Abstract: The invention relates to compounds for use in the treatment of telomere related diseases and/or telomere related medical conditions, particularly wherein said telomere related diseases and/or telomere related medical conditions are cancer and cellular ageing. Particularly, herein is disclosed 37 kDa/67 kDa laminin receptor precursor/high affinity laminin receptor (LRP/LR) and/or a fragment thereof for use in the treatment and/or prevention of cellular ageing.

Abstract: A polyacrylonitrile (PANi) based pharmaceutical composition providing a porous implant for use in treating spinal cord trauma and/or spinal cord injury. Particularly a pharmaceutical composition including polyacrylonitrile (PANi) and/or elastin (E) and/or collagen (C) to form a PANi-E and/or PANi-C and/or a PANi-EC polymer network. Particularly, a pharmaceutical composition including polyacrylonitrile (PANi), elastin (E), and collagen (C) together forming a polyacrylonitrile (PANi), elastin (E), collagen (C) polymer network (PANi-E-C), wherein the polyacrylonitrile (PANi) may be crosslinked to form a crosslinked interpenetrating polyacrylonitrile (PANi), elastin (E) and collagen (C) polymer network (xpi-PANi-E-C), and wherein secondary protein structures of elastin (E) and collagen (C) reorientate. The disclosure extends to use of the pharmaceutical composition in the treatment of spinal cord trauma and/or spinal cord injury.

Abstract: This invention concerns a receiver unit (10) for a parabolic trough solar plant. The receiver unit (10) has a conduit (12) for conveying a heat transfer fluid (14) and a cover (16), which is located about the conduit (12) such that a vacuum is formed between the conduit and the cover. The conduit (12) is designed to absorb thermal radiation. The cover (16) has a first portion (26) defining a window (22) through which incoming solar radiation (24) passes into the vacuum and onto the conduit (12) and a second portion (28) carrying a reflective surface (20) so as to reflect thermal radiation back onto the conduit (12). The invention also concerns a method of reducing thermal radiation loss from a parabolic trough receiver.

Abstract: Provided herein is a nucleotide cassette comprising an inducible promoter, a nucleotide sequence that corresponds to at least one single stranded RNA diagnostic target, a nucleotide sequence that encodes artemin, a molecular switch and a nucleotide sequence that encodes a DNAse enzyme and is under control of the molecular switch, wherein the single stranded RNA diagnostic target is a sequence detected by a molecular diagnostic assay. In some embodiments the nucleotide cassette can be used to obtain an RNA expression product. Also provided are vectors and cells comprising the nucleotide cassette or the RNA expression product thereof. The nucleotide cassette can further be used to obtain a diagnostic control composition comprising a non-pathogenic recombinant bacterium having a modified genetic content comprising the nucleotide cassette and to methods of producing such recombinant bacteria.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a method of decreasing concentration of tau (?) protein and/or phosphorylated tau (?) protein in a target cell of a human or animal subject having Alzheimer's Disease (AD). The disclosure extends to use of biopharmaceutical agents including (i). 37 kDa/67 kDa laminin receptor precursor/high affinity laminin receptor (LRP/LR) and/or a fragment thereof, or (ii). a transfecting agent for the expression of LRP/LR, for use in treating Alzheimer's Disease (AD).

Abstract: This disclosure relates to the manufacture an alkali metal quaternary crystalline nanomaterial. an alkali metal quaternary crystalline nanomaterial having general Formula A (I2-II-IV-VI4); and wherein I is sodium (Na) or lithium (Li), II and IV are Zn or Sn, and VI is a chalcogens selected from the group comprising: sulphur (S), selenium (Se) or tellurium (Te). The crystal phase of the alkali metal quaternary crystalline nanomaterial may be a primitive mixed Cu—Au like structure (PMCA) and may have a space group: P42m. The nanomaterials may be adapted to provide a solar cell. Methods of manufacture are also provided.

Abstract: This invention relates to a systems, methods and apparatuses for controlling a sleep environment, particularly for controlling an indoor sleep environment, and to a method and system of waking a sleeping person. The invention monitors one or both of wet-bulb globe temperatures (WBGTs) within the sleep environment and outdoors with a view to either altering the WBGT within the sleep environment to mimic a nadir or inflection point typically found outdoors and/or generate an alarm when a nadir or inflection point of the WBGT outdoors is determined.

Abstract: LRP/LR for use in the treatment and/or prevention of Parkinson's disease (PD). Pharmaceutical compositions comprising LRP/LR for use in the treatment of Parkinson's Disease (PD), and a method of maintaining concentration levels of dopamine within a human or animal body.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to use of cashew nut shell liquid (CNSL) phenolics in the manufacture of molecules having ESIPT character, wherein said molecules are UVA and/or UVB absorbers, and further wherein said molecules are formulated as protectants against UVA and/or UVB radiation. The disclosure extends to use of CNSL in the manufacture of compositions including molecules having ESIPT character for treating and/or preventing sunburn and/or preventing U.V. damage.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to a method and system for hybrid classical-quantum communication. The method comprises transmitting a single photon having a particular quantum state over a communication medium using a quantum mode set; and transmitting a classical light beam over the same communication medium using a classical mode set, wherein the classical and quantum mode sets comprise non-separable modes in common. The non-separable modes in common may be two degrees of freedom of a single photon or classical light and may thus be spatial modes in one or more indexes, and polarisation. The invention relates also to a system to implement the method accordingly.

Abstract: A method including the step of administering 2-hydroxypropyl-?-cyclodextrin (HP?CD) for use in the treatment of breast cancer. Particularly, this invention relates to HP?CD for use in the treatment of triple negative breast cancer, wherein the HP?CD is for administration to a patient in need thereof. The invention extends to methods of preparing a pharmaceutical composition comprising HP?CD, and further extends to a method of treating breast cancer, typically triple negative breast cancer, by administration of the composition to a patient in need thereof.

Abstract: This invention relates to thermoresponsive hydrogels. Particularly, the invention relates to a thermoresponsive hydrogel comprising copolymer polyethylene glycol (PEG)-polycaprolactone (PCL)-polyethylene glycol (PEG) and polypropylene fumerate (PPF). The thermoresponsive hydrogel may further comprise a poloxamer, particularly Pluronic F-127. The invention extends to a method of manufacturing thermoresponsive hydrogels, also extends to an ink for a three dimensional (3D) printer including the thermoresponsive hydrogels. The invention further extends to a thermoresponsive hydrogel for use in the treatment of a bone injury and/or a bone defect, and/or to a method of treating a bone injury and/or a bone defect. The thermoresponsive hydrogels may include dispersed therein an active pharmaceutical ingredient (API), preferably an API falling in the Biopharmaceutics Classification System (BCS) class II, further preferably a statin type drug, most preferably simvastatin.

Abstract: A process for removing lead from a liquid is provided. The liquid is brought into contact with PbrD proteins having an amino acid sequence which has at least 80% identity to SEQ ID NO: 2, and these proteins bind to lead ions present in the liquid, thus removing the lead ions from the liquid. The bound lead ions are subsequently recovered, such as in the form of an insoluble salt or compound or by cation exchange chromatography, and can then be recycled. The PbrD protein can be immobilized before being brought into contact with the liquid. The proteins are typically immobilized in a matrix of nanoparticles. The PbrD proteins can be recombinantly expressed, such as in a bacterial system (e.g. E. coli) or a yeast expression system.

Abstract: A biopharmaceutical agent including a 37 kDa/67 kDa laminin receptor precursor/high affinity laminin receptor (LRP/LR) and/or a fragment thereof for use in treatment and/or prevention of atherosclerosis and/or obesity and/or insulin resistance and/or diabetes. The biopharmaceutical agent may be encapsulated by functionalized or non-functionalized nanoparticles, and further may be formulated to include a carrier to provide a pharmaceutical composition for parental or non-parental administration. In use, the biopharmaceutical agent reduces lipid content in target cells. Also, a method of decreasing lipid concentration in a target cell of a human or animal subject.

Abstract: The invention relates to an oral polymeric pharmaceutical dosage form which comprises a thermoresponsive eutectic composition which is solid at or about room temperature and fluid at or about body temperature, the eutectic composition mixed together with a crosslinking agent and an active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) to form an API loaded region; and a porous polymeric composition at least partially surrounding the API loaded region to protect the API when the dosage form is in a stomach of the human or animal body, the porous polymeric composition allowing the ingress of water to contact the crosslinking agent thereby facilitating the crosslinking agent to cause crosslinking of the porous polymeric composition, which crosslinked porous polymeric composition allows controlled egress of API via egress of fluid thermoresponsive eutectic composition at the intestine. In a preferred embodiment, the dosage form further comprises a coating there around.

Abstract: A polyacrylonitrile (PANi) based pharmaceutical composition providing a porous implant for use in treating spinal cord trauma and/or spinal cord injury. Particularly a pharmaceutical composition including polyacrylonitrile (PANi) and/or elastin (E) and/or collagen (C) to form a PANi-E and/or PANi-C and/or a PANi-EC polymer network. Particularly, a pharmaceutical composition including polyacrylonitrile (PANi), elastin (E), and collagen (C) together forming a polyacrylonitrile (PANi), elastin (E), collagen (C) polymer network (PANi-E-C), wherein the polyacrylonitrile (PANi) may be crosslinked to form a crosslinked interpenetrating polyacrylonitrile (PANi), elastin (E) and collagen (C) polymer network (xpi-PANi-E-C), and wherein secondary protein structures of elastin (E) and collagen (C) reorientate. The disclosure extends to use of the pharmaceutical composition in the treatment of spinal cord trauma and/or spinal cord injury.

Abstract: THIS invention relates to a method of applying an antimicrobial surface coating to a substrate, and more particularly to a method of applying an antimicrobial surface coating to a polymeric substrate manufactured by way of additive manufacturing. The method includes the steps of providing a body to be coated, the body having a surface area and cold spraying an antimicrobial metal powder on at least part of the surface area of the body so as to form an antimicrobial coating on the body. The method is characterized in that the body is made from a polymeric material by way of an additive manufacturing process.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a recombinant bacterium based on a non-pathogenic bacterium that has a modified genome containing a nucleic acid of interest from a pathogen that is detected by a molecular diagnostic assay and that mimics the diagnostic profile of the pathogen. The invention further relates to a diagnostic control composition comprising the recombinant bacterium and to methods for producing the recombinant bacterium. The recombinant bacterium is a safe, reliable quality control for the detection of pathogens such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Staphylococcus aureus. The invention also relates to a kit comprising either the recombinant bacterium, compositions containing the recombinant bacterium or bacteria produced according to the method of the invention.

Abstract: An acid mine drainage (AMD) treatment means comprising polyethersulfone (PES) having dispersed therein hydroxy-sodalite (H-SOD) so as to form a membrane is described. The PES-H-SOD membrane is suitable for treatment of acid mine drainage (AMD) by providing a filtration means to remove toxic chemicals, including but not limited to heavy metals. The invention extends to a method of manufacturing the acid mine drainage (AMD) treatment means.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of and a system for determining a beam quality factor (VQF) of a beam of light having a transverse electric field that may be scalar, vector, or a combination thereof, wherein the VQF is a measure of the degree of vectorness of the beam of light varying between pure scalar and pure vector. The beam is typically a laser beam, wherein the method comprises receiving an input laser beam to be analysed and splitting the received beam of light into two orthogonal components. A predetermined number of modes or states per orthogonal component is then detected and an on axis intensity of each detected mode or state detected is measured. The measured intensities is then used to calculate the VQF in terms using at least one quantum mechanical entanglement measure.