Abstract: A hollow-core anti-resonant-reflecting fibre (HC-AF) includes a hollow-core region, an inner cladding region, and an outer cladding region. The hollow-core region axially extends along the HC-AF. The inner cladding region includes a plurality of anti-resonant elements (AREs) and surrounds the hollow-core region. The outer cladding region surrounds the inner cladding region. The hollow-core region and the plurality of AREs are configured to provide phase matching of higher order hollow-core modes and ARE modes in a broadband wavelength range.

Abstract: A particle testing apparatus, being configured for investigating particles in a fluid medium, includes a waveguide device having a hollow optical waveguide with an input end and an output end, an irradiation device including a laser source being arranged for optically trapping at least one particle at the input end of the optical waveguide and propelling the particle through the optical waveguide toward the output end thereof, and a measuring device being arranged for sensing the at least one particle in the optical waveguide, wherein the measuring device is arranged for measuring an optical transmission of the optical waveguide. Furthermore, a particle testing apparatus is described.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for manufacturing a wipe in a three-dimensional form out of an essentially flat piece of material. The apparatus produces a blank of essentially flat planar form with a pleat folded on each side. The folded blanks are fed by a conveyor belt to an opening station. The opening station comprises a pair of movable pinch rollers which selectively grab individual blanks from the conveyor belt and feed them via belts to a pair of counter-rotating drums. The blanks are ejected from the drums, which partially opens them up in the process. The partially open blanks are fed onto a shaped former, where the final process of forming the wipe into its chosen three-dimensional form is completed.

Abstract: A hollow-core anti-resonant-reflecting fibre (HC-AF) includes a hollow-core region, an inner cladding region, and an outer cladding region. The hollow-core region axially extends along the HC-AF. The inner cladding region includes a plurality of anti-resonant elements (AREs) and surrounds the hollow-core region. The outer cladding region surrounds the inner cladding region. The hollow-core region and the plurality of AREs are configured to provide phase matching of higher order hollow-core modes and ARE modes in a broadband wavelength range.

Abstract: A portable, hand-held electrospinning or electrospraying apparatus and system, method, and portions thereof, comprised of a durable portion of the hand-held apparatus and a consumable portion of the hand-held apparatus. The consumable portion of the hand-held apparatus, which may contain the solution to be output in electrospin or electrospray fashion, may be replaced in whole or in part to provide additional or alternative solution. A base station may be provided, and can output high voltage and communication signals to the hand-held apparatus to enable the electrospin or electrospray operation by the hand-held apparatus.

Abstract: A hollow-core anti-resonant-reflecting fibre (HC-AF) includes a hollow-core region, an inner cladding region, and an outer cladding region. The hollow-core region axially extends along the HC-AF. The inner cladding region includes a plurality of anti-resonant elements (AREs) and surrounds the hollow-core region. The outer cladding region surrounds the inner cladding region. The hollow-core region and the plurality of AREs are configured to provide phase matching of higher order hollow-core modes and ARE modes in a broadband wavelength range.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for manufacturing a wipe in a three-dimensional form out of an essentially flat piece of material. The apparatus produces a blank of essentially flat planar form with a pleat folded on each side. The folded blanks are fed by a conveyor belt to an opening station. The opening station comprises a pair of movable pinch rollers which selectively grab individual blanks from the conveyor belt and feed them via belts to a pair of counter-rotating drums. The blanks are ejected from the drums, which partially opens them up in the process. The partially open blanks are fed onto a shaped former, where the final process of forming the wipe into its chosen three-dimensional form is completed.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for manufacturing a wipe in a three dimensional form out of an essentially flat piece of material. The apparatus produces a blank (12) of essentially flat planar form with a pleat folded on each side. The folded blanks are fed by a conveyor belt (21) to an opening station (22). The opening station comprises a pair of movable pinch rollers (34, 35) which selectively grab individual blanks from the conveyor belt and feed them via belts (32, 33) to a pair of counter-rotating drums (30, 31). The blanks are ejected from the drums, which partially opens them up in the process. The partially open blanks are fed onto a shaped former (37), where the final process of forming the wipe into its chosen three dimensional form is completed.

Abstract: A portable, hand-held electrospinning or electrospraying apparatus and system, method, and portions thereof, comprised of a durable portion of the hand-held apparatus and a consumable portion of the hand-held apparatus. The consumable portion of the hand-held apparatus, which may contain the solution to be output in electrospin or electrospray fashion, may be replaced in whole or in part to provide additional or alternative solution. A base station may be provided, and can output high voltage and communication signals to the hand-held apparatus to enable the electrospin or electrospray operation by the hand-held apparatus.

Abstract: A printer table for supporting a substrate during a printing operation comprises a substrate support surface comprising a plurality of apertures. The apertures are arranged such that a substrate placed on the printer table covers at least one of the apertures. The printer table comprises a plurality of ball valves arranged in fluidic connection with the apertures, where each of the ball valves has an open configuration and a closed configuration and is biased to the open configuration. The printer table also comprises a negative air pressure source configured to apply a negative air pressure through the plurality of ball valves to the plurality of apertures.

Abstract: A kit of parts for a feeder has a body and a bung that can slide within the body. A periphery of the bung can form a sliding seal between that periphery and the internal side walls of the body. A base cap has an aperture and is mountable at a lower end of the body to substantially occlude that end and allow airflow through the aperture into the body as the bung moves away. The kit has a teat mouthpiece for liquid foods, a sipper mouthpiece for pureed food, and a spout mouthpiece for mashed food and a pump attachment. The pump attachment has a pump and a spoon. The pump has a pump bung which moves reciprocatingly within the body and forms a sliding seal with the internal side walls. A valve allows food to flow from the feeder but prevents the flow of food into the feeder.

Abstract: A hollow-core fiber (100) of non-bandgap type comprises a hollow core region (10) axially extending along the hollow-core fiber (100) and having a smallest transverse core dimension (D), wherein the core region (10) is adapted for guiding a transverse fundamental core mode and transverse higher order core modes, and an inner cladding region (20) comprising an arrangement of anti-resonant elements (AREs) (21, 21A, 21B) surrounding the core region (10) along the hollow-core fiber (100), each having a smallest transverse ARE dimension (di) and being adapted for guiding transverse ARE modes, wherein the core region (10) and the AREs (21, 21A, 21B) are configured to provide phase matching of the higher order core modes and the ARE modes and the ARE dimension (di) and the core dimension (D) are selected such that a ratio of the ARE and core dimensions (di/D) is approximated to a quotient of zeros of Bessel functions of first kind (ulm,ARE/ulm,core), multiplied with a fitting factor in a range of 0.9 to 1.

Abstract: A printer table for supporting a substrate during a printing operation comprises a substrate support surface comprising a plurality of apertures. The apertures are arranged such that a substrate placed on the printer table covers at least one of the apertures. The printer table comprises a plurality of ball valves arranged in fluidic connection with the apertures, where each of the ball valves has an open configuration and a closed configuration and is biased to the open configuration. The printer table also comprises a negative air pressure source configured to apply a negative air pressure through the plurality of ball valves to the plurality of apertures.

Abstract: A portable, hand-held electrospinning or electrospraying apparatus and system, method, and portions thereof, comprised of a durable portion of the hand-held apparatus and a consumable portion of the hand-held apparatus. The consumable portion of the hand-held apparatus, which may contain the solution to be output in electrospin or electrospray fashion, may be replaced in whole or in part to provide additional or alternative solution. A base station may be provided, and can output high voltage and communication signals to the hand-held apparatus to enable the electrospin or electrospray operation by the hand-held apparatus.

Abstract: A smoking article comprises a first part, a second part movable relative to the first part. At least one of the first or second parts comprises a section of sheet material wrapped around one or more rod articles, wherein the section of sheet material comprises a circumferentially leading edge and/or a trailing edge. The circumferentially leading edge and/or a trailing edge is angled to a longitudinal axis of the smoking article. The section of the first part or second part comprising the angled edge is configured to be rotatable relative to the other of the first or second part, the relative rotational position of the first and second parts configured to control a property of the smoking article.

Abstract: A smoking article comprises a first part (111) comprising a source of smokable material and a second part (112) comprising a rod article and configured to be rotatable relative to the first part. A first indexing surface (116) on the first part and a second indexing surface (304) on the second part are configured to engage to index the rotation between the first and second parts. At least one of the first or second parts comprise a control element (250) configured to control a ventilation of the smoking article and a ventilation area (270) in the other of the first or second parts of the smoking article from the control element, the ventilation area configured to be selectively covered by the movable control element, wherein the second part comprises a connecting section connecting the rod article to the first part of the smoking article, and the connecting section is affixed to or supports the second indexing section.

Abstract: A smoking article includes a first and a second engaging surface spaced circumferentially, and a control element movable between the first and second engaging surfaces. A ventilation area is configured to be selectively covered by the movable control element. The control element includes a first limiting edge configured to engage with the first engaging surface and a second limiting edge configured to engage with the second engaging surface to limit rotational movement.