Abstract: An optical coaling structure is provided that when applied to a surface of an object to imparts a colour to the object, the optical coating structure comprising: a base layer; a reflector on the base layer; and profile elements on the base layer under the reflector, the profile elements having a width and length which are each in the range of 5 to 500 nm in size, and being arranged in non-periodic manner or a periodic manner. The reflector may be a multilayer structure of alternating dielectric materials. A method of forming the optical coating structure is also provided.

Abstract: An optical coating structure is provided that when applied to a surface of an object to imparts a color to the object, the optical coating structure comprising: a base layer; a reflector on the base layer; and profile elements on the base layer under the reflector, the profile elements having a width and length which are each in the range of 5 to 500 ?m in size, and being arranged in non-periodic manner or a periodic manner. The reflector may be a multilayer structure of alternating dielectric materials. A method of forming the optical coating structure is also provided.

Abstract: A bottle assembly is provided. The bottle assembly comprises a bottle having an end portion including a first detent formation, and a collar having a second complementary detent formation. The collar is arranged to snap fit to the end portion by engagement of the detent formations by application of force only in a direction towards the bottle. In addition, a valve assembly for use with a drinking vessel is provided. The valve assembly comprises a base member and a sealing member. The sealing member is moveable, dependent on a pressure difference across it, between a sealed position, wherein the sealing member is sealed against the base member, and an unsealed position, wherein the sealing member is unsealed from the base member. One or more channels are formed between the base member and the sealing member and extend to a periphery of the sealing member.

Abstract: The present invention relates to nucleic acid molecules which are capable of promoting transcription of operably-linked heterologous polynucleotides in mammalian ceils. The invention also relates to expression vectors and host ceils which comprise the nucleic acid molecules of the invention. Such expression vectors may be used to produce recombinant proteins, e.g. antibodies and lentiviral polypeptides.

Abstract: A system includes a first optical fiber having a first fiber face at a first end. The system further includes a second optical fiber having a second fiber face at a second end. The first end and the second end are separated by a distance. The system also includes a first lens coupled to the first fiber face at the first end, and a second lens coupled to the second fiber face at the second end.

Abstract: A nested capsule having a first capsule held within a second capsule. Each of the first and second capsules has a shell that is a supramolecular cross-linked network, such as a cucurbituril supramolecular cross-linked network. Each capsule shell is obtained or is obtainable from the complexation of a composition including a host, such as cucurbituril, and one or more building blocks having suitable guest functionality for the host, thereby to form a supramolecular cross-linked network. The nested capsules are suitable for delivering and selectively releasing an encapsulant at a location.

Abstract: An optical coating structure applied to the surface of an object having scattering structures introduced to the basal, upper or middle layers of a multilayer reflector to cause a particular (calculated) degree of scattering, or to the surface of a black/colour pigmented object. The scattering structures are mainly sub-micron in size, and arranged in a pseudo-random or non-periodic manner. Consequently they serve only to broaden the angular range of the light reflected at the surface normal from a multilayer reflector, or to provide (actual and/or perceived) reduced reflectivity of a surface by deflecting incident light through the surface rather than away from it or by scattering otherwise beam-like (narrow-angle) reflections from a surface into a broad-angle reflection. The scattering structures can include profile elements, which are in the form of elongate bars having convexly curved sides or hemispherical rods, that are introduced to a basal layer of a multilayer reflector.

Abstract: Improved equipment bases and methods for making and using same are disclosed herein. The equipment base can include a first coated substrate including a first part having a first thickness sized to provide the load-bearing support for the equipment, a first elastomer coating the first part, a second coated substrate positioned adjacent to the first coated substrate, the second coated substrate including a second part having a second thickness sized to provide the load-bearing support for the equipment, and a second elastomer coating the second part. A first seam can be formed between the first and second coated substrates to allow for moisture to pass between the first and second coated substrates so that moisture is allowed to seep away from the bottom of the equipment.

Abstract: Modifications to the lifting structure of prior art boat lifts permit the addition of support and drive rollers and associated drive mechanisms that may be used to displace the bow (or stern) of a raised boat over an adjacent barrier such as a sea wall, dock, or bulkhead.

Abstract: A fuel filter inspection method includes capturing an image of a fuel filter sample using an imaging device and sending the captured image to an image processor. The method further includes the image processor receiving the captured image, thresholding the captured image to generate a binary image, determining sizes for a plurality of particles present in the binary image, comparing the size of each of particle of the plurality of particles to a particle size threshold, and quantifying the number of particles of the plurality of plurality of particles with a size greater than the particle size threshold. The method further includes the image processor comparing the number of particles of the plurality of particles with a size greater than the particle size threshold to a particle count threshold, and modifying a graphical user interface to indicate a state of the fuel filter sample based on the comparison.

Abstract: An optical coating structure is provided that when applied to a surface of an object to imparts a colour to the object, the optical coating structure comprising: a base layer; a reflector on the base layer; and profile elements on the base layer under the reflector, the profile elements having a width and length which are each in the range of 5 to 500 ?m in size, and being arranged in non-periodic manner or a periodic manner. The reflector may be a multilayer structure of alternating dielectric materials. A method of forming the optical coating structure is also provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides an optical coating structure (10) applied to the surface of an object. “Scattering structures” are introduced to the basal, upper or middle layers of a multilayer reflector to cause a particular (calculated) degree of scattering, or to the surface of a black/color pigmented object to cause either enhanced transmission at the environment-object interface or omni-directional (as opposed to directional) reflections of which only a narrow portion can be observed. The scattering structures are mainly sub-micron in size, and arranged in a pseudo-random or non-periodic manner so as to prevent significant diffraction by themselves.

Abstract: A fuel filter inspection method includes capturing an image of a fuel filter sample using an imaging device and sending the captured image to an image processor. The method further includes the image processor receiving the captured image, thresholding the captured image to generate a binary image, determining sizes for a plurality of particles present in the binary image, comparing the size of each of particle of the plurality of particles to a particle size threshold, and quantifying the number of particles of the plurality of plurality of particles with a size greater than the particle size threshold. The method further includes the image processor comparing the number of particles of the plurality of particles with a size greater than the particle size threshold to a particle count threshold, and modifying a graphical user interface to indicate a state of the fuel filter sample based on the comparison.

Abstract: An interferometer apparatus for an optical fiber system and method of use is described. The interferometer comprises an optical coupler and optical fibers which define first and second optical paths. Light propagating in the first and second optical paths is reflected back to the optical coupler to generate an interference signal. First, second and third interference signal components are directed towards respective first, second and third photodetectors. The third photodetector is connected to the coupler via a non-reciprocal optical device and is configured to measure the intensity of the third interference signal component directed back towards the input fiber. Methods of use in applications to monitoring acoustic perturbations and a calibration method are described.

Abstract: A system and/or method that uses a body posture of a user to determine and modulate a content mode of a virtual reality system. The content mode may define the manner in which virtual reality content is presented to the user and/or the manner in which the user interacts with the virtual reality content. The user's body posture and/or a change in body posture may cause the content mode and/or the virtual reality content to change accordingly. In some implementations, primary content may be presented to the user according to a first content mode in response to the user sitting. Secondary virtual reality content may be presented to the user according to the second content mode in response to the user standing. As such, a user may initiate a change in the virtual reality content and/or the content mode by standing from a sitting posture and/or sitting from a standing posture.

Abstract: A devise for retracting or opening a tissue wound employs two retractor arms that do not enter or penetrate into the wound. The retractor arms engage the tissue on either side of the wound and apply outward pressure on the tissue surface to open the wound.

Abstract: A system and/or method that uses a body posture of a user to determine and modulate a content mode of a virtual reality system. The content mode may define the manner in which virtual reality content is presented to the user and/or the manner in which the user interacts with the virtual reality content. The user's body posture and/or a change in body posture may cause the content mode and/or the virtual reality content to change accordingly. In some implementations, primary content may be presented to the user according to a first content mode in response to the user sitting. Secondary virtual reality content may be presented to the user according to the second content mode in response to the user standing. As such, a user may initiate a change in the virtual reality content and/or the content mode by standing from a sitting posture and/or sitting from a standing posture.

Abstract: Portable containment units and methods for making same are described herein. The portable containment unit can include a liner containing a geotextile material and having an outer perimeter. A wall assembly can be adhered to an upper surface of the geotextile material on the outer perimeter of the liner. The wall assembly can include an open-cell foam material. An elastomeric material can be coated onto the liner and the wall assembly to form the portable containment unit.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for fast quantitative measurement of perturbation of optical fields transmitted, reflected and/or scattered along a length of an optical fibre can be used for point sensors as well as distributed sensors or the combination of both. In particular, this technique can be applied to distributed sensors while extending dramatically the speed and sensitivity to allow the detection of acoustic perturbations anywhere along a length of an optical fibre while achieving fine spatial resolution. Advantages of this technique include a broad range of acoustic sensing and imaging applications. Typical uses are for monitoring oil and gas wells such as for distributed flow metering and/or imaging, seismic imaging, monitoring long cables and pipelines, imaging within large vessel as well as for security applications.