Abstract: This invention relates to a method and an apparatus, primarily a radiation imaging apparatus and an array of coded aperture masks, for use in diagnostic nuclear medicine. The coded aperture masks are fitted with radiation attenuation tubes, each of which extends from each side of the mask in the direction of the mask apertures. The tubes are made from lead and have parallel sides. The masks are configured for gamma ray usage and are made from tungsten having a thickness of between 1 and 2 mm.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of producing liquid hydrocarbons, preferably internal combustion engine fuels, using feedstocks of coal or methane. Depending on the nature of the feedstock it is subjected to a gasification and/or reforming process and/or water gas shift process which produces a syngas that is rich in carbon dioxide and hydrogen rather than carbon monoxide and hydrogen as in the conventional process. The carbon dioxide and hydrogen are combined in a Fischer Tropsch process to produce desired hydrocarbons and water. The energy requirements of the gasification/reforming process to produce a syngas that is rich in carbon dioxide and hydrogen is considerably less than the energy requirements for gasification/reforming process for producing the conventional carbon monoxide rich syngas. This reduction in energy consumption reduces considerably the quantities of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere compared to conventional processes that are based on carbon monoxide rich syngas.

Abstract: This invention relates to bioreactor processes, particularly bioreactor processes for the production of hydrogen gas from biomass, more particularly to bioreactor processes for the production of hydrogen gas employing a mixed anaerobic thermophilic bacterial consortium during the anaerobic fermentation of biomass.

Abstract: This invention relates to a polymeric pharmaceutical dosage form for the delivery, in use, of at least one pharmaceutical composition in a rate-modulated and site-specific manner. The dosage form comprises a biodegradable, polymeric, scaffold incorporating loaded with at least one active pharmaceutical ingredient (API). The polymer or polymers making up the scaffold degrade in a human or animal body in response to or in the absence of specific biological stimuli and, on degradation, release the API or APIs in an area where said stimuli are encountered. Preferably the polymeric scaffold is formed from poly (D1L-lactide) (PLA) and polymethacrylate (Eudragit S100/ES100) polymers.

Abstract: This invention relates to biomaterials, said biomaterials for use in methods to control and/or induce bone growth. Particularly, the invention relates to macroporous calcium phosphate biomaterials pre-loaded with certain amounts of osteoclastic activity inhibitors for use in methods to control and/or induce bone growth in primates.

Abstract: This invention relates to a coded aperture mask for use in diagnostic nuclear medicine imaging. The coded aperture mask consists of a sheet of radiation opaque mask material having a series of apertures extending therethrough. The thickness of mask material has an attenuation percentage of less than 75% and, in a preferred embodiment, about equal to 29%. The coded aperture mask also, in a preferred embodiment, has a lead attenuation tube and has a projection of the smallest hole occupying the same area as a single pixel of a detector. The invention extends to a diagnostic nuclear medicine imaging system which uses a 16 bit gamma camera as a radiation detector.

Abstract: This invention relates to a means for compensating for a whole or partial loss of speech. The means has a sensor unit in the form of a Logometrix pseudo palate and a palatometer which sense the position of a user's tongue while endeavouring to articulate words or sounds. The sensor unit is connected to a comparator which makes use of suitable artificial intelligence algorithms (such as Multi-Layer Perceptron Neural Networks and Hidden Markov Models) together with a library of stored words and sounds as well as tongue positions and signals related to jaw and lip movement as well as inhalation and exhalation to match words or sounds and transmit the matched words or sounds to a loudspeaker. Preferably the output of the loudspeaker will simulate the natural voice of the user.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method and an apparatus, primarily a radiation imaging apparatus and an array of coded aperture masks, for use in diagnostic nuclear medicine. The coded aperture masks are fitted with radiation attenuation tubes, each of which extends from each side of the mask in the direction of the mask apertures. The tubes are made from lead and have parallel sides. The masks are configured for gamma ray usage and are made from tungsten having a thickness of between 1 and 2 mm.

Abstract: This invention relates to a polyamide rate-modulated monolithic drug delivery system comprising at least one active compound and a biodegradable and biocompatible polyamide polymer. The polymer is selected for delivering, in use, the active compound, within a predetermined time frame depending on the biodegradable properties of the polymer, to a target organism or organisms. In one embodiment of the invention the polymer is modified by salting-out or crosslinking the polymeric material to achieve the desired biodegradability characteristics and, consequently, to control the release of the active compound.

Abstract: This invention relates to a bioreactor for producing high rates of hydrogen from plant biomass. It also relates to the rapid screening, selection and isolation of biofilm forming mesophilic and/or thermophilic bacteria or bacteria consortia that generate high levels of hydrogen from plant biomass or from soluble hydrolysates derived from the hydrolysis of cellulosic materials including hemicellulose. The reactor comprises a primary reactor vessel having a bed of hydrogen producing bacteria towards its base located within a secondary reactor vessel which functions as a hydrogen gas collector and as a clarifier and separator. The plant biomass may be one or a mixture of insoluble cellulosic material and a hydrolysate derived from hydrolysis of cellulosic material. In one embodiment the bed of the primary reactor vessel is fluidised by recycling hydrogen gas saturated plant biomass effluent from the secondary reactor vessel to the primary reactor vessel.

Abstract: This invention relates to an improved monolithic drug delivery dosage form which releases a pharmaceutically active agent at a predetermined rate. The dosage form comprises a salted-out or crosslinked polymer and a pharmaceutically active agent. The salted-out or crosslinked polymer functions to polymerically entangle the pharmaceutically active agent but, progressively relax on contact with an aqueous medium in use to release the pharmaceutically active agent at a predetermined rate.

Abstract: This invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition for mammals and, more particularly, to a pharmaceutical composition which enhances the action of an anaesthetic used in both human and veterinary applications, which, at least partly, reduces the risk of respiratory depression and enhances pulmonary perfusion. The pharmaceutical composition is characterised in that it contains a serotonergic ligand or any pharmacologically acceptable salt or ester thereof which acts on at least one member of the 5-HT family of serotonergic receptors, preferably on one or more of the 5-HTiA, 5-HT4 and 5-HT7 serotonergic receptors. In an example the ligand is the 8-OH-DPAT ligand. The composition can be used in conjunction with or include an anaesthetic, preferably an opioid anaesthetic, to induce a state of anaesthesia in mammals and it can be used to immobilise wile or non-domestic mammals.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method and an apparatus, primarily a radiation imaging apparatus and an array of coded aperture masks, for use in diagnostic nuclear medicine. The coded aperture masks are fitted with radiation attenuation tubes, each of which extends from each side of the mask in the direction of the mask apertures. The tubes are made from lead and have parallel sides. The masks are configured for gamma ray usage and are made from tungsten having a thickness of between 1 and 2 mm.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for producing carbon nanotubes which includes supplying a continuous fluidized feed of a catalyst and at least one hydrocarbon to a reactor operating under conditions suitable to produce carbon nanotubes. The fluid is made to flow though the reactor with a swirling motion which ensures that the internal surfaces of the reactor are cleaned of deposits.