Abstract: The present invention relates to novel pyridine derivatives such as compounds of the formula (I): and the use of such compounds or pharmaceutical compositions thereof in the treatment of diseases, particularly pain, which are mediated by the activity of the cannabinoid 2 receptor.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a switch and a method of switching for switching data frames. The switch comprises plural input ports and plural output ports; a central switch fabric configurable in any switching cycle to make connections between required pairs of the input ports and output ports; one or more transmit devices configured to receive data from the input ports and transmit data cells across the switch fabric; a controller for controlling the operation of the transmit devices, the plural input ports and output ports and the switch fabric; and multicast storage associated with the or each of the transmit devices for storage of fragmenting multicast cells and onward transmission of the fragmented cells.

Abstract: The invention relates to a data switch, comprising: plural input ports each for receiving data cells from a respective link; plural output ports each for providing data cells to a respective link; a switch fabric for selectively enabling a data cell received at one of the plural input ports to be switched to one or more of the plural output ports; and a switch scheduler comprising a cut-through arbiter arranged to schedule the switching of a received data cell before the entirety of the data cell is received.

Abstract: A copy engine (104) is provided as an interface between firmware (108) and memory space (106) for carrying out copy operations. The copy engine has a first register (202, 203) to point to a first address and a second register (204, 205) to point to a second address. One of the first and second addresses is a source address and one is a destination address for data to be copied. The copy engine (104) also has a control register (201). The control register (201) includes a count of the amount of memory space required by a copy operation, an indication of the direction of the copy operation from the first address to the second address or from the second address to the first address, and an indication of whether the first memory address is incremented or decremented. The copy engine (104) includes a locking mechanism for locking the copy engine (104) during a copy operation. The copy engine (104) also includes a serialisation mechanism in which a write is made to the control register (201) of zero count.

Abstract: An improved linear motor which compensates for manufacturing or assembly errors in the positioning of the magnetic field detectors. The linear motor synthesises a correction signal which can be simply combined (for example added) to the output of one of the magnetic field detectors so as to ensure that the magnetic field detector outputs have the correct phase relationship. This in turn ensures that accurate positioning of the rotor relative to the stator can be achieved. In a preferred embodiment, a deliberate error is introduced into the positioning of the magnetic field detectors and this error, plus any error due to manufacturing or assembly tolerances, is corrected using the correction signal. This allows a simplified correction circuit which only corrects for phase offset errors in one direction to be used.

Abstract: This invention provides microfluidic devices and methods for using the same. Microfluidic devices of the present invention comprises a first elastic layer, a fluid flow channel within the elastic layer; and a means for providing a fluid sample from the fluid flow channel to an analytical device. The present invention also provides an analytical apparatus comprising such a microfluidic device and an analytical device.

Abstract: A tinting machine system for tinting base paint supplied in a container which base paint is suitable for use in a tinted coating composition so as to produce a tinted coating composition, the tinting machine system comprising a tinting machine and processing means, the tinting machine having a colourant dispenser system comprising an actuator able to dispense a pre-determined amount of at least one colourant into the container, and weighing means able to weigh the container to determine an actual dispensed weight of each individual colourant and/or an actual total dispensed weight, the processing means able to compare the actual dispensed weight of each individual colourant and/or the actual total dispensed weight, with a correct weight for the tinted coating composition stored in the processing means for each dispensed tinted coating composition, the processing means comprising statistical analysis means to statistically analyse the actual dispensed weight of each individual colourant and/or the actual total

Abstract: A method of congestion management within a switch or network of connected switches is provided, wherein the or each of the switches has a plurality of ingress ports and a plurality of egress ports. The method involves, when congestion is detected at a first ingress or egress port, sending a message to an upstream port connected to the first ingress or egress port indicating that congestion has occurred at a particular port and requesting storage at the upstream port of data packets destined for that port; and, in dependence on the amount of data packets destined for the congested port stored at the upstream port, sending from the upstream port to a further upstream port a message informing the further upstream port of the congestion at the congested port, the further upstream port storing at the further upstream port data packets destined for the congested port.

Abstract: A copy engine (104) is provided as an interface between firmware (108) and memory space (106) for carrying out copy operations. The copy engine has a first register (202, 203) to point to a first address and a second register (204, 205) to point to a second address. One of the first and second addresses is a source address and one is a destination address for data to be copied. The copy engine (104) also has a control register (201). The control register (201) includes a count of the amount of memory space required by a copy operation, an indication of the direction of the copy operation from the first address to the second address or from the second address to the first address, and an indication of whether the first memory address is incremented or decremented. The copy engine (104) includes a locking mechanism for locking the copy engine (104) during a copy operation. The copy engine (104) also includes a serialization mechanism in which a write is made to control register (201) of zero count.

Abstract: A refrigerated retail unit has a supporting structure, at least one insulating open-topped container that is movable with respect to the structure between a display position in which the interior of the container can be accessed through an access opening, and a full access position in which the interior of the container can be accessed through most or all of its open top. The container is capable of substantially retaining cold air within when in the full access position. The unit further comprises a cooling means for cooling the interior of the container and an insulating lid supported by the structure. The container defines an overall top plan area that is partially covered by the lid when the container is in the display position, and the remainder of said area of the container not then covered by the lid defines the access opening.

Abstract: A method of differentiating embryonic stem cells into neural and motor cells is disclosed. In one embodiment, the invention comprises culturing a population of cells comprising a majority of cells that are characterized by an early rosette morphology and are Sox1?/Pax6+ in the presence of FGF2, FGF4, FGF8, FGF 9, or RA wherein the cells are characterized by an neural tube-like rosette morphology and are Pax6+/Sox1+.

Abstract: There is provided a solid ionically conductive polymer having repeat units of a quaternary ammonium and including a plasticiser in an amount sufficient to render the polymer non-crystalline thereby increasing conductivity.

Abstract: A differentially pumped vacuum system comprises first, second and third chambers, and a pumping arrangement for evacuating the chambers. The pumping arrangement comprises a compound pump having a first inlet connected to an outlet from the first chamber, a second inlet connected to an outlet from the second chamber, a first pumping section and a second pumping section downstream from the first pumping section, the sections being arranged such that fluid entering the compound pump from the first inlet passes through the first and second pumping sections and fluid entering the compound pump from the second inlet passes through, of said sections, only the second section. The pumping arrangement further comprises a booster pump having an inlet connected to an outlet from the third chamber, and a backing pump having an inlet connected to the exhaust from the booster pump. Fluid exhaust from the compound pump can be conveyed to either a second booster pump inlet or the backing pump inlet as required.

Abstract: A system for detecting write errors in a storage device is disclosed. The system comprises a storage device; within the storage device, means for storing one or more data blocks in a storage group, the storage group comprising the one or more data blocks and a check block, wherein the check block comprises one of the group of: a combination of the one or more data blocks of the storage group, a combination of one or more bits of a logical block address associated with the storage group, and a combination of one or more bits of a phase field that is updated each time the storage group is written; means for updating the check block each time the storage group is written; and means for detecting write errors by checking the check block.

Abstract: A compact arrangement which enables rotation of a component of an apparatus to be sensed is provided. A component having a body with a plurality of discrete magnetised regions on its circumferentially outer surface, each region being formed in a layer and circumferentially spaced apart from each other by non-magnetised regions of the layer, the magnetised regions being circumferentially distributed at substantially the same axial position to enable rotation of the component relative to a sensor to be monitored, wherein the magnetised regions comprise a first group of equally spaced magnetised regions, each of which is magnetised in the same direction, and an additional magnetised region midway between two of the first group of regions, which has a different magnitude of magnetization to the regions of the first group to facilitate monitoring of the rotational position of the body.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for relating a device name to a physical location of a device (202) on a network is provided. The network may be a serial loop network, for example a Fibre Channel Arbitrated Loop network. The network includes a plurality of devices (202) on or connected to the network (201) and a control device (205) with control over at least one of the devices (202). Each device (202) has a check output (204) independent of the network (201) with connection means (206) to a control device (205). The method includes the step of sending a device name from the check output (204) of a device (202) to the control device (205). The check output (204) of a device (202) is also connected to an external indication means for indicating the failure of the device (202).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for relating a device name to a physical location of a device (202) on a network is provided. The network may be a serial loop network, for example a Fibre Channel Arbitrated Loop network. The network includes a plurality of devices (202) on or connected to the network (201) and a control device (205) with control over at least one of the devices (202). Each device (202) has a check output (204) independent of the network (201) with connection means (206) to a control device (205). The method includes the step of sending a device name from the check output (204) of a device (202) to the control device (205). The check output (204) of a device (202) is also connected to an external indication means for indicating the failure of the device (202).

Abstract: A method for optically determining whether a region of a surface is clean or contaminated. The method finds applicability in connection with cleaning robots, for example in pig house cleaning.

Abstract: A vacuum pump comprises a first pumping section 106, and, downstream therefrom, a second pumping section 108. The pump comprises a first pump inlet 120 through which fluid can enter the pump and pass through both the first and second pumping sections towards a pump outlet, and a second pump inlet 122 through which fluid can enter the pump and pass through only the second pumping section towards the outlet. The second pumping section 108 comprises at least one turbo-molecular pumping stage 109a, 109b and, downstream therefrom, an externally threaded rotor 109c.

Abstract: A vacuum pump comprises a molecular drag pumping mechanism and a regenerative pumping mechanism. A rotor element of the molecular drag pumping mechanism surrounds rotor elements of the regenerative pumping mechanism.