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: “A nutritional supplement composition suitable for improving lean tissue mass status in a mammal” A nutritional supplement suitable for increasing lean tissue mass in a mammal comprises protein, vitamin D, and calcium. The protein comprises a casein-based milk protein composition, a hydrolyzed whey-based milk protein composition having insulinotropic bioactivity, and a hydrolyzed whey-based milk protein composition having anti-oxidant bioactivity. The supplement increases lean tissue mass in a subject.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a method and system for improving the energy efficiency of a vanadium flow battery, VFB. This is achieved by simultaneously reconditioning the VFB through in-situ activation of the electrodes.

Abstract: The present invention provides a rotating microfluidic device capable of combining portions of various liquids into a single droplet, thus generating millions of droplets with differing compositions.

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 peptide having 12 to 60 amino acids and including (a) a sequence of SEQUENCE ID NO: 11, or (b) a fragment of SEQUENCE ID NO: 11 that includes the sequence of SEQUENCE ID NO: 1 or 5, is described for use in improving glycemic management in a mammal. A composition, for example a food product, that includes substantially all of the peptides of SEQUENCE ID NO:'s 1 to 11, that is capable of reducing post-prandial blood glucose levels, and increasing insulin secretion in humans, is also described.

Abstract: The present invention provides a heterostructure for use as an electrode in a lithium ion battery as well as a method for synthesising the heterostructure.

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 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 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.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and system to record the absorption of a sample, said method comprising the steps of providing first and second pulsed beam of light on said sample using one or more light beams, said first and second pulsed beam having different spatial definition; measuring the difference in intensity transmitted through and/or reflected by a sample; and generating an image by scanning the sample while making such measurements. The system and method of the invention can work down to resolution of several 100 of nm, affording thus a large improvement in comparison to synchrotron IR imaging that is the closest technique existing today. The advantage versus scanning probe approach is the absence of physical probe, thus suppressing confinement to surface information and removing uncertainty regarding the working behavior of the probe.

Abstract: The invention provides process for producing a stable Si or Ge electrode structure comprising cycling a Si or Ge nanowire electrode until a structure of the Si nanowires form a continuous porous network of Si or Ge ligaments.

Abstract: The invention to mismatch and ISI shaping in a data converter. The invention provides a dynamic element matching technique that incorporates both mismatch and inter symbol interference shaping. A digital decoder is provided that controls the number of ‘on’ and ‘off’ transitions so that the resulting signal does not contain noise or distortion. The element selection technique of the invention is suitable for high resolution multi-bit continuous time oversampling data converters.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to microfluidic devices that include orthogonally positioned channels that are slidable relative to each other and methods of use thereof. In certain embodiments, the invention provides a microfluidic device that includes a first channel having an open end, and an open second channel. The first and second channels are slidable relative to each other such that when the open end of the first channel and the open portion of the open second channel are aligned with each other, fluid flows from the first channel into the second channel.

Abstract: A positive exhalation pressure device (1) is described. The device (1) comprises a housing (2) having an annular chamber (5), a chamber inlet (6) configured to permit air into the chamber, a chamber outlet (7) configured to permit air out of the chamber, and a mouthpiece (8) in fluid communication with the chamber inlet. A movable body such as a ball (3) is disposed in the housing within the annular chamber and configured to revolve around the annular chamber in response to flow of air through the chamber from the chamber inlet to the chamber outlet. The movable body is configured to at least partially block the chamber outlet as it revolves around the annular chamber causing cyclical fluctuations in airflow resistance.

Abstract: An ostomy pouching system comprises a fixing plate and a bag having an opening, the fixing plate comprising a central hole for receipt of a stoma, a base layer bearing a first major surface and formed of a flexible tacky material and an upper layer bearing the second major surface and formed of a material that is harder than the base layer. The central hole has a perimeter that is smaller than a perimeter of a stoma, in which at least a portion of the first major surface that surrounds the central hole comprises a resiliently deformable region capable of stretching to form a neck region that in use conforms to a sidewall of the stoma when the stoma protrudes through the central hole. The system comprises a belt for attaching the fixing plate to the patient's body, the belt having a central hole configured to receive a stoma and a surrounding surface configured to abut the fixing plate with the base layer disposed against one face of the belt and the upper layer disposed against an opposite face of the belt.

Abstract: A method for analyzing a sample with a light probe with a spatial resolution smaller than the wavelength of the light probe comprising the steps of: —illuminating the sample by a first light pulse saturating a vibrational and/or electronic transition, said light pulse presenting an intensity spatial distribution on the sample presenting at least one minimum wherein saturation does not occur, —measuring the local absorbance properties and/or the local second order non-linear susceptibility of the sample by using a second light pulse forming the light probe at a wavelength corresponding to said electronic and/or vibrational transition, wherein the second light pulse overlap said first light pulse intensity minimum.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to microfluidic devices that include channels that are slidable relative to each other and methods of use thereof. In certain embodiments, the invention provides a microfluidic device that includes a first channel having an open end, and a second channel having an open end. The first and second channels are slidable relative to each other such that when the open end of the first channel and the open end of the second channel are aligned with each other, fluid flows from the first channel into the second channel.

Abstract: A casein hydrolysate formed by controlled hydrolysis of a casein substrate by an aspergillus-derived (fugal) proteolytic preparation is described. The controlled hydrolysis employs a FlavorPro-Whey™ formulation and a degree of hydrolysis (% DH) of from 5% DH to 15% DH. The Hydrolysate has at least a 98% reduction in antigenicity compared to intact sodium caseinate and a mean bitterness score of less than 30%. The invention also provides a low molecular weight fraction of casein hydrolysate of the invention which is substantially free of peptides having a molecular weight greater than 5 kDa.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for determining VIV or VV concentration in mixtures of VIV and VV solutions, the method comprising the steps of determining the absorbance of the solution at at least one wavelength; and calculating the concentration of the VIV and VV solution based on the absorbance. In one embodiment the VIV, VV and/or total vanadium concentration in a solution is calculated based on the fact that the absorbance at a specific wavelength can be predicted by taking into account the formation of vanadium complexes.