Abstract: There is described a compound for use in the treatment of a mitochondrial DNA disorder, wherein the compound is a glycolysis inhibitor, an inhibitor of glutamine consumption or is L-asparaginase or pegaspargase. The glycolysis inhibitor may be a glucose analogue such as 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2DG) or 5-thioglucose (5TG). Also described is a method of treating a mitochondrial DNA disorder comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of the compound above to a patient suffering from a mitochondrial DNA disorder. In addition, there is described a method of reducing the mtDNA heteroplasmy in the cells of a patient comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of the compound above to the patient.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for estimating properties of a mixture of two or more surfactant species are provided. Multiple molecular dynamics simulations of the mixture are performed, each simulation using a particular total concentration of the surfactant species and a particular ratio of the surfactant species, such that the multiple simulations cover a plurality of such total concentrations and a plurality of such ratios, each simulation being carried out above the critical micelle concentration of the simulated mixture. For each simulation, and from the results of each simulation, a distribution of each surfactant species between at least a micellar pseudo-phase and a non-micellar pseudo-phase of the mixture at the particular total concentration and particular ratio for that simulation is determined.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to methods and apparatus for providing a prediction of fade outage of a feeder link between a satellite and a ground station within a prediction time interval. Rainfall forecast data for the gateway is received for a plurality of forecast time intervals which comprise a plurality of time intervals after the prediction time interval. The rainfall forecast data is then input to a trained fade outage model, which outputs the prediction of fade outage in response to the input.

Abstract: A radio frequency module is disclosed comprising: a radio frequency circuit block which comprises a stack of at least two metal plates and a plurality of radio frequency waveguides defined by channels in the metal plates so as to carry radio frequency signals within the circuit block; and one or more radio frequency processing components arranged within the circuit block to interact with the signals carried by the waveguides.

Abstract: Disclosed are conjugates of an oligonucleotide and a peptide covalently bonded or linked via a linker to the oligonucleotide, the peptide including at least one cationic domain comprising at least 4 amino acid residues and at least one hydrophobic domain comprising at least 3 amino acid residues, provided that the peptide includes a total of 7 to 40 amino acid residues and does not include any artificial amino acid residues; and the oligonucleotide including a total of 12 to 40 contiguous nucleobases, where at least 12 contiguous nucleobases are complementary to a target sequence in a human dystrophin gene.

Abstract: There is described an infrared spectrometer having an optical circuit which comprises one or more hollow waveguides provided by elongate channels formed in a substrate. The optical circuit is arranged such that infrared light in the optical circuit acquires one or more spectral properties for detection by the spectrometer. A laser source couples laser light into an input hollow waveguide portion of the optical circuit, and an optical detector receives the light from an output hollow waveguide portion of the optical circuit, so that an analyser can determine said one or more spectral properties from the detected light.

Abstract: There is provided a multipole magnet for deflecting a beam of charged particles. The multipole magnet comprises a plurality of ferromagnetic poles and a plurality of permanent magnet assemblies to supply a magnetomotive force to the ferromagnetic poles. At least one of the permanent magnet assemblies has a plurality of discrete permanent magnet positions and a plurality of permanent magnets each fixed in one of the permanent magnet positions.

Abstract: Compositions comprising silica particles having a mean size by standard particle sizing of between 0.5 nm and 20 nm are described for used in activating lymphocytes in culture or in whole blood.

Abstract: Method and system are provided for efficiently populating a phase diagram for modeling of multiple substances. The method may include defining an n-way phase diagram with data points each being an n-tuple describing the n substance inputs, wherein the n-way phase diagram is defined at a user-configured resolution. The method may select an initial subset of data points and calculate their contribution to the phase diagram. The method may then generate a Bayesian model based on the initial subset of calculated data points and predicting the resultant phase and an associated uncertainty of all the uncalculated data points in the defined phase diagram. The method may select a sample subset of the data points using maximum entropy sampling and calculating a resultant phase for each of the selected data points, and incorporate the calculated phases into the Bayesian model.

Abstract: Stabilised and aquated polymeric silicate compositions are described in which the compositions are poorly condensed compositions in which the silicates are resorbable and are capable of undergoing efficient dissolution to provide bioavailable soluble silicic acid. In particular, stabilised and aquated polymeric silicates are described that are capable of intravenous delivery, useful in the treatment of cancer or systemic infection, or for topical administration, e.g. in the form of a solid or semi-solid ointment useful in the treatment of wounds or the prevention of bacterial infection.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a computer-implemented method of determining a scattering spectrum of an eye. The method comprises receiving data from a detector indicative of a reflected wave of radiation reflected from the retina, wherein the reflected wave of radiation is formed by an incident wave of masked radiation directed towards a retina of the eye, such that at least one region masked from the incident wave is present on the retina, determining a first back scattering spectrum indicative of light scattered from an optical media of the eye in dependence on a portion of the reflected wave of radiation corresponding to the at least one masked region, determining a second back scattering spectrum indicative of light scattered from a neural retina of the eye in dependence on retinal structure information representative of neural retinal structure, and determining the scattering spectrum of the eye in dependence on the first back scattering spectrum and the second back scattering spectrum.

Abstract: There are disclosed methods and apparatus for remotely measuring atmospheric pressure using a satellite (10). Measurements of reflections of a plurality of different frequencies of radio waves received back at the satellite are made, following transmission from the satellite into the atmosphere of radio waves at each of the different frequencies. Atmospheric pressure is then estimated by comparing the measurements of reflections of each of the different frequencies.

Abstract: Stabilised and aquated polymeric silicate compositions are described in which the compositions are poorly condensed compositions in which the silicates are resorbable and are capable of undergoing efficient dissolution to provide bioavailable soluble silicic acid. In particular, stabilised and aquated polymeric silicates are described that are capable of intravenous delivery, useful in the treatment of cancer or systemic infection, or for topical administration, e.g. in the form of a solid or semi-solid ointment useful in the treatment of wounds or the prevention of bacterial infection.

Abstract: The invention describes a method for the synthesis of compounds comprising the steps of: (a) compartmentalising two or more sets of primary compounds into microcapsules; such that a proportion of the microcapsules contains two or more compounds; and (b) forming secondary compounds in the microcapsules by chemical reactions between primary compounds from different sets; wherein one or both of steps (a) and (b) is performed under microfluidic control; preferably electronic microfluidic control The invention further allows for the identification of compounds which bind to a target component of a biochemical system or modulate the activity of the target, and which is co-compartmentalised into the microcapsules.

Abstract: There is provided a photoreactor for the remediation of gaseous emissions and/or contaminated water using ultraviolet (UV) or vacuum ultraviolet (VUV). There is also provided an emission source for generating UV and/or VUV, the source comprising: a microwave generator; a chamber arranged to receive microwaves generated by the microwave generator, the chamber comprising: a gas comprising species for forming excimers; a resonator arranged to receive the microwaves in the chamber and generate a plasma; a first electrode spaced apart from the resonator; and a voltage source configured to generate an electric field between the resonator and the first electrode, wherein, on application of the electric field, the electric field drives electrons and/or ions from the plasma to generate excimers and produce vacuum ultraviolet or ultraviolet emission. There are also provided methods of generating UV and/or VUV, and methods of remediating fluids.

Abstract: The invention describes a method for isolating one or more genetic elements encoding a gene product having a desired activity, comprising the steps of: (a) compartmentalising genetic elements into microcapsules; and (b) sorting the genetic elements which express the gene product having the desired activity; wherein at least one step is under microfluidic control. The invention enables the in vitro evolution of nucleic acids and proteins by repeated mutagenesis and iterative applications of the method of the invention.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to an infrared spectrometer comprising first and second opposing reflectors spaced apart by a spacing length, and a plurality of discrete concave reflecting facets, the reflecting facets being facets of at least one of the opposing reflectors. An infrared laser source is arranged to form a laser beam. The opposing reflectors are arranged such that the laser beam is reflected alternately from each of the opposing reflectors, including being reflected at least once by each of the reflecting facets. A detector is arranged to detect spectral properties of the laser beam after reflection from each of the plurality of reflecting facets, and an analyser then determines properties of a sample disposed between the first and second opposing reflectors from the detected spectral properties.

Abstract: The invention relates to a polypeptide comprising an amino acid having a bicyclo[6.1.0]non-4-yn-9-ylmethanol (BCN) group, particularly when said BCN group is present as: a residue of a lysine amino acid. The invention also relates to a method of producing a polypeptide comprising a BCN group, said method comprising genetically incorporating an amino acid comprising a BCN group into a polypeptide. The invention also relates to an amino acid comprising bicyclo[6.1.0]non-4-yn-9-ylmethanol (BCN), particularly and amino acid which is bicyclo[6.1.0]non-4-yn-9-ylmethanol (BCN) lysine. In addition the invention relates to a PylRS tRNA synthetase comprising the mutations Y271M, L274G and C313A.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) oligomers as markers of RTK activation and signalling. Methods are described based upon determining the presence of RTK oligomers and/or determining the nanometre spatial separation between RTK molecules assembled as RTK oligomers at the cell surface. Such methods are directed to the monitoring of RTK activation in cells and the detection of mutations in RTKs. Methods are also described for determining prognosis for subjects having diseases characterised by aberrant RTK activation and for selecting subjects for treatment with RTK inhibitors.

Abstract: Processes for recovering colloids of carboxylate ligand modified ferric iron hydroxide materials such as IHAT (Iron Hydroxide Adipate Tartrate) are described based on the use of water miscible non-aqueous solvents, such as ethanol, methanol and acetone. The processes produce materials with advantageous properties such as improved bioavailability, reduced aggregation and/or agglomeration and/or increased iron content.