Abstract: A thermoelectric material comprising carbon nanotubes and lignin. The carbon nanotubes are present as fibres and the lignin is present in pores and/or voids in the carbon nanotube fibres. The lignin may act as a dopant to increase the thermoelectric efficiency of the carbon nanotubes, multi-walled carbon nanotubes in particular. A method of forming a thermoelectric material involving impregnating fibres of carbon nanotubes with lignin, is also provided. A thermoelectric element, a fabric and a thermoelectric device comprising the thermoelectric material are also provided. The thermoelectric material may be particularly useful for the production of wearable thermoelectric devices.

Abstract: Stable crystal forms comprising lithium ions and the conjugate base of an organic acid which is in the form of anhydrous coordination polymer that exhibit improved in vivo performance with respect to lithium carbonate.

Abstract: Deployable structures, methods and apparatus for deployment of deployable structures, and associated manufacturing methods. Such deployable structures suitably comprise components for space structures, such supports for solar arrays, antennas or other similar systems. The deployable structure comprises a lattice element arrangeable in a stowed configuration and a deployed configuration. The lattice element comprises a pre-stressed strip arranged in a clockwise helix, a pre-stressed strip arranged in an anticlockwise helix, and a plurality of fasteners for rotatably coupling the strips to one another at a plurality of positions distributed along the length of the strips. The fasteners are provided at unequal spacings along the length of the strips such that on deployment the lattice element bends to a curved deployed configuration.

Abstract: A spreading apparatus for use with fibre-reinforced composite tapes, and related methods are disclosed. The spreading apparatus comprises an input side to receive an incoming tape to be spread, and an output side from which tape is delivered after spreading. The apparatus further comprises a tape heater (150, 250, 650) to in use apply heat to a tape; and a tape spreader (100, 1, 200, 600) to in use to apply contact pressure to the heated tape to thereby spread the tape.

Abstract: Carbon fibre precursors for use in the formation of carbon fibre materials. The carbon fibre precursors comprise fibres of polymeric material which have a coating layer thereon, the coating layer comprising a material susceptible to dielectric heating, for example carbon nanotubes. The carbon fibre precursors may be suitable for forming into carbon fibres using a dielectric heating step, despite the fibres of polymeric material not being susceptible to dielectric heating, without adversely affecting the structure and physical properties of the main body of the carbon fibre so formed. A method of preparing a carbon fibre precursor for a carbon fibre formation process and a method forming a carbon fibre are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for real-time in-mould marking of a moulded or cast form with an identifier in which a configurable marking module (1) with phase change actuators (23) in the form of a multi-layered printed circuit board assembly (1) with a vertical element (33) having a marker (21) is installed in a mould (2), (35), the marker (21) being remotely configurable by a controller to create a unique identifier which is applied to the form in the mould.

Abstract: An isolated protease comprising a polypeptide having the structure is described: P-A-B5 in which P is a protease domain, A is an A-domain, and B is a B-domain, of a Group VII to XIII cell envelope protease (CEP), wherein the protease does not have a PA domain. An isolated protease according to Claim 1, selected from a wild-type Group VII to XIII cell envelope protease. The use of the protease as a medicament is treating immune dysregulation diseases is also described.

Abstract: A vibrational energy harvester (100, 200, 300, 400) comprises a first mass (101, 201, 301) comprising a first internal cavity (102, 202, 302) and a second mass (103, 203) disposed within and configured to move within the first internal cavity. Movement of the second mass relative to the first mass induces an electrical current in one of the first mass and the second mass. The vibrational energy harvester also comprises a housing (104, 204, 404) comprising a second internal cavity (105, 405). The first mass is disposed within and configured to move within the second internal cavity. An adjustment mechanism (419) is also provided, configured to adjust a size of the second internal cavity.

Abstract: A composition for use in the formation of a lignin-based carbon fibre precursor is disclosed. The composition is a blend of a lignin and at least 10 wt % of a thermoplastic elastomer. The thermoplastic elastomer may improve the mechanical properties of the lignin-based blend to the extent that conventional carbon fibre precursor formation processes can be carried out using the blend whereas said processes would have been problematic and/or failed when using only lignin to form the carbon fibre precursors. The thermoplastic elastomer is suitably a thermoplastic polyurethane. A carbon fibre precursor produced using the composition is also disclosed, as is a carbon fibre produced from said carbon fibre precursors. Methods of forming said carbon fibre precursors and carbon fibres are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present embodiments generally relate to enabling participants in an online gathering with networked audio to use a cancelling auralizer at their respective locations to create a common acoustic space or set of acoustic spaces shared among subgroups of participants. For example, there are a set of network connected nodes, and the nodes can contain speakers and microphones, as well as participants and node mixing-processing blocks. The node mixing-processing blocks generate and manipulate signals for playback over the node loudspeakers and for distribution to and from the network. This processing can include cancellation of loudspeaker signals from the microphone signals and auralization of signals according to control parameters that are developed locally and from the network.

Abstract: A monitoring system comprises sensors adapted to be worn by a user, and, a processor linked with the sensor. The processor receives sensor data and processes this data to determine user posture data including data indicative of vertical distance between level of the user's heart and ankle. Based on the posture data together with a value for degree of user chronic venous insufficiency and/or blood density, generate an estimate of user static venous pressure while the user is static, without calf muscle pump activity. The processor also processes the sensor data to determine if there is calf muscle pump activity, and generates an estimate of user active venous pressure according to the static venous pressure estimate, rate of calf muscle activity, and a value for degree of user chronic venous insufficiency. The processor may generate the venous pressure estimate in real time, and may control an NMES device accordingly.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to deployable structures, to methods and apparatus for deployment of deployable structures, and to associated manufacturing methods. Such deployable structures suitably comprise components for space structures, such supports for solar arrays, antennas or other similar systems. The deployable structure (500) comprises a first lattice (514) arrangeable in a stowed configuration and a deployed configuration. The deployable structure also comprises a second lattice (516) arrangeable in a stowed configuration and a deployed configuration, wherein with the lattices arranged in the stowed configuration the second lattice (516) nests in the first lattice (514).

Abstract: A securement device (1) for securely attaching tubular articles to surfaces comprising an anchor pad (3) for placing the securement device (1) on the surface, a substantially cylindrical base (4) on the anchor pad (3) and a screw cap (5) rotatably mountable on the base (4) at a screw mounting (6) defined between the base (4) and the screw cap (5) between an article receiving position and an article gripping position in which radial pressure is applied to the article placed in the securement device (1) to securely hold the article without the use of external adhesive fixings and prevent micro-pistoning of the article.

Abstract: A securement device 1 for securely attaching tubular articles 2 to surfaces comprising an anchor pad 3 for placing the securement device 1 on the surface, a substantially cylindrical base 4 on the anchor pad 3 and a screw cap 5 rotatably mountable on the base 4 at a screw mounting 6 defined between the base 4 and the screw cap 5 between an article receiving position and an article gripping position in which radial pressure is applied to the article 2 placed in the securement device 1 to securely hold the article 2 without the use of external adhesive fixings and prevent micro-pistoning of the article 2.

Abstract: An article for damping vibrations by constrained layer damping comprising: a first constraining layer; a second constraining layer; and a damping layer disposed between the first and second constraining layers, wherein the first and second constraining layers each independently comprise a fibre-reinforced composite material, wherein the first and second constraining layers each independently have a thickness from 1.5 to 5 mm, wherein the damping layer comprises a viscoelastic material, wherein the damping layer has a thickness from 1 to 10 mm and wherein the article has a thickness from 6 to 50 mm. The invention also relates to the use of said article for damping vibrations in a vehicle.

Abstract: A flowable liquid formulation for 3D printing is described. The formulation comprises from 0.1 to 25 wt. % radiopaque particles, wherein at least 50% by weight of the particles have a diameter of at most 100 nm. The formulation further comprises monomeric, oligomeric and/or polymeric precursors adapted for polymerization to form a solidified article. Also described is an article (100) formed by 3D printing, the article (100) comprising a first 3D printed region (110) having a first radiopacity and a second 3D printed region (120) having a second radiopacity, wherein the first radiopacity is greater than the second radiopacity. Also described is a method of forming the article (100).

Abstract: The present embodiments generally relate to enabling participants in an online gathering with networked audio to use a cancelling auralizer at their respective locations to create a common acoustic space or set of acoustic spaces shared among subgroups of participants. For example, there are a set of network connected nodes, and the nodes can contain speakers and microphones, as well as participants and node mixing-processing blocks. The node mixing-processing blocks generate and manipulate signals for playback over the node loudspeakers and for distribution to and from the network. This processing can include cancellation of loudspeaker signals from the microphone signals and auralization of signals according to control parameters that are developed locally and from the network.

Abstract: An adhesive composition degradable by dielectric heating. The adhesive composition comprises a thermosetting polymer and a material sensitive to dielectric heating. The material sensitive to dielectric heating is selected from any one or more of hollow nanospheres, nanotubes, nanorods, nanofibres, nanosheets, graphene, graphene derivatives, nano/micro hybrids and mixtures of two or more nanoscale particles. The adhesive composition may be particularly useful in the assembly and disassembly of parts, particularly parts which have complicated and/or blocked joined surfaces. A method of joining at least two parts of an article together and a method of disassembling at least two parts of an article, using the adhesive composition are also provided. The adhesive composition may provide a reworkable nano-composite adhesive. The adhesive composition may be used to reversibly bond a biomedical or dental implant to a part of a human or animal body.

Abstract: The present embodiments generally relate to enabling participants in an online gathering with networked audio to use a cancelling auralizer at their respective locations to create a common acoustic space or set of acoustic spaces shared among subgroups of participants. For example, there are a set of network connected nodes, and the nodes can contain speakers and microphones, as well as participants and node mixing-processing blocks. The node mixing-processing blocks generate and manipulate signals for playback over the node loudspeakers and for distribution to and from the network. This processing can include cancellation of loudspeaker signals from the microphone signals and auralization of signals according to control parameters that are developed locally and from the network.

Abstract: A method, a false start detection system, and a false start detection sensor for determining whether an athlete has performed a false start in an event. Force data is received representing the force exerted by at least one upper appendage of the athlete on a surface when in a starting position (S701). The force data is processed to determine an athlete start time (S702), and the athlete start time is compared to an event start time to determine whether a false start has occurred (S703).