Abstract: This invention relates to apparatus, kits and methods for the production of biomimetic constructs by plastically compressing a gel, such as a collagen gel, in a well using a plunger, which may be porous. The apparatus, kits and methods allow biomimetic constructs to be produced in a controlled and reproducible manner and are suitable for the production of multilayered constructs.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for performing phase unwrapping for an acquired magnetic resonance (MR) image. The method includes modelling the MR phase in the MR image using a Markov random field (MRF) in which the true phase ?(t) and the wrapped phase ?(w) are modelled as random variables such that at voxel i of said MR image ?(t)(i)=?(w)(i)+2?n(i), where n(i) is an unknown integer that needs to be estimated for each voxel i. The method further includes constructing a graph consisting of a set of vertices V and edges E and two special terminal vertices representing a source s and sink t, where there is a one-to-one correspondence between cuts on the graph and configurations of the MRF, a cut representing a partition of the vertices V into disjoint sets S and T such that s?S and t?T.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the detection or diagnosis of infection or inflammation in a patient. In particular, the invention provides methods that allow the detection of markers in a sample from a patient or subject, such as a blood sample, which will indicate whether the patient or subject has an infection or has an inflammatory response.

Abstract: A method of measuring surface curvature comprises forming an intensity distribution defined by Fresnel diffraction, wherein said intensity distribution is formed by electromagnetic radiation reflected from a surface, obtaining data for the intensity distribution and determining information relating to the curvature of the surface using the obtained data.

Abstract: The invention provides inhibitors of hypoxia-inducible factors (HIF), and their use in the prevention or inhibition of diseases characterised by abnormal HIF activity or levels, such as tumour progression, and the treatment of cancer. The invention encompasses pharmaceutical compositions with a mechanism of action for blocking elevated HIF activity in diseases, such as cancer.

Abstract: The invention relates to mTORbeta, a splice form of mTOR, nucleic acids encoding mTOR beta, and antibodies against mTOR beta. The invention also relates to methods of producing mTOR beta and methods of screening for an agent that modulates mTOR beta expression and/or activity. The invention further relates to a method of treating a disease associated with aberrant expression of mTOR beta by administration of an agent that alters mTOR activity and/or expression.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting and segmenting anomalous data in an input data set such as an image is described, which makes use of a normalized distance measure referred to as a zeta distance score. A test data point from an input test data set is compared with its corresponding nearest neighboring standard data points in standard data sets representing variation in normal or expected data values, and the average distance from the test data point to the standard data points is found. An additional average distance measure representing the average distance between the different nearest neighboring corresponding standard data points is also found, and a normalized distance measure obtained by finding the difference between the average distance from the test data point to the standard points and the average distance between the nearest neighboring standard data points themselves. Where the input test data set is an image then a zeta distance score map can be found.

Abstract: One embodiment of the invention provides a method and apparatus for performing deep brain stimulation with an electromagnetic field. The includes an electrode assembly having multiple electrodes and a phased array system for driving the electrodes to generate the electromagnetic field. By controlling delays within the phased array system, the generated electromagnetic field can be steered to a desired region of the brain.

Abstract: One embodiment of the invention provides a computer-implemented method of annotating images in a data set comprising a first set of images which initially have annotations and a second set of images which initially do not have annotations. The method comprises the steps of determining spatial correspondences for all pairs of images in the data set, wherein each spatial correspondence represents a mapping of a location in a first image to a corresponding location in a second image. For each mapping, the method further comprises calculating a connection strength between the location in the first image and the corresponding location in the second image.

Abstract: A prosthesis delivery system comprises a sheath defining an axial direction; at least one tether movable axially relative to the sheath; and a holder movable axially within the sheath, configured to constrain radially the tether(s). Collapsing the prosthesis to a collapsed state in the sheath involves constraining radially with a holder the tether(s), attached to the prosthesis; and moving the tether(s) and the holder axially within the sheath such that the prosthesis is forced to collapse into the sheath and the holder is retracted into the sheath.

Abstract: The present invention provides a compound of formula I, a tautomer thereof, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or N-oxide thereof for use in the treatment or prevention of cardiovascular disease or of an inflammatory disease or condition: wherein: V is N or CR3; X is N or CR4; Y is N or CR5; Z is N or CR6; B is —(C?O)R1, a 5- to 10-membered heteroaryl group, or a group -L??-NRR?, wherein R and R? are the same or different and each represents a hydrogen atom, a C1-C6 alkyl group or a C1-C6 haloalkyl group; R1 is a 5- to 10-membered heterocyclyl group, or —OR?, wherein R? is a hydrogen atom, a C1-C6 alkyl group or a C1-C6 haloalkyl group, or R1 is a proteinogenic ? amino acid, which is linked to the carbonyl moiety in the compound of formula (I) via the ? amino group, which amino acid is optionally esterified at the ? carboxylic acid group with a C1-C6 alkyl group or a C6-C10 aryl group, or R1 is —NR?R??, —NRIV-L??-CONR?R??, or —NRIV-L??-COOR, wherein R, R?, R?? and RIV are the same or different and ea

Abstract: A system and method are provided for using a computer system to assist in planning a trajectory (960A, 960B) for a surgical insertion into a skull. The method comprises providing the computer system with a three-dimensional representation of the skull and of critical objects located within the skull, wherein the critical objects comprise anatomical features to be avoided during the surgical insertion. The method further comprises providing the computer system with a target location (770, 970) for the insertion within the skull. The method further comprises generating by the computer system a first set comprising a plurality of entry points, each entry point (760) representing a surface location on the skull, and each entry point (760) being associated (2D) with a trajectory (960A, 960B) from the entry point (760) to the target location (770, 970).

Abstract: The invention provides a compound which is a histamine 4 receptor antagonist, partial agonist or inverse agonist, for use in the treatment of non-autoimmune uveitis. The compound preferably has a structural core comprising a substituted pyrimidine group, such as an aminopyrimidine, diaminopyrimidine or triaminopyrimidine group, a thienopyrimidine, a furopyrimidine, a benzimidazole, an aryl or heteroaryl-fused pyrimidine, an indole, a bicyclic heteroaryl-substituted imidazole or a quinazoline group.

Abstract: The present invention relates to use of ornithine in the manufacture of a medicament for use in combination with at least one of phenylacetate and phenylbutyrate for preventing or treating liver decompensation or hepatic encephalopathy. The invention also relates to use of at least one of phenylacetate and phenylbutyrate in the manufacture of a medicament for use in combination with ornithine for preventing or treating liver decompensation or hepatic encephalopathy.

Abstract: The antenna configuration disclosed herein can be used in a mobile telecommunications device to provide three-dimensional, orthogonal polarization. The antenna configuration comprises a half mode substrate integrated waveguide (HMSIW) antenna, a first thick-slot antenna and a second thick-slot antenna. The HMSIW antenna comprises two parallel conductive plates separated by a dielectric. The HMSIW antenna has a substantially rectangular shape comprising a first edge, a second edge substantially perpendicular to the first edge and connected to the first edge by a first corner, a third edge opposing and substantially parallel to the first edge and connected to the second edge by a second corner, and a fourth edge opposing and substantially parallel to the second edge and connected to the first edge by a third corner and to the third edge by a fourth corner. The first and second edges are open for radiation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) signalling system comprising; (i) a receptor component comprising an extracellular antigen-binding domain, a transmembrane domain and a intracellular first chemical inducer of dimerization binding domain 1 (CBD1); and (ii) an intracellular signalling component comprising a signalling domain and a second chemical inducer of dimerization binding domain 2 (CBD2); wherein CBD1 and CBD2 are capable of simultaneously binding to a chemical inducer of dimerization (CID); wherein, in the absence of the CID, binding of the antigen-binding component to antigen does not result in signalling through the signalling component; whilst, in the presence of the CID, the receptor component and the signalling component heterodimerize and binding of the antigen-binding domain to antigen results in signalling through the signalling domain.

Abstract: A pharmaceutical composition is provided comprising a vitamin E derivative, an anionic phopholipid-binding protein, an anionic phospholipid and a sterol. Also provided is a method for preparing a composition for delivering a cargo to a subject comprising a) forming liposomes from a vitamin E derivative, an anionic phospholipid-binding protein such as annexin, an anionic phospholipid such as phosphatidylserine and a sterol; and b) encapsulating the cargo in the liposomal composition.

Abstract: The invention relates to a carrier for delivering agents to the posterior region of the eye, the carrier comprising a Vitamin E derivative, especially tocopherol. The carrier may also comprise a cell death marker, such as an annexin.