Abstract: The invention provides a method of extracting a beverage material including the steps of a) at least partially filling a first extraction chamber with an extractable beverage material; b) conveying at least one extraction fluid through at least said first extraction chamber to provide an extract; c) modifying said extraction fluid temperature before conveying extraction fluid through at least said first extraction chamber at a second extraction temperature to provide a secondary extract. The invention further provides an apparatus for preparing a beverage.

Abstract: An axial alignment assembly (100) comprising a first body and a second body. The first body has a substantially cylindrical outer jacket, and has a first alignment axis. The second body comprises a substantially cylindrical inner jacket, and has a second alignment axis. The second body is positioned with respect to said first body in so that said inner jacket faces said outer jacket and in between said inner jacket and said outer jacket a substantially annular recess is formed. The axial alignment assembly further comprises a plurality of resilient elements that are positioned within said annular recess, wherein each resilient element is in contact with said outer jacket of said first body and with said inner jacket of said second body. Each resilient element exerts a force onto said outer jacket and onto said inner jacket for aligning said first alignment axis and said second alignment axis.

Abstract: A method for renovating the interior of a hollow structure such as a sewerage pit (1) is described. The method provides an access opening (16) to the hollow structure (1); provides a plurality of material sheets (3) comprising reinforcing fibers and a curable resin composition through the access opening (16) and against a wall (11a, 11b) of the hollow structure (1); and provides an inflatable pressure means (4a, 4b) within the hollow structure (1). The pressure means (4a, 4b) are inflated against the wall (11a, 11b). A curing means (6) is then provided within the hollow structure (1) for curing the resin composition; and the resin composition is cured to harden the material sheets and provide a renovated interior of the hollow structure (1).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a polymer composition comprising a polymeric matrix and particles of an impact modifier within the polymeric matrix, wherein the impact modifier comprises at least one urethane group and the impact modifier is obtainable by reacting in situ within the polymeric matrix a) a polyol comprising a dimer fatty residue; and b) a polyisocyanate. The invention also relates to a method of making the polymer composition.

Abstract: A system for formulating a feed composition for an animal, comprising a feed ingredient data storage having stored therein for plural feed ingredients, the feed ingredients comprising at least one nutrient, a content of a first fraction of the at least one nutrient exhibiting a first digestion rate, a content of a second fraction of the at least one nutrient exhibiting a second digestion rate, and a content of a third fraction of the at least one nutrient exhibiting a third digestion rate. the first, second and third digestion rates being different from each other, a nutrient regime data storage that has stored therein a nutrient regime for the animal in terms of a respective feeding amount of at least one of the first fraction of the at least one nutrient having the first digestion rate, the second fraction of the at least one nutrient having the second digestion rate, and the third fraction of the at least one nutrient having the third digestion rate.

Abstract: An axial alignment assembly (100) comprising a first body and a second body. The first body has a substantially cylindrical outer jacket, and has a first alignment axis. The second body comprises a substantially cylindrical inner jacket, and has a second alignment axis. The second body is positioned with respect to said first body in so that said inner jacket faces said outer jacket and in between said inner jacket and said outer jacket a substantially annular recess is formed. The axial alignment assembly further comprises a plurality of resilient elements that are positioned within said annular recess, wherein each resilient element is in contact with said outer jacket of said first body and with said inner jacket of said second body. Each resilient element exerts a force onto said outer jacket and onto said inner jacket for aligning said first alignment axis and said second alignment axis.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of extracting a beverage material comprising the steps of a) at least partially filling a first extraction chamber with an extractable beverage material; b) conveying at least one extraction fluid through at least said first extraction chamber to provide an extract; c) modifying said extraction fluid temperature before conveying extraction fluid through at least said first extraction chamber at a second extraction temperature to provide a secondary extract. The invention further provides an apparatus for preparing a beverage.

Abstract: A self-healing polyurethane, a polyol for use in the polyurethane, and the use of the polyol and/or polyurethane in coatings, elastomers, composites, adhesives and/or sealants is described, where the polyurethane is capable of exhibiting self-healing which results in recovery of a proportion of one or more physical parameters. The self-healing polyurethane is the reaction product of reactants comprising a polyol, a polyisocyanate; and optionally, a chain extender, where the polyol comprises at least one dimer fatty residue; at least one carbonate group; and at least two hydroxyl end groups.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a self-healing polyurethane, a polyol for use in the polyurethane, and to the use of the polyol and/or polyurethane in coatings, elastomers, composites, adhesives and/or sealants. The polyurethane is capable of exhibiting self-healing (for example, intrinsic self-healing) which results in recovery of a proportion of one or more physical parameters. The polyurethane which is capable of self-healing is the reaction product of reactants comprising a polyol, a polyisocyanate; and optionally, a chain extender. The polyol comprises at least one dimer fatty residue; at least one urethane, amide or carbonate group; and at least two hydroxyl end groups.

Abstract: A method for renovating the interior of a hollow structure such as a sewerage pit (1) is described. The method provides an access opening (16) to the hollow structure (1); provides a plurality of material sheets (3) comprising reinforcing fibers and a curable resin composition through the access opening (16) and against a wall (11a, 11b) of the hollow structure (1); and provides an inflatable pressure means (4a, 4b) within the hollow structure (1). The pressure means (4a, 4b) are inflated against the wall (11a, 11b). A curing means (6) is then provided within the hollow structure (1) for curing the resin composition; and the resin composition is cured to harden the material sheets and provide a renovated interior of the hollow structure (1).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a polyurethane elastomer obtainable by reacting a polyol and an isocyanate wherein the polyol comprises a) at least one dimer fatty residue selected from a dimer fatty diacid residue, a dimer fatty diol residue and a dimer fatty diamine residue; and b) at least one furan dicarboxylic acid residue. The invention also relates to a polyol for making the polyurethane elastomer, the use of the polyol and a method of making the polyurethane.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a polyurethane dispersion comprising particles of a polyurethane dispersed in a dispersing medium, wherein the polyurethane is obtainable by reacting a polyol and an isocyanate, wherein the polyol comprises at least one dimer fatty residue selected from a dimer fatty diacid residue, a dimer fatty diol residue and a dimer fatty diamine residue; and at least one furan dicarboxylic acid residue. The invention also relates to a coating composition comprising the polyurethane dispersion, a polyol for making the polyurethane dispersion, the use of the polyol and a method of making the polyurethane.

Abstract: Polyimide formed from at least one dianhydride and at least one diamine, wherein at least 50 wt. % of the diamine is comprised of dimer fatty diamine, and a process of making the polyimide. The dianhydride is preferably a tetracarboxylic acid in which carbonyl groups are attached in pair to adjacent carbon atoms, and the dimer fatty diamine may be formed from a corresponding dimer fatty acid, especially the dimerisation products of C10 to C30 fatty acids such as oleic acid, linoleic acid, linolenic acid, palmitoleic acid, and elaidic acid. Also polyimide pre-polymer being polyamic acid formed by reaction of the dinhydride, and diamine comprised of dimer fatty diamine. The polyimide may be formed in to coatings, adhesives, or polymer films, said compositions in particular being self-healing.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a polymer composition comprising a polymeric matrix and particles of an impact modifier within the polymeric matrix, wherein the impact modifier comprises at least one urethane group and the impact modifier is obtainable by reacting in situ within the polymeric matrix a) a polyol comprising a dimer fatty residue; and b) a polyisocyanate. The invention also relates to a method of making the polymer composition.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a self-healing polyurethane, a polyol for use in the polyurethane, and to the use of the polyol and/or polyurethane in coatings, elastomers, composites, adhesives and/or sealants. The polyurethane is capable of exhibiting self-healing (for example, intrinsic self-healing) which results in recovery of a proportion of one or more physical parameters. The polyurethane which is capable of self-healing is the reaction product of reactants comprising a polyol, a polyisocyanate; and optionally, a chain extender. The polyol comprises at least one dimer fatty residue; at least one urethane, amide or carbonate group; and at least two hydroxyl end groups.

Abstract: Shown is a method of making a coffee concentrate, and a coffee concentrate obtainable by the method. The method involves primary and secondary extraction, with split tapping of the primary extract into a first and second primary draw off. The extraction is conducted under such conditions as to satisfy a minimum mass transfer Fourier number, and a minimum ratio of the extraction yield of the first primary draw-off to the extraction yield obtained in all extraction sections.

Abstract: The present invention provides a co-polymer polyol which has an ABA block structure wherein each A block comprises a plurality of hydroxy-carboxylic acid residues and the B block comprises at least one dimer fatty residue selected from a dimer fatty diacid residue, a dimer fatty diol residue and a dimer fatty diamine residue, wherein the co-polymer polyol comprises at least two hydroxyl end groups. The invention also provides a method of making the co-polymer polyol and a polyurethane comprising the co-polymer polyol.

Abstract: Shown is a method of making a coffee concentrate, and a coffee concentrate obtainable by the method. The method involves primary and secondary extraction, with split tapping of the primary extract into a first and second primary draw off. The extraction is conducted under such conditions as to satisfy a minimum mass transfer Fourier number, and a minimum ratio of the extraction yield of the first primary draw-off to the extraction yield obtained in all extraction sections.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a power supply system (311) for supplying current to a gradient coil (303) of a magnetic resonance imaging system (100), the power supply system (311) comprising: an electrical power supply (309) to supply a first voltage to a gradient amplifier (307) for driving the gradient coil, the gradient amplifier output being connected to the gradient coil (303); an energy buffer having an input connected to the electrical power supply (309), the energy buffer being configured to supply second voltage to the gradient amplifier (307), the energy buffer being in parallel to the gradient amplifier (307) and the electrical power supply (309), the energy buffer comprising a voltage converter (313) configured to control the second voltage as to compensate for a variation in the first voltage resulting from the driving of the gradient coil (303).

Abstract: The invention is directed to an animal feed suitable for feeding mammals, birds and fish, comprising an alkyl ester of a fatty acid, wherein said fatty acid has a chain length of 5-12 carbon atoms, and wherein the dosage of said ester in said animal feed is 50 ppm by weight or higher, based on the total weight of said animal feed.