Abstract: Non-naturally occurring receptor competent LDL particle comprising at least one peptide component wherein the said peptide component comprises at least a binding site for an Apo B protein receptor and at least one lipophilic substituent.

Abstract: A detection system for use in detecting the presence of a non-aqueous organic measurand is provided. The system comprises a fiber-optic probe assembly incorporating an optical fiber which is susceptible to micro bending anywhere along its length, and a body of material contained within a rigid containment structure, wherein said body comprises a material selected from the group consisting of a rubber, plastic and semi-crystalline/rubbery polymeric material which is subject to a volumetric change capable of inducing a microbend in said optical fiber in the presence of said non-aqueous organic measurand and wherein the body of material is a substantially continuous coating which has a thickness prior to contact with the non-aqueous measurand of less than 7.

Abstract: There is provided polymeric vesicles formed from polyamino acid derivatives for use in the delivery of therapeutic agents. The polyamino acid is modified so as to bear at least one hydrophilic group and at least one hydrophobic group. Vesicle formation is then induced in the presence of cholesterol. The vesicles are suited for entrapment or conjugation of pharmaceutically active agents, in particular nucleic acids.

Abstract: A hollow fibre membrane has an active layer (2) in which elongate polymer molecules (3) are longitudinally aligned essentially parallel to the extrusion direction to thereby define a plurality of spaced free volume cavities (4) which are particularly numerous and are essentially regularly spaced to provide enhanced selectivity when used in gas separation. The hollow fibre membrane is manufactured using a dry/wet phase separation process by spinning a dope composition which is extruded through a spinneret (12) having an annulus or annular orifice (16) together with a bore-forming fluid or coagulant. The dope composition has a power law index of less than 1 (unity) and the bore coagulant has a water activity of less than 1 (unity).

Abstract: A recognition system of the self-organizing artificial neural network type is arranged to classify input data according to stored categories which have been determined by a training process. In the training process the initial category representations are selectively iteratively updated in response to a series of training patterns and in accordance with a competitive learning routine. this routine uses measures of category utilization based on the proportion of all inputs received over a representative period, particularly long term utilisation and short term utilization, to ensure that all available categories will be used and that the system is stable. The training rate which determines the amount of modification to a category representation at an up-date is local to each category and is based upon the maturity of the category and on the similarity measure between the internal representative pattern and the training input so that the training duration can be minimized.

Abstract: A database processor for on-line transaction processing has significantly reduced storage. The processor is arranged to obtain multi-dimensional aggregates of an input relation after a pre-processing stage which identifies aggregates which can be obtained without computation, said pre-processing stage being arranged to: i) identify and store the primary keys derived from the schema of the input relation; ii) establish a Group-by schema generator to generate schemas from minimum arity to maximum arity of aggregate for the possible aggregates of the input relation; iii) sequentially in an arity order beginning with single columns and proceeding in an order in which each lower level of every sub-tree is visited before any root (i.e.

Abstract: The present invention related to the preparation of substantially pure diastereoisomers of derivatives of tetrahydrofolate and the use of such diastereoisomers. More particularly the present invention provides a process for the preparation of a desired substantially pure (6R or 6S) diastereoisomer of a derivative of tetrahydrofolic acid or salt or ester. The process comprises the steps of: attaching a chiral auxiliary group at either N-5 or N-10 of a mixture of 6R and 6S diastereoisomers of tetrahydrofolic acid, separating the new diastereoisomers, recovering the desired new diastereoisomer (6R or 6S) corresponding to the desired (6R or 6S) diastereoisomer, and converting the substantially pure new diastereoisomer recovered into the corresponding diastereoisomer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the preparation of substantially pure diastereoisomers of derivatives of tetrahydrofolate and the use of such diastereoisomers. More particularly the present invention provides a process for the preparation of a desired substantially pure (6R or 6S) diastereoisomer of a derivative of tetrahydrofolic acid or salt or ester. The process comprises the steps of: attaching a chiral auxiliary group at either N-5 or N-10 of a mixture of 6R and 6S diastereoisomers of tetrahydrofolic acid, separating the new diastereoisomers, recovering the desired new diastereoisomer (6R or 6S) corresponding to the desired (6R or 6S) diastereoisomer, and converting the substantially pure new diastereoisomer recovered into the corresponding diastereoisomer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the prevention of restenosis of vascular passages following surgical removal of obstructions, by means of local administration of farnesyl transferase inhibitors to the vascular wall. This allows effective use of particularly low dosages with minimal side effects.

Abstract: The present invention relates to protein-coated micro-crystals and their method of preparation. The protein-coated micro-crystals may find particular application in preparing enzymes for use as biocatalysts; preparation of therapeutic proteins for use in pharmaceutical formulations; production of cleansing agents comprising enzymes; production of paints, varnishes, coatings, films and the like comprising proteins which impart protective and/or antifouling properties; production of films, polymers, inks, coatings, electrodes and/or optical materials comprising proteins for diagnostic kits and/or biosensor applications; use of proteins for studies of molecular recognition, molecular binding and inhibitor binding in non-aqueous media; and preparation of protein based food additives.

Abstract: A neural network for predicting values in non-linear functional mappings having a single hidden layer function generator (12) and an output layer (40). The single hidden layer function generator (12) is operable to receive one or more mapping inputs (x1) and generate a plurality of terms (14) from each mapping input. The plurality of terms generated by the single hidden layer function generator (12) includes at least one trigonometric term selected from the group comprising sin(x1), sin(2x1), sin(3x1), cos(x1), cos(2xl), cos(3xl), cosec(xl), cotan(xl), and being free of Gaussian and Sigmoidal terms.

Abstract: A data compression system using vector quantization utilises a codebook or index tables constructed by finding a small set of points in an n-dimensional space which are representative of a much larger population. The space is partitioned such that the integrals of the probability density functions over all the subspaces are approximately equal and thereafter the centre of gravity of each subspace is taken to represent the subspace population. The partitioning is effected sequentially to map n-dimensional space into one dimensional code space.

Abstract: A method and apparatus (12-20, 32) for automatically locating faults in a network of signal carriers (cables) utilises an interrogation waveform which is pulse-like in form and receives composite reflected signals from the carriers which are a time distributed collection of individual reflections. These are sampled and compared using the function of an adaptive filter (52) to minimise the difference signal. The difference signals are analysed to determine significant points of departure which identify the fault location which is then represented as a distance value.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for sequentially generating a set of addresses, defined over a plurality of indices, for a multi-dimensional array stored in a memory for the condition where at least one of the address indices is fixed, is performed by simple addition, OR-ing and AND-ing. An accumulator or counter initially holds an arbitrary binary value composed of a set of binary indices corresponding to the address indices. This binary value is logically OR-ed with a first mask value having binary indices selected in value in relation to the fixed address indices. The resultant is logically AND-ed with a second mask value having binary indices selected in value in relation to the fixed address indices, and this operation produces a first address of the set. The same resultant is incremented and the incremented value is delivered to the accumulator for the cycle to be repeated.

Abstract: Use of stereoisomeric glycosidic compounds of formula (I) as pharmaceutical agents against psoriasis, compounds therefor and pharmaceutical formulations thereof wherein R1 and R2 are independently selected from —H, —OH, (1) and (2) and related esters and ethers thereto; R3 is selected from —H, (3), (4), (5), (6), (7) and (8) and related esters and ethers thereto; R4 is (9); R5 is selected from the group —CH3, —CHO, —COOH, —CH2OH and related esters and ethers thereto; R6 is selected from —OH, (10), (11), (12), (13) and (14) in the preparation of a medicament for the treatment of disease involving hyperproliferation of dermis cells.

Abstract: Sensing the presence of furfuraldehyde (FFA) in oil is effected by a porous solid sensor (10) comprising aniline acetate entrapped in an inert matrix. The matrix may be a sol-gel preferably based on methyltrimethoxysilane. The solid sensor (10) reacts with FFA to form a pink colored complex which has a characteristic which correlates with the concentration of FFA in the oil and which can be measured photo-optically. Photo-optical measurement may be by absorption or fluorescence when the sensor is irradiated with an interrogating beam. The absorption maximum wavelength is about 525 nm and irradiation at that wavelength produces a maximum fluorescent output at about 570 nm.

Abstract: A method and compound for the treatment of disease involving hyperproliferation of dermis cells is provided. In particular, compounds isolated from the species of plants known as calendula have been found to be beneficial in the treatment of psoriasis. An extract of plant material obtained from calendula officinalis has been found to be advantageous as an active compound in medicaments for use in the treatment of psoriasis.

Abstract: A measurand is detected by a sensor element forming part of a transducer unit which is filled to an optical fiber or fiber capable such that the fiber is bent or curved to an abnormal level which introduces a measurable loss in the transmission characteristics of the fiber. The transducer unit has three spaced clamp members arranged to be clamped along the length of the fiber. The sensor element is fitted between clamp members and the fiber is guided over a bar located between clamp members.

Abstract: The light emitted by diodes of the Gallium Nitride type which comprises two distinguishable emissions is controlled by a single optical element (10) in the form of a lens having a central part and an annular part with different optical powers. The total output light of the diode may be collimated or brought to a common focus. The single optical element is preferably injection moulded and the annular part takes the form of a diffraction lens. The first part (12) is preferably a refractive lens which has a different optical power to the second part (14)which is preferably a diffractive lens. The optical power of the refractive lens (12) (the first optical power) and the optical power of the diffractive lens (14) (the second optical power) are selected to match the light source that the lens (10) is to be used with.

Abstract: Use in inhibiting plant growth of a compound of formula II in which either the pair of symbols X and Y or the pair of symbols Y and Z, together with the carbon atoms to which they are attached, form a non-aromatic ring system having either 5 or 7 ring atoms, all of which are carbon except that one may be oxygen, and which is substituted or unsubstituted, R1 represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl, alkenyl or a substituted or unsubstituted phenyl group and R2 represents a hydrogen atom and R3 an alkyl carboxyalkyl group or R2 and R3 together form a double bond, and thereafter any unsatisfied valencies of ring carbon atoms of the ring shown in formula II are satisfied by hydrogen atoms.