Abstract: An apparatus for performing an industrial working operation on a workpiece comprises: an anthropomorphous robot comprising an end effector including a 2D laser scanner and a working tool; an RTOS computer; and a robot controller. The computer provides successive positional data along a scanning path to robot controller, and a synchronization signal directly to input port of the 2D laser scanner, thereby commanding successive scanning operations on the workpiece in synchronism with successive poses of the end effector, to acquire 3D shape information about the workpiece. The working tool is operated while the end effector is subsequently moved along a tooling path and/or is moved along a combined scanning and tooling path. An apparatus for acquiring a shape of an object arranged at a working area and methods are further disclosed.

Abstract: A mobile inhaler is configured to provide an inhalable aerosol to a user. The mobile inhaler may include a vibrating mesh atomizer. The vibrating mesh atomizer may include a vibrating mesh membrane comprising a plurality of holes, a piezoelectric actuator coupled to the vibrating mesh membrane, wherein the processing equipment is configured to actuate the piezoelectric actuator, and a vibrating mesh membrane holder. The mobile inhaler includes processing equipment, which may include memory configured to store information about one or more users, including usage behaviour. A capsule is used to hold liquid for atomizing and may include a plunger to dispense liquid. The processing equipment may be configured to determine desired dosages, or other desired usage metrics, based on the stored information. In some embodiments, information from a plurality of mobile inhalers may be stored and analysed.

Abstract: A lighting fixture includes a cap and a spaced-apart shield. The cap is suspendable below a ceiling and disposed generally over a light source. The lighting fixture includes at least one of the shield having at least one aperture with at least one translucent ornament illuminatable by the light source, a plurality of elongated members connected at one end to the cap and at a second end to the shield to support an upper portion of the shield spaced apart from a lower portion of the cap, and the shield having a plurality of openings therethrough defining a pattern in the shield illuminatable by the light source.

Abstract: The invention is based on methods that allow analysis of mixed meningococcal saccharides from multiple serogroups even though they share monosaccharide units. With a combination of saccharides from serogroups C, W135 and Y, the invention analyses sialic acid, glucose and galactose content. The glucose and galactose results are used to directly quantify saccharides from serogroups Y and W135, respectively, and the combined glucose and galactose content is subtracted from the sialic acid content to quantify saccharides from serogroup C. The three serogroups can thus be resolved even though their monosaccharide contents overlap. The three different monosaccharide analyses can be performed on the same material, without interference between the monosaccharides and without interference from any other saccharide materials in the composition (e.g. lyophilisation stabilisers).

Abstract: The invention is based on methods that allow analysis of mixed meningococcal saccharides from multiple serogroups even though they share monosaccharide units. With a combination of saccharides from serogroups C, W135 and Y, the invention analyses sialic acid, glucose and galactose content. The glucose and galactose results are used to directly quantify saccharides from serogroups Y and W135, respectively, and the combined glucose and galactose content is subtracted from the sialic acid content to quantify saccharides from serogroup C. The three serogroups can thus be resolved even though their monosaccharide contents overlap. The three different monosaccharide analyses can be performed on the same material, without interference between the monosaccharides and without interference from any other saccharide materials in the composition (e.g. lyophilisation stabilisers).

Abstract: When analysing saccharides by HPAEC, the eluate from the column is typically analysed using a amperometric detector. According to the invention, amperometric detection is coupled with ultraviolet detection, with both methods being applied to the eluate. Thus the invention provides a method for analysing the eluate from a liquid chromatography column, wherein the eluate is analysed by both (a) amperometric detection and (b) ultraviolet detection. The information content derivable from using both sorts of detection advantageously exceeds that derivable from either of the two detection methods alone.

Abstract: The invention is based on the use of solid phase extraction for separating conjugated saccharide from unconjugated saccharide in sample, e.g. a vaccine. Solid phase extraction (SPE) provides faster and more reproducible separation of conjugated saccharides from unconjugated saccharides, thereby allowing quantitative separation of these saccharides. The separation of conjugated and unconjugated saccharide using SPE may be advantageously combined with a quantitative conjugate analysis to provide improved quality control for conjugate vaccines. The SPE separation is compatible with existing quantitative conjugate analysis techniques, such as high performance anion exchange chromatography with pulsed amperometric detection (HPAEC-PAD).

Abstract: The invention is based on methods that allow analysis of mixed meningococcal saccharides from multiple serogroups even though they share monosaccharide units. With a combination of saccharides from serogroups C, W135 and Y, the invention analyses sialic acid, glucose and galactose content. The glucose and galactose results are used to directly quantify saccharides from serogroups Y and W135, respectively, and the combined glucose and galactose content is subtracted from the sialic acid content to quantify saccharides from serogroup C. The three serogroups can thus be resolved even though their monosaccharide contents overlap. The three different monosaccharide analyses can be performed on the same material, without interference between the monosaccharides and without interference from any other saccharide materials in the composition (e.g. lyophilisation stabilisers).

Abstract: When analysing saccharides by HPAEC, the eluate from the column is typically analysed using a amperometric detector. According to the invention, amperometric detection is coupled with ultraviolet detection, with both methods being applied to the eluate. Thus the invention provides a method for analysing the eluate from a liquid chromatography column, wherein the eluate is analysed by both (a) amperometric detection and (b) ultraviolet detection. The information content derivable from using both sorts of detection advantageously exceeds that derivable from either of the two detection methods alone.

Abstract: A rapidly replaceable non-return device (110) for a petrochemical refinery reactor (112), of the type comprising: a support tube (114), connected to a portion of the reactor (112), this support tube (114) being provided internally with a cartridge (116) containing a ball (118), the cartridge (116) having, around an inlet hole (121) for a processed fluid, a seat (122) for housing the ball (118), and having slots (120) for the outflow of the said processed fluid; the cartridge (116) is fitted removably in the support tube (114).

Abstract: A rapidly replaceable non-return device (110) for a petrochemical refinery reactor (112), of the type comprising: a support tube (114), connected to a portion of the reactor (112), this support tube (114) being provided internally with a cartridge (116) containing a ball (118), the cartridge (116) having, around an inlet hole (121) for a processed fluid, a seat (122) for housing the ball (118), and having slots (120) for the outflow of the said processed fluid; the cartridge (116) is fitted removably in the support tube (114).

Abstract: A compressive composite elastic stocking which is easier to put on comprising at least two parts (11, 12; 111, 112) suitable for realizing, when applied to a leg (16), a stocking in a single piece with a predetermined degree of compression.