Abstract: A method of decreasing hypercoagulability and/or increasing plasma clotting time comprising removing red cell-derived particles (RCDP) from plasma.

Abstract: A method for producing erythroid cells comprising culturing erythroid-producer cells which are obtainable from an EMP3-negative individual, and/or have reduced expression of EMP3 and/or reduced expression of one or more downstream effectors of the EMP3 pathway.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of preparing adult red blood cells from stem cells in vitro using certain transcription factors for use in medicine, transfusions and transplants. The invention also provides blood compositions with cells prepared by the method.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of preparing adult red blood cells from stem cells in vitro using certain transcription factors for use in medicine, transfusions and transplants. The invention also provides blood compositions with cells prepared by the method.

Abstract: A system for exchanging cash change, owed by a vendor to a customer as a result of the customer purchasing a good or a service from the vendor, for an alternative offer of a good or a service, said system for performing the steps of generating change data representing a monetary value of the cash change owed to the customer by the vendor; generating offer data representing said alternative offer of said good or service; receiving acceptance data representing confirmation of acceptance of exchange of said cash change for said alternative offer of said good or service; and generating confirmation data representing confirmation of acceptance of exchange of said cash change for said alternative offer of said good or service, wherein said offer data has an offer value corresponding to said change data.

Abstract: A coupling member (20) includes cylindrical body (22) and hook (24). Sleeve (70) slides over the outer surface of body (22) between and open position (as shown) and a closed position and carries pin (50) which is guided by slots (60, 62) formed in body (22). Closure shaft (30) is mounted within body (22) and biased by spring (42) towards a closed position wherein end (32) of shaft (30) is received within recess (44) formed in portion (26) of hook (24). Pin (50) is slidably mounted in transverse bore (56) of shaft (30). Spring (58) biases pin head (52) towards shaft (30) so that when shaft (30) is in the closed position, pin head (52) is seated in recess (66) and shaft (30) is thereby locked in the closed position. Coupling member (20) can be used for securing lines in mountaineering or cave diving.

Abstract: The present invention relates to intercellular adhesion molecule-4 (ICAM-4), including binding sites on ICAM-4, antagonists affecting ICAM-4 and uses thereof. In one aspect of the invention there is provided an epitope for binding integrins, comprising strands A (or F) and G of domain 1 of ICAM-4. In another aspect of the invention there is provided a footprint domain for binding integrins, comprising a first epitope as defined above and second epitope comprising the C and F strands of domain 1 and the CE loop of domain 2 of ICAM-4.