Abstract: The invention provides a method of identifying an inhibitor of LtaS comprising: (a) providing bacteria which comprise a mutation in the mbl gene or homologue thereof; (b) culturing the bacteria of (a) in the presence of a test substance under conditions of low magnesium; (c) monitoring the growth of the bacteria; wherein growth or more rapid growth of the bacteria compared to growth in the absence of the test substance is indicative that the test substance is an inhibitor of LtaS.

Abstract: A dimeric aluminium(salen) catalyst of formula I: wherein: Y-Q is CRC1?N or CRC1RC2—NRN1, where RC1, RC2 and RN1 are independently selected from H, halo, optionally substituted C1-20 alkyl, optionally substituted C5-20 aryl, ether and nitro; each of the substituents R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, R8, R9, R10, R11, R12, R13, R14, R15, and R16, is independently selected from H, halo, optionally substituted C1-20 alkyl, optionally substituted C5-20 aryl, optionally substituted C3-20 heterocyclyl, ether and nitro; X1 and X2 are independently either (i) a C2-5 alkylene chain, which is optionally substituted by one or more groups selected from C1-4 alkyl and C5-7 aryl, or a C1-3 bisoxyalkylene chain, which is optionally substituted by one or more groups selected from C1-4 alkyl and C5-7 aryl or (ii) represent a divalent group selected from C5-7 arylene, C5-7 cyclic alkylene and C3-7 heterocyclylene, which may be optionally substituted; (i) (a) at least one of R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, R8, R9, R10, R11, R12, R13,

Abstract: A process for preparing functionalised microporous polymers (which are also known as micro-cellular polymers or polyHIPE polymers (PHPs)) using intensified internal heating (for example by microwave irradiation).

Abstract: A method of depositing or etching a micro- or nano-scale pattern on a work piece is disclosed, including the steps of: (a) placing the work piece in an electrochemical reactor in close proximity to a patterned tool; (b) connecting the work piece such that it is the anode if is to be etched or the cathode if it is to be deposited, and the patterned tool such that it is the counter electrode; (c) pumping electrolytic fluid necessary for the electrolytic operation of the cell formed between the two electrodes; and (d) applying a current across the electrodes to etch or deposit the work piece.

Abstract: A peak flow measurement device comprises a hollow body (1) having an inlet (8) for receiving fluid and an outlet (3), wherein the inlet (8) and outlet (3) are spaced apart from each other, the cross-sectional area of the body being greater than the cross-sectional area of the outlet and wherein in use the device is oriented such that the inlet is above the outlet and the measured peak flow is proportional to the maximum height (11) of fluid within the body.

Abstract: A process for the production of cyclic carbonates comprising contacting an epoxide with carbon dioxide in the presence of a dimeric aluminium(salen) catalyst, and a co-catalyst capable of supplying Y?, where Y is selected from Cl, Br and I, where the dimeric aluminium(salen) catalyst is of formula I:

Abstract: A scapula component (1) for a reverse shoulder prosthesis comprises a part spherical, convex, surface (3) which is less than a hemisphere. The part spherical surface does not have a rotational axis of symmetry, and may include a main circular surface portion and one or more subsidiary surface portions (5, 6, 7) depending from an edge of the main surface portion. A humerus component (200) for a reverse shoulder prosthesis comprises a cup member (202) having a part spherical, concave bearing surface (206) surrounded by an oval rim (208).

Abstract: A method of depositing or etching a micro- or nano-scale pattern on a work piece is disclosed, including the steps of: (a) placing the work piece in an electrochemical reactor in close proximity to a patterned tool; (b) connecting the work piece such that it is the anode if is to be etched or the cathode if it is to be deposited, and the patterned tool such that it is the counter electrode; (c) pumping electrolytic fluid necessary for the electrolytic operation of the cell formed between the two electrodes; and (d) applying a current across the electrodes to etch or deposit the work piece.

Abstract: A process for preparing functionalised microporous polymers (which are also known as micro-cellular polymers or polyHIPE polymers (PHPs)) using intensified internal heating (for example by microwave irradiation).

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes: a SiC substrate; a silicide layer disposed on the SiC substrate; and a carbide layer disposed on the silicide layer. The silicide layer includes a first metal, and the carbide layer includes a second metal. The first metal is Ni or Ni alloy, and the second metal is Ti, Ta or W. The device provides excellent ohmic contact and high quality surface metallization construction.

Abstract: A method of forming an ohmic contact on a substrate composed of a wide-band gap semiconductor material includes: depositing a transition metal group metal on the substrate; annealing the substrate at a high temperature to cause a solid state chemical reaction between the substrate and the deposited metal that forms a modified layer in the substrate having modified properties different than the substrate, and by-products composed of a silicide and a nanocrystalline graphite layer; selectively etching the substrate to remove one or more of the by-products of the solid state chemical reaction from a surface of the substrate; and depositing a metal film composed of a transition group metal over the modified layer on the substrate to form the ohmic contact. The modified layer permits formation of the ohmic contact without high temperature annealing after depositing the metal film.

Abstract: A logarithmic arithmetic apparatus for enabling a microprocessor to determine the approximate value of a logarithmic function F(x) at a value of x of interest is disclosed. The apparatus includes look up tables (104 to 107) for storing and simultaneously accessing values of the function and its derivative for discrete values of x, an error between the value of the function and the value extrapolated from the derivative for discrete values of x, and a ratio function for determining the proportion of this error across an interval between two adjacent discrete values of x. The apparatus is also provided with multipliers (108, 109) and adder stages (110 to 112). The apparatus enables many logarithmic arithmetic functions to be determined accurately without significantly increasing the necessary capacity of the look up tables (104 and 105), and without significantly decreasing the speed of calculation.

Abstract: A navigation and routing system for a domain to be navigated and including a plurality of nodes comprising, at each node, a passive element the identity of which is unique to the address of the associated node, and an active navigation device programmed with an electronic map of the domain and capable of receiving information from the passive elements, the arrangement being such that, for any given destination within the domain, and on reading of the passive element at a first node by the navigation device, routing information is displayed by the navigation device to direct the user to the next node in the route leading to his destination.

Abstract: The invention relates to a novel geosynthetic which in a first embodiment comprises a composite geosynthetic comprising reinforcement material embedded in a drainage material; and in the second embodiment of the invention there is provided an electrically conducting geosynthetic which may be used in isolation or which may, alternatively, form a part of the composite geosynthetic.

Abstract: This invention relates to a computing system, a fail-silent node for use in a computing system and a method of organizing information so that a number of microprocessors in a computing node, which are arranged to receive messages from other components in the computing system and to process the received messages so as to transmit the results of this processing to other components in the system, compare the results of their processing and send nothing out from the node unless either all the microprocessors in the mode produce identical results or more than half of the microprocessors in the node produce identical results. This is achieved by manipulating the order in which messages are processed by each microprocessor so as to ensure that each microprocessor in the node receives the same messages, orders these same messages so that messages within each microprocessor are processed in the same order, thus ensuring, if all the microprocessors are functioning correctly, that the same results are produced.

Abstract: Provided is a method for preparing a conductive polymer which is highly transparent to visible light in at least one of its conductive and non-conductive states. A solution containing a monomer component and an electrolyte is introduced into an electrochemical cell and subjected to polymerization by cyclic voltammetry. The solution is maintained at a temperature within a range of from 0.degree. to -40.degree. C. inclusive. Prior to the polymerization, cyclic voltammetry is firstly performed at a potential below that at which anodic or cathodic polymerization may take place, anodic and cathodic limits (A) and (B) being held at respective values. A trace of current/voltage is monitored until the trace becomes stable, and thereafter the value of the limit (B) is progressively increased until the said value reaches a critical potential having a magnitude at which anodic or cathodic polymerization is initiated.

Abstract: Composite materials and products are described composed of a mixed metal interstitial alloy in the form of a carbide, nitride, carbonitride, oxynitride, oxycarbide or carboxynitride with the .beta..sup.m (.beta.-manganese) metal-atom arrangement, and a metallic carrier. With the carrier in the form of a binder phase for particles of the alloy a hard metal can be obtained which has a hardness not much less than a conventional WC-Co hard metal. Alternatively the alloy can be employed as a coating for a metallic substrate, for example to increase resistance to corrosion and oxidation. In a preferred composition, the interstitial alloy is nickel-molybdenum-nitride and nickel is used as the binder or the substrate material.