Abstract: The invention relates to a sensing system comprising at least one light emitting source, a sensing element comprising a sensing area, and an optical means for directing light being emitted by the at least one light emitting source onto the sensing area of the sensing element and for directing light being transmitted or reflected from the sensing area of the sensing element to an integrated interrogator; the interrogator having at least one detector configured for detecting part of the spectrum of the light directed from the sensing area of the sensing element.

Abstract: The invention relates to a coupling device for a tube having a Palladium-based membrane deposited thereon, for use in separation and purification of hydrogen in a hydrogen separator or reactor. The coupling device has an inlet for gas and configured to couple said tube to the inlet; a body part with a cylindrical opening for receiving the tube and for receiving gas flow to the inlet; a nut, the body part and the nut being configured such that the nut can be screwed onto the body part at the opening; a stack of at least two sealing rings. The body part, the nut and sealing rings are configured such that the tube extends through an axial end portion of the nut, the sealing rings into the opening such that, in use, the sealing rings are compressed axially as a result of screwing the nut onto the body part so that the sealing rings sealingly engage the tube.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a transfer assembly for transferring a preterm baby from a natural womb of a pregnant mammal to a transfer bag, comprising abase device having a pass-through opening configured to allow the preterm baby to pass through the base device, and wherein the base device is connected to a birth canal retractor, said birth canal retractor comprises a flexible sleeve disposed between the base device and an adjustable access ring, which retractor is to be inserted into the birth canal of the pregnant mammal at least with the access ring thereof, and wherein the access ring is configured to be expanded or inflated while in the birth canal, wherein the assembly further comprising a transfer device comprising the transfer bag, said transfer bag being a flexible bag provided with an opening configured to allow the preterm baby to be received in the transfer bag, and wherein the opening is further provided with a coupling member, which coupling member is releasably secured to the base device,

Abstract: Image analysis method for quantitative assessment of a degree of coordination of uterine motion, comprising: obtaining a recording of a uterus; tracking, in the recording, at least two propagation waves of uterine motion in at least two different regions of the uterus and/or on at least two different times; and determining the degree of coordination of the uterine motion based on a similarity measure of at least two characteristics of the at least two propagation waves.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a biosensor device for sensing an analyte over a period of time using particle motion, the biosensor device having a surface and a particle, wherein the particle and/or the surface are functionalized, and wherein the biosensor device has a first state in which the particle is associated with the surface and a second state in which the particle is not associated with the surface, and wherein switching between the first and second states depends on the presence, absence and/or concentration of the analyte, whereby motion characteristics of the particle change depending on the presence, absence and/or concentration of the analyte, thereby allowing sensing of the analyte by measuring changes in a spatial coordinate parameter of the particle relative to the surface, and wherein the properties of the particle and surface are selected such that in the second state the particle is within the vicinity of the surface such that the biosensor is able to measure changes in a spatial coordi

Abstract: The present invention relates to an incubation system for liquid-based incubation of prematurely born infants, comprising: —an inner chamber forming an amniotic basin comprising amniotic fluid, said basin being configured for holding said infant and being made from a flexible material configured for expanding said inner chamber volume in correspondence with the growth of said infant; —an outer chamber enclosing said inner chamber and comprising a temperature regulation fluid, —a fetal connection port, arranged for connecting with the umbilical cord of said infant, said umbilical cord providing a port in said inner chamber to said infant for providing dialyzation and nutrition compounds to said infant via said umbilical cord; —a fetal control unit, connected to said fetal connection port for control of said dialyzation and control of said provided nutrition by monitoring and controlling one or more of a pressure, flow and temperature thereof; an amniotic fluid circulation unit, arranged for connecting with an

Abstract: A small-sized, portable enclosure protects a gas sensor against degradation due to environmental exposure and changes in atmospheric conditions. The protective enclosure includes an inlet for introduction of a gas into the enclosure, an outlet for release of the gas upon completion of a sensing run, and at least one retractable filter that removes from the inflowing gas deleterious compounds that can compromise the integrity of the sensor or cause the sensor to degrade over time. The enclosure does not include any filters during the measurement phase of the sensing run in order to allow the gas sensor to accurately measure an unmodified gas mixture and/or analyte.

Abstract: The invention relates to a light-emitting component comprising a light-emitting section consisting of a Hex-Si1?xGex compound material, said Hex-Si1?xGex compound material having a direct band gap for emitting light. The invention also pertains to a light-absorbing component comprising a light-absorbing section consisting of a Hex-S1?xGex compound material, said Hex-Si1?xGex compound material having a direct band gap for absorbing light.

Abstract: An apparatus arranged for deflecting an optical component for alignment purposes of the optical component with a further optical component, wherein the apparatus comprises a plurality of adjacently placed elongate carriers, extending mutually parallel to each other in a longitudinal direction, wherein two adjacently placed elongate carriers have a spacing between them for receiving a first optical component such that the received optical component rests against two adjacently placed elongate carriers, wherein the two elongate carriers have slopes such that the spacing between the two adjacently placed elongate carriers is smaller at a bottom side compared to the spacing at a top side of the carriers, wherein the carriers comprise piezoelectric material configured to deflect the carriers in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction by actuating the piezoelectric material.

Abstract: A method of operating an optical switch (1) arranged in an optical DCN (2), comprising: providing first and second NIC's (3, 10), having first and second label channel parts (5, 12) and first and second data channel parts (6, 13), configured in a first and second ToR (7, 14) of a first and second server rack (8, 15), arranging an optical switch communicating with the first and second data channel parts via first and second data channels (16, 17), configuring a switch controller (18) communicating with the first and second label channel parts via first and second label channels (19, 20), transmitting destination information of data packets (30) carried by paired label packets (31) to the switch controller, transmitting data packets to the optical switch, generating signals (45) to configure the optical switch, and sending the data packets to a destination port.

Abstract: An Optical Wireless Communication (OWC) receiver configured to receive an incoming optical beam modulated with data and output an output signal including the modulated data. A lens receives the incoming optical beam. Photodiodes positioned at a distance from the lens and proximal to the focal plane of the lens receive a fraction of the incoming optical beam and generate a photocurrent in correspondence with photons received. The photodiodes are provided in a two-dimensional array including rows and columns wherein outputs of the columns are combined and their photocurrents are summed. An amplifier connected to the combined output of the columns converts the summed photocurrents into an output signal. Interconnections of the photodiodes form at least two parallel branches wherein each branch includes a cascade of at least two photodiodes forming a combined photodetector surface.

Abstract: A photovoltaic cell includes a silicon substrate having two opposite main surfaces. A first main surface of the two main surfaces is covered with a passivation layer stack, including a POx- and Al-including-layer covering the first main surface, and a capping layer which covers the POx- and Al-including-layer. A method for manufacturing a photovoltaic cell is also disclosed.

Abstract: A closed-cycle thermal energy storage system includes a thermochemical reactor [400] containing a solid thermochemical material, a heat exchanger [402], a fan [406] for creating forced convection of an air/water mixture circulating around the closed cycle, an evaporator/condenser [408], and a pressure control system that includes a pressure sensor [422], a controller [424], and a pump [404]. The pressure control system actively controls the pressure of the air/water mixture to produce a desired temperature difference across the thermochemical reactor [400]. The adjustable pressure control system controls the pressure of the air/water mixture to a first pressure (e.g., between 10 mbar and 1 bar) during a hydration phase and a second pressure (e.g., between 1 bar and 10 bar) during a dehydration phase.

Abstract: A notochordal cell matrix solution as a bioactive lubricant in the treatment of Osteoarthritis, more specifically for use as a bioactive lubricant in viscosupplementation. The notochordal cell matrix solution is capable of reducing the pain in osteoarthritic joints.

Abstract: A device for generating soft x-rays includes an electron source configured to generate an electron beam comprising electron micro-bunches; an electron accelerator configured to accelerate the electron micro-bunches from the electron source; and a laser configured to generate a laser beam (536) colliding with the accelerated electron micro-bunches (534) in a counterpropagating direction to generate the soft x-rays by inverse Compton scattering. The electron source has a magneto-optical trap configured to produce an ultracold atomic gas; two counterpropagating excitation laser beams configured to produce a standing wave for inducing a periodic spatial modulation of the ultracold atomic gas along a beam propagation direction; and an ionization laser configured to induce photo-ionization of the ultracold atomic gas.

Abstract: Provided herein is a method for biosensing a target substance [110] using a collection of particles [104] tethered to a surface [100] by tether molecules [102] and a plurality of capture molecules. A concentration of the target substance is determined from the time sequence of individual association/dissociation rates of the capture molecules. Competitive assay configurations are also described.

Abstract: An optical beam steering device is provided that includes an input optical fiber carrying multiple input optical signals, where each input optical signal includes a unique wavelength, an arrayed waveguide grating router (AWGR) having multiple output fibers, where the input optical fiber is connected to the AWGR, distal ends of the output fibers are arranged in a two-dimensional fiber array, the input optical signals are routed by the AWGR according to each unique wavelength to a unique AWGR output fiber, and a lens, where the distal ends of the output fibers are disposed proximal to a focal plane of the lens, where for each unique position of each output fiber distal end with respect to a the lens, each input optical signal is steered at a unique angle as an output beam emitted from the lens, where changing the wavelength of the input optical signal changes the output signal angles.

Abstract: A small-sized, portable enclosure protects a gas sensor against degradation due to environmental exposure and changes in atmospheric conditions. The protective enclosure includes an inlet for introduction of a gas into the enclosure, an outlet for release of the gas upon completion of a sensing run, and a number of in-line filters that remove from the inflowing gas sample analytes, contaminants, and other materials that can compromise the integrity of the sensor or cause the sensor to degrade over time. The enclosure does not include any filters during the measurement phase of the sensing run in order to allow the gas sensor to accurately measure an unmodified gas mixture and/or analyte.

Abstract: A solubilized notochordal cell matrix powder dissolved in a carrier solvent or formed as a gel is provided. The notochordal cell matrix powder originates from lyophilized and treated porcine nucleus pulposus tissue containing notochordal cells. The powder contains less than 20% of porcine nucleid acids, and the powder contains a substantially unchanged amount of porcine protein content compared to the originating porcine nucleus pulposus tissue. The solubilized notochordal cell matrix powder is capable of stimulating native or stem cells to proliferate and produce a significant increase inglycosaminoglycansand type-II collagen matrix. Embodiments of the invention can be used for the disc regenerative treatment of discogenic back and neck pain in an orthopaedic and/or pharmaceutical setting/approach.

Abstract: A biosensing device for continuous monitoring of an analyte in a fluid matrix includes an electromagnetic excitation element [402], a biosensing surface [406], an opposing surface [410], a separation component [420,422], light collection optics [412], a light sensor [414], an image recording and analysis system [416], and an excitation control system [400]. The separation component is connected to the biosensing surface and to the opposing surface, forming a concave gap region [408] between the biosensing surface and the opposing surface. The biosensing surface comprises biosensing particles sensitive to electromagnetic signals from the electromagnetic excitation element, where an optical response of the biosensing particles to the electromagnetic signals is adapted to change in the presence of an analyte in the gap region. The light collection optics couple light emitted from the biosensing particles on the biosensing surface to the light sensor.