Abstract: A radiation detector assembly is described comprising: a scintillator; a photodetector; a hermetic enclosure surrounding and defining an enclosure volume that contains the scintillator and the photodetector; wherein the enclosure comprises a wall of plastics material coated with a metal layer. A method of assembly of a radiation detector assembly is also provided.

Abstract: A scintillator unit is described for use in a radiation detector assembly comprising: a scintillator comprising a scintillating material; a wrapping layer at least partly covering an external surface of the scintillating material; wherein the wrapping layer comprises a composite layer including a first layer of diffusively reflective material and a second layer of specularly reflective material. A radiation detector assembly including a scintillator unit is also described. Methods of fabrication of the same are also described.

Abstract: A radiation detector assembly is described comprising: a scintillator; a photodetector; a hermetic enclosure surrounding and defining an enclosure volume that contains the scintillator and the photodetector; wherein the enclosure comprises a wall of plastics material coated with a metal layer. A method of assembly of a radiation detector assembly is also provided.

Abstract: A system for selecting candidates includes a computer with software. The software receives an open position and applications from several jobseekers, each application includes a résumé and a video cover letter with both audio and video. The software parses each résumé into résumé data; parses the open position into open position requirements; parses the video to extract video attributes; and parses the audio to extract audio attributes from the audio. For each of the jobseekers, the software feeds the résumé data, the open position requirements, the video attributes and the audio attributes into an artificial intelligence engine that evaluates the résumé data, the video attributes and the audio attributes with respect to a knowledge base and outputs a score for each of the applications. The scores are sorted and filtered into a ranked list and the ranked list is provided as output.

Abstract: A method of networked simulation during a multiplayer game for a server includes: simulating at the server at least a first interactive object of a virtual environment, detecting whether a user of a first client may interact with the first interactive object within the virtual environment, and if so, setting the server to a co-operative simulation mode in which the server is arranged to receive data corresponding to an outcome of a simulation by the first client of an interaction between the first interactive object and an avatar of the user; receiving data from the first client corresponding to the outcome of the simulation by the first client of the interaction between the first interactive object and the avatar of the user, and updating the server simulation of the first interactive object responsive to the received data.

Abstract: A method of networked simulation during a multiplayer game for a server includes: simulating at the server at least a first interactive object of a virtual environment, detecting whether a user of a first client may interact with the first interactive object within the virtual environment, and if so, setting the server to a co-operative simulation mode in which the server is arranged to receive data corresponding to an outcome of a simulation by the first client of an interaction between the first interactive object and an avatar of the user; receiving data from the first client corresponding to the outcome of the simulation by the first client of the interaction between the first interactive object and the avatar of the user, and updating the server simulation of the first interactive object responsive to the received data.

Abstract: A conveyor system for use with a scanning apparatus for scanning of contained materials such as liquids within containers such as bottles. The system includes a transverse conveyor having a conveyor surface, a plurality of container support modules each adapted to seat on the conveyor surface. Each container support module includes a lower surface that sits upon the conveyor surface of the conveyor and upper part in which a container-receiving recessed portion is defined.

Abstract: A wireless microphone is provided with a recharging circuit which determines if a battery in the microphone is a rechargeable type and can be safely recharged. The recharging circuitry in the microphone, which could also be included in other handheld wireless devices, determines if a battery is in a charged state where it is difficult to distinguish rechargeable and non-rechargeable batteries. If so the battery is discharged until the battery reaches a charged state where non-rechargeable batteries can be readily distinguished from rechargeable batteries.

Abstract: An ejection apparatus for ejecting material from a liquid at a plurality of ejection locations (4) disposed in a row, has a plurality of channels (11) through each of which liquid flows in use to or from a respective ejection location at an open end of the channel. An ejection electrode (7) is disposed at each ejection location by means of which an electric field is created in use to cause the ejection of material from the liquid. An electrically conductive path (12) exists to each ejection electrode for supplying a voltage to the ejection electrode (7) in use. The channels (11) are isolated from one another and the electrically conductive paths (12) are separated from the channels over substantially the whole of their length.

Abstract: A wireless microphone is provided with a recharging circuit which determines if a battery in the microphone is a rechargeable type and can be safely recharged. The recharging circuitry in the microphone, which could also be included in other handheld wireless devices, determines if a battery is in a charged state where it is difficult to distinguish rechargeable and non-rechargeable batteries. If so the battery is discharged until the battery reaches a charged state where non-rechargeable batteries can be readily distinguished from rechargeable batteries.

Abstract: A device for reading an elongate magnetic data carrier attached to or embedded in an article, having an active read head adapted to have a lateral extent greater than the width of the data carrier, preferably four times greater, such that the magnetic field produced by the read head results in a signal from the data carrier which has an amplitude which varies by less than 50% for head to data carrier spacings of from 0 to 60 microns. A wide read head can also make the reading of data more reproducible when reading narrow tracks using swipe readers, where precise alignment is difficult to achieve.

Abstract: Paper handling apparatus, used in particular for sawing reels of paper, having a saw blade mountable on a carriage slide, a saw drive motor to drive the saw blade, a mechanism for mounting the carriage slide onto an object to be sawn, and a mechanism for moving the carriage slide across the surface of the object to be sawn so as to bring the saw blade into contact with the object to be sawn. The apparatus is suitable for cutting sheet material rolled around a cylindrical core and, due to its size and structure, can be transported to the object to be sawn and attached thereon.

Abstract: An endodontic instrument has a comfortable grip especially for use for a long time of period. A handle of the endodontic instrument includes a cylindrical stem, opposite end portions, and plural brims radially extending from the circumferential surface of the stem in a plate shape juxtaposed in the axial direction of the stem with a predetermined space. When an operator grips the handle of the endodontic instrument, the operator's fingers can readily control the handle through contacts to the brims while the brims engage the bulges of the fingers adequately. The brim preferably has recesses to provide the identification of the instrument's orientation in the finger and also can preferably be made of a resilient material to make the contacts softer to provide better blood flow in finger tips and providing less finger tip stress.

Abstract: A shared object is created which is copied to all system nodes requiring access to the object and a used-by table is created identifying the nodes holding a copy of the object. When the object is updated by operations at one of the nodes then the copies identified by the used-by table are also updated.

Abstract: Continuous or periodic measurement of blood gas parameters and blood pressure by separating plasma from blood and then using that plasma to measure the blood parameters. Plasma is separated from blood in vivo with a filter implanted within a blood vessel, and the separated plasma is removed to extracorporeal apparatus for analyzing blood gas parameters or measuring blood pressure. The use of plasma is equivalent to the use of whole blood for measuring blood gas parameters as the gas parameters reside in the plasma, not in the separated blood cells which remain in the blood vessel. This arrangement permits the continuous measurement of blood gases without removal of blood from the body.

Abstract: A device for being implanted in a blood vessel for carrying out continuous in vivo plasma separation comprises an elongated, axial header and at least one elongated microporous fiber having a hollow interior, said fiber being dimensioned to be received within a blood vessel without significantly obstructing fluid flow through said blood vessel, the pore size of said fiber being sufficient to allow plasma to diffuse through said pores into said hollow interior of said fiber but not sufficient to allow cellular components larger than plasma to diffuse therethrough, said one or more fibers extending laterally relative to the axis of said header and in fluid communication with said header.

Abstract: A force transducer usable tokodynamometer for measuring intrauterine pressure and motion, and for measuring other force exerted by human body or other organisms. The tokodynamometer has a cavity filled with an incompressible fluid and closed by a flexible diaphragm disposed for contacting the body portion being studied. A zero-displacement fluid-pressure transducer is in the cavity and provides an electrical signal responsive to pressure in the fluid, as body force acts through the flexible diaphragm to induce pressure in the fluid. Changes in intrauterine pressure or other body forces are thus measured with no significant physical displacement of a transducer or other force-measuring element. The fluid-filled cavity has the shape of a truncated cone with the diaphragm at the larger end and the transducer at the smaller end, increasing the sensitivity of the transducer.

Abstract: Selective separation of blood cholesterol by cascade filtration. An in vivo filter is implanted within a blood vessel to separate plasma from blood, and the separated plasma is removed to an extracorporeal secondary filter which removes low density lipoprotein (LDL) from the plasma. The in vivo portion of the apparatus comprises a number of microporous hollow fibers sized to permit diffusion of plasma, but not cellular or other larger blood components, through the fiber pores to the hollow interior of the fibers. The secondary filter passes the removed plasma along membrane walls formed by fibers sized to block passage of LDL while permitting passage of other plasma components, so that approximately 95 percent of LDL is separated from the plasma before the plasma is returned to the body in real time after removing the LDL cholesterol.

Abstract: Kidney dialysis in which metabolic waste products are removed from plasma instead of blood. Plasma separation takes place in vivo through a filter implanted within a blood vessel, and the separated plasma is removed to an extracorporeal dialysis apparatus for separating waste products from the plasma. The plasma then is returned to the bloodstream. Plasma flow in the system is significantly less than blood flow used in current hemodialysis systems, so that the present system performs dialysis continuously in real time to eliminate the extreme swings of toxicity associated with high-volume hemodialysis.

Abstract: An apparatus for the continuous in vivo separation of plasma from other blood components comprising a bundle of microporous hollow fibers inserted into the vena cava. The fibers are sized to permit diffusion of plasma through the fiber pores but not cellular or other larger blood components. The fibers are in fluid communication with a dual lumen catheter which removes plasma from the hollow fibers to a treatment system and returns treated plasma to the bloodstream. The apparatus can be incorporated into an ambulatory plasma separator system for providing continuous plasma treatment while the user is mobile.