Abstract: This invention relates to the field of heat-driven cooling devices, heat pumps or thermal transformers, in particular to those devices, known as sorption devices, which employ an ad- or absorbent material as a chemical compressor to raise the pressure of a refrigerant gas. This invention is particularly concerned with a heat exchanger suitable for use as a generator in a sorption device.

Abstract: A method in a computer of building a visual representation model for presenting plural forms of data from a data source to a user, comprising the steps of creating a first file of data (model file) representative of one or more physical attributes of one or more elements associated with one of a plurality of nodes in the visual representation, creating a second file of data (configuration file) representative of visual attributes of the one or more elements for each of the plurality of nodes in the visual representation and associating a variation in the visual appearance of the nodes in correlation with variation in the data from the data source which is associated with the nodes.

Abstract: Apparatus for inspecting an article comprising: a controller configured to generate a drive signal having a periodic amplitude variation; a source, the source being operable by the controller to emit a source beam thereby to irradiate an article, the source beam comprising a beam of electromagnetic radiation having a periodic amplitude variation corresponding to that of the drive signal; and a detector, the detector being configured to detect a portion of the source beam that has been transmitted through at least a portion of the article, and to generate a detector signal having an amplitude variation corresponding to the amplitude variation of said portion of the source beam, the controller being further configured to generate a difference value corresponding to a difference between the amplitude of the detector signal and the amplitude of a reference signal.

Abstract: A thermal compressive device provides energy-efficient heating or cooling by exploiting heat regeneration in a sorption system. The device comprises an array of generator modules (7) arranged in two banks (10, 11) to either side of a heating zone (13). Heat carrier fluid is driven past the modules in a reversible direction. During one phase, generators in the first bank (10) are cooled and therefore in various stages of sorbate re-adsorption. Sorbate in associated evaporator region(s) (26) will boil, enabling cooling of surrounding fluid (33). Generators (7) in the other bank (11) will be in various stages of desorption. Sorbate in associated condenser region(s) (21) will condense, enabling heating of its environment. During the other phase, each generator (7) switches function, but cooling remains at evaporator regions (26) and heating at condenser regions (21). Each module may be a self-contained unit comprising generator (7), condenser (21) and evaporator (26) sections.

Abstract: The use of dewatered small particle tailings material derived from the industrial washing of coal, metal ores, rocks and extracted minerals as a component of casing material for the cultivation of mushrooms (Agaricus bisporus and other Agaricus spp.) is described.

Abstract: Cloned, i.e. defined, defective interfering (DI) influenza A virus is produced in embryonated hens eggs using a method which generates large quantities of DI virus material. Cloned DI virus is then used in tests on mice and ferrets given a lethal challenge of wild-type influenza A virus. When cloned DI influenza A virus is co-administered with a lethal dose of virulent influenza A virus, mice are protected compared to a control of inactivated cloned DI influenza A virus. Mice which survived the administration of cloned DI influenza A virus and infective challenge virus are three weeks later still protected against lethal challenge with infective virus. Control mice which received only cloned DI influenza A virus and no lethal challenge are not protected three weeks later on lethal challenge with infective virus.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for the production of a monolithic implant for use in tissue engineering, the process comprising the steps of plasticising at least one biocompatible material into a paste, extruding the paste through a die, and drying the extruded material to eliminate an aqueous and/or non-aqueous component. The invention also relates to a monolithic implant as thereby manufactured, and the use of such an implant as a scaffold for tissue-engineering and as a transplant tissue in reconstructive or replacement surgery.

Abstract: A gas-sensing semiconductor device is fabricated on a silicon substrate having a thin silicon oxide insulating layer in which a resistive heater made of a CMOS compatible high temperature metal is embedded. The high temperature metal is tungsten. The device includes at least one sensing area provided with a gas-sensitive layer separated from the heater by an insulating layer. As one of the final fabrication steps, the substrate is back-etched so as to form a thin membrane in the sensing area. Except for the back-etch and the gas-sensitive layer formation, that are carried out post-CMOS, all other layers, including the tungsten resistive heater, are made using a CMOS process employing tungsten metallisation. The device can be monolithically integrated with the drive, control and transducing circuitry using low cost CMOS processing. The heater, the insulating layer and other layers are made within the CMOS sequence and they do not require extra masks or processing.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for screening for pre-eclampsia in a mammal, such as a human, by determining the amount and quality of foetal 2,3 bisphosphoglycerate mutase (2,3 BPGM) present. Reagents and kits for carrying out the method are also provided.

Abstract: A fluid injection and exhaust needle for use in gas injection moulding comprising a needle with two separate flow channels; a fluid inlet channel and a fluid outlet channel; wherein gas is injected into the melt via the fluid inlet channel to form a gas cavity in the melt, and gas is simultaneously exhausted from the cavity via the fluid outlet channel.

Abstract: A method of coating an article during injection molding wherein coating material carried by a high pressure carrier gas is blasted at high velocity directly onto the internal walls of a closed mold and then a plastics substrate is injected into the coated mold to form in-situ a coated molded product.

Abstract: The application relates to an assay method for studying the effect of at least one compound on RN virus replication and transcription comprising the steps of providing a synthetic RN molecule encoding at least a portion of the genome of an RN virus of interest and a copy of a reporter gene; incubating a cell containing the RN molecule with the or each compound and detecting an amount of reporter gene product. Preferably the RNA virus is a paramyxovirus such as human respiratory syncytial virus or avian pneumovirus. The assay may be automated to allow the screening of large numbers of compounds for anti-viral activity. Kits for carrying out the assay method are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for killing pests (e.g. insects) comprising administering material from Xenorhabdus species (e.g. X. nematophilus) such as cells or supernatants orally to the pests, either alone or in conjunction with Bacillus thuringiensis or pesticidal materials derived therefrom. Also disclosed is an isolated pesticidal agent (and compositions comprising the same) characterized in that it is obtainable from cultures of X. nematophilus or mutants thereof, has oral pesticidal activity agent Pieris brassicae, Pieris rapae and Plutella xylostella, is substantially heat stable to 55° C., is proteinaceous, acts synergistically with B. thuringiensis cells as an oral pesticide and is substantially resistant to proteolysis by trypsin and proteinase K. DNA encoding pesticidal activity is also disclosed.

Abstract: A gas injection moulding method comprising injecting a melt into a mould and injecting gas into the melt to form a gas cavity in the melt wherein the melt is cooled by use of injection gas cooled to below the external ambient air temperature and/or by a continuous flow of injection gas through the mould.

Abstract: The application discloses a method of making an antibody molecule, the antibody containing an immunoglobulin heavy chain comprising a ?3 domain or a mu domain, the method comprising: (a)Providing a nucleotide sequence encoding the immunoglobulin heavy chain; (b)Modifying the nucleotide sequence in the region of the nucleotide sequence encoding the C-terminus 18 amino acids of the completed heavy chain to remove, or reduce the effectiveness of, one or more vacuolar targeting signal sequences to form a modified nucleotide sequence; (c)Inserting the modified nucleotide sequence into a host cell; and (d)Causing the host cell to express the modified nucleotide sequence to form the modified antibody heavy chain and secrete the modified antibody heavy chain from the host cell. This improves the secretion of the antibody from, for example, plant cells. Methods of adding J-chain binding activity to antibodies are also provided. The modified antibodies and their use is also disclosed.

Abstract: A system to perform measurements on liquids, meat, viscous sugar or starch-based materials, and other foodstuffs using air-coupled ultrasound is provided. The technique uses ultrasonic transducers (advantageously capacitive transducers with polymer membranes), to generate ultrasonic signals in air, and to receive these signals after they have passed through the material under test. An ultrasonic pulse-compression process is then applied to increase the sensitivity of signals transmitted through the materials.

Abstract: A laminate material comprising two components, a first thermoplastic polymer substrate and a second thermoplastic polymer blown film; wherein the film and substrate are directly bonded one to another and where substantially one face or side of the substrate only is laminated with film; such that in use the resistance of the substrate to a localised impact on a non-laminated face is significantly reduced by the presence of the film layer.

Abstract: An electrostatic transducer, such as a loudspeaker or microphone, comprises a multi-layer panel (1) incorporating an electrically insulating middle layer (2) sandwiched between first and second electrically conducting outer layers (3, 4). At least one of the layers has a profiled surface (6) where it contacts the surface of another of the layers. Furthermore a signal generator is provided for applying an alternating electrical voltage across the first and second layers (3, 4) to initiate vibration due to variation of the electrostatic forces acting between the layers, thereby serving as a loudspeaker (or for detecting variation of such electrostatic forces due to received vibration in the case of a microphone).

Abstract: Mass spectrometry apparatus 105 comprises a serial arrangement of an ion source 110, first time of flight means, a field free region 120, means to fragment the molecules, a second time of flight means and a large area detector 160. The second time of flight means includes an ion mirror 150, the ion mirror 150 being arranged to produce a reflecting substantially quadratic field. The first time of flight means is arranged to provide spatial focusing concomitant with time focusing of ions at or near the entrance to the ion mirror 150. The means provided to fragment the ions front the first time of flight means can be a collision cell 140 or in the field free region 220 or in the first time of flight means. The means to fragment the molecules has a potential which is different from the potential at the entrance to the ion mirror 150, and the detecting surface of the detector 160 is mounted in the time focal surface of the ion mirror 150.

Abstract: An electrostatic transducer, such as a loudspeaker or microphone, comprises a multi-layer panel (1) incorporating an electrically insulating middle layer (2) sandwiched between first and second electrically conducting outer layers (3, 4). At least one of the layers has a profiled surface (6) where it contacts the surface of another of the layers. Furthermore a signal generator is provided for applying an alternating electrical voltage across the first and second layers (3, 4) to initiate vibration due to variation of the electrostatic forces acting between the layers, thereby serving as a loudspeaker (or for detecting variation of such electrostatic forces due to received vibration in the case of a microphone).