Abstract: A system and method of producing a moulded article, e.g. a one-piece container, comprises delivering a fibre suspension to a porous mould and removing a suspending liquid (e.g. water) via pores of the porous mould. An inflatable bladder is inserted into the mould in a collapsed state and then inflated to apply pressure to internal walls of the article to remove water content. A wet embryonic form of the container is then transferred to a non-porous mould where an inflatable bladder applies internal pressure to compress the walls and remove further water content. The container is further dried by microwave and/or air drying and may be coated with a protective layer.

Abstract: An electronic synthesizer instrument incorporating four bass pedals which can be played either with the heel or the toe of the foot, so as to allow the playing of all twelve notes in a chromatic octave with just the four pedals. The apparatus is an improvement upon existing bass pedal devices which enables easier playing of the bass parts for musicians simultaneously playing other instruments. The assignment of the pitch to the pedals is selectable, but two of the easiest-to-play embodiments are described in detail. The four pedals rock on a central pivot, each giving two distinct notes. Half pitches between notes addressed by adjacent pedals can be accessed by holding both adjacent pedals down.

Abstract: An electronic synthesizer instrument incorporating four bass pedals which can be played either with the heel or the toe of the foot, so as to allow the playing of all twelve notes in a chromatic octave with just the four pedals. The apparatus is an improvement upon existing bass pedal devices which enables easier playing of the bass parts for musicians simultaneously playing other instruments. The assignment of the pitch to the pedals is selectable, but two of the easiest-to-play embodiments are described in detail. The four pedals rock on a central pivot, each giving two distinct notes. Half pitches between notes addressed by adjacent pedals can be accessed by holding both adjacent pedals down.

Abstract: For a self-powered marine lifting vessel or catamaran having static buoyancy, a working deck is forcibly raised or lowered by flexing or extending each of a plurality of articulated pairs of fixedly mounted support beams connecting each hull and the deck. One version uses locally applied forces at the joints from adjacent hydraulic cylinders, incidentally causing the hulls to rotate about their axes. Another version forces the hulls to rotate axially from a non-rotating aft inter-hull linkage. Applications include routine harbor maintenance and hull cleaning, then emergency marine pollution including oil cleanup at a polluted site.

Abstract: For a self-powered marine lifting vessel or catamaran having static buoyancy, a working deck is forcibly raised or lowered by flexing or extending each of a plurality of articulated pairs of fixedly mounted support beams connecting each hull and the deck. One version uses locally applied forces at the joints from adjacent hydraulic cylinders, incidentally causing the hulls to rotate about their axes. Another version forces the hulls to rotate axially from a non-rotating aft inter-hull linkage. Applications include routine harbour maintenance and hull cleaning, then emergency marine pollution including oil cleanup at a polluted site.

Abstract: A foot impression device comprising: an inner sole; a outer sole with a foot impression; a strap, where the strap secures a user's foot within the foot impression device during use; and a heel strap, where the heel strap provides heel support for the user's foot. The strap extends through the foot impression and includes two attachment ends exposed on the outer sole. The foot impression replicates an animal species and in one particular embodiment, the animal species includes a Sasquatch aka Big Foot.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method to assist in the determination of therapy for a patient suffering from Barrett's oesophagus, especially where first-line therapy has been unsuccessful and when dysplasia has been diagnosed. The method comprises the use of an imaging agent comprising a vector which targets (a) Her2, (b) cMet, (c) guanylyl cyclase or (d) IGF1R. The imaging agent is suitable for radioisotope or optical imaging in vitro or preferably in vivo.

Abstract: A doped hydrogen storage material according to the general formula: MgxByMzHn wherein: (i) the ratio of x/y is in the range of from 0.15 to 1.5; (ii) z is in the range of from 0.005 to 0.35; (iii) x+y+z equals 1; (iv) M=is one or more metals selected from the group of selected Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu and Zn; (v) n is no more than 4y; and wherein x/y does not equal 0.5 and at least part of the doped hydrogen storage material is amorphous. The doped hydrogen storage materials are used for storing hydrogen, and also disclosed is a method for reversibly desorbing and/or absorbing hydrogen.

Abstract: A doped hydrogen storage material according to the general formula: Mgx By Mz Hn wherein: (i) the ratio of x/y is in the range of from 0.15 to 1.5; (ii) z is in the range of from 0.005 to 0.35; (iii) x+y+z equals 1; (iv) M=is one or more metals selected from the group of selected Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu and Zn; (v) n is no more than 4y; and wherein x/y does not equal 0.5 and at least part of the doped hydrogen storage material is amorphous. The doped hydrogen storage materials are used for storing hydrogen, and also disclosed is a method for reversibly desorbing and/or absorbing hydrogen.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a doped hydrogen storage material according to the general formula: MgxByMzHn wherein: (i) the ratio of x/y is in the range of from 0.15 to 1.5; (ii) z is in the range of from 0.005 to 0.35; (iii) x+y+z equals 1; (iv) M=is one or more metals selected from the group of selected Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu and Zn; (v) n is no more than 4y; and wherein x/y does not equal 0.5 and at least part of the doped hydrogen storage material is amorphous. The present invention further relates to the use of doped hydrogen storage materials according to the invention for storing hydrogen and a method for reversibly desorbing and/or absorbing hydrogen.

Abstract: A tiltable loading ramp for loading and unloading a first vehicle onto and from a second vehicle, comprises at least two ramp sections which are abuttable or substantially abuttable to form a ramp surface, and at least one support member forming a fulcrum for the ramp surface. The in use at least one support member is provided partway between ends of the ramp surface and spaces the ramp surface away from a loading surface of the second vehicle, so that as the first vehicle passes the fulcrum, the ramp surface tilts towards the loading surface of the second vehicle.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a doped hydrogen storage material according to the general formula: MgxByMzHn wherein: (i) the ratio of x/y is in the range of from 0.15 to 1.5; (ii) z is in the range of from 0.005 to 0.35; (iii) x+y+z equals 1; (iv) M= is one or more metals selected from the group of selected Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu and Zn; (v) n is no more than 4y; and wherein x/y does not equal 0.5 and at least part of the doped hydrogen storage material is amorphous. The present invention further relates to the use of doped hydrogen storage materials according to the invention for storing hydrogen and a method for reversibly desorbing and/or absorbing hydrogen.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method to assist in the determination of therapy for a patient suffering from Barrett's oesophagus, especially where first-line therapy has been unsuccessful and when dysplasia has been diagnosed. The method comprises the use of an imaging agent comprising a vector which targets (a) Her2, (b) cMet, (c) guanylyl cyclase or (d) IGF1R. The imaging agent is suitable for radioisotope or optical imaging in vitro or preferably in vivo.

Abstract: A tiltable loading ramp for loading and unloading a first vehicle onto and from a second vehicle, comprises at least two ramp sections which are abuttable or substantially abuttable to form a ramp surface, and at least one support member forming a fulcrum for the ramp surface. The in use at least one support member is provided partway between ends of the ramp surface and spaces the ramp surface away from a loading surface of the second vehicle, so that as the first vehicle passes the fulcrum, the ramp surface tilts towards the loading surface of the second vehicle.

Abstract: A dispenser for delivering beverages (e.g. beer) including a main body (20), an inlet (21), an outlet (23) and a piston stop valve (23). In use, the piston moves from a first closed position (A) to a second position (B) where fluid is permitted only through restrictive channels (30) that causes turbulent flow and hence foam formation for the head of the beverage. In a third position (C), flow is completely open from the inlet to the outlet and foam formation is minimised.

Abstract: A dispenser for delivering beverages (e.g. beer) including a main body (20), an inlet (21), an outlet (23) and a piston stop valve (23). In use, the piston moves from a first closed position (A) to a second position (B) where fluid is permitted only through a restricted aperture (31) provided in a collar (27) that extends around the piston. The restricted flow path causes turbulence and hence foam formation on the beverage. In a third position (C), flow is completely open from the inlet to the outlet.

Abstract: My invention is a sequentially applied composite coating process that combines plate coating and spray coating techniques into an integrated system. A component, or part, is plated with a suitable material to build up surfaces of the part to a desired prepared specification. The part is then coated with a second molten material sprayed on, integrally bonding the spray-coating material into the plated-coating material layer of the part, to achieve the final spray coated composite material. Final grinding and/or polishing finish preparation may follow. Various materials and/or blends of materials known to the field of each individual art may be used in the plating stage and the spraying stage. In this fashion a relatively thick coating of highly durable material may be applied with superior bonding properties than achievable through currently practiced methods.

Abstract: The invention discloses methods of reducing background signal in nucleic acid amplification reactions by the use of primers in the case of isothermal amplification which include at least one modification selected from a nucleotide analogue, a hairpin loop at the 5′ end of the primer, a ribonucleotide or a fluor or quencher. For more general nucleic acid amplification reactions the primer includes at least two of the modifications.

Abstract: The invention discloses an oligonucleotide probe which can be used for the identification of polymorphisms in a nucleic acid sequence. The probe contains an allele specific base at the 3′ end of the oligonucleotide and an additional deliberate mismatch base at a position of up to 4 nucleotides from the 3′ end of the probe. The oligonucleotide is particularly useful in Rolling Circle Amplification (RCA) reactions by increasing the specificity of discrimination between alleles.

Abstract: Nucleoside analogues or base analogues having structure (I), where X=O or NH or S, Y=N or CHR6 or CR6, W=N or NR6 or CHR6 or CR6 or S, n=1 or 2; each R6 is independently H or O or alkyl or alkenyl or alkoxy or aryl or a reporter moiety; where necessary (i.e. when Y and/or W is N or CR6 where R6 is not O) a double bond is present between Y and W or W and W, and Q is H or a sugar or a sugar analogue or a nucleic acid backbone or backbone analogue.