Abstract: A computer-implemented method comprising: obtaining text from text-based messages sent between a patient and a therapist providing psychological therapy; determining at least one feature of the text; and determining a characteristic of the patient and/or the therapist using the at least one feature.

Abstract: Data storage is provided using double-stranded nucleic acid molecules provided on a thermal control device comprising a plurality of sites and temperature control circuitry to independently control a temperature of each of the plurality of sites. The temperature control circuitry, controls the site temperatures to provide a different temperature at a target site compared to other sites of the plurality of sites. The different temperatures at the target site and the other sites provide a greater probability of a read or write operation acting on the target site compared to the other sites. The temperature-based addressing helps to increase physical storage density.

Abstract: A series of hybridisations is performed for forming a target double-stranded nucleic acid from initial fragments, where each further hybridisation step hybridises the direct products of a pair of earlier hybridisation steps. For at least one further hybridisation step HF, both of the corresponding pair of earlier hybridisation steps HE comprise an error-detecting type of hybridisation step, which includes an error detecting operation to detect whether the hybridised fragments formed in the error-detecting type of hybridisation step HE comprise at least one erroneous hybridised fragment, and discarding at least part of the erroneous fragment to exclude it from a subsequent further hybridisation step. By detecting and removing erroneous fragments throughout a staged and controlled hybridisation process, erroneous fragments are prevented from diluting the pool of error-free fragments at each hybridisation step, to improve yield.

Abstract: A temperature control device (2) comprises a number of active thermal sites (6) disposed at respective locations on a substrate (10), each comprising a heating element (13) for applying a variable amount of heat to a corresponding site of a medium and a thermal insulation layer (16) disposed between the heating element and the substrate. At least one passive thermal region (8) is disposed between the active thermal sites (6) on the substrate (10), each passive thermal region (8) comprising a thermal conduction layer (18) for conducting heat from a corresponding portion of the medium to the substrate (10). The thermal conduction layer (18) has a lower thermal resistance in a direction perpendicular to a plane of the substrate (10) than the thermal insulation layer (16). This enables precise control over both heating and cooling of individual sites in a flowing fluid, for example.

Abstract: A technique for measuring the resistance of a resistive element 4 in the presence of a series diode is provided. By supplying three different currents I1, I2, I3 and measuring corresponding voltages V1, V2, V3 across the resistive element and diode, the voltages can be combined to at least partially eliminate an error in the measured resistance of the resistive element caused by a voltage drop across the diode. A technique for current control in an array of resistive elements is also described in which a column of resistive elements is provided with two or more current sources switched so that while one current source is providing current to the column line corresponding to a selected resistive element, another current source has its amount of current adjusted.

Abstract: A device for determining the composition of a mixture of fluids that flow along a pipe includes: a radiation source for illuminating the mixture with radiation; a detector for detecting radiation that has been attenuated by the mixture; and a device for monitoring the flow rate of fluid along the pipe and outputting a signal indicative of the flow rate. The device for determining further includes a device for adjusting the intensity of radiation emitting by the radiation source in response to the signal indicative of the flow rate so that the intensity of the radiation source is reduced if the flow rate reduces.

Abstract: A device for determining the composition of a mixture of fluids that flow along a pipe includes: a radiation source for illuminating the mixture with radiation; a detector for detecting radiation that has been attenuated by the mixture; and a device for monitoring the flow rate of fluid along the pipe and outputting a signal indicative of the flow rate. The device for determining further includes a device for adjusting the intensity of radiation emitting by the radiation source in response to the signal indicative of the flow rate so that the intensity of the radiation source is reduced if the flow rate reduces.

Abstract: Data storage is provided using double-stranded nucleic acid molecules provided on a thermal control device comprising a plurality of sites and temperature control circuitry to independently control a temperature of each of the plurality of sites. The temperature control circuitry, controls the site temperatures to provide a different temperature at a target site compared to other sites of the plurality of sites. The different temperatures at the target site and the other sites provide a greater probability of a read or write operation acting on the target site compared to the other sites. The temperature-based addressing helps to increase physical storage density.

Abstract: A series of hybridisations is performed for forming a target double-stranded nucleic acid from initial fragments, where each further hybridisation step hybridises the direct products of a pair of earlier hybridisation steps. For at least one further hybridisation step HF, both of the corresponding pair of earlier hybridisation steps HE comprise an error-detecting type of hybridisation step, which includes an error detecting operation to detect whether the hybridised fragments formed in the error-detecting type of hybridisation step HE comprise at least one erroneous hybridised fragment, and discarding at least part of the erroneous fragment to exclude it from a subsequent further hybridisation step. By detecting and removing erroneous fragments throughout a staged and controlled hybridisation process, erroneous fragments are prevented from diluting the pool of error-free fragments at each hybridisation step, to improve yield.

Abstract: A controller for a thermo-electric cooler is disclosed. The controller comprises a current source for providing current for driving the thermo-electric cooler and a plurality of voltage supply connections for providing a plurality of different voltages for driving current controlled by the current source through the thermo-electric cooler. Voltage selection circuitry is provided for selecting a voltage from the plurality of different voltages, when connected, and for applying the voltage selected to the thermo-electric cooler. When selecting the voltage from the plurality of different voltages, the voltage selection circuitry is configured to select the voltage that, when compared to the other voltages of the plurality of voltages, minimises a potential difference across the current source.

Abstract: A temperature control device (2) comprises a number of active thermal sites (6) disposed at respective locations on a substrate (10), each comprising a heating element (13) for applying a variable amount of heat to a corresponding site of a medium and a thermal insulation layer (16) disposed between the heating element and the substrate. At least one passive thermal region (8) is disposed between the active thermal sites (6) on the substrate (10), each passive thermal region (8) comprising a thermal conduction layer (18) for conducting heat from a corresponding portion of the medium to the substrate (10). The thermal conduction layer (18) has a lower thermal resistance in a direction perpendicular to a plane of the substrate (10) than the thermal insulation layer (16). This enables precise control over both heating and cooling of individual sites in a flowing fluid, for example.

Abstract: A technique for measuring the resistance of a resistive element 4 in the presence of a series diode is provided. By supplying three different currents I1, I2, I3 and measuring corresponding voltages V1, V2, V3 across the resistive element and diode, the voltages can be combined to at least partially eliminate an error in the measured resistance of the resistive element caused by a voltage drop across the diode. A technique for current control in an array of resistive elements is also described in which a column of resistive elements is provided with two or more current sources switched so that while one current source is providing current to the column line corresponding to a selected resistive element, another current source has its amount of current adjusted.

Abstract: A controller for a thermo-electric cooler is disclosed. The controller comprises a current source for providing current for driving the thermo-electric cooler and a plurality of voltage supply connections for providing a plurality of different voltages for driving current controlled by the current source through the thermo-electric cooler. Voltage selection circuitry is provided for selecting a voltage from the plurality of different voltages, when connected, and for applying the voltage selected to the thermo-electric cooler. When selecting the voltage from the plurality of different voltages, the voltage selection circuitry is configured to select the voltage that, when compared to the other voltages of the plurality of voltages, minimises a potential difference across the current source.

Abstract: A device for determining the composition of a mixture of fluids by spectral absorption, comprises: a radiation source; a detector for detecting radiation that has been attenuated by the mixture; and a device for separating the radiation into a wavelength band corresponding to an absorption band of one of the fluids, a wavelength band corresponding to an absorption band of another of the fluids, and at least one reference wavelength band substantially adjacent to each of the absorption bands, and especially adjacent to each side of the absorption band or group of absorption bands. The device may be used to determine the composition of mixtures of oil, water and gaseous hydrocarbons in oil wells where there is a very large degree of time varying scattering e.g. Rayleigh and Mie scattering due to turbulence.

Abstract: In various arrangements, a nebulizer element of a nebulizer may be energized with a drive signal. A phase offset of the drive signal may be measured. A phase delta may be determined. The phase delta may indicate a difference between a target phase offset and the measured phase offset. The target phase offset may indicate a non-zero target phase difference between the voltage of the drive signal and the current of the drive signal. A frequency of the drive signal may be changed to decrease the phase delta.

Abstract: In various arrangements, a nebulizer element of a nebulizer may be energized with a drive signal. A phase offset of the drive signal may be measured. A phase delta may be determined. The phase delta may indicate a difference between a target phase offset and the measured phase offset. The target phase offset may indicate a non-zero target phase difference between the voltage of the drive signal and the current of the drive signal. A frequency of the drive signal may be changed to decrease the phase delta.

Abstract: Various methods, devices, and systems are described for aerosolizing a liquid. Embodiments may include sealing the liquid within a reservoir. An output waveform signal may be generated. A nebulizer element may be vibrated to aerosolize the liquid. A negative pressure may be produced within the reservoir as the liquid is aerosolized. The output waveform signal may cause the nebulizer element to vibrate. Embodiments may involve determining a phase shift between a current of the output waveform signal and a voltage of the output waveform signal. Also, embodiments may involve adjusting a frequency of the output waveform signal at least partially based on the phase shift. Further, embodiments may involve adjusting the voltage of the output waveform signal at least partially based on the frequency of the output waveform signal.

Abstract: Various methods, devices, and systems are described for aerosolizing a liquid. Embodiments may include sealing the liquid within a reservoir. An output waveform signal may be generated. A nebulizer element may be vibrated to aerosolize the liquid. A negative pressure may be produced within the reservoir as the liquid is aerosolized. The output waveform signal may cause the nebulizer element to vibrate. Embodiments may involve determining a phase shift between a current of the output waveform signal and a voltage of the output waveform signal. Also, embodiments may involve adjusting a frequency of the output waveform signal at least partially based on the phase shift. Further, embodiments may involve adjusting the voltage of the output waveform signal at least partially based on the frequency of the output waveform signal.

Abstract: In various arrangements, a nebulizer element of a nebulizer may be energized with a drive signal. A phase offset of the drive signal may be measured. A phase delta may be determined. The phase delta may indicate a difference between a target phase offset and the measured phase offset. The target phase offset may indicate a non-zero target phase difference between the voltage of the drive signal and the current of the drive signal. A frequency of the drive signal may be changed to decrease the phase delta.

Abstract: Various methods, devices, and systems are described for aerosolizing a liquid. Embodiments may include sealing the liquid within a reservoir. An output waveform signal may be generated. A nebulizer element may be vibrated to aerosolize the liquid. A negative pressure may be produced within the reservoir as the liquid is aerosolized. The output waveform signal may cause the nebulizer element to vibrate. Embodiments may involve determining a phase shift between a current of the output waveform signal and a voltage of the output waveform signal. Also, embodiments may involve adjusting a frequency of the output waveform signal at least partially based on the phase shift. Further, embodiments may involve adjusting the voltage of the output waveform signal at least partially based on the frequency of the output waveform signal.