Abstract: An air temperature regulating assembly is provided having a packed rock bed through which air may flow between outer and inner spaces by way of interstices between rock units in order to transfer heat to or from the rock bed, in use. Dampers control the flow of air between the outer space, the inner space, an enclosed air space the temperature of which is to be regulated by raising or lowering it and the surrounding atmosphere. A fan moves air within the assembly. The rock bed is in the form of a pile of rocks having an upper surface that is inclined and directed in the general direction of the sun to directly absorb solar energy. The outer space is defined between the upper inclined surface of the rock bed and a transparent cover spaced upwardly from the surface of the rock bed.

Abstract: A liquid collection trough assembly for a cooling tower, condenser or dephlegmator includes a plurality of elongate troughs and associated inclined capture plates arranged to receive liquid on a front face thereof and direct the liquid into an associated elongate trough. Each capture plate has a generally upright deflection plate extending downwards from an upper region on its rear face so as to be capable of receiving liquid droplets contacting it and directing such liquid into or onto an adjacent trough or capture plate, in use. The deflection plate extends downwards to terminate in a bottom edge that is located downwards of the upper region of the capture plate and spaced rearwards of the rear face of an inclined portion of the capture plate.

Abstract: A machine having two co-axial and relatively rotatable rotors and a coaxial stator or housing with respect to which both rotors are rotatable is provided wherein two bearing arrangements mutually support the two rotors with respect to each other and with respect to the stator or housing. One of the bearing arrangements comprises multiple support bearings angularly spaced apart with respect to the axis of rotation of the rotors relative to the stator with the support bearings each having an axle or shaft that is fixed relative to one of the rotors or the stator. Each support bearing cooperates with a raceway provided on a concentric adjacent rotor or stator. The machine may be an electromechanical machine such as a wind turbine in which rotational movement of one of the rotors relative to the other and relative to the stator generates electrical energy.

Abstract: A central receiver for a solar power facility is provided comprising an arrangement of heat absorber tubes located in a chamber having a window that, in use, is to receive solar radiation reflected by a heliostat field. The heat absorber tubes extend transversely relative to the window and are connected into a working fluid circuit. The window forms an atmospheric air inlet and the chamber has an outlet in a region opposite the window. An air flow promoting fan induces a flow of atmospheric air inwards through the window, past the absorber tubes; and through the outlet. The receiver preferably includes multiple rows of unpressurized louvers or panes having oblique frontal surfaces such that reflected rays travel into the chamber and provide a leading row in which the temperature of the louvers is, under operating conditions, maintained at a level low enough to reduce thermal reflection and radiation losses.

Abstract: A method and system for determining a density of a fluid is provided. The method is carried out using an electrospraying apparatus connected in the system. At a first step fluid is introduced into an emitter of the electrospraying apparatus. A voltage is applied between the emitter and a counter-electrode spaced apart from the emitter for a number of intermittent time periods, wherein the duration of at least some of the time periods during which the voltage is applied progressively decreases. The current between the emitter and the counter-electrode is measured for each time period during which a voltage is applied and the shortest time period for which a current reading is obtained is recorded. The shortest time period is used to calculate the density of the fluid in the emitter.

Abstract: A support structure (10) for carrying a plurality of heliostats (12) is provided. The support structure (10) includes a frame (20) formed from a number of girders (22). The frame has a triangular outer perimeter and a plurality of mountings (26) for carrying the heliostats (12) are provided along the perimeter. At least one mounting (26) is provided at or near each vertex (16) of the triangular outer perimeter of the frame (20), and at least one additional mounting (26) is provided part-way along each side (17) of the triangular outer perimeter of the frame (20).

Abstract: A peptide-polymer conjugate is provided for use in treating malaria infections, and in particular terminal or drug resistant malaria infections. The conjugate is formed from a polymer to which a peptide having activity against a malaria parasite is co-valently attached. The peptide is a cyclic decapeptide from the closely-related group of tyrocidines, tryptocidines, phenycidines and gramicidin S, and the polymer is a hydrophilic and biocompatible polymer with a terminal thiol, such as poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP). The polymer chains can be decorated with a hydrophilic targeting ligand that specifically targets an epitope on red blood cells, and in particular red blood cells infected with a plasmodial parasite. A method for synthesising the peptide-polymer conjugate is also provided.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and system for extracting a state machine representation of a digital logic superconductive circuit from an alphanumeric representation of the circuit. The alphanumeric representation typically specifies circuit components including inductive elements, their interconnectivity and input and output nodes. The method according to the invention comprising the steps of simulating the circuit in a suitable software environment utilizing the alphanumeric representation; identifying inductive loops in the circuit; identifying inductive loops in the circuit capable of storing one or more magnetic fluxons and discarding all others; and extracting the state machine representation, using only the inductive loops in the circuit capable of storing magnetic fluxons.

Abstract: A polymeric compound is provided having the general formula (A) wherein R is an alkyl chain preferably having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms in the chain which may be either saturated or unsaturated and may have substituents attached to the chain, and R? and R?, which may be the same or different from each other and preferably have from 1 to 4 carbon atoms in a chain, are selected from alkyl groups, substituted or unsubstituted, or R? and R? are linked to form a saturated or unsaturated cyclic moiety incorporating the adjacent nitrogen atom, with or without additional heteroatoms in the ring. The polymeric compound is preferably in a particulate form and most particularly in the form of nanoparticles. A method of producing the polymers is disclosed. A method of adsorbing, separating and stripping the polymers is also disclosed.

Abstract: A system and method for monitoring third party access to a restricted item is provided. Key data is embedded in the restricted item, the key data being associated with a store of value and usable to conduct a transaction against the store of value. A record of the transaction becomes visible in a transaction ledger. The transaction ledger is monitored to determine whether a transaction against the store of value has occurred, and the restricted item is designated as accessed by a third party in the event that a transaction against the store of value has occurred.

Abstract: A system and method for the detection and quantification of biomolecules by measuring a piezoelectric signal is described. The system comprises a plurality of elongate zinc oxide nanowires mounted generally parallel to each another on a semi conductive silicon substrate. The free ends of the nanowires are provided with biomolecules that are capable of associating with complementary biomolecules within a biological or water sample. Following incubation of the system in a sample, the association of molecules of interest with the immobilised biomolecules on the system results in the displacement of the zinc oxide nanowires. The displacement of the nanowires produces a piezoelectric voltage signal that is useful in diagnosing a pathogenic infection or the contamination of a sample.

Abstract: The invention relates to an electrical energy conversion system (11) which is particularly suited for use in wind energy conversion systems. The system includes two magnetically separated permanent magnet machines (25, 27) linked by a freely rotating rotor (19) housing permanent magnets (39). The first machine is typically a synchronous generator, and the second an induction generator. The synchronous generator (25) has a stationary stator (21) which is connectable to an electrical system such as an electricity grid, and the induction generator (27) has a rotor (17) which is connectable to a mechanical drive system such as, for example, a wind turbine.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for improving a host cell's ability to utilize the disaccharide cellobiose. In some embodiments, a transformed cell expresses intracellular ?-glucosidase. In other embodiments, a transformed host cell is able to grow on media wherein cellobiose is the sole carbon source. In other embodiments, selection methods are provided which improve a host cell's ability to grow on cellobiose-containing media.

Abstract: The invention provides protein-functionalised magnetic nanoparticles comprising magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) to which a lactose-binding protein or enzyme has been immobilized. The protein-functionalised magnetic nanoparticles are particularly suitable for separating lactose from a lactose-containing solution, such as milk, cheese, yoghurt, flavoured milk or the like. The protein-functionalised MNPs can be added to the lactose-containing solution and be allowed to bind to the lactose in the solution. The MNPs, to which the lactose is bound, can then be magnetically removed from the solution, e.g. by applying an external magnetic field.

Abstract: A multi-mode composite antenna is disclosed. The antenna includes at least two dipole elements, each dipole element having two arms with a signal transmission line connected to each arm, a conductive tube in which the signal transmission lines extend which forms a shield for the signal transmission lines, and an extension of the conductive tube. In one embodiment, the extension is formed by the conductive tube being folded back over itself. The dipole elements are capable of being excited by at least one differential mode excitation to realize a dipole radiation pattern, and the extension forms a monopole element with a monopole radiation pattern when at least one dipole element is excited by a common mode excitation. The composite antenna is capable of a combined monopole and dipole radiation pattern through the application of both differential mode excitation and common mode excitation.

Abstract: A multi-mode composite antenna is disclosed. The antenna includes at least two dipole elements, each dipole element having two arms with a signal transmission line connected to each arm, a conductive tube in which the signal transmission lines extend which forms a shield for the signal transmission lines, and an extension of the conductive tube. In one embodiment, the extension is formed by the conductive tube being folded back over itself. The dipole elements are capable of being excited by at least one differential mode excitation to realize a dipole radiation pattern, and the extension forms a monopole element with a monopole radiation pattern when at least one dipole element is excited by a common mode excitation. The composite antenna is capable of a combined monopole and dipole radiation pattern through the application of both differential mode excitation and common mode excitation.

Abstract: A supporting frame includes a truss composed of an upper straight frame member and a parallel lower straight frame member supported at their ends in spaced relationship relative to each other. At least two spans of divergent inclined brace member extend between them with the ends of the brace member spans each being securable to the upper or lower straight frame member by means of a fastener. Limited relative longitudinal movement of the upper and lower straight frame members is permitted before a fastener is secured to fix the positions at which the ends of the brace member spans are attached to the upper and lower straight frame members. In one application two trusses meet at a corner with a pylon being urged in the plane of the supporting frame into a corner between two frame members of each pair of trusses to extend at right angles to the frame.

Abstract: A height adjustable pylon and supporting frame assembly is provided. The frame includes two frame members meeting at a corner with the frame members being generally co-planar and the pylon being urged into the corner so as to extend at generally right angles to a plane including the two frame members. A fastener assembly has two end portions each anchored relative its associated frame member so as to extend transversely to it. The fastener assembly includes an intermediate saddle portion engaging a surface of the pylon that is directed outwardly relative to the corner with the pylon being urged into the corner when the fastener assembly is tightened to engage the pylon and lock it axially relative to the frame members in a selected position. Preferably, the frame members each form two upper and two lower frame members of two trusses. Lower ends of the pylons may support the assembly.

Abstract: The present invention provides for heterologous expression of polypeptides encoded by wild-type and codon-optimized cbh2 genes from the organisms Cochliobolus heterostrophus, Gibberella zeae, Irpex lacteus, Volvariella volvacea, and Piromyces sp. in host cells, such as the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The expression in such host cells of the corresponding genes, and variants and combinations thereof, result in improved specific activity of the expressed cellobiohydrolases. Thus, such genes and expression systems are useful for efficient and cost-effective consolidated bioprocessing systems.

Abstract: A splash grid is provided for installation in a rain zone of liquid gas contacting industrial equipment. The splash grid has a supporting frame assembly and multiple generally parallel elongate elements supported by the frame assembly. The elongate elements each has a transverse dimension, in plan view, not exceeding 3 mm, and a spacing in plan view not exceeding 10 mm. The elongate elements may be of a molded plastic material that is optionally integral with a surround that forms, or is attached to, the supporting frame assembly. Alternatively, the elongate elements may be separately manufactured flexible filament or cord supported by a surround that forms or is attached to the supporting frame assembly. The elongate elements may be staggered in the vertical direction and gaps may be provided for larger objects to pass through the splash grid. A liquid cooling installation having a rain zone fitted with a splash grid is also provided.