Abstract: Measurement apparatus performs a measurement of a quality indicator for an electrical insulator comprising a ratio of a first value of an electrical parameter at a first time to a second value at a second time. An output from an electrical circuit for measuring the electrical parameter for the electrical insulator is sampled to produce at least one sample and steps of sampling the output from the electrical circuit are performed to produce one or more further samples at successive increments in time and at least some of the samples are processed to generate an approximate function relating the measured electrical parameter to time. A predicted value is calculated for the quality indicator on a basis comprising the electrical parameter indicated by the approximate function for the second time and an electrical signal is generated indicating a state of the measurement based on at least the predicted value of the quality indicator.

Abstract: An auditory device assembly (1) comprises an earpiece (3) having an audio output device (7) for an ear (9) of a user and an audio processing unit (11, 33). The audio processing unit (11, 33) has a hearing-test mode and an audio streaming mode. In the hearing test mode the audio processing unit (11, 33) is arranged to determine at least one ear characteristic of the ear of the user based on at least one hearing test. In the audio streaming mode the audio processing unit (11, 33) is arranged to output an audio stream via the audio output device (7). The audio processing unit (11, 33) is arranged to adjust the output of the audio stream in the audio streaming mode based on the at least one ear characteristic determined in the hearing-test mode.

Abstract: An auditory device assembly (1) comprises an earpiece (3) having an audio output device (7) for an ear (9) of a user and an audio processing unit (11, 33). The audio processing unit (11, 33) has a hearing-test mode and an audio streaming mode. In the hearing test mode the audio processing unit (11, 33) is arranged to determine at least one ear characteristic of the ear of the user based on at least one hearing test. In the audio streaming mode the audio processing unit (11, 33) is arranged to output an audio stream via the audio output device (7). The audio processing unit (11, 33) is arranged to adjust the output of the audio stream in the audio streaming mode based on the at least one ear characteristic determined in the hearing-test mode.

Abstract: An auditory device assembly (1) comprises an earpiece (3) having an audio output device (7) for an ear (9) of a user and an audio processing unit (11, 33). The audio processing unit (11, 33) has a hearing-test mode and an audio streaming mode. In the hearing test mode the audio processing unit (11, 33) is arranged to determine at least one ear characteristic of the ear of the user based on at least one hearing test. In the audio streaming mode the audio processing unit (11, 33) is arranged to output an audio stream via the audio output device (7). The audio processing unit (11, 33) is arranged to adjust the output of the audio stream in the audio streaming mode based on the at least one ear characteristic determined in the hearing-test mode.

Abstract: An auditory device assembly (1) comprises an earpiece (3) having an audio output device (7) for an ear (9) of a user and an audio processing unit (11, 33). The audio processing unit (11, 33) has a hearing-test mode and an audio streaming mode. In the hearing test mode the audio processing unit (11, 33) is arranged to determine at least one ear characteristic of the ear of the user based on at least one hearing test. In the audio streaming mode the audio processing unit (11, 33) is arranged to output an audio stream via the audio output device (7). The audio processing unit (11, 33) is arranged to adjust the output of the audio stream in the audio streaming mode based on the at least one ear characteristic determined in the hearing-test mode.

Abstract: Provided herein are devices and methods for the micro-isolation of biological cellular material. A micro-isolation apparatus described can comprise a photomask that protects regions of interest against DNA-destroying illumination. The micro-isolation apparatus can further comprise photosensitive material defining access wells following illumination and subsequent developing of the photosensitive material. The micro-isolation apparatus can further comprise a chambered microfluidic device comprising channels providing access to wells defined in photosensitive material. The micro-isolation apparatus can comprise a chambered microfluidic device without access wells defined in photosensitive material where valves control the flow of gases or liquids through the channels of the microfluidic device.

Abstract: Provided herein are devices and methods for the micro-isolation of biological cellular material. A micro-isolation apparatus described can comprise a photomask that protects regions of interest against DNA-destroying illumination. The micro-isolation apparatus can further comprise photosensitive material defining access wells following illumination and subsequent developing of the photosensitive material. The micro-isolation apparatus can further comprise a chambered microfluidic device comprising channels providing access to wells defined in photosensitive material. The micro-isolation apparatus can comprise a chambered microfluidic device without access wells defined in photosensitive material where valves control the flow of gases or liquids through the channels of the microfluidic device.

Abstract: Provided herein are devices and methods for the micro-isolation of biological cellular material. A micro-isolation apparatus described can comprise a photomask that protects regions of interest against DNA-destroying illumination. The micro-isolation apparatus can further comprise photosensitive material defining access wells following illumination and subsequent developing of the photosensitive material. The micro-isolation apparatus can further comprise a chambered microfluidic device comprising channels providing access to wells defined in photosensitive material. The micro-isolation apparatus can comprise a chambered microfluidic device without access wells defined in photosensitive material where valves control the flow of gases or liquids through the channels of the microfluidic device.

Abstract: Multi-valve autoregulatory microfluidic devices and methods are described. The described devices and methods offer improved performance and new means of tuning autoregulatory effects in microfluidic devices.

Abstract: Described herein is a method for detection of a target in a sample and related devices and systems.

Abstract: Provided herein are devices and methods for the micro-isolation of biological cellular material. A micro-isolation apparatus described can comprise a photomask that protects regions of interest against DNA-destroying illumination. The micro-isolation apparatus can further comprise photosensitive material defining access wells following illumination and subsequent developing of the photosensitive material. The micro-isolation apparatus can further comprise a chambered microfluidic device comprising channels providing access to wells defined in photosensitive material. The micro-isolation apparatus can comprise a chambered microfluidic device without access wells defined in photosensitive material where valves control the flow of gases or liquids through the channels of the microfluidic device.

Abstract: Described herein is a method for detection of a target in a sample and related devices and systems.

Abstract: Methods for identifying Quantifiable Internal Reference Standards (QIRS) for immunohistochemistry (IHC). Also disclosed are methods for using QIRS to quantify test antigens in IHC.

Abstract: The development of a high-throughput multi-antigen microfluidic fluorescence immunoassay system is illustrated in a 100-chamber PDMS (polydimethylsiloxane) chip which performs up to 5 tests for each of 10 samples. Specificity of detection is demonstrated and calibration curves produced for C-Reactive Protein (CRP), Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA), ferritin, and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF). The measurements show sensitivity at and below levels that are significant in current clinical laboratory practice (with SIN>8 at as low as 10 pM antigen concentration). The chip uses 100 nL per sample for all four tests and provides an improved instrument for use in scientific research and “point-of-care” testing in medicine.

Abstract: A hammer for driving a pile into the ground has a cylindrical barrel and an anvil sealed to an end of the barrel, a hammer piston mounted for reciprocation within the barrel towards and away from the anvil, hydraulic cylinders to lift the hammer piston away from the anvil, and a switch, responsive to an increase in fluid pressure in the space between the hammer piston and the anvil, to activate the lift means. The invention includes a method of driving a pile into the ground, in which the pile-driving impact is transmitted to the pile via a confined quantity of hydraulic fluid and the weight by which the impact is applied is lifted, to a position from which to apply a further impact, in response to an increase in pressure in the hydraulic fluid.