Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure are configured to assess the severity of a blockage in a vessel and, in particular, a stenosis in a blood vessel. In some particular embodiments, the devices, systems, and methods of the present disclosure are configured to assess the severity of a stenosis in the coronary arteries without the administration of a hyperemic agent.

Abstract: A method of analysing a structure of a composition of matter in a sample includes obtaining a data set comprising a plurality of spectra from the composition, from a first method of analysis, dividing each of the spectra into a plurality of bins, determining a control parameter or parameters indicative of synchronised fluctuations in signal intensity across some or all channels, resulting in universal correlation between said bins, and determining a partial covariance of different bins across the plurality of spectra using the control parameter to correct the correlation of intensity fluctuations between said bins.

Abstract: The invention relates to an MRI apparatus and a method of MRI involving the acquisition of a first and a second MRI image with mutually different orientations between the BO magnetic field and the object to be investigated. For instance, when imaging structures such as a tendon, due to the magic angle effect, this results in a change in image contrast. According to the invention, a coregistration can be performed between the first and the second MRI image. Moreover, the orientation of a structure within the object can be determined on the basis of the different orientations and the image intensity in the first and the second MRI image. The invention further discloses an apparatus for carrying out the method and a method of shimming the BO magnetic field of the apparatus.

Abstract: A coated fibre comprising a fibre and a coating, wherein the coating comprises nanoplatelets and a polymer, wherein the coating has a layered structure comprising at least two bilayers, each bilayer comprising a nanoplatelet layer and a polymer layer is described. A composite material comprising a plurality of coated fibres and a matrix is also described.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of assessing a narrowing in a fluid filled tube having a fluid flow pressure wave having a backward-originating pressure component and a forward-originating pressure component without taking a flow velocity measurement, comprising: taking pressure measurements in the tube; separating the pressure components into the backward-originating pressure component and the forward-originating pressure component; identifying a time window when the differential of flow velocity (dU) is minimal or absent; and deriving the backward and forward pressure components for pressure measurements taken in at least the time window.

Abstract: A device and a method thereof for determining a hemodynamic state of an individual from a magnitude of a perfusion signal or a signal which is a measure of a volume of blood in the thoracic cavity of the individual, wherein the control device is configured to receive a first signal and a heart rate signal, divide the first signal into frames, wherein a frame length is determined from an oscillation period of the heart rate signal, and determine a magnitude of the first signal from at least two frames, so as to obtain a more reliable magnitude of the first signal.

Abstract: Apparatus for monitoring activation in a heart comprises a probe 101, a plurality of electrodes 102 supported on the probe and extending over a detection area of the probe, the detection area being arranged to contact a detection region of the heart. Each of the electrodes 102 is arranged to detect electrical potential at a respective position in the heart during movement of a series of activation wave fronts across the detection region. A processor is arranged to analyse the detected electrical potentials to identify a propagation direction of at least one of the wave fronts, and to generate an output indicative of that direction.

Abstract: A method of identifying a subject having a bacterial infection, which includes discriminating said subject from a subject having a viral infection or an inflammatory disease. Also provided is a gene signature employed in the method and to a bespoke gene chip for use in the method. Further provided are probes and/or primers specific to genes in a signature of the present disclosure.

Abstract: A method of supporting a body part (16), comprising providing a device (100) comprising: a first portion (105) configured to support a body part, wherein, in use, the body part applies a first pressure to the first portion in a first direction; means for detecting the first pressure; and a second portion (115) having means (212) for applying a second pressure to the body part in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction; detecting the first pressure; determining the second pressure based on a user parameter; and applying the second pressure to the body part in the second direction at a pre-determined ratio relative to the first pressure using said means for applying the second pressure.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to the prediction of physiological parameters, such as glucose levels. A training input is received, the training input comprising time-series values of a physiological parameter and time-series values of one or more further parameters. Training examples are generated form the training input, wherein each training example comprises a training dataset and a corresponding training label, wherein each training dataset is generated from the training input with time-series values restricted to a time interval, and wherein each corresponding training label represents the value of the physiological parameter a prediction period after the end of that time interval. A neural network is then trained using the training examples.

Abstract: A communication system for conveying information from an information source across a communications channel using a joint source channel coding autoencoder, comprising: an encoder neural network of the joint source channel coding autoencoder, the encoder neural network having: an input layer having input nodes corresponding to a sequence of source symbols Sm={S1, S2, . . . , Sm}, the Si, taking values in an alphabet S, received at the input layer from the information source as samples thereof, and a channel input layer coupled to the input layer through one or more neural network layers, the channel input layer having nodes usable to provide values for the Xi, of a channel input vector Xn={X1, X2, . . .

Abstract: A method (1) is described for training a machine learning model (2) to receive as input a time-resolved three-dimensional model (4) of a heart or a portion of a heart, and to output (3) a predicted time-to-event or a measure of risk for an adverse cardiac event. The method includes receiving a training set (5). The training set (5) includes a number of time-resolved three-dimensional models (41, . . . , 4N) of a heart or a portion of a heart. The training set (5) also includes, for each time-resolved three-dimensional model (41, . . . , 4N), corresponding outcome data (71, . . . , 7N) associated with the time-resolved three-dimensional model (41, . . . , 4N). The method (1) of training a machine learning model (2) also includes, using the training set (5) as input, training the machine learning model (2) to recognise latent representations (12) of cardiac motion which are predictive of an adverse cardiac event.

Abstract: The present invention provides method for predicting risk of cervical shortening, methods for predicting risk of preterm labour (PTL), and methods for characterising a pregnant subject having a history of previous PTL, mid-trimester loss or cervical cone biopsy as being in need of surveillance and/or intervention to prevent preterm labour, comprising determining the expression level of one or more of the miRNA molecules identified in Table 1 or Table 2 extracted from a biological sample obtained from said subject and comparing to a control value. Biochips and kits for use in carrying out the methods of the invention are also provided.

Abstract: A communication system for conveying information from an information source across a communications channel using a joint source channel coding variational autoencoder, comprising an encoder neural network of the joint source channel coding variational autoencoder, the encoder neural network having an input layer having input nodes corresponding to a sequence of source symbols S={S1, S2, . . . , Sm}, the Si, taking values in a finite alphabet S, received at the input layer from the information source as samples thereof, and a channel input layer coupled to the input layer through one or more neural network layers, the channel input layer having nodes corresponding to a channel input distribution vector Zk={Z1, Z2, . . . , ZK}, the Zi, taking values for parameters defining a plurality of distributions, each distribution being sampleable to provide possible values for the Xi, of a channel input vector Xn={X1, X2, . . .

Abstract: A component for use in a transducer arrangement includes a flexible membrane that defines a contact surface. An enclosed volume is also defined at least partially by the flexible membrane, and a is liquid contained within the enclosed volume.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for visually depicting a vessel and evaluating treatment options are disclosed. In some instances, a method of evaluating a vessel of a patient includes moving a second instrument longitudinally through a vessel of the patient from a first position to a second position while maintaining a first instrument in a fixed longitudinal position with respect to the vessel; obtaining pressure measurements from the first and second instruments while the second instrument is moved longitudinally through the vessel; visually depicting the vessel on a display based on the obtained pressure measurements; and modifying the visual depiction of the vessel to simulate one or more treatment options. Systems for performing such methods are also provided.

Abstract: Masing at room temperature is achieved by an apparatus and method that utilize a microwave cavity which exhibits a resonance of sufficiently high Q-factor for maser oscillation, and a resonator structure comprising a masing medium located within a resonant element. The masing medium comprises spin-defect centres. The resonator structure is disposed within the microwave cavity. A magnetic field is applied across the masing medium. An input of microwave radiation to be amplified is coupled to the resonator structure. An optical pump pumps the masing medium, thereby causing stimulated emission of microwave photons. The microwave cavity has an effective magnetic mode volume matching the volume of the masing medium.

Abstract: The invention relates to polynucleotides, and in particular to novel polynucleotides which represent promoter sequences. The invention is especially concerned with novel promoters for use in germline expression, in that they are substantially operative in only germline cells. In particular, the promoters initiate transcription of genes in the germline cells of an arthropod, and can be used in a gene drive. The invention is also concerned with vectors and gene drive constructs comprising the polynucleotides of the invention. The invention is also concerned with methods of producing arthropods comprising vectors containing such promoters.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to methods, systems, computer programs and computer-readable media for the multidimensional analysis of real-time amplification data. A framework is presented that shows that the benefits of standard curves extend beyond absolute quantification when observed in a multidimensional environment. Relating to the field of Machine Learning, the disclosed method combines multiple extracted features (e.g. linear features) in order to analyse real-time amplification data using a multidimensional view. The method involves two new concepts: the multidimensional standard curve and its ‘home’, the feature space. Together they expand the capabilities of standard curves, allowing for simultaneous absolute quantification, outlier detection and providing insights into amplification kinetics.

Abstract: The present application relates to methods for detecting a first allele of a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in a nucleic acid sequence under isothermal conditions using primers specific for said first allele, in particular using Loop mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP), wherein the amplification of a second allele is prevented by using blocking primers.