Abstract: An optical coating structure applied to the surface of an object having scattering structures introduced to the basal, upper or middle layers of a multilayer reflector to cause a particular (calculated) degree of scattering, or to the surface of a black/colour pigmented object. The scattering structures are mainly sub-micron in size, and arranged in a pseudo-random or non-periodic manner. Consequently they serve only to broaden the angular range of the light reflected at the surface normal from a multilayer reflector, or to provide (actual and/or perceived) reduced reflectivity of a surface by deflecting incident light through the surface rather than away from it or by scattering otherwise beam-like (narrow-angle) reflections from a surface into a broad-angle reflection. The scattering structures can include profile elements, which are in the form of elongate bars having convexly curved sides or hemispherical rods, that are introduced to a basal layer of a multilayer reflector.

Abstract: A system, method, apparatus, and computer program product for ultrasonic clinical decision support. The system allows for the utilization of a conventional ultrasonic imaging device that can be coupled to an enhanced image processing engine to provide improved visualization of a condition of underlying tissues to show tissue boundary layers in a morphological conversion of an analog ultrasound image into a pure digital image. The CDSS provides for expedited acquisition and delivery of processed ultrasound images to the attending physician in a manner that enables fast 3D imaging and fast tracking of the patient condition. The system processes and analyzes classic analog B-Mode ultrasound, converts them into digital images, identifying hypoechoic structures in the process, thus permitting an objective evaluation of tissue integrity. The CDSS provides observational metrics applied to the data to give a quantified numerical evaluation instead of a subjective guess.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for identifying specific binding partners (e.g. antibodies or antibody mimetics) which bind to a desired target polypeptide. In particular, the method involves expressing a library of specific binding partners in a population of mammalian cells, wherein each cell in the population of cells displays the target polypeptide on the outer surface of the cell, and identifying or isolating cells within the population of cells to which specific binding partners are bound.

Abstract: A system and/or method that uses a body posture of a user to determine and modulate a content mode of a virtual reality system. The content mode may define the manner in which virtual reality content is presented to the user and/or the manner in which the user interacts with the virtual reality content. The user's body posture and/or a change in body posture may cause the content mode and/or the virtual reality content to change accordingly. In some implementations, primary content may be presented to the user according to a first content mode in response to the user sitting. Secondary virtual reality content may be presented to the user according to the second content mode in response to the user standing. As such, a user may initiate a change in the virtual reality content and/or the content mode by standing from a sitting posture and/or sitting from a standing posture.

Abstract: A bottle assembly is provided including a bottle having an end portion with a first detent formation, and a collar having a second complementary detent formation. The collar is arranged to snap fit to the end portion by engagement of the detent formations by application of force only in a direction towards the bottle. In addition, a valve assembly for use with a drinking vessel is provided including a base member and a sealing member. The sealing member is movable, dependent on a pressure difference across it, between a sealed position, wherein the sealing member is sealed against the base member, and an unsealed position, wherein the sealing member is unsealed from the base member. One or more channels are formed between the base member and the sealing member and are arranged to allow air to enter the drinking vessel when the sealing member is in the unsealed position.

Abstract: A system and/or method that uses a body posture of a user to determine and modulate a content mode of a virtual reality system. The content mode may define the manner in which virtual reality content is presented to the user and/or the manner in which the user interacts with the virtual reality content. The user's body posture and/or a change in body posture may cause the content mode and/or the virtual reality content to change accordingly. In some implementations, primary content may be presented to the user according to a first content mode in response to the user sitting. Secondary virtual reality content may be presented to the user according to the second content mode in response to the user standing. As such, a user may initiate a change in the virtual reality content and/or the content mode by standing from a sitting posture and/or sitting from a standing posture.

Abstract: The invention relates to a valve element (110, 310, 510, 601, 603) for allowing a user to drink from an upper rim (124, 324, 524) of a valve assembly (100, 300, 500, 600, 601) comprising a body (613) comprising a resiliently deformable portion (619) having a rim (621), the rim (621) located in a first plane, wherein at least the rim (621) of the resiliently deformable portion (619) is configured to deform substantially inwardly, to be located in a second plane, into a sealing position within a valve assembly (100, 300, 500, 600, 601), and further wherein a portion (629) of the rim (621) is configured to lift out of the second plane upon application of a suction force to an upper surface (639) of a corresponding portion (629) of the resiliently deformable portion (619). The invention also relates to a valve assembly (100, 300, 500, 600, 601) comprising a valve element (110, 310, 510, 601, 603) according to the invention.

Abstract: Improved equipment bases and methods for making and using same are disclosed herein. The equipment base can include a first coated substrate including a first part having a first thickness sized to provide the load-bearing support for the equipment, a first elastomer coating the first part, a second coated substrate positioned adjacent to the first coated substrate, the second coated substrate including a second part having a second thickness sized to provide the load-bearing support for the equipment, and a second elastomer coating the second part. A first seam can be formed between the first and second coated substrates to allow for moisture to pass between the first and second coated substrates so that moisture is allowed to seep away from the bottom of the equipment.

Abstract: An optical coaling structure is provided that when applied to a surface of an object to imparts a color to the object, the optical coating structure including: a base layer; a reflector on the base layer; and profile elements on the base layer under the reflector, the profile elements having a width and length which are each in the range of 5 to 500 ?m in size, and being arranged in non-periodic manner or a periodic manner. The reflector may be a multilayer structure of alternating dielectric materials. A method of forming the optical coating structure is also provided.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing and a surface microstructure that includes a surface; and a plurality of protrusions on the surface, where each of the protrusions has a width that changes along its length, where the protrusions are all oriented in substantially the same direction; and where the protrusions each have a length between 10 and 1000 ?m and a maximum width between 5 and 100 ?m.

Abstract: Aspects of the present invention relate to a method, a control system, a vehicle, a system, and a non-transitory computer readable medium. Application program code is downloaded to the control system via an interface and installed on the control system. Then, it is determined whether the control system is able to communicate with an external device via the interface while running the installed application program code, and the installed application program code is subsequently loaded on startup of the control system in dependence on a determination that the control system was able to communicate with the external device.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel apparatus and methods for fast quantitative measurement of perturbation of optical fields transmitted, reflected and/or scattered along a length of an optical fibre. The present invention can be used for point sensors as well as distributed sensors or the combination of both. In particular this technique can be applied to distributed sensors while extending dramatically the speed and sensitivity to allow the detection of acoustic perturbations anywhere along a length of an optical fibre while achieving fine spatial resolution. The present invention offers unique advantages in a broad range of acoustic sensing and imaging applications. Typical uses are for monitoring oil and gas wells such as for distributed flow metering and/or imaging, seismic imaging, monitoring long cables and pipelines, imaging within large vessel as well as for security applications.

Abstract: A bottle assembly is provided including a bottle having an end portion with a first detent formation, and a collar having a second complementary detent formation. The collar is arranged to snap fit to the end portion by engagement of the detent formations by application of force only in a direction towards the bottle. In addition, a valve assembly for use with a drinking vessel is provided including a base member and a sealing member. The sealing member is moveable, dependent on a pressure difference across it, between a sealed position, wherein the sealing member is sealed against the base member, and an unsealed position, wherein the sealing member is unsealed from the base member. One or more channels are formed between the base member and the sealing member and are arranged to allow air to enter the drinking vessel when the sealing member is in the unsealed position.

Abstract: Improved equipment bases and methods for making and using same are disclosed herein. The equipment base can include a first coated substrate including a first part having a first thickness sized to provide the load-bearing support for the equipment, a first elastomer coating the first part, a second coated substrate positioned adjacent to the first coated substrate, the second coated substrate including a second part having a second thickness sized to provide the load-bearing support for the equipment, and a second elastomer coating the second part. A first seam can be formed between the first and second coated substrates to allow for moisture to pass between the first and second coated substrates so that moisture is allowed to seep away from the bottom of the equipment.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel apparatus and methods for fast quantitative measurement of perturbation of optical fields transmitted, reflected and/or scattered along a length of an optical fibre. The present invention can be used for point sensors as well as distributed sensors or the combination of both. In particular this technique can be applied to distributed sensors while extending dramatically the speed and sensitivity to allow the detection of acoustic perturbations anywhere along a length of an optical fibre while achieving fine spatial resolution. The present invention offers unique advantages in a broad range of acoustic sensing and imaging applications. Typical uses are for monitoring oil and gas wells such as for distributed flow metering and/or imaging, seismic imaging, monitoring long cables and pipelines, imaging within large vessel as well as for security applications.

Abstract: A well-logging system includes a first downhole tool coupled to a first cable for conveying the first downhole tool along a wellbore. A second downhole tool having a housing is coupled to a second cable for conveying the second downhole tool along the wellbore. The well-logging system includes a cable guide having a chassis structure coupled to the housing and a sleeve coupled to the chassis structure and disposed about the first cable. The first cable is configured to translate along the sleeve such that the sleeve facilitates guided movement of the first downhole tool relative to the second downhole tool.

Abstract: A device for retracting or opening and closing a tissue wound employs two or more retractor arms that do not enter or penetrate into the wound or incision. The retractor arms engage the tissue on either side of the wound and apply outward or inward pressure on the tissue surface to open or close the wound.

Abstract: An optical coating structure applied to the surface of an object having scattering structures introduced to the basal, upper or middle layers of a multilayer reflector to cause a particular (calculated) degree of scattering, or to the surface of a black/colour pigmented object. The scattering structures are mainly sub-micron in size, and arranged in a pseudo-random or non-periodic manner. Consequently they serve only to broaden the angular range of the light reflected at the surface normal from a multilayer reflector, or to provide (actual and/or perceived) reduced reflectivity of a surface by deflecting incident light through the surface rather than away from it or by scattering otherwise beam-like (narrow-angle) reflections from a surface into a broad-angle reflection. The scattering structures can include profile elements, which are in the form of elongate bars having convexly curved sides or hemispherical rods, that are introduced to a basal layer of a multilayer reflector.

Abstract: A system and/or method that uses a body posture of a user to determine and modulate a content mode of a virtual reality system. The content mode may define the manner in which virtual reality content is presented to the user and/or the manner in which the user interacts with the virtual reality content. The user's body posture and/or a change in body posture may cause the content mode and/or the virtual reality content to change accordingly. In some implementations, primary content may be presented to the user according to a first content mode in response to the user sitting. Secondary virtual reality content may be presented to the user according to the second content mode in response to the user standing. As such, a user may initiate a change in the virtual reality content and/or the content mode by standing from a sitting posture and/or sitting from a standing posture.

Abstract: Improved equipment bases and methods for making and using same are disclosed herein. The equipment base can include a first coated substrate including a first part having a first thickness sized to provide the load-bearing support for the equipment, a first elastomer coating the first part, a second coated substrate positioned adjacent to the first coated substrate, the second coated substrate including a second part having a second thickness sized to provide the load-bearing support for the equipment, and a second elastomer coating the second part. A first seam can be formed between the first and second coated substrates to allow for moisture to pass between the first and second coated substrates so that moisture is allowed to seep away from the bottom of the equipment.