Abstract: A reconfigurable antenna comprises two or more mutually coupled radiating elements and two or more impedance-matching circuits (56, 58) configured for independent tuning of the frequency band of each radiating element. In addition, each radiating element is arranged for selective operation in each of the following states: a driven state, a floating state and a ground state.

Abstract: An interferometer includes a source of a light beam and a beam splitter for splitting the light beam from the source into at least first and second beams. A first reflector is positioned in the path of the first light beam. A second reflector, including a convergent lens and a mirror, is positioned in the path of the second light beam following reflection from a target. Further included is at least one detector for detecting fringes formed by interference of the first and second light beams following reflection from the first and second reflectors, respectively. The mirror of the second reflector has a radius of curvature R within 10% of the value determined using a first formula, and the focal length f of the convergent lens is within 10% of the value determined using a second formula.

Abstract: Compounds of formula wherein the variable are defined in the specification, are used in compositions which stimulate T cell responses.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of synthesizing an electronic circuit for performing a function. The method comprises programming the function using a programming language by defining one or more terms, each term comprising one or more functional constants. Game semantics are applied to interpret the programmed function. Each term is interpreted as one or more strategies defined on moves. Each of the constants of the programmed function is associated with a sub-circuit. Each move is associated with at least one input or output port of the associated sub-circuit, and a move occurrence defined by a strategy produces a change of state of an associated port. The associated sub-circuits are combined to provide a synthesized circuit for performing the function.

Abstract: There are disclosed compound of formula I, in which R1 represents a hydrophobic moiety adapted to occupy the C? channel of human CDId, R2 represents a hydrophobic moiety adapted to occupy the A? channel of human CDId, such that R1 fills at least at least 30% of the occupied volume of the C? channel compared to the volume occupied by the terminal nC14H29 of the sphingosine chain of ?-galactosylceramide when bound to human CDId and R2 fills at least 30% of the occupied volume of the A? channel compared to the volume occupied by the terminal nC25H51 of the acyl chain of ?-galactosylceramide when bound to human CDId R3 represents hydrogen or OH, Ra and Rb each represent hydrogen and in addition, when R3 represents hydrogen, Ra and Rb together may form a single bond, X represents or —CHA(CHOH)nY or —P(=0)(0?)0CH2(CH0H)mY, in which Y represents CHB1B2, n represents an integer from 1 to 4, m represents 0 or 1, A årepresents hydrogen, one of B1 and B2 represents H, OH or phenyl, and the other represents hydrogen or o

Abstract: The use as a resist material of a methanofullerene derivative having a plurality of open-ended addends, and to a method for forming a patterned resist layer on a substrate using the methanofullerene derivatives. The methanofullerene derivatives can be represented by the formal C2x(CR1R2)m where x is at least 10, m is at least 2, each addend represented by CR1R2 is the same or different, and wherein each R1 and R2 is each a monovalent organic group, or a divalent organic group which forms a ring structure by being joined to the fullerene shell, or where both R1 and R2 of an addend are divalent groups, they may be mutually joined to form a ring structure, save that at least two of R1 or two of R2 are monovalent, or a mixture of such derivatives. The use of any methanofullerene derivative which has been chemically amplified for formation of a patterned resist layer.

Abstract: The invention provides an in vitro method of determining whether an individual is at risk of, or undergoing, graft damage or rejection of immune origin and/or damage of immune origin to non-graft tissue using polypeptides derived from a major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I human leukocyte antigen (HLA), such as HLA-A2, and derivatives or analogues thereof.

Abstract: Methods for assessing a mycobacterial infection in a subject comprise exposing at least one CD1 molecule or analogue to mycolic acid or a mycolic acid analogue, subsequently incubating the at least one CD1 molecule or analogue with a sample comprising at least one T cell isolated from the subject, and measuring the T cell response and/or the number of mycolic acid specific T cells present in the T cell sample.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing a composite material comprising an array of piezoelectric fibres, the method comprising: (a) providing: (a1) a plurality of first strips comprising a piezoelectric material or a precursor to a piezoelectric material, and a first carrier, and (a2) a plurality of second strips comprising a decomposable material, and a second carrier; (b) placing said pluralities of said first and second strips alternately on top of one another to form a stack in which at least a portion of said first strips is separated from adjacent first strips by a second strip; (c) a heating step comprising heating said stack to remove said first and second carriers and said decomposable material; (d) impregnating said stack with a filler material to form a composite stack of piezoelectric strips; and (e) cutting said stack to form a composite material comprising an array of piezoelectric fibres. In an alternative method the cutting (e) is performed before the heating step (c).

Abstract: A method for the formation of a patterned resist layer on a substrate surface by patternwise irradiation with actinic radiation. The first step of the method is formation of a coating layer comprising a substituted triphenylene compound having a diameter of between 1 and 3 nm, a sensitizer which increases the sensitivity of the exposed layer to the actinic radiation used in a subsequent irradiation step and a cross-linker on the substrate surface. Subsequently the coating layer is irradiated patternwise, and unirradiated areas of the coating layer are removed. A resist material comprising a solution of: (i) as the principal resist material a triphenylene derivative having a diameter of from 1 to 3 rim, (ii) a sensitizer which increases the sensitivity of the resist material to actinic radiation, and (iii) a cross-linker capable of cross-linking molecules of the triphenyl derivative, the cross-linker optionally being constituted by a moiety attached to the triphenylene derivative.

Abstract: The invention relates to the detection and identification of polymorphisms in cysteine dioxygenase (CDO) for the use of that diagnosis to identify a propensity in a patient towards rheumatoid arthritis and/or to have side effects with a number of drugs, to nucleic acid and isolated proteins encoding the polymorphisms, to assays for CDO activity and for the identification of compounds affecting CDO activity, and additionally to use of interferon-? optionally in combination with different compounds, to treat rheumatoid arthritis.

Abstract: A method for the production of a shell mould. The method comprises the sequential steps of: (i) dipping a preformed expendable pattern into a slurry of refractory particles and colloidal liquid binder whereby to form a coating layer on said pattern, (ii) depositing particles of refractory material onto said coating, and (iii) drying, steps (i) to (iii) being repeated as often as required to produce a shell mould having a primary coating layer and at least one secondary coating layer, characterised in that during at least one performance of step (ii) a gel-forming material is also deposited onto the coating layer formed in step (i).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of producing a viable hybrid cell having a single functional mitochondrial population. The method comprises the step of introducing genomic DNA from a mitochondrially depleted donor cell into a recipient cell from which genomic DNA has been removed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel cancer therapy, particularly, but not exclusively, to a prostate, bladder and breast cancer therapy and to Compositions and medicaments for use in said therapy. In one aspect there is provided a method of treating a patient afflicted with cancer comprising administering to the patient a therapeutically effective amount of a nuclear receptor ligand and an HDAC (histone deacetylases) inhibitor wherein said nuclear receptor ligand is not a ligand for the vitamin D receptor.

Abstract: Devices useful in the delivery of DNA encoding neurotrophic agents, anti-fibrotic agents, and related compositions are disclosed herein for use in the treatment of central and/or peripheral nervous system injury. Methods of making and using the disclosed devices and DNA are also described. In various embodiments, the invention also discloses compositions and devices that may further include a targeting agent, such as a polypeptide that is reactive with an FGF receptor (e.g., bFGF), or another ligand that binds to cell surface receptors on neuronal cells, or a support cell. The invention also discloses methods of promoting neuronal survival and regeneration via transfection of an axon as it grows through a device or composition of the present invention, or via transfection of a repair cell.

Abstract: The protein NM23 is disclosed as an agent for the maintenance of undifferentiated biological cells in culture. The NM23 protein may act as a survival factor for such cultured cells, or to prevent the differentiation and maturation of the cultured cells. The use of NM23 protein is applicable to culture of stem and/or progenitor cells, and particularly to such cells cultured and adapted for therapeutic use. The invention provides methods, media and media supplements for use in the culture of biological cells, and further provides methods of preparing biological cells for therapeutic use, as well as methods of therapy utilising biological cells and medicaments comprising biological cells adapted for therapeutic use.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to pharmaceutical compositions that can be used to immunize subjects using, for example, lipid, glycan, or nucleic acid antigens. These antigens are conjugated to a glycosphingolipid.

Abstract: Transponders, receivers and position determining systems are described. In one embodiment, a transponder includes (i) an on-board receiver and associated receiving antenna for receiving incoming radar pulses in a first frequency band at an unknown pulse repetition rate, (ii) means for calculating the pulse repetition rate, (iii) a frequency synthesizer for generating a signal in a second frequency band, (iv) modulation means for modulating the signal generated by the frequency synthesizer so as to encode information into the signal, and (v) a transmitter and associated transmitting antenna for transmitting said modulated signal, wherein the transmitted signal is synchronized with the calculated pulse repetition rate of the incoming radar pulses, and modulation of the transmitted signal is such that accurate positioning of the transponder can be determined at a remote receiver.

Abstract: This invention relates to a metal ion specific capacitance sensor with exceptional sensitivity and wide operating range. It is versatile because different kinds of recognition elements can be immobilized directly in a self-assembling monolayer substantially completely covering the surface of the measuring noble metal electrode. The electrode then becomes selective to those metal ions in the solution that show affinity to the recognition element on the surface. Compared to previously described electrochemical sensors, the sensor according to the present invention shows many orders of magnitude better sensitivity because of the unique measuring principle.

Abstract: A combined surface topography and spectroscopic analysis instrument comprises a scanning tunnelling microscope tip (12); and a sample carrier (58) which supports a sample (10) so that a surface thereto to be analyzed is presented towards the tip (12). The sample carrier (58) and the tip (12) are relative movable to enable the distance between the tip (12) and the surface to be varied in use and the sample surface to be scanned in two dimensions by the tip (12). An electronic analyzer is positioned to detect electrons from the tip (12) which have been back-scattered off the sample surface. A voltage controller (59) enables selective operation of the tip (12) in a first voltage range in scanning tunnelling mode, to enable spatial resolution imaging of the sample surface, and in a second, higher, voltage range in electron field emission mode whereby to permit the electron analyzer to analyze the back-scattered electrons.