Abstract: The invention relates to a delivery system for a recipient, the delivery system comprising a transgenic organism containing a vaccine for the recipient, wherein the vaccine is expressed by a gene contained within the transgenic organism, and the vaccine is capable of being transmitted by and from the organism to the recipient, and wherein the vaccine is prepared outside of the recipient, and wherein the recipient is an animal.

Abstract: The use of IFN-&agr; subtypes as vaccine adjuvants is disclosed, together with vaccine compositions comprising them. Methods of vaccinating a subject comprising co-administration of IFN-&agr; subtypes are also provided.

Abstract: Methods for prediciting the outcome of infection of HBV are provided, as well as kits for use in such methods. In particular, methods which comprise determination of the presence of mutations in exon 1 of the gene coding for the human MBP gene are provided.

Abstract: A system comprising a IL-6-IL-6sR complex and an agent that can block the interaction of the complex with gp130 to regulate oestrogen synthesis.

Abstract: A process for preparing a nanocrystalline material comprising at least a first ion and at least a second ion different from the first ion, and wherein at least the first ion is a metal ion, is described. The process comprises contacting a metal complex comprising the first ion and the second ion with a dispersing medium suitable to form the nanocrystalline material and wherein the dispersing medium is at a temperature to allow formation by pyrolysis of the nanocrystalline material when contacted with the metal complex.

Abstract: Mesoscopic magnetic field sensors which can detect weak magnetic fields (typically 0.05 Tesla) over areas as small as tens of thousands of square nanometers (e.g. 40 nm×400 nm). The combination of enhanced magneto-resistance in an inhomogeneous high mobility semiconductor, having special electrode arrangements, with the use of island lithography, enables the production of special semiconductor/metal nano-composite structures, and has made possible the fabrication of an entirely new type of magnetic field sensor which exhibits very superior magneto-resistive behavior.

Abstract: Methods for depositing a material onto a substrate include the steps of: feeding a material solution including one or more precursor compounds, a solvent and a pH-modifying catalyst to an outlet to provide a stream of droplets of the material solution; generating an electric field to electrostatically attract the droplets from the outlet towards the substrate; and providing an increase in temperature between the outlet and the substrate.

Abstract: A method of depositing a material onto a substrate, comprising the steps of: feeding a material solution to an outlet to provide a stream of droplets of the material solution; applying a potential difference between the outlet and a substrate to electrostatically attract the droplets from the outlet towards the substrate such that a corona discharge is formed around the outlet; heating the substrate to provide an increase in temperature between the outlet and the substrate; and progressively increasing the temperature of the substrate during material deposition.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of xenon as an NMDA antagonist. In particular, the invention relates to a method of treatment comprising modulating the activity of an NMDA receptor in a mammal, the method comprising modulating the activity of the NMDA receptor by administering to the mammal a therapeutically effective amount of xenon. In a further aspect, the invention provides a process for the preparation of a pharmaceutical composition suitable for modulating the activity of an NMDA receptor.

Abstract: A method of controlling asphaltene precipitation in a fluid comprising the addition of a precipitation inhibitor to the fluid containing the asphaltene.

Abstract: Methods of identifying resistance to Hepatitis B infection are disclosed, as well as peptides capable of modifying immune response and methods of treating Hepatitis B.

Abstract: Apparatus for testing fruit and vegetables to assess their ripeness includes an impactor device (28) comprising a bellows (30) which can be expanded and retracted by the application of pressurized air and vacuum via a support tube (32) for the bellows and which mounts an impactor (33) for tapping a fruit or vegetable item to be tested. The impactor has an internal slug movable relatively to the bellows (30) so that, when the bellows expands and stops upon its nose piece (36) contacting the surface of the item to be tested, the slug continues to move through the aperture (35) in the nose piece, under its own momentum, to tap the surface of the item. The slug incorporates a force transducer which, when the slug is tapped against the item, produces an electrical output signal in the form of a pulse corresponding to the reaction force and this pulse is processed to produce a signal indicative of the ripeness of the fruit.

Abstract: The use of an IFN-&agr; subtype is provided for the preparation of a medicament to enhance the T-cell immune response in therapy of cancer, bacterial or parasitic infection or systemic viral infection amongst other disease conditions. Also provided are pharmaceutical formulations which include such sub-types of IFN-&agr; and methods of treatment, including treatment of cancer, bacterial or parasitic infection or systemic viral infection amongst other disease conditions.

Abstract: A solid state microstructure comprises a substrate, a detector element extending outwardly from a surface of the substrate and having first and second electrodes on opposing sides thereof, the detector element incorporating an onboard electronically-triggered gating structure. The gating structure may for example be a third electrode.

Abstract: A method of inhibiting steroid sulphatase activity in a subject in need of same as described. The method comprises administering to said subject a steroid sulphatase inhibiting amount of a ring system compound; which ring system compound comprises a ring to which is attached a sulphamate group of the formula wherein each of R1 and R2 is independently selected from H, alkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkyl and aryl, or together represent alkylene optionally containing one or more hetero atoms or groups in the alkylene chain; and wherein said compound is an inhibitor of an enzyme having steroid sulphatase activity (E.C.3.1.6.2); and if the sulphamate group of said compound is replaced with a sulphate group to form a sulphate compound and incubated with a steroid sulphatase enzyme (E.C.3.1.6.2) at a pH 7.4 and 37° C. it would provide a Km value of less than 50 &mgr;M.

Abstract: A fabrication method in which an object is formed as a plurality of successive laminae, the method comprising the repeated steps of: (i) applying a precursor onto a recipient surface; and (ii) locally heating regions of the deposited precursor by directing a light beam onto those regions of the deposited precursor, so that the locally heated regions transform to a solid material.

Abstract: A screening system for screening items, such as aircraft-hold luggage, uses a conveyer system for carrying the items along a path and an array of sensors spaced along and around the path for determining the opacity to radiation in planes intersecting the path and the items. A signal processor uses signals from the sensors to detect contours of maximum local rate of change in opacity and from these reconstruct boundaries between the regions having different opacity to radiation and then determines whether or not one or more predetermined screening criteria are met.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for inspecting elongate members, especially pipes, using Lamb waves. The apparatus and method provide for the propagation of an axi-symmetric Lamb wave of a single mode in one direction along the pipe. A receiver is provided to receive the Lamb wave after its passage along the pipe and convert the received wave for storage, processing and analysis to determine whether or not there are faults present in the pipe. The apparatus includes at least one and usually several excitation rings each having a plurality of Lamb wave exciters deployed in equiangular spacing in a ring clamping structure whereby each exciter can be pressed with equal force against the surface of the pipe under inspection.

Abstract: A method of identifying individual substances within a mixture of substances comprises causing the mixture to travel past a spaced series of detectors, each being arranged to produce a signal representative of a characteristic of the mixture as it passes, repeatedly measuring the signals from each detector at a plurality of times, transforming into velocity space, and identifying individual substances within the mixture according to the peaks they create in velocity space.

Abstract: A variant HBsAg protein of fragment thereof displaying the antigenicity of Hepatitis B virus surface antigen is disclosed, in which the variant protein or fragment thereof (vHBsAg) comprises a modified a determinant in which there is an amino acid other than glycine at position 145 of the HBsAg sequence. A vaccine comprising the vHBsAg is provided, as it is a kit for diagnostic in vitro detection of anti-vHBsAg antibodies and an antibody preparation comprising anti-vHBsAg antibodies.