Abstract: This invention relates to a method of identifying mutations in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene, a kit for performing the method, and furthermore to isolated nucleotide sequences being complementary to one or more mutations of the CFTR gene. According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a method of identifying mutations in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene, including the steps of providing one or more nucleic acid sequences, fully complementary to one or more segments of the CFTR gene, wherein the one or more nucleic acid sequences correspond to the mutation to be identified; providing a biological sample of an individual to be tested for CF; isolating nucleic acids from the biological sample; and testing the biological sample for the presence of one or more of the nucleic acid sequences using a suitable detection method.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method (30) and system (10) for evaluating circuit protection of a power network. The method (30) includes simulating (32) a multisource, interconnected power network (40) comprising circuit protection elements (A, B, C, D), setting (33) circuit protection element parameters for each circuit protection element, simulating (35) at least one fault (42) on the power network (40) at a predetermined fault position for a predefined simulation time. In a next step, the method includes calculating (38) conductor LTE exposure and determining (39) an LTE threshold. Furthermore, the method (30) includes simultaneously graphically representing (41) a three-dimensional visualisation of the conductor LTE exposure (50) for the predefined simulation time and the LTE threshold (51), on the same three-dimensional visualisation.

Abstract: Immobilising isolated mycolic acid antigens of tuberculous mycobacterial origin or a synthetic analogue thereof on a screen-printed electrode by binding of the antigens to a self-assembled monolayer comprising a thiolated hydrophobic substance to produce immobilized mycolic acids antigens in the form of a mycolic acid antigen-containing self-assembled monolayer coating on a surface of the electrode.

Abstract: A method (400) of determining blade tip deflection characteristics is applied to moving rotor blades (R1, R2) in a turbomachine (10) comprising a housing and rotor including a shaft with the rotor blades attached thereto and at least one proximity probe (202). The method (400) includes measuring ((402) a proximity signal caused by a presence of a proximate tip of a moving rotor blade (R1) and calculating (404) by a control module (212) a shaft Instantaneous Angular Position (IAP) as a function of time, and performing (410) an order tracking process which includes expressing (412) the measured proximity signal in the angular domain and resampling (414) the expressed proximity signal to render it equidistant in the angular domain.

Abstract: The invention relates to an aircraft having a tailless fuselage. The fuselage has a body which includes a transverse trailing edge. The aircraft further includes a wing having two sides which protrude from opposite sides of the fuselage. The body typically has a fineness ratio of between 3 and 7. Each side of the wing has an inner section having a first dihedral angle and an outer section having a second dihedral angle, the second dihedral angle being less than the first dihedral angle. At least part of the outer section is typically swept back. The configuration of the aircraft provides it with improved flight efficiency.

Abstract: An electrical protection system arranged to detect and isolate faults either in a electrical power distribution. The system comprises at least a first busbar and a second busbar in electrical communication with each other through s powerline having a first end electrically coupled to the first busbar by a first circuit breaker and a second end connected to the second busbar by a second circuit breaker. It is connected to the at least two busbars, and configured to simultaneously collect/determine a first electrical quantity at each of the at least two busbars and compare the collected/determined electrical quantity to a second. When the first electrical quantity value less than the second quantity value, the system causes the first and second circuit breakers to open so as to decouple the electrical connection between first and second busbars. The system 100 detects and isolates fault efficiently while using voltage measurements.

Abstract: A method (400) of measuring rotor blade tip deflections of turbomachine rotor blades (R1, R2) during operation using Blade Tip Timing (BTT) includes measuring (402), by a proximity sensor (202), a proximity signal caused by a moving rotor blade (R1, R2) and determining (412), by a control module (212), a Time-of-Arrival (ToA). The method (400) includes measuring a time that the shaft starts to rotate a measurable angular distance and a time the shaft has completed its rotation of the measurable distance and storing (406) timing data indicative of a plurality of ToA measurements of the rotor blade (R1, R2) and the zero crossing times.

Abstract: The invention relates to a tunable, silicon-based negative-resistance circuit (10, 30) and to an active filter (50) for E-band frequencies (60 to 90 GHz). A base of a transistor (11) is connected to an on-chip inductive transmission line (13) which has a length of approximately a quarter-wavelength at a frequency of 83.5 GHz. The transmission line connects a DC voltage source (14) to the base terminal of the transistor (11) in order to bias the base. Another DC voltage source (15) is connected to the collector of the transistor (11) to bias the transistor. A capacitor (16) operatively bypasses or decouples the voltage source (15) in order to shunt high frequencies or alternating current (AC) signals to ground. The emitter terminal of the transistor (11) is connected to ground through a resistor (18) to limit the collector current (le). The circuit gives rise to improved quality factor of resonators.

Abstract: The invention provides a system for manufacturing graphene wool which includes a receptacle, a graphene growth substrate locatable inside the receptacle, a heating device for increasing the temperature inside the receptacle, an inlet gas flow communication with the receptacle for controlling the introduction of gaseous substances into the receptacle, and a cooling device for rapidly decreasing the temperature inside the receptacle. The invention extends to a method for manufacturing graphene wool and to an air pollutant trap which includes: a sorbent, and a housing for housing the sorbent, wherein the sorbent includes graphene.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of and an arrangement for detecting leakage from a pipeline installed in a substrate. The arrangement includes a fibre-optic cable positioned in the substrate in the vicinity of the pipeline and a strain monitoring arrangement configured to monitor the strain in the fibre-optic cable and to detect localized changes in the monitored strain. A processor is provided to which the strain monitoring arrangement is connected and which is configured to determine whether the detected change in strain is indicative of a leak in the pipeline and to generate a signal in response thereto.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of identifying mutations in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene, a kit for performing the method, and furthermore to isolated nucleotide sequences being complementary to one or more mutations of the CFTR gene. According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a method of identifying mutations in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene, including the steps of providing one or more nucleic acid sequences, fully complementary to one or more segments of the CFTR gene, wherein the one or more nucleic acid sequences correspond to the mutation to be identified; providing a biological sample of an individual to be tested for CF; isolating nucleic acids from the biological sample; and testing the biological sample for the presence of one or more of the nucleic acid sequences using a suitable detection method.

Abstract: A second-order all-pass network has at least three Second Generation Current Conveyors (CCIIs). A network input is connected or connectable to a Y port of a first CCII, a Z port of the first CCII is connected to a Y port of a second CCII, an X port of the first CCII is connected to a Y port of a third CCII, and a network output is connected or connectable, directly or indirectly, to a Z port of the second CCII. The X port of the first CCII is connected via a first network element to ground, the Z port of the first CCII is connected via a second network element to ground, an X port of the third CCII is connected via a third network element to ground, and an X port of the second CCII is connected via a fourth network element to ground.

Abstract: A method of estimating vibration characteristics of moving rotor blades in a turbomachine comprising a housing and rotor including a shaft with the rotor blades attached thereto includes measuring, by at least one proximity sensor, a Time-of-Arrival (ToA) of a proximate tip of a moving rotor blade. The method includes manipulating, by a control module, timing data to determine a corresponding blade tip deflection at each measured ToA, expressing blade tip vibration behaviour as a Bayesian statistical model consisting of intermediate model parameters, wherein model coefficients in the statistical model are probabilistic quantities as opposed to conventional, deterministic quantities, and expressing, by the control module, the determined blade tip deflections as observed values in the statistical model.

Abstract: The invention provides a catalyst system and method for the deoxygenation of hydrocarbons, such as bio-oil, using a sulphide-sulfate or an oxide-carbonate (LDH) system. The invention extends to a pyrolysis process of a carbonaceous bio-mass wherein a first combustion zone is carried out in one or more combustion fluidised beds in which a particulate material including chemically looping deoxygenation catalyst particles is fluidised and heated, and a second pyrolysis zone carried out in one or more pyrolysis fluidised beds in which the hot particles, including the catalyst particles, heated in the combustion zone are used for pyrolysis of the bio-mass, said combustion zone being operated at a temperature of from 250° C. to 1100° C., typically around 900° C., and the pyrolysis zone being operated at a temperature of from 250° C. to 900° C., typically 450° C. to 600° C.

Abstract: A carbonaceous feed pyrolysis apparatus is provided including two or more hot particle fluidised beds, one of which contains a combustion zone, and one or more positive displacement apparatus for the transfer of hot particles beds. Also provided is a bio-oil production process including two or more fluidised beds, a first combustion zone carried out in one or more combustion fluidised beds in which a particulate material is fluidised and heated, and a second pyrolysis zone carried out in one or more pyrolysis fluidised beds in which hot particles heated in the combustion zone are used for pyrolysis of bio-mass, the combustion zone being operated at or about atmospheric pressure at a temperature of from 400° C. to 1100° C., and the pyrolysis zone being operated at a pressure of from atmospheric to 100 Barg at a temperature of from 400° C. to 900° C.

Abstract: This invention relates to the isolation, and use of a plant extract in the treatment of skin hyper-pigmentation. More particularly, this invention relates to the isolation of a tyrosinase inhibitor in an extract of plant matehal from the Greyia radlkoferi (G. radlkoferi) plant, the extract including 5,7-dihidroxyflavone[(2S)-pinocembrin]; 2?,6?-dihydroxy-4?-methoxydihydrochalcone; 2?,4?,6?-trihydroxyhydrochalcone; 3,5,7-trihydroxyflavone and 4?,5?7-thhydroxyisoflavone.

Abstract: Mycolic acid antigen containing liposomes, and an electrode immobilised antigens of tuberculous mycobacterial origin are produced. A diagnostic sample from a human suspected of having tuberculosis is diluted and divided into first and second samples. A control sample comprising the first sample and a redox probe is exposed to the liposomes. A test sample comprising the second sample and a redox probe is exposed to liposomes not containing mycolic acid antigens. The control sample is contacted with the immobilised antigens to allow antibodies therein to bind to the antigens. The test sample is contacted with the immobilised antigens to allow any antibodies therein to bind to the antigens. The degree of binding in the samples is compared by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Any observed lesser binding by the control sample is an indicator of antibodies to the antigens in the diagnostic sample, indicating tuberculosis in the human.

Abstract: A method (400) of measuring rotor blade tip deflections of turbomachine rotor blades (R1, R2) during operation using Blade Tip Timing (BTT) includes measuring (402), by a proximity sensor (202), a proximity signal caused by a moving rotor blade (R1, R2) and determining (412), by a control module (212), a Time-of-Arrival (ToA). The method (400) includes measuring a time that the shaft starts to rotate a measurable angular distance and a time the shaft has completed its rotation of the measurable distance and storing (406) timing data indicative of a plurality of ToA measurements of the rotor blade (R1, R2) and the zero crossing times.

Abstract: A method (400) of determining blade tip deflection characteristics is applied to moving rotor blades (R1, R2) in a turbomachine (10) comprising a housing and rotor including a shaft with the rotor blades attached thereto and at least one proximity probe (202). The method (400) includes measuring ((402) a proximity signal caused by a presence of a proximate tip of a moving rotor blade (R1) and calculating (404) by a control module (212) a shaft Instantaneous Angular Position (IAP) as a function of time, and performing (410) an order tracking process which includes expressing (412) the measured proximity signal in the angular domain and resampling (414) the expressed proximity signal to render it equidistant in the angular domain.

Abstract: The present invention relates to extracts from Helichrysum odoratissimum for use in the prevention of and treatment of skin cancer. The invention also provides for pharmaceutical compositions containing the extract and to the use of medicaments containing the extract.