Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of synthesizing aziridines including isotopically labelled aziridines, said methods comprising contacting an imine or one or more precursors thereof with a diazo compound in the presence of a phosphoramide or a phosphoramide-derived catalyst. The present invention also relates to aziridines, modified aziridines and aziridine-derived compounds preparable by the aforementioned methods, and to phosphoramide or phosphoramide-derived catalysts suitable for use in such methods.

Abstract: A novel Fmoc protected duocarmycin subunit and utilization as a reagent in solid phase protein synthesis methodology. Also provided is a novel method of solid phase peptide synthesis, and in particular a method for the production of novel intermediates and novel monomeric and extended duocarmycin analogues having amino acid substituents.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of synthesizing aziridines including isotopically labelled aziridines, said methods comprising contacting an imine or one or more precursors thereof with a diazo compound in the presence of a phosphoramide or a phosphoramide-derived catalyst. The present invention also relates to aziridines, modified aziridines and aziridine-derived compounds preparable by the aforementioned methods, and to phosphoramide or phosphoramide-derived catalysts suitable for use in such methods.

Abstract: We describe a method for detection of the presence of an invertebrate or an invertebrate component in a sample of substantially non invertebrate material, comprising impinging said sample with a source of electromagnetic radiation at a wavelength of at least 600 nm and detecting Raman scattering/fluorescence of said invertebrate or a component of said invertebrate at a wavenumber where the non-invertebrate components of said sample either do not fluoresce or fluoresce with sufficiently low intensity wherein the non invertebrate material is edible and/or living.

Abstract: A method, system and reference target for estimating spectral data on a selected one of three spectral information types is disclosed. Spectral information types comprise illumination of a scene, spectral sensitivity of an imager imaging the scene and reflectance of a surface in the scene. The method comprises obtaining a ranking order for plural sensor responses produced by the imager, each sensor responses being produced from a reference target in the scene, obtaining, from an alternate source, data on the other two spectral information types, determining a set of constraints, the set including, for each sequential pair combination of sensor responses when taken in said ranking order, a constraint determined in dependence on the ranking and on the other two spectral information types for the respective sensor responses and, in dependence on the ranking order and on the set of constraints, determining said spectral data that optimally satisfies said constraints.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for determining the sequence bias of a sequencing technique. Furthermore, the invention relates to methods to reduce or enhance sequence bias during sequencing of nucleic acids via techniques involving adaptor ligations. Specifically the method relates to use of a degenerate RNA sequence to analyse sequence bias when generating small RNA libraries, and to the use of modified adaptors for cloning of small RNAs with degenerate or specific sequences to reduce or enhance sequencing bias, as well as various nucleic acid molecules relating thereto or derived therefrom.

Abstract: A method and system for producing accented image data for an accented image is disclosed. The method includes decomposing each of a first and a second image into a gradient representation which comprises spectral and edge components. The first image comprises more spectral dimensions than the second image. The edge component from the first image is combined with the spectral component from the second image to form a combined gradient representation. Accented image data for the accented image is then generated from data including the combined gradient representation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a polypeptide (BIG1) and variants thereof capable of enhancing the rate of cell-division of a microorganism or plant cell, as well as nucleic acid molecules encoding said polypeptides, vectors comprising said nucleic acid molecules and host cells transformed or transfected with said vectors and expressing said polypeptides. The BIG1 polypeptide which has been identified in the marine centric diatom Thalassiosira pseudonana, variants thereof and nucleic acids encoding these may be used in methods of enhancing the rate of cell-division of microorganisms, plant cells or plants which produce useful sub stances or exhibit useful properties, to increase the yield thereof.

Abstract: In a method for the recovery of an invariant image from a 3-band colour image, information relating to the angle for an “invariant direction” in a log-chromaticity space is obtained on the basis that the correction projection is that which minimizes entropy in the resulting invariant image. The method is applied to remove shadows from unsourced imagery.

Abstract: A method of adjusting the N components of an N component color signal (such as the 3 components of an RGB color signal) with respect to color temperature of illuminating light when imaging a colored subject, comprising the step of computing the difference between each of the components of the color signal for different temperatures of illuminating light, using an algorithm based on the spectral sensitivity of the imaging means and Planck's equation defining black body illumination to obtain N components whose values are independent of the color temperature of the illuminating light. Normalisation of the adjusted values renders the values independent of intensity of illumination and can also reduce the processing time for further processing of the signals. A technique for compensating for gamma correction which is commonly built in cameras, is disclosed.

Abstract: A method of determining activity of a nucleic acid ligase or a nucleic acid nuclease is described. This method comprises the steps of: (i) providing a nucleic acid molecule comprising a hairpin with a single-stranded loop and a double-stranded stem containing a target site for the nucleic acid ligase and/or the nucleic acid nuclease, wherein the nucleic acid molecule has a first end tethered to a surface and a second end remote from the first end, and wherein a detectable label is attached to the nucleic acid molecule either at the second end or between the target site and the second end; (ii) contacting the nucleic acid molecule with the nucleic acid ligase or the nucleic acid nuclease; and (iii) detecting the presence or absence of the detectable label, thereby determining activity of the nucleic acid ligase or the nucleic acid nuclease.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus for processing an image includes a camera (10), or other optical sensor means, for recording a first digital optical image of at least part of a scene illuminated by an illuminant light and for recording a second digital optical image of at least a part of substantially the same scene under substantially the same illuminant light. The images may be recorded on respectively different sensor arrays (12a and 12b). The light producing the first and second images undergoes different optical processing in order to produce those images, and processing means (18) in communication with the optical sensor means is provided for processing information relating to the first and second images. By relating the two images, the processing means (18) is able to provide information regarding the color of the illuminate light or other physical properties of the illuminated scene.

Abstract: A colour image comprises colour values in each of one or more colour channels for each of a plurality of points, or pixels, within the image. The image is represented by rank ordering the values in the or each colour channel. The image representation generated in this way is usable for automated-vision or computer-vision tasks, for example.

Abstract: There is provided a compound of formula (I), wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, R8, R9, X, Y1, Y2, Y3, Z, M, A-B and C-D have meanings given in the description, which are useful in the treatment of medical conditions for which a photodynamic compound is indicated. Compositions, apparatus and methods of treatment of a medical condition for which a photodynamic compound is indicated are also disclosed.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of making N-benzyl indoles, and to intermediates for use in the method, and to certain substantially optically pure N-benzyl indoles obtained by the method.

Abstract: The use of a calcium intracellular store inactivator for inhibiting cell growth is disclosed; for example, thapsigargin or a derivative may be used to inhibit intraocular lens cell growth. Formulations include an emulsion of the compound for coating an IOL, either ex vivo or in vivo.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of making N-benzyl indoles, and to intermediates for use in the method, and to certain substantially optically pure N-benzyl indoles obtained by the method.

Abstract: A process for producing a compound of the formu5la ##STR1## comprising the step of reacting a compound of the formula ##STR2## with a compound of the formula ##STR3## to form a compound of the formula ##STR4## wherein R.sup.2a is selected from the groups recited above for R.sup.2, or R.sup.2a --X-- is a protected hydroxyl group, and Z is a group of formula --Y--R.sub.5 recited above, or a group that can be converted into a group of said formula --Y--R.sup.5. Intermediates of formula IV and composition containing substantially optically pure enantiomers of Formula (I) are included within the scope of the invention.