Abstract: A power electronic package includes: first and second high thermal conductivity insulating non-planar substrates; and a plurality of electronic components mounted on each of the substrates. The substrates are coupled each other at a plurality of bonding regions so that mechanical separation between the substrates is controlled by the number of the bonding regions, an arrangement of the bonding regions, a shape of each bonding region, and a material of the bonding regions. The mechanical separation provides a net axially-directed compressive force in the electronic components.

Abstract: A reversibly adhesive combination comprising a first component having a first surface and a second component having a second surface, the respective components being adhesively attachable when said surfaces are in contact and the combination is subject to environmental conditions of a first type and the components being separable when the combination is subject to environmental conditions of a second type wherein the first and second components respectively comprise oppositely charged polyelectrolytes. Typically the polyelectrolytes are respectively a polyacid and a polybase. Typically the environmental conditions are represented by pH.

Abstract: A power electronic package includes: first and second high thermal conductivity insulating non-planar substrates; and multiple semiconductor chips and electronic components between the substrates. Each substrate includes multiple electrical insulator layers and patterned electrical conductor layers connecting to the electronic components, and further includes multiple raised regions or posts, which are bonded together so that the substrates are mechanically and electrically connected. The number, arrangement, and shape of the raised regions or posts are adjusted to have mechanical separation between the substrates. The electrical conductor layers are separated and isolated one another so that multiple electric circuits are provided on at least one of the substrates.

Abstract: The invention relates to recovering metals, such as nickel and cobalt, by phytomining or phytoextracting soils rich in metals wherein the desired metal is selectively accumulated in hyperaccumulator plants by adjusting the soil pH. The metals are ultimately recovered from above-ground plant tissues at economically acceptable levels without further contaminating the metal-containing sites. The invention also relates to metal-hyperaccumulating plants.

Abstract: Explosion suppresant container, for use in suppression of deflagrative explosions and other like events involving combustion associated with rapidly moving gases, comprising a container which, in use, contains suppressant, an outlet through which suppressant can exit the container progressively and be atomised into droplets and an inlet thorugh which air can enter the container and the shape of said container being such that, in use, the pressure of the explosion wind in the region of the outlet is less than that in the region of the inlet so that suppressant is driven out of the outlet into the explosion wind.

Abstract: A dental composition comprises a fluorescent whitening agent. The fluorescent whitening agent is most preferably 4,4?-bis(2-sulfostryryl)bipheny) or a salt or other soluble derivative thereof, eg the disordium salt. The composition may also comprise an additional tooth whitening agent. Methods of whitening the teeth are also described.

Abstract: A parallel magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) apparatus configurable to image a physical entity comprises: a main magnetic flux source for providing a uniform fixed magnetic field, B0; an RF array system comprising a plurality of RF coils and receivers, said RF system configured for: generating rotating RF excitation magnetic fields B1; and receiving RF signals due to precessing nuclear magnetization on multiple spatially distinct radio frequency coils and associated receiver channels, said RF system being configured to operate in accordance with a B1 sensitivity encoding technique; a control processor for controlling imaging functionality, collecting image data and effecting data processing of the captured image data the control processor being configured with post processing capability for the B1 sensitivity encoding technique; an image display means for displaying processed image data as resultant images; and an auxiliary magnetic field means capable of producing at least one auxiliary uniform B0 step mag

Abstract: A process for the epoxidation of an alkene, which process comprises reaction of an alkene with an oxidising agent in the presence of a catalyst, characterised in that the catalyst is an amine of formula (I), wherein T represents hydrogen or a moiety of formula (a); R1, R2, R3, R4, R5 and R6 each independently represents hydrogen, optionally substituted alkyl, an optionally substituted aryl group, heterocyclyl or an optionally substituted aralkyl group wherein substituents for the above mentioned groups are selected from up to three of alkyl, aryl, heterocycyl, hydroxy, alkoxy or a group NRsRt wherein Rs and Rt each independently represents hydrogen, alkyl or alkylcarbonyl and R7 represents hydrogen, alkyl, aryl or aralkyl; or T represents a moiety (a) wherein R1 together with R2 represents an optionally substituted alkylene chain comprising 2 to 6 carbon atoms the alkylene chain being optionally interrupted with an oxygen atom or a group NRp wherein Rp is hydrogen or alkyl, and wherein optional substituents f

Abstract: There are many lung diseases and conditions for which the preferred form of treatment involves delivering a medicament of the appropriate sort down the Patient's airways into the lungs themselves. The most effective treatments involve the inhalation as an aerosol of some suitable agent in normally inhaled air, and it will often be the case that it is best to deliver the agent as a “spike” or short pulse at some selected point within the Patient's breathing cycle. The present invention proposes treatment apparatus—specifically and in particular small (pocket-sized) hand-held apparatus—that utilises the “spike” principle.

Abstract: A process for the epoxidation of an alkene, which process comprises reaction of an alkene with an oxidising agent in the presence of a catalyst, characterised in that the catalyst is an amine of formula (I), wherein T represents hydrogen or a moiety of formula (a); R1, R2, R3, R4, R5 and R6 each independently represents hydrogen, optionally substituted alkyl, an optionally substituted aryl group, heterocyclyl or an optionally substituted aralkyl group wherein substituents for the above mentioned groups are selected from up to three of alkyl, aryl, heterocycyl, hydroxy, alkoxy or a group NRsRt wherein R5 and Rt each independently represents hydrogen, alkyl or alkylcarbonyl and R7 represents hydrogen, alkyl, aryl or aralkyl; or T represents a moiety (a) wherein R1 together with R2 represents an optionally substituted alkylene chain comprising 2 to 6 carbon atoms the alkylene chain being optionally interrupted with an oxygen atom or a group NRp wherein Rp is hydrogen or alkyl, and wherein optional substituents f

Abstract: A system for separating a liquid and a gas including a separation vessel (30) with an inlet (28) for a gas/liquid mixture. Outlets (40, 42) for the fluids are disposed at different heights in the vessel. The outlets are controlled by turn-up vortex amplifiers (fluidic valves TuVAs) that include a supply port (40, 42), a control port (36, 38) and an outlet port (48, 50). The control port is supplied from the vessel at an intermediate level between the outlets, so that a change of flow in the control port alters resistence to flow through the valve.

Abstract: The present invention provides an immortalized insulin producing human &bgr;-cell which may be rendered glucose responsive by suitable bioengineering methods. The invention also provides a method for producing an immortalized glucose responsive insulin producing human &bgr;-cell comprising the steps of selecting an unregulated immortalized human insulin secreting &bgr;-cell, transecting said selected cell line with elements for the genetic control of glucose responsiveness and proliferating said transfected &bgr;-cell accordingly.

Abstract: Methods of treatment and prophylaxis of various diseases and disorders, and in particular diseases and disorders of lipid and bone metabolism, involving the administration of prenyl transferase (farnesyl pyrophosphate synthase) and/or isopentenyl pyrophosphate isomerase inhibitor compounds are disclosed.

Abstract: A method of imparting a water repellent surface to a hydrophilic substrate which comprises contacting the substrate with a solution or dispersion of a suitable calixarene in a liquid medium.

Abstract: The invention relates to a glove for making goniometric measures, i.e. angular measurements, of a wearer's hand and a method of manufacture of the same. The glove is adapted for use in the assessment of ahnad mobility in medical applications and is particularly useful for misshaped hands. The glove comprises a palmar panel with finger sections extending short of the distal interphalangeal joint and preferably proximal to the distal interphalangeal joint.

Abstract: A rotatable fluidised bed incinerator comprises a rotatable combustion chamber, a means for rotating the combustion chamber, a means for introducing combustible material into the combustion chamber, and a means for introducing a gas into the combustion chamber to create a fluidised bed within the chamber. A flow area of the combustion chamber remains substantially constant or increases with decreasing chamber radius.

Abstract: A shear failure reinforcing system for structural elements, in which thin elongate strips of high stiffness material are anchored around a layer of conventional reinforcement, and/or are anchored around a plurality of layers of conventional reinforcement, such that the strips tie the element and improve its resistance to shear failure.

Abstract: This invention relates to methods of treating or controlling a disease or stress condition such as laminitis in a non-human mammal by topically applying to the limb of the mammal a nitrovasodilator and a protective covering dressing in the form of a cuff, sleeve, or boot.

Abstract: An optical collector head comprises a beam splitting device (5) capable of producing at least three output beams (9) in different directions; a single objective lens (4) to provide a collimated beam to the beam splitting device (5); and an assembly of: (a) a quarter wave plate (6), or plate producing a similar effect; (b) a polarizer acting as an analyzing element; (c) a lens; and (d) a recording device (3/1, 3/2, 3/4) for the simultaneous capture of phase-stepped images from each output beam. The invention also includes a polarimetric device comprising an optical collector head as defined above and a source (12) of polarized light; and a polarimetric device comprising an optical collector head as defined above and a source (12) of polarized light.

Abstract: Nickel/cobalt, as well as platinum and palladium metal family members are recovered from soil by growing Brassicaceae plants, specifically Alyssum in soil containing nickel/cobalt as well as other metals. The soil is conditioned by maintaining a low pH, low calcium concentration, and the addition of ammonium fertilizer and chelating agents thereto. Nickel accumulation on the order of 2.5 percent or better in above-ground tissues is achieved, which permits recovery of the metal by harvesting the above-ground plant materials, drying, and then combusting the same, to oxidize or vaporize organic materials and recover the metals sequestered therein at 10-20 fold higher concentrations than in the soil, in a form which can be used in conventional Ni refinery or smelting operations.