Increasing innovative activity in the UK? Where now for government support for innovation and technology transfer?

In this Briefing Note, we present new evidence on the UK’s innovative performance and provide a summary of government business support programmes aimed at fostering innovative activity and technology transfer. Following recent reviews of policy in this area, there remain a number of such schemes in operation. We discuss the rationales for each, including the extent to which they overlap, and suggest some ways in which evidence on take-up and on effectiveness might be used to guide any future policy changes in this area

Productivity policy

In this Briefing Note, we first present internationally comparative evidence on the UK's productivity performance (Section 2) and some of the underlying "drivers" of productivity identified by the government (Section 3). We then provide an overview of productivity policy under both Labour governments since 1997, and discuss the recent direction of policy in this 2005 Election Briefing area (Section 4). Finally, we discuss the proposals of the three main parties in the area of productivity policy (Section 5)

The moon: An abundant source of clean and safe fusion fuel for the 21st century

It is shown how helium-3 can be obtained from the moon and how its use in fusion reactors can benefit the inhabitants of this planet. The physics and technology issues associated with the use of He-3 is addressed. A description is given of He-3 distribution on the moon and of methods which could be used to retrieve it

Heart catheter cable and connector

Ultraminiature catheter cables that are stiff enough for intravenous insertion yet flexible at the tip, sterilizable, and economical are fabricated entirely from commercially available parts. Assembly includes air passageway for reference pressures and coaxial cable for transmission of signals from the tip of catheter

Evaluation of the cardiovascular system during various circulatory stresses Progress report, 1 Sep. 1968 - 1 May 1969

Cardiac response to chemotherapy after myocardial infraction and diagnostic methods of heart disease in man and animal

Optimization of graded multilayer designs for astronomical x-ray telescopes

We developed a systematic method for optimizing the design of depth-graded multilayers for astronomical hard-x-ray and soft-γ-ray telescopes based on the instrument’s bandpass and the field of view. We apply these methods to the design of the conical-approximation Wolter I optics employed by the balloon-borne High Energy Focusing Telescope, using W/Si as the multilayer materials. In addition, we present optimized performance calculations of mirrors, using other material pairs that are capable of extending performance to photon energies above the W K-absorption edge (69.5 keV), including Pt/C, Ni/C, Cu/Si, and Mo/Si

Life raft stabilizer

An improved life raft stabilizer for reducing rocking and substantially precluding capsizing is discussed. The stabilizer may be removably attached to the raft and is defined by flexible side walls which extend a considerable depth downwardly to one another in the water. The side walls, in conjunction with the floor of the raft, form a ballast enclosure. A weight is placed in the bottom of the enclosure and water port means are provided in the walls. Placement of the stabilizer in the water allows the weighted bottom to sink, producing submerged deployment thereof and permitting water to enter the enclosure through the port means, thus forming a ballast for the raft

A new quantum fluid at high magnetic fields in the marginal charge-density-wave system α\alpha-(BEDT-TTF)2M_2MHg(SCN)4_4 (where M=M=~K and Rb)

Single crystals of the organic charge-transfer salts $\alpha$-(BEDT-TTF)$_2M$Hg(SCN)$_4$ have been studied using Hall-potential measurements ($M=$K) and magnetization experiments ($M$ = K, Rb). The data show that two types of screening currents occur within the high-field, low-temperature CDW$_x$ phases of these salts in response to time-dependent magnetic fields. The first, which gives rise to the induced Hall potential, is a free current (${\bf j}_{\rm free}$), present at the surface of the sample. The time constant for the decay of these currents is much longer than that expected from the sample resistivity. The second component of the current appears to be magnetic (${\bf j}_{\rm mag}$), in that it is a microscopic, quasi-orbital effect; it is evenly distributed within the bulk of the sample upon saturation. To explain these data, we propose a simple model invoking a new type of quantum fluid comprising a CDW coexisting with a two-dimensional Fermi-surface pocket which describes the two types of current. The model and data are able to account for the body of previous experimental data which had generated apparently contradictory interpretations in terms of the quantum Hall effect or superconductivity.Comment: 13 pages, 11 figure

Study of Chromium-Frit-Type Coatings for High-Temperature Protection of Molybdenum

The achievement of more compact and efficient power plants for aircraft is dependent, among other factors, on the perfection of heat-resisting materials that are superior to those in current use. Molybdenum is one of the high-melting metals (melting point, 4750 F). It is fairly abundant and also can be worked into many of the shapes required in modern power plants. To permit its widespread use at elevated temperatures, however, some means must first be found to prevent its rapid oxidation. The application of a protective coating is one method that might be used to achieve this goal. In the present work, a number of chromium-frit-type coatings were studied. These were bonded to molybdenum specimens by firing in controlled atmospheres to temperatures in the range of 2400 to 2700 F

Spin-Orbit Coupling and Ion Displacements in Multiferroic TbMnO3

The electronic and magnetic properties of TbMnO3 leading to its ferroelectric (FE) polarization were investigated on the basis of relativistic density functional theory (DFT) calculations. In agreement with experiment, we show that the spin-spiral plane of TbMnO3 can be either the bc- or ab-plane, but not the ac-plane. As for the mechanism of FE polarization, our work reveals that the "pure electronic" model by Katsura, Nagaosa and Balatsky (KNB) is inadequate in predicting the absolute direction of FE polarization. For the ab-plane spin-spiral state of TbMnO3, the direction of FE polarization predicted by the KNB model is opposite to that predicted by DFT calculations. In determining the magnitude and the absolute direction of FE polarization in spin-spiral states, it is found crucial to consider the displacements of the ions from their ecntrosymmetric positions