Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of producing a modified plant, part, cell or protoplast thereof having an increase in a yield-related trait relative to a reference plant, part, cell or protoplast thereof. More particularly, the invention relates to providing the plant, part, cell or protoplast thereof with an RKD transcription factor, a polynucleotide encoding the same, or a gene editing system for modifying an endogenous nucleic acid sequence encoding an RKD transcription factor or regulatory sequence thereof. Said plants have improvements in a yield-related trait, and thereby improved yield, which is especially useful in agriculture.

Abstract: Apparatus (1) for measuring fluid flow is disclosed. The apparatus comprises first, second and third ultrasonic transducers (8), the second and third ultrasonic transducers arranged to receive an ultrasonic wave (13) from the first ultrasonic transducer, wherein the second and third ultrasonic transducers are spaced apart by a given distance. The apparatus further comprises a circuit (6) comprising a phase comparator (21) arranged to compare first and second signals (20) from the second and third ultrasonic transducers.

Abstract: A clamp-on ultrasonic transducer includes an ultrasound-propagating wedge having a first face and a second face which is inclined to the first face. The clamp-on ultrasonic transducer further includes a first piezoelectric element which is mounted on the second face, and which is directed obliquely at the first face. The wedge has a width, w, between first and second side walls, wherein the width, w, is less than or equal to 10 mm.

Abstract: A new scanning electrochemical microscopy tip positioning method that allows topography and surface activity to be resolved independently is presented. A SECM tip is oscillated relative to the surface of interest. Changes in the oscillation amplitude, caused by the intermittent contact of the SECM tip with the surface of interest, are used to detect the surface of interest, and as a feedback signal for various types of imaging.

Abstract: A defect centre-based sensor is disclosed. The sensor comprises instrumentation which includes a generator for causing excitation in an active element, for example a diamond, and a detector for measuring a transition in the active element. The generator is an optical source and/or the detector is an optical detector. The sensor further comprises an optical waveguide and a sensor head in communication with the source and/or the detector via the optical waveguide. The sensor head houses the active element having at least one defect centre, for example, a nitrogen vacancy, responsive to an applied magnetic field, electric field or temperature and a signal delivery arrangement, for example at least one lens, arranged to optically couple the optical waveguide to the active element.

Abstract: A method of determining flowrate of a fluid (7) in a pipe is disclosed. The flowrate is determined using a flowmeter having first and second ultrasonic transducers (10; FIG. 8A) separated along the pipe by a given distance (D; FIG. 1) and inclined so that waves in the fluid propagate at a given path angle (?; FIG. 1). For a given inner pipe diameter (d; FIG. 1), there is a given integer number of reflections between the first and second ultrasonic transducers. The method comprises obtaining flow rate measurements using wave packets (18) corresponding to an integer number of reflections which is less than said given number.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for preventing or inhibiting ice recrystallisation in substances (e.g. biological materials and food products) which are susceptible to ice crystal growth upon cryopreservation and/or thawing therefrom. The methods relate to the use of compositions comprising poly(proline) or a variant or derivative thereof. Also provided are kits and compositions comprising poly(proline) which can be used in the methods of the invention.

Abstract: The present invention provides use of a Photorhabdus Virulence Cassettes (PVC) effector leader sequence, for packaging a payload into a PVC Needle Complex, and related methods for manufacturing a packaged PVC Needle Complex. The payload is one or more selected from a polypeptide, a nucleic acid, or a combination thereof, and the leader sequence and the payload form an effector fusion that is distinct from a wild-type PVC effector protein.

Abstract: A method of carrying out mass spectrometry, comprising: using an electrostatic or electrodynamic ion trap to contain a plurality of ions, each ion having a mass to charge ratio, the ions having a first plurality of mass to charge ratios, each ion following a path within the electrostatic or electrodynamic ion trap having a radius; and for each of a second plurality of the mass to charge ratios: modulating the radii of the ions in a mass to charge ratio-dependent fashion dependent upon the mass to charge ratio; fragmenting the ions thus modulated in a radius-dependent fashion; and determining a mass spectrum of the ions.

Abstract: A method of inferring fluid flow speed through a passage comprises receiving a first signal having a frequency and phase corresponding to that of a first ultrasonic wave detected after passing through the fluid in a direction with a component opposed or aligned to a main direction of the fluid's flow. Receiving a second signal having a frequency and phase corresponding to that of a second ultrasonic wave detected after passing through the fluid in a direction with a component different to that of the first ultrasonic wave with respect to the main direction of the fluid's flow. Inferring the fluid flow speed through the passage based on the relative phase shift between the first and second signals.

Abstract: A computer system for use in monitoring blood glucose level monitoring, the computer system configured, in response to receiving electrocardiogram data measured over a given period of time for a given subject, to classify the electrocardiogram data using at least one neural network and a personalised model which is specific to the given subject so as to identify whether a low blood glucose level condition is present wherein blood glucose level falls below a predefined level and, upon identifying the presence of the low blood glucose level condition, to flag an alarm condition.

Abstract: A motile cell sorting device is disclosed. The device comprises a chamber, an inlet and an outlet in fluid communication with the chamber, and a plurality of discrete barriers disposed in the chamber. Each discrete barrier comprises at least one wall and at least one acute edge orientated towards the outlet.

Abstract: The invention relates to defective interfering viruses and defective interfering virus RNAs that are effective as antiviral agents. The invention also relates to methods for identifying defective interfering virus RNAs that can be used as effective antiviral agents.

Abstract: This document relates to methods and materials for genome engineering in eukaryotic cells, and particularly to methods for increasing genome engineering (i.e. transformation or genome editing) efficiency via delivery of one or more RKD2 and RKD4 genes, with genome engineering components.

Abstract: An integrated circuit is disclosed. The integrated circuit comprises a silicon substrate, a sensor comprising a bulk acoustic wave resonator and an acoustic mirror disposed between the bulk acoustic wave resonator and the substrate, and a CMOS circuit supported by substrate and operatively connected to the sensor.

Abstract: A method is described for selectively depositing a metallic layer (10) including one or more of copper, silver and gold. The method includes depositing a fluorinated layer (5) over a surface (1, 4). The fluorinated layer (5) has a thickness sufficient to substantially prevent deposition of the copper, silver and/or gold between the fluorinated layer (5) and the surface (1, 4) during a subsequent evaporation step using a given deposition rate. The method also includes forming the metallic layer (10) by evaporating, at the given deposition rate, the copper, silver and/or gold over the surface (1, 4) and the fluorinated layer (5). The copper, silver and/or gold preferentially adhere to the portions of the surface (1, 4) not covered by the fluorinated layer (s).

Abstract: An ultrasonic clamp-on flow meter is disclosed. The flow meter comprises a moulded coupling element (9).

Abstract: A clamp-on ultrasonic transducer is disclosed. The clamp-on ultrasonic transducer comprises an ultrasound-propagating wedge having a first face and a second face which is inclined to the first face. The clamp-on ultrasonic transducer further comprises a first piezoelectric element which is mounted on the second face and which is directed obliquely at the first face. The wedge has a width, w, between first and second side walls, wherein the width, w, is less than or equal to 10 mm.

Abstract: A flexural ultrasonic transducer is disclosed. The ultrasonic transducer comprises a sealed case which includes a flexible membrane and which defines a sealed cavity. The sealed case has an inside and an outside. The ultrasonic transducer comprises an active element, for example, a piezoelectric element, inside the sealed case supported on the flexible membrane. The ultrasonic transducer includes a liquid in the cavity. The sealed case includes a resilient portion between the inside and outside of the case for allowing equalization of pressure between the inside and the outside of the case. The resilient portion may comprise resilient walls or a thin-wall section, the flexible membrane or the case.

Abstract: A method of carrying out mass spectrometry, comprising: using an electrostatic or electrodynamic ion trap to contain a plurality of ions, each ion having a mass to charge ratio, the ions having a first plurality of mass to charge ratios, each ion following a path within the electrostatic or electrodynamic ion trap having a radius; and for each of a second plurality of the mass to charge ratios: modulating the radii of the ions in a mass to charge ratio-dependent fashion dependent upon the mass to charge ratio; fragmenting the ions thus modulated in a radius-dependent fashion; and determining a mass spectrum of the ions.