Abstract: The invention provides compositions for human consumption containing, as a sweet tasting constituent, a compound of the formula: ##STR1## and which is: 3-(1-amino-,3-dicarboxy-3-hydroxy-but-4-yl)-indole, including the isomers, salts and specified internal condensation derivatives thereof, and in particular those which have enhanced sweetening powers relatively to sucrose and which are useful as sweeteners for foods and beverages.

Abstract: The invention provides a compound of the formula: ##STR1## and which is: 3-(1-amino-1,3-dicarboxy-3-hydroxy-but-4-yl)-indole, including the isomers, salts and specified internal condensation derivatives thereof, and in particular those which have enhanced sweetening powers relative to sucrose and which are useful as sweeteners for foods and beverages.

Abstract: For selectively and reversibly adsorbing tPA, pro-tPA or mixtures thereof, from an aqueous medium, for example, derived from a melanoma cell culture, the aqueous medium is intimately contacted with an affinity reagent comprising an immobilized Kunitz-type inhibitor, substantially as occurs in and is extractable from seeds of an Erythrina species, e.g., Erythrina latissima, having Erythrina species, the following combination of characteristics:(a) it is an inhibitor of the Kunitz-type;(b) it inhibits trypsin;(c) it inhibits plasmin;(d) it has no effect on urokinase;(e) it inhibits tPA; and(f) in its immobilized form, it is a selected adsorbent for tPA and its precursor pro-tPA, to thereby cause the tPA, pro-tPA or mixtures thereof to become selectively adsorbed on the affinity reagent.

Abstract: An immunogenicity increasing carrier substance for immunogenic determinants is composed of particles derived from gram-negative cells substantially devoid or depleted of their natural immunogenic determinants, more particularly prepared by stripping the O-antigen and core region off the lipid A by chemical cleavage (acid hydrolysis). These socalled "naked bacteria" are chemically treated with a linking reagent to provide covalently bonded intermediate linking moieties while preserving the adjuvant effect of the particles. The linking moieties have functional groups. These serve for the covalent bonding of selected haptens or antigens comprising the desired immunogenic determinants against which antibodies are to be elicited in living antibody-producing cells.

Abstract: The invention provides a surgical implant in the form of a stud for anchoring in a hole formed in bone. The stud has an elongated cylindrical body which is tubular and which has a head at one end and a passage along its interior. A pin is insertable into the passage from the end having the head to expand the body transversely to anchor it in the hole. The body and pin are of biocompatible material and the body contains carbon fibres embedded in and extending longitudinally along its interior.The invention provides also a surgical implant kit including the stud, and a method of surgery employing the stud and kit.

Abstract: The invention provides an immunizing agent or preparation e.g. a vaccine for parenteral administration comprising particles of coalesced and covalently interlinked physiologically compatible proteinaceous molecules and, entrapped in these particles, an immunogen adapted to be released by the gradual proteolysis of the particles and, when so released, being of sufficient size to elicit an immuno response to characteristic immunogenic determinants of the immunogen. The proteinaceous molecules are preferably homotypic for the animal to be immunized. Preferably, the particles or molecules carrying the immunogenic determinants are crosslinked to the proteinaceous molecules.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of testing yarn comprising periodically feeding a length of yarn by means of a fluid stream along a pathway so that it extends between a pair of spaced clamps, clamping the length of yarn towards the ends thereof by means of the clamps and causing one or both clamps to move relative to the other progressively to tension the yarn until breakage. Tension and elongation of the yarn is measured.

Abstract: A method of surgery for attaching the end of a ligament to a bone from which it has become attached, includes drilling a passage in the bone so that the passage opens at or adjacent the position where the ligament became detached, inserting an elongated clamp through the passage, clamping the ligament with the part of the clamp which projects out of the mouth of the passage, withdrawing the clamp into the passage to draw the detached end of the ligament into the passage while tensioning the ligament, and anchoring the clamp to hold the liagment under tension to permit growth of fibrous and connective tissue in the passage to join the ligament to the bone.

Abstract: The invention provides a surgical implant in the form of a stud for anchoring in a hole formed in bone. The stud has an elongated cylindrical body which is tubular and which has a head at one end and a passage along its interior. A pin is insertable into the passage from the end having the head to expand the body transversely to anchor it in the hole. The body and pin are of biocompatible material and the body contains carbon fibres embedded in and extending longitudinally along its interior.The invention provides also a surgical implant kit including the stud, and a method of surgery employing the stud and kit.

Abstract: A polymer material of the product of reaction of a grass plant lignin derivative comprising lignin polymer fragments recovered from black liquor obtained in the pulping of grass plant material and containing an average of more than 0.4 sites per phenyl propane unit of the polymer fragments reactive to base catalyzed substitution and condensation reactions, with an electrophilic compound which is capable of reacting twice at one side or at least once at each of two different sites.

Abstract: A railway bogie or a vehicle is so suspended to axleboxes on a plurality of wheelsets that each wheelset can yaw about a center of yaw, move laterally and move vertically relatively to the frame of the bogie or vehicle. Each axle box has a pair of radially opposed arms extending vertically and links extend from the arms in opposed directions laterally to the plane containing the axis of the axle. The links are ball jointed to the arms and also at their other ends. One link is connected to the link on the other side of the frame via a mechanism transmitting motion across the frame. Such a mechanism may involve a beam pivoted to the frame, bell cranks connected by struts, a torsion bar with arms projecting from it or hydraulic conduits between links which are hydraulic piston and cylinders. The mechanism may be repeated on the other side or the links on that side may simply be jointed to the frame. The purpose of the mechanism is to inhibit longitudinal movement of the center of yaw of each wheelset.

Abstract: The invention provides a power storage battery (10) comprising a multiplicity of interconnected identical electrochemical power storage cells (11) whose internal resistance varies with their temperature. The cells are interconnected into a plurality of groups (16, 18, 31) with each group comprising a plurality of the cells, at least some of which are connected in series. The groups are connected in parallel and the battery in use has a temperature profile whereby at least some of its cells are at different temperatures from one another. The cells of each group are located and interconnected so that, in use, each group has substantially the same internal resistance as any other group.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for the catalytic hydrogenation of an unsaturated hydrocarbon, particularly useful for the hydrogenation of alkynes such as acetylene to alkenes such as ethylene. The unsaturated hydrocarbon is brought into contact with hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst which comprises cations selected from the group consisting in five-coordinate and six-coordinate complex cations of ruthenium (II) having the general formula (1):(RuXL.sub.n).sup.+ (1)in which:X is a radical;L is a donor ligand; andn is an integer not greater than 5.

Abstract: The invention provides a surgical device which has a probe for insertion into soft tissue during a surgical operation, and a drill guide for guiding a bone drill during the operation. The drill guide is connected to the probe and is adjustable in position and attitude relative to the probe. The drill guide is releasably lockable relative to the probe in a plurality of different positions and attitudes.

Abstract: A pallet (10) comprising a top deck consisting of planks (20, 22, 24, 26) to the undersides of which blocks (28, 30, 32) are secured. The entire pallet is deformed to a convex form so that its length and width are reduced with respect to its undeformed dimensions. The lower faces of the blocks are joined by chordally extending strip material (18) which is tensioned by the pallet. Tensioning of the strips (18) ensures that these lie flat on the floor out of the way of the tines of a forklift truck when these are inserted below the planks to lift the pallet.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for warning against lightning strikes, in which the rate of occurrence of ground flashes is determined and used as a criterion. The rate of occurrence of ground flashes in 0 to 5 kilometers, 5 to 10 kilometers and 10 to 20 kilometers is determined. In addition, the field intensity is used as a criterion. A series of time windows is generated, each time window starting when a ground flash occurs, and the number of flashes occurring in each time window is counted to determine the rate of occurrence. A criterion selection matrix is provided to select various criteria in different combinations to provide different alarm levels.

Abstract: The invention provides a surgical implant in the form of a stud for anchoring in a hole formed in bone. The stud has an elongated cylindrical body which is tubular and which has a head at one end and a passage along its interior. A pin is insertable into the passage from the end having the head to expand the body transversely to anchor it in the hole. The body and pin are of biocompatible material and the body contains carbon fibres embedded in and extending longitudinally along its interior.The invention provides also a surgical implant kit including the stud, and a method of surgery employing the stud and kit.

Abstract: A set of surgical instruments is provided, for threading a tow or skein of carbon fibres through a passage in bone. The set includes an elongated adaptor having a passage along its length for insertion into a passage in bone, a fish wire having a leading end provided with a hooked connector, and an extraction member with a hole therethrough the extraction member being insertable along the adaptor and through the hole in the extraction member in non-return fashion.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of making a cathode for an electrochemical cell which involves incorporating sodium chloride in dispersed form into an electrolyte permeable matrix and impregnating the matrix with a suitable sodium aluminum halide molten salt electrolyte. The matrix is formed from a transition metal selected from at least one member of the group consisting of Fe, Ni, Co, Cr and Mn, and the intermediate refractory hard metal compounds of said transition metals with at least one non-metal selected from the group consisting of carbon, silicon, boron, nitrogen and phosphorus.

Abstract: The invention provides an electrochemical cell wherein an anode, solid electrolyte and cathode each comprise a cubic-close-packed framework structure having, as its basic structural unit, a unit of the formula (B.sub.2)X.sub.4.sup.n- which is the structural unit of an A(B.sub.2)X.sub.4 spinel. The structure accommodates active cations M.sup.+ capable of diffusion therethrough. The invention also extends to electrodes and electrolytes of the above type for use in such cells.