Abstract: Compounds of formula (1) are described in which Ra and Rb is each independently a hydrogen atom or a group Rc, or Ra and Rb together form an oxo (?O) or thio (?S) group; X is a N atom or an optionally substituted CH group: Y is a —O— or —S— atom or —SO— or —SO2— group or an optionally substituted —CH2— or —NH— group with the proviso that when Ra and Rb together form an oxo (?O) or thio (?S) group Y is an optionally substituted —CH2— or —NH-group; L1 is a covalent bond or a linker atom or group; p is zero or the integer 1; Alk1 is an optionally substituted C1-10aliphatic or C1-10heteroaliphatic chain; n is zero the integer 1, 2 or 3 with the proviso that when n is zero Y is an optionally substituted —CH2— group; Ar is an optionally substituted C6-12aromatic or C1-9heteroaromatic group; m is zero or the integer 1, 2 or 3; q is zero or the integer 1 or 2; R1, Rc and Rd are hydrogen atoms or the substituents described in the patent specification; and the salts, solvates, hydrates and N-oxides thereof.

Abstract: An optical fibre unit having a sheath and a plurality of optical fibre elements loosely housed in the sheath. The sheath is coated with particles of an adherence reducing substance and has a radial thickness that is not substantially greater than 0.3 mm. The coating of adherence reducing particles is applied as a liquid coating. The liquid coating is a dispersion of the particles and heat is applied to evaporate the liquid content of the liquid coating to produce a dry coating of particles on the sheath.

Abstract: Compounds of formulae (1a) and (1b) are described: in which the dashed line represents an optional bond; A is a —N? atom or a —N(Rb)—, —C(Rb)? or —C(Rb)(RC)— group; Ra, Rb and Rc is each independently a hydrogen atom or an optionally substituted C1-6alkyl group; X is an —O— or —S— atom or —NH— group or substituted N atom; each Y is independently a N atom or CH group or substituted C atom; n is zero or the integer 1; Alk1 is an optionally substituted aliphatic or heteroaliphatic chain L1 is a covalent bond or a linker atom or group; Cy1 is a hydrogen atom or an optionally substituted cycloaliphatic, polycycloaliphatic, heterocycloaliphatic, polyheterocycloaliphatic, aromatic or heteroaromatic group; Ar is an optionally substituted aromatic or heteroaromatic group; and the salts, solvates, hydrates and N-oxides thereof; The compounds are potent inhibitors of p38 kinase and are use in the prophylaxis or treatment of p38 kinase mediated diseases or disorders, such as rheumatoid arthritis

Abstract: A method for removing a metallic layer from the surface of a ceramic substrate, the method including the steps of immersing the metallic coated ceramic substrate in a solution of up to 31% hydrochloric acid for a sufficient time to at least substantially dissolve or remove the metallic layer therefrom, removing the ceramic substrate from the acid solution, rinsing the ceramic substrate in a rinse solution, and annealing the ceramic substrate at a predetermined temperature for a sufficient time to at least reduce damage or defects in the surface of the ceramic substrate.

Abstract: A detonation timing apparatus and method of determining a detonation time is disclosed. The detonation timing apparatus comprises an initiation sensor, at least one impact sensor, and at least one controller. The at least one controller may be configured for sensing an initiation event associated with the initiation sensor and sensing an impact event associated with the at least one impact sensor. The at least one controller is further configured for determining an impact velocity estimate proportional to a temporal difference between the initiation event and the impact event, using the impact velocity estimate to determine the detonation delay, and generating the detonation event at the detonation delay after the impact event. The timing apparatus and method of determining a detonation time may be incorporated in a fuze, which may be incorporated in an explosive projectile.

Abstract: An approach to monitoring, evaluation, diagnosis, treatment or conditioning of animals such as horses does not require use of restrictive equipment such as treadmills or force plates and that can provide either or both of more or less immediate or continuous processing of data to perform the monitoring or diagnosis. One or more wireless sensors are attached to the animal, for example, to measure motion-related parameter associated with one or more parts of the animal. Sensor data is received from the sensors and processed to identify a characteristic of the motion of the animal, such as a quality of gait. The sensor data can also be used to avoid injury to the animal and/or the rider, and to verify the identity of an animal.

Abstract: The invention comprises novel methods and strategies to detect and/or quantify nucleic acid analytes. The methods involve nucleic acid probes with covalently conjugated dyes, which are attached either at adjacent nucleotides or at the same nucleotide of the probe and novel linker molecules to attach the dyes to the probes. The nucleic acid probes generate a fluorescent signal upon hybridization to complementary nucleic acids based on the interaction of one of the attached dyes, which is either an intercalator or a DNA groove binder, with the formed double stranded DNA. The methods can be applied to a variety of applications including homogeneous assays, real-time PCR monitoring, transcription assays, expression analysis on nucleic acid microarrays and other microarray applications such as genotyping (SNP analysis). The methods further include pH-sensitive nucleic acid probes that provide switchable fluorescence signals that are triggered by a change in the pH of the medium.

Abstract: An optical fibre unit having a sheath and a plurality of optical fibre elements loosely housed in the sheath. The sheath is coated with particles of an adherence reducing substance and has a radial thickness that is not substantially greater than 0.3 mm. The coating of adherence reducing particles is applied as a liquid coating. The liquid coating is a dispersion of the particles and heat is applied to evaporate the liquid content of the liquid coating to produce a dry coating of particles on the sheath.

Abstract: The invention comprises novel methods and strategies to detect and/or quantify nucleic acid analytes. The methods involve nucleic acid probes with covalently conjugated dyes, which are attached either at adjacent nucleotides or at the same nucleotide of the probe and novel linker molecules to attach the dyes to the probes. The nucleic acid probes generate a fluorescent signal upon hybridization to complementary nucleic acids based on the interaction of one of the attached dyes, which is either an intercalator or a DNA groove binder, with the formed double stranded DNA. The methods can be applied to a variety of applications including homogeneous assays, real-time PCR monitoring, transcription assays, expression analysis on nucleic acid microarrays and other microarray applications such as genotyping (SNP analysis). The methods further include pH-sensitive nucleic acid probes that provide switchable fluorescence signals that are triggered by a change in the pH of the medium.

Abstract: An assembly comprises two structural elements 12, 14 secured firmly to one another while a gap G is maintained between them. The assembly comprises a threaded through bore 18 in the first 14 of the two elements and an externally threaded annular bushing 20 screwed into the through bore 18 and having one end 22 projecting from one of the opposed faces into contact with the other, so as to maintain the desired gap G. A bolt 28 passing through the annular bushing 20 is used to secure the elements 12, 14 to one another. In the invention, the end 22 of the bushing 20 is tapered and is received within a recess 24 of complementary shape in the second element 12 in order to lock the bushing in position.

Abstract: An optical fibre drop cable for suspension installation includes electrical conductors and at least one optical fibre. An electrically non-conductive reinforcing sleeve houses the conductors and the or each optical fibre. The reinforcing sleeve is housed in sheathing. In addition to or instead of the optical fibre or optical fibres, the reinforcing sleeve may house one or more elongate containers, preferably plastic tubes, for housing optical fibres.

Abstract: An optical fibre drop cable for suspension installation includes sheathing having a first portion containing a strengthening arrangement for supporting the cable in a suspension installation and a second portion that is separable from the first portion. The second sheathing portion contains a plurality of electrical conductors. The first sheathing portion defines at least one passage for optical fibres.

Abstract: Enzymatic digests of whey protein concentrates were prepared using animal, bacterial and fungal proteases, and evaluated for antihypertensive activities. ACE-inhibitory activity and antihypertension activity were obtained with a hydrolysate of whey protein isolate prepared with a porcine trypsin.

Abstract: Compounds of formulae (1a) and (1b) are described: in which the dashed line represents an optional bond; A is a —N=atom or a —N(Rb)—, —C(Rb)═ or —C(Rb)(RC)— group; Ra, Rb and Rc is each independently a hydrogen atom or an optionally substituted C1-6alkyl group; X is an —O— or —S— atom or —NH— group or substituted N atom; each Y is independently a N atom or CH group or substituted C atom; n is zero or the integer 1; Alk1 is an optionally substituted aliphatic or heteroaliphatic chain L1 is a covalent bond or a linker atom or group; Cy1 is a hydrogen atom or an optionally substituted cycloaliphatic, polycycloaliphatic, heterocycloaliphatic, polyheterocycloaliphatic, aromatic or heteroaromatic group; Ar is an optionally substituted aromatic or heteroaromatic group; and the salts, solvates, hydrates and N-oxides thereof; The compounds are potent inhibitors of p38 kinase and are use in the prophylaxis or treatment of p38 kinase med

Abstract: Pyrimidines of formla (1) are described: 1

Abstract: A machine control system (130) includes a computer (132) that generates, edits and displays a continuous multi-block flowchart representing a program and compiles the program from the flowchart to control the operations of a machine (140). The system (130) also includes a debugger (146) for displaying the flowchart in a debugger window (170) for runtime execution control of the program.

Abstract: Pyrimidines of formula (1) are described 1

Abstract: Nucleotide derivatives of formula (1) are described: wherein: G is a hydrogen atom or an optionally substituted aliphatic, heteroaliphatic, cycloaliphatic, polycycloaliphatic, aromatic or heteroaromatic group or a non-natural nucleoside as defined herein; G′ is a non-natural necleoside as defined herein; n is zero, or the integer 1 or 2; m is zero or the integer 1 or 2; and the salts, solvates, hydrates and N-oxides thereof. The compounds are P2Y receptor agonists and are of use in the prophylaxis and treatment of diseases and disorders involving abnormal secretory mechanisms such as inadequate functioning of mucociliary clearance mechanisms or abnormal tear secretion or in the treatment of diseases involving inappropriate cellular glucose uptake.

Abstract: FC and FX mini-hubs with a limited number of ports, e.a., 4-8 ports, provide a wide variety of configurations for small form factors. The mini-hubs provide compact, low cost hubs for form factors that can include PMC, CompactPCI, and VME. The mini-hubs are installed into an unused system slot of a host computer or as a mezzanine card for use in the host computer. Thus, the mini-hubs use power received directly from the backplane of the host computer so that no external power connections are required and mechanical support is provided by the system chassis or carrier card into which a mini-hub is installed. The mini-hubs eliminate external communication/control cabling since managed mini-hubs are controlled directly via the system bus of the host computer. This direct communication also reduces system latency.

Abstract: Pyrimidines of formla (1) are described: 1