Abstract: An open porous matrix of particulate material for in vivo use in or on a target tissue in medicine, the matrix comprising particles cross-linked with one another so as to define pores there between and uses therefor are described.

Abstract: Creation of nanoparticle structures in two and three dimensions is advantageous in providing a number of functions such as in relation to catalytic, optical, electronic and magnetic propertied and other actions. Fabrication of such structures poses a considerable technical challenge. A block copolymer pair is used as a matrix to spatially organizes and aligns loaded inorganic materials in the form of nanoparticles. The inorganic precursors are selectively incorporated to a specific block of a di or tri block copolymer so that through solvent evaporation, reduction and mechanical working such as LAOS the orientation and positioning of the block copolymers nanoparticles are obtained into a desired structure.

Abstract: A wind energy converter 10 comprises a horizontal axis wind turbine 12 including a plurality of blade members 14 rotatable about a generally horizontal axis. A mass member 16 is movable along the or each blade member 14 under the action of radial forces induced by rotation of the blade members 14 and under the action of gravitational force, and movement of the or each mass member 16 is arranged to provide for conversion of the wind energy. Also described is a power generating system 200, 240 including a heat recovery arrangement 216, comprising a heat exchanger arrangement 218 and an expander 222.

Abstract: Compounds of formula (I) or a salt thereof are provided: wherein R6, R7, R9, R10, R11, X, n, p, Ar and m are as defined in the description. Uses of the compounds as medicaments, and in the manufacture of medicament for treating neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders, in particular psychoses, dementia or attention deficit disorder are also disclosed. The invention further discloses pharmaceutical compositions and combinations comprising the compounds.

Abstract: The invention provides compositions which stabilise the expression of cell surface markers. The invention further provides methods and kits comprising such compositions for use in stabilising the expression of cell surface markers. The invention is especially concerned with compositions for use in stabilising the expression of cell surface markers (such as cell activation markers) present on blood cells, such as platelets. The invention extends to methods, apparatus and kits for detecting platelet activation, and to kits for monitoring the efficacy of anti-thrombotic treatment regimes.

Abstract: The invention provides compositions comprising a polyamidoamine (PAA) polymer comprising a pendant disulphide, sulphydryl, or activated sulphydryl moiety, and methods for their manufacture. The invention extends to the use of such polyamidoamine polymers to form cross-linked compositions, and hydrogels comprising the same, and the use of such compositions in various biological and non-biological applications, such as the delivery of biomolecules to target sites, and for tracking fluid flows. The invention also provides carrier particles, which may be used to deliver biomolecules, and to methods of treatment. The invention also provides a fluid tracking system for monitoring fluid flow.

Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus and methods for removing heavy metals and heavy metal-containing compounds from fluid streams. The invention also provides new uses and methods for removing heavy metals and heavy metal-containing compounds from a natural gas stream, or a gas stream produced during the combustion or gasification of a fossil fuel, such as coal or petroleum fuels or oil.

Abstract: A coolant sub-assembly is provided for use in a DNP apparatus. The sub-assembly comprises a plurality of concentric jackets surrounding an inner bore tube having first and second opposed ends. The jackets are adapted to inhibit heat flow to the inner bore tube, a DNP working region being defined within the inner bore tube where a DNP process will be performed on a sample in the DNP working region. A coolant supply path extends adjacent an outer surface of the inner bore tube at the DNP working region in order to cool said outer surface, whereby a sample holder assembly can be inserted through the first end of the inner bore tube to bring a sample holder into the DNP working region and can be moved through the second end of the inner bore tube. An auxiliary coolant supply path supplies coolant to a sample, located in use in the sample holder at the DNP working region, through at least one aperture in the inner bore tube wall at the DNP working region.

Abstract: A duct (10) for transporting a two phase mixture has a length portion of circular cross-section (12) leading, via a transition zone (14) in which the duct cross-section changes from circular to lobed, to a zone in which its cross-section exhibits at least one lobe (16) extending helically around and along the duct. The duct has a cross-sectional area which is substantially constant, or which progressively increases, over the transition zone. The transition from circular to lobed cross-section is alternatively smooth and continuous, and the transition zone occupies a duct length in which the or each lobe becomes relocated by at least one position.

Abstract: Methods, compositions and substances for regulating fat and carbohydrate oxidation in the muscle tissue of human and/or animal bodies, which involve controlling the carnitine content of the muscle tissue. Regulating carbohydrate and fat oxidation, and particularly increasing the level of fat oxidation in accordance with the present invention, by providing substances compositions and methodologies in accordance with the present invention, enable medicaments to be manufactured and methodologies employed that find use in the treatment of disorders and conditions of the human and/or animal body caused by impairment of the usual level of fat oxidation, including obesity and type 2 diabetes.

Abstract: A photoplethysmograph device includes a light source for illuminating a target object. A modulator drives the light source such that the output intensity varies as a function of a modulation signal at a modulation frequency. A detector receives light from the target object and generates an electrical output as a function of the intensity of received light. A demodulator with a local oscillator receives the detector output and produces a demodulated output,insensitive to any phase difference between the modulation signal and the oscillator, indicative of blood volume as a function of time and/or blood composition. A number of demodulators may be provided to derive signals from multiple light sources of different wavelengths, or from an array of detectors. The plethysmograph may operate in a transmission mode or a reflectance mode. When in a reflectance mode, the device may use the green part of the optical spectrum and may use polarising filters.

Abstract: The present invention relates to metal/organic complexes of Formula (I), (II), (III), (IV), (V) and (VI) that are useful as catalysts for the polymerisation of carbonyl-containing or cyclic monomers. Typical polymerisation reactions are, for example, those of lactides. R is independently selected at each occurrence from the group comprising: hydrogen, hydrocarbyl and substituted hydrocarbyl, M is a Lewis-acidic metal, and, if present, X is any suitable counter ion.

Abstract: A mixing reactor for mixing efficiently streams of fluids of differing densities. In a preferred embodiment, one of the fluids is supercritical water, and the other is an aqueous salt solution. Thus, the reactor enables the production of metal oxide nanoparticles as a continuous process, without any risk of the reactor blocking due to the inefficient mixing inherent in existing reactor designs.

Abstract: This application concerns the separation of fine granular mixtures that may occur when the grains are suitably vibrated within fluid. In particular, the present invention provides a method of separating a particulate mixture comprising different particle types, comprising subjecting a supported particle bed comprising a fluid and said particulate mixture to a vibration thereby to effect separation of the particulate mixture into strata each of which is preferentially rich in substantially one particle type. Apparatus for effecting the above method also provided.

Abstract: A method of disinfection of livestock is provided. The method comprises administering at least one bacteriophage in an effective amount to said livestock to reduce the number of Campylobacter spp present in the gastro-intestinal tract of said livestock. The bacteriophage are selected from CP8 (NCIMB Accession No. 41184) and CP34 (NCIMB Accession No. 41185).

Abstract: A method of microwave pre treatment of a multi-phase material (200) prior to a subsequent operation on the material (200). The material (200) having a first phase of material and a second phase of material. The method comprises heating the material electromagnetically, preferably with microwaves (202), to produce a power density of at least 109 Wm?3 in a continuous process in which the material (200) moves into and through an electromagnetic, preferably microwave, treatment area (212). The material (200) experiences exposure to microwaves (202), in the treatment area (212) for a time of the order of ½ second or less before the material (200) is passed out of the treatment area (212) for subsequent operation.

Abstract: Non-leguminous crops, e.g. wheat, maize and rice, do not form nodules and are dependant for their nutrition on fixed nitrogen from the soil, or from chemical/nitrogenous fertilizers. The present invention provides non-leguminous plants and leguminous plants, including legumes that fail to nodulate with Rhizobia, with bacteria that enable them to fix nitrogen endophytically. Therefore, the plants contain nitrogen fixing bacteria the bacteria being located intacellularly in living plant cells.

Abstract: A method of producing a reprogrammed cell or reprogrammed cell nucleus, comprising exposing a differentiated cell, or the nucleus of a differentiated cell to a cell or cell extract thereof derived from an oocyte, egg, ovary or early embryo of a cold blooded vertebrate, wherein the cold blooded vertebrate has one or more of the following properties: (i) a primitive vertebrate body plan including laterally projecting ribs and/or spinal projections; (ii) germ cells which do not contain germ plasm; and/or (iii) the oocyte, egg, ovary or early embryo cell or cell from which the cell extract is derived, expresses a highly conserved form of Oct-4 and/or nanog. There is also provided uses of the reprogrammed cells.

Abstract: One aspect of the present invention relates to a readily water-dispersible particulate composition comprising by weight of dry matter at least 10% of xanthan gum and not more than 60% of starch, said composition being characterised in that the xanthan gum present in the composition can be dispersed completely within 2 minutes in distilled water of 25° C. at a concentration of 0.7% based on the dry weight of xanthan. The particulate xanthan gum compositions of the present invention exhibit unique viscosity enhancing properties that are dependent on the electrolyte levels of the aqueous environment in which they are applied. The favourable properties of the xanthan compositions according to the invention can be realised without resorting to chemical modification of the xanthan gum. The xanthan compositions according to the present invention can be applied advantageously in e.g. food products and oil drilling fluids.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods of processing amniotic membrane to generate a substantially ‘growth factor free’ membrane (GFF-membrane), and to methods of processing GFF-membrane to generate membrane enriched with specific and quantified levels of growth factors or other desirable membrane enriching molecules or compounds (E-membrane). The invention extends to GFF-membrane per se and E-membrane enriched with specific and quantified membrane-enriching compounds per se. The method also includes first and second medical uses of GFF-membrane and E-membrane. The method also extends to clinical uses of the amniotic membrane spongy layer or components thereof.