Abstract: A smart cell, comprising: a positive terminal; a negative terminal; a switching circuit which is arranged to select between a first switching state in which an energy storage device is connected between the positive terminal and the negative terminal and a second switching state which bypasses said energy storage device; an inductor provided between the positive terminal and the output of the switching network; and a controller arranged to monitor the voltage across the inductor and arranged to control a duty cycle of the switching circuit based on the magnitudes of voltage changes detected across the inductor. By monitoring and analysing the magnitude of voltage changes across the inductor, the controller determines the states of charge of other series connected smart cells without any communication between cells.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the electrochemical detection of an analyte by capacitance spectroscopy using a redox active polymer-coated electrode such as a polyaniline-coated electrode.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for jet impingement cooling are provided. In one arrangement, a fluid channelling structure engages against a target surface to define a flow volume. Fluid is jetted onto the target surface from inlets and is removed via outlets. Flow directing features form a plurality of channels with no straight paths between inlets and outlets. A time averaged flow direction of fluid in contact with each flow directing feature is more nearly perpendicular to a direction of jetting of the fluid from a nearest inlet than parallel to the direction of jetting One or more pairs of the inlets and outlets are such that a majority of fluid jetted onto the target surface from the inlet of the pair will be removed from the flow volume through the outlet of the same pair.

Abstract: A microfluidic arrangement for manipulating fluids is provided. The microfluidic arrangement comprises a substrate, a first fluid and a second fluid, which is immiscible with the first fluid. The first fluid is arranged to be at least partially covered by the second fluid. The first fluid is arranged in a desired shape on an unpatterned surface of the substrate. The first fluid is retained in said shape by a fluid interface between the first and second fluids. A microfluidic arrangement comprising an array of drops is also provided. The microfluidic arrangement comprises a substrate, a first fluid and a second fluid, which is immiscible with the first fluid. The first fluid is arranged to be at least partially covered by the second fluid. The first fluid is arranged to be covered at least partially by the second fluid. The first fluid is arranged in a given array of drops on an unpatterned surface of the substrate. Each drop cross section area having a (height:width) aspect ratio of (1:2) or less.

Abstract: The invention relates to a new method of determining the presence, absence, number or position(s) of one or more post-translational modifications in a peptide, polypeptide or protein. The invention uses transmembrane pores.

Abstract: A method of characterising tremor stability in a subject is described for a subject having an involuntary tremor symptomatic of a neurological disorder. The method comprising: identifying a series of tremor cycles from measured tremor data of the subject, said tremor cycles measuring periodic variation in movement of the subject due to the tremor; determining an instantaneous frequency for each tremor cycle and collating the instantaneous frequencies; determining an instantaneous variation between the instantaneous frequencies of each pair of adjacent tremor cycles within the series; comparing the instantaneous variation to the collation of determined instantaneous frequencies to determine a distribution of instantaneous variations; and determining an index value of the distribution of the instantaneous variations, said index value defining the stability of the tremor.

Abstract: System monitors and methods of monitoring a system are disclosed. In one arrangement a system monitor predicts a future state of a system. A data receiving unit receives system data representing a set of one or more measurements performed on the system. A first statistical model is fitted to the system data. The first statistical model is compared to each of a plurality of dictionary entries in a database. Each dictionary entry comprises a second statistical model. The second statistical model is of the same general class as the first statistical model and obtained by fitting the second statistical model to data representing a set of one or more previous measurements performed on a system of the same type as the system being monitored and having a known subsequent state. A prediction of a future state of the system being monitored is output based on the comparison. The first statistical model and the second statistical model are each a stochastic process or approximation to a stochastic process.

Abstract: An optical device comprising a stack of the following layers: a capping layer; a layer of light absorber material; and a reflective layer, wherein the refractive index of the capping layer is at least 1.6.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to processes for the production of (R)-3-hydroxybutyl (R)-3-hydroxybyrate. Poly (R)-3-hydroxybyrate is transesterified with an alcohol, to form a first ester portion and a second ester portion. The first ester portion is reduced to the diol to form a diol portion and the diol portion is reacted with the second ester portion to produce (R)-3-hydroxybutyl (R)-3-hydroxybyrate.

Abstract: Described herein are antibody conjugates and methods of making antibody conjugates.

Abstract: A co-processor for performing a matrix multiplication of an input matrix with a data matrix in one step may be provided. The co-processor receives input signals for the input matrix as optical signals. A plurality of photonic memory elements is arranged at crossing points of an optical waveguide crossbar array. The plurality of memory elements is configured to store values of the data matrix. Input signals are connected to input lines of the optical waveguide crossbar array. Output lines of the optical waveguide crossbar array represent a dot-product between a respective column of the optical waveguide crossbar array and the received input signals, and values of elements of the input matrix to be multiplied with the data matrix correspond to light intensities received at input lines of the respective photonic memory elements. Additionally, different wavelengths are used for each column of the input matrix optical signals.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing a composition comprising an aqueous medium and, disposed in the aqueous medium, a first volume of a first hydrogel, which process comprises: (i) providing a composition comprising a first hydrophobic medium and, disposed in the first hydrophobic medium, a first volume of a first hydrogel; (ii) disposing a volume of an aqueous composition comprising a hydrogel compound around the first volume of the first hydrogel; (iii) allowing the aqueous composition comprising the hydrogel compound to form a gel and thereby forming a hydrogel object, which hydrogel object comprises the first volume of the first hydrogel and a second volume of a second hydrogel, which second volume of the second hydrogel is disposed around the first volume of the first hydrogel; and (iv) transferring the hydrogel object from the first hydrophobic medium to an aqueous medium and thereby producing the composition comprising the aqueous medium and, disposed in the aqueous medium, the fir

Abstract: A probe comprises a resistive element configured to be brought into thermal contact with an entity to be sensed. A measurement system applies a plurality of heating pulses to the resistive element by driving an electrical current through the resistive in element and measures an electrical response of the resistive element to the heating pulses in order to determine information about either or both of the composition and state of the entity. The measurement system generates an output signal using the measured electrical response, wherein the output signal is generated by progressively offsetting the measured electrical response such that, in the event of an average temperature of the resistive element changing between different heating pulses due to a drift in the average temperature of a portion of the entity being sensed, a variance over the plurality of heating pulses of a value of the output signal at a predetermined common reference point within each heating pulse is reduced.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to an inventive release mechanism for extracellular vesicle (EV)-mediated intracellular and intramembrane delivery of therapeutic polypeptides. More specifically, the invention relates to EVs comprising polypeptide constructs which comprise a therapeutic polypeptide releasably attached to an exosomal polypeptide. Furthermore, the present invention pertains to manufacturing methods, pharmaceutical compositions, medical uses and applications, and various other embodiments related to the inventive EVs.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to systems and methods of multiphase pseudo-continuous arterial spin labeling.

Abstract: The invention provides an optoelectronic device comprising a photoactive region, which photoactive region comprises: an n-type region comprising at least one n-type layer; a p-type region comprising at least one p-type layer; and, disposed between the n-type region and the p-type region: a layer of a perovskite semiconductor without open porosity. The perovskite semiconductor is generally light-absorbing. In some embodiments, disposed between the n-type region and the p-type region is: (i) a first layer which comprises a scaffold material, which is typically porous, and a perovskite semiconductor, which is typically disposed in pores of the scaffold material; and (ii) a capping layer disposed on said first layer, which capping layer is said layer of a perovskite semiconductor without open porosity, wherein the perovskite semiconductor in the capping layer is in contact with the perovskite semiconductor in the first layer.

Abstract: A scaffold for tissue repair or wound dressing comprising: a material layer; a polymer fibre layer; and an adhesive component between the material layer and the polymer fibre layer, wherein the adhesive component comprises material having a lower melting temperature (Tm) than the material layer and the polymer fibre layer.

Abstract: A surgical tool for separating two components, for example removing a femoral head from a femoral stem, having a four bar chain whose four bars are a first handle (L1), an crossover component (L2), a second handle (L3) and a crossbar (L4) pivotally connected respectively by: a first joint (J1) between the first handle and the crossover component; a second, crossover joint (J2) between the crossover component and the second handle; a third joint (J3) between the second handle and the crossbar, and a fourth joint (J4) between the crossbar and the first handle, and wherein, upon application of a gripping force to the first and second handles, the first and second jaws separate from one another so as to separate the two components engaged therewith.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a polymer dispersed liquid crystal, PDLC, film, the method comprising: forming a region of liquid polymer (206) on a substrate (212); depositing one or more liquid crystal, LC, formulations (214) into the liquid polymer; and thereafter curing (234) the liquid polymer (206) to thereby induce phase separation between the polymer (206) and the liquid crystal formulations (214), resulting in PDLC pixels (236) which are phase separated from the surrounding, cured polymer—thereby producing a PDLC film.

Abstract: Described herein are methods and systems for extracting or determining subject motion from multi-channel electrical coupling in imaging of the subject, in particular in magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of the subject. The motion can be of a region of interest of the subject (such as an organ or specific tissue). Changes in the position of the subject and the subjects organs can be monitored by measuring how external coils, such as RF coils, couple to the subject and to one another and change the scattering of the RF coils, for example scattering of RF pulses transmitted by the coils. Changes in position influence this coupling and the scattering and can be detrimental to the quality of the imaging The present methods and systems address and overcome this problem.