PCT No. PCT/GB97/01014 Sec. 371 Date Feb. 18, 1999 Sec. 102(e) Date Feb. 18, 1999 PCT Filed Apr. 11, 1997 PCT Pub. No. WO97/38955 PCT Pub. Date Oct. 23, 1997Process for the selective hydrogenation of alphatic or aromatic substrates under supercritical or near critical conditions. Hydrogenation is effected using a heterogeneous catalyst in a continuous flow reactor containing a supercritical or nea...

The invention concerns a process and device for opening shellfish such as oysters whose shell is held by a muscle. According to the invention, the process consists of placing the shellfish (5) on a graphic (6) or mechanical (20) device to enable the shellfish (5) to be positioned correctly in relation to a drilling tool (3) to ensure that its shell is pierced at or near the muscle, carrying out th...

Mutants of the human PAI-1 protein are described which are inhibitors of neutrophil elastase or are inhibitors of vitronectin (Vn)-dependent cell migration. These mutants preferably comprise one or two amino acid substitutions in the reactive center loop of PAI-1, particularly at positions 331 and 346 of the mature protein. These mutants are notable in being resistant to inactivation by elastase, ...

The invention is a Method and Apparatus for detecting the application of a liquid drop into a transparent reaction chamber or other reflecting surface in the presence of ambient light and transient motion of the chamber. A light source is modulated into two or more discrete levels at a fixed or variable modulation rate. These levels include an off level where there is no light from the optical sou...

Apparatus and methods are provided for determining capacitance and/or conductance variation of a biosensor on contact with a component with which the biological agent of the sensor interacts. A variety of AC frequencies may be applied to make the measurements. The biological agent is ideally isolated from the sensor/electrolyte interface double layer.

Concentration of a target chemical, glucose, in the presence of other substances, NaCl, in a specimen (4) is determined by subjecting (2) the specimen (4) to radio frequencies (6, 16) up to about 5 GHz. The real and imaginary components of the reflected and/or transmitted signal are examined (18) to identify the presence and/or concentration of the chemical of interest. The examination includes an...

The electronic payment system handles financial settlement of transactions, between consumers and merchants, relating to products/services purchased by the consumers from the merchants via an electronic trading medium, such as the Internet, and is supported by a telecommunication architecture adapted to provide a plurality of electronic payment schemes. Each one which is indigenous to a different ...

The transceiver includes a laser (L) and at least one detector (DET1, DET2) which are integrated side by side on the same substrate. The laser transmits, via the edge of the device, a light beam in a given direction. The detector is then able to detect, via the same edge of the device, a beam which is parallel to this transmission direction. In an optical reading system reading, the transmitted li...

A vinylidene chloride copolymer film or a laminated film far more excellent in barrier properties than the conventional films is provided. A vinylidene chloride copolymer film comprising 88% to 93% by weight of vinylidene chloride and 12% to 7% by weight of at least one monomer copolymerizable with vinylidene chloride and having a ratio (Q/P) of 1.5 or more, wherein Q is the integrated intensity o...

A mounting arrangement for a pendulum in a downhole drift indicator comprises a plunger and a pendulum defining respective normally spaced apart first and second surfaces, and a pivot connection between the plunger and pendulum including a connecting pivot member. On the pivot connection being subject to a predetermined load the first and second surfaces engage to limit the load experienced by the...

Blown films of linear low density polyethylene are produced by a high stalk process comprising extruding the linear low density polyethylene through an annular die to form an extruded tube of molten material, cooling the extruded tube while drawing the tube so cooled, to maintain the tube diameter identical to that of the annular die and expanding the tube or bubble to attenuate the walls thereof ...

Metal powder, particularly iron/steel powder with low oxygen content, is atomized in an oxygen-free atmosphere by means of a hydrocarbon in liquid form such as paraffin, and the moist powder, still hot (60-80 DEG C), is transferred to a container (1) and supported therein on a screening member (2). A negative pressure is first applied below the screening member (2) so that liquid is drawn from th...

A synthetic currency transaction network which performs transactions with near real time finality of transaction between potential borrowers and potential lenders. Synthetic currency is created by pooling and dividing into shares a portfolio of highly liquid assets and frequent evaluation and disbursements of dividends on those assets so as to hold the value of the synthetic currency share at unit...

Method and devices for performing chromatographic pattern analysis determine chromatographic variability due to a plurality of sources without requiring identification or characterization of peaks or other chromatographic features, receives data indicative of a standard chromatogram and a first sample chromatogram generated from a first mixture by a High Pressure Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) devic...

A compressed video decoder/encoder (reencoder) system for varying the compression ratio of a compressed video program. The composite reencoder system implements tightly coupled elements for decoding and encoding compressed video data implementing techniques of header forwarding and utilizing an architecture in which a shared motion compensator supports both decoding and encoding operations simulta...

Lubricant and fuel additives, essentially consisting of fatty acid mono-ester or mono and diester-mixed unsaturated fatty acids with 16 to 22 C atoms with at least two different polyols, exhibit better low-temperature behaviour than corresponding monoesters or mono and diester of uniform polyols. The preferred polyol is a mixture of glycerine and another polyol from the group trimethylol propane, ...

The present invention relates to an in vivo method for specific targeting and transfer of DNA into mammalian repair cells. The transferred DNA may include any DNA encoding a therapeutic protein of interest. The invention is based on the discovery that mammalian repair cells proliferate and migrate into a wound site where they actively take up and express DNA. The invention further relates to pharm...

A pallet manufacturing procedure uses solid plastic extrusions of square or rectangular cross-section and standard dimensions, e.g. of high-density polyethylene, polyolefins or of compositions materials with or without a reinforcing core. The plastic extrusions are joined together with the aid of standard pallet-making machinery but with nailing bars replaced by welding units which carry out ultra...

There is disclosed a method for detecting clogging of air feed pipes, comprising air feed pipes (15), each having an outlet (13) for jetting air into a granulation section (1), and jetting nozzles (13), each situated at the center of the air outlet of a said air feed pipe for jetting a liquid of a molten raw material (e.g. molten urea), wherein, in jetting the liquid of the molten raw material fro...

A method for imparting water, oil or stain repellency to HARD SURFACES comprising application to the surface of an effective amount of a composition comprising monomers copolymerized in the following percentages by weight: (a) from about 40% to about 90% of at least one monomer of formula I: Rf-Q-A-C(O)-C(R)=CH2I wherein Rf is a straight or branched-chain perfluoroalkyl group of 2 to about 20 carb...