Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for generating enhanced digital imagery from digital input images (7) exhibiting differences other than or in excess of differences in projection. By applying a plurality of image transformations (10) to frequency normalised (8) versions of the input images, and generating measures of image similarity (11) therefrom, an optimum image transformation (12) can be determined that can be applied to the digital input images such that they are substantially matched. Digital input images of physical objects or environments to which the method is applied can then be used in image fusion, ortho-rectification or change detection applications, in order to monitor the physical object or environment.

Abstract: The present invention relates to rodenticides, methods of killing a rodent comprising administering to said rodent, a lethal dose of an isolated Yersinia murine toxin polypeptide or an isolated antigenic analogue thereof, and methods of manufacturing novel rodenticides.

Abstract: A shaped charge casing 1 designed to be nested to reduce overall volume, which benefits storage or carriage. A lid portion 5 is connected at 8 to a body portion 9 by means of a screw thread. A shaped charge liner 12 can be positioned onto lip 11. The lid portion 5 and body portion 9 can be separated to allow filling or unpacking of explosive material.

Abstract: A dielectric material (14) for a capacitor comprising a first material and a second material, the first material being a polymer and the second material comprising particles. The particles are dispersed within the polymer, and are selected to have a relative permittivity higher than that of the polymer, characterized in that the diameter of the particles is in the nanometer range and the particles are geometrically controlled to a predetermined shape.

Abstract: A delivery apparatus for selectively delivering one or more liquid reagents into a reaction or test chamber (2), especially of an assay apparatus, the apparatus comprising: one or more respective storage chambers (5,6) for containing the one or more liquid reagents and arranged generally above the reaction or test chamber (2); and a plunger element (4) arranged and operable for insertion into the mouth of a selected storage chamber so as to displace a selected reagent from therewithin into the reaction or test chamber (2) generally therebelow by gravitational liquid overflow from the mouth of the chamber. The apparatus may conveniently be provided as a discrete delivery unit, with the storage chambers (5,6) pretilled with the selected reagents.

Abstract: There is provided an electrical pulse splitter (EPS) for an explosives system (10), the explosives system comprising an electrical pulse generator (EPG), the electrical pulse splitter (EPS), and first and second explosive charges (Ch1, Ch2) having respective first and second electrical initiators (D1, D2), The electrical pulse splitter (EPS) is configured to receive a primary electrical pulse from the electrical pulse generator (EPG), and to output first and second electrical pulses to the first and second electrical initiators (Ch1, Ch2) respectively. The second electrical pulse is output a length of time after the first electrical pulse is output, and the electrical pulse splitter is powered by the primary electrical pulse.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for making HOF.RCN and using it to oxidise organic substrates in a quick and safe way. The process comprises passing diluted fluorine through a conduit and RCN in water through another conduit into a microreactor to form HOF.RCN and reacting this with an organic substrates.

Abstract: An armour mounting systems comprising a flexible bracket (1) for attaching armour to a vehicle, the flexible bracket (1) comprising an elongate member (6) connected between a vehicle and an attached armour elements (4). The elongate member is resilient enough to support the attached armour elements and return the armour elements to their normal resting position following disturbance. The armour mounting system is beneficial in reducing damage to attached armour during manoeuvre.

Abstract: An immunogenic reagent which produces an immune response which is protective against Bacillus anthracis, said reagent comprising one or more polypeptides which together represent up to three domains of the full length Protective Antigen (PA) of B. anthracis or variants of these, and at least one of said domains comprises domain 1 or domain 4 of PA or a variant thereof. The polypeptides of the immunogenic reagent as well as full length PA are produced by expression from E. coli. High yields of polypeptide are obtained using this method. Cells, vectors and nucleic acids used in the method are also described and claimed.

Abstract: This invention describes the synthesis and use of novel energetic poly(phosphazene) materials suitable for binding high explosives. These materials may also be used as explosives in their own right. The materials possess high energy density and are highly amenable to chemical modification thereby allowing for modification to the physical properties of the material. In particular the tacky and rubbery nature of these materials makes them ideal for use as binder and co-binder materials.

Abstract: This invention describes the synthesis and use of novel energetic poly(phosphazene) materials suitable for binding high explosives. These materials may also be used as explosives in their own right. The materials possess high energy density and are highly amenable to chemical modification thereby allowing for modification to the physical properties of the material. In particular the tacky and rubbery nature of these materials makes them ideal for use as binder and co-binder materials.

Abstract: An acoustic reflector suitable for use as a reflective target for navigational aids and for location and re-location applications. The acoustic reflector comprises a shell arranged to surround a solid core. The shell is adapted to transmit acoustic waves incident thereon into the core. Within the core the acoustic waves are focused before being reflected from an opposing side of the shell to provide a reflected acoustic wave. The shell has at least two areas of transmissibility such that the waves incident on the shell follow separate paths within the core before being re-radiated and combining constructively to provide an enhanced reflected acoustic wave at one or more pre-determined frequencies.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for making HOF.RCN and using it to oxidise organic substrates in a quick and safe way. The process comprises passing diluted fluorine through a conduit and RCN in water through another conduit into a microreactor to form HOF.RCN and reacting this with an organic substrates.

Abstract: A method for detecting the presence of a target nucleic acid sequence in a sample, said method comprising: performing nucleic acid amplification on the sample in the presence of (a) a DNA duplex binding agent, (b) a nucleic acid polymerase and (c) a reagent comprising an amplification primer which can hybridize to said target sequence when in single stranded form and which is connected at its 5? end to a probe which carries a label by way of a chemical linking group, said labeled probe being of a sequence which is similar to that of the said target nucleic acid sequence, such that it can hybridize to a complementary region in an amplification product, and wherein the label is able to absorb fluorescence from or donate fluorescent energy to the DNA duplex binding agent; and monitoring fluorescence of said sample.

Abstract: The use of (i) an antibody specific for Yersinia pestis F1-antigen, or a binding fragment thereof, or (ii) an antibody specific for Yersinia pestis V-antigen, or a binding fragment thereof, or a combination of (i) and (ii), in the production of a medicament for the treatment of infection by Yersinia pestis. It has been found that such treatments are effective therapies for Yersinia pestis infection. In addition, the combination produces a synergistic effect when used prophylactically.

Abstract: A method for detecting the presence of a target nucleic acid sequence in a sample, the method comprising (a) amplifying the target nucleic acid so that the product of the amplification reaction includes a purine rich region, (b) contacting the sample during the amplification with a peptide nucleic acid able to bind to at least a portion of the target sequence; and (c) detecting the presence of triplex DNA structures. The detection is suitably effected directly, for example using a surface plasmon resonance detector.

Abstract: A method of enhancing expression of a desired protein at mucosal effector sites, the method including placing the protein to be expressed under the control of a promoter having SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 3 or SEQ ID NO: 4, or a fragment or variant of any of these that has promoter activity, and causing expression in mucosal cells. Constructs used in the methods, as well as suitable recombinant gut-colonising microorganisms such as a Salmonella spp., are also described. Such organisms are useful in the preparation of vaccines.

Abstract: Substituted-4-quinolones of the formula (I): wherein R1 is a straight or branched chain, saturated or ethylenically-unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbyl group containing 1 to 18 carbon atoms which may optionally be substituted by one or more substituent groups selected from halo, 1-6C alkoxy, carboxy, 1-6C alkoxycarbonyl and NR6R7, wherein each of R6 and R7 is independently selected from H and 1-6C alkyl or R6 and R7 together with the N atom to which they are attached form a saturated heterocyclic group selected from piperidino, piperazino and morpholino; R2 is a group selected from H, —OH, halo, —CHO, —CO2H and CONHR8 wherein R8 is H or a 1-6C alkyl; each of R3, R4 and R5 is independently selected form H, —CH3, —OCH3 and halo; or a non-toxic pharmaceutically-acceptable salt thereof, have use in the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment of a disease of a living animal body, including a human, which disease is responsive to the activity of an immunosuppressant.

Abstract: A photomultiplier tube circuit with reduced power consumption comprising a photomultiplier tube having a plurality of dynodes, charging circuitry for providing charge to the plurality of dynodes and an oscillator for providing a high voltage supply to the charging circuitry characterised in that the photomultiplier tube circuit further comprises means for sampling the voltage of at least one of the dynodes and a switching means for switching the oscillator on and off with respect to the at least one dynode voltage sampled.