Abstract: Germanium-silicon oxide, germanium-silicon oxynitride and silica-germania-titania materials and oxynitride materials suitable for fabricating optical waveguides for liquid crystal based cross-connect optical switching devices have a refractive index of from about 1.48 to about 1.52 at 1550 nm, and a coefficient of thermal expansion at room temperature of from about 3×10−6° C.−1 to about 4.4×10−6° C.−1. The compositions are adjusted so that the refractive index of the germanium-silicon oxide, germanium-silicon oxynitride or silica-germania-titania material is closely matched to the refractive index of a typical liquid crystal material whereby improved optical performance of a liquid crystal based cross-connect optical switching device is achieved.

Abstract: The present invention includes a method of growing a doped glass films suitable for optical applications on a substrate comprising the steps of conveying an organometallic compound of the formula (R3SiO)jM(OR′)k to the substrate and reacting the silica forming substance and the organometallic compound to form the optical layer on the substrate, where M is a metal; R is methyl, ethyl or propyl; R′ is methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, n-butyl, isobutyl or s-butyl; j is 1, 2, 3 or 4; and k=4−j. The present invention also includes planar optical devices made by the above method. Additionally, the present invention includes an optical fiber made by the above method.

Abstract: The present invention includes a method of growing a doped glass films suitable for optical applications on a substrate comprising the steps of conveying an organometallic compound of the formula (R3SiO)jM(OR′)k to the substrate and reacting the silica forming substance and the organometallic compound to form the optical layer on the substrate, where M is a metal; R is methyl, ethyl or propyl; R′ is methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, n-butyl, isobutyl or s-butyl; j is 1, 2, 3 or 4; and k=4−j. The present invention also includes planar optical devices made by the above method. Additionally, the present invention includes an optical fiber made by the above method.

Abstract: Germanium-silicon oxide, germanium-silicon oxynitride and silica-germania-titania materials and oxynitride materials suitable for fabricating optical waveguides for liquid crystal based cross-connect optical switching devices have a refractive index of from about 1.48 to about 1.52 at 1550 nm, and a coefficient of thermal expansion at room temperature of from about 3×10−6° C.−1 to about 4.4×10−6° C,−1. The compositions are adjusted so that the refractive index of the germanium-silicon oxide, germanium-silicon oxynitride or silica-germania-titania material is closely matched to the refractive index of a typical liquid crystal material whereby improved optical performance of a liquid crystal based cross-connect optical switching device is achieved.

Abstract: A method for the continuous culturing of microbes in a plug-flow reactor which comprises the steps of:A. supplying medium to microbes immobilized on a porous inorganic support at a rate sufficient to maintain such microbes substantially in a logarithmic growth stateandB. removing microbe-containing effluent from the immobilized microbes at a rate equal to the medium supply rate, wherein the microbes are selected from the group consisting of bacteria, yeasts, and fungus-like organisms; such reactor is operated continuously in a substantially plug-flow mode; the immobilized microbes are substantially covered by said medium; and such porous inorganic support has a controlled porosity such that at least 70% of the pores, on a pore size distribution basis, have a pore diameter,a. in the case of bacteria, at least as large as the smallest major dimension of the microbes but less than about five times the largest major dimension of the microbes;b.

Abstract: Device for simultaneous recognition of group D streptococci and the differentiation of members of that group into enterococci and nonenterococci bacteria. Device comprises an elongated substantially cylindrical transparent tube having upper and lower chambers joined by a conduit having a smallest diameter smaller than either chamber. The upper chamber contains a semi-solid bile-esculin medium capable of indicating the presence of group D streptococci. The lower chamber contains a semi-solid enterococci distinguishing medium having a NaCl content of at least about 6.5%. Media in the two chambers are separated by a gas (e.g., air) within the conduit.

Abstract: A microbial growth medium for distinguishing Neisseria gonorrhoeae from Neisseria meningitidis. The medium comprises a gonococci and meningococci specific medium having incorporated therein a quantity of 8-anilino-1-naphthalene-sulfonic acid (ANS) or a salt thereof, at a concentration sufficient to permit the growth of the meningococci and inhibit the growth of the gonococci.