Abstract: A composite fibre comprising polyurethane and a particulate, wherein the particulate has mean particle diameter in the range 50 nm-100 ?m. A web comprising this fibre, and the use of the web for non-slip applications or antimicrobial applications, together with a method for making the fibre.

Abstract: The present Invention relates to the monitoring of biological substances, such as non-invasive monitoring of such substances in animal, for examples biomarkers and metabolites. Specifically, the invention further relates to such monitoring using rare earth tagged marker compounds. The invention further relates to such monitoring using laser spectroscopy or Raman spectroscopy. The invention further relates to the use of such monitoring in disease states, such as stroke, neurological disorders and cardiovascular disorders.

Abstract: There are provided collagen based polymeric materials comprising collagen molecules and/or collagen derived molecules which have been functionalized by the addition of one or more ethylenically unsaturated moieties and which have been cross-linked via said moieties. Also provided are collagen based compositions and methods of producing collagen based polymeric materials.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for the application of a bleaching agent to a substrate, the method comprising the treatment of the substrate in an aqueous system comprising a liquid bleaching agent in a closed container, the treatment being carried out at a ratio of liquor to substrate which does not exceed 3:1. Typically, the method is applied to the bleaching of textile fibres and may optionally comprise a bleaching and scouring treatment. The invention also provides a method for the removal of surplus bleaching agents following the bleaching treatment, the method comprising not more than three aqueous wash-off treatments of the substrate. In addition to facilitating the use of much reduced liquor levels, the method also allows for significant reductions to be achieved in usage levels of bleaching agents, auxiliary agents and rinsing agents, thereby reducing generation of waste liquors requiring disposal.

Abstract: This document provides methods and materials for treating cancer. For example, methods and materials for identifying antigens and combinations of antigens that can be used to treat cancer as well as combinations of antigens having the ability to reduce established tumors within a mammal (e.g., a human) are provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for freezing a water-containing quantity of a biological entity or a formulation in a vessel using a mineral nucleator, to the use of the mineral as a nucleator and to a vessel with the mineral in or on the whole or part of a surface thereof.

Abstract: A method for allowing a first party and a second party to obtain shared secret information is provided. The method comprises the steps of: obtaining, by the first party, a sequence of values A=X+NA where X is a sequence of values and NA is a random sequence associated with the first party; obtaining, by the second party, a sequence of values B=X+NB where NB is a random sequence associated with the second party; performing, by the first and second parties, a data matching procedure to identify corresponding pairs of values, a, b, in respective sequences A and B that match, wherein sequences A and B are discrete-valued sequences equal to, derived from, or derived using, sequences A and B; wherein the shared secret information is equal to, or derived from, or derived using, the matching values in sequences A and B.

Abstract: There is described a material comprising tapes, ribbons, fibrils or fibers characterized in that each of the ribbons, fibrils or fibers have an antiparallel arrangement of peptides in a ?-sheet tape-like substructure.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for the application of a treatment agent to a substrate, the method comprising the treatment of the pre-wetted substrate in an aqueous system comprising the solid particulate treatment agent in a closed container, the treatment being carried out at a ratio of liquor to substrate which does not exceed 2:1. Typically, the method is applied to the dyeing of textile fibres at liquor ratios of ?1:1 and is carried out in the absence of additives conventionally included for the sole purpose of promoting dye uptake by controlling electrical interactions or otherwise enhancing interactions between the substrate and the treatment agent. The invention also provides a method for the removal of surplus treatment agents following application of said treatment agents to a substrate, said method comprising not more than three wash-off treatments of said substrate with water following said application.

Abstract: Novel self-assembling peptide complexes comprising a charged peptide and a polysaccharide, methods of producing them and uses therefore are described. The novel self-assembling peptide complexes have particular utility in the restoration of biomechanical or biochemical function of a variety of biological tissues, for example and without limitation, in degenerated spinal discs, osteoarthritic joints, damaged cartilage, meniscus, ligaments, tendons, dental, ophthalmic and cardiovascular and blood vessel tissues. Methods of repairing and or restoring biomechanical or biochemical function of biological tissues and scaffolds for the support of cell growth are also described.

Abstract: The present invention relates to scaffold proteins derived from plant cystatins and to nucleic acids encoding them. The scaffolds are highly stable and have the ability to display peptides. The scaffolds are particularly well suited for constructing libraries, e.g., in phage display or related systems. The invention also relates to various uses of the scaffolds, including in therapy, diagnosis, environmental and security monitoring, synthetic biology and research, and to cells and cell cultures expressing the scaffold proteins.

Abstract: The invention provides natural multi-composite bone implants such as bone-connective tissue-bone and osteochondral implants for the replacement and/or repair of, for example and in particular a damaged or defective bone-meniscus-bone joint or a bone-patella tendon-bone joint or osteochondral lesions, methods of preparing the composites and uses thereof. The invention also provides natural or native composite bone-connective tissue-bone and osteochondral matrices or scaffolds that are substantially decellularized for subsequent transplantation/implantation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for recovering a primary metal residue from a metal-containing composition.

Abstract: A method of inhibiting scale in a geological formation comprising depositing a binder on the formation surface, delivering a nano-material to the surface where it chemically interacts with the binder, emplacing a scale inhibitor on the formation that is absorbed by the nano-material, where a sustained release of the scale inhibitor into the geological formation results.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and apparatus to provide coated microbubbles, particularly but not exclusively microbubbles at least partially coated with a component, for example a clinically active component. Systems of the present invention use electromagnetic fields to move microbubbles between streams of liquids in order to perform coating or washing steps.

Abstract: A data centre network, comprises a first group of optical ports for connection to respective servers of a first group of servers; a second group of optical ports for connection to respective servers of a second group of servers; a first lower passive optical routing element arranged to route optical communication signals between the first group of optical ports and a first lower optical communication path; a second lower passive optical routing element arranged to route optical communication signals between the second group of optical ports and a second lower optical communication path; an upper passive optical routing element arranged to: (i) route optical communication signals between the first lower optical communication path and an upper optical communication path, and (ii) route optical communication signals between the second lower optical communication path and the upper optical communication path.

Abstract: We describe a plant cell which is modified by the inclusion of a nucleic acid molecule that encodes a regulator of auxin signalling and which is adapted for expression in a gravity sensing cell.

Abstract: This invention relates to bubble generation, in particular to microbubble generation in a microfluidic device, which bubbles may be useful as contrasting agents or drug delivery vehicles. The invention further relates to apparatuses, systems and methods for manufacturing said microbubbles, microbubbles produced by such methods and to their uses, e.g. in medical, diagnostic and other such applications. The microbubbles are preferentially formed using a microspray regime.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a hydrogel formulation in which the solid phase is composed of a continuous net work of siloxane bonds and one or more calcium phosphate phases doped with one or more metal dopants.

Abstract: A flow monitoring system is described for monitoring flow of a mixed-phase sample comprising at least a first phase and a second phase having different electrical conductivities, the second phase being a liquid or a gas and substantially electrically non- conductive and the first phase being a liquid and having a conductivity higher than the second phase.