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

Abstract: A method of controlling a scanning electrochemical microscopy probe tip comprising the following steps: oscillating the scanning electrochemical microscopy probe tip relative to the surface of interest; moving the oscillating scanning electrochemical microscopy probe tip towards the surface of interest; detecting damping of an amplitude of the oscillation of the scanning electrochemical microscopy probe tip resulting from the scanning electrochemical microscopy probe tip coming into contact with the surface of interest at the first location; using the detected damping to detect the surface of interest; retracting the scanning electrochemical microscopy probe tip away from the surface of interest without first translating the scanning electrochemical microscopy probe tip along the surface of interest while the scanning electrochemical microscopy probe tip is in intermittent contact with the surface of interest.

Abstract: A device for generating electrical power, the device comprising a scroll expander with first and second scrolls configured to move relative to each other when a fluid is provided to an inlet at a higher pressure than a pressure at an outlet. The first scroll is configured to provide a magnetic field and the second scroll comprises one or more conductors in which electric currents are induced when the first and second scrolls move relative to each other.

Abstract: A bolometer is described. A bolometer includes a superconductor-insulator-semiconductor-superconductor structure or a superconductor-insulator-semiconductor-insulator-superconductor structure. The semiconductor comprises an electron gas in a layer of silicon, germanium or silicon-germanium alloy in which valley degeneracy is at least partially lifted. The insulator or a one or both of the insulators may comprise a layer of dielectric material. The insulator or a one or both of the insulators may comprise a layer of non-degenerately doped semiconductor.

Abstract: A method of compressing a high dynamic range original image to provide compressed image data for use with (i) a high dynamic range decoder for viewing the high dynamic range image and (ii) a reduced bit depth decoder for viewing an image of lower dynamic range which has been derived from the high dynamic range original image. The difference between the image of the high dynamic range original image and the lower dynamic range is measured and that difference information is compressed. Compressed image data is produced comprising the compressed image of the lower dynamic range and the compressed image data.

Abstract: A bolometer is described. A bolometer includes a superconductor-insulator-semiconductor-superconductor structure or a superconductor-insulator-semiconductor-insulator-superconductor structure. The semiconductor comprises an electron gas in a layer of silicon, germanium or silicon-germanium alloy in which valley degeneracy is at least partially lifted. The insulator or a one or both of the insulators may comprise a layer of dielectric material. The insulator or a one or both of the insulators may comprise a layer of non-degenerately doped semiconductor.

Abstract: A method of tracking the position of a body part, such as a hand, in captured images, the method comprising capturing (10) colour images of a region to form a set of captured images; identifying contiguous skin-colour regions (12) within an initial image of the set of captured images; defining regions of interest (16) containing the skin-coloured regions; extracting (18) image features in the regions of interest, each image feature relating to a point in a region of interest; and then, for successive pairs of images comprising a first image and a second image, the first pair of images having as the first image the initial image and a later image, following pairs of images each including as the first image the second image from the preceding pair and a later image as the second image: extracting (22) image features, each image feature relating to a point in the second image; determining matches (24) between image features relating to the second image and image features relating to in each region of interest in

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for synthesizing tethered ruthenium catalysts and novel tethered ruthenium catalysts obtainable by this methods. The method involves carrying out an “arene swapping” reaction avoiding the requirement to use complicated techniques making use of unreliable Birch reductions and unstable cyclodienyl intermediates.

Abstract: Apparatus comprises a pipet comprising first and second channels separated by a septum and having a tip at which each of the first and second channels is open; an electrolyte solution contained within both the first and second channels of the pipet; a first electrode extending into the electrolyte in the first channel of the pipet; a second electrode extending into the electrolyte in the second channel of the pipet; means for applying a potential difference between the first and second electrodes; means for measuring alternating current components of a current flowing to or from the first electrode; means for applying an oscillatory perturbation to the pipet; and means responsive to the alternating current measured to be flowing to or from the first electrode to adjust a position of the pipet such as to control a separation between the tip of the pipet and a surface of interest.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of certain osmium containing complexes such as cytotoxic agents particularly for the treatment of cancer. There is also provided novel osmium containing complexes, as well as pharmaceutical formulations comprising such complexes.

Abstract: The invention is in the field of virology and relates to the deformed wing virus (DWV). A new strain of deformed wing virus (DWV) has been identified that is predominant in bees infested with Varroa mites. This particular strain of DWV can be used in diagnostics to identify at risk colonies. Also, inhibitors of the particular strain may be used in the treatment and/or prevention of DWV.

Abstract: Apparatus for inspecting an article comprising: a controller configured to generate a drive signal having a periodic amplitude variation; a source, the source being operable by the controller to emit a source beam thereby to irradiate an article, the source beam comprising a beam of electromagnetic radiation having a periodic amplitude variation corresponding to that of the drive signal; and a detector, the detector being configured to detect a portion of the source beam that has been transmitted through at least a portion of the article, and to generate a detector signal having an amplitude variation corresponding to the amplitude variation of said portion of the source beam, the controller being further configured to generate a difference value corresponding to a difference between the amplitude of the detector signal and the amplitude of a reference signal.

Abstract: A plant comprising a modified Flowering Locus (FT) polynucleotide expressing a modified polypeptide exhibits altered flowering time, floral numbers and/or increased seed production. Different mutant sequences conferring different phenotypes are disclosed.

Abstract: Cloned, i.e. defined, defective interfering (DI) influenza A virus is produced in embryonated hens eggs using a method which generates large quantities of DI virus material. Co-administration of cloned DI influenza A virus with a lethal dose of virulent influenza A virus conferred protection in mice compared to a control of inactivated cloned DI influenza A virus. Control mice which received only cloned DI influenza A virus and no lethal challenge of virulent influenza A virus were not protected three weeks later on lethal challenge with infective virus. Cloned DI influenza A virus of one subtype is found to act in vivo as an effective antiviral against the same or any other sub-type of influenza A virus. The antiviral effect has been found to have both a therapeutic and a prophylactic application against influenza A infection in humans, mammals and birds.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of estimating free light chain production (FLC) in a subject comprising (i) determining an amount of FLC in a sample from the subject; and (ii) correcting the amount of FLC in the sample for FLC cleared from the source of the sample by glomerular filtration and by reticuloendothelial (RE) clearance.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for identifying compounds that act as modulators of hepatitis C (HCV) translation and/or replication, and to compounds identified by this method, and their uses in medicine. The invention also relates to an RNA useful for identifying modulators of HCV translation and/or replication. The invention further relates to a method for producing a replication-competent HCV virus.

Abstract: The invention relates to electrodes for electrochemical analysis comprising: —an insulating surface; —carbon nanotubes situated on the insulating surface at a density of at least 0.1 ?mCNT Um?2; and —an electrically conducting material in electrical contact with the carbon nanotubes; wherein the carbon nanotubes cover an area of no more than about 5.0% of the insulating surface. Methods of making such electrodes and assay devices or kits with such electrodes, are also provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to histology analyses, and in particular, to the assessment of pathological tissues to aid in the diagnosis of disease characterized by specific pathologies, for example cancer. The invention provides methods and apparatuses for analyzing tissue samples, as well as computer-readable media programmed with software for carrying out these diagnostic methods.

Abstract: The invention relates to electrodes for electrochemical analysis comprising: —an insulating surface; —carbon nanotubes situated on the insulating surface at a density of at least 0.1 ?mCNT Um?2; and —an electrically conducting material in electrical contact with the carbon nanotubes; wherein the carbon nanotubes cover an area of no more than about 5.0% of the insulating surface. Methods of making such electrodes and assay devices or kits with such electrodes, are also provided.