Abstract: The invention relates to compounds, compositions and polymers comprising a first component adapted to promote germination of Clostridium difficile (C. diff) and a second component which acts as an antimicrobial agent. Said compounds, compositions and polymers are useful for destroying C. diff where conventional antimicrobial agents are unsuccessful. The compositions can be formulated as coating or materials which actively destroy C. diff which come into contact with it. The germination promotion is induced by bile salts. The invention also relates to the use of such materials as a treatment for C. diff associated diseases and toxic megacolon.

Abstract: A bioactive glass composition for use in treating bone cancer includes 0.5-10 mol % gallium oxide or 1.0-20 mol % gallium nitrate/halide; 25 to 75 mol % silicon dioxide; 10 to 30 mol % calcium oxide and/or strontium oxide; up to 30 mol % sodium oxide; and up to 15 mol % phosphorous pentoxide. It may further comprise magnesium and/or potassium oxide. The bioactive glass composition may be positioned within a patient's bone post-surgery to promote apatite formation and to release gallium ions having a toxic effect on any remaining cancerous cells.

Abstract: A laser detection system and method of two way communication comprising: a Mach Zehnder interferometer, the Mach Zehnder interferometer comprising: an entry beam splitter for splitting incident light into a first arm, having an arm length L1 and a second arm having an arm length L2; a modulation stage for receiving a modulation signal and applying a phase difference to the second arm, the magnitude of the phase difference depending upon the magnitude of the modulation signal; an exit beam splitter for recombining light from the first arm with light from the second arm to create a first output and a second output; a detection stage comprising a first detector at the first output for detecting intensity modulation caused by interference of the recombined light; and a signal processor communicably connected to both the modulation stage and the detection stage.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for coating carrier particles with guest particles. The apparatus comprises a cylindrical processing vessel rotatable about its axis and having solid walls defining a chamber for receiving the particles, and a hollow shaft extending within the chamber at least partly along the axis of the cylindrical processing vessel, the hollow shaft defining a gas flow path connected to a gas inlet. The hollow shaft comprises one or more axially-extending slots or one or more axially-extending rows of apertures allowing fluid communication between the gas flow path and the chamber.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of diagnosis or prognosis of preeclampsia in a pregnant subject, comprising providing a sample from a pregnant subject and measuring the ratio between the amount of (a) one or both of sFlt-1 and PlGF, and (b) one or both of a breakdown product of heme and a breakdown product of arginine, in the sample. Also described are assay kits and a computer adapted for use in the method. Also described is a method of treating preeclampsia, comprising administering a pharmaceutically effective amount of L-arginine and/or citrulline and an inhibitor of arginase or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. Also described is a method of treating cancer, comprising treating a subject with a therapeutically effective amount of an anti-VEGF compound, L-arginine and an arginase inhibitor.

Abstract: The application describes Hydrogen Sulphide (H2S), or a (H2S) generating compound or compound capable of stimulating H2S production in a pregnant subject, for use in the treatment of pre-eclampsia (PE) or fetal growth restriction.

Abstract: A laser detection system and method of two way communication comprising: a Mach Zehnder interferometer, the Mach Zehnder interferometer comprising: an entry beam splitter for splitting incident light into a first arm, having an arm length L1 and a second arm having an arm length L2; a modulation stage for receiving a modulation signal and applying a phase difference to the second arm, the magnitude of the phase difference depending upon the magnitude of the modulation signal; an exit beam splitter for recombining light from the first arm with light from the second arm to create a first output and a second output; a detection stage comprising a first detector at the first output for detecting intensity modulation caused by interference of the recombined light; and a signal processor communicably connected to both the modulation stage and the detection stage.

Abstract: A system for transmission of an optical signal, the system including an optical coupler for splitting said signal into a first copy and a second copy. The optical coupler has an input for receiving the optical signal, a first output for the first copy and a second output for the second copy. The system also includes a first optical guide connected to the first output, a second optical guide connected to the second output and a superposition module for coherently superimposing the first copy and the second copy of the signal.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of treating preeclampsia, fetal growth restriction (FGR or IUGR), obesity in pregnancy, post-partum cardiomyopathy (heart failure in mothers), cancer and diabetic retinopathy, cardiomyopathy, myocardial infarction, wet microdegeneration and other disorders where angiogenesis is aberrant either diminished or exacerbated, comprising modulating the activity of micro RNA (miRNA). Also provided are an MiRNA modulator or a combination thereof or functional fragments or homologues thereof for use in the treatment of preeclampsia, fetal growth restriction, obesity in pregnancy, cancer, and diabetic retinopathy, cardiomyocyte infarction, wet microdegeneration as well as other disorder where angiogenesis is aberrant either diminished or exacerbated. Methods of modulating angiogenesis and pharmaceutical compositions using miR-122, miR-374b or inhibitors of miR-152 or miR195 are also provided together with methods of diagnosis using the miRNAs.

Abstract: A bioactive glass composition for use in treating bone cancer includes 0.5-10 mol % gallium oxide or 1.0-20 mol % gallium nitrate/halide; 25 to 75 mol % silicon dioxide; 10 to 30 mol % calcium oxide and/or strontium oxide; up to 30 mol % sodium oxide; and up to 15 mol % phosphorous pentoxide. It may further comprise magnesium and/or potassium oxide. The bioactive glass composition may be positioned within a patient's bone post-surgery to promote apatite formation and to release gallium ions having a toxic effect on any remaining cancerous cells.

Abstract: A method of measuring a height of a fuel in an aircraft fuel tank (21)b including illuminating the fuel in the aircraft fuel tank and detecting reflected light from the fuel. Optical coherence tomography is used to determine the height of a surface of fuel in the fuel tank. An apparatus (30) is used to measure a height of a surface of fuel in an aircraft fuel tank, and an aircraft fuel tank system with a fuel tank and an apparatus for measuring a height of a surface of fuel in the aircraft fuel tank.

Abstract: Described is a method of diagnosis or prognosis of preeclampsia in a pregnant subject, comprising providing a sample from a pregnant subject and measuring the ratio between the amount of (a) one or both of sFlt-1 and PlGF, and (b) one or both of a breakdown product of heme and a breakdown product of arginine, in the sample. Also described are assay kits and a computer adapted for use in the method. Also described is a method of treating preeclampsia, comprising administering a pharmaceutically effective amount of L-arginine and/or citrulline and an inhibitor of arginase or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. Also described is a method of treating cancer, comprising treating a subject with a therapeutically effective amount of an anti-VEGF compound, L-arginine and an arginase inhibitor.

Abstract: The application describes Hydrogen Sulphide (H2S), or a (H2S) generating compound or compound capable of stimulating H2S production in a pregnant subject, for use in the treatment of pre-eclampsia (PE) or fetal growth restriction.

Abstract: A system for transmission of an optical signal, the system including an optical coupler for splitting said signal into a first copy and a second copy. The optical coupler has an input for receiving the optical signal, a first output for the first copy and a second output for the second copy. The system also includes a first optical guide connected to the first output, a second optical guide connected to the second output and a superposition module for coherently superimposing the first copy and the second copy of the signal.

Abstract: The invention provides formulations and methods for ameliorating symptoms associated with metabolic disorders, such as hypoglycemia, obesity, diabetes, and the like by targeted administration to the oesphagus of a subject of Zn-?2-glycoproteins or a functional fragment thereof, alone or in combination with additional agents, such as ? adrenergin receptor agonists, ? adrenergin receptor antagonists, and/or glycemic control agents.

Abstract: A method of compensating for crosstalk in a mode division multiplexing passive optical network using a technique of transmitter-side crosstalk pre-compensation, performed at the Central Office, in which a downlink reference signal such as a training sequence or pilot signal is retrieved at the transmitter without being influenced by crosstalk effects on its uplink transmission. An uplink reference signal is transmitted in a quasi-single mode transmission along the optical fiber, and a plurality of optical signals input to transmission multiplexer are adapted based on the uplink reference signal to pre-compensate for crosstalk.

Abstract: The invention provides formulations and methods for ameliorating symptoms associated with metabolic disorders, such as cachexia, hypoglycemia, obesity, diabetes, and the like by administering Zn-?2-glycoproteins or a functional fragment thereof, alone or in combination with additional agents, such as ? adrenergin receptor agonists, ? adrenergin receptor antagonists, and/or glycemic control agents.

Abstract: A mode division multiplexing passive optical network (PON) in which channel estimation/inversion is performed in the optical domain. The PON comprises a plurality of input channels; a multiplexer having a plurality of input ports connected to a respective one of the input channels; an optical fibre having an uplink end connected to an output port of the multiplexer, whereby the multiplexer outputs a mode multiplexed signal corresponding to the optical signals from the plurality of input channels. The PON includes an optical equalizer arranged to transfer power between optical signals having different modes to compensate for crosstalk between the different modes. In this system, compensation for crosstalk occurs in the optical domain, e.g. by using the optical equalizer to adapt the optical signals where necessary.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention comprise apparatus and methods for detecting the presence of a substance in a test material using a plurality of wavelength-specific couplers (e.g. tilted fiber gratings) which provide a spatially distributed multi-node all-optical measurement system. Each node of the measurement system can comprise an optical module that is sensitive to the intensity of a limited band of wavelengths. The node is thus capable of detecting the presence of an absorption peak in a spectrum without having to obtain the full spectrum. By providing a plurality of optical modules that are sensitive to different wavelengths, the spectral signature of different substances may be monitored without having to measure full spectra. The measurement system may be particularly useful in a process control environment where it is desirable to take measurements of one or more substances in different locations.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention comprise apparatus and methods for detecting the presence of a substance in a test material using a plurality of wavelength-specific couplers (e.g. tilted fibre gratings) which provide a spatially distributed multi-node all-optical measurement system. Each node of the measurement system can comprise an optical module that is sensitive to the intensity of a limited band of wavelengths. The node is thus capable of detecting the presence of an absorption peak in a spectrum without having to obtain the full spectrum. By providing a plurality of optical modules that are sensitive to different wavelengths, the spectral signature of different substances may be monitored without having to measure full spectra. The measurement system may be particularly useful in a process control environment where it is desirable to take measurements of one or more substances in different locations.