Abstract: The present disclosure relates to compounds of the formula (1) that function as senescent cell detectors: wherein the SBB analogues refer to de novo synthesized derivatives with structural similarity to the Sudan Black B dye, L is an appropriate chemical bond and hapten is biotin, or digoxigenin, or 2,4-dinitrophenol, or fluorescein, but more preferably biotin. The present invention also relates to processes for the preparation of these compounds, to their use in the detection of senescent cells, to methods of detecting senescence in cells and to kits comprising said compounds.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to de novo synthesized, chemical compounds of the formula (1) or (2) that function as senescent cell detectors wherein R1, R2, R3, R4 and Z are as defined herein. The present invention also relates to processes for the preparation of these compounds, to their use in the detection of senescent cells, to methods of detecting senescence in cells and to kits comprising said compounds. The compounds have the ability to react with lipofuscin, in an analogous manner to the histochemical dye Sudan Black B (SBB).

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to de novo synthesized, chemical compounds of the formula (1) or (2) that function as senescent cell detectors wherein R1, R2, R3, R4 and Z are as defined herein. The present invention also relates to processes for the preparation of these compounds, to their use in the detection of senescent cells, to methods of detecting senescence in cells and to kits comprising said compounds. The compounds have the ability to react with lipofuscin, in an analogous manner to the histochemical dye Sudan Black B (SBB).

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to compounds of the formula (1) that function as senescent cell detectors: wherein the SBB analogues refer to de novo synthesized derivatives with structural similarity to the Sudan Black B dye, L is an appropriate chemical bond and hapten is biotin, or digoxigenin, or 2,4-dinitrophenol, or fluorescein, but more preferably biotin. The present invention also relates to processes for the preparation of these compounds, to their use in the detection of senescent cells, to methods of detecting senescence in cells and to kits comprising said compounds.

Abstract: A diaphragm for a lung demand valve, including a CBRN layer which is sufficiently resistant to the permeation of at least some CBRN agents and a resilient layer which is resiliently deformable. The CRBN layer is arranged to restrict the permeation of at least some CBRN agents through the diaphragm, and the resilient layer is arranged to allow the diaphragm to be resiliently deformed.

Abstract: A diaphragm for a lung demand valve, including a CBRN layer which is sufficiently resistant to the permeation of at least some CBRN agents and a resilient layer which is resiliently deformable. The CBRN layer is arranged to restrict the permeation of at least some CBRN agents through the diaphragm, and the resilient layer is arranged to allow the diaphragm to be resiliently deformed.

Abstract: A diaphragm for a lung demand valve, including a CBRN layer which is sufficiently resistant to the permeation of at least some CBRN agents and a resilient layer which is resiliently deformable. The CRBN layer is arranged to restrict the permeation of at least some CBRN agents through the diaphragm, and the resilient layer is arranged to allow the diaphragm to be resiliently deformed.

Abstract: The invention provides a linear burst mode receiver comprising a first amplifier connected to a photodiode adapted to detect an optical input burst signal, a second amplifier connected to said photodiode; and means for deriving the peak input current of the detected burst signal using said second amplifier. The invention further provides means for using the derived peak input current to adjust the gain of the first amplifier during the preamble of each burst, such that the output voltage swing of the first amplifier equals a given reference, independent of the strength of the optical input burst signal. The usage of the fast feed-forward automatic gain control mechanism solves the problems with gain switching and non-linearity prevalent in today's burst-mode receivers.

Abstract: A diaphragm for a lung demand valve, including a chemical, biological, radiological and/or nuclear (CBRN) layer which is sufficiently resistant to the permeation of at least some CBRN agents and a resilient layer which is resiliently deformable. The CRBN layer is arranged to restrict the permeation of at least some CBRN agents through the diaphragm, and the resilient layer is arranged to allow the diaphragm to be resiliently deformed.

Abstract: There is disclosed a harness for breathing apparatus, the harness arranged to support a plurality of cylinders of breathable gas side-by-side. The harness comprises a plurality of longitudinally extending cylinder channels arranged side-by-side, each cylinder channel having a rear wall and open at least partially along its length and arranged to accommodate a cylinder. Adjacent cylinder channels are laterally separated by a longitudinally extending channel side wall that in use is disposed between adjacent cylinders.

Abstract: There is disclosed a harness for breathing apparatus which is arranged to support a plurality of cylinders of breathable gas side-by-side and is arranged to be worn on the back of a wearer. The harness comprises upper and lower longitudinally spaced housings coupled together by a longitudinally extending back member. The upper and lower housings are arranged to retain upper and lower portions of each cylinder respectively.

Abstract: A structural support member 10 for a harness 100 for breathing apparatus, the structural support member being generally elongate and arranged in use to support a cylinder of breathable gas, the structural support member comprising: a frame having; a lower portion 11 arranged in use to support a first end of a cylinder; an upper portion arranged in use to support a second opposed end of the cylinder; and first and second side limbs 26, 36 coupling the upper and lower portions and defining a void 14 therebetween, in a substantially central region of the frame.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a gas-cylinder retaining assembly 10 for retaining a gas-cylinder on a harness for breathing apparatus. The retaining assembly comprises a strap 20 arranged in use to be coupled to the harness and a retaining portion of which is arranged to pass around at least a portion of the cylinder; a tensioning device 30 arranged for tightening the retaining portion of the strap around the cylinder such that the cylinder is held to the harness, and wherein a free portion of the strap, having a free end, extends from the tensioning device; and a retaining buckle 40 arranged for retaining the free portion of the strap, the retaining buckle 40 comprises a positioning slot 42 through which in use the retaining portion of the strap passes; a pivot member 44 which in use is located between the cylinder and the retaining portion of the strap; and a retaining slot arranged in use to receive the free end of the strap 46.

Abstract: A semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) is used in a double pass configuration with one of the output ports followed by an attenuator, which is followed by a modulator with a reflective facet. The variable loss between the SOA and the modulator is optimised, so that the SOA can be operated in a highly saturated regime without distorting the modulated signal. The SOA is firstly saturated by the input carrier, (21) in FIG. 2, which has a constant power and hence does not introduce patterning of the SOA gain. On the contrary the saturation induced by the carrier creates a clamping effect that prevents patterning for signals with input put power comparable with or less than the input optical carrier power. The optical carrier amplified by the SOA (22) then travels through the attenuator section and it is attenuated (23). The carrier (23) then enters the modulator section where it is modulated with the data signal (24).

Abstract: The invention provides time-synchronised transmission of data on the (polarisation or phase-modulated) QKD channel and the (on-off modulated) conventional channel such that a QKD bit is only transmitted when a zero, or sequence of zeros, is transmitted on the conventional channel. Also, there is co-directional propagation of the QKD and conventional channel. Further, there is dispersion management through wavelength selection or control of fibre properties or other means such that the “walk-off in time of the QKD pulses and the Raman pulses generated by the ones on the conventional channel is less than or of the order of one bit period. The latter can be achieved, for example, by placing the conventional and QKD channel wavelengths close to the point where the group velocity-induced time delay for optical pulses propagating in the fibre reaches a minimum. This dispersion minimum occurs at a wavelength of 1.3 microns in standard fibre. The invention discloses a receiver embodiment to implement the invention.

Abstract: A harness for use with breathing apparatus has: a flexible hip plate 12 and a flexible bandolier-style shoulder panel 14, linked together by a strap 15, and a waist belt 16 fastenable by a sprung fastener. In use, the flexible hip plate 12 rests against the hip of a user (the left hip in this example), the waist belt is fitted around the waist of the user, and the shoulder panel 14 rests against the shoulder opposite to the hip against which the flexible plate is resting (the right shoulder in this example). At least the bandolier-style panel 14, and optionally also the hip plate 12 of the harness 10, are made of a resilient material which, though flexible, allows the harness substantially to retain its operational configuration even when not being worn.

Abstract: The invention provides a linear burst mode receiver comprising a first amplifier connected to a photodiode adapted to detect an optical input burst signal, a second amplifier connected to said photodiode; and means for deriving the peak input current of the detected burst signal using said second amplifier. The invention further provides means for using the derived peak input current to adjust the gain of the first amplifier during the preamble of each burst, such that the output voltage swing of the first amplifier equals a given reference, independent of the strength of the optical input burst signal. The usage of the fast feed-forward automatic gain control mechanism solves the problems with gain switching and non-linearity prevalent in today's burst-mode receivers.

Abstract: A harness 100 for breathing apparatus, comprising: a structural support member 102 having a fixing portion 10, and at least one strap 40 having a loop 42. The strap is arranged to be releasably attached to the structural support member. The fixing portion comprises a first slot 12 through which a portion of the strap is arranged to pass in use; and a first anchor member 16, 18 laterally spaced from the first slot extending in a direction substantially parallel to the first slot and arranged in use to releasably locate at least partly within the loop of the strap through a first side of the loop.

Abstract: A shoulder strap for a harness for breathing apparatus includes a first elongate strap portion generally extending along a first longitudinal axis; a second elongate strap portion attached to the first strap portion and generally extending along a second longitudinal axis that is oblique to the first axis; and a first attachment portion for attaching a first end of the shoulder strap to the harness in use and a second attachment portion for attaching a second end of the shoulder strap to the harness in use.