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: 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 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 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: 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 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: 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.

Abstract: There are described novel compounds of formula I: (I) in which, in which A1, A2, A3, A4, R1 and R2 are each as herein defined, for use in the treatment or alleviation of an RAR mediated condition; and methods related thereto.

Abstract: There are described novel compounds of formula I: (I) in which, in which A1, A2, A3, A4, R1 and R2 are each as herein defined, for use in the treatment or alleviation of an RAR mediated condition; and methods related thereto.

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: The present invention relates to the development of fusion proteins based on peptide toxins as pesticides. The invention also relates to transgenic plants encoding said peptides and their utility in pest management.

Abstract: A method for chemically modifying a peptide, derivative or analogue thereof is described. The method comprises contacting a peptide, derivative or analogue thereof with a fluoro-heteroaromatic compound to activate the peptide, derivative or analogue thereof. The activated peptide, derivative or analogue thereof is then contacted with a nucleophile or base to create a chemically modified peptide, derivative or analogue thereof.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a fluorocytosine-based compound of Formula I. The invention also relates to a compound obtained by such a method, a pharmaceutical drug substance and a method for its manufacture, a pharmaceutical composition, and also various uses in therapy of the compounds, pharmaceutical drug substances, and pharmaceutical compositions of the invention.

Abstract: A polymer comprising a bulk polymer or copolymer PB together with an amount of a polymer-dendron additive D-PD of formula (I): is provided, such that the polymer comprises from 0.

Abstract: The invention provides a compound of formula (I): (wherein: R1 is an optionally substituted 2-(1-azathiaxanthone); each —R2 is independently of the formula —CH2—C(?O)—R4, wherein R4 is an amino acid or a salt thereof, attached to the remainder of R2 through the nitrogen atom of the amino group; and R3 is hydrogen or a C1-6 alkyl group); or (wherein: R1 is an optionally substituted 2-(1-azaxanthone); each R2 is independently an optionally substituted glutaric or succinic acid, or a salt or ester thereof; and R3 is hydrogen or a C1-6 alkyl group).

Abstract: A microgripper (2) comprises a pair of opposed actuator devices (4, 6) connected to an electronic control unit (8). Each actuator (4, 6) includes an actuator body 10 of transparent flexible epoxy based photoresist material forming a “hot” arm (12) and a “cold” arm (14) joined together at their ends, and an electrical heating element wire (18) is embedded in the “hot” arm (12). A gripper arm (32) extends from the substrate and has a gripping portion (34) such that the gripper portions of the two gripper arms (32) face each other. When electrical current is supplied to the heating element (18), electrical heating of the “hot” arm (12) occurs, as a result of which thermal expansion of the “hot” arm (12) causes its length to become greater than that of the “cold” arm (14).

Abstract: A light beam collimated by illumination optics (4) from a radiation source (6) illuminates the surface of a wave front modulator (8) such as an Spatial Light Modulator (SLM) or Computer Generated Hologram photomask (CGH). The resulting wave travels via projection optics (10) to the substrate (12), passing through a projection lens assembly (14). The SLM (8) is programmed or CGH configured with a modulation pattern that is determined by the substrate (12) topography and desired pattern. The substrate topography is provided by Digital Holography (DH) surface profilometery performed by a DH microscope (18), which provides geometrical or topographical input to the CGH calculation routines (16). An arrangement for vertical or sloping surface patterning has a grating (22) superimposed onto the CGH pattern (24) to generate +1 and ?1 orders.