorphus ITO is used as the transparent electrode material. An electrode substrate has electrode structures in each of which a metal wire made of the foregoing metal material, a transparent electrode made of the foregoing transparent electrode material, and a conductive resin layer are laminated in this order on a transparent substrate. Conductivity is imparted to the conductive resin layers by conductive particles electrodeposited by the micell electrolytic method.

Abstract: A liquid crystal composition comprises a host material capable of exhibiting a smectic C phase, and a chiral dopant material which imparts or enhances chirality in the host material. The composition exhibits &tgr;-Vmin curves. The chiral dopant material comprises at least first and second chiral centers. The chiral centers individually produce, in the liquid crystal composition, different and complementary temperature coefficients of spontaneous polarization within a predetermined temperature range. The chiral centers are present in the liquid crystal composition in relative amounts such that regions of the &tgr;-Vmin curves across the predetermined temperature range are substantially coincident.

Abstract: A liquid crystal device is addressed in a multiplexed manner by a scanning signal applied in turn to a first set of electrodes together with data signals applied to a second set of electrodes. The first and second sets of electrodes define a plurality of pixels. The pattern to be exhibited by the device determines the waveform applied to the second set of electrodes which can vary between extremes of frequency. This has adverse effects on device performance, particularly with regard to contrast. To ameliorate the problem a low frequency signal is added to the scanning signal which incorporates a known strobe pulse. This low frequency signal reduces the effect on the pixels of the extremes of data signal frequency.

Abstract: The present invention provides proteins for use in vaccines which are capable of inducing protective antibodies directed against C. perfringens epsilon toxin when administered to animals or man and thereby providing prophylaxis or therapy against infection by C. perfringens epsilon toxin. Particularly the present invention provides proteins which are based upon the mature toxin of the clostridium perfringensepsilon toxin gene, but which have a mutation such that the amino acid at position 106 is different to the wild-type sequence and their use in vaccine compositions.

Abstract: A fluorinated phenyl compound having the general formula [1]: wherein each of s, v and x=0 or 1, each of t and u=1, 2 or 3, and each of y and z=0, 1 or 2; A, B and C are independently selected from conjugated cyclic moieties including heterorings and fused rings; R1 and R3 may be independently cyano, or (C1-C12)alkyl, (C1-C12)alkoxy, (C1-C11) alkoxycarbonyl or (C1-C11)alkylcarbonyloxy which may be fluoro- and/or cyano-substituted; R2=H or F; R4=H or F; and R5=H or F. Such compounds have high transverse dipole moments and are potentially useful in liquid crystal compositions and in devices including same.

Abstract: Zirconium precursors for use in depositing thin films of or containing zirconium oxide using an MOCVD technique have the following general formula: Zrx(OR)yL, wherein R is an alkyl group; L is a &bgr;-diketonate group; x=1 or 2; y=2, 4 or 6; and z=1 or 2.

Abstract: Liposomes containing a photosensitive material, which undergoes photodegredation on exposure to U.V. light, is retained within the liposome together with a light absorbing material capable of increasing the photostability of the photosensitive. Methods of preparing pharmaceutical compositions containing these liposomes are provided.

Abstract: Skin protection agents such as topical compositions which can prevent the passage of toxic chemicals through the skin, such as barrier creams. Formulations may contain hexamethylene tetramine or derivatives or analogues thereof, which react with alkylating agents such as sulfur mustard, and which are suitable for formulation into topical compositions. The formulations additionally may contain perfluorinated polymeric compounds which are effective barrier compounds for a range of toxic chemicals.

Abstract: A method of making semiconductor quantum wires employs a semiconductor wafer (14) as starting material. The wafer (14) is weakly doped p type with a shallow heavily doped p layer therein for current flow uniformity purposes. The wafer (14) is anodised in 20% aqueous hydrofluoric acid to produce a layer (5) microns thick with 70% porosity and good crystallinity. The layer is subsequently etched in concentrated hydrofluoric acid, which provides a slow etch rate. The etch increases porosity to a level in the region of 80% or above. At such a level, pores overlap and isolated quantum wires are expected to form with diameters less than or equal to 3 nm. The etched layer exhibits photoluminescence emission at photon energies well above the silicon bandgap (1.1 eV) and extending into the red region (1.6-2.0 eV) of the visible spectrum.

Abstract: Millimeter wave imaging apparatus for use, in articular, as an indoor security system to identify objects concealed under the clothing of a person in a background scene, including means for generating a millimetric temperature contrast between the person to be imaged and the surroundings in scene. This may be a “hot” or “cold” source for producing a flux, and a relatively smaller flux respectively, of incoherent millimeter wavelength radiation. The apparatus may also include at least one partial ellipsoid reflective enclosure for reflecting millimeter wavelength radiation emitted from the “hot” and “cold” source so as to generate non-localized and uniform illumination of the person. The enclosure may have a metallic inner surface on which a dimpled pattern may be embossed to diffuse the millimeter wavelength radiation reflected from the metallic inner surface.

Abstract: An electroclinic device having two spaced cell walls each bearing electrode structures and treated on at least one facing surface with an alignment layer, a layer of a smectic liquid crystal material enclosed between the cell walls, where the liquid crystal material contains one or more of the compounds described by formula I as defined in the specification.

Abstract: 1

Abstract: A large core photonic crystal fiber for transmitting radiation having a core comprising a substantially transparent core material and having a core diameter of at least 5 &mgr;. The fiber also comprises a cladding region surrounding the length of core material, wherein the cladding region comprises a first substantially transparent cladding material, having a first refractive index, and wherein the first substantially transparent cladding material has embedded along its length a substantially periodic array of holes, wherein the holes are filled with a second cladding material having a second refractive index less than the first refractive index, such that radiation input to the optical fiber is transmitted along the length of the core material in a single mode of propagation. In a preferred embodiment, the core diameter may be at least 20 &mgr;, and may be as large as 50 &mgr;.

Abstract: A cyclic compound of formula (I) wherein Rx groups which may be the same or different are selected from —O—(CH2)n—O— where n is an integer of from 2-6; Ry and Rz groups which may be the same or different are independently selected from hydrogen, halogen or a hydrocarbyl group; Ra together with Rb of the adjacent phenyl ring and Rc together with Rd of the adjacent phenyl ring form a group of formula —(CH2)m— or —(CH2)p—O— where m and p are integers of from 1-5, and each group Ra-Rb and Rc-Rd may be the same or different; and x is an integer of 2 or more, such as 4. Compounds of formula (I) display particular selectivity for specific ions such as potassium ions. They are useful inter alia in reactions where scavenging of a specific cation is required or as ion specific electrodes.

Abstract: A thermally insulating textile (2) adapted to provide a variable degree of thermal insulation dependent on ambient temperature, the textile including a laminate of two fabric layers (15, 15′) having interposed a bulking layer (1), which may be one or more fabric layers (3a, 3b) on to which is deposited a shape memory polymer (4) in a repeat pattern. The bulking layer (1) is adapted to cooperate with the fabric layers (15, 15′) to vary the gap therebetween upon departure in a desired direction of the textile temperature from a predetermined temperature.

Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a ferroelectric liquid crystal device, the following steps are applied in order to effect spacing apart of two substrates and by spacers. The spacers are applied to a surface of a transfer member, and the transfer member is then pressed onto a receiving surface of one of the substrates. The transfer member is then removed so as to transfer the spacers from the transfer member to the receiving surface at the required positions. Finally the other substrate is pressed onto the spacers on the receiving surface so as to form an assembly of the two substrates spaced apart by the spacers. Such a sequence of steps enables the spacers to be placed in the required positions in a particularly straightforward manner, whilst minimising the number of fabrication steps used in the process.

Abstract: Barrier creams are described which are useful in protecting a user from burns during exposure to heat. The creams comprise a base cream with at least one of a melt additive and a reflective additive, or ideally both a melt additive and a reflective additive. The cream preferably is waterproof and has an acceptable longevity of application.

Abstract: A plurality of signal electrodes and scanning electrodes are provided on each of a pair of glass substrates facing each other, and pixels are formed at intersections of the signal electrodes and the scanning electrodes, and a liquid crystal layer is formed between the pair of glass substrates. A resistance value R of a single signal electrode or a single scanning electrode, an electric capacity C between the single signal electrode and one of the pair of glass substrates facing the single signal electrode, and a pulse width &tgr; of a driving signal applied to the signal electrode or to the scanning electrode are set so as to satisfy a relationship 0.001≦RC/&tgr;≦0.5.

Abstract: A method, device, and material for providing a fast switching liquid crystal display employs the ferro electric effect of chiral smectic liquid crystal material. To provide a uniform appearance the liquid crystal material is arranged to have a long cholesteric pitch at a temperature close to a smectic/cholesteric phase transistion temperature. This long cholesteric pitch allows liquid crystal molecules to cool from the cholesteric to smectic phase with a uniform alignment. The smectic material is contained in a cell between wells (2, 3) bearing electrodes (5, 6) and surface treated to provide homogeneous alignment of liquid crystal material (7).