Abstract: A material susceptible to dielectric heating has a base polymeric thermoplastic material (1) and a dielectric heating susceptor (2, 3) which increases susceptibility to heating by irradiation with electromagnetic, for example RF or microwave, radiation. The dielectric heating susceptor has a polymeric material (2) such as PVDF which is different from the base polymeric material and has a higher dielectric loss factor than the base polymeric material. The dielectric heating susceptor also comprises electrically polarisable entities such as carbon black dispersed within the base polymeric material without forming a conductive network. The two susceptor materials in combination with the base polymer are particularly effective together at improving susceptibility to electromagnetic radiation heating of the whole material.

Abstract: A PCB, printed circuit board, structure for forming at least one embedded electronic component. The structure comprises a multi-layer PCB board comprising at least one through-hole via, the via comprising a plurality of electrodes vertically aligned within the via, each electrode comprising a plated ring; and an isolation section separating each of the electrodes.

Abstract: An integrated switching regulator device has a switching mode regulator comprising an input voltage source and a switching circuit coupled to the input voltage source configured to generate a pulsed voltage from the input voltage. A low pass filter is coupled to the switching regulator and is configured to filter the pulsed voltage to provide a regulated voltage to a load. The low pass filter comprises at least two LC stages, wherein the first LC stage comprises an air cored inductor and each subsequent LC stage comprises a non-air cored inductor. The switching circuit comprises two or more switching elements configurable to operate at a switching frequency of several megahertz.

Abstract: A device for securing a catheter, or similar flexible medical tube or medical device to the skin of a patient. The device comprises a planar body (1) at least a lock retainer (5) and a passive retainer (6), both spaced-apart from each other. Furthermore a method of securing a catheter to a patient using a device as described.

Abstract: An electromagnetic pump (100). The electromagnetic pump (100) comprises a conduit (101) comprising an inlet (103) and an outlet (105). A first magnetic field generating unit (109) is provided for generating a first magnetic field having a first component with a first direction in the conduit. A second magnetic field generating unit (111) is provided for generating a second magnetic field having a second component with a second direction in the conduit (101), the second direction being substantially opposite to the first direction. A piston member (113) is disposed within the conduit, the piston member (113) being moveable within the conduit (101) under the influence of the first and/or second magnetic fields to pump fluid received from the inlet (103) of the conduit (101) to the outlet (105) of the conduit (101).

Abstract: The Applicant has discovered a cytokine profile that can accurately distinguish between ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD) in a subject having, or having symptoms of, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The profile of ulcerative colitis is increased IL-10 levels (compared with a reference IL-10 level, and decreased IL-23 levels (compared with a reference IL-23 level). The cytokine profile can be detected at a protein or genomic level, and is generally determined from a peripheral blood sample (i.e. a blood fraction such as serum, plasma, or blood cells such as peripheral blood mononuclear cells). Distinguishing between UC and CD in a subject with IBD allows a clinician prescribe a suitable therapeutic regime for the subject using a non-invasive blood test, and avoiding the need for scoping or tissue biopsy, which are undesirable for the subject. The cytokine profile can also be used to monitor a therapeutic regime for effectiveness.

Abstract: A switched mode power supply converter comprises a circuit pulse matching circuit configured to negate output voltage disturbance or noise during switching operation of a power conversion. The current pulse matching circuit input is driven by, or from, a power converter switch node of the switched mode power supply converter. The current pulse matching circuit comprises a rate-of-voltage change detection circuit driven by the power converter switch node.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an isolated polypeptide having xylanase activity. Also disclosed are isolated polynucleotides encoding the polypeptide, recombinant host cells expressing the polypeptide, and methods for degrading lignocellulosic biomass using the polypeptide. He invention finds utility in the production of biofuels, in the paper and pulp industry, in clothing or leather softening, in the food industry such as baking, etc.

Abstract: An ostomy attachment comprises a flexible annular seal configured to embrace a stoma and a spout that in use is disposed beneath the stoma and configured to collect ostomy output at skin level and direct ostomy output away from the patient and annular seal and into an ostomy bag, in which the flexible annular seal is formed from an absorbent material and the spout is formed from a non-absorbent material. The annular seal may be an open ring comprising at least one mouldable arm that in use can be wrapped at least partially around the patients' stoma.

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: A method of separating acetylene from a gas mixture comprising acetylene is provided. The method involves the use of a hybrid porous material with an affinity for acetylene adsorption. The hybrid porous material comprises a three-dimensional structure of metal species (M) and first and second linker groups (L1 and L2), wherein the metal species (M) are linked together in a first and second direction by first linker groups (L1) and are linked together in a third direction by second linker groups (L2) to form the three-dimensional structure. The hybrid porous materials may have a high selectivity for acetylene and/or a high capacity for acetylene adsorption. The method may be particularly useful for the purification of ethylene gas contaminated with acetylene during an ethylene production/purification process. The method may be particularly useful for the large scale separation of acetylene from other gases such as ethylene and carbon dioxide, during an acetylene production/purification process.

Abstract: Concepts for linking source code with compliance requirements are presented. One example comprises analyzing a set of compliance requirements to identify one or more compliance topics. The example further comprises determining keywords for the identified one or more compliance topics. An item of source code is then analyzed to identify occurrences of the keywords in the source code. Mapping information representing a relationship between the item of source code and the compliance requirements is then generated based on the identified occurrence of the keywords.

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 porous chiral material of formula [M(L)1.5(A)]+X? wherein M is a metal ion; L is a nitrogen-containing bidentate ligand; A is the anion of mandelic acid or a related acid; and X? is an anion.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of a composite comprising a carrier particle and a plurality of drug nanoparticles. The process comprises providing a suspension of drug nanoparticles in the presence of a carrier particle, the carrier particle having an external surface that is functionalised with a surface treatment agent. The process simplifies isolation of drug nanoparticles from suspension.

Abstract: A monitoring system (1) comprises sensors (102) adapted to be worn by a user, and, a processor (101, 302) 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 (?h, Vd 1, Vd2, Vd3). 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 (101, 302) 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 (101, 302) may generate the venous pressure estimate in real time, and may control an NMES device accordingly.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a polymeric material having one or more nanoparticles embedded within the surface layer of a single side of the material. In some embodiments, the nanoparticles are microbiocidal nanoparticles which impart antimicrobial characteristics to the polymeric material within which they sprayed and pushed by are embedded.

Abstract: A method of forming a sintered nickel-titanium-rare earth (Ni—Ti-RE) alloy includes adding one or more powders comprising Ni, Ti, and a rare earth constituent to a powder consolidation unit comprising an electrically conductive die and punch connectable to a power supply. The one or more powders are heated at a ramp rate of about 35° C./min or less to a sintering temperature, and pressure is applied to the powders at the sintering temperature, thereby forming a sintered Ni—Ti-RE alloy.

Abstract: A device for securing a catheter, or similar flexible medical tube or medical device to the skin of a patient. The device comprises a planar body (1) at least a lock retainer (5) and a passive retainer (6), both spaced-apart from each other. Furthermore a method of securing a catheter to a patient using a device as described.

Abstract: A temperature sensor (1) has a pressure sensor (10), the distal end of which is inserted in a sealed chamber (2) filled with a liquid. The pressure sensor has a light guide (4), a cavity (14) at a distal end of the light guide, a diaphragm (11) forming a wall of the cavity and being configured to deflect with applied pressure, and a detector to detect changes in light reflection due to deflection of the diaphragm. The liquid (3) which changes volume in response to temperature changes and this volume change is sufficient to change the pressure applied on the diaphragm (11), and the a interrogation system processes pressure data and/or light reflection data to generate an output indicating temperature of the fluid in the chamber.