Abstract: This invention relates to protein fibre formation and in particular to methods of producing protein fibres to form a protein structure comprising a plurality of first polypeptide units arranged in a first polypeptide strand and a plurality of second polypeptide units arranged in a second polypeptide strand, the strands preferably forming a coiled coil structure, and in which a first polypeptide unit in the first strand extends beyond a corresponding second polypeptide unit in the second strand in the direction of the strands.

Abstract: A star pattern recognition system (1) comprises an optical filter arrangement (10) in the form of an array (12) of independently tiltable mirrors (M1), (M2). Light from a distant starfield (2) is incident upon the mirror array (12). Each mirror (M1), (M2) reflects a respective image of the starfield, and these images are brought to a common overlapping focus at a detector (18) by a parabolic mirror (14). The mirrors M1, M2 are tilted relative to each other such that when a given star pattern to be recognised is present in the field of view of the filter, each mirror reflects the image of a different star in the pattern onto a common point on a detector (18), thereby providing a detectable output intensity peak that indicates the presence of the star pattern in the field of view of the filter arrangement.

Abstract: The present invention relates to peptides that switch between 2 structural states in response to the presence or absence of a stimulus. The present invention also relates to the use of the peptides of the present invention in an assay to detect the presence or absence of a stimulus. The present invention also relates to a method for constructing the peptides of the present invention.

Abstract: An electrokinetic method for groundwater protection, soil remediation and engineering which comprises applying an electric field across an area of soil, sediment or slurry so as to generate a pH and Eh gradient and thereby promote the in situ precipitation of a stable iron-rich band. The method may be performed for the purpose of stabilisation and/or strategic dewatering/rewatering of soils, sediment and/or slurries, the improvement of the physical properties of soils and sediments for engineering purposes, the forced and directed migration of contaminated leachates, and/or electro-osmotic purging of non-polar contaminants.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a fibre-shaping peptides that are capable of interacting with self-assembling peptides to form protein structures. The present invention also relates to methods of forming protein structures using the fibre-shaping peptides of the present invention.

Abstract: This invention relates to protein fiber formation and in particular to methods of producing protein fibers to form a protein structure comprising a plurality of first polypeptide units arranged in a first polypeptide strand and a plurality of second polypeptide units arranged in a second polypeptide strand, the strands preferably forming a coiled coil structure, and in which a first polypeptide unit in the first strand extends beyond a corresponding second polypeptide unit in the second strand in the direction of the strands.

Abstract: This invention relates to protein fibre formation and in particular to methods of producing protein fibres to form a protein structure comprising a plurality of first polypeptide units arranged in a first polypeptide strand and a plurality of second polypeptide units arranged in a second polypeptide strand, the strands preferably forming a coiled coil structure, and in which a first polypeptide unit in the first strand extends beyond a corresponding second polypeptide unit in the second strand in the direction of the strands.

Abstract: A method of monitoring fluid flow in a closed conduit by the use of a flowmeter associated with the conduit, the fluid flowing through the meter, includes the steps of generating a signal indicative of at least one characteristic of fluid flow and measuring the signal components including any fluctuations thereof, and analysing at least one of the components of the sensed signal to determine the presence or absence of a second phase and/or to determine the magnitude of at least one of the phases.

Abstract: An electromagnetic suspension system for a vehicle has an electromagnet with an upright portion having a lift magnetizing winding and outwardly-extending arms at the top and bottom of this upright portion. Pole pieces on the four arms co-operate with reaction rails having corresponding surfaces. The vehicle can operate with a left-hand or a right-hand reaction rail or with both rails, thereby enabling gaps to be provided in rails at track junctions. Lateral guidance windings are provided on the lower arms of the magnet and the lower pole faces slope to the horizontal, in the lateral direction of the track so that, at a track junction, by emergizing appropriate windings, the vehicle is guided to a selected track. The lower arms are longer than the upper arms to give, as a result of the leakage flux, lateral damping.