Abstract: A method is provided for treating plants or plant tissues (including cuttings, roots, bulbs, corns, tubers, rhizomes and seeds) in order to induce a desired tissue morphology and/or a desired physiological state by applying to the plant an amount of a C-16,17-dihydro gibberellin or C-16,17-dihydro gibberellin precursor effective to produce an at least partial inhibition of the formation of effector gibberellins in said plant.Effects obtainable include dwarfing, stem and shoot and/or root (radicle) growth retardation, flowering, improved fruit quality, inhibiting fruit ripening, improving fruit set, controlling weed growth, inducing male sterility, retarded bud break and tillering.

Abstract: An inductive coupler system suitable for subsea use. The coupler has two sub-assemblies (17, 65) each including a magnetic half-core (35a, b). A tubular guide arrangement (18) is provided into which the first sub-assembly (17) is able to slide. The guide arrangement (18) includes means (63a, 63b) capable of co-acting with means (25a, 25b) fixed to the first coupler sub-assembly (17) so as to constrain the first coupler sub-assembly to take up a position within the guide arrangement to receive the second coupler sub-assembly (65) via an aperture (59) in the wall of the guide arrangement.

Abstract: An inductive coupler system including a first part in which is defined a socket region and a second part including a plug member. A first frame member carrying a first magnetic half-core constituting one half of an inductive coupler is supported by the first part, while the second part carries a second magnetic half-core constituting the other half of the inductive coupler. The first part includes actuation means responsive to the insertion of said plug member in said socket region to move the first frame member towards the second part to a position where a mating surface of each of the half-cores are in surface-to-surface alignment with each other. Second actuation means drives the aligned mating surfaces into intimate contact or moves the first frame member away from the second part.

Abstract: An encapsulated assembly of electric components (12) on a board (11) wherein the board and components are encapsulated in a mass of silicone rubber (17) which rubber mass is in turn encapsulated in a mass of rigid epoxy resin compound (21) which is partially supported by pillars (13) which are mounted on the board and extend outwardly to the surface of the mass of foamed silicone rubber, electrical connection to the components being provided by connector pins (15) extending through both encapsulations.