Abstract: An apparatus for collimating radiation can include an aperture of subwavelength dimensions and a neighboring set of grooves defined on a metal film integrated with an active or passive device that emits radiation. Integration of the beam collimator onto the facet of a laser or other radiation-emitting device provides for beam collimation and polarization selection. Beam divergence can be reduced by more than one order of magnitude compared with the output of a conventional laser. An active beam collimator with an aperture-groove structure can be integrated with a wide range of optical devices, such as semiconductor lasers (e.g., quantum cascade lasers), light emitting diodes, optical fibers, and fiber lasers.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention relates to vision testing apparatus comprising: a local display (9); means (13) for obtaining data characterising the performance characteristics of said local display; means (9) for displaying to a user at said local display, a vision test that comprises an adaptation of a reference vision test; means (11) for registering user input in response to said displayed vision test; and means (9) for providing the user with the results of said displayed test; wherein said reference vision test comprises a test that is optimised for display on a high quality display, and the vision test for display at said local display is obtained by adapting said reference test in accordance with said characterising data so that the vision test displayed on said local display is a faithful reproduction of said reference test.

Abstract: Water is separated from a liquid mixture (e.g., sea water) using a humidification chamber and a dehumidification chamber that are each operated at a pressure less than ambient atmospheric pressure (e.g., at least 10% less than ambient atmospheric pressure). A carrier gas is flowed through the humidification chamber; and inside the humidification chamber, the carrier gas directly contacts the liquid mixture to humidify the carrier gas with water evaporated from the liquid mixture to produce a humidified gas flow. The humidified gas flow is directed through the dehumidification chamber, where water is condensed from the humidified gas flow and collected.

Abstract: Water is substantially separated from a liquid mixture (e.g., saline water) that includes water using a humidification chamber at a lower pressure and a dehumidification chamber at a higher pressure. A carrier gas is flowed through the humidification chamber; and inside the humidification chamber, the carrier gas directly contacts the liquid mixture to humidify the carrier gas with evaporated water from the liquid mixture to produce a humidified gas flow. The humidified gas flow is then directed through the dehumidification chamber, where water is condensed from the humidified gas flow and collected. The absolute pressure inside the humidification chamber is at least 10% lower than the absolute pressure inside the dehumidification chamber.

Abstract: A fluid control device for a fluid supply includes a housing (31) defining a fluid supply channel (34) with a fluid inlet (35) for coupling to a fluid supply and a fluid outlet (36) for coupling to an appliance. The housing additionally defines a chamber (44) with an inlet (40) for coupling to an overflow and an outlet (41) for coupling to a drain. A valve (55) is located in the fluid supply channel (34) and is moveable from a first open position to a second closed position where fluid flow through the channel (34) is substantially restricted. An actuator (52) is provided in the chamber (44) and is moveable from a first position to a second position. The valve (55) and actuator (44) are magnetically coupled to one another such that movement of the actuator (44) from the first position to the second position causes the valve (55) to move from the open position to the closed position.

Abstract: Femtosecond pulse trains in waveguide lasers with high fundamental repetition rates are achieved by exploiting the nonlinearity in the waveguide. Components of the apparatus include an optical resonator, a saturable absorber for starting and stabilizing mode-locking, and a gain element. Part of the laser cavity or the entire laser cavity is made of waveguide or fiber (collectively called “waveguide” herein). The net dispersion of the laser cavity can be anomalous. This anomalous dispersion in combination with the positive self-phase modulation nonlinearity in the waveguide creates soliton formation to shorten the pulse duration in the invented lasers. Conversely, a normal dispersive waveguide with negative self-phase modulation nonlinearity can also be used.

Abstract: Substantially pure water is produced via desalination using a directional solvent that directionally dissolves water but does not dissolve salt. The directional solvent is heated to dissolve water from the salt solution into the directional solvent. The remaining highly concentrated salt water is removed, and the solution of directional solvent and water is cooled to precipitate substantially pure water out of the solution.

Abstract: A Nb3Sn superconducting coil can be formed from a wire including multiple unreacted strands comprising tin in contact with niobium. The strands are wound into a cable, which is then heated to react the tin and niobium to form a cable comprising reacted Nb3Sn strands. The cable comprising the reacted Nb3Sn strands are then mounted in and soldered into an electrically conductive channel to form a reacted cable-in-channel of Nb3Sn strands. The cable-in-channel of reacted Nb3Sn strands are then wound to fabricate a superconducting coil. The Nb3Sn superconducting coil can be used, for example, in a magnet structure for particle acceleration. In one example, the superconducting coil is used in a high-field superconducting synchrocyclotron.

Abstract: A compliant holder device for constraining an animal includes a device body, a nose cone, and compliant flexure arms having contact surfaces for constraining the animal's head. In use, an animal is placed on the device body, and the nose of the animal is placed in the nose cone to constrain the skull at the nose. The compliant flexure arms are flexed to increase the distance between the contact surfaces of respective compliant flexure arms, and the ears of the animal are placed between the contact surfaces of the flexed compliant flexure arms, wherein the flex in the compliant flexure provides pressure to and constrains the skull at the ears.

Abstract: A refrigerant that is azeotropic or near-azeotropic comprises a binary blend of R744 and R41. In one embodiment the binary blend has a molar composition of 20 to 60 percent R744, the remainder being R41.

Abstract: A compact, background-free, balanced cross-correlator enables (a) the detection of a timing error between two ultrashort pulses with (sub-)femtosecond resolution and (b) the timing synchronization of ultrashort pulse lasers using the output signal of the detector to close a phase-locked loop and can therefore serve as an integral part of femtosecond timing distribution and synchronization systems.

Abstract: This invention relates to water sports equipment (10) for supporting a standing rider whilst the rider and the equipment are towed through the water, the equipment comprising: an elongate board (14) having an upper surface (16) carrying first (31, 33) and second (32, 34) foot securing means, said foot securing means being configured to be engaged by a respective foot of the rider so that the rider can stand on the board (14) with their body facing in a direction generally perpendicular to a direction in which the rider and equipment are towed through the water in use; a hydrofoil (11) having a longitudinal axis, said hydrofoil (11) being configured to impart lift to the board (14) when the rider and board are towed through the water; and means (12, 13) for affixing said hydrofoil (11) to said board (14) so that the hydrofoil is spaced from a lower surface (15) of the board and orientated such that said hydrofoil longitudinal axis is substantially transverse to the direction in which the rider and equipment ar

Abstract: Phase-contrast imaging is performed by directing radiation from a plurality of pinhole sources through a phase object to be imaged, wherein the phase object includes a first composition that produces a phase shift in the radiation relative to radiation passing through a second composition in the phase object and detecting a phase-contrast image of the radiation after it passes through the phase object. The phase-contrast image is then decoded to generate an image of the phase object in which the first composition is distinguished from the second composition.

Abstract: A Nb3Sn superconducting coil can be formed from a wire including multiple unreacted strands comprising tin in contact with niobium. The strands are wound into a cable, which is then heated to react the tin and niobium to form a cable comprising reacted Nb3Sn strands. The cable comprising the reacted Nb3Sn strands are then mounted in and soldered into an electrically conductive channel to form a reacted cable-in-channel of Nb3Sn strands. The cable-in-channel of reacted Nb3Sn strands are then wound to fabricate a superconducting coil. The Nb3Sn superconducting coil can be used, for example, in a magnet structure for particle acceleration. In one example, the superconducting coil is used in a high-field superconducting synchrocyclotron.

Abstract: Methods and systems provide power to a mobile recipient and allow the recipient to pay for the power obtained by having it charged to an account other than the account for the location at which the power is provided.

Abstract: This invention relates to a refrigerant that is azeotropic or near-azeotropic and comprises a binary blend of R1270 and R161, R170 and R717, or R744 and R41. In a first embodiment, the binary blend has a molar composition of 50 to 80 percent R1270, the remainder being R161. In a second embodiment, the binary blend has a molar composition of 30 to 60 percent R717, the remainder being R170. In a third embodiment the binary blend has a molar composition of 20 to 60 percent R744, the remainder being R161.

Abstract: The carrier-envelope phase in a train of optical pulses is varied utilizing the dispersive properties of lossless plates while the total dispersion in transmission is maintained practically constant. The plates include sloped surfaces and are mounted for displacement such that the ratio of the thicknesses of the two plates through which the optical pulses will pass can be varied by displacing the plates so as to shift the carrier-envelope phase in the optical pulses. In one embodiment, the plates include a barium fluoride wedge and a fumed silica wedge, wherein the wedges are bond together to form a composite structure with thicker and thinner portions of the wedges inversely matched.

Abstract: A composition suitable is disclosed for topical application for preventing and treating changes associated with skin aging and formation of abnormal skin lesions. The composition is derived by hydrolyzing a source composition in an acidic solution. The source composition can be, e.g., a soy composition and can include one or more isoflavones, phytoestrogens, sitosterols and saponins. After hydrolysis, water is added to the acidic solution to produce a first precipitate, which is then dissolved in an alcohol solution. The alcohol solution is then separated from undissolved portions of the first precipitate, and the alcohol in the separated alcohol solution is eliminated to produce a second precipitate of solids that were dissolved in the alcohol. This second precipitate is then dissolved in an organic solvent to produce a composition suitable for inclusion in a dermatological or cosmetic preparation.