Abstract: There is provided a cell culture microtrench being defined on or in a surface of a substrate, wherein the ratio of the width of the microtrench to the maximum length of the short axis of a cell type of interest is about 6 or preferably less, the length of the short axis of the cell type being measured when a cell is in detached or suspended form. There is also provided an array comprising such a microtrench and uses of such microtrenches, including cell-based assays.

Abstract: Methods of identifying gene targets associated with learning and memory and with memory consolidation, as well as to specific nucleic acid molecules that have been discovered to be associated with memory consolidation are provided. Accordingly, the invention also relates to methods of modulating learning and memory function, methods of diagnosing learning and memory disorders, and methods of identifying compounds that modulate learning and memory function via manipulations of the nucleic acid molecules and their products.

Abstract: One aspect of the invention is a homodyne coherent receiver, suitable for high speed phase shift keying (PSK), the receiver comprising a receiver for receiving an incoming signal having a carrier-less modulation format, a signal conditioning sub-system that generates a carrier component from the incoming signal, and an optical injection phase locked loop (OIPLL) that phase locks the generated carrier component of the incoming signal. Embodiments of the invention may enable DSP free detection of optical PSK signals, which may be required in next generation fiber transmission systems and in optical constellation analyzer systems. In addition, embodiments of the invention may provide improved receiver sensitivity performance comparing to prior art systems using direct detection schemes. Also, embodiments of the invention may be advantageous in terms of cost and energy efficiency.

Abstract: An electrical insulator comprises an elongate shank and one or more sheds disposed along the length of the shank. The surface of the insulator comprises longitudinally extending flutes, the depth of which are varied along the length of the insulator such that the circumferential distance of all transverse sections along the length of the insulator is substantially constant or controlled. Instead of flutes, the surface may be formed with an array of protuberances and/or concavities. The insulator thus provides a defined perimeter and surface area along its length, such that areas of the surface are not preferentially heated by surface currents to form dry bands and thereby cause arcing. Such topography also renders the insulator less susceptible to the degrading effects of surface pollution.

Abstract: Methods of identifying gene targets associated with schizophrenia or the symptoms thereof, as well as to specific nucleic acid molecules that have been discovered to be associated with schizophrenia are provided. Accordingly, the invention also relates to methods of modulating schizophrenia or the symptoms thereof, methods of diagnosing schizophrenia or the symptoms thereof, methods for predicting the susceptibility to schizophrenia or the symptoms thereof, and methods of identifying compounds that modulate schizophrenia or the symptoms thereof via manipulations of the nucleic acid molecules and their products.

Abstract: A method of processing an Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiplex (OFDM) signal having a plurality of data carriers and a plurality of unused carriers is disclosed. The method comprises transforming an original frequency-domain OFDM signal into a time domain signal and simulating the effect of a non-linear amplifier on the time-domain signal to provide a potentially distorted time domain signal. The potentially distorted time domain signal is transformed into a potentially distorted frequency domain signal and at least some of any values of the data carriers in the potentially distorted frequency domain signal are restored with corresponding values from the original frequency domain signal. At least some of the unused carriers in the at least partially restored frequency domain signal are scaled with a scaling factor.

Abstract: A device and method is disclosed for improving the detection of a ligand by a receptor by concentrating microbes by removing particulates from fluid-borne samples and/or causing selective aggregation of concentrated microbes. The device may be configured as a multipath valve capable purifying/concentrating a sample in one orientation and delivering the concentrated sample in another orientation. In one embodiment, the device includes a body that defines a plurality of chambers and pathways and supports a pathogen capture unit that houses a receptor that exhibits specificity for a ligand. In another embodiment, the capture unit houses a plurality of antibody coated generally spherical particles capable of binding to a ligand.

Abstract: A method is provided for improving quality of cheese produced from a milk batch. A light beam from an incident light source impinges onto a surface of the milk batch, and light backscatter is optically detected during a coagulation process and correlated to an optimum cutting time for the milk coagulum. Next, light backscattered from a curd and whey mixture derived from the milk batch during a syneresis process is optically detected and correlated to an optimum syneresis endpoint. At least one of the backscattered light data, optical parameters developed from analysis of the backscattered light data, and whey fat dilution are correlated to at least one of a milk protein %, a milk fat %, a milk total solids content, a milk processing temperature, a curd moisture content, a curd moisture change over time, whey fat content, a whey fat loss, and a final curd yield.

Abstract: The invention provides a selective Sigma 1 or Dopamine D3 receptor agonist or a 5HT2c receptor ligand for use in the treatment of symptoms of anxiety and/or depression associated with an affective disorder and/or symptoms associated with cognitive impairment disorder. Particularly useful are diphenhydramine derivatives of Formula (I) and particularly (2-[(4-butylsulfanylphenyl)-phenyl-methyl]sulfanyl-N,N-dimethyl-ethanamin) (Captodiamine).

Abstract: The invention provides a compound for use in the treatment of symptoms associated with psychosis, schizophrenia, a cognitive impairment disorder, a mood disorder, a nervous system disorder and/or a behavioral disorder. The compound has the formula ? and is administered to a subject in need thereof in an effective amount. The compound Meparfynol (3-methylpent-1-yn-3-ol) has been found to be effective.

Abstract: An apparatus for the biological treatment of saltwater-based domestic wastewater, the apparatus having an inlet for the introduction of the saltwater-based domestic wastewater, an outlet for the removal of treated wastewater, means for monitoring the salinity level of the saltwater-based domestic wastewater entering or within the apparatus and means for controlling the salinity level of the saltwater-based domestic wastewater entering or within the apparatus such that fluctuations in the salinity level of the saltwater-based domestic wastewater are reduced and the biological treatment of the saltwater-based domestic wastewater is thereby maintained.

Abstract: A method for producing polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA), comprising (i) culturing in a culture medium containing a substrate comprising one or more monoaromatic hydrocarbons selected from the group consisting of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, ortho-xylene, meta-xylene, para-xylene and styrene, one or more strains of Pseudomonas putida selected from the group consisting of F1, mt-2 and CA-3 having the respective accession numbers DSM 6899, NCIMB10432 and NCIMB41162; and (ii) recovering the PHA produced from the culture medium; with the proviso that the substrate cannot comprise styrene in the absence of at least one of benzene, toluene, ethyl benzene and ortho-, meta- or para-xylene.

Abstract: A method of installing a transcutaneous prosthesis which includes a first component, a second component adapted for location between the bone and the skin, the second component having a surface treatment for stimulation of fibroblastic cell proliferation and attachment of epithelial cells and a third component adapted for location to extend from the skin surface and the third component having an outer surface. The outer surface of the third component has a surface energy that is lower than a surface energy of at least the first component and which is low enough to deter bacterial adhesion.

Abstract: Methods for diagnosing pathology of the liver in a subject suspected of having such pathology are disclosed. The methods comprise quantifiably detecting lectin binding on proteins in biological fluids, and comparing the detected lectin binding with reference values for the binding of lectin of such proteins in healthy or disease states.

Abstract: A wireless network (1) comprises a base station (2) and sensor nodes (3). The base station (2) comprises a network interface (10), an application interface (11), topology control functions (12) a timer (13), and a buffer (14). Each sensor node (3) comprises a network interface (20), route control functions (21), processing functions (22), sensors (23), flood mechanism programs (24), tree mechanism programs (25), and data forwarding programs (26). The network operates by establishing a conventional routing tree from the sink node that is used when the network is stable. But when a sending node detects a node or link failure it dynamically switches to sending its data packets using a flooding mechanism, rather than waiting for the routing tree to be reestablished. This reduces the latency for data delivery. Also, when flooding the data packets, it allows the packets to be flooded to nodes that are an equal number of hops from the sink node as the send node is from the sink node.

Abstract: A screening method for identifying an individual having a pre-disposition towards having a cancer is disclosed, which screening method comprises the steps of: (a) obtaining a test sample comprising a nucleotide sequence comprised in the MYH gene of the individual or an amino acid sequence of a polypeptide expressed thereby; and (b) comparing a region of the test sample sequence with the corresponding region of the wild type sequence, whereby a difference between the test sample sequence and the wild type sequence signifies that the individual is pre-disposed to having the cancer; and wherein the difference comprises a specified variation.

Abstract: A method for tumor screening using urine of a mammal, the method includes obtaining a total urine nucleic acid (e.g., DNA) from a urine sample of a mammal, extracting a high molecular weight urine nucleic acid (above 1000 bp) by contacting the total urine nucleic acid with an adsorbent in the presence of a buffer which promotes binding of the high molecular weight urine nucleic acid to the adsorbent, replacing the buffer which promotes binding of the high molecular weight urine nucleic acid with a buffer which promotes binding of the low molecular weight urine nucleic acid to the adsorbent, extracting the low molecular weight urine nucleic acid by contacting with the adsorbent, eluting the low molecular weight urine nucleic acid, and assaying the low molecular weight urine nucleic acid for a presence or absence of a gene sequence specific to a certain type of tumor.

Abstract: A junctionless metal-oxide-semiconductor transistor is described. In one aspect, a transistor device comprises a semiconductor material. The semiconductor material comprises first, second, and third portions. The second portion is located between the first and third portions. The first, second, and third portions are doped with dopants of the same polarity and the same concentration. The transistor device further comprises an electrode connected to the second portion. A current flows between the first and third portions when a voltage is applied to the electrode.

Abstract: A nucleoside analogue compound is provided which has a six-membered aromatic ring system, the aromatic ring system being substituted in the para position with an unbranched unsubstituted alkyl or alkoxy moiety, wherein the alkyl or alkoxy moiety, in total, has from 3 to 8 carbon atoms. This compound shows anti-vira1 activity, for example with respect to varicella zoster virus and can thus be used in therapeutic methods for the prophylaxis and treatment of viral infections such as varicella zoster virus.

Abstract: Disclosed are screening methods and sequences related thereto. Disclosed are methods for detecting mutations in the MYH gene of an individual. Also disclosed are methods of genotyping and methods of predicting for an individual the likelihood of developing certain cancers, such as colorectal cancer.