Abstract: A system and method for the drilling of ground holes by a track steer drill rig. The system and method include a drilling arrangement that permits the speed of drilling holes to be balanced against the stability of the hole thus formed. The system and method allow for the autonomous drilling of ground holes and, particularly, although not exclusively, for the purposes of exploration, mining, and/or construction. In particular, the system and method relate to the autonomous drilling of ground holes which are used for subsequent blasting.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of preparing an aqueous dispersion of polymer encapsulated particulate material, the method comprising: providing a dispersion of the particulate material in a continuous aqueous phase, the dispersion comprising ethylenically unsaturated monomer and a stabilizer for the particulate material; and polymerizing the ethylenically unsaturated monomer by non-living free radical polymerization to form polymer that encapsulates the particulate material, thereby providing the aqueous dispersion of polymer encapsulated particulate material; wherein polymerization of the ethylenically unsaturated monomer comprises: (a) polymerizing a monomer composition that includes ionizable ethylenically unsaturated monomer so as to form a base responsive water swellable non-living polymer layer that encapsulates the particulate material; and (b) polymerizing a monomer composition that includes non-ionizable ethylenically unsaturated monomer so as to form an extensible, water and base permeab

Abstract: A combination child carrier and stroller including a stroller (12; 200) having a frame to which is secured wheels; and a child carrier (14; 216) having a saddle-like seating arrangement in which a child is to be seated vertically is provided. The child carrier is configured to be releasably secured to the stroller. Additionally, the child carrier 5 includes a child harness assembly (44; 216) and a carrier harness assembly (50; 226), the child harness assembly including a back support and a child safety harness (64), while the carrier harness assembly includes a carrier frame structure (42) and shoulder straps (46) secured to the frame structure, in order to carry the child carrier on the back of a caregiver. The child harness assembly and the carrier harness assembly are 10 configured to be releasably secured to each other to form a backpack child carrier (14).

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for modulating angiogenesis, comprising administering to a subject, or cells or tissue derived therefrom: (i) one or more miRNA, or precursors or variants thereof, wherein at least one of said miRNA comprises a seed region comprising the sequence UCACAGU (SEQ ID NO:37) to inhibit angiogenesis; or (ii) one or more antagonists of a miRNA, wherein said miRNA comprises a seed region comprising the sequence UCACAGU (SEQ ID NO:37) to promote or induce angiogenesis. Also provided are methods of diagnosis of conditions associated with abnormal angiogenesis, or determining predisposition thereto. Suitable pharmaceutical compositions are also provided.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides compositions that include a nanoparticle and a compound that increases the biological activity of the vitamin D receptor (VDR) (e.g., a VDR agonist), and methods of using such compounds to increase retention or storage of vitamin A, vitamin D, and/or lipids by a cell, such as an epithelial or stellate cell. Such methods can be used to treat or prevent fibrosis.

Abstract: Methods and systems are described for generating a data representation of a geographical region as an adjunct to conducting autonomous operations within the region. The method comprises receiving information specifying a plurality of localized caused zones having operation-defined geographical boundaries within the region; receiving heterogeneous data descriptive of the region; associating the received data with respective localized zones; fusing the received data associated with the localized zones into data representations of the localized zones; and integrating the data representations of the localized zones into a common data representation of the geographical region.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of preparing an aqueous dispersion of polymer encapsulated particulate material, the method comprising: providing a dispersion of the particulate material in a continuous aqueous phase, the dispersion comprising RAFT agent as a stabiliser for the particulate material; and polymerising ethylenically unsaturated monomer under the control of the RAFT agent to form polymer at the surface of the dispersed particulate material, thereby providing the aqueous dispersion of polymer encapsulated particulate material; wherein polymerisation of the ethylenically unsaturated monomer comprises: (a) polymerising a monomer composition that includes ionisable ethylenically unsaturated monomer so as to form a base responsive water swellable RAFT polymer layer that encapsulates the particulate material; and (b) polymerising a monomer composition that includes non-ionisable ethylenically unsaturated monomer so as to form an extensible, water and base permeable RAFT polymer layer that encapsulate

Abstract: The invention relates to an activated metallic, semiconductor, polymer, composite and/or ceramic substrate, the substrate being bound through a mixed or graded interface to a hydrophilic polymer surface that is activated to enable direct covalent binding to a functional biological molecule, the polymer surface comprising a sub-surface that includes a plurality of cross-linked regions, as well as to such activated substrates that have been functionalised with a biological molecule and to devices comprising such functionalised substrates. Such substrates can be produced by a method comprising steps of: a.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods and assays for identifying compounds as candidates in the development of a drug for the treatment of various diseases including those associated with pathological Tau. The invention also relates to methods and assays for identifying compounds for the treatment of various diseases including those associated with pathological Tau. The invention also relates to cell lines and constructs for use in an assay of the invention. The methods and assays identify a compound as useful in the treatment of a tauopathy if said compound modulates Sil1 expression or activity.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a biocompatible material and in particular to a two-phase or composite biocompatible ceramic material, wherein the first phase is a doped calcium zinc silicate and the second phase is a metal oxide. In an embodiment, the invention has been developed for use in tissue regeneration including bone tissue. In other embodiments, the invention has been developed as a coating to improve the long-term stability of prior art implantable medical devices.

Abstract: Described herein is a method and system for vehicle localization in an open pit mining environment having intermittent or incomplete GPS coverage. The system comprises GPS receivers associated with the vehicles and providing GPS measurements when available, as well as one or more cameras 50,55 overlooking the mine region 10. The cameras 50,55 are at a known location and are used for generating a sequence of images in a field of view with predetermined calibration in a fixed coordinate system. The system further comprises a vehicle recognition processor 120 for analyzing individual images from the camera to identify and locate within an image a vehicle in the mine region, as well as a vehicle tracking processor 130 for analyzing a sequence of images from the camera to track the identified vehicle location in the sequence of images.

Abstract: The invention relates generally to the field of bone diseases. More specifically, the invention relates to methods and compositions for the treatment of osteoporosis and related disorders.

Abstract: A process for producing nitric acid is disclosed in which a gaseous oxidizer feed composed at least substantially of ammonia, steam and an oxidizing gas is exposed to conditions whereby the ammonia is oxidized to produce a reaction mixture including nitrogen monoxide and water vapor. The reaction mixture is then cooled in a heat exchanger whereby: a) the nitrogen monoxide is oxidized and the water vapor is caused to condense, b) the products of the nitrogen monoxide oxidation react with and are absorbed by the condensed water, and c) substantially all of the nitrogen monoxide in the reaction mixture is converted to nitric acid. Also disclosed is a nitric acid solution when produced by the disclosed process.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a plant watering device (10) comprising a vessel, for example a tube (14), arranged to be fastened to at least one plant propagule. The tube 14 is further arranged such that when the at least one propagule (18) is so fastened water received by the tube (14) is drawn by the at least one propagule (18) through a portion of the tube (14).

Abstract: The invention relates to structures for the immobilisation and protection of organic molecules, in particular, functional biological molecules. In one aspect the invention provides a structure comprising a substrate having a nanostructured spacer on a surface thereof; and an organic molecule immobilised on the surface of the substrate. Structures of the invention have a variety of potential utilities, including in protection of catalysts used in continuous flow, in medical devices and in protection of ligands for the binding of analytes in biosensors and diagnostic devices.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods for modulating one or more of a T-helper cell or monocyte lineage cell-mediated immune response in a subject, the method comprises administering to the subject an effective amount of a compound which binds to surface membrane immunoglobulin D (smIgD). Also provided are methods of diagnosis of one or more of a T-helper cell or monocyte lineage cell-mediated immune disease, and compositions and kits for use in such methods.

Abstract: Systems and methods for identifying tumors having activated progesterone receptors are provided. Patients suspected of having a tumor susceptible to growth inhibition by anti-progestins can be treated with an anti-progestin.

Abstract: A hierarchical control system (203) for supervising operations of an autonomous operator located within a defined geographical region containing a localized zone having an operation-defined boundary. The control system (203) has a primary controller (604) associated with the defined geographical region and a secondary controller (605) associated with the localized zone. The secondary controller (605) is responsive to the supervisory control of the primary controller (604). The autonomous operator, if located within the localized zone, is responsive to the supervisory control of the secondary controller (605).

Abstract: Apparatus for and method of processing sensor data for the purpose of navigating a vehicle (for example an autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle), the sensor data being from a sensor (for example a camera) mounted on the vehicle. The method can include can include: for a number of time-steps, measuring a value of a parameter of a scene using the sensor to produce a sequence of images of the scene; determining a value of one or more image quality metrics (for example, spatial entropy and spatial information) in each image in the sequence; and identifying as either valid or invalid, a sub-sequence of images in the sequence based on the determined metric values.

Abstract: Forming a sequence plan for a machine to travel to a series of specified locations is described. An initial cost table (414) and a pattern of locations (412) is inputted to a Sequential Ordering Problem (SOP) solver (402). The resulting sequence (410) is processed by a motion planner (404) to derive by a motion planning procedure a plan of machine motions through the sequence. A cost table update (408) is performed based on the motion plan, which is then used for another iteration of the SOP solver (402).