Abstract: An apparatus for sensing of an interaction of a molecular entity with a membrane protein in a lipid bilayer comprises an array of sensor elements (21) arranged to output an electrical signal that is dependant on occurrences of the interaction. A detection circuit (3) comprised detection channels (30) capable of amplifying an electrical signal from a sensor element. More sensor elements (21) are provided than detection channels (30), and detection channels (30) are selectively connected to sensor elements (21) that have acceptable quality of performance in that a lipid bilayer is formed and that an acceptable number of membrane proteins are inserted, on the basis of the amplified electrical signals that are output from the detection channels. This improves the efficiency of utilization of the detection channels, due to inefficiency in the utilization of the sensor elements, resulting in a reduction in the cost of the apparatus and the ability to perform sensing using relatively small samples.

Abstract: Systems and methods for attenuated total reflectance (ATR) spectroscopy. The systems and methods may generally involve differentiating an acquired image in a spectral domain, restricting a spectral range of the acquired image, subtracting an average absorbance from the restricted image data, and applying a principal component analysis to extract significant spectral features from the restricted image data.

Abstract: An accessory for use with a microscope arranged to carry out ATR measurements has a support (40) which can be mounted on the moveable stage (20) of the microscope. A mounting (100) for an ATR crystal is carried on the support. The mounting (100) is preferably pivotally mounted on the support (40) so that it can be pivoted from a position in which the crystal lines on the axis of the microscope to a position in which a sample carried on the support can be observed visually. The mounting is arranged such that it can be returned reliably and reproducibly to its original position with the crystal on the axis.

Abstract: An accessory for use with a microscope arranged to carry out ATR measurements has a support (40) which can be mounted on the moveable stage (20) of the microscope. A mounting (100) for an ATR crystal is carried on the support. The mounting (100) is preferably pivotally mounted on the support (40) so that it can be pivoted from a position in which the crystal lines on the axis of the microscope to a position in which a sample carried on the support can be observed visually. The mounting is arranged such that it can be returned reliably and reproducibly to its original position with the crystal on the axis.

Abstract: An accessory for use with a microscope arranged to carry out ATR measurements has a support (40) which can be mounted on the moveable stage (20) of the microscope. A mounting (100) for an ATR crystal is carried on the support. The mounting (100) is preferably pivotally mounted on the support (40) so that it can be pivoted from a position in which the crystal lines on the axis of the microscope to a position in which a sample carried on the support can be observed visually. The mounting is arranged such that it can be returned reliably and reproducibly to its original position with the crystal on the axis.

Abstract: A method of processing data from a CCD 1 having a line of light sensitive CCD elements is provided. The method comprises the steps of receiving measured illumination data readout from the CCD corresponding to measurements of charge associated with each element of the line of light sensitive CCD elements and removing from the measured illumination data in respect of each CCD element a component dependent upon illumination recorded by each of the other CCD elements through which the charge from the CCD element passed during the readout process.

Abstract: An accessory for use with a microscope arranged to carry out ATR measurements has a support (40) which can be mounted on the moveable stage of the microscope. A mounting (100) for an ATR crystal (106) is carried on the support. A sample supporting member (60) is disposed below the location of the ATR crystal. The sample supporting member (60) has a relatively thin upper wall (64). A pressure applying mechanism (80) is located below the wall (64) and is operable to apply pressure to a sample through the wall (64) to ensure good contact between a sample and the sample contacting surface of the crystal.

Abstract: An accessory for use with a microscope arranged to carry out ATR measurements has a support (40) which can be fixed to the moveable stage (20) of the microscope. A mounting member (100) is carried by the support (40). A sample supporting member (60) is disposed below the location of the ATR crystal (106). The sample supporting member (60) is carried on the support (40) such that it can be moved to restricted extent relative to the support and defines a sub-stage which can be moved relative to the main stage (20) of the microscope.

Abstract: An apparatus for sensing of an interaction of a molecular entity with a membrane protein in a lipid bilayer comprises an array of sensor elements (21) arranged to output an electrical signal that is dependant on occurrences of the interaction. A detection circuit (3) comprised detection channels (30) capable of amplifying an electrical signal from a sensor element. More sensor elements (21) are provided than detection channels (30), and detection channels (30) are selectively connected to sensor elements (21) that have acceptable quality of performance in that a lipid bilayer is formed and that an acceptable number of membrane proteins are inserted, on the basis of the amplified electrical signals that are output from the detection channels. This improves the efficiency of utilisation of the detection channels, due to inefficiency in the utilisation of the sensor elements, resulting in a reduction in the cost of the apparatus and the ability to perform sensing using relatively small samples.

Abstract: A method of processing data from a CCD 1 having a line of light sensitive CCD elements is provided. The method comprises the steps of receiving measured illumination data readout from the CCD corresponding to measurements of charge associated with each element of the line of light sensitive CCD elements and removing from the measured illumination data in respect of each CCD element a component dependent upon illumination recorded by each of the other CCD elements through which the charge from the CCD element passed during the readout process.

Abstract: An accessory for use with a microscope arranged to carry out ATR measurements has a support (40) which can be mounted on the moveable stage of the microscope. A mounting (100) for an ATR crystal (106) is carried on the support. The accessory includes a registration indicium which is located at a fixed position relative to the sample contacting area of the crystal. The registration indicium is preferably provided at the apex region of the crystal. The registration indicium can be used to ensure correct focussing of a sample when obtaining an image of the sample.

Abstract: A method of processing data from a CCD 1 having a line of light sensitive CCD elements is provided. The method comprises the steps of receiving measured illumination data readout from the CCD corresponding to measurements of charge associated with each element of the line of light sensitive CCD elements and removing from the measured illumination data in respect of each CCD element a component dependent upon illumination recorded by each of the other CCD elements through which the charge from the CCD element passed during the readout process.

Abstract: An accessory for use with a microscope arranged to carry out ATR measurements has a support (40) which can be mounted on the moveable stage of the microscope. A mounting (100) for an ATR crystal (106) is carried on the support. The accessory includes a registration indicium which is located at a fixed position relative to the sample contacting area of the crystal. The registration indicium is preferably provided at the apex region of the crystal. The registration indicium can be used to ensure correct focussing of a sample when obtaining an image of the sample.

Abstract: The invention relates to parthenocarpic tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) which are grown from seeds, which are smaller than wild tomatoes and which, when ripe, display a more intense red colour than wild tomatoes. The tomatoes are obtained by cultivating a transgenic tomato plant which produces said parthenocarpic tomatoes and which is obtained using a method consisting in: (a) introducing a DNA construction into a cell or tissue of a tomato plant, said construction comprising (i) the pea END1 gene promoter or a functional fragment of same and (ii) a cytotoxic gene which is functionally bound to the aforementioned promoter or fragment of same; and (b) regenerating the tomato plant cell or tissue transformed in step (a) in order to produce a transgenic tomato plant that produces parthenocarpic tomatoes. The invention is suitable for use in food and agrifood industries.

Abstract: An accessory for use with a microscope arranged to carry out ATR measurements has a support (40) which can be mounted on the moveable stage (20) of the microscope. A mounting (100) for an ATR crystal is carried on the support. The mounting (100) is preferably pivotally mounted on the support (40) so that it can be pivoted from a position in which the crystal lines on the axis of the microscope to a position in which a sample carried on the support can be observed visually. The mounting is arranged such that it can be returned reliably and reproducibly to its original position with the crystal on the axis.

Abstract: An accessory for use with a microscope arranged to carry out ATR measurements has a support (40) which can be fixed to the moveable stage (20) of the microscope. A mounting member (100) is carried by the support (40). A sample supporting member (60) is disposed below the location of the ATR crystal (106). The sample supporting member (60) is carried on the support (40) such that it can be moved to restricted extent relative to the support and defines a sub-stage which can be moved relative to the main stage (20) of the microscope.

Abstract: An accessory for use with a microscope arranged to carry out ATR measurements has a support (40) which can be mounted on the moveable stage of the microscope. A mounting (100) for an ATR crystal (106) is carried on the support. A sample supporting member (60) is disposed below the location of the ATR crystal. The sample supporting member (60) has a relatively thin upper wall (64). A pressure applying mechanism (80) is located below the wall (64) and is operable to apply pressure to a sample through the wall (64) to ensure good contact between a sample and the sample contacting surface of the crystal.

Abstract: The regulatory sequence is useful for the specific expression in anther of a nucleotide sequence of interest, for example, a sequence whose controlled expression under the regulatory sequence causes complete ablation of the anther in the early development stages and allows a user to obtain androsterile plants that are useful for producing hybrid seeds.

Abstract: Novel pseudotrisaccharides based on 2-deoxy- and 2,5-dideoxystreptamine are described. The compounds of the invention can be considered as modified Kanamycin, Gentamycin and Apramycin compounds. In particular they are deoxy derivatives especially at the 2', 3', 4', 2", 3" and/or 4" and/or possibly at the 6' or 6" positions. The compounds are active bactericides some of which are more active than Kanamycin. It is a particular advantage of the compounds that they are active against Kanamycin resistant bacteria. Methods of making these compounds are also described based on glycosylation reaction from corresponding monosaccharide compounds.