Abstract: Compounds, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, useful as inhibitors of sodium channels are provided. Also provided are pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds or pharmaceutically acceptable salts and methods of using the compounds, pharmaceutically acceptable salts, and pharmaceutical compositions in the treatment of various disorders, including pain.

Abstract: A method for adjusting the apparent brightness of a computer-generated hologram display is disclosed. The method comprises: receiving source data representative of a scene to be displayed as a hologram; determining hologram data to display a computer-generated hologram representing the scene; determining a scene energy based on the source data, the scene energy being quantised using a scale which is non-linear and which has a closer spacing between values in a mid-section of the scale than between values towards a minimum and a maximum of the scale; associating the scene energy with the hologram data; controlling a holographic display according to the hologram data and simultaneously controlling an output power of an illumination source of the holographic display according to the scene energy. A holographic display apparatus implementing the method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A holographic display comprises: an illumination source which is at least partially coherent; a plurality of display elements positioned to receive light from the illumination source and spaced apart from each other, each display element comprising a group of at least two sub-elements; and a modulation system associated with each display element and configured to modulate at least a phase of each of the plurality of sub-elements.

Abstract: The disclosure presents systems and methods for processing a specimen slide using a specimen processing system. Specimen slides may sequentially be ejected from a slide carrier towards a label reader to determine an appropriate processing protocol for the slides. A cracking element may be engaged with the slide carrier prior to ejecting the slide, in order to break or “crack” any residual adhesive bond between edges of a slide and walls of the carrier. The specimen slides may be horizontally aligned and resting on a corresponding plurality of flat shelves, enabling even spacing via gravitational forces. The slides are therefore evenly spaced, enabling damage-free ejection of slides, and proper positioning for additional operations including scanning, viewing, heating, washing, and other processing.

Abstract: Systems and methods that enable automated processing of specimens carried on microscope slides are described herein. In some embodiments, the system can include, for example, a slide ejector assembly having a slide staging device configured to receive a slide and an over-travel inhibitor that includes a first vacuum port positioned to draw a first vacuum between the slide and a standby platform as the slide is moved across at least a portion of the standby platform. The over-travel inhibitor includes a first sensor for detecting a presence of the slide on the standby platform. The system can also include a transfer assembly to transport slides away from the slide ejector assembly. The transfer assembly can include a floating transfer head having a vacuum port for drawing a partial vacuum for holding the slide.

Abstract: The disclosure presents systems and methods for processing a specimen slide using a specimen processing system. Specimen slides may sequentially be ejected from a slide carrier towards a label reader to determine an appropriate processing protocol for the slides. A cracking element may be engaged with the slide carrier prior to ejecting the slide, in order to break or “crack” any residual adhesive bond between edges of a slide and walls of the carrier. The specimen slides may be horizontally aligned and resting on a corresponding plurality of flat shelves, enabling even spacing via gravitational forces. The slides are therefore evenly spaced, enabling damage-free ejection of slides, and proper positioning for additional operations including scanning, viewing, heating, washing, and other processing.

Abstract: Systems and methods that enable automated processing of specimens carried on microscope slides are described herein. In some embodiments, the system can include, for example, a slide ejector assembly having a slide staging device configured to receive a slide and an over-travel inhibitor that includes a first vacuum port positioned to draw a first vacuum between the slide and a standby platform as the slide is moved across at least a portion of the standby platform. The over-travel inhibitor includes a first sensor for detecting a presence of the slide on the standby platform. The system can also include a transfer assembly to transport slides away from the slide ejector assembly. The transfer assembly can include a floating transfer head having a vacuum port for drawing a partial vacuum for holding the slide.

Abstract: The disclosure presents systems and methods for processing a specimen slide using a specimen processing system. Specimen slides may sequentially be ejected from a slide carrier towards a label reader to determine an appropriate processing protocol for the slides. A cracking element may be engaged with the slide carrier prior to ejecting the slide, in order to break or “crack” any residual adhesive bond between edges of a slide and walls of the carrier. The specimen slides may be horizontally aligned and resting on a corresponding plurality of flat shelves, enabling even spacing via gravitational forces. The slides are therefore evenly spaced, enabling damage-free ejection of slides, and proper positioning for additional operations including scanning, viewing, heating, washing, and other processing.

Abstract: Systems and methods that enable automated processing of specimens carried on microscope slides are described herein. In some embodiments, the system can include, for example, a slide ejector assembly having a slide staging device configured to receive a slide and an over-travel inhibitor that includes a first vacuum port positioned to draw a first vacuum between the slide and a standby platform as the slide is moved across at least a portion of the standby platform. The over-travel inhibitor includes a first sensor for detecting a presence of the slide on the standby platform. The system can also include a transfer assembly to transport slides away from the slide ejector assembly. The transfer assembly can include a floating transfer head having a vacuum port for drawing a partial vacuum for holding the slide.

Abstract: A composite structure comprises a dual-function material intermediate a conducting material and a semiconductor. The dual-function material comprises an organic material and at least one ionic species such that the organic material has both electronic charge transport properties and supports or chelates the at least one ionic species. The conducting material comprises an ohmic conductor, a semiconducting material or an ionic conductor. The composite structures are suitable for use in electrochemical devices such as photo-voltaic cells, photodiodes, batteries, electrodes, electrochromic devices and light-emitting diodes.

Abstract: Packaging including an oxygen-scavenging element including an activatable semiconductor, in embodiments, one or both of a photo-activatable semiconductor activatable by ultra-bandgap light or an electro-activatable semiconductor activatable by application of an electrical bias, which, when activated, acts to scavenge oxygen from its surrounding environment.

Abstract: A low-temperature fabrication method for fabricating a conformal metal oxide coating on a substrate, the method comprising the steps of. coating a surface of a substrate with a non-hydrolysed precursor solution of one or more moisture-sensitive metal alkoxides in an organic solvent at a temperature of less than 150° C.; and rinsing the precursor solution coated on the surface of the substrate in water at a temperature of less than 150° C. to hydrolyse precursor solution at the surface of the substrate and thereby form a conformal metal oxide coating on the substrate.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods for detecting metals or salts thereof in aqueous solutions, detectors for carrying out the methods, and processes for preparing the detectors. Exemplary metals include platinum, palladium, silver, mercury and gold.

Abstract: In a piston and cylinder gas compressor having a cylinder block, a valve plate and a cylinder head the sealing means between the cylinder head and the valve plate is designed to constrain the delivered air and/or coolant fluid to flow in an extended fluid flow path to enhance the heat flow from the delivered air before arrival at a delivery port.

Abstract: The invention provides a deodorant composition for reducing axillary body odor without suppressing the secretion of perspiration, comprising a suspension of a particulate deodorant active material in a carrier liquid or gel medium containing less than 80% water by weight of the carrier medium, particularly an aerosol or roll-on composition, in which the deodorant active ingredient is a zinc carbonate.

Abstract: A cosmetically acceptable product for topical application to human skin comprises a selected amphiphilic compound having a log partition coefficient in octanol/water of from 0.5 to 3.5; emulsifier which is normally solid at 20.degree. C., which has an average HLB value of from 5 to 11, and which is capable with water of forming a gel phase having an X-ray reflection of from 0.37 to 0.44 nm and which permits substantially no co-crystallisation therewith of the amphiphilic compound; an activity enhancer which is capable, at a concentration of 5% by weight of increasing the cloud point temperature of a 0.025M aqueous solution of polyoxyethylene (8) nonylphenyl ether by at least 10.degree. C.; and water, the product having an aqueous phase and a gel phase.Optionally the product can also comprise an "oil" having a dielectric constant not greater than 3.0, in which case the product will also comprise an oily phase.

Abstract: The invention provides a deodorant composition for reducing axillary body odor without suppressing the secretion of perspiration, comprising a suspension of a particulate deodorant active material in a carrier liquid or gel medium containing less than 80% water by weight of the carrier medium, particularly an aerosol or roll-on composition, in which the deodorant active ingredient is an oxide, hydroxide or carbonate of magnesium or lanthanum or a mixture thereof.

Abstract: A cosmetically acceptable composition for topical application to human skin comprises from 0.1 to 20% by weight of a substituted 2-hydroxyoctanoic acid or 2-ketooctanoic acid or a mixture thereof, together with an amount of a special neutralizing agent sufficient to adjust the pH of the composition to a value of from 3 to 7. The special neutralizing agent is one having a cation whose ionic radius is at least 100 pm.

Abstract: A cosmetically acceptable composition for topical application to human skin comprises from 0.1 to 20% by weight of a substituted 2-hydroxyoctanoic acid or 2-ketooctanoic acid or a mixture thereof, together with an amount of a special neutralizing agent sufficient to adjust the pH of the composition to a value of from 3 to 7. The special neutralizing agent is one having a cation whose ionic radius is at least 100 pm.