Abstract: Polyols derived from palm oil fractions of metathesized triacylglycerols, and their related physical properties are disclosed. Such metathesized triacylglycerol polyols are also used as a component of polyurethane applications, including polyurethane foams.

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: This invention relates to base ester compounds and complex ester compounds that can be used as a base stock for lubricant applications or a base stock blend component for use in a finished lubricant or for particular applications, and methods of making the same. The base ester compounds and complex esters described herein comprise dimer and/or trimer esters, and their respective branched derivatives.

Abstract: A method of producing a diol diester, which includes reacting a fatty acid alkyl ester having 6 to 30 carbon atoms, an ?,?-alkanediol having n carbon atoms, wherein n is an integer from 2 to 22; and a basic transesterification catalyst, is provided. Use of the diol diesters as phase change materials is also provided.

Abstract: A method of producing a diol diester, which includes reacting a fatty acid alkyl ester having 6 to 30 carbon atoms, an ?,?-alkanediol having n carbon atoms, wherein n is an integer from 2 to 22; and a basic transesterification catalyst, is provided. Use of the diol diesters as phase change materials is also provided.

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: 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: The invention relates to food supplements comprising silica a quaternary ammonium compound or a group Ia hydroxide and an organic acid, and to those comprising a group Ia silicon salt and an organic acid, to methods of making such supplements and to foods containing them.

Abstract: This invention relates to base ester compounds and complex ester compounds that can be used as a base stock for lubricant applications or a base stock blend component for use in a finished lubricant or for particular applications, and methods of making the same. The base ester compounds and complex esters described herein comprise dimer and/or trimer esters, and their respective branched derivatives.

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 (10) comprising: an inner tubular structure (15, 12); an outer tubular structure (13, 14) surrounding the inner tubular structure (15, 12) and comprising a plurality of layers of a dielectric elastomeric material (13) and a tubular elastic support structure (14), the elastic support structure (14) configured to maintain a pre-stress in the layers of the dielectric elastomeric material (13), wherein the outer tubular structure (13, 14) is configured to contract in a radial direction around the inner tubular structure (12, 15) upon application of an actuation voltage signal across the dielectric elastomeric material layers (13).

Abstract: The synthesis of semi-crystalline thermoplastic polyester urethanes is disclosed. The synthesis describes parameters such as controlled concentration, distribution, and types of crystalline hard segment blocks to correlate the effect of hard segment crystallinity to that of the soft segment blocks.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing biometric authentication of a user uses a registration process in which a reference data sample representative of a biometric attribute of a reference user is used to train a statistical classifier such as a neural network to achieve a target output. The set of parameters of the statistical classifier, e.g. the weights that achieve this in the neural network, are stored on a user's device as a first data set. For subsequent authentication of a user to be tested at an access point, the first data set is retrieved from the user device and a second data set representative of the biometric attribute of the test user is generated directly from the test user. The first data set is used as a set of parameters in a statistical classifier, e.g. as weights in an artificial neural network, to generate a trained classifier or neural network and the second data set is then used as input to the trained classifier or neural network.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel biomarkers for determining the Alzheimer's disease status of a subject, and to uses of novel panels of biomarkers. AD is currently clinically diagnosed using tests of cognitive function. Studies have shown that the accuracy of the clinical diagnosis is between 65 and 90% using cognitive techniques. The present invention provides a method of determining the Alzheimer' s disease status of a subject comprising providing a sample of material obtained from the subject and determining the expression level of one or more genes selected from the group consisting of: TUBB, NEAT1, CENPB, AA482221 and CPSF3 in the sample.

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 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: This application relates to triacylglycerol oligomers derived from the metathesis of natural oils. These oligomers are structure controlled dimers and quatrimers, and the effect of saturation, molecular size, and positional isomerization are also described herein.

Abstract: This application relates to phase behaviors of certain triacylglycerols and fatty acid methyl esters, and how the phase behaviors 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 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 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: There has been a recent shift in cancer therapy from one size fits all to a personalized and tailored treatment for individual patients to increase efficiency and avoid unnecessary toxicity. This invention relates to a method of determining the prognosis and suitable treatment of cancer in a subject by measuring the level of expression of SPAG5. In particular, it relates to a method where high expression of SPAG5 in tumour cells correlates with aggressive tumours.