Abstract: This invention relates to predicting a subjects responsiveness to biologic therapy of rheumatoid arthritis. The invention provides a method for predicting responsiveness to anti-tumour necrosis factor therapy of rheumatoid arthritis in a subject, the method comprising the steps of: (a) Providing a biological sample; (b) detecting the presence, absence, or quantitative level of a first marker or an expression product thereof, wherein the first marker is at the HLA DRB1 gene; (c) detecting the presence, absence, or quantitative level of a second marker, or an expression product thereof, wherein the second marker is at the CD226 gene; (d) correlating the presence, absence, or quantitative level of the first marker and the presence, absence, or quantitative level of the second marker; to the predicted responsiveness to anti-tumour necrosis factor therapy of rheumatoid arthritis in the subject.

Abstract: A method of producing nanoscale materials comprising the steps of entraining liquid droplets containing at least one nanoparticle precursor within a gaseous stream, and passing said gaseous stream containing said liquid droplets through a non-thermal equilibrium plasma whereby said plasma interacts with said at least one nanoparticle precursor to produce nanoparticles within said droplets without substantial evaporation of the droplets and conveying the thus produced nanoparticles within said gaseous stream downstream of said plasma.

Abstract: This invention relates to compositions for use in the treatment of diabetes, for example type-2 diabetes; obesity; and/or metabolic syndrome. Specifically, the invention relates to a composition for use in the treatment of diabetes, the composition comprising at least one of diindolylmethane; indole-3-carbinol; embelin; [6]-gingerol; and [6]-shogaol, or combinations each thereof. Also disclosed is use in the treatment of obesity and use in the treatment of metabolic syndrome.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods of sonodynamic therapy comprising the co-administration of a microbubble-chemotherapeutic agent complex together with a microbubble-sonosensitiser complex. It further relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising these complexes and their use in methods of sonodynamic therapy and/or sonodynamic diagnosis. Such methods find particular use in the treatment of cancer, e.g. pancreatic cancer.

Abstract: The present disclosure concerns modulators of the NLRP3 inflammasome pathway, in particular an NLRP3 inflammasome modulator which is capable of binding to both of IL-1R1 and NLRP3, for use in the treatment or prophylaxis of inflammatory eye diseases such as glaucoma.

Abstract: The present disclosure concerns modulators of the NLRP3 inflammasome pathway, in particular an NLRP3 inflammasome modulator which is capable of binding to both of IL-IR1 and NLRP3.

Abstract: An external transmitter apparatus for a transcutaneous energy transfer (TET) system for supplying power for use in energising an implantable medical device is disclosed, the apparatus comprising an external transmitter apparatus comprising a plurality of transmitter coils for delivering power transcutaneously to one of a plurality of receiver coils of an implantable receiver apparatus of the TET system when located in proximity thereto. The external transmitter apparatus is provided with power by a pulsed power supply. The coils of the external transmitter apparatus and the implantable receiver apparatus may be printed on flexible substrates. Also disclosed are methods of operating such a system, an external transmitter apparatus for use in such a system, an external transmitter apparatus and an implantable receiver apparatus including flexible coils.

Abstract: The present invention relates to peptides for use in the treatment of metabolic disorders. In particular, the present invention relates to peptides for use in the treatment of diabetes. According to the present invention, there is provided a peptide for use in the treatment of a metabolic disorder; wherein the peptide is a piscine-derived PYY or fragment or analogue thereof.

Abstract: A reconfigurable stretch forming apparatus includes an array of pins adapted to be individually adjustable in height to define a reconfigurable forming surface, a pair of counter-rotating workpiece gripping devices being provided on opposite sides of the array of pins, each gripping device having an arcuate support surface for supporting a workpiece and a clamp member for clamping a work piece against the arcuate support surface, a driver being provided for rotating the counter-rotating gripping devices in opposing directions to stretch the work piece over the forming surface.

Abstract: A method of extracting oil from oilseed comprising pressing seeds within a screw press including a screw auger rotatably mounted within a cylindrical expeller body, wherein the expeller body comprises a feed section, a compression section, and a discharge section, wherein at least one outlet is provided in the expeller body, preferably in or adjacent the feed section of the expeller, said method comprising the step of controlling the temperature of at least the compression section of the expeller by means such that the temperature of the material within the compression section does not exceed the glass transition temperature of the seeds.

Abstract: A process of forming a tissue scaffold is described, the process comprising electrospinning polymer fibers from a spinneret onto a tissue scaffold template. In embodiments, the fibers are plasma-treated between the spinneret and the template. The scaffold may be constructed of alternating layers of aligned and randomly oriented fibers. The scaffold may be heat treated to control the mechanical properties of the scaffold, such as density, pore size and pore interconnectivity.

Abstract: Forming a sector for a nacelle lip skin from a sheet metal blank via punch by placing the blank against an outer surface of the punch and clamping a trailing edge of the blank in a clamping member that grips a trailing edge of the blank without slippage; gripping a leading edge of the blank, opposite the trailing edge, in a gripping device at a location axially spaced from the punch with sufficient force to permit the blank to flow therethrough in a controlled manner; displacing the gripping device in a first direction, radially with respect to the punch while drawing the blank through the gripper; displacing the gripping device in a second direction, axially with respect to the punch, to draw the blank over the leading edge of the punch and through the gripping device.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a composite concrete article comprising forming a textile structure, removing material from regions of the textile structure to create voids in the textile structure and incorporating the textile structure into a body of wet uncured concrete such that the concrete flows into the voids created in the textile structure, embedding the textile structure into the concrete, whereby the textile structure defines at least a portion of a surface of the cured concrete article.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a composite concrete article comprising affixing at least one layer of textile to a base layer and incorporating the base layer into a body of wet uncured concrete such that the base layer becomes embedded in the concrete, whereby at least a portion of the at least one textile layer defines at least a portion of a surface of the cured concrete article with the base layer embedded within the concrete to anchor the textile layer to the concrete.

Abstract: A wound healing system comprising an array of electrodes incorporated in a device for applying an electrical signal to a wound. The electrodes are configurable to form at least one composite electrode and the electrical signal is applied to the wound via the composite electrode(s). The system preferably includes means for determining the state of the wound, the electrode composition of the composite electrode(s) depending on the determined state of the wound. Advantageously, the electrode composition of the composite electrode(s) is adjustable in response to changes in the determined state of the wound.

Abstract: There is described a method of encrypting a set of 2D input data, preferably image data. The method comprises obtaining the hash value of a password and re-sizing the hash value to fit the size of the 2D input data. The re-sized data is transformed using an irreversible transform, and the output of the transform is then used to encode the 2D data.

Abstract: The present invention provides a solar water heating apparatus which includes concentric inner and outer vessels defining an annular cavity therebetween, within which cavity a phase change material is located, and which is vaporised when solar radiation is incident on the outer vessel, in order to transfer heat to a water store contained in the inner vessel, this water store being fed fresh unheated water while the heated water is extracted therefrom for domestic or other purposes.

Abstract: A skin marker for providing a reference point for a plurality of different medical imaging procedures, said marker incorporating one or more substances having one or more of radiance and/or hydration and/or radiopaque and/or radio luminescent and/or radioactive properties for detection by X-ray and/or Computer Tomography (CT) and/or MRI and/or Ultrasonic scanning processes and/or Positron Emission Tomography (PET), and one or more markings recognizable by an optical imaging process such as 3D surface scanning.

Abstract: There is described a method for detecting the presence of skin tone in an image. A gray scale representation of a pixel within the image is provided. Next, a red chrominance independent representation for is provided for the pixel. Then, the two representations are analysed to determine whether a difference in value between the representations corresponds with a the presence of a skin tone value. The present invention provides a rapid skin tone detection classifier particularly useful for real time applications.

Abstract: The present invention provides a solar water heating apparatus which includes concentric inner and outer vessels defining an annular cavity therebetween, within which cavity a phase change material is located, and which is vaporised when solar radiation is incident on the outer vessel, in order to transfer heat to a water store contained in the inner vessel, this water store being fed fresh unheated water while the heated water is extracted therefrom for domestic or other purposes.