Abstract: A floor covering apparatus is provided to enable the easy laying, relaying and rearranging of a protective floor covering while providing for improved customization. The apparatus comprises a rigid, substantially planar base having an upper face, a lower face, and a perimeter defining a two-dimensional shape; a rigid edge portion extending from the upper face of the base and defining a depth, wherein the depth is a distance between the upper face of the base and an uppermost surface of the edge portion; wherein the floor covering apparatus is arranged to tessellate with at least one other such floor covering apparatus. The apparatus aims to provide a modular floor covering apparatus with improved structural and functional properties compared with currently available solutions.

Abstract: An optical assembly comprises an optical device (103); an enclosure (101) for containing the optical device (103), the enclosure (101) including a transparent section (107) to allow passage of a light beam (104) to or from the optical device (103); and means for measuring the attenuation of a test light beam (212) through the transparent section(107). Preferably, the optical assembly also comprises means for compensating for the measured amount of attenuation by adjusting a measurement or a characteristic of the optical device (103) or a related optical device to compensate for the measured amount of attenuation.

Abstract: The invention provides an improved method of manufacturing fuel by blending fuel from different sources in a way which accounts for the isotopic variation in the fuel from different sources. In particular, the invention provides a method for producing nuclear fuel, the method comprising defining one or more reference composition for fuel to be produced; providing two or more amounts of feed fuel material from which to produce the fuel, defining the deviation of each of the amounts of feed fuel material from a reference composition; selecting and mixing masses of feed fuel material from two or more of the amounts of feed fuel material, the masses being selected to give a lower deviation between the mixed feed fuel material and the selected reference composition than between the feed fuel material amounts, and the selected reference composition, the deviation being defined by a function based on the isotopic composition of the feed fuel material amounts.

Abstract: Apparatus for extruding and cutting potato dough in the process of making French Fries uses a motor-driven ram which is allowed to recede after an extrusion operation to allow compressive forces in the dough container to be relieved after which a brake may be applied. The length of extrusion is established by time or by interrupting a beam to a photocell. In a modification, extrusion begins only after a predetermined pressure is first achieved in the dough container. The dough container is of special construction allowing both mixing and subsequent dispensing.