Abstract: A porous macroscopically undirectionally oriented cell adhesion protein may be used to promote and direct wound healing.

Abstract: Immunoregulatry material from a mycobacterium other an M. tuberculosis, especially killed cells of M. vaccae, is an advantageous adjuvant for administration with antigens (including allergens).

Abstract: A device for use in securing a thread includes a tube having a distal end and a proximal end. The tube defines a recess at the distal end to receive therein a sleeve having a cavity in which a plug is removably inserted. The device further includes a generally U-shaped stirrup that is movably connected to the tube. The U-shaped stirrup is movable between a first position in which the base of the U holds the sleeve and plug in the recess and a second position in which the sleeve and plug are free to leave the recess. The base of the U is continuous.

Abstract: A neural network unit is described which has a plurality of neurons. The network comprises a RAM, which provides a plurality of storage locations for each of the neurons and an integrated circuit. The integrated circuit including means for defining an algorithm for the operation of the neurons and a control unit for causing the neurons to produce outputs on the basis of data stored in the storage locations and the algorithm. The integrated circuit may have a random number generator and a comparator. In effect, the neurons are virtual pRAMs (probabilistic RAMs).

Abstract: A device for use in neural processing comprises a plurality of probabilistic RAMs (pRAMs). The output of the pRAMs are connected in common to means for accumulating their output signals and for decaying the result of the accumulation. A thresholding circuit receives the decayed result at its input and produces an output signal when the decayed result exceeds a predetermined level.

Abstract: The invention comprises an anti-idiotypic antibody designated 2F10 and permitted variants thereof, which have antigenic properties similar to the group specific "a" determinant of human hepatitis B surface antigen HBsAg and have at least partial but not complete homology with such surface antigen. The invention further comprises a peptide having a chain comprising the amino acid residues Ala Val Tyr Tyr Cys Thr Arg Gly Tyr His Gly Ser Ser Leu Tyr and permited variants thereof, which, like 2F10, have antigenic properties similar to the group specific "a" determinant of human hepatitis B surface antigen HBsAg and have at least partial, but not complete, homology with said surface antigen. The amino acid sequence is found in and forms a part of 2F10.

Abstract: A device for use in a neural processing network. The network includes a memory having a plurality of storage locations each having stored a number representing a probability. Each storage location is selectively addressible to cause the contents of the location to be read to an input of a comparator. A noise generator inputs to the comparator a random number representing noise. At an output of the comparator, an output signal appears having a first or second value depending on the values of the numbers received from the addressed storage location and the noise generator. The probability of the output signal has a given one of the first and second values determined by the number at the addressed location. The address inputs for the memory are derived from a real-to-spike frequency translator which has real values as its input vector.

Abstract: An instrument for shaping a bone cavity has a frame (2) including a stud (5) for locating the instrument in a bone canal. A curved rod (1) is supported on the frame and a plurality of cutting teeth (18) are threaded on the rod so as to be rotatable thereon. The cutting teeth are drivably interconnected so that rotation of one tooth causes an adjacent tooth to rotate.

Abstract: A neuron for use in a neural processing network, comprises a memory having a plurality of storage locations at each of which a number representing a probability is stored, each of the storage locations being selectively addressable to cause the contents of the location to be read to an input of a comparator. A noise generator inputs to the comparator a random number representing noise. At an output of the comparator an output signal appears having a first or second value depending on the values of the numbers received from the addressed storage location and the noise generator, the probability of the output signal having a given one of the first and second values being determined by the number at the addressed location.

Abstract: A knee prosthesis is provided which forces the femur and tibia apart on twisting of the knee so that weight applied through the knee has an untwisting action. A tibial member and an intermediate member are journalled together by peg which fits into socket. Opposite handed helical surfaces cam the members apart when the knee is twisted. A knee hinge is defined by the intermediate member and a female member.

Abstract: A human joint implant, for example a knee prosthesis has a working part formed with a stub having a conical profile that snap-fits into a stem that forms an anchorage in a bone cavity. The stub may carry a stud at its end that is a snap-fit into a ferrule. A flanged sleeve fits between the stub and a conical socket part of the stem.

Abstract: A sewing machine for forming stitches in a substrate, for example, in forming stitches in tissue during surgery, comprises a needle for passing thread into the substrate from one side thereof, at a first location and for withdrawing the thread from the substrate at a second location spaced from the first location. The needle is removably operable solely from one side of the substrate. A stapling machine is also disclosed operating on similar principles for similar purposes.

Abstract: Nicotinamide and its analogues (but not nicotinic acid) are effective in preventing or reversing the effects of microbial toxins, e.g. pertussis toxin, which ADP-ribosylate G-proteins.

Abstract: A prosthetic shape sensor comprises a single camera unit and a reflecting surface each mounted on a turntable and arranged opposite each other to define therebetween a space for a stump of a patient. The reflecting surface is shaped to fit between the stump and a leg of the patient. The camera unit includes a light source and the camera unit and the reflecting surface are rotatable together on the turntable through at least 180.degree.. The camera unit can collect a series of silhouette views of the stump upon rotation about the stump.

Abstract: "Immuno-therapeutic agents of killed cells prepared from Mycobacterium Vaccae that are useful in the treatment of mycobacterial disease, especially tuberculosis or leprosy, in particular as an adjuvant to chemotherapy".

Abstract: A fracture reduction apparatus comprises a first holder for holding first set of bone fixation pins, and a second holder for holding a second set of bone fixation pins, the first and second sets of bone fixation pins being located, in use, with the site of the fracture intermediate them. Each of the holders is rotatable about a respective set of three orthogonal axes, the three axes of each set intersecting one another at a respective point located in the bone, the two respective points being spaced from one another along the longitudinal axis of the bone.

Abstract: There is described an apparatus for determining the behaviour of powder of granular material under stress, comprising, at least one flexible boundary arranged to abut one face of a sample of the powder or granular material, means to apply stress to the sample through the flexible boundary, a detector to detect the position of the flexible boundary as the sample is stressed, and a control to adjust the position of the flexible boundary. The detector may comprise an electrical circuit, advantageously a make and break circuit. There is also described an apparatus for determining the behavior of powder or granular material under stress, comprising at least one flexible boundary arranged to abut one face of a sample of the powder or granular material, means to apply stress to the sample through the flexible boundary, and adjusting members attached to the flexible boundary to cause it to strain as the sample strains under the applied stress.

Abstract: A shapeable matrix comprises a plurality of first members each of which has a plurality of projections located on the periphery thereof, and a plurality of second members each of which has a plurality of recesses located on the periphery thereof, each recess being adapted to receive a respective one of the projections of an adjacent first member. Means are provided on each of the second members for releasably clamping the projections of the first members in recesses of the second members, the clamping being operative in a released condition to permit alteration in the relative orientation of adjacent members and being operative in a clamped condition to prevent such alteration. A chair is disclosed which comprises a support frame and a shapeable matrix as set forth above mounted on the support frame.

Abstract: A shapeable matrix comprises a plurality of first members each of which has a plurality of projections located on the periphery thereof, and a plurality of second members each of which has a plurality of recesses located on the periphery thereof, each recess being adapted to receive a respective one of the projections of an adjacent first member. Means are provided on each of the second members for releasably clamping the projections of the first members in recesses of the second members, the clamping being operative in a released condition to permit alteration in the relative orientation of adjacent members and being operative in a clamped condition to prevent such alteration. A chair is disclosed which comprises a support frame and a shapeable matrix as set forth above mounted on the support frame.

Abstract: The determination of the concentration of compounds such as CO.sub.2 having an influence on the pH of a medium during polarography is described. Characteristics of polarograms when obtained in unbuffered electrolytes (the polarogram plateau slope position of the upper knee and half-wave potential thereof) are pH-sensitive. These can be detected electronically and signals processed to provide a measure of such concentrations.In one preferred embodiment (FIG. 2) a miniature pO.sub.2 polarographic sensor has cathode channels (A) and (B) biased respecitvely at -750 mV and -950 mV. The output of channel (A) provides pO.sub.2 as in normal polarography. The output of (B) is divided (6) and further corrected for pO.sub.2 (8,10) to provide pCO.sub.2.The apparatus is especially useful for simultaneous pO.sub.2, pCO.sub.2 monitoring in physiological fluids without the need for a separate pCO.sub.2 sensor.