Abstract: Expression vectors, host cells and methods of using a recombinant expression system for the production of hydrogen are disclosed. The expression vectors comprise the a bidirectional hydrogenase protein complex coding sequence of SEQ ID NO:1.

Abstract: A composite material provided with a damage detection system, the composite material comprising a fibre-reinforced polymeric matrix, wherein the fibre reinforcement comprises electrically conductive fibres and the polymeric matrix comprises a thermosetting polymer and a thermoplastic polymer, and wherein detection means are provided detect a change in resistance of the composite material, said change in resistance indicating the presence of at least one damaged area of the composite material, said detection means comprising a plurality of spaced apart electrodes mounted on an electrically insulating substrate and electrically connected to the electrically conducting fibres.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the identification of antigenic polypeptides, typically opsonic antigens, expressed by pathogenic microbes; vaccines comprising said antigens; and therapeutic antibodies directed to said antigenic polypeptides.

Abstract: A control system, for controlling a process that repeats in a number of cycles, is arranged to control at least one input to the process and to modify the input or inputs iteratively over successive cycles so that an output of the process approaches a desired reference output, and so that, at each iteration a current input is determined by a two stage process the first being to minimize a cost function, the cost function including the tracking error between a calculated output for the current input and the reference output, and the change between the input of a previous iteration and the current iteration, the second through the introduction of a relaxation parameter obtained by empirical methods or mathematical optimization.

Abstract: A power electronic package includes: first and second high thermal conductivity insulating non-planar substrates; and a plurality of electronic components mounted on each of the substrates. The substrates are coupled each other at a plurality of bonding regions so that mechanical separation between the substrates is controlled by the number of the bonding regions, an arrangement of the bonding regions, a shape of each bonding region, and a material of the bonding regions. The mechanical separation provides a net axially-directed compressive force in the electronic components.

Abstract: A reversibly adhesive combination comprising a first component having a first surface and a second component having a second surface, the respective components being adhesively attachable when said surfaces are in contact and the combination is subject to environmental conditions of a first type and the components being separable when the combination is subject to environmental conditions of a second type wherein the first and second components respectively comprise oppositely charged polyelectrolytes. Typically the polyelectrolytes are respectively a polyacid and a polybase. Typically the environmental conditions are represented by pH.

Abstract: A method for determining whether a probe for measuring the impedance of human or animal body tissue has been placed over a boundary between different tissue types is described. The probe used in the method comprises at least a first (16), a second (22), a third (18) and a fourth (20) electrode arranged such that the third (18) and fourth (20) electrodes are each located substantially the same distance from both the first (16) and second (22) electrodes. The method comprises: driving a current between the first (16) and the second (22) electrodes; measuring a first value of an electrical parameter between the third (18) and the fourth (20) electrode; and determining whether the probe has been placed over a boundary between different tissue types based on the first value. A probe for carrying out the method is also described.

Abstract: The invention discloses the use of a composition comprising at least one nitric oxide generating agent for increasing production of and/or retention of a plant organ.

Abstract: The present invention relates to agents which modulate the effect of a RAMP (Receptor Activity Modifying Protein) protein on a Calcitonin Receptor Like Receptor (CRLR). Also included in the present invention are methods and uses of such agents and assays for identifying such agents. The agents of the present disclosure may be used in the treatment of, for example, cancer, obesity and other disorders.

Abstract: Apparatus for measuring the electrical impedance of a tissue sample comprises a probe and a sheath comprising an elongated tubular body having one closed end and one open end providing an internal cavity. The sheath is composed of a material which when contacted with a tissue sample is capable of providing a conductive path through the sheath between the electrodes and the tissue sample. The resistivity of the material forming the sheath when contacted with the tissue sample is greater than the resistivity of the tissue sample. The probe is received within the internal cavity of the sheath. The sheath is impervious to bacteria and viruses.

Abstract: A method for the identification of antigenic polypeptides, typically opsonic antigens, expressed by pathogenic microbes; vaccines comprising said antigens; and therapeutic antibodies directed to said antigenic polypeptides.

Abstract: A power electronic package includes: first and second high thermal conductivity insulating non-planar substrates; and a plurality of electronic components mounted on each of the substrates. The substrates are coupled each other at a plurality of bonding regions so that mechanical separation between the substrates is controlled by the number of the bonding regions, an arrangement of the bonding regions, a shape of each bonding region, and a material of the bonding regions. The mechanical separation provides a net axially-directed compressive force in the electronic components.

Abstract: A power electronic package includes: first and second high thermal conductivity insulating non-planar substrates; and multiple semiconductor chips and electronic components between the substrates. Each substrate includes multiple electrical insulator layers and patterned electrical conductor layers connecting to the electronic components, and further includes multiple raised regions or posts, which are bonded together so that the substrates are mechanically and electrically connected. The number, arrangement, and shape of the raised regions or posts are adjusted to have mechanical separation between the substrates. The electrical conductor layers are separated and isolated one another so that multiple electric circuits are provided on at least one of the substrates.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to a speech processing system comprising a data base manager to access a speech corpus comprising a plurality of sets of speech data; means for processing a selectable set of speech data to produce correlated redundancy data and means for creating a speech file comprising speech data according to the correlated redundancy data having a playback speed other than the normal playback speed of the selected speech data.

Abstract: The invention relates to recovering metals, such as nickel and cobalt, by phytomining or phytoextracting soils rich in metals wherein the desired metal is selectively accumulated in hyperaccumulator plants by adjusting the soil pH. The metals are ultimately recovered from above-ground plant tissues at economically acceptable levels without further contaminating the metal-containing sites. The invention also relates to metal-hyperaccumulating plants.

Abstract: Explosion suppresant container, for use in suppression of deflagrative explosions and other like events involving combustion associated with rapidly moving gases, comprising a container which, in use, contains suppressant, an outlet through which suppressant can exit the container progressively and be atomised into droplets and an inlet thorugh which air can enter the container and the shape of said container being such that, in use, the pressure of the explosion wind in the region of the outlet is less than that in the region of the inlet so that suppressant is driven out of the outlet into the explosion wind.

Abstract: A cadmium- and zinc-hyperaccumulating subspecies from Thlaspi caerulescens and methods for removing and optionally recovering cadmium and zinc from soil using phytoextracting techniques wherein the subspecies is cultivated on soil containing cadmium and zinc.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of determining the thickness of a lubricant film disposed between two bodies by measuring and performing a frequency spectrum analysis on a reflected or transmitted part of an ultrasound wave propagated towards said film is disclosed.

Abstract: A cadmium and zinc hyperaccumulating subspecies from Thlaspi caerulescense and methods for removing or recovering cadmium and zinc from soils by cultivating the Thlaspi caerulescense subspecies on soils containing cadmium and zinc.

Abstract: A dental composition comprises a fluorescent whitening agent. The fluorescent whitening agent is most preferably 4,4?-bis(2-sulfostryryl)bipheny) or a salt or other soluble derivative thereof, eg the disordium salt. The composition may also comprise an additional tooth whitening agent. Methods of whitening the teeth are also described.