Abstract: The invention provides a compartmentalised gel matrix comprising one or more compartments, wherein each compartment comprises a volume of hydrophobic medium and one or more aqueous droplets therein. The invention further provides a pharmaceutical formulation comprising a compartmentalised gel matrix according to the invention, a synthetic cell comprising a compartmentalised gel matrix according to the invention and a synthetic tissue comprising a compartmentalised gel matrix according to the invention.

Abstract: The invention provides an optoelectronic device comprising a porous material, which porous material comprises a semiconductor comprising a perovskite. The porous material may comprise a porous perovskite. Thus, the porous material may be a perovskite material which is itself porous. Additionally or alternatively, the porous material may comprise a porous dielectric scaffold material, such as alumina, and a coating disposed on a surface thereof, which coating comprises the semiconductor comprising the perovskite. Thus, in some embodiments the porosity arises from the dielectric scaffold rather than from the perovskite itself. The porous material is usually infiltrated by a charge transporting material such as a hole conductor, a liquid electrolyte, or an electron conductor. The invention further provides the use of the porous material as a semiconductor in an optoelectronic device. Further provided is the use of the porous material as a photosensitizing, semiconducting material in an optoelectronic device.

Abstract: A computer implemented method for automatic speech analysis comprising setting a target phrase, the target phrase comprising a target phoneme, the target phoneme having corresponding target values of a set of phonological features associated therewith, wherein each target value is one of: an indication that the phonological feature should be present, an indication that the phonological feature should be absent, or an indication that the presence of the phonological feature is not specified, receiving a speech signal, wherein the speech signal comprises a user's attempt to say the target phrase, analysing the speech signal to determine the phonological features present within a portion of the speech signal corresponding to the target phoneme and assigning a probability to each of the set of phonological features, comparing the probability assigned to each phonological feature based on the speech signal to the expected target value of that phonological feature within the phrase, determining a deviation from the

Abstract: The present invention relates to a semiconductor device comprising a semiconducting material, wherein the semiconducting material comprises a halometallate compound comprising: (a) cesium; (b) palladium; and (c) one or more halide anions [X]. The invention also relates to a layer comprising the semiconducting material. The invention further relates to a process for producing a halometallate compound of formula (IV): [A]2[MIV][X]6, which process uses a H[X] and a compound comprising a sulfoxide group.

Abstract: The invention provides an optoelectronic device comprising: (i) a porous dielectric scaffold material; and (ii) a semiconductor having a band gap of less than or equal to 3.0 eV, in contact with the scaffold material. Typically the semiconductor, which may be a perovskite, is disposed on the surface of the porous dielectric scaffold material, so that it is supported on the surfaces of pores within the scaffold. In one embodiment, the optoelectronic device is an optoelectronic device which comprises a photoactive layer, wherein the photo-active layer comprises: (a) said porous dielectric scaffold material; (b) said semiconductor; and (c) a charge transporting material. The invention further provides the use, as a photoactive material in an optoelectronic device, of: (i) a porous dielectric scaffold material; and (ii) a semi-conductor having a band gap of less than or equal to 3.0 eV, in contact with the scaffold material.

Abstract: The invention provides an optoelectronic device comprising a mixed-anion perovskite, wherein the mixed-anion perovskite comprises two or more different anions selected from halide anions and chalcogenide anions. The invention further provides a mixed-halide perovskite of the formula (I) [A][B][X]3 wherein: [A] is at least one organic cation; [B] is at least one divalent metal cation; and [X] is said two or more different halide anions. In another aspect, the invention provides the use of a mixed-anion perovskite as a sensitizer in an optoelectronic device, wherein the mixed-anion perovskite comprises two or more different anions selected from halide anions and chalcogenide anions. The invention also provides a photosensitizing material for an optoelectronic device comprising a mixed-anion perovskite wherein the mixed-anion perovskite comprises two or more different anions selected from halide anions and chalcogenide anions.

Abstract: Apparatus for generating spin waves comprising a body (102) of magnetic material and an elastic wave generator (120), wherein the body (102) has a surface (108) and the elastic wave generator (120) is arranged to transmit elastic waves so that they propagate through the body (102) towards the surface (108) and are reflected at the surface to form a standing elastic wave in the body (102), thereby generating spin waves.

Abstract: The present invention relates to peptides, in particular cell penetrating peptides, of 40 amino acid residues or less comprising at least one directly glycosylated amino residue and one or more arginine rich arm domains, and to conjugates of such cell penetrating peptides with a therapeutic molecule. The present invention further relates to the use of the peptides or conjugates in methods of treatment or as a medicament, especially in the treatment of genetic disorders of the central nervous system.

Abstract: The subject invention provides a method of preventing or treating a condition associated with a defect in, or damage to, an organ in a subject with, or at risk for, such defect or damage to such organ which comprises administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of the fully reduced (all thiol) form of HMGB1 or a biologically active truncated form of HMGB1, so as to prevent or treat such condition. The subject invention also provides a method of improving regeneration of blood in a subject comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of the fully reduced (all thiol) form of HMGB1 or a biologically active truncated form of HMGB1, effective to improve regeneration of blood.

Abstract: The present invention relates to exosomes, loaded with genetic material and methods of producing them and to the use of such exosomes for delivering genetic material in vivo, in particular the use of such exosomes in methods of gene therapy or gene silencing.

Abstract: Novel compounds and compositions containing (R)-3-hydroxybutyrate derivatives are disclosed. The compounds and compositions can be used as nutritional supplements to increase physical performance and as therapeutics to ameliorate symptoms of medical conditions, particularly neurological conditions, such as Alzheimer's and similar conditions. Novel methods for making R-3-hydroxybutyrate derivatives also are disclosed. Exemplary methods employ a supercritical solvent, such as supercritical carbon dioxide, and employ a lipase catalyzed esterification or transesterification reaction to produce the (R)-3-hydroxybutyrate derivatives.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for producing a droplet assembly, which apparatus comprises a droplet generator. A process for producing a droplet assembly, using an apparatus comprising a droplet generator is also described. The invention also relates to droplet assemblies comprising a plurality of droplets. Various uses of the droplet assemblies are also described.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for forming nano-gaps in graphene. The method may include applying a voltage across a region of graphene such that a nano-gap which extends across the entire width of the graphene is formed, wherein the region across which the voltage is applied may include a point which is the narrowest in the region.

Abstract: The present invention relates to particles, particularly virus-like particles (VLPs), comprising fusion polypeptides comprising selected repeat units derived from the repeating regions of Type I and Type II circumsporozoite proteins (CSP) of Plasmodium vivax (Pv), together with an amino acid sequence derived from the C-terminal PvCSP sequence. In some embodiments, the fusion polypeptide additionally comprises an amino acid sequence derived from the N-terminal PvCSP sequence and/or a surface antigen polypeptide derived from Hepatitis B virus (HBV-S). The invention also relates to nucleotide sequences coding for such fusion polypeptides, vectors and plasmids comprising such nucleotide sequences, and host cells comprising such vectors and plasmids. The invention additionally relates to compositions, particularly vaccine compositions, comprising the fusion polypeptides or VLPs for use as vaccines for the prevention of malaria.

Abstract: The invention relates to a nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide comprising a plurality of conserved peptide sequences, or variants thereof, wherein the conserved sequences are conserved across one or more HPV genotypes 16, 18, 31, 52, 53, and 58; and wherein the polypeptide comprises a conserved peptide sequence of each of the HPV proteins E1, E2, E4, E5, E6, and E7; and associated vaccines, viral vectors, treatment and prophylaxis.

Abstract: A compact microscope including an enclosure, a support element, a primary optical support element located within the enclosure and supported by the support element, at least one vibration isolating mount between the support element and the primary optical support element, an illumination section, an objective lens system, a sample stage mounted on the primary optical support element, an illumination optical system to direct an illumination light beam from the illumination section to the sample stage, and a return optical system to receive returned light from sample stage and transmit returned light to a detection apparatus, wherein the illumination optical system and return optical system are mounted on the primary optical support element.

Abstract: This invention relates to compounds that are useful as cancer therapies. The compounds comprise derivatives of tetracycline antibiotics, e.g. doxycycline, having a phosphonium cation tethered to the tetracycline tetracycle. The invention also relates to methods of using said compounds and to pharmaceutical formulations comprising said compounds.

Abstract: The invention concerns a fusion polypeptide comprising a plurality of conserved peptide sequences, or variants thereof, wherein at least one of the conserved sequences is conserved across: i) HCV genotypes 1a and 1b; ii) HCV genotypes 1 and 3; or iii) HCV genotypes 1 to 6; and wherein at least one of the conserved peptide sequences comprises at least part of a sequence of a non-structural protein of the HCV genotypes; including associated nucleic acid and vector sequences, and use in methods of treatment or prophylaxis, such as vaccination.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for driving flow in a microfluidic arrangement are provided. In one disclosed arrangement, the microfluidic arrangement comprises a first liquid held predominantly by surface tension in a shape defining a microfluidic pattern on a surface of a substrate. The microfluidic pattern comprises at least an elongate conduit and a first reservoir. The area of contact between the substrate and a portion of the first liquid that forms the elongate conduit defines a conduit footprint. The area of contact between the substrate and a portion of the first liquid that forms the first reservoir defines a first reservoir footprint. The size and shape of each of the conduit footprint and the first reservoir footprint are such that a maximum Laplace pressure supportable by the first liquid in the elongate conduit without any change in the conduit footprint is higher than a maximum Laplace pressure supportable by the first liquid in the first reservoir without any change in the first reservoir footprint.

Abstract: A method of operating a quantum information processing system. The quantum information processing system includes an array of connected qubits. The method of operating the quantum information processing system uses a linear network coding solution to performing an operation between the quantum states of two or more qubits of the array.