Abstract: The present invention relates to an esculentin-2CHa peptide and analogs thereof, and the use each thereof in the treatment of diabetes, for example type 2 diabetes; insulin resistance; obesity, and/or hypercholesterolemia. Also disclosed is a pharmaceutical composition comprising peptides and analogs according to the present invention; use of peptides and analogs according to the present invention for the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment of diabetes, insulin resistance, obesity, and/or hypercholesterolemia; and methods of treating diabetes, insulin resistance, obesity, and/or hypercholesterolemia.

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: A coating comprising silicon-doped graphene layers wherein the graphene is in the form of horizontally-aligned graphene nanosheets.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of detecting Clostridium difficile in a sample, comprising detecting the presence in said sample of one or more genes that have been identified as being specific to Clostridium difficile. Also provided is a method of diagnosing a Clostridium difficile infection in a subject, a method of determining the efficacy of a therapeutic regime being used to treat a Clostridium difficile infection and a method of testing for the presence of Clostridium difficile in a sample. Further provided are primer pairs and a kit suitable for use in such methods.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an esculentin-2CHa peptide and analogues thereof, and the use each thereof in the treatment of diabetes, for example type 2 diabetes; insulin resistance; obesity, and/or hypercholesterolemia. Also disclosed is a pharmaceutical composition comprising peptides and analogues according to the present invention; use of peptides and analogues according to the present invention for the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment of diabetes, insulin resistance, obesity, and/or hypercholesterolemia; and methods of treating diabetes, insulin resistance, obesity, and/or hypercholesterolemia.

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: The present application relates to a pharmaceutical composition for use in the prevention or/and treatment of a neurodegenerative disease, the composition comprising desPro36Exendin-4(1-39)-Lys6-NH2 or/and a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and optionally a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, adjuvant, or/and auxiliary substance. In addition, the present application relates to the use of the pharmaceutical composition for the treatment and prevention of a neurodegenerative disease.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for the preparation of graphene or graphene-like fragments of another layered structure, said process comprising the step of mixing and grinding graphite or said other layered structure with at least one ionic liquid. The invention also provides the use of grinding in ionic liquids in such a process and products formed or formable by such methods.

Abstract: The present invention relates to peptides of 12 to 50 amino acids in length which incorporate the amino acid sequence MDNRRAK for use in the treatment of obesity, type-2 diabetes or metabolic syndrome.

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 producing a gait representation for a subject, comprising the steps of: acquiring a sequence of images of the subject representing the gait of said subject; analysing each image of said sequence to identify one or more regions having a certain thickness based on a thickness characteristic function and a threshold value; for each image, removing said one or more regions from said image to produce a modified image; and combining said modified images in the sequence to produce a gait energy image. Calculating and applying a thickness characteristic to the images allows a better identification of regions of the images which are most affected by covariate factors such as carrying an object or wearing heavy clothing. Such covariate factors have been found most often to be associated with the more static parts of the subject, i.e. the torso. The more dynamic parts of the subject, i.e.

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: 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: The invention relates to a solid support suitable for supporting endothelial cell growth which has one or more regions of microstructure incorporated onto the growing surface thereof as well as to such supports having endothelial cells attached thereto. The invention further relates to methods of culturing endothelial cells and directing tubule formation using these supports.

Abstract: A control panel for controlling the actions of an object using Brain Computer Interface technology. The panel includes a plurality of controls (1) adapted to select a plurality of actions. The control comprises a visible marker (7, 8, 9), and means for effecting continuous relative rotation of the marker with respect to a background (6). The background includes at least one visible target sector (5). The control further comprises a visible indicator (12) whose extent can be varied by a user whilst there is relative rotation between the marker and the background. For an action to be selected, alignment of the marker and the target sector must coincide with the indicator (12) having reached a predetermined extent (11). The control may be adaptive to display differing numbers of markers and different target sectors, depending on the actions permissible at any given time.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of detecting Clostridium difficile in a sample, comprising detecting the presence in said sample of one or more genes that have been identified as being specific to Clostridium difficile. Also provided is a method of diagnosing a Clostridium difficile infection in a subject, a method of determining the efficacy of a therapeutic regime being used to treat a Clostridium difficile infection and a method of testing for the presence of Clostridium difficile in a sample. Further provided are primer pairs and a kit suitable for use in such methods.

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 process for the preparation of graphene or graphene-like fragments of another layered structure, said process comprising the step of mixing and grinding graphite or said other layered structure with at least one ionic liquid. The invention also provides the use of grinding in ionic liquids in such a process and products formed or formable by such methods.