Abstract: The invention provides modified forms of bouganin protein having biological activity and a reduced propensity to activate human T cells as compared to the non-modified bouganin protein. The invention also provides T-cell epitope peptides of bouganin, and modified T-cell epitope peptides of bouganin which have a reduced propensity to activate human T cells as compared to the non-modified T-cell epitope peptide. The invention also provides cytotoxins having the having a ligand that binds to a cancer cells attached to the modified bouganin proteins. Also provided are methods of inhibiting or destroying mammalian cancer cells using the cytotoxins of the invention and pharmaceutical compositions for treating human cancer.

Abstract: A system (50) for communicating data packets from a first station (100) to a destination (400) via at least one of a plurality of second stations (200) which are coupled to the destination (400), in which the second stations (200) acknowledge receipt of the data packets. The first station (100) decides whether to retransmit a data packet or to proceed with transmitting the next data packet, the decision being dependent on receiving a plurality of positive acknowledgements or a plurality of negative acknowledgements.

Abstract: Data packets having different assigned priorities are multiplexed by operating a queue for each different priority of data packet and assembling groups (80) of the data packets for transmission. Each group has two portions. A first portion (90) of the group is populated with data packets selected from one or more of the queues according to a first rule and a second portion (95) of the group is populated with data packets selected from one or more of the queues according to a second rule. Preferably the first portion contains data packets having the highest priority, and the second portion contains a selection of the data packets having a lower a priority. Selection of data packets for the second portion may depend on criteria such as delay experienced and queue length. The size of the first and second portions may be adapted according to delay experienced and queue length.

Abstract: A solution for treating a nucleic acid duplex having a pH of from 3 to 11, comprising a soluble protein or mixture of proteins; and 0.1 mM to 10 mM divalent cations; wherein the nature and concentration of the protein or mixture of proteins is selected so that the solution is capable of inhibiting heat denaturation of a nucleic acid product.

Abstract: The invention relates to artificial modified proteins, preferably fusion proteins, having a reduced immunogenicity compared to the parent non-modified molecule when exposed to a species in vivo. The invention relates, above all, to novel immunoglobulin fusion proteins which essentially consist of an immunoglobulin molecule or a fragment thereof covalently fused via its C-terminus to the N-terminus of a biologically active non-immunoglobulin molecule, preferably a polypeptide or protein or a biologically active fragment thereof. In a specific embodiment, the invention relates to fusion proteins consisting of an Fc portion of an antibody which is fused as mentioned to the non-immunological target molecule which elicits biological or pharmacological efficacy. The molecules of the invention have amino acid sequences which are altered in one or more amino acid residue positions but have in principal the same biological activity as compared with the non-altered molecules.

Abstract: A single stage switch mode power converter receives a supply line voltage and a supply line current from a power supply line, and provides one or more regulated output voltages for a load, such as an amplifier. The power converter is operable to regulate the output voltage(s) using a controller that includes a voltage controlled current loop. The controller can enable substantially constant supply line current to be drawn from the power supply line by selectively allowing conduction of the supply line current through the power converter. A power factor of the supply line voltage and the supply line current may be optimized by the controller at medium to high power levels thereby maximizing the power provided to the switch mode power converter from the power supply line. Due to the adaptive nature of the controller, the power converter can operate over a wide range of supply line voltage.

Abstract: A method for extracting nucleic acids from a biological material such as blood comprises contacting the mixture with a material at a pH such that the material is positively charged and will bind negatively charged nucleic acids and then eluting the nucleic acids at a pH when the said materials possess a neutral or negative charge to release the nucleic acids. The nucleic acids can be removed under mildly alkaline conditions to the maintain integrity of the nucleic acids and to allow retrieval of the nucleic acids in reagents that are immediately compatible with either storage or analytical testing.

Abstract: A method of operating a communication system in which transmissions in a first direction, say from a base station, comprise frames formed by data packets and transmissions in a second direction, say from a user equipment (U E), comprise substantially continuous transmissions having acknowledgement fields (ARQ-A, ARQ-B) for data packets and transmission gaps (GP) to allow the UE to make other measurements. The acknowledgement fields are mapped to the data packets to enable the base station to determine which data packets are being acknowledged. In order to avoid ambiguity in mapping acknowledgement fields to data packets when a transmission gap occurs, a single data packet is transmitted in either the frame whose acknowledgement field would occur in the transmission gap or the frame whose acknowledgement field would occur immediately following the transmission gap.

Abstract: In a multicast transmission system, the transmission of data is acknowledged by each receiving station to indicate whether or not a retransmission is required. For the retransmission, a transmitting station can select between a broadcast mode in which the retransmission is not addressed to a specific recipient, or a dedicated mode in which the retransmission is addressed to a specific recipient. The selection may be based on the number of receiving stations requiring a retransmission.

Abstract: A transmit power control scheme for use in point-to-multipoint communication uses a random access channel for power control signals transmitted by the receiving stations (200).

Abstract: A solution for treating a nucleic acid duplex having a pH of from 3 to 11, comprising a soluble protein or mixture of proteins; and 0.1 mM to 10 mM divalent cations; wherein the nature and concentration of the protein or mixture of proteins is selected so that the solution is capable of inhibiting heat denaturation of a nucleic acid duplex.

Abstract: The invention concerns human interferon alpha and in particular modified forms of interferon alpha 2 with improved properties. The improved proteins contain amino acid substitutions at specific positions that confer increased relative activity in biological assays. The invention provides also modified interferon alpha with improved biological activity concomitant with reduced immunogenic potential in the protein. The improved proteins are intended for therapeutic use in the treatment of diseases in humans.

Abstract: The invention provides materials and methods for purifying nucleic acids from a biological sample held in a container (30) such as a centrifuge tube. A filtration unit (1) having a filter (7, 9) and a filtrate chamber (5) is placed within the container (30). Preferably the exterior of the filtration unit (1) engages sealingly with the interior surface of the container (30). Relative movement between the container (30) and the filtration unit (1) causes the sample to pass through the filter (7, 9) into the filtrate chamber (5), where it can be further manipulated. In preferred embodiments the filtrate is then contacted with a charge-switch nucleic acid binding agent in order to purify the nucleic acid further.

Abstract: A secondary station has a receiver capable of resolving signals received as a plurality of multipath signals from a plurality of base stations during a soft handover process. This capability may, for example, be provided by a Rake receiver. In order to decode and act upon the received signals in a very short period of time, signals (402g,402h) arriving after a predetermined time are not processed by the receiver which is able instead to process weaker signals (402d,402e) which arrived before the time (t1). Such a secondary station is particularly suitable for decoding and acting upon power control commands included in received signals in a UMTS system, for which a very limited period of time is provided by the UMTS specification.

Abstract: A dispensing device and method for dispensing fluids from a flexible container is disclosed. The dispensing device includes a support and a linkage pivotally attached to the support. The dispensing device may also include a roller mechanism coupled to the linkage, wherein the roller mechanism has at least two squeeze members configured to engage a flexible container that coact with a drive roller to force the roller mechanism in a first direction to dispense fluids from a flexible container.

Abstract: A coil cleaner for a condenser coil of a refrigeration system includes a sweeper assembly. The sweeper assembly has a pair of parallel brushes. Two motors, one located on either side of the sweeper assembly, are coupled to a first and second screw. The sweeper assembly is connected to the first and second screw by way of two nuts. The nuts travel on their respective screws when the screws are rotated, thus moving the sweeper assembly across the condenser coil. A controller manages the operation of the sweeper assembly. When the sweeper assembly has moved a predetermined distance, the sweeper assembly contacts a pair of sensors independently controlling each of the two motors. After contact with the sensors, the motors are reversed, and the sweeper assembly moves in the opposite direction. When the sweeper assembly contacts a second pair of sensors, both motors are turned off.

Abstract: In a mobile communication system comprising a base station (100) and a plurality of mobile stations (200) and operating closed loop transmitter power control, power control commands for transmission on an uplink are derived from measurements made on received downlink signals comprising nonpredetermined data values. Optionally the non-predeterrnined data values may comprise power control commands for uplink transmit power control.

Abstract: The invention relates to artificial modified proteins, preferably fusion proteins, having a reduced immunogenicity compared to the parent non-modified molecule when exposed to a species in vivo. The invention relates, above all, to novel immunoglobulin fusion proteins which essentially consist of an immunoglobulin molecule or a fragment thereof covalently fused via its C-terminus to the N-terminus of a biologically active non-immunoglobulin molecule, preferably a polypeptide or protein or a biologically active fragment thereof. In a specific embodiment, the invention relates to fusion proteins consisting of an Fc portion of an antibody which is fused as mentioned to the non-immunological target molecule which elicits biological or pharmacological efficacy. The molecules of the invention have amino acid sequences which are altered in one or more amino acid residue positions but have in principal the same biological activity as compared with the non-altered molecules.

Abstract: A radio communication system (50) which uses a transmit power control loop to adjust downlink (160) transmit power from a base station (100) to a mobile station (200) and periodic reports of downlink channel quality (CQI) transmitted by the mobile station (200) on an uplink (260) to select a downlink transmission parameter, temporarily transmits additional CQI reports in response to an interruption in the transmit power control loop or the CQI reporting.

Abstract: A mobile station (100), when performing soft handover between base stations (200), receives transmit power control commands from each base station (200). The mobile station (100) determines the reliability of each received transmit power control command by measuring its amplitude relative to a reliability threshold, and combines the power control commands to determine how to adjust its transmit power. The reliability threshold is dependent on the number of base stations (200), or the number of “up”and/or “down” commands received over a time period, or a function of a measured characteristic of received signals. Equivalently, instead of varying the threshold, the amplitude of the power control commands may be scaled, where the scaling factor is dependent on the number of base stations (200), or the number of “up” and/or “down” commands received over a time period, or a function of a measured characteristic of received signals.