Parallel convolutional coder

A parallel convolutional coder (104) comprising: a plurality of serial convolutional coders (108) each having a register with a plurality of memory cells and a plurality of serial coder outputs,- input means (120) from which data can be transferred in parallel into the registers,- and a parallel coder output (124) comprising a plurality of output memory cells each of which is connected to one of the serial coder outputs so that data can be transferred in parallel from all of the serial coders to the parallel coder output.

Ion-conducting polymers and membranes comprising them

An ion-conducting polymer wherein at least 80% of the repeat units comprise an ion-conducting region and a spacer region is disclosed. The ion-conducting region has an aromatic backbone of one or more aromatic groups, wherein at least one ion-conducting functional group is attached to each aromatic group. The spacer region has an aromatic backbone of at least four aromatic groups, wherein no ion-conducting functional groups are attached to the aromatic backbone. The polymer is suitable for use as a fuel cell membrane, and can be incorporated into membrane electrode assemblies.

Composite nanoparticles

The method of measuring the partition coefficient of a test molecule comprises incorporating the molecule in a composition of nanoparticles having a porous surface and a first solvent, wherein a second solvent has been absorbed into the porous surface, and said first solvent is immiscible with said second solvent, and then separating the nanoparticles and the first solvent. The amount of the molecule which remains in the first solvent is determined to enable calculation of the partition coefficient. The nanoparticles may have a magnetic core to allow easy separation.

Catalyst

A water gas shift catalyst comprising metal particles and a metal oxide material is disclosed. The metal particles comprise at least one precious metal and the metal oxide material comprises at least one reducible metal oxide. Substantially all of the metal particles are encapsulated by the metal oxide material such that the catalyst has substantially no activity for methanation. The loading of the metal particles is between 0.5-25wt% based on the weight of the metal oxide material. A process for preparing the catalyst is also disclosed.

Capillary assay device with internal hydrophilic coating

The present invention provides assay devices having a unitary body with an exterior surface, the unitary body being substantially transparent to visible light and formed from a material having a refractive index in the range 1.26 to 1.40, the refractive index being measured at 20 °C with light of wavelength 589 nm, and wherein the unitary body is formed from a hydrophobic material, and at least two capillary bores extending internally along the unitary body, wherein at least a portion of the surface of each capillary bore includes a hydrophilic layer for retaining an assay reagent, and wherein the hydrophilic layer is also substantially transparent to visible light to allow optical interrogation of the capillary bores through the capillary wall. The present invention also provides assay systems including such assay devices, methods of performing an assay using such assay devices and method of method for manufacturing such assay devices.