Abstract: A heat engine including a compressor, an expander, a reactor in which first and second reactants in a working fluid can react with each other, the reactor arranged between the compressor and the expander, and a condenser for condensing a gas in the working fluid, the condenser arranged between the expander and the compressor. There is also provided a method of operating a heat engine.

Abstract: A method of creating skin tissue is described, particularly, an in vitro or ex vivo method for creating skin tissue. The invention extends to the use of agents that disrupt the LINC complex in a skin cell to create the skin tissue, and to using the created tissue in an assay to identify or screen anti-ageing compounds. The invention further extends to model skin tissues per se, uses thereof and to kits for creating such model skin tissues.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for imaging using microwave or terahertz radiation are described. The apparatus comprises: a cell comprising a vapour of atoms; one or more laser beams propagating through said cell, said one or more laser beams defining a sensing region in said cell; an imaging beam for illuminating an object receiving area for receiving an object to be imaged, said imaging beam comprising microwave or terahertz radiation; an imaging system for focusing the imaging beam to form, in use, an image of said object at said sensing region in said cell; wherein respective frequencies of said one or more laser beams and said imaging beam are such that at least some of said atoms, when subjected to radiation of both said one or more laser beams and said imaging beam, are excited to a final excited state which decays to a lower energy state by emission of optical fluorescence.

Abstract: A method of creating skin tissue is described, particularly, an in vitro or ex vivo method for creating skin tissue. The invention extends to the use of agents that disrupt the LINC complex in a skin cell to create the skin tissue, and to using the created tissue in an assay to identify or screen anti-ageing compounds. The invention further extends to model skin tissues per se, uses thereof and to kits for creating such model skin tissues.

Abstract: A thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) molecule comprising: a central electron donor moiety, wherein the central electron donor moiety is formed of a conjugated multi-ring system comprising three nitrogen atoms; and three electron acceptor moieties, each bonded to the central electron donor moiety via one of the three nitrogen atoms, wherein at least one of the three electron acceptor moieties is twisted relative to the central electron donor moiety defining a torsion angle in a range 40° to <90° whereby the TADF molecule has a photoluminescence quantum yield of >60% and a rate of reverse intersystem crossing from a lowest excited triplet state to a lowest excited singlet state of at least 1×10 s?1.

Abstract: A superconducting magnet for producing part of a substantially toroidal field in a device is described. The magnet comprises: a set of conductors comprising one or more first conductors (31f) and one or more second conductors (32f), and a set of joints (33). Each of the joints (33) connects a region of a first conductor (31f) with a region of a second conductor (32f) to form a series of alternating first and second conductors corresponding to at least part of a winding of the magnet. Each of the joints (33) is positioned away from a midplane of the toroidal field. The joints (33) are positioned on alternating sides of the midplane. Each first conductor (3 If) passes through the midplane at a smaller distance from an axis of rotation of the toroidal field than does each second conductor (32f). Each of the regions is elongate and extends in a direction at least partly away from the midplane.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compounds of formula I: in which A1-A7 and R1 to R5 are defined herein, for use in the treatment of a condition or disease which is alleviated by the activation of retinoic acid receptors (RAR). The invention also relates to pharmaceutical compounds comprising such compounds, and related methods of treatment. In an aspect, the invention relates to a method of screening compounds for therapeutic potential in the treatment of a condition or disease which is alleviated by the activation of retinoic acid receptors (RAR). Aspects of the invention relate to novel compounds of formula I in which at least one of A1 to A3 is or at least one of A4 is CR12 or A5 is CR13 in which R12/R13 is halogen.

Abstract: The invention to which this application relates is apparatus and a method for applying coatings to improve the ability to provide Oleophobic and/or Hydrophilic surfaces on an item and the coating includes particles and/or nano particles to enhance the performance characteristics of the coating.

Abstract: The present invention relates to herbicidal compositions which comprise glyphosate or related compounds together with a further agent which is designed to enhance the effects of glyphosate or related compounds and/or reduce the amount of glyphosate or related compounds which is required for herbicidal effect. There is also provided a method of treating plants with a herbicidal composition according to the present invention.

Abstract: The invention relates to compounds of formula (I), and pharmaceutical uses thereof. Particular aspects of the invention relate to methods of synthesising the compounds and the use of those compounds in treating, ameliorating, or preventing a microbial infection.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods are provided for quantifying an analyte in a gas or liquid phase. A light source with an emission spectrum overlapping an absorption of the analyte, and a pair of reflective mirrors located on an optical axis to form an optical cavity can be included. An off-axis photon detector can be configured as a fluorescence detector and located off the cavity axis and arranged to provide a first signal in response to fluorescence within the cavity. An axial photon detector can be located axially, and external, to the cavity and arranged to provide a second signal. The portion of the apparatus including the light source, the cavity, and the axial photon detector can be configured with a cavity-enhanced absorption spectrometer, and the portion of the apparatus including the off-axis photon detector can be configured with a cavity-enhanced laser-induced fluorescence (CELIF) spectrophotometer.

Abstract: Methods of increasing the biological activity of toxins. Methods of increasing the biological activity of pesticide toxins through the incorporation of pro-regions into nucleic acid constructs for the production of said toxins.

Abstract: A method of forming a scaffold comprises the steps of: preparing a high internal phase emulsion (HIPE) comprising an aqueous solution of: proteins selected from the group consisting of collagen and mixtures of collagen and chitosan; and a cross-linking agent; by addition of an immiscible solvent to the solution to form the HIPE; reducing the temperature of the HIPE to solidify the HIPE; removing water and solvent by vaporisation at a temperature above the melting point of the solvent to form a porous structure; and before or after removal of solvent, causing cross-linking of the protein with the cross-linking agent to form a crosslinked scaffold structure.

Abstract: A method for preparing a cyclic peptide, derivative or analogue thereof is described. The method comprises contacting a peptide, derivative or analogue thereof with a fluoro-heteroaromatic compound to cyclise the peptide, derivative or analogue thereof.

Abstract: A free-piston engine power plant incorporating a first combustion cylinder, having a first combustion piston, a fluid expander having an expansion cylinder with an expander piston therein, the expander piston reciprocating in unison with the first combustion piston, a bottoming cycle having a working fluid and a heat exchanger.

Abstract: A thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) molecule comprising: a central electron donor moiety, wherein the central electron donor moiety is formed of a conjugated multi-ring system comprising three nitrogen atoms; and three electron acceptor moieties, each bonded to the central electron donor moiety via one of the three nitrogen atoms, wherein at least one of the three electron acceptor moieties is twisted relative to the central electron donor moiety defining a torsion angle in a range 40° to <90° whereby the TADF molecule has a photoluminescence quantum yield of >60% and a rate of reverse intersystem crossing from a lowest excited triplet state to a lowest excited singlet state of at least 1×10 s?1.

Abstract: A method of creating skin tissue is described, particularly, an in vitro or ex vivo method for creating skin tissue. The invention extends to the use of agents that disrupt the LINC complex in a skin cell to create the skin tissue, and to using the created tissue in an assay to identify or screen anti-ageing compounds. The invention further extends to model skin tissues per se, uses thereof and to kits for creating such model skin tissues.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for electrochemical etching are disclosed. The method comprises immersing parts of objects (2) to be etched in an electrolyte (4), applying a voltage between the objects (2) and at least one electrode (6) to cause an electrochemical reaction between the objects (2) and the electrolyte (4), and positioning the objects (2) and electrodes (6) relative to each other such that a reaction product accumulates on the objects (2) during the reaction to reduce the rate of the reaction.

Abstract: The invention provides a coating which exhibits fast oleophobic-hydrophilic switching behaviour with, for example, equilibration of high oil contact angle (hexadecane=80°) and low water contact angle (<10°) values which occur within 10 s of droplet impact. These optically transparent surfaces display excellent anti-fogging and self-cleaning properties. The magnitude of oleophobic-hydrophilic switching can be further enhanced by the incorporation of surface roughness and in one embodiment the coating is applied to a surface in the form of a mesh in order to form an effective filter.

Abstract: The invention relates to compounds of formula (I), and pharmaceutical uses thereof. Particular aspects of the invention relate to methods of synthesizing the compounds and the use of those compounds in treating, ameliorating, or preventing a microbial infection.