Abstract: An in vitro or ex vivo method of producing a population of lineage committed haematopoietic progenitor or mature haematopoietic cells other than cells of the neutrophil lineage, including the steps of providing a population of haematopoietic progenitor cells; and culturing the haematopoietic progenitor cells in an animal cell culture medium including one or more cytokines that differentiate the haematopoietic progenitor cells into lineage committed haematopoietic progenitor and/or mature haematopoietic cells, under static conditions until the cells are at a cell density at which oxygen transfer via the surface of the culture medium is insufficient for growth of the progenitor cells and progeny thereof under static conditions, and then agitating the culture medium to produce a population of lineage committed haematopoietic progenitor or mature haematopoietic cells other than cells of the neutrophil lineage.

Abstract: The invention relates to a titanate photocatalyst of formula (I): HmAx-mTiyOzDn (I) wherein: A is a cation selected from the group consisting of lithium, sodium, potassium, rubidium, caesium and francium; D is a dopant selected from the group consisting of boron, carbon, nitrogen, fluorine, sulphur, phosphorus and iodine; x is a value between 0 and 8; y is a value greater than 0 and less than or equal to 8; n is a value greater than 0 and less than or equal to 8; z is a value greater than 0 and less than or equal to 8; and m is a value between 0 and 8. The invention also relates to method of production and uses of the titanate photocatalyst.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of generating a place-frequency map for accurate positioning of a cochlear implant whereby the place-frequency map is used to relate a physical position of the cochlear implant to a tonotopic map of the basilar membrane/spiral ganglion. The invention also relates to a method of electrically positioning of an already inserted cochlear implant within the cochlea to provide stimuli to only the parts of the cochlea that have reduced or no residual hearing.

Abstract: An isolated protein comprising a VP1 amino acid sequence wherein one or more exposed loops within said VP1 has an insertion of an amino acid sequence from a virus protein other than VP1, and encoding nucleic acid, are provided. Typically, the virus protein other than VP1 is derived from an influenza virus and in particular, avian influenza virus. The isolated protein may have an insertion of amino acid sequence from a single protein or a plurality of proteins. Also provided are expression constructs, VLPs, pharmaceutical compositions, vaccines and methods of treatment that may be useful in the prophylactic and/or therapeutic treatment of any disease of viral origin, and in particular, influenza virus.

Abstract: A method for controlling the activity of sulfate reducing bacteria or methanogenic archaea (or both) in environments containing such organisms comprising treating the environment with free nitrous acid (HNO2) or with a solution containing nitrite (NO2?) having a pH of less than 7 or by adding nitrite to the environment and having a pH of less than 7 in the environment. The method can also disrupt biofilms.

Abstract: Blood pressure measurements are represented aurally. An audio synthesizer (15) receives a signal representative of blood pressure information, and synthesizes an audio output from the signal. Both the duration and pitch of the synthesized audio output are dependent on the value of the blood pressure information, according to a linear scale or a non-linear scale such as stepped scale. The blood pressure information includes at least one of arterial or pulmonary arterial systolic, diastolic and mean blood pressure measurements, and the audio output includes an earcon comprising a tone or sequence of tones, the tone(s) being representative of a respective type of blood pressure measurement. The earcon may also include one or more static or dynamic beacons.

Abstract: Novel proteins that constitute modified forms of a Neisseria meningitidis surface antigen and encoding nucleic acids are provided. The modified surface proteins are characterized by having deletions of non-conserved amino acids, and thereby being capable of eliciting cross-protective immune responses against Neisseria meningitidis. The invention extends to the use of the modified surface antigens in diagnostics, in therapeutic and prophylactic vaccines and in the design and/or screening of medicaments. The modified surface antigens are particularly useful in vaccines which effectively immunize against a broader spectrum of N. meningitidis strains than would be expected from a corresponding wild-type surface antigen.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus for the analysis of rocks and rock fragments. A method for the analysis of a rock fragment including: feeding the rock fragment to a microwave irradiation zone of microwave energy generated by a microwave source; gauging energy absorbed by the rock fragment; and correlating rate of change of the gauged energy absorbed by the rock fragment with compositional characteristics of the rock fragment.

Abstract: The present invention relates to breast cancer and methods for identifying therapeutics and diagnosis. In general, methods for identifying therapeutic agents directed to calcium flow arc disclosed. Also provided arc methods for diagnosis of breast cancer and/or a predisposition to breast cancer and methods of treatment of breast cancer. The methods include identifying therapeutic agents which modulate a CRAC channel and/or a glycoprotein activator of a CRAC channel. Also provided arc diagnostic methods that utilize a CRAC channel and/or a glycoprotein activator of a CRAC channel.

Abstract: The invention provides GmNFR1?, GmNFR1?, GmNFR5?, and GmNFR5? soybean nodulation factor receptor proteins, a receptor complex, and encoding nucleic acids. Also provided are GmNFR1?, GmNFR1?, GmNFR5?, and GmNFR5? promoters, which may be useful for expressing autologous or heterologous sequences in plants, such as soybean. Variant proteins and nucleic acids including RNA splice variants, mis-sense mutants, and non-sense mutants are also described. Also provided are genetically-modified plants and methods of producing genetically-modified plants. Over-expression of soybean nodulation factor receptor proteins by genetically-modified plants may lead to enhanced and/or otherwise facilitated nodulation and/or nitrogen fixation. Genetically-modified plants with down-regulated nodulation factor receptor expression, such as by RNAi or antisense constructs, may exhibit inhibited, diminished, or otherwise reduced nodulation and/or nitrogen fixation.

Abstract: The invention provides a novel surface polypeptide from Neisseria meningitidis as well as nucleic acid and nucleic acid sequence homologues encoding this protein. Pharmaceutical compositions containing the polypeptide and nucleic acids of the invention are also disclosed as well as methods useful in the treatment, prevention and diagnosis of N. meningitidis infection.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method for modulating the quality of a selected phenotype that is displayed by an organism or part thereof and that results from the expression of a polypeptide-encoding polynucleotide by replacing at least one codon of that polynucleotide with a synonymous codon that has a higher or lower preference of usage by the organism or part thereof to produce the selected phenotype than the codon it replaces. The present invention is also directed to the use of a codon-modified polynucleotide so constructed for modulating the quality of a selected phenotype displayed by an organism or part thereof.

Abstract: A Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) phased array head coil (10) comprises an array of coils (1, 2, 3, 4) a decoupling circuit (7) and a decoupling base (14). Counter wound inductors from adjoining coils (1, 2, 3, 4) in the decoupling circuit (7) are interlaced to achieve mutual decoupling between adjoining coils. Each separate coil (1, 2, 3, 4) includes a pair of spaced parallel main conductors (12) located on opposite sides of a cylindrical space (5) enclosed by the coils (1, 2, 3, 4). The decoupling base (14) comprises two meandering conductor bases (8, 9) which are interlaced. Orthogonal main conductors (12) of the coil (1, 2, 3, 4) share a common conductor base (8, 9). The multiple crossings of the paths of the conductor bases (8, 9) reduces mutual coupling effects.

Abstract: Novel proteins that constitute modified forms of a Neisseria meningitidis surface antigen and encoding nucleic acids are provided. The modified surface proteins are characterized by having deletions of non-conserved amino acids, and thereby being capable of eliciting cross-protective immune responses against Neisseria meningitidis. The invention extends to the use of the modified surface antigens in diagnostics, in therapeutic and prophylactic vaccines and in the design and/or screening of medicaments. The modified surface antigens are particularly useful in vaccines which effectively immunize against a broader spectrum of N. meningitidis strains than would be expected from a corresponding wild-type surface antigen.

Abstract: Novel proteins that constitute modified forms of a Neisseria meningitidis surface antigen and encoding nucleic acids are provided. The modified surface proteins are characterized by having deletions of non-conserved amino acids, and thereby being capable of eliciting cross-protective immune responses against Neisseria meningitidis. The invention extends to the use of the modified surface antigens in diagnostics, in therapeutic and prophylactic vaccines and in the design and/or screening of medicaments. The modified surface antigens are particularly useful in vaccines which effectively immunize against a broader spectrum of N. meningitidis strains than would be expected from a corresponding wild-type surface antigen.

Abstract: This invention relates to an oral or enteral pharmaceutical preparation comprising at least one synthetically cyclised alpha-conotoxin peptide having an amide cyclised backbone such that the peptide has no free N- or C-terminus, said peptide having the ability to inhibit a nicotinic acetylcholine receptor and comprising four cysteine residues bonded in pairs to form two disulfide bonds, wherein the N-terminus of the corresponding linear/non-cyclised conotoxin peptide is linked to the C-terminus by a peptide linker, in a vehicle which is pharmaceutically suitable for oral or enteral administration.

Abstract: A method of activating a latent neural precursor cell population, comprising: (1) providing a neural cell population derived from the hippocampus; (2) introducing the neural cell population to a neurosphere-forming culture medium; and (3) activating the latent precursor cell population by treatment with a ?3 adrenergic receptor agonist.

Abstract: The invention relates to extended release compositions and formulations comprising 6-thioguanine (6-TG), and methods for treating diseases or conditions responsive to 6-TG.

Abstract: This application relates to peptide conjugates comprising peptides that suppress or otherwise inhibit an unwanted or undesirable immune response attached to lipid moieties, and methods for suppressing immune responses, including preventing, inhibiting, treating or decreasing unwanted or undesirable immune responses including autoimmune or allergic immune responses using these peptide conjugates.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to a method for modulating cell survival. Modulation of cell survival includes inducing, enhancing or otherwise promoting cell survival such as the survival of neural cells as well as facilitating cell death such as the death of targeted cancer cells. The modulation of cell survival is mediated by a region identified on the p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75NTR) required for death signalling. The present invention further provides genetic molecules which encode the death signalling region of p75NTR which are useful in antagonising death signal function as well as promoting cell death when expressed in targeted cells. The present invention also contemplates recombinant peptides, polypeptides and proteins as well as chemical equivalents, derivatives and homologues thereof which comprise the death signalling portion of p75NTR. Particularly useful molecules of the present invention comprise peptides corresponding to soluble forms of the death signalling portion of p75NTR.