Abstract: A modular farm system having a hub container and pluralities of farm containers connectable to the hub container. A passageway is provided between the hub container and each farm container. The hub container includes a shared workspace and at least one shared utility for distribution among the farm containers. Each farm container includes a work zone and a grow zone. A plurality of plant panels and a lighting system are mounted for growing plants in a controlled environment within the grow zone.

Abstract: An electrical connector for supplying power to electrical equipment includes a first connector part with an electrically conductive pin and an insulating layer, and a second connector part with a socket. The electrically conductive pin in the first connector part is configured for engagement with the socket of the second connector part and for transmitting power or data or both through the electrically conductive pin to the socket part. The insulating layer is in intimate contact with and at least partially covering the electrically conductive pin and electrically insulates the pin from a body of the first connector part of the connector. The insulating layer includes a polymeric material having a repeat unit of formula: —O-Ph-Ph-O-Ph-CO-Ph- (I) and a repeat unit of formula —O-Ph-Ph-O-Ph-SO2-Ph-Ph-SO2-Ph- (II) wherein Ph represents a phenylene moiety; and wherein the repeat units I and II are in the relative molar proportions 95:5 to 80:20.

Abstract: This invention relates to copolymers which consist essentially of [-ether-phenyl-ether-phenyl-carbonyl-phenyl-]and [ether-phenyl-phenyl-ether-phenyl-carbonyl-phenyl-] repeat units, as well as end units, which have reduced melting temperature (Tm) compared to prior art copolymers including such repeat units. The copolymers of the invention exhibit crystallinity and have similar glass transition temperatures to the prior art polymers.

Abstract: A vertical farm system including a rack having a grow channel and a source of moisture/nutrients, the moisture/nutrients being deliverable to the rack. The system includes malleable material inserts in the grow channel. The malleable material inserts have an edge area, a first insert receivable within the grow channel so as to abut a second insert to form an abutting pair of edges, and a spacing component receivable between the pair of inserts, the spacing component and the abutting edge areas forming an opening extending about the spacing component, the source of moisture/nutrients communicable to the opening. In one aspect, the malleable material insert may have a slot with abutting pair of edges. A rod component is receivable between the abutting pair of edges, the rod and the abutting edges forming an opening extending about the rod component, and the source of moisture/nutrients being communicable to the opening.

Abstract: The invention provides an amorphous metal-organic framework for use in methods of treatment. The amorphous metal-organic framework may hold a component for delivery. The amorphous metal-organic framework is obtained or is obtainable by amorphization of a crystalline amorphous metal-organic framework holding the component. The amorphous metal-organic framework may be a zirconium-containing or a bismuth-containing metal-organic framework, such as a framework having arylcarboxylate ligands, such as benzenedicarboxylate ligands.

Abstract: A modular farm system is provided having a hub container and pluralities of farm containers connectable to the hub container. A passageway is provided between the hub container and each farm container. The hub container includes a shared workspace and at least one shared utility for distribution among the farm containers. Each farm container includes a work zone and a grow zone. A plurality of plant panels and a lighting system are mounted for growing plants in a controlled environment within the grow zone.

Abstract: An apparatus may be used after a surgical procedure to protect against leaks and to separate healing tissue from foreign materials such as nutritional contents. In some cases the apparatus may be easily delivered to a surgical site before, during or after a surgical procedure such as gastric bypass surgery, but this is only an example. The apparatus may include expandable anchors at either end and a collapsible central portion extending between the two expandable anchors.

Abstract: There is disclosed polymers, a process for manufacturing polymers and uses of the polymers. The polymers are polyaryl ether ketones and the process includes a nucleophilic polycondensation of a bisphenol with an organic dihalide compound in a reaction mixture comprising sodium carbonate and potassium carbonate, in an aromatic sulfone solvent, at a reaction temperature rising to a temperature from 290° C. to 320° C. immediately prior to the addition of a salt to the reaction mixture, wherein the molar ratio of the salt to potassium carbonate is from 6.0 to 10.0. Further organic dihalide compound is added to the reaction mixture wherein the molar ratio of further organic dihalide compound to bisphenol is from 0.009 to 0.035. The resulting reaction mixture is maintained at a temperature at from 290° C. to 320° C. for from 20 to 180 minutes and then the resulting reaction mixture is cooled and the PAEK recovered.

Abstract: This invention relates to solid formulations for the oral delivery of live microbial cells which comprise dried viable cells and small amounts of a bile acid binding agent, for example, an anion exchange resin such as cholestyramine. The presence of bile acid binding agents in the formulation significantly increases the survival of the cells in the intestinal tract and facilitates delivery of the viable cells to the intestine.

Abstract: The invention provides an amorphous metal-organic framework for use in methods of treatment. The amorphous metal-organic framework may hold a component for delivery. The amorphous metal-organic framework is obtained or is obtainable by amorphization of a crystalline amorphous metal-organic framework holding the component. The amorphous metal-organic framework may be a zirconium-containing or a bismuth-containing metal-organic framework, such as a framework having arylcarboxylate ligands, such as benzenedicarboxylate ligands.

Abstract: An apparatus may be used after a surgical procedure to protect against leaks and to separate healing tissue from foreign materials such as nutritional contents. In some cases the apparatus may be easily delivered to a surgical site before, during or after a surgical procedure such as gastric bypass surgery, but this is only an example. The apparatus may include expandable anchors at either end and a collapsible central portion extending between the two expandable anchors.

Abstract: This invention relates to solid formulations for the oral delivery of live microbial cells which comprise dried viable cells and small amounts of a bile acid binding agent, for example, an anion exchange resin such as cholestyramine. The presence of bile acid binding agents in the formulation significantly increases the survival of the cells in the intestinal tract and facilitates delivery of the viable cells to the intestine.

Abstract: The present invention provides gum base compositions and chewing gum compositions having non stick or reduced-stick properties and/or increased degradability. Methods of preparing the gum base and chewing gum compositions, as well as methods of use, are provided.

Abstract: This invention pertains to certain hypercoiling polymers, and their use for the delivery of a payload into a living cell, e.g., into the nucleus of a living cell, which polymer incorporates, or is otherwise associated with, said payload. The payload may be, for example, a therapeutic payload, such as a drug, etc.; a diagnostic payload, such as a detectable label, such as a fluorophore, etc. In preferred embodiments, the hypercoiling polymers are biocompatible; biodegradable; comprise amide linkages; and/or are pseudo-proteins. The present invention also pertains to certain hypercoiling polymers; certain hypercoiling carrier polymers, which incorporate a payload; and certain hypercoiling carrier polymers, otherwise associated with a payload; which are suitable for use in such methods; and methods of diagnosis, treatment, imaging, etc., using such polymers.