Abstract: A method of sample analysis comprises irradiating a sample with electromagnetic radiation such as X-rays; collecting absorption data and scattering data; and combining the absorption and scattering data. The irradiation can be in the form of a tubular beam, a detector may be placed in a plane where Debye cones diffracted from the sample overlap at a central point for the collection of the scattering data.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods of forming coated metal oxide particles, suspensions of such coated particles, particles comprising functionalised surface coatings and to fortification of food crops with coated metal oxide particles. Embodiments disclosed include a method of fortifying a food crop with a trace element, the method comprising growing the food crop in a growth medium comprising the trace element in the form of metal oxide particles coated with an organic compound, and a food crop fortified with a trace element in the form of metal oxide particles. Also disclosed is a method of forming coated particles, the method comprising: providing a first quantity of metal oxide particles; providing a second quantity of a coating material comprising an organic compound; and mechanically mixing the metal oxide particles with the coating material in a dry mixing process to provide a mixture comprising the metal oxide particles coated with the organic compound.

Abstract: A thin film comprising a layer of dielectric material having electrically conductive inclusions, wherein the thin film has a first reflectivity due to surface plasmon resonance, and wherein the thin film is configured to provide one or more selected regions having a second reflectivity due to surface plasmon resonance.

Abstract: This invention relates to base ester compounds and complex ester compounds that can be used as a base stock for lubricant applications or a base stock blend component for use in a finished lubricant or for particular applications, and methods of making the same. The base ester compounds and complex esters described herein comprise dimer and/or trimer esters, and their respective branched derivatives.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the analysis of data to identify relationships between the input data and one or more conditions. One method of analyzing such data is by the use of neural networks which are non-linear statistical data modelling tools, the structure of which may be changed based on information that is passed through the network during a training phase. A known problem that affects neural networks is the issue of overtraining which arises in overcomplex or overspecified systems when the capacity of the network significantly exceeds the needed parameters. The present invention provides a method of analyzing data using a neural network with a constrained architecture that mitigates the problems associated with the prior art.

Abstract: This invention relates to base ester compounds and complex ester compounds that can be used as a base stock for lubricant applications or a base stock blend component for use in a finished lubricant or for particular applications, and methods of making the same. The base ester compounds and complex esters described herein comprise dimer and/or trimer esters, and their respective branched derivatives.

Abstract: Superior protective coatings for corrosion susceptible substrates are provided by lower alkoxysilane-epoxy polymeric compounds produced by sol-gel polymerization and cross-linked by reaction with an aromatic diamine cross-linking agent such as a phenylenediamine.

Abstract: A radiation detecting apparatus includes a collimator and a detector, the collimator having a material for blocking radiation and a region that is a sector of an annulus or multiple regions in a configuration in the shape of a sector of an annulus for allowing transmission of the radiation. The detector is spaced a distance from the collimator such that when a radiation source and sample crystal material are positioned at suitable positions, the radiation is collimated by the collimator and contacts the sample a predetermined distance from the detector at multiple of locations corresponding to the region or regions of the collimator. The Bragg diffracted radiation from the crystal material at two or more and preferably all of the locations overlap at the detector.

Abstract: A time to event data analysis method and system. The present invention relates to the analysis of data to identify relationships between the input data and one or more conditions. One method of analysing such data is by the use of neural networks which are non-linear statistical data modelling tools, the structure of which may be changed based on information that is passed through the network during a training phase. A known problem that affects neural networks is the issue of overtraining which arises in overcomplex or overspecified systems when the capacity of the network significantly exceeds the needed parameters. The present invention provides a method of analysing data, such as bioinformatics or pathology data, using a neural network with a constrained architecture and providing a continuous output that can be used in various contexts and systems including prediction of time to an event, such as a specified clinical event.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the analysis of data to identify relationships between the input data and one or more conditions. One method of analysing such data is by the use of neural networks which are non-linear statistical data modelling tools, the structure of which may be changed based on information that is passed through the network during a training phase. A known problem that affects neural networks is the issue of overtraining which arises in overcomplex or overspecified systems when the capacity of the network significantly exceeds the needed parameters. The present invention provides a method of analysing data using a neural network with a constrained architecture that mitigates the problems associated with the prior art.

Abstract: Described herein is a an optical sensing unit, the optical sensing unit including a one-dimensional array of sensor locations, each sensor location being responsive to an incident optical signal to generate a local analog intensity value representative of the intensity of the optical signal at the sensor location, the sensing unit including a digital interface to deliver a local digital intensity value corresponding to the local analog intensity value, a first microcontroller function in communication with the digital interface for sequentially collecting local digital intensity values to form a group of digital intensity values corresponding to an intensity variation across the array over a predetermined sensing period, a second microcontroller function cooperating with the first microcontroller function to receive the group of digital intensity values for transfer to an output device.

Abstract: A radiation detecting apparatus includes a collimator and a detector, the collimator having a material for blocking radiation and a region that is a sector of an annulus or multiple regions in a configuration in the shape of a sector of an annulus for allowing transmission of the radiation. The detector is spaced a distance from the collimator such that when a radiation source and sample crystal material are positioned at suitable positions, the radiation is collimated by the collimator and contacts the sample a predetermined distance from the detector at multiple of locations corresponding to the region or regions of the collimator. The Bragg diffracted radiation from the crystal material at two or more and preferably all of the locations overlap at the detector.

Abstract: A method of preparing a polymer nanocomposite having antimicrobial properties, comprises (i) contacting a polymeric antimicrobial agent with a clay to form an organoclay; and (ii) subsequently dispersing the organoclay in a polymeric matrix. Polymer nanocomposites prepared by the method of the invention are not prone to leaching of the polymeric antimicrobial agent from the composite, and have many applications.

Abstract: Described herein is a an optical sensing unit, the optical sensing unit including a one-dimensional array of sensor locations, each sensor location being responsive to an incident optical signal to generate a local analog intensity value representative of the intensity of the optical signal at the sensor location, the sensing unit including a digital interface to deliver a local digital intensity value corresponding to the local analog intensity value, a first microcontroller function in communication with the digital interface for sequentially collecting local digital intensity values to form a group of digital intensity values corresponding to an intensity variation across the array over a predetermined sensing period, a second microcontroller function cooperating with the first microcontroller function to receive the group of digital intensity values for transfer to an output device.

Abstract: The application discloses caner-associated genes and their products, especially those identifiable by SEREX. The genes and products are used to identify, track and treat cancer. Preferably the cancer is a gastro-intestinal cancer.

Abstract: Polymer-clay nanocomposites are formed by compression of an intimate mixture of the polymer and the clay. The compression is carried out below the glass transition temperature for amorphous polymers or between glass transition temperature and melting point for crystalline polymers, and preferably at ambient temperature.

Abstract: Apparatus and a method for producing a stereoscopic line-scan image of an object in which a detector camera is used to view the object, means are provided to move relative to one another the surface of the object past the detector in a direction which is at right angles to the scanning lines direction of the detector, and means are provided to select the outputs from two spaced lines in each picture frame produced by the detector and store those lines in a frame store to build up individual pictures from each of the two lines, so that one individual picture constitutes a left hand picture of a stereoscopic pair and the other individual picture constitutes a right hand image of a stereoscopic pair. Preferably the detector camera is a television camera or a full field digital.

Abstract: A method of creating a 2½D solid model picture in which a stereoscopic image is identified as a series of depth slices and the resulting slice data is built up to a 2½D model using appropriate computer software. The method compares a stereoscopic pair at a relative lateral position and identifies those points of coincidence so as to create a slice through the picture at a depth corresponding to that particular relative lateral position. The pair is then moved laterally relative to each one another by an amount equal to the minimum detectable parallax and the comparison is repeated as often as is required to identify points of coincidence at all parallax depths or slices of the stereoscopic picture. The 2½D solid model image is then built by using the obtained slice data.

Abstract: A pair of stereoscopic images of an object are produced, one image is subtracted from the other, and the resulting two dimensional image is then checked against and compared with a similar two dimensional image (the golden image) which has been produced in an identical manner using a known perfect sample (the golden sample).

Abstract: Methods for treating cells, e.g. proliferating cells such as tumor cells, comprise exposing them to cell-damaging agents (which can cause indirect damage, e.g. as vectors for delivery of a gene encoding a cytokine or antigen) and to antigen-presenting cells so as to damage them or reduce their proliferation.