Abstract: A method of selectively combining particulate material, comprising: (i) providing a layer of particulate material to a part bed; (ii) providing radiation to sinter a portion of the material of the layer; (iii) providing a further layer of particulate material overlying the prior layer of particulate material including the previously sintered portion of material; (iv) providing radiation to sinter a further portion of the material within the overlying further layer and to sinter said further portion with the previously sintered portion of material in the prior layer; (v) successively repeating blocks (iii) and (iv) to form a three-dimensional object; and wherein at least some of the layers of particulate material are pre-heated with a heater prior to sintering a portion of the material of the respective layer, the heater being configured to move relative to, and proximate, the particulate material.

Abstract: A plasma treatment apparatus, comprising a housing defining a void (13); a source of ionised gas plasma (14) in communication with the void; and agitation apparatus (12) arranged to agitate contents of the void. The plasma can typically be generated at ambient pressure from the ambient air in the void. The apparatus can be used, in particular, for the treatment of materials comprising many small components, such as seeds, granular material, plastic beads and the like.

Abstract: A method of selectively combining particulate material, comprising: (i) providing a layer of particulate material to a part bed; (ii) providing radiation to sinter a portion of the material of the layer; (iii) providing a further layer of particulate material overlying the prior layer of particulate material including the previously sintered portion of material; (iv) providing radiation to sinter a further portion of the material within the overlying further layer and to sinter said further portion with the previously sintered portion of material in the prior layer; (v) successively repeating blocks (iii) and (iv) to form a three-dimensional object; and wherein at least some of the layers of particulate material are pre-heated with a heater prior to sintering a portion of the material of the respective layer, the heater being configured to move relative to, and proximate, the particulate material.

Abstract: A magnetometer for measuring a magnetic flux and also the absolute magnetic flux, the magnetometer comprising a plurality of superconducting quantum devices (SQUIDs) connected in series, each SQUID including: a superconducting loop containing two Josephson junctions connected to each other in parallel; and a flux-focussing region, the flux-focussing region configured to generate a screening current in response to the magnetic flux, the screening current modulating the corresponding voltage response for each SQUID which is in-phase with the voltage response of each other SQUID in the array.

Abstract: A nanocomposite coating composition for use in the mitigation of whisker growth from a metallic surface (82) includes a polymer matrix (86) comprising a base polymer and insulating material nanoplatelets (85), for example clay nanoplatelets, within the polymer matrix (86). A conformal coating (84) for application to a metal surface (82) is formed from the coating composition. The conformal coating mitigates the spontaneous growth of whiskers (83), in particular tin whiskers, from the coated surface (82), reducing the risk of short-circuits caused by such whiskers bridging gaps within electronic devices. Methods are provided for the preparation of coating compositions and coatings.

Abstract: A process for reducing nitrogen oxides in an exhaust stream, such as a vehicle exhaust stream, and apparatus for carrying out the process. The process comprises providing a first composition comprising aqueous urea, a second composition comprising ammonium carbamate and an exhaust stream comprising nitrogen oxides. A process for producing the ammonium carbamate is also provided. The second composition may be introduced into the exhaust stream (10) when the exhaust stream has a temperature below a threshold temperature and the first composition may be introduced into the exhaust stream when the exhaust stream has a temperature at or above the threshold temperature.

Abstract: A needle guide system for use with an ultrasound probe, the system comprising a surface marking guide and a needle guide. The surface marking guide includes an attachment portion for attaching the marking guide to an ultrasound probe, and a surface contact portion fixed to the attachment portion and including one or more features for identifying to a user where to mark a surface when the ultrasound probe is held against the surface. The needle guide includes a base to support the needle guide on the surface, one or more features on the base for alignment with marks made on the surface, and a needle support mounted on the base and having a needle channel through which a needle can extend, the needle channel having a known position and orientation relative to the base. We also describe a needle guide for use with an ultrasound probe to guide a needle along a predetermined path relative to the ultrasound probe.

Abstract: A method of assembling an opto-physiological (OP) sensor comprises: (i) modelling the opto-physiological properties of at least one body tissue type to be monitored; (ii) determining, through application of the model, an optimal optical design for an opto-physiological (OP) sensor operable to monitor the opto-physiological properties of the at least one body tissue type; and (iii) making the OP sensor to the determined optical design. The optimal optical design for the OP sensor comprises: (i) determining the optimum separation of each of a plurality of light sources from a photodetector, based on modelled optical path lengths for light travelling from each light source, through the body tissue type to be monitored, to the photodetector; and (ii) locating light sources of different wavelengths at different distances from the photodetector.

Abstract: A railway points arrangement 10 for a railway track junction comprises at least first and second pairs of longitudinally-extending, parallel-spaced static stock rails 12, 14, defining respectively a first route and a second route, and a pair of longitudinally-extending, parallel-spaced switch rails 16 which are movable between a first position in alignment with the first pair of stock rails 12 to select the first route and a second position in alignment with the second pair of stock rails 14 to select the second route. At least one of the movable switch rails 16a cooperates with at least one stock rail 12, 14 of each of the first and second pairs of stock rails 12, 14 when the movable switch rails 16 are in the first and second positions, and the at least one switch rail 16 and the at least one stock rail 12, 14 are shaped to define a mating profile 50 which aligns the switch rail 16 and stock rail 12, 14 and prevents transverse movement of the switch rail 16 relative to the stock rail 12, 14.

Abstract: A method for controlling the physical state of an ultra-high molecular weight polymer to make the ultra-high molecular weight polymer suitable for further processing, and related polymers compositions methods and systems, wherein the method comprises combining a catalyst, monomers, and an additive, for a time and under condition to allow synthesis of a nascent polymer and co-crystallization of the nascent polymer with the additive.

Abstract: A magnetometer for measuring a magnetic flux and also the absolute magnetic flux, the magnetometer comprising a plurality of superconducting quantum devices (SQUIDs) connected in series, each SQUID including: a superconducting loop containing two Josephson junctions connected to each other in parallel; and a flux-focussing region, the flux-focussing region configured to generate a screening current in response to the magnetic flux, the screening current modulating the corresponding voltage response for each SQUID which is in-phase with the voltage response of each other SQUID in the array.

Abstract: A nanocomposite coating composition for use in the mitigation of whisker growth from a metallic surface (82) includes a polymer matrix (86) comprising a base polymer and insulating material nanoplatelets (85), for example clay nanoplatelets, within the polymer matrix (86). A conformal coating (84) for application to a metal surface (82) is formed from the coating composition. The conformal coating mitigates the spontaneous growth of whiskers (83), in particular tin whiskers, from the coated surface (82), reducing the risk of short-circuits caused by such whiskers bridging gaps within electronic devices. Methods are provided for the preparation of coating compositions and coatings.

Abstract: The present invention provides assay devices having a unitary body with an exterior surface, the unitary body being substantially transparent to visible light and formed from a material having a refractive index in the range 1.26 to 1.40, the refractive index being measured at 20° C. with light of wavelength 589 nm, and wherein the unitary body is formed from a hydrophobic material, and at least two capillary bores extending internally along the unitary body, wherein at least a portion of the surface of each capillary bore includes a hydrophilic layer for retaining an assay reagent, and wherein the hydrophilic layer is also substantially transparent to visible light to allow optical interrogation of the capillary bores through the capillary wall. The present invention also provides assay systems including such assay devices, methods of performing an assay using such assay devices and method of method for manufacturing such assay devices.

Abstract: A method for controlling the physical state of an ultra-high molecular weight polymer to make the ultra-high molecular weight polymer suitable for further processing, and related polymers compositions methods and systems, wherein the method comprises combining a catalyst, monomers, and an additive, for a time and under condition to allow synthesis of a nascent polymer and co-crystallization of the nascent polymer with the additive.

Abstract: An apparatus for the absolute measurement of a two dimensional optical path distribution comprising: a light source (4) for illuminating an object (26) with light having a plurality of wavelengths: an interferometer (12) for forming an image of at least part of the object, which image comprises a broad band interferogram; a hyperspectral imager (30) in optical communication with the interferometer for spectrally separating the broad band interferogram into a plurality of narrow band two dimensional interferograms (72, 74, 76); a register (38) for spatially registering the narrow band interferograms; an extractor for extracting one dimensional intensity signals from corresponding pixels in each narrow band interferogram; and a calculator (100) for calculating the frequency for each point on the object from a one dimensional intensity signal associated with that point.

Abstract: A method of selectively combining particulate material, comprising: (i) providing a layer of particulate material to a part bed; (ii) providing radiation to sinter a portion of the material of the layer; (iii) providing a further layer of particulate material overlying the prior layer of particulate material including the previously sintered portion of material; (iv) providing radiation to sinter a further portion of the material within the overlying further layer and to sinter said further portion with the previously sintered portion of material in the prior layer; (v) successively repeating blocks (iii) and (iv) to form a three-dimensional object; and wherein at least some of the layers of particulate material are pre-heated with a heater prior to sintering a portion of the material of the respective layer, the heater being configured to move relative to, and proximate, the particulate material.

Abstract: An apparatus (100) for performing a multi-layer construction method using cementitious material has a reservoir (4) for containing cementitious material. The reservoir (4) is coupled to a print head (6) with a delivery nozzle (13). The delivery nozzle (13) can be moved by a robotic arm assembly (1) to index the nozzle (13) along a predetermined path. Flow of the cementitious material from the reservoir (4) to the nozzle (13) and to extrude the material out of the nozzle (13) is controlled in conjunction with indexing of the nozzle (13). A support material, an accelerating agent and a cartilage material may also be deposited from the print head (6).

Abstract: A suspension system for a train vehicle includes at least one inerter to minimize track wear. Track wear may be measured by direct measures such as wear work, or indirect measures such as yaw stiffness. “Minimizing” track wear means that such measures are reduced below values which are achievable with conventional technology while maintaining acceptable values of other performance metrics, such as ride comfort or least damping ratio. The suspension system may comprise at least one damper connected in series with the at least one inerter. The suspension system may be the primary or the secondary suspension system of a train vehicle.

Abstract: An arrangement comprising a plurality of attenuators for attenuating acoustic waves, each attenuator of the plurality of attenuators comprising: a first body defining a cavity therein and at least one open aperture extending across a portion of the first body, the first body being configured to attenuate acoustic waves over a resonant frequency band.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for assisting in the optimization of a complex, hierarchical data structure, such as a process flow model, comprising a plurality of elements such as tasks to be carried out, each element having data dependency upon other elements within the hierarchy. The apparatus includes a database for maintaining a data set incorporating a plurality of dependency structure matrices, each dependency structure matrix corresponding to one hierarchical level in the data set; display means for displaying, to the user, a representation of said dependency structure matrices; user input means for effecting the change of a data dependency of a selected element at a selected level in said hierarchy; and data manipulation means for effecting consequential changes in the data set representing said changes in dependency of elements throughout the hierarchical structure.