Abstract: The present invention relates to effervescent compositions which are resistant to water vapor in the atmosphere and to methods of preparing such compositions. In particular, the invention relates to an effervescent composition comprising a co-crystal. The co-crystal comprises an acidic component and a basic component is separate. The co-crystal comprising the acidic component is resistant to water uptake avoiding initiating the effervescence prematurely. Upon dissolution of the co-crystal and the basic component effervescence occurs.

Abstract: This invention relates to a device and method for measuring the depth of water and sediment deposition in pipes, channels, overland flows and tidal beaches. Sediment deposition may be detrimental to flood control in sewer systems. The invention is specifically concerned with measuring an electrical property such as the conductivity or capacitance in different mediums and therefore quantifying the depths of the different mediums. The measurement of an electrical property such as conductance or capacitance of the medium may also indicate the nature of the medium such as sediment structure, water salinity, and the presence of pollutants. The device includes an array of elongate, substantially mutually parallel electrodes each having a predetermined length, the lengths being incremented stepwise from a shortest electrode to a longest electrode.

Abstract: This invention relates to a device and method for measuring the depth of water and sediment deposition in pipes, channels, overland flows and tidal beaches. Sediment deposition may be detrimental to flood control in sewer systems. The invention is specifically concerned with measuring an electrical property such as the conductivity or capacitance in different mediums and therefore quantifying the depths of the different mediums. The measurement of an electrical property such as conductance or capacitance of the medium may also indicate the nature of the medium such as sediment structure, water salinity, and the presence of pollutants. The device includes an array of elongate, substantially mutually parallel electrodes each having a predetermined length, the lengths being incremented stepwise from a shortest electrode to a longest electrode.

Abstract: The present inventors have harnessed the targeting of nanoparticles to tumour sites, combined with the tumour site specific elevated MMP-14 activity within one conjugate to simultaneously deliver a vascular disrupting agent (VDA) and a MRI contrast agent to a tumour site. The MMP activatable conjugate of the present invention provides both therapeutic and diagnostic functions—and is referred to as a “theranostic”. The theranostic conjugate of the present invention achieves the benefits of tumour site specificity, VDA delivery and MRI contrast agent delivery in a single theranostic conjugate. Consequently, the present invention provides a cancer “theranostic” which improves therapeutic efficacy whilst simultaneously reducing dose-limiting systemic toxicities and provides a tool for rapidly and non-invasively identifying tumour location, monitoring drug delivery and pharmacodynamics.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of determining the predisposition of a subject to cancer or other disease states characterised by free radical induced DNA damage such as COPD or asthma and identifying those with undiagnosed cancer. The method is able to utilise whole blood from a subject and is based on exposing the samples to different levels or intensities of electromagnetic radiation, preferably by altering the distance between the source of radiation and the sample.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and assay useful for determining the sensitivity of the cells of a subject to genetic damage from electromagnetic radiation. The assay may comprise a substrate suitable for mounting a sample of lymphocytes from a subject and an electromagnetic radiation source.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions and methods useful in studying or modulating melanin pigmentation in the skin. Particularly, the invention relates to compositions comprising a substance capable of modulating the activity or expression of ALK6 (SEQ ID 2) or Cdc42 which in turn are capable of modulation of the transfer of melanin from melanocytes to keratinocytes and potentially from keratinocytes to keratinocytes. The invention also relates to assays for identifying such compositions, and methods of modulating skin pigmentation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to shape memory polymers (SMP) and especially to shape memory polymer containing a water soluble non-reactive plasticiser and to uses thereof.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are the methods to improve the electrical conductivity for micro-moulded plastic parts containing carbon nanotubes. The polymer/carbon nanotubes composites suitable for polymer micromoulding including 80˜99.95 wt % of a polymer pellet or powder, 0-2 wt % of antioxidant, 0-2 wt % of dispersant agent and 0.05-20 wt % of carbon nanotube with a diameter 0.5-200 nm and a length of 200 nm-20 ?m are firstly prepared through melt extrusion. The plastic microparts are prepared by micromoulding of the polymer/carbon nanotubes composites including micro extrusion, micro injection and hot embossing at optimized processing conditions and then are subject to a post thermal treatment to enhance the electrical conductivity. The post thermal treatment methods include electric heating, microwave, infrared or plasma heating.

Abstract: Dynamic characteristics of a liquid surface (160) are measured by sending acoustic signals (140) to or more target areas (162a-162c) on the liquid surface and receiving said acoustic signals (150a-150c) after reflection from the target area. The detected signals are processed to measure phase shift between the sent and received acoustic signals, the measured phase shift varying over time. The varying phase shift is used to indicate fluctuations over time in the local height of the liquid surface in the target area. The liquid may be water, effluent etc. flowing in a channel or conduit. With suitable calibration, the measured height fluctuations can be used to infer flow characteristics such as surface roughness, wave height, flow depth, flow velocity, volumetric flow rate, shear stress, sediment transport. Using an array of receivers and target areas, additional spatial and temporal characteristics of the surface and the flow can be measured.

Abstract: The present invention relates to prodrugs of vascular disrupting agents comprising a vascular disrupting agent (VDA) associated with a MMP proteolytic cleavage site and to the use of such prodrugs in the targeted treatment of cancer.

Abstract: Compounds of the general formula (I) or (IA) in which X is H, Y is a leaving group, R1 preferably being an aromatic DNA binding subunit are prodrug analogues of duocarmycin. The compounds are expected to be hydroxylated at the carbon atom to which C is joined, by cytochrome P450, in particular by CYP1B1, expressed at high levels in tumors. The prodrug is expected to be activated preferentially in tumor cells, which it will act as a DNA alkylating agent preventing cell division.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compounds, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, comprising a vascular disrupting agent (VDA) associated and a MMP proteolytic cleavage site. The compounds are useful in the treatment of cancer.

Abstract: Compounds of the general formula (I) or (IA) in which X is H, Y is a leaving group, R1 and optionally also R3 preferably being an aromatic DNA binding subunit are prodrug analogues of duocarmycin. The compounds are expected to be hydroxylated at the carbon atom to which X is joined, by cytochrome P450, in particular by CYP1B1, expressed at high levels in tumors. The prodrug is expected to be activated preferentially in tumor cells, where it will act as a DNA alkylating agent preventing cell division.

Abstract: The invention is not A support arrangement (2) for medical equipment, the support arrangement (2) being self supporting and having an attachment means (10) for optional attachment to patient support apparatus. The arrangement may include an upwardly extending portion (8) arranged, in use, to be located at a side region of patient support apparatus and an outwardly extending medical support portion (12) arranged, in use, to be located at least partially over the patient support apparatus.

Abstract: A battery (16) drives an electric motor (17) which in turn drives a fan (18). A circuit board (20) controls the operation of the motor and fan to maintain the flow rate. Air is drawn through an inlet (22) and out through a vent (24). Foam discs (32) and (34) may extract particles from the air and an electrostatic filter may attract aerosols in the air.

Abstract: A ground anchorage testing arrangement having an impulse imparting apparatus connectable to a ground anchorage tendon (20) or element thereof to be tested, the impulse imparting apparatus comprising an attachment means (22) for attachment to the ground anchorage tendon (20), a movable mass (31), a guide (28, 34) for guiding movement of the mass in the direction substantially aligned with the axis 0 of the ground anchorage to be tested and a drive means for imparting a driving force to move the mass in said direction (not shown). A method of assessing the integrity of ground anchorages, the method comprising the steps of (a) imparting a load impulse to a ground anchorage tendon to be tested, (b) monitoring the vibrational response signal of the anchorage to the imparted load impulse, (c) conditioning the vibrational response signal and (d) applying the conditioned vibrational response signal to an artificial neural network.

Abstract: A broadband antenna having closely spaced dipole antenna elements to form a log-periodic array, arranged normal to a signal feed network having a separate feed line for each of the dipole elements. The length of each feed line is selected to compensate for phase delays such that all frequency components of the radiated signal are in phase at a predetermined phase reference point of the antenna.

Abstract: A method for the dewatering of a material layer of paper fibers in a double-screen former, where the sheet weight (oven-dried sheet weight (otro)) is more than 100 g/m.sup.2 and/or the screen circulates with a speed of at least 100 m/min. Two screens are guided at two guide surfaces that, for example, belong to open forming cylinders. In this arrangement forming cylinders of this kind are so dimensioned and positioned that no dewatering elements that contact one of the screens are present between the run-out line of the screens from the first guide surface and the run-in line at the second guide surface.

Abstract: A moling apparatus comprises a housing having a head for penetrating ground, an anvil in the housing connected to the head, and a hammer in the housing and spaced therefrom by a spring. A vibrator unit is spaced from the hammer and arranged to transfer vibration to the housing and the hammer. In a first mode of the apparatus, vibration transmitted to the housing causes fluidization of the surrounding ground to allow progressive penetration of the apparatus. In a second mode, the braking effect of the ground on the head causes the hammer to move against the spring and impact the anvil thereby driving the head through the ground, the apparatus being operable at or between each mode.