Abstract: The present invention provides cytotoxic Epstein-Barr virus T-cell epitopes. These epitopes are QVKWRMTTL, VFSDGRVAC, VPAPAGPIV, TYSAGIVQI, LLDFVRFMGV, QNGALAINTF, VSSDGRVAC, VSSEGRVAC, VSSDGRVPC, VSSDGLVAC, VSSDGQVAC, VSSDGRVVC, VPAPPVGPIV, VEITPYEPTG, VEITPYEPTW, VELTPYKPTW, RRIYDLIKL, RKIYDLIEL and PYLFWLAGI. The present invention further provides vaccines including one or more of these epitopes, optionally with additional epitopes.

Abstract: The present invention provides an isolated cytotoxic Epstein-Barr virus T-cell epitope having the amino acid sequence TYSAGIVQI (SEQ ID NO: 34) which can be formulated as a water-in-oil formulation, and vaccine compositions comprising said epitope, optionally with additional epitopes.

Abstract: The present invention provides T helper cells epitopes and compositions for use in inducing an immune response comprising at least one of these epitopes.

Abstract: An improved cochlear implant and method of stimulating are disclosed. The method comprises stimulating an electrode array using a set of current stimuli having different geometries, so as to provide a more regular and monotonic set of pitch percepts for a user. In one embodiment, this may be achieved by combining different modes of stimulation for a patient, so that some channels utilise one mode and other channels utilise one or more different modes.

Abstract: This invention relates to the PrtR-PrtK cell surface protein of Porphyromonas gingivalis and in particular a multimeric cell associated protein complex comprising the PrtR and PrtK proteins. Accordingly the invention provides a substantially purified antigenic complex for use in raising an antibody response directed against Porphyromonas gingivalis. The complex comprises at least one multimeric protein complex of arginine-specific and lysine-specific thiol endopeptidases each containing at least one adhesin domain, the complex having a molecular weight of greater than about 200 kDa. The invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions and associated agents based on said complex for the detection, prevention and treatment of Periodontal disease associated with P. gingivalis.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for processing sound, suitable for use in association with a hearing aid, cochlear implant prosthesis or the like. Coupled to an array of microphones (1) are a pair of fixed array processors (2,4) each having different characteristic signal-to-noise performances and internal noise parameters in different levels of ambient noise. Based upon an ambient noise estimate derived from noise floor detector (8) a control circuit (5) controls the gain of a pair of VCA's (7,9) coupled to the fixed array processors (2,4) in order to produce an output signal from summer (16) which maximises the signal-to-noise ratio of a signal emanating from a source in an on-beam direction relative to the microphone array (10).

Abstract: A process for the recovery of furfural, furfuryl alcohol, low molecular weight phenols and/or cellulose or a cellulose-rich material from a lignocellulosic material comprising: feeding a carrier gas into a reaction chamber to facilitate a fluidised bed effect and to carry reaction products and residues away from the reactor via entrainment; introducing a feedstock comprising particulate lignocellulosic material of a predetermined particle size into the reaction chamber; degrading the feedstock in the reaction chamber under an oxygen-containing atmosphere at a temperature of from 250° C. to 320° C.; and quenching the degraded feedstock and carrier gas to deposit solid residue entrained in the carrier gas and to condense a liquid product.

Abstract: A method for increasing the permeability of wood which comprises subjecting wood with a moisture content (based on dry weight) of at least 15% to microwave radiation at a frequency (f) in the range of from about 0.1 to about 24 GHz with a power intensity (p) from about 10 W/cm2 to about 100 kW/cm2 for a duration of from about 0.05 to about 600 seconds to cause water in the wood to vaporise resulting in an internal pressure in the wood such that the permeability of the wood is increased by partial or complete destruction of ray cell tissue, softening and displacement of wood resin, formation of pathways in the radial direction of the wood and/or by creating, on the base of destroyed rays, cavities in the wood, said cavities being primarily in radial-longitudinal planes of the wood, and wherein the overall integrity of the wood is substantially maintained. A wood-based material may be formed having a permeability which is at least 5 times that of the untreated wood.

Abstract: A method of stabilizing particles with an insulating, semiconducting and/or metallic coating and stabilized particles prepared thereby are disclosed. In addition, particles stabilized by an insulating, semiconducting and/or metallic coating, wherein said coating is attached to said particles via a bifunctional ligand are provided, as is a method is provided for determining the presence of an analyte in a sample comprising incubating the sample with a ligand bound to a coated particle, capable of specifically binding to the analyte and capable of providing a detectable signal and detecting the presence of a ligand-coated particle:analyte complex as indicating the presence of the analyte in the sample.

Abstract: A vaccine for the selective immunization of horses against EHV4 and/or EHV1 is provided comprising at least one of (i) EHV4 virus wherein a portion of the gG gene of the EHV4 virus that elicits a type-specific response to EHV4 has been deleted and (ii) EHV1 virus wherein a portion of the gG gene of the EHV1 virus that elicits a type-specific response to EHV1 has been deleted. Antibodies which specifically bind to a epitopes of EHV4 gG or EHV1 also are provided.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling traffic through at least one node in an intelligent telecommunications network such that congestion is controlled in a particular subsystem in which a sudden change in the traffic profile is determined. The moving average of the traffic profile for each subsystem at the node is continuously monitored. When congestion is detected, it is determined whether the congestion is caused by a sudden change in the traffic profile for a particular subsystem at the node. If it is determined that the congestion is caused by a sudden change in the traffic profile, then congestion controls are invoked to control congestion in the particular subsystem.

Abstract: A determination of the nucleotide sequence for the genome of Equine rhinovirus 1 (ERhV1), a horse-respiratory pathogen of heretofor uncertain taxonomic status, reveals a structure and predicted amino acid sequence that are more similar to those of foot-and-mouth disease viruses, the only members of the aphthovirus genus, than of other picornaviruses. These insights inform an understanding of ERhV1 virion proteins and virus-like particles, as well as the design of probes, primers, antigens, vectors, diagnostics and tests of relevance to ERhV1.

Abstract: The present invention provides a composition for use in raising an immune response directed against Porphyromonas gingivalis. The composition includes a suitable adjuvant and/or acceptable carrier and one substantially purified P. gingivalis immunogen. The immunogen is selected from the group consisting of Antigen 1, Antigen 2, Antigen 3, Antigen 4 and epitope containing fragments thereof, in which: Antigen 1 is an antigen of P. gingivalis and has an internal amino acid sequence:DLENKGEATLLVTFGSSYKAPRETYAKIEKTFAAAYPDQR; Antigen 2 is an antigen of P. gingivalis and has an internal amino acid sequence: DNPDENPLEGDITQTHTEKYVLAED; Antigen 3 is an antigen of P. gingivalis and has an internal amino acid sequence: DVLLLDVTPLSLGIETMGGVMTYLIDANTTIPKLK; Antigen 4 is an antigen of P. gingivalis and has an internal amino acid sequence: VYNASISAVGNTSAIDPVVQIIHHN.

Abstract: This invention relates to the PrtR-PrtK cell surface protein of Porphyromonas gingivalis in particular a multimeric cell associated protein complex comprising the PrtR and PrtK proteins. There is provided a substantially purified antigenic complex for use in raising an antibody response directed against Porphyromonas gingivalis. The complex comprises at least one multimeric protein complex of arginine-specific and lysine-specific thiol endopeptidases each containing at least one adhesin domain. The complex has a molecular weight of greater than about 200 kDa. The invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions and associated agents based on said complex for the detection, prevention and treatment of Periodontal disease associated with P. gingivalis.

Abstract: An electrotactile vocoder includes a handset (3) carrying stimulating electrodes (9) positioned adjacent openings (8) in the handset and electrically contacting the fingers when the handset is worn to cause stimulation of the digital nerves of the fingers, a speech processor/stimulator unit (2) for producing electrical stimuli at the electrodes (9) based on incoming speech and other information received by a microphone (1), the stimulator unit including circuit means for applying stimulating currents to the electrodes (9), the speech processor unit including means for encoding the presence of unvoiced speech components or for encoding information to a first formant F1 in addition to information relating to a second formant F2 and for applying the stimulating currents to selected pairs of electrodes.

Abstract: The present invention provides a nucleic acid sequences coding for the ryegrass pollen allergens Lol pIa and Lol pIb, purified Lol pIa and Lol pIb protein and fragments thereof, methods of producing recombinant Lol pIa and Lol pIb or at least one fragment thereof or derivative or homologue thereof, and methods of using the nucleic acid sequences, proteins and peptides of the invention.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to proteinase inhibitors, a precursor thereof and to genetic sequences encoding same. More particularly, the present invention relates to a nucleic acid molecule comprising a sequence of nucleotides which encodes or is complementary to a sequence which encodes a type II serine proteinase inhibitor (PI) precursor from a plant wherein the PI precursor comprises at least three PI monomers and wherein at least one of the monomers has a chymotrypsin specific site and at least one other of the monomers has a trypsin specific site.

Abstract: A method for the preparation of selected phosphopeptides having anticariogenic and other activities, comprising the steps of completely digesting a soluble monovalent cation salt of casein in solution with a proteolytic enzyme, adding a mineral acid to the solution to adjust the pH to about 4.7, removing any precipitate produced, adding CaCl2 to a level of about 1.0% w/v to cause aggregation of at least the selected phosphopeptides in said digested solution, separating the aggregated phosphopeptides from the solution through a filter having a molecular weight exclusion limit lying substantially within the range 10,000 to 20,000 while passing the bulk of the remaining phosphopeptides and solution, diafiltering the separated phosphopeptides with water through a filter and concentrating and drying the retentate.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to proteinase inhibitors, a precursor thereof and to genetic sequences encoding same. More particularly, the present invention relates to a nucleic acid molecule comprising a sequence of nucleotides which encodes or is complementary to a sequence which encodes a type II serine proteinase inhibitor (PI) precursor from a plant wherein said precursor comprises at least three PI monomers and wherein at least one of said monomers has a chymotrypsin specific site and at least one other of said monomers has a trypsin specific site.

Abstract: A PCR-based method for the identification of species of the genus Eimeria, (commonly known as coccidia), is described. The method is genus-specific and utilizes either, or both, of two novel primer sets; designated WW1 (SEQ ID NO:31) and WW3r (SEQ ID NO:32), and, WW2 (SEQ ID NO:33) and WW4r (SEQ ID NO:34).