Abstract: The present invention relates to antibodies to a purified stress protein of 86 Kd and fragments thereof isolated from the genus Corynebacterium. Particular fragments include those with apparent molecular weights of 50 Kd and 52 Kd. The stress protein has been found to be an immunodominant conserved antigen. Patients with Corynebacterium jeikeium septicemia or endocarditis have antibody to the 52 Kd breakdown product. The protein cross-reacts with a peptide antigen KVIRKNIVKKMIE using a mouse monoclonal antibody against the peptide. The antibodies are useful for diagnosis and treatement of Corynebacterium infections and diseases.

Abstract: The present invention concerns compositions for promoting the healing of wounds or fibrotic disorders comprising at least one agent specific to either a growth factor or a protein associated therewith in a system and which affects the quantity of active growth factor in the system, in combination with a pharmaceuticlly acceptable carrier, diuluent or excipient.

Abstract: An amperometric sensor device comprising a working electrode, a reference/pseudo-reference electrode and a permselective membrane incorporating a charged organic species. The electrodes are in intimate contact with the membrane and are on a side of the membrane opposite to the side exposed to a fluid sample. The charged organic species provides a conducting path through the membrane between the electrodes.

Abstract: A speech synthesis system in which coefficients of a speech synthesis filter are quantized. An LSP or other filter coefficient representation which evolves slowly with time is generated for each of a series of N input speech frames to produce p coefficients in respect of each frame. The coefficients related to the N frames define a p.times.N matrix, with each row of the matrix containing N coefficients and each coefficient of one row being related to a respective one of the N frames. The matrix is split into a series of submatrices each made up from one or more of the rows, and each submatrix is vector quantized independently of the other submatrices using a composite time/spectral weighting function which for example emphasises distortion associated with high energy regions of the spectrum of each of the N input speech frames and is also proportional to the energy and degree of voicing of each of the N input speech frames.

Abstract: Method and electrode assemblies for using or installing an electrode (especially enzyme electrode) in vivo, in which a protecting medium is introduced at the installation site to suppress adverse effects on the electrode's output. The medium is preferably an isotonic solution (e.g. saline) and/or a buffer solution and/or an anti-coagulant, and may be of increased viscosity (e.g. a gel or hydrogel), and may be coated on the electrode assembly. The preferred electrode assembly is a needle within a trocar cannula, preferably with the needle tip set back to form a recess to contain gelled medium which can then be fed with liquid medium. The assembly can be made as a sterilised, sealed pack bearing calibration and/or other data relevant to its use, especially in machine-readable form.

Abstract: A material, which may have a highly open structure such that it has negligible barrier properties, is treated with expandable particles. These are then caused to expand within the material, reducing its openness and improving its barrier properties. The product may be a porous material. The pores may be modified by an agent applied together with the particles or after the expansion. The particles may be thermoplastic microspheres containing gas. The material may be a network material, with a fiber matrix with many voids.

Abstract: A polypeptide sequence from Candida albicans is described which has significant sequence homology with known stress proteins from other organisms, particularly the heat shock protein hsp 90 of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Corresponding DNA sequences are also described, together with antibodies raised against fragments of the sequence. The polypeptide and DNA sequences and antibodies provide separate means for the diagnosis and/or treatment of fungal, particularly Candida, infections.

Abstract: A composition for use in the treatment of wounds to inhibit scar tissue formation during healing, comprising an effective amount of an activity-inhibiting growth factor neutralizing agent or agents specific against all TGF-.beta., except for TGF-.beta..sub.3, and PDGF, together with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. A method of preparing the composition and a method of administering the composition to a host suffering from tissue wounding is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of hatching eggs of avian species, especially chickens, which comprises carrying out at least one cycle of steps (a) and (c) as follows: (a) incubating the eggs in a first, baseline ambient environment which is normal for hatchery incubation of the eggs of the avian species in the prevailing climatic conditions and then during a sex-sensitive time window of embryonic development, (b) altering the ambient environment to shifted conditions for a period of time effective to bias the normal phenotypic sex ratio of the embryos, without significant adverse effect on the average mortality rate, and (c) thereafter restoring the incubation conditions to or towards normal and allowing the eggs to hatch. Preferably the ambient environment comprises a temperature of 37.5.degree.-38.degree. C. and the shifted conditions comprise reduced temperature, especially a temperature maintained at about 22.degree. C. for a period of from 18 to 42 hours.

Abstract: A condition detector for an asynchronous pipeline. Each stage in the pipeline includes a storage element for storing a single bit of data indicating whether or not the condition to be detected is set in that stage. The single bit in the storage element of one stage is transferred to the storage element of a succeeding stage in the pipeline when data is transferred between those stages. A detector detects whether or not any one of the storage elements of the pipeline stages indicates that the condition is set, and a condition set output is generated if any one of the storage elements of the pipeline stages indicates that the condition is set.

Abstract: Sensor devices for examining fluid samples having, between the sample under examination and a detector, a membrane made of polyvinyl chloride in un-plasticized form. This membrane material acts as a barrier to paracetamol and sugars but is permeable to hydrogen peroxide and to oxalate, so these species can be determined after passing through the membrane. When they are not present as such in the sample, they may be formed from analytes which are sought (e.g. by enzymic action, which is especially applicable to the determination of glucose, using an oxidase enzyme). The membranes may be made by solvent casting, conveniently to a thickness of 10 to 40 .mu.m, and used in electrolytic systems with a platinum anode. The membrane material can be formed into multi-layer membranes, which may incorporate layers of material to protect it or modify the permeability, or added materials for example enzymes.

Abstract: Sensor devices for detecting components in fluid samples, especially by electrolytic analytical methods, comprising a detecting means (usually an anode, especially one of platinum) surrounded by a selectively permeable membrane barrier composed of a mixture of polyvinyl chloride and polyaryl sulphone polymers. Preferred proportions of the polymers are 1 to 9 parts of polyaryl sulphone for each part of polyvinyl chloride, and the mixture may be formed into membranes by solution casting. Preferably this barrier is used with an inner membrane, especially of porous polycarbonate. In use, these polymer mixtures are especially useful in their selective permeability to glucose. Also provided are methods for their use in analysis, and the polyvinyl chloride/polyaryl sulphone polymer compositions themselves and membranes made from them.

Abstract: Enzyme electrodes having the enzyme enclosed within liposomes supported on, or in a membrane and immobilized therein are provided. The liposomes may be made using lipids and conveniently by "reverse phase evaporation". The enzyme electrodes incorporate conventional electrode elements, e.g., THE Clark electrode pair (Platinum/Silver) and additional membranes or screens, and used particularly in amperometric measurements. The enzyme can be an oxidase and is useful for measurement, directly or indirectly, of low molecular weight species generated by enzymic action, and effective for study of biological fluids.

Abstract: A polypeptide sequence from Candida albicans is described which has significant sequence homology with known stress proteins from other organism, particularly the heat shock protein hsp 90 of Sacchromyces cerevisiae. Corresponding DNA sequences are also described, together with antibodies raised against fragments of the sequence. The polypeptide and DNA sequences and antibodies provide separate means for the diagnosis and/or treatment of fungal, particularly Candida, infections.

Abstract: Sensor devices comprising enzyme electrodes incorporating a microporous membrane coated with the carbonaceous material known as "diamond-like carbon" (most conveniently deposited by decomposition of a hydrocarbon, induced by radiation or a high electric field). The membrane material is preferably a polycarbonate and its thickness preferably less than 10 microns, and the coating is preferably 0.01 to 5 .mu.m thick. The preferred porosity is provided by pores of the order of 0.05 to 0.01 microns. The coated membrane imparts high resistance to fouling by contact with whole blood, extends the linearity of the electrode response over a substantially greater range, e.g. in the analytical determination of glucose in blood, and combines a high degree of restriction to passage of interferents while retaining high permeability to hydrogen peroxide and oxygen. Most conveniently used for amperometric measurements, especially using a Clark electrode pair, with an "active" anode of platinum.

Abstract: A cosmetic composition for topical application to the skin and/or hair includes, optionally in a cosmetically or pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle, particles which enclose a cosmetically-effective benefit agent active at a target location accessible by application to the skin and/or hair, and which have means to bind to an organic surface at the target location. In particular, the particles are liposomes and have means for binding to microorganisms present on the skin and/or hair, for example those responsible for skin disorders, scalp irritation, and underarm and foot odor.

Abstract: A method of treating a porous material comprising establishing a pressure differential across the material and treating the higher pressure side with a suspension dispersion or aerosol of droplets of a liquid. The droplets enter at least some of the pores, with the treatment conditions being such that the aerodynamic forces within the pores exceed the surface tension forces maintaining the integrity of the droplets. The droplets thus spread to provide a surface coating within the pores.

Abstract: A sensor of the enzyme-electrode type containing a layer of porous material of restricted permeability between the enzyme and a sample to be analysed. The porous material has a percentage porosity not greater than 5% and preferably in the range 0.005% to 0.5%.

Abstract: Method for examination of internal body tissues by NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance) imaging procedures, and especially for examination of the alimentary tract, by administering an inert proton-rich organo-silicon polymer as a contrast medium within the body of the subject to be examined. The polymer is preferably a polysiloxane, especially a dimethylsiloxane. It can be administered easily as an emulsion, and is inert, non-toxic, and not absorbed or degraded in the living body. It overcomes the disadvantages of known imaging techniques using a contrast agent or opacifying agent which relies upon introduction of a metal derivative, which can have undesirable side-effects. It can be used without the need for image enhancement techniques (e.g. with older NMR equipment) as well as with more modern equipment.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing a measure of the depth of anaesthesia. A series of R-waves are analyzed using circular statistics to derive a measurement vector length representing the R--R variation of the sample. The Rayleigh Test is applied to determine a reference vector length from a predetermined probability level and the number of R-waves in the analyzed series. The measurement vector length is compared to the reference vector length to derive a measure of the death of anaesthesia.