Abstract: A thin film comprising a layer of dielectric material having electrically conductive inclusions, wherein the thin film has a first reflectivity due to surface plasmon resonance, and wherein the thin film is configured to provide one or more selected regions having a second reflectivity due to surface plasmon resonance.

Abstract: A container for a food and/or beverages is provided. The container is designed such that it may have the capability of absorbing excess thermal energy from the food or beverage, thereby cooling the consumable material to a desired temperature and maintaining the material at the desired temperature for a considerable period of time. The container typically includes an outer insulating shell; an inner heat conducting liner and a phase change material (PCM). To facilitate heat transfer to and from a food or beverage stored in the container, the PCM is commonly disposed between the outer insulating shell and the inner heat conducting liner and positioned in thermal contact with the inner heat conducting liner. The PCM may include a diol diester having a melting point of about 30 to 90° C.

Abstract: An electronically functional yarn comprises a plurality of carrier fibers (6) forming a core with a series of electronic devices (2) mounted on the core with conductive interconnects (8) extending along the core. A plurality of packing fibers (10) are disposed around the core, the devices and the interconnects, and a retaining sleeve (12) is disposed around the packing fibers. The core, the devices and the interconnects are confined within the plurality of packing fibers retained in the sleeve. In the manufacture of the yarn the electronic devices with interconnects coupled thereto in sequence are mounted on the core; the carrier fibers with the mounted devices and interconnects are fed centrally through a channel with packing fibers around the sides thereof to form a fiber assembly around the core, which is fed into a sleeve forming unit in which a sleeve is formed around the assembly to form the composite yarn.

Abstract: Compressed gas energy storage systems, which include an integrated thermal energy storage component, are provided. The systems include a compression stage, a heat transfer unit, and a gas storage reservoir, serially linked in fluid communication. The system may include one, two, or three compression stages and heat transfer units. Each heat transfer unit may include two or more thermal energy storage stages. Each thermal energy storage stage may include one or more phase change materials. A method of storing compressed gas energy, which includes compressing a gas through a compression stage to produce a compressed gas; passing the compressed gas through a heat transfer unit to produce a heat removed gas; and transferring the heat removed gas to a gas storage reservoir.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for providing biometric authentication of a test user using a registration process where a reference data sample representative of one or more biometric attributes of a reference user is used to train a plurality of neural networks to achieve a target output. The weights that achieve this in the plurality of neural networks may be stored on a user device as a first data set. A second data set representative of one or more biometric attributes may be obtained from the test user using the authentication device or received from the user device. The first data set may be received by the authentication device and used as weights in an artificial neural network and the second data set may be used as inputs. The output of the neural network may determine a degree of correlation between the reference user and the test user to be authenticated.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods of forming coated metal oxide particles, suspensions of such coated particles, particles comprising functionalized surface coatings and to fortification of food crops with coated metal oxide particles. Embodiments disclosed include a method of fortifying a food crop with a trace element, the method comprising growing the food crop in a growth medium comprising the trace element in the form of metal oxide particles coated with an organic compound, and a food crop fortified with a trace element in the form of metal oxide particles. Also disclosed is a method of forming coated particles, the method comprising: providing a first quantity of metal oxide particles; providing a second quantity of a coating material comprising an organic compound; and mechanically mixing the metal oxide particles with the coating material in a dry mixing process to provide a mixture comprising the metal oxide particles coated with the organic compound.

Abstract: The application provides a polypeptide comprising the sequence SLMTNLAAL (SEQ ID NO: 8), Ser 13 to Leu 21 of amino acid sequence shown in FIG. 1 or SEQ ID No 1, and having HLA-A2 haplotype binding activity, or a polynucleotide encoding said polypeptide. Vaccines containing the polypeptide or polynucleotides encoding the polypeptide are also provided.

Abstract: The disclosure generally provides branched diester compounds having exceptional low-temperature and flow properties. The disclosure also provides uses of the branched diester compounds in lubricant compositions, for example, as a base oil, and in other applications where their low-temperature and flow properties can be employed beneficially. The disclosure also provides efficient and green methods for making the branched diester compounds.

Abstract: The invention relates to actuators based on electroactive polymeric materials for use in pumping fluids or in other applications where a contractile actuation is required, in particular, although not necessarily exclusively, for use in vascular pulsation devices such as a variable aortic tension device. Embodiments disclosed include an actuator comprising: an inner tubular structure; an outer tubular structure surrounding the inner tubular structure and comprising a plurality of layers of a dielectric elastomeric material and a tubular elastic support structure, the elastic support structure configured to maintain a pre-stress in the layers of the dielectric elastomeric material, wherein the outer tubular structure is configured to contract in a radial direction around the inner tubular structure upon application of an actuation voltage signal across the dielectric elastomeric material layers.

Abstract: This application relates to the polymorphism and microstructure of certain triacylglycerols and fatty acid methyl esters, including 1,2-dioleoyl-3-stearoyl glycerol and methyl stearate, and how the properties of these individual components in a biodiesel fuel, as well as their combined mixtures, helps understand the fundamental mechanisms of their crystallization so as to design biodiesel fuels with improved low temperature characteristics.

Abstract: Metathesized triacylglycerol polyols derived from certain natural oils, including canola oil, and their related physical properties are disclosed. Such metathesized triacylglycerol polyols are also used as a component of polyurethane applications, including polyurethane foams.

Abstract: Metathesized triacylglycerol green polyols and their related physical and thermal properties are disclosed. Such metathesized triacylglycerol green polyols are also used as a component of polyurethane applications, including polyurethane foams.

Abstract: Metathesized triacylglycerol polyols and their related physical and thermal properties are disclosed. Such metathesized triacylglycerol polyols are also used as a component of polyurethane applications, including polyurethane foams.

Abstract: A sample (106) is irradiated with electromagnetic radiation such as X-Rays and diffraction data is sampled at inner and outer caustic rims formed at a sensor surface (108) and defined by a continuum of Debye cones (130, 132) formed by diffraction of the incident radiation. Intensities of the inner and outer rims while translating and rotating the sample are converted using a tomographic technique into X-ray diffraction images and material discrimination is also possible.

Abstract: The application describes a method of screening for breast cancer by testing fro the amount of HAGE (Helicase antigen) in a sample of breast tissue. Methods of prognosis of samples of breast cancer tumours are also provided. HAGE+ ER? (estrogen receptor-) cancers are indicated as being amenable to chemotherapy. Methods of treating breast cancers with HAGE-specific CTA antigen or HAGE-specific antibodies are also provided.

Abstract: Metathesized triacylglycerol polyols, fractionated polyol variants thereof, and their related physical and thermal properties are disclosed.

Abstract: This application relates to certain dimers as crystallization depressants for biodiesel fuels, and methods for making the same. Such dimers, due to their particular structure and conformation, disrupt the regular packing of linear saturated fatty acid methyl esters, thereby delaying nucleation and mitigating crystal growth. In some embodiments, the dimer includes (E)-1-(1-(oleoyloxy)-3-(stearoyloxy)propan-2-yl) 18-(1-(oleoyloxy)-3-(stearoyloxy)propan-2-yl)octadec-9-enedioate.

Abstract: This application relates to the polymorphism and microstructure of certain triacylglycerols and fatty acid methyl esters, and how the properties of these individual components in a biodiesel fuel, as well as their combined mixtures, helps understand the fundamental mechanisms of their crystallization so as to design biodiesel fuels with improved low temperature characteristics.

Abstract: The synthesis of certain polyester diols (PEDs) is disclosed. This application also discloses the purification and polymerization kinetics of lipid based PEDs. Molecular weight and distribution controls were achieved by initial and induced stoichiometric imbalance and optimization of the purification protocol. Thermal degradation and thermal transition behavior of the PEDs were also investigated by TGA and DSC.

Abstract: Metathesized triacylglycerol polyols, fractionated polyol variants thereof, and their related physical and thermal properties are disclosed.