Abstract: A method for controlling pests comprising administering to them a compound of the formula (i) R-PH-R', wherein R is a C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 aliphatic hydrocarbyl group and R' is H or a C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 aliphatic hydrocarbyl group. Either hydrocarbyl group may be optionally substituted. Preferably, the compound of formula (i) is metliylphosphiine. The method has particular utility against insects which are resistant to phosphine. Also disclosed are pesticidal compositions of compounds of formula (i), and methods and compositions combining these compounds with phosphine.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for pretreating heat stable proteins derived from a rendered animal material prior to performing an assay for their presence comprising (a) preparing a protein containing extract of the material, (b) removing substantially all or part of the gelatin from the extract and (c) concentrating the remaining protein such that it tests positive for protein by immunoassay at a dilution of greater than 1 in 6,000.

Abstract: A method for detection, identification and/or quantification of target organisms of specific bacterial genus, species or serotype, based upon the occurence of release of cell contents, particularly nucleotides, e.g., ATP, on lysis of bacterial cell walls on incubation with bacteriophages (phages) specific for them. When new phase particles are released at the end of the phage replication cycle nucleotide levels are measured and compared with controls. The method provides for the detection of specific bacteria which does not require insertion of the lux gene into the phage genome yet is faster and more sensitive than known non-modified phage utilizing techniques. The method is only limited by the availability of phage types suitable for selective attack of the target bacterial to be detected and can detect a single Salmonella in a sample of milk in under 12 hours.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the identification of yeast strains by way of application of the polymerase chain reaction to amplify nucleic acid sequences characteristic of their TY transposon long terminal repeats. Polymerase chain reaction product is analysed, conveniently by agarose gel electrophoresis, and its nature related to the presence of a particular yeast strain or strain type.

Abstract: A portable device for use in the measurement of the dielectric properties of materials such as fish includes: a microwave circuit comprising a microwave source (10) connected via an isolator (12) to a directional coupler (14), a first output (16) of which is connected to a reference detector (18) and a first pre-amplifier (28) and a second output (20) of which is connected via an attenuator (22) to a sensor (24), an output of which is connected to a signal detector (26) and a second pre-amplifier (30); and further including two amplifiers (32, 34) into which outputs of the first (28) and second (30) pre-amplifiers are connected and a logarithmic/ratio device (38) which provides an output proportional to the logarithm of the ratio of outputs from the two amplifiers (32, 34), wherein an output from the logarithmic/ratio device (38) is calibrated to provide the content of a particular constituent of the material under test.