Abstract: Apparatus for use in a magnetic resonance imaging system, the imaging system generating a magnetic imaging field in an imaging region (5), the apparatus including at least one coil for at least one of transmitting, receiving or transceiving an electromagnetic field, a field component (4) (such as a coil or a shield) and a drive (6) coupled to the field component for moving the field component (4) relative to the imaging region (5) to thereby modify the electromagnetic field during imaging process. The same concept can also be applied to nuclear imaging or nuclear spectroscopy apparatus.

Abstract: A method for use in producing a patch having a number of projections thereon. The method includes providing a distribution member and filling material on a mold surface, the mold including a number of cavities extending from the mold surface for defining the patch projections, filling the cavities with filling material, at least in part by urging filling material from the distribution member into the cavities, causing the filling material to solidify and separating the solidified filling material and the mold to thereby form the patch.

Abstract: A method for preparing a suspension of LDH particles comprises the steps of preparing LDH precipitates by coprecipitation to form a mixture of LDH precipitates and solution; separating the LDH precipitates from the solution; washing the LDH precipitates to remove residual ions; mixing the LDH precipitates with water; and subjecting the mixture of LDH particles and water from step (d) to a hydrothermal treatment step by heating to a temperature of from greater than 80° C. to 150° C. for a period of about 1 hour to about 144 hours to form a well dispersed suspension of LDH particles in water.

Abstract: A method for preparing a suspension of LDH particles comprises the steps of preparing LDH precipitates by coprecipitation to form a mixture of LDH precipitates and solution; separating the LDH precipitates from the solution; washing the LDH precipitates to remove residual ions; mixing the LDH precipitates with water; and subjecting the mixture of LDH particles and water from step (d) to a hydrothermal treatment step by heating to a temperature of from greater than 80° C. to 150° C. for a period of about 1 hour to about 48 hours to form a well dispersed suspension of LDH particles in water.

Abstract: Primers suitable for nucleic acid sequence amplification of Pongamia plant genetic markers and a method of genetic analysis of Pongamia plants are provided. The primers comprise a repeat unit of two or three nucleotides repeated five to ten times together with a three prime extension of two or three nucleotides. Genetic markers amplified by the primers are also provided, from which may be produced further primers for genetic analysis of Pongamia plants. The primers, genetic markers and methods of genetic analysis may be suitable for selection and breeding of Pongamia plants having desired traits such as, or relating to, seed size, seed number, seed oil content, seed oil quality, seed flavour and toxicity, disease resistance, water use efficiency, nitrogen use efficiency, precocious flowering, flowering time, tree size, tree shape, growth rate, drought tolerance, salinity tolerance and/or growth in low-nutrient soils.

Abstract: Disclosed are electrochemical methods, apparatus, systems and kits for the detection or monitoring of proteolysis of proteinaceous matrices such as fibrin clots. The methods, apparatus, systems and kits generally include the use of voltammetric techniques to measure the changes in current that result from diffusion of an electroactive species towards an electrode on proteolysis of a proteinaceous matrix.

Abstract: The present invention relates to biologically active single chain relaxin polypeptides comprising a relaxin B chain derived from relaxin-3, the polypeptides being truncated by one or more amino acids at the C-terminus of the relaxin-3 B chain. Typically the single chain relaxin polypeptides are antagonists of the RXFP3 receptor, and in some embodiments are selective antagonists of the RXFP3 receptor.

Abstract: The present invention relates to polymer composites prepared from a host polymer and particles. Specifically, this invention is concerned with the organic modification of the particles. More specifically, the particles are organically modified with at least two organic modifiers that are different and have specific chemical and physical properties.

Abstract: A method of determining common three-dimensional structural features of protein surfaces is provided, as is use of representations of these common structures in molecular database searching and in designing focused molecular libraries. The method is particularly concerned with the analysis and representation of protein surfaces such as b-turns, loops and contact surfaces. In one form, the method identifies common locations and orientations of amino acid side-chains, simplified as C?-C? vectors. In another form, the method identifies common regions of surface charge represented by grid points in three-dimensional space. Further provided are common three dimensional structural features of proteins that can be used to search molecular databases for the purposes of identifying molecules that match these common three dimensional structural features.

Abstract: Disclosed are short chain peptides that are constrained to adopt an alpha helicial conformation and their use as alpha helical scaffolds for directing amino acid side chains into positions analogous to those found in longer chain alpha helical peptides. Also disclosed is the use of these peptides for attaching peptidic or non-peptidic appendages in order to mimic side chains of longer alpha helical peptides. The peptides find use in mimicking naturally occurring peptides or proteins or in preparing new materials.

Abstract: A catalytic membrane reactor assembly for producing a hydrogen stream from a feed stream having liquid hydrocarbons, steam, and an oxygen source through the use of an autothermal reforming reaction, a water-gas-shift reaction, and a hydrogen permeable membrane.

Abstract: A method for acquiring a physiological response from a test subject, particularly an auditory brainstem response, by presenting a plurality of stimuli, such as a Maximum Length Sequence, detecting electrophysiological signals in response to the stimuli, generating a recover signal based on the stimuli and determining the physiological response from the electrophysiological signals and the recovery signal.

Abstract: An in vitro or ex vivo method of producing a population of lineage committed haematopoietic progenitor or mature haematopoietic cells other than cells of the neutrophil lineage, including the steps of providing a population of haematopoietic progenitor cells; and culturing the haematopoietic progenitor cells in an animal cell culture medium including one or more cytokines that differentiate the haematopoietic progenitor cells into lineage committed haematopoietic progenitor and/or mature haematopoietic cells, under static conditions until the cells are at a cell density at which oxygen transfer via the surface of the culture medium is insufficient for growth of the progenitor cells and progeny thereof under static conditions, and then agitating the culture medium to produce a population of lineage committed haematopoietic progenitor or mature haematopoietic cells other than cells of the neutrophil lineage.

Abstract: The invention relates to a titanate photocatalyst of formula (I): HmAx-mTiyOzDn (I) wherein: A is a cation selected from the group consisting of lithium, sodium, potassium, rubidium, caesium and francium; D is a dopant selected from the group consisting of boron, carbon, nitrogen, fluorine, sulphur, phosphorus and iodine; x is a value between 0 and 8; y is a value greater than 0 and less than or equal to 8; n is a value greater than 0 and less than or equal to 8; z is a value greater than 0 and less than or equal to 8; and m is a value between 0 and 8. The invention also relates to method of production and uses of the titanate photocatalyst.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of generating a place-frequency map for accurate positioning of a cochlear implant whereby the place-frequency map is used to relate a physical position of the cochlear implant to a tonotopic map of the basilar membrane/spiral ganglion. The invention also relates to a method of electrically positioning of an already inserted cochlear implant within the cochlea to provide stimuli to only the parts of the cochlea that have reduced or no residual hearing.

Abstract: An isolated protein comprising a VP1 amino acid sequence wherein one or more exposed loops within said VP1 has an insertion of an amino acid sequence from a virus protein other than VP1, and encoding nucleic acid, are provided. Typically, the virus protein other than VP1 is derived from an influenza virus and in particular, avian influenza virus. The isolated protein may have an insertion of amino acid sequence from a single protein or a plurality of proteins. Also provided are expression constructs, VLPs, pharmaceutical compositions, vaccines and methods of treatment that may be useful in the prophylactic and/or therapeutic treatment of any disease of viral origin, and in particular, influenza virus.

Abstract: A method for controlling the activity of sulfate reducing bacteria or methanogenic archaea (or both) in environments containing such organisms comprising treating the environment with free nitrous acid (HNO2) or with a solution containing nitrite (NO2?) having a pH of less than 7 or by adding nitrite to the environment and having a pH of less than 7 in the environment. The method can also disrupt biofilms.

Abstract: Blood pressure measurements are represented aurally. An audio synthesizer (15) receives a signal representative of blood pressure information, and synthesizes an audio output from the signal. Both the duration and pitch of the synthesized audio output are dependent on the value of the blood pressure information, according to a linear scale or a non-linear scale such as stepped scale. The blood pressure information includes at least one of arterial or pulmonary arterial systolic, diastolic and mean blood pressure measurements, and the audio output includes an earcon comprising a tone or sequence of tones, the tone(s) being representative of a respective type of blood pressure measurement. The earcon may also include one or more static or dynamic beacons.

Abstract: Novel proteins that constitute modified forms of a Neisseria meningitidis surface antigen and encoding nucleic acids are provided. The modified surface proteins are characterized by having deletions of non-conserved amino acids, and thereby being capable of eliciting cross-protective immune responses against Neisseria meningitidis. The invention extends to the use of the modified surface antigens in diagnostics, in therapeutic and prophylactic vaccines and in the design and/or screening of medicaments. The modified surface antigens are particularly useful in vaccines which effectively immunize against a broader spectrum of N. meningitidis strains than would be expected from a corresponding wild-type surface antigen.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus for the analysis of rocks and rock fragments. A method for the analysis of a rock fragment including: feeding the rock fragment to a microwave irradiation zone of microwave energy generated by a microwave source; gauging energy absorbed by the rock fragment; and correlating rate of change of the gauged energy absorbed by the rock fragment with compositional characteristics of the rock fragment.