Abstract: A biochip well is disclosed, including a vessel containing a well therewithin, the vessel forming at least base and side walls of the well and defining at least one aperture giving access to the well, and further including retaining means for holding a biochip at a predetermined position within the well, the well including a laterally offset region into which the biochip does not protrude when held at the predetermined position by the retaining means. Also disclosed are sealed well assemblies and apparatus and methods for opening sealed wells.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and solid state devices for detecting and staging chronic kidney disease in a patient, where the levels of biomarkers in a sample obtained from a patient are elevated or reduced compared to the levels in a sample obtained from healthy subject. The invention also relates to the use of methods and solid state devices for measurement of specific biological markers for determining the efficacy of a treatment for chronic kidney disease and for determining a drug treatment protocol for a subject suffering from chronic kidney disease.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of aiding the differential diagnosis of haemorrhagic stroke, ischemic stroke and a transient ischemic attack in a patient who has suffered or is suffering a stroke. The method comprises: (i) determining the concentration of the biomarkers VCAM-1, GFAP and CRP in an ex vivo sample obtained from the patient; and (ii) establishing the statistical significance of the concentration of the biomarkers. Optionally, the method further comprises steps of (iii) determining the concentration of the biomarkers IL-6 and sTNFR1 in an ex vivo sample obtained from the patient; (iv) determining the gender of the patient; and (v) establishing the statistical significance of the concentration of the five biomarkers, in conjunction with the patient's gender. The present invention also provides substrates comprising probes for VCAM-1, GFAP and CRP for use in a method for aiding the differential diagnosis of stroke.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for the diagnosis of subjects that have or are at risk of having Alzheimer's disease (AD). In particular the present invention identifies individuals who have or are at risk of having AD through measurement of the levels of Afamin in combination with at least one other biomarker such as Alpha-1-antichymotrypsin, Alpha-2-macroglobulin, ApoB100, Complement C5, Serine threonine protein kinase TBK1 or Complement C3 in a fluid sample taken from a subject. Furthermore, genotype (Apolipoprotein E or glutathione S-transferase Omega) may also be taken into consideration and used within classification algorithms to determine the probability of a subject having or being at risk of having AD.

Abstract: A valve for a reagent bottle is provided, the valve including a resilient membrane configured to extend across an opening in the reagent bottle, the resilient membrane having at least one slit extending therethrough. Also disclosed is a dispensing apparatus for dispensing a reagent from a reagent bottle, the dispensing apparatus comprising: a probe assembly having a probe adapted for insertion into the reagent bottle through the valve and an extraction mechanism for drawing reagent out of the reagent bottle through the probe. A valve opening assembly is provided, which is adapted to open the valve of the reagent bottle such that the probe can pass through the valve without contacting the valve.

Abstract: A motor vehicle usage tracking system for monitoring, evaluating, and reporting on operations of motor vehicles each having a modular connected headrest with an imaging device for imaging in a viewpoint from a driver's seating position and communicating with a data bus in the motor vehicle for the operational data correlated with the imaging and communicated to the servicer having an analyzer configure for evaluating and reporting on motor vehicle operations. An aftermarket sleeve is disclosed for retro-fit installation of the motor vehicle tracking device.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of stratifying a patient suffering from CKD into one of stages 1-3 of CKD, comprising determining the level of the biomarkers FABP1, ?-GT, AST, creatinine and cystatin C in a sample obtained from the patient and comparing the level of FABP1 in the sample to a control value and the levels of ?-GT, AST, creatinine and cystatin C in the sample to a range of control values for each biomarker, wherein an increased level of FABP1 compared to the control value and levels of ?-GT, AST, creatinine and cystatin C within the range of control values for each biomarker indicate that the patient suffers from stage 1 CKD or wherein an increased level of FABP1 compared to the control value, levels of ?-GT and AST within the range of control values for each biomarker, and increased levels of creatinine and cystatin C compared to an upper threshold of the control range for these biomarkers indicate that the patient suffers from stage 2 or stage 3 CKD.

Abstract: The present invention provides biomarker-based methods for diagnosing stroke in a patient suspected of having suffered a stroke, and also for discriminating between ischemic stroke and transient ischemic attack. Substrates comprising probes for specific combinations of biomarkers useful in the methods of the invention are also described.

Abstract: The invention describes epistatic interactions between single nucleotide polymorphisms on genes associated with blood pressure and provides an application for their use in a method to determine an individual's susceptibility to hypertension and hence whether anti-hypertensive treatment will be beneficial for said individual. In addition gene expression levels are also linked to blood pressure and may also be used to determine susceptibility to hypertension.

Abstract: A biochip well is disclosed, including a vessel containing a well therewithin, the vessel forming at least base and side walls of the well and defining at least one aperture giving access to the well, and further including retaining means for holding a biochip at a predetermined position within the well, the well including a laterally offset region into which the biochip does not protrude when held at the predetermined position by the retaining means. Also disclosed are sealed well assemblies and apparatus and methods for opening sealed wells.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method for identifying whether a subject is more or less likely to be responsive to VEGF-based therapy, comprising screening a nucleic acid sample obtained from the subject to provide output information which identifies the presence or absence of an allelic variant, wherein the presence or absence of an allelic variant indicates whether the subject is more or less likely to be responsive to VEGF-based therapy.

Abstract: A valve for a reagent bottle is provided, the valve including a resilient membrane configured to extend across an opening in the reagent bottle, the resilient membrane having at least one slit extending therethrough. Also disclosed is a dispensing apparatus for dispensing a reagent from a reagent bottle, the dispensing apparatus comprising: a probe assembly having a probe adapted for insertion into the reagent bottle through the valve and an extraction mechanism for drawing reagent out of the reagent bottle through the probe. A valve opening assembly is provided, which is adapted to open the valve of the reagent bottle such that the probe can pass through the valve without contacting the valve.

Abstract: A belt (10) for an electrokinetic belt press (100) comprises a woven material, and having an electrical transfer zone (18) extending longitudinally along the belt (10) between a filtration zone (12) and an edge (22) of the belt (10), the electrical transfer zone (18) comprising a plurality of electrically-conducting warp elements arranged as a plurality of substantially parallel stripes (26), wherein adjacent stripes (26) are separated from each other in the transverse direction by at least one electrically-insulating warp element (28). The stripes (26) may be discontinuous in order to electrically isolate discrete conducting zones (14) of the filtration zone (14), the discontinuities being displaced longitudinally from each other. Also, an electrokinetic belt press apparatus (100) is described, comprising a pair of filtration belts (110, 111), at least one of which comprises a plurality of discrete conducting areas (14).

Abstract: An apparatus and method for reducing the liquid content of a particulate/liquid dispersion, such as a sewage sludge or mine tailings, are described. The apparatus comprises containment means to contain the material, and means to apply pressure to the contained material therein, the containment means being partly defined by a first filtration membrane permeable to the liquid but impermeable to at least some and more preferably substantially all of the solids contained within the material, in particular configured as a continuous belt press. The filtration membrane comprises a textile or other synthetic material in intimate association with a conducting element so as to constitute where so associated a first electrode. A second sheet material, preferably also a filtration membrane, is similarly associated with a conducting element so as to constitute a second electrode to allow application of a potential difference across the material and drive the dewatering process electrokinetically.

Abstract: A composite conducting material is described comprising a non-conductive polymeric base material, and for example a geosynthetic or like material, in association with at least one primary conducting electrode element comprising a metallic core element coated with a coating of mixed metal oxides such as oxides and/or suboxides of tantalum, niobium, iridium, palladium, ruthenium, rhodium, titanium and mixtures thereof. The material disposed as an electrode, for example in an electrokinetic circuit, for the treatment of materials such as highly watered and/or highly saline substrates by electroosmosis, is also described.

Abstract: The invention relates to a composition comprising a plurality of antibody fragments, each comprising a framework region having a murine VH14 heavy chain and a murine VK2 light chain, or homologues thereof, each antibody fragment further comprising at least one different CDR.

Abstract: A diagnostic method is disclosed which can be used to predict the risk of cancer in particular breast cancer. The method comprises: (i) isolating a biological sample from a patient; and (ii) detecting the presence or expression of the gene comprised within the sequence identified herein as SEQ ID No. (1), wherein the presence or expression of the gene indicates the presence of or the risk of cancer.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are described for reducing the liquid content of a material comprising a particulate/liquid dispersion or suspension, in particular comprising a dispersion or suspension of inorganic particles being a byproduct of mining, manufacturing or other industrial processes. The apparatus comprising a receiving zone to contain the material, at least one pair of electrodes spaced apart within the receiving zone, means to apply potential difference thereacross and hence across the material in use to drive electrokinetic dewatering, and drainage means to enable removal of water, wherein at least one of the electrodes comprises a textile or other synthetic material at least in part associated with a conductor so as to constitute where so associated a conducting electrokinetic textile or other synthetic material. The method makes use of the apparatus, in situ or at a remote site either as a batch or continuous process.

Abstract: An inertial fusion reactor device comprises an outer containment chamber and an inner containment chamber supported within the outer containment chamber to define a space between respective walls of the inner and outer containment chambers. Water is contained within the space for generating steam which feeds turbine generators. Fuel for a fusion reaction is suspended within the centre of the inner containment chamber by a suitable mechanism. The reaction is initiated by focussing a plurality of laser beams on the fuel. The structure permits the water to be used both for producing usable steam and for absorbing blast impact due to its incompressible nature.

Abstract: A method of monitoring the properties of a biological or chemical sample.