Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for providing an encoded digital signal is described comprising determining, for each data frame of a plurality of data frames of a digital signal, a plurality of pairs of an encoding data volume and an encoding quality, wherein each pair of an encoding data volume and an encoding quality specifies the encoding data volume required for achieving the encoding quality; determining for each data frame at least one or more interpolations between the plurality of determined pairs; determining a multi-frame relationship between encoding quality and encoding data volume required to encode the plurality of data frames at the encoding quality based on a combination of the at least one or more interpolations for the plurality of data frames; determining an encoding quality for the plurality of data frames based on the relationship; and providing at least one data frame of the plurality of data frames encoded at the determined encoding quality.

Abstract: Heparan sulphate HS7 is disclosed, together with the use of HS7 in the growth and/or development and/or regeneration of tissue.

Abstract: There is provided a barrier layer comprising silicate chemically coupled to a polymer matrix. There is also provided a process for making the barrier layer and uses thereof.

Abstract: The invention provides a recirculating reactor for converting a substrate to a product. The reactor comprises a reaction chamber and a recirculation system, said recirculation system comprising a separator. The reaction chamber contains a catalyst, and comprises a chamber body, a chamber inlet and a chamber outlet. The recirculation system is adapted for recirculating liquid from the chamber outlet to the chamber inlet, and the separator is used for separating a by-product from the liquid.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method of making an array for cell assays comprising the step of providing an array of structures on a substrate, each of said structures having a pre-defined topography thereon, and wherein at least one structure has a different topography from at least one other structure.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods for diagnosis and prognosis of gastric cancer. The approach described herein can distinguish intestinal-type gastric cancer (G-INT) from diffuse-type gastric cancer (G-DIF). The genomic expression signatures of G-INT and G-DIF define two major sets of genes. A diagnosis of gastric cancer G-INT and G-DIF can be made on the basis of the expression levels of these genes. This can lead to a better prognosis and treatment of gastric cancer.

Abstract: A process for preparing a thermosensitive polymer from a microemulsion is provided. The microemulsion comprises a monomer capable of forming a thermosensitive polymer and a polymerizable surfactant. Additional comonomers may be included in the microemulsion to vary the properties of the polymers produced. The resulting thermosensitive polymers may be nanoporous. The polymers according to the invention are suitable for use in medical applications, including use as a wound dressing and for delivery of cells to a graft site.

Abstract: We provide for the use of an intracellular antibody therapy for targeting intracellular oncoproteins or proteins to prevent cancer metastasis. We also provide for the use of an intracellular vaccine therapy comprising an oncoprotein protein for vaccination to stimulate a host to produce its own antibodies to prevent tumor formation. The antibody may comprise a chimeric antibody.

Abstract: In a method of forming a cellular structure, cells and a transient linker are supplied to a volume partially enclosed by a cage. The linker facilitates initial attachment of adjacent cells to form a cell aggregate. The cage defines distributed openings that are sized to retain the cell aggregate. A fluid comprising a cell culture medium is supplied to the volume. The fluid is withdrawn from the volume through the openings. Aggregated cells retained in the volume are cultured to form a cell structure. A cell culturing device is provided which comprises a conduit and a cage in the conduit. A fluid flows in the conduit. The fluid comprises the cells, the transient linker and the cell culture medium. The cage retains aggregated cells formed in the fluid, and defines distributed openings that allow the fluid to flow through.

Abstract: For forming a nickel mold, a metal and a corresponding etchant are selected such that the etchant selectively etches the metal over nickel. The metal is sputtered onto a surface of a template having nano-structures to form a sacrificial layer covering the nano-structures. Nickel is electroplated onto the sacrificial layer to form a nickel mold, but leaving a portion of the sacrificial layer exposed. The sacrificial layer is contacted with the etchant through the exposed portion of the sacrificial layer to etch away the sacrificial layer until the nickel mold is separated from the template. Subsequently, the nickel mold may be replicated or scaled-up to produce a replicate mold by electroplating, where the replicate mold has nano-structures that match the nano-structures on the template. The metal may be copper.

Abstract: According to embodiments of the present invention, a micro-sensory tip for use in blood vessels is provided. The micro-sensory tip includes: a force transmission element; at least three force detecting sensors coupled to the force transmission element, each of the at least three force detecting sensors responsive to force applied on the force transmission element, wherein each of the at least three force detecting sensors produces an output representing at least one force component of a three-dimensional Cartesian co-ordinate system, of the force experienced by the force transmission element, such that the outputs of the at least three force detecting sensors can cover the space of the three-dimensional Cartesian co-ordinate system; and an active element arrangement coupled to the at least three force detecting sensors, the active element arrangement configured to process the output from the at least three force detecting sensors.

Abstract: There is provided a method for detecting binding of a DNA-binding protein to a target recognition sequence. The method comprises mixing in a reaction buffer a first set of metal nanoparticles, a second set of metal nanoparticles and a DNA-binding protein to form a mixture, and detecting the aggregation state of the mixture of metal nanoparticles. Each set of metal nanoparticles has a conjugated double-stranded DNA molecule having a single-stranded overhang at one end. The single-stranded overhangs of each set of DNA-conjugated metal nanoparticles are complementary to each other such that annealing of the complementary overhangs results in formation of the target recognition sequence that specifically binds the DNA-binding protein. The reaction buffer comprises an ionic species in a concentration sufficient to result in aggregation of the metal nanoparticles upon annealing of the first and second single-stranded overhang.

Abstract: The invention relates to modulation of fungal morphology between yeast-to-hyphal growth transition by controlling muramyl-L-alanine concentration and uses thereof.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to transdermal delivery and, in particular, to transdermal delivery using nanoemulsions and other emulsions. In one aspect, the present invention is directed to emulsions comprising a first, continuous phase and a second, discontinuous phase. The first phase may be an aqueous liquid and the second phase may comprise a lipid, such as isopropyl myristate. In some cases, a surfactant, such as Pluronic® L61, is used to stabilize the emulsion. Surprisingly, it has been found that such emulsions are effective at delivering pharmaceutically active agents, such as ciprofloxacin, when the formulation has a very low water content, for example, less than 30 wt % or less than 10 wt %. This is surprising because high water contents—not low water contents—are typically correlated with greater transdermal drug delivery, and thus, a low water content would have been considered to be unfavorable for facilitating transdermal drug delivery.

Abstract: The invention provides for sequencing a nucleic acid molecule based on the detection of base incorporation by the release of pyrophosphate (PPi) using a new enzyme system comprising adenosine diphosphate (ADP)-glucose pyrophosphorylase (AGPase) and its substrate ADP-glucose.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a substrate is provided. The method comprises, in some aspects, a) providing a support; b) forming a template by attaching a plurality of polymeric nanoparticles some or all having a core-shell structure to the support, wherein the core comprises a first polymer and the shell comprises a second polymer; and c) forming the metal nanoarray substrate by attaching a plurality of metallic nanoparticles to at least some of the polymeric nanoparticles of the template. A biosensor comprising a substrate manufactured by the method, and a method for the detection of an analyte in a sample by surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) is also provided.

Abstract: Heparan sulphate HS/BMP2 is disclosed, together with the use of HS/BMP2 in the repair and regeneration of bone tissue.

Abstract: The invention provides novel luminescent poly(arylenevinylene) and poly(heteroarylenevinylene) polymers. The polymers of the invention may be prepared as films and such films may be used as an emissive layer in polymeric light emitting devices. In one embodiment, a bulky aryl group is attached at position (2) of at least one phenylene ring of a poly(phenylenevinylene) backbone. In another embodiment, the bulky aryl is attached at position 3 of at least one 5-membered heteroarylene ring of a poly(heteroarylenevinylene) backbone.

Abstract: A method of transmitting data to a receiver, wherein the data is transmitted using a plurality of sub-carriers, is provided. The method provided includes determining, for each sub-carrier and for each of a plurality of combinations of the sub-carrier and an antenna of a plurality of antennas to be used for transmitting the data, a transmission characteristic of a transmission of the sub-carrier using the antenna; and selecting, for each sub-carrier, an antenna of the plurality of antennas to be used for the transmission of the sub-carrier based on the transmission characteristic of the transmission of the sub-carrier between the antenna and the receiver.

Abstract: A composite is disclosed. The composite comprises a first conjugate of a polymer and a first phenol-containing moiety, and a second conjugate of a gelatin or collagen and a second phenol-containing moiety, wherein the polymer is selected so that the first conjugate is less cell-adhesive than the second conjugate, at least one of the first and second conjugates is crosslinked to form a matrix, and the composite comprises discrete regions that are rich in one of said first and second conjugates. A method of forming such composite is also disclosed. The method comprises mixing precursors for the first and second conjugates in a solution for forming said composite, and dispersing a catalyst in the solution to catalyze crosslinking of at least one of the first and second conjugates to form the matrix. The composite may be used to grow cells.