Abstract: A method of extracting DNA and/or RNA from a cell or capsid, the method comprising steps of: (a) contacting a composition comprising the cell or capsid with a composition comprising (ii) a quaternary ammonium compound or a precursor thereof; and (b) contacting the composition obtained in step (a) with a composition comprising a proteinaceous washing agent.

Abstract: A method of stabilising genetic material in a sample, the method comprising steps of: (a) contacting the sample with a composition comprising a quaternary ammonium compound or a precursor thereof.

Abstract: A method of inducing competence in cells, the method comprising contacting the cell with a composition comprising a quaternary ammonium compound including a silicon-containing functional group and a hydrocarbyl-saccharide compound.

Abstract: A method (e.g. high resolution melting analysis) of determining of the presence or absence of a target nucleic acid in a sample, e.g. a biological sample, the method comprising steps of:?(a) contacting the sample with a composition comprising?(i) a quaternary ammonium compound, e.g. 3-(trimethoxysilyl) propyl-dimethyl octadecyl ammonium chloride (3-TPAC) or a precursor thereof, in order to release the nucleic acids from said sample; and?(b) contacting the sample with a probe which is capable of inter-acting with the nucleic acid sequence; and?(c) observing and/or measuring a property of the sample, e.g. fluorescence from a dsDNA binding dye.

Abstract: A method of determining of the presence or absence of a target RNA component in a sample, the method comprising steps of: (a) contacting the sample with a composition comprising (i) a quaternary ammonium compound or a precursor thereof, which should extract/release the nucleic acid from the sample; (b) optionally storing and/or transporting the composition obtained in step (a); (c) contacting the composition obtained in step (a) with a composition comprising a proteinaceous washing agent, e.g. BSA or casein for stabilizing the RNA for transport and/or storage; and (d) using the composition obtained in step (c) in an amplification method, e.g. RT-PCR.

Abstract: A plant treatment method comprising contacting the plant with: (a) a compound of formula (I): or a derivative salt thereof wherein L is a linking group; each of R1, R2 and R3 is independently selected from an optionally substituted alkyl, alkenyl, aryl or alkoxy group; R4 is oxygen or an optionally substituted alkyl, alkenyl or aryl group; each of R5 and R6 is an optionally substituted alkyl, alkenyl or aryl group; (b) at least one cationic biocide; (c) a hydrocarbyl saccharide compound; and (d) a non-ionic surfactant.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing a three-dimensional macroporous filament construct having interconnected microporous filaments showing a suitable surface roughness and microporosity. The method includes the steps of: a) preparing a suspension having particles of a predetermined material, a liquid solvent, one or more binders and optionally one or more dispersants, b) depositing the suspension in the form of filaments in a predetermined three-dimensional pattern, preferably in a non-solvent environment, thereby creating a three-dimensional filament-based porous structure, c) inducing phase inversion, whereby said filaments are transformed from a liquid to a solid state, by exposing the filaments during the deposition of the filaments with a non-solvent vapour and to a liquid non-solvent, d) thermally treating the structure of step d) by calcining and sintering the structure.

Abstract: A method of detection and identification of one or more microorganism/s in a biological sample comprising the following steps: (a) extracting DNA from the microorganism/s; and (b) amplifying the extracted DNA and indicating the level of extracted DNA in a quantitative PCR; wherein the quantitative PCR is performed using the primer pair of SEQ ID NO.1 and 2 together with the probe of SEQ ID NO. 7, and/or the primer pair of SEQ ID NO. 3 and 4 together with the probe of SEQ ID NO.8.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a cultivating device designed for raising plants, comprising an at least substantially non-shape-retaining amount of substrate enveloped by a flexible substrate envelope which holds the substrate together during the raising and associated handling of a plant at least substantially in a shape-retaining form of a cube, a beam or a cylinder that is suitable for cultivating purposes. The substrate envelope is made of a water-permeable layer of material.

Abstract: A modular current interrupt device includes an electrically-conductive rupture disc, an electrically-conductive pressure disc attached to the rupture disc to form an electrical pathway. An electrically-insulating ring partitions a perimeter of the rupture disc from a perimeter of the pressure disc, and a seating element secures the electrically-insulated ring to the pressure disc. At least one of the rupture disc and electrically-insulating ring defines a conduit, whereby exposure of one side of the pressure disc to sufficient force through the conduit causes the pressure disc to separate from the rupture disc to thereby sever the electrical pathway. A low pressure current interrupt device (CID) activates at a minimal threshold internal gauge pressure in a range of, for example, between about 4 kg/cm2 and about 9 kg/cm2.

Abstract: There is described a method of extracting DNA and/or RNA from a cell or capsid, the method comprising contacting the cell or capsid with a composition comprising a quaternary ammonium compound including a silicon-containing functional group. The quaternary ammonium compound may be of general formula (I) or a derivative salt thereof wherein L is a linking group; each of R1, R2, R3, R4, R5 and R6 is independently selected from H or an optionally substituted alkyl, alkenyl, aryl or alkoxy group; and n is 0 or 1. A PCR promoting agent may be provided. The method may be one of 1 detecting and/or diagnosing a disease or medical condition.

Abstract: A battery includes a cell casing that has recessed portion on a major surface of the casing, the recessed portion being substantially planar and bordering a remainder of the major surface at a ridge portion on each of one or two sides of the recessed portion, whereby the recessed portion, the ridge portions, and the remainder of the major surface cooperate under an increase of gauge pressure to cause a plane defined by a boundary between the ridge portions and the remainder of the major surface to move.

Abstract: An assay apparatus comprising: i) an assay cartridge (52, 53) comprising at least one well (57-62) and a pipette (50) positionable in at least one said well; ii) a holder arranged to received said cartridge; iii) drive means operable to position said pipette in selected wells of said cartridge; iv) a gas pressure applicator couplable to said pipette whereby to cause liquid flow through said membrane; and v) a radiation detector operable to detect radiation from a well of said cartridge of said cartridge or from said pipette.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the generation of 223Ra of pharmaceutically tolerable purity comprising: i) preparing a generator mixture comprising 227Ac, 227Th and 223Ra in a first aqueous solution comprising a first mineral acid; ii) loading said generator mixture onto a DGA separation medium (e.g. resin); iii) eluting said 223Ra from said DGA separation medium using a second mineral acid in a second aqueous solution to give an eluted 223Ra solution; and iv) stripping the DGA separation medium of said 227Ac and 227Th by flowing a third mineral acid in a third aqueous solution through the DGA separation medium in a reversed direction; The invention further relates to high purity radium-223 formed or formable by such a method as well as pharmaceutical compositions comprising such radium-223 of pharmaceutical purity.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for the generation of 223Ra of pharmaceutically tolerable purity comprising i) preparing a generator mixture comprising 227Ac, 227Th and 223Ra; ii) loading said generator mixture onto a strong base anion exchange resin; iii) eluting said 223Ra from said strong base anion exchange resin using a first mineral acid in an alcoholic aqueous solution to give a first eluted 223Ra solution; iv) loading the 223Ra of the first eluted 223Ra solution onto a strong acid cation exchange resin; and v) eluting the 223Ra from said strong acid cation exchange resin losing a second mineral acid in aqueous solution to provide a second eluted solution. The invention additionally provides products of corresponding purity and/or products obtained or obtainable by such a method.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for the generation of 223Ra of pharmaceutically tolerable purity comprising i) preparing a generator mixture comprising 227Ac, 227Th and 223Ra; ii) loading said generator mixture onto a strong base anion exchange resin; iii) eluting said 223Ra from said strong base anion exchange resin using a first mineral acid in an alcoholic aqueous solution to give a first eluted 223Ra solution; iv) loading the 223Ra of the first eluted 223Ra solution onto a strong acid cation exchange resin; and v) eluting the 223Ra from said strong acid cation exchange resin using a second mineral acid in aqueous solution to provide a second eluted solution. The invention additionally provides products of corresponding purity and/or products obtained or obtainable by such a method.

Abstract: A modular current interrupt device includes an electrically-conductive rupture disc, an electrically-conductive pressure disc attached to the rupture disc to form an electrical pathway. An electrically-insulating ring partitions a perimeter of the rupture disc from a perimeter of the pressure disc, and a seating element secures the electrically-insulated ring to the pressure disc. At least one of the rupture disc and electrically-insulating ring defines a conduit, whereby exposure of one side of the pressure disc to sufficient force through the conduit causes the pressure disc to separate from the rupture disc to thereby sever the electrical pathway. A low pressure current interrupt device (CID) activates at a minimal threshold internal gauge pressure in a range of, for example, between about 4 kg/cm2 and about 9 kg/cm2.

Abstract: A method of treating a grass-carrying surface, the method comprising applying to the g carrying surface: (a) a compound of formula (I): or a derivative salt thereof wherein L is a linking group; each of R1, R2 and R3 is independently selected from an optionally substituted alkyl, alkenyl, aryl or alkoxy group; R4 is oxygen or an optionally substituted alkyl, alkenyl or aryl group; each of R5 and R6 is an optionally substituted alkyl, alkenyl or aryl group; and n is 0 or 1; (b) at least one cationic biocide; (c) a hydrocarbyl saccharide compound; and (d) a nonionic surfactant.

Abstract: The methods in this disclosure allow for the identification, selection, and arrangement of cells, blocks, and modules in large scale battery systems, such as electric vehicle battery systems. An example embodiment of the present invention allows for the identification of the cells, blocks, and modules with a unique identifier or associated parameter (e.g., internal resistance contributions or capacity). Additionally, to form a block, cells may be selected from a group of capacity-range sorting bins. Based on a parameter of the cell, a pseudo-number generator may be also be used to select cells from an available inventory of cells as maintained in a cell database based. Cells may also be placed in a block for uniform effective cell impedance and even cell aging while minimizing overall block capacity degradation caused by cycling. Block capacities may also be computed based on a known average temperature gradient during operation.

Abstract: A plant treatment method comprising contacting the plant with: (a) a compound of formula (I): or a derivative salt thereof wherein L is a linking group; each of R1, R2 and R3 is independently selected from an optionally substituted alkyl, alkenyl, aryl or alkoxy group; R4 is oxygen or an optionally substituted alkyl, alkenyl or aryl group; each of R5 and R6 is an optionally substituted alkyl, alkenyl or aryl group; (b) at least one cationic biocide; (c) a hydrocarbyl saccharide compound; and (d) a non-ionic surfactant.