Abstract: A method for creating composite droplets for use in an ink jet system includes a first fluid (1) brought into contact with a second fluid within a set of channels (5,14). The interface between the fluids is characterised by an interfacial tension. The first fluid forms spaced droplets (8) within the second fluid, the composite of the first and second fluids passing through an orifice (6) to form a jet (9).

Abstract: A method of creating a patterned coated layer on a substrate comprises the steps of applying a pattern on the substrate by an additive process using a first material, depositing a second material by vapour deposition over the whole substrate area and removing the first material by treatment with a solvent.

Abstract: One aspect of the invention relates to a microfluidic device which recreates important features of the human microcirculation on a microscope stage. In certain embodiments of the invention, the clinical scenario associated with ‘sickle cell crisis’ whereby blood vessels are occluded in various organs causing pain and tissue damage can be recreated. In certain embodiments, one can use a device of the invention to study the processes that lead to crisis, and screen therapies (such as small molecules) that might be used to prevent crisis. Further, certain embodiments of the invention allow one to study and screen therapies for a range of human blood disorders, such as hereditary spherocytosis, disorders of white blood cells, such as Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia or leukocytosis, disorders of blood platelets and coagulation, such as hemophilia A and B, activated protein C resistance, and essential thrombocythemia.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of differentiating an unexposed planographic printing plate from an exposed planographic printing plate by means of making a planographic printing plate comprising a substrate having thereon one or more layers of aluminum oxide, and one or more layers of radiation-sensitive titanium dioxide coated thereon and excluding an organic hydrophobic material or a binder within or above a radiation-sensitive layer, the method comprising depositing at least the one or more layers of titanium dioxide by vapour deposition and exposing the one or more layers to radiation without that exposure causing an ablative effect.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of making a planographic printing plate comprising a substrate having thereon one or more layers of a radiation-sensitive metal oxide, sulfide or nitride and excluding an organic hydrophobic material or a binder within or above a radiation-sensitive layer, the method comprising depositing the one or more layers of the radiation-sensitive metal oxide, sulfide or nitride by vapour deposition and exposing the one or more layers without that exposure causing ablative effect. Preferably the compound, and in particular a metal oxide, such as titanium dioxide, is deposited by atomic layer deposition at atmospheric pressure and at a temperature of from 20° C. to 300° C. at a layer thickness of less than 100 nm. The substrate can be any planar material, preferably with the potential to be flexible and with a surface that can be roughened or textured.

Abstract: The invention provides an aqueous inkjet ink composition comprises a polymeric compound comprising discrete particles responsive to an external stimulus, and a functional material, wherein the functional material may be incorporated as part of the polymeric particles, the particles causing the composition to have a first rheological state and a different second rheological state in response to a stimulated change in conditions, the first rheological state being associated with a first lower viscosity of the composition, wherein the particles have a first lower volume, enabling the composition to pass through an inkjet printhead orifice and the second rheological state being associated with a second higher viscosity of the composition, wherein the particles have a second higher volume, enabling immobilisation of droplets of the composition on a substrate.

Abstract: An inkjet printing system comprising a plurality of static inkjet printing units each comprising at least one inkjet printing head; an ink-receiving element comprising a poorly-absorbing or impermeable substrate; an aqueous inkjet composition which comprises a polymeric compound comprising discrete particles responsive to an external stimulus, and a functional material, which may be incorporated as part of the polymeric particles, the composition having a first rheological state and a different second rheological state in response to a stimulated change in conditions, the first state being associated with a first lower viscosity of the composition, wherein the particles have a first lower volume, and the second state being associated with a second higher viscosity of the composition, wherein the particles have a second higher volume, and of drying the aqueous ink composition only positioned downstream of the plurality of the printing units.

Abstract: The surface properties, such as surface roughness and gloss, of a printed image on an ink-jet receiver comprising a voided polymer ink-receiving layer, especially a foamed polymer ink-receiving layer, can be improved (i.e. reduce surface roughness and increase gloss) by applying heat and/or pressure to the ink-jet receiver after printing of an image such as by the passage of the printed image through a fuser. Method of printing; ink-jet print, and use of a fusing device.

Abstract: A porous polymeric ink-jet receiver prepared by generating an emulsion comprising a first phase having a first carrier fluid and a second phase having a second carrier fluid, said first and second carrier fluids being immiscible; coating the emulsion onto a support; carrying out a first treatment to at least one component of the first phase to form and/or maintain a skeletal structure of the treated at least one component of the first phase; and carrying out a second treatment to the second phase to substantially remove the carrier fluid thereby generating a large capacity porous structure defined by the skeletal structure is capable of rapid uptake of large quantities of ink, especially when using a high internal phase water-in-oil emulsion.

Abstract: The application, according to a desired image, of an absorbance controlling composition to a receiver having an imaging layer comprising a radiation absorbing component, such as a dye or pigment, with spectral absorbance properties susceptible to change on treatment with the absorbance controlling composition provides a method of imaging by which a desired image may be formed on the receiver, for example by jetting a solution of the absorbance controlling composition onto the receiver.

Abstract: The present invention provides a planographic printing element suitable to receive and bond with a subsequently applied hydrophilic layer comprises a substrate layer, such as polyester film or paper, having coated thereon an adhesion layer, said adhesion layer comprising a polymer having a glass transition temperature of less than 15C and containing functional groups such as hydroxyl, epoxy or glycidyl groups capable of reacting with the hydrophilic layer. The polymer may be a terpolymer of a hydroxyalkyl methacrylate, an alkyl acrylate and an aminoalkyl methacrylate. The polymer may be mixed with gelatin and the mixture applied to the substrate as a coating. The hydrophilic layer, which may comprise metal oxide particles, such as aluminium oxide and/or titanium dioxide particles in a sodium silicate binder, is subsequently applied as a coating to the adhesion layer.

Abstract: A planographic printing element suitable to receive and bond with a subsequently applied hydrophilic layer comprises a substrate layer such as polyester film or paper having coated thereon an adhesion layer, said adhesion layer comprising a polymer having a glass transition temperature of less than 15° C. and containing functional groups such as hydroxyl, epoxy or glycidyl capable of reacting with the hydrophilic layer. The polymer may be a terpolymer of a hydroxyalkylacrylate, an alkyl acrylate and an aminoalkylmethacrylate. The polymer may be mixed with gelatin and the mixture applied to the substrate as a coating.

Abstract: An image-recording element for inkjet ink images comprises a support, an ink-receptive layer and a top layer, wherein the top layer comprises a polymer that contains both a hydrophilic component and a hydrophobic component, or a mixture of two or more such polymers, the said polymer or polymer mixture being present in the top layer in an amount of from 0.003 to 0.5 g/m2. The top layer preferably comprises a polymer that contains both hydrophilic substituents and hydrophobic substituents, for example a polymer selected from the polymers and copolymers of acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, acrylic acid esters or methacrylic acid esters, or a salt of such a polymer or copolymer. The base layer, which may comprise gelatin, preferably has a thickness of from 3 to 20 &mgr;m. The support may be a conventional support, for example a paper sheet. The invention can provide improved drying times for the inkjet images, even under conditions of high humidity.

Abstract: A photographic material comprises a support bearing at least one silver halide emulsion layer. The material contains in the emulsion layer or an adjacent hydrophilic colloid layer, a nucleating agent. One or more of the layers further comprises a polymeric material capable of partitioning the nucleating agent in order to control nucleation and thereby allow the level of pepper fog and raw stock keeping to be controlled.

Abstract: A photographic element comprising a light sensitive silver halide emulsion sensitized with a dye of formula (I) and a nucleating agent or amine booster associated with the silver halide emulsion: ##STR1## wherein: R.sub.3 is an alkyl group, alkenyl group, or aryl groupR.sub.4 and R.sub.5 are each hydrogen, an alkyl group, alkenyl or aryl group;R.sub.6, R.sub.7 and R.sub.8 are, independently, an alkyl group, alkenyl group, aryl group, or H;the dye has at least three acid or acid salt substituents; andeach L independently represents a methine group;p is 0 or 1;Z.sub.1 represents the atoms necessary to complete a 5- or 6-membered heterocyclic ring group;(X).sub.n represents counterions as needed to balance the charge on the molecule.The present invention also provides a process for forming a high contrast photographic image on a photographic element having a light sensitive silver halide emulsion sensitized with a dye of formula (I).

Abstract: A device for animating a fishing lure comprising a section of wire which carries a pair of saucer-shaped disks constrained by a plurality of beads attached on the section of wire. Each of the disks has a mounting hole receiving the section of wire and a plurality of apertures spaced circumferentially and radially about the hole to permit water to flow through and between the disks as they are pulled through the water. The disks are rotatably mounted on the section of wire such that their respective apertures are capable of intermittent alignment which allows the device to rest in a stable mode between random, angular oscillations. The random, angular oscillations produced by the device will animate a fishing lure in a manner which simulates the movements of a water creature.