Abstract: Factor XIIa (activated Factor XII) exists in a variety of forms in the blood. Measurement of different forms provides information relevant for diagnosing, monitoring, or predicting the susceptibility to, progress of, or outcome of a disease or disorder, or of treatment of the disease or disorder in a subject having or suspected of having the disease or disorder.

Abstract: A surface populated by a bacteria capable of producing a biofilm is treated beneficially by contacting it with a substance having N-acyl homoserine lactone degradant activity obtained from the secretions and/or excretions of the larval form of the green bottle fly, Lucilia sericata. Furthermore, a synergistic effect is achieved when the larval secretions/excretions are used in combination with an antibiotic, e.g. tetracycline. Such a substance having N-acyl homoserine lactone degradant activity obtained from Lucilia sericata larval secretions and/or excretions also forms part of the invention.

Abstract: A transistor integration process provides a damascene method for the formation of gate electrodes and gate dielectric layers. An interlayer-dielectric film is deposited prior to the gate electrode formation to avoid the demanding gap fill requirements presented by adjacent gates. A trench is formed in the interlayer-dielectric film followed by the deposition of the gate material in the trench. This process avoids the potential for damage to high-k gate dielectric layers caused by high thermal cycles and also reduces or eliminates the problematic formation of voids in the dielectric layers filling the gaps between adjacent gates.

Abstract: A composition for treatment of a wound to promote healing thereof in a human or non-human mammal comprises an active amount of a toll receptor (or toll-like receptor) ligand, or a precursor thereof, and a suitable carrier. The ligand may be a spatzle or spatzle-like protein derived from an insect, such as Drosophila melanogaster or Lucilia sericata. The invention also relates to a method of treating a wound which comprises applying to the wound a composition according to the invention, and a dressing for a wound which comprises a support carrying composition according to the invention.

Abstract: An immune response modulatory compound is described. The compound has been shown to inhibit lymphocyte proliferation and to down-regulate TNF-secretion by monocytes and/or macrophages with the consequent activation of Th 1 lymphocytes in humans or other animals.

Abstract: The use of a compound selected from a range of compounds including quorum sensing molecules, N-acyl homo serine lactones, N-(3-oxododecanoyl)-L-homoserine lactone, inhibitors to modulate STAT activity for the treatment of a range of diseases including cancer, breast cancer, obesity, lipid metabolism disorders, immune disease, immune deficiency or immune disorders. The range of compounds also include compounds of formula (I) in which R is an acyl group of formula (II).

Abstract: A process is disclosed for removing a photoresist mask used to form openings in an underlying layer of low k carbon-doped silicon oxide dielectric material of an integrated circuit structure formed on a semiconductor substrate, which comprises exposing the photoresist mask in a plasma reactor to a plasma formed using a reducing gas until the photoresist mask is removed. In a preferred embodiment the reducing gas is selected from the group consisting of NH3, H2, forming gas, and a mixture of NH3 and H2.

Abstract: This invention relates to the discovery of nucleic acids and proteins associated with baldness and/or hair loss. The identification of these baldness-associated nucleic acids and proteins have uses in predicting the propensity for baldness of an individual and/or in determining the likelihood of baldness in an individual experiencing hair loss. In addition, the nucleic acids of the invention can be used can be used for gene therapy for delaying or stopping the progression of baldness, and/or for reversing baldness.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the discovery of nucleic acids and proteins that are markers for specific normal or cancerous tissues. The identification of these markers has diagnostic uses in detecting cancer in a subject, as well as in determining the tissue of origin for a cancerous cell. These tissue-specific molecules further allow the tissue specific expression of a polynucleotide or protein of interest. In addition, the tissue-specific molecules of the invention have therapeutic applications for targeting compounds to a tissue of interest.

Abstract: This invention relates to the discovery of nucleic acids and proteins associated with the aging processes, such as cell proliferation and senescence. The identification of these aging-associated nucleic acids and proteins have diagnostic uses in detecting the aging status of a cell population as well as applications for gene therapy and the delaying of the aging process.

Abstract: This invention relates to the discovery of nucleic acids and proteins associated with the aging processes, such as cell proliferation and senescence, and in particular with skin aging. The identification of these aging-associated nucleic acids and proteins have diagnostic uses in detecting the aging status of a cell population as well as application for gene therapy and the delaying of the aging process.

Abstract: A combustion chamber assembly comprises a plurality of three stage lean burn combustion chambers (28) each of which comprises a primary combustion zone (36), a secondary combustion zone (40) and a tertiary combustion zone (44). Each of the combustion zones (36,40,44) is supplied with premixed fuel and air by respective fuel and air mixing ducts (76,78,80,92). A plurality of transition ducts (118) are provided at the downstream ends of the combustion chambers (28) to receive the exhaust gases. A damping ring (130) is connected to all of the transition ducts (118) by bolts (138) which pass through apertures (128) in flanges (126) on the transition ducts (118). The bolts (138) are biased by springs (142) such that frictional contact between the damping ring (130) and the flanges (126) damps harmful vibrations in the transition ducts (118).

Abstract: An absorbent, composite fibre comprising a matrix of from 10% to less than 50% of water insoluble alginate having dispersed therein at least 40% of another polysaccharide.

Abstract: Alginate fabrics have, in conjuction with charcoal cloth, been used in wound dressings for malodorous wounds and there are commercial examples of such wound dressings. A problem associated with known alginate wound dressings which employ charcoal cloth is that the dressing is a relatively rigid structure. Furthermore, the known dressings have been constrained to the use of charcoal cloth which limits the absorptive properties thereof for wound odorants due to the fixed surface area of the cloth. We have now developed an alginate fabric which alleviates the above problems, and there is provided by the present invention an alginate fabric having particulate charcoal dispersed therein.

Abstract: Alginate fibres comprising at least one medicament incorporated into the structure thereof, the medicament being present at a level of at least 10% by weight, based on the weight of the alginate fibre with no incorporated medicament.

Abstract: A combustion chamber assembly comprises a plurality of tubular combustion chambers which have their axes arranged generally radially. A transition duct is provided for each of the tubular combustion chambers. Each transition duct has a circular upstream end arranged coaxially with the downstream end of the respective tubular combustion chamber. An annular resilient member mounts the upstream end of the respective transition duct on a tubular portion of a respective support structure. The inner end of the annular member is formed integrally with the upstream end of the transition duct and the outer end of the annular member is secured to a flange on the tubular portion of the support structure by a bolted connection. The annular member has a plurality of circumferentially extending slots to allow thermally induced articulation and to maintain the upstream end of the transition duct coaxial with the support member.

Abstract: A device for strapping cables, pipes and similar items together or to a support comprises a strap (1) constituted by a strip of bendable material, preferably metal, attached at one end to a buckle plate (2), conveniently of sheet metal, by passing one end of the strap (1) through a slot (5) and bending it back to underlie a portion of the strap which is wrapped around the cables (6) or the like to be strapped. The buckle plate has a raised bridge portion (3) and an aligned pair of fixed ears (3a',3a") with a gap therebetween. The other end of the strap (1) is threaded beneath the ears and passed beneath the bridge portion (3). After pulling the stripping tight, its free end is bent back over the bridge portion (3) and secured by tilting it slightly about its axis and sliding it through the gap between the ears 3a' and 3a". In other embodiments the strip (1) is integral with the buckle plate (2).