Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of preparing a tissue matrix and its subsequent use in the replacement and/or repair of a damaged or defective meniscus. The invention also provides meniscal tissue that is substantially decellularised.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for ejecting material. The ejected material is ejected as liquid and/or liquid vapor via an explosive process which can provide a very fast ejection as well as an ejection which has a large throw. The material can be water or other fire suppressant material to provide a successful fire extinguishing system.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an electrode composed of an Al-M-Cu based alloy, to a process for preparing the Al-M-Cu based alloy, to an electrolytic cell comprising the electrode, to the use of an Al-M-Cu based alloy as an anode and to a method for extracting a reactive metal from a reactive metal-containing source using an Al-M-Cu based alloy as an anode.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for, and methods of assessing cell viability in a biological sample comprising cells or tissue. In particular the present invention provides quality assurance assays for complex biomaterials, especially but not exclusively cells derived from the pancreas, liver, kidney, lung, bone marrow and stem cells, for use in biomedical procedures. The present invention provides inter alia methods of improving assessment of donor cell/tissue viability, methods of improving the success of donor cell/tissue transplant procedures, methods of assessing the functional properties of complex biological materials prior to their use in regenerative therapies and kits therefor.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compounds and their use as ligands, in particular, in metal catalyst complexes. The ligands of the invention are capable of binding to a solid support. The invention includes the ligands in their own right and when bound to a support and the compounds may be used to prepare metal catalyst complexes.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a zero-waste process for extraction of alumina from different types of bauxite ores and red mud residues and of titanium dioxide from ilmenite. Iron oxide is first reduced to metallic iron above the melting point of C-saturated cast iron alloy which yields a high-C iron alloy and an Al and Ti metal oxide rich slag which is then treated with alkali carbonate to form alkali aluminates and titanates. The alkali aluminates are separated by water leaching from which the hydroxide of alumina is precipitated by bubbling C02. The residue from water leaching is treated with sulphuric acid and Ti02 is precipitated via a hydrolysis route. The process recovers most of the metal values and generates only small quantities of silicious residues at pH 4-5 which can be used for soil conditioning.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for ejecting material. The ejected material is ejected as liquid and liquid vapor via an explosive process which can provide a very fast ejection as well as an ejection which has a large throw. The apparatus can be used to eject fuel for a fuel injector.

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

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

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

Abstract: The present invention relates to compounds and their use as ligands, in particular, in metal catalyst complexes. The ligands of the invention are capable of binding to a solid support. The invention includes the ligands in their own right and when bound to a support and the compounds may be used to prepare metal catalyst complexes.

Abstract: The present invention is concerned with a dye system for application to a substrate, the dye system comprising: (a) at least one dye precursor; (b) an oxidizing agent; and (c) a catalyst, wherein the catalyst is a homogeneous catalyst or a heterogeneous catalyst. Preferably, the catalyst comprises at least one metal-containing compound. The invention also envisages a method for the coloration of a substrate, the method comprising treating the substrate with the dye system of the invention. In preferred embodiments of the invention, the substrate comprises human hair, natural or synthetic polymers, or textile fibers. In further preferred embodiments, the at least one dye precursor is an organic precursor, the at least one metal derivative for use as a catalyst comprises at least one inorganic metal compound or at least one metal complex comprising at least one organic ligand, and the oxidizing agent is hydrogen peroxide.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a ceramic comprising (or consisting essentially of) a solid solution containing Bi, K, Ti and Fe (and optionally Pb) which exhibits piezoelectric behaviour.

Abstract: The invention provides a spun yarn comprising recycled carbon fibre, and a method for the production thereof. The recycled carbon fibre comprises discontinuous carbon fibre and, optionally, continuous carbon fibre, and may be recycled from various sources, such as end-of- life waste and manufacturing waste. The yarn which is produced shows the required degree of strength and durability, and can be used in all conventional composite manufacturing operations where virgin yarn is currently employed, such as woven fabric manufacture, unidirectional fabric manufacture, filament winding, pultrusion and the like.

Abstract: The invention provides a reflective material, adapted for the efficient retro-reflection of radiation emitted by radar, the material comprising a multiplicity of reflective entities which are typically embedded in a substrate, the multiplicity of reflective entities being comprised in at least one reflective surface or electrically conducting surface, and the at least one reflective surface or electrically conducting surface comprising an electrically conductive coating, a high permittivity material, a foil, a film or a fabric formed from electrically conducting fibres or filaments. The reflective entities may comprise discrete shaped entities, most preferably di- or tri-hedral shaped entities, which are preferably embedded in a high permittivity medium. More preferably, the reflective entities are comprised in the machined surface of a reflecting substance comprising a polymeric sheet material which is machined to provide an irregular patterned surface.

Abstract: The invention provides a retraction device (1) adapted for use in minimally invasive surgery, said device comprising: (a) access means (3); (b) rigid support means; (c) expandable retraction means (2) comprising a multiplicity of radially oriented members (10); (d) flexible attachment means (6); and (e) a multiplicity of magnetic means, wherein said expandable retraction means in its non-expanded form is attached to said rigid support means by said flexible attachment means and is insertable into a subject through said access means, and wherein said multiplicity of magnetic means are comprised in said expandable retraction means.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of detecting a structural change in a molecule, said molecule being attached to a surface, said surface being electrically conductive, wherein the phase of the electrochemical impedance at said surface is monitored, and wherein a change in the phase in the electrochemical impedance at said surface indicates a change in the structure of said molecule. The invention further relates to methods for making arrays having molecules such as, polypeptides attached to electrically conductive surfaces such as electrodes, and to arrays.

Abstract: The invention provides dye mixtures for application to human hair, the dye mixtures comprising polyphenolic materials, these materials being obtained from botanical sources. Preferably, the botanical source is fruit, especially fruit selected from blackcurrants, blackberries, blueberries, bilberries, cranberries, grapes, chokeberries, Saskatoon berries, sea-buckthorn, mulberries acai, cherries, red cabbage and/or figs. Preferably, the polyphenolic materials comprise anthocyanin compounds which, most preferably, are aglycone anthocyanidins or glycosylated anthocyanins of the formula (III): wherein R1 and R2 are, independently, H, OH or OCH3, R3 is OH (aglycone anthocyanidins) or a glycosyl group (glycosylated anthocyanins), and x is a counter-ion. The invention also provides methods for the preparation of these dye mixtures and for the use of the dye mixtures in the semi-permanent coloration of human hair.

Abstract: Computer implemented methods and data processing apparatus are described for displaying virtual slide images. Images of a plurality of slides are automatically displayed in a first region of a display device at a first magnification. The slides comprise all the slides including material from a same specimen. An image of at least one of the slides is displayed in a second region at a second magnification greater than the first magnification. At least the image displayed in the second region is changed responsive to receiving user input. Methods for automatically determining a slide layout pattern and methods for virtually melding glass slide images into a single image are also described.