Abstract: The present invention describes a spatial addressing technique that uses a very high-density micro-pore array for high-throughput screening of biological interactions. The therapeutic, diagnostic and drug-discovery implications of being able to identify, select and characterize specific protein-protein, protein-DNA and/or protein-carbohydrate interactions from heterogeneous populations of millions (to billions) of cells is discussed. Importantly, this technique possesses the screening and selection capacity of current display-based screening systems (i.e., millions-billions) but with greater efficiency and shorter time.

Abstract: A device consisting of a rotatable substrate (10) with at least one cavity (14) or channel/chamber structures is described. Fluids may be provided into the at least one cavity (14) and on rotation of the substrate will experience the effects of pseudo forces. At least one functional element (15, 16) which is based on organic conductors as for instance an LED or a photodiode is connected with the rotatable substrate.

Abstract: A method of producing a recombinant biological product, which method employs a mammalian producer cell culture, comprises the steps of generating a biomass of mammalian producer during an initial phase of cell culture, and causing an increase in a level of one or more of the miRNA molecules of Table 1 within the mammalian producer cells once a desired concentration of mammalian producer cells has been achieved. The method may also comprise the step of increasing a level of an inhibitor of one or more of the miRNA molecules of Table 1 within the mammalian producer cells at the start of or during an initial phase of culture.

Abstract: A method of processing a 3-dimensional Computed Tomography Colonography data set to remove tagged material is disclosed. The method involves the preliminary processing step of classifying voxels in the data set as corresponding to air, tagged material or colon tissue. Methods of overcoming erroneous classification of Partial Volume air/tagged material interface voxels are disclosed. The present invention also provides for methods of circumventing problems resulting from removal of tagged material from a CTC data set, which can result in the erosion of soft-tissue structures partially covered by tagged colonic fluid.

Abstract: A method for providing nanoparticle clusters of controlled dimensions is described. The method involves an activation of individual nanoparticles and the subsequent interaction between activated particles to form a cluster.

Abstract: In wavelength switching optical networks, the optical data being transmitted may be routed to different end points by switching the operating frequency of the laser. However, the phase noise of the laser source increases following a switching event. This increased phase noise can prevent the successful transmission of phase modulation formats which are sensitive to it. Accordingly, it is generally necessary to wait a short period before transmitting data. However, the period may be as long as the data packet being transmitted (e.g. 3 ?S), which is a limiting factor. The present application obviates this problem by including a radio frequency pilot tone with the data prior to modulation onto the optical carrier.

Abstract: A method for enhancing source-language coverage during statistical machine translation. The method including receiving an input string in a source language for translation into a target language. Extracting a paraphrase representation of the input string from a data repository comprising a corpus. Generating a word lattice structure using a directed acyclic graph representation having a plurality of nodes with edges extending there between. The words of the input string and the extracted paraphrase representation each having a respective edge in the directed acyclic graph. Labelling each of the edges with a word and a probability, the probability weighing assigned to the edges associated with the words of the input string being higher than the probability assigned to paraphrases derived from the input string.

Abstract: A semiconductor optical amplifier for amplifying an optical signal. The amplifier comprises an input for receiving the optical signal and an output for outputting an amplified version of the optical signal. A semiconductor active medium is provided for defining an amplification path extending between the input and the output for amplifying the optical signal as the optical signal propagates along the amplification path. A control means selectively controls the amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) of the semiconductor optical amplifier. The control means is co-operable with the active medium for selectively varying carrier density along the amplification path.

Abstract: A direct contact segmented column heater is described. The heater is capable of a broad heating and cooling range, and exhibits a very rapid response, with heating and cooling rates better than 350° C. min?1. In one configuration one or more of the individual heating devices are provided with full independent control and temperature feedback, and developed to provide excellent thermal stability at all temperatures. The heating devices or in other words active thermal transfer devices are capable of bi-directional operation, selectively heating (i.e., providing heat to) or cooling (i.e., withdrawing heat from) a column and/or contents of a column.

Abstract: A curing system comprising an oven which may be usefully employed in the fabrication of long polymer columns of various morphologies and formats is described. In accordance with an exemplary arrangement the invention relates to a curing system comprising an oven that allows for the formation of very long capillary columns.

Abstract: Nanoparticle clusters are described. In particular nanoparticle clusters formed from two or more individual nanoparticles of different types are described and methods for fabricating such nanoparticle clusters are further described. These nanoparticle clusters are fabricated by surface activating individual ones of the plurality of nanoparticles by desorption of surfactant molecules from the surface of the coated nanoparticles through exposure of the individual ones of the plurality of nanoparticles to an activating agent.

Abstract: A device for blood-plasma separation and plasma-based blood analysis is described. The device uses blood samples smaller than 5 ?L, (directly from the finger) and flow is achieved with a degassing-driven flow technique that causes blood to flow spontaneously into air-filled dead-end channels without external pumping mechanisms.

Abstract: A database management system (1) comprises up to fifty or more workstations (2), each for a user. The environment may, for example, be a hospital and the system manages medical records in a secure manner. Each user has a private key issued by a KGC (5). A database controller (3) updates a secure database (3) with data and associated signatures generated by the user workstations (2). Thus every record of the secure database (3) has a signature to provide full traceability and non-repudiation of data edits/updates. It is important for the system (1) that the signatures are verified on a regular basis, say every hour. Such a task would be extremely processor-intensive if the database (3) is large. However this is performed by a verification processor (4) of the system (1) in a much shorter time than heretofore, t1+n(&Dgr;), where t1 is the time for one verification, n is the number of signatures, and &Dgr; is a time value which is a very small proportion of t1 (less than 1%).

Abstract: The formation of a barrier layer within individual channels or cavities of a microfluidic device is described. The barrier layer is effected through a gas phase deposition process, desirably implemented in a plasma environment using a gas plasma reactor. Judicious selection of a precursor compound used within the gas plasma reactor can provide for generation of a layer on the individual surfaces. Desirably the surface or barrier layer is generated through the chemical adsorption of a metalloid oxide such as a silicon oxide layer on the surface of the individual channels or cavities.

Abstract: A method of predicting response to thalidomide, or thalidomide analogs, in an individual with cancer, especially cancers for which thalidomide has been implicated as a treatment, such as Multiple Myeloma (MM) employs one or more of a panel of biomarkers that have been shown to be differentially expressed in cancer patients that respond to thalidomide (hereafter “Responders”) relative to cancer patients that do not respond to thalidomide (hereafter “Non-responders). The method involves assaying a biological sample from the individual to determine the abundance of at least three biomarkers including Vitamin-D binding protein precursor (VDB) (Sequence ID 1) and Serum amyloid A protein (SAA) (Sequence ID 3), and at least one of beta-2-microglobulin (B2M) (Sequence ID 4), Haptoglobin (Hp) precursor (fragment) (Sequence ID 5), and zinc-alpha-2-glycoprotein (ZAG) (Sequence ID 2).

Abstract: A plasma system (1) has a circuit including a DC source (6), a power supply line (9), an electrodes (2, 3), and a return line (18). A perturbation signal source (8) delivers a perturbation signal into the circuit in addition to DC voltage from the DC source (6). Acquisition (10) and analysis (11) systems measure response to the perturbation. The analysis system (11) measures variation in impedance of the circuit and phase between voltage and current in the circuit. It also uses a frequency domain reflectrometry technique to measure signal reflection modulus of a supply line of the circuit over a defined frequency range.

Abstract: A scanning system that provides for detection based on supercritical angle fluorescence (SAF) is described. The system provides for the optical coupling of a sample to the scanner in a sandwich structure that uses first and second refractive index matching materials to provide optical coupling through the sandwich arrangement.

Abstract: A method of retrieving information from a data source is described. The method includes providing a query sentence in a source language. A stemmed sentence is generated by removing affixes from base words of the query sentence and by removing predetermined words from the query sentence. A translated sentence is generated by translating the stemmed sentence into a target language. The translated sentence is provided to an information retrieval module operable to retrieve information in the target language from the data source based on the translated sentence.

Abstract: A photoresponsive ionogel comprising a photo-responsive polymer polymerised within an ionic liquid matrix is described. This solid-state electrolyte material maintains its ionic liquid characteristics but these characteristics can be altered upon irradiation of the gel with light of a particular wavelength. By suitably configuring the ionogel through the incorporation of specific ions within the gel it is possible to cause dramatic changes in properties of the ionogel such as viscosity, conductivity, acidity, basicity and polarity using light as the stimulus.

Abstract: An optical probe for detecting luminescence emitted by a sample is disclosed. The optical probe includes a parabolic optical waveguide and an outer housing having a detachable component configured to hold a transparent sensor substrate that can be coupled to the optical waveguide. The optical probe also includes a sensing material for detection of at least one specified analyte. An excitation source is configured to excite the sensing material. The optical probe also incorporates a measuring photodetector that detects emitted luminescence.