Abstract: A device for detecting seismic acceleration including a proof mass; a base for providing a sensor acceleration, relative to the proof mass, based on the seismic acceleration; an optical fibre portion operatively connected between the proof mass and the base for providing a fibre tension based on the sensor acceleration, a fibre Fabry-Perot interferometer (FFPI) in the optical fibre portion for providing an optical characteristic representative of the fibre tension, and a compensator for applying a compensating tension to the FFPI to compensate for a change of the optical characteristic due to a temperature change of the FFPI.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel genes involved in cellulose biosynthesis and methods using such genes to modulate cellulose biosynthesis in fiber-producing plants such as cotton. The invention also provides methods for identifying and isolating alleles of these genes in a population of fiber-producing plants that correlate with the quality of the produced fibers.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of phase measurement, particularly optical phase measurement. In one form, the invention relates to a method and device for measuring the phase between distinct signals by converting phase variations between the signals into amplitude variations. In one embodiment the invention provides a method of arranging the structure of a two-dimensional or three-dimensional crystal to measure the phase between signals, comprising the steps of (i) providing a respective waveguide for each signal and (ii) providing a micro-cavity array arranged to provide a resonance output in response to the phase of the signals. The invention has application to a wide range of apparatus and devices across many industries including communications, food technology, pharmacology, medicine and biology.

Abstract: A method for processing image data of a sample is disclosed. The method comprises registering a first and a second images of at least partially overlapping spatial regions of the sample and processing data from the registered images to obtain integrated image data comprising information about the sample, said information being additional to that available from said first and second images.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for preparing a radiolabeled synthetic polymer, the method comprising contacting a synthetic polymer with a carbon encapsulated nanoparticle composite having a radioactive particulate core in an aqueous medium comprising an electrolyte concentration or pH selected to promote short-range attractive forces between the nanoparticles and the synthetic polymer by attenuating long-range electrostatic repulsive forces.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for preparing a radiolabeled macromolecule, the method comprising contacting a macromolecule with a carbon encapsulated nanoparticle composite having a radioactive particulate core in an aqueous medium comprising a pH selected to promote short-range attractive forces between the nanoparticles and the macromolecule by attenuating repulsive electrostatic forces.

Abstract: A system and method for stabilising a plurality of output frequencies (wavelengths) of a plurality of lasers (106). The laser beams are combined using optical multiplexer (110) and coupled into length-imbalanced (armlength-mismatched) Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI) (114) having an optical modulator (e.g. AOM) (122) in one of its arms. The output of the MZI is divided into corresponding beams via optical demultiplexer (128) and each beam is detected by a respective photo-diode (PD) (134). The individual electric signals, so generated, are demodulated using a corresponding plurality of phase-responsive devices (138) and the resulting phase-signals are directed to a plurality of servo-controllers (148) to control the central frequency of the respective lasers (106) via a corresponding plurality of feedback loop circuits (150). The lasers (106) can have different central frequencies which can also be individually tunned using offset modules (141) in the phase-responsive devices (138).

Abstract: This application relates to a method of inhibiting the degradation of an extracellular matrix associated with islet beta cells, said method comprising contacting said extracellular matrix with an effective amount of a heparanase inhibitor.

Abstract: An apparatus for interferometric sensing, comprising a plurality of single-longitudinal mode laser sources to each provide radiation at a corresponding plurality of selected wavelengths, and at least one modulator to frequency or phase modulate the radiation from each laser; a plurality of Fabry-Perot interferometers formed by Bragg Gratings written into optical fibre, each interferometer being responsive to one of the said plurality of wavelengths to each produce a reflected or transmitted optical output signal dependent on the corresponding interferometer path length; and one or more demodulators to demodulate the optical output signals and produce a corresponding plurality of measurement signals indicative of optical path lengths of the respective interferometers.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for extracting a charged particle beam from a charged particle source. A set of electrodes is provided at the output of the source. The potentials applied to the electrodes produce a low-emittance growth beam with substantially zero electric field at the output of the electrodes.

Abstract: A method of forming an injectable radioactive composition, the method comprising the steps of: (a) depositing a solid form of technetium onto a carbon crucible; (b) preheating the solid form of technetium to remove any carrier; (c) plasma ablating the technetium and portions of the carbon crucible; (d) allowing the carbon and technetium metal to co-condense from the gas phase to produce a nanoparticle composite aerosol in an inert gas; (e) dispersing the nanoparticle composite in water containing a low concentration of surfactant using an electrostatic precipitator; (f) size fractionating the nanoparticle dispersion by filtration with hydrophilic membranes of known pore size.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for obtaining a plant with increased stress resistance relative to a wild-type plant, comprising: (a) introducing at least one mutation or exogenous nucleic acid into the genome of one or more plant cells which results in reduced activity associated with SAL1 or a homologue thereof in said one or more plant cells; (b) regenerating one or more plants from said one or more plant cells; and (c) selecting one or more plants that have increased stress resistance relative to a wild-type plant.

Abstract: A substrate assembly (100) for a photovoltaic device, the assembly including an array of elongate semiconductor substrates (101), each of the elongate substrates (101) having opposite faces bounded by longitudinal edges, the elongate substrates being electrically interconnected and maintained in a longitudinally parallel arrangement by an electrically conductive material (102) disposed between the opposing longitudinal edges of adjacent ones of said elongate substrates (101) such that the opposite faces of each elongate substrate remain substantially entirely exposed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of modulating repair of a wound. The method includes modulating expression and/or activity of Flightless I in cells involved in repair of the wound.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a nucleic acid sequence encoding an enzyme of the starch biosynthetic pathway in a cereal plant, wherein the enzyme is selected from the group consisting of starch branching enzyme I, starch branching enzyme II, starch soluble synthase I, and debranching enzyme, with the proviso that the enzyme is not soluble starch synthase I of rice, or starch branching enzyme I of rice or maize.

Abstract: Methods for the formation of colloidal suspensions. The method includes combining an aqueous substance with a second substance that is normally immiscible with the aqueous substance, to form a mixture, and before, during or after the combining removing dissolved gases from one or both of the aqueous and second substance, whereby the aqueous and second substances mix and form a colloidal suspension. The methods for the formation of colloidal suspensions include methods for the formation of emulsions as well as particulate dispersions. The methods used to form the colloidal suspensions in accordance with the present invention produce colloidal suspensions that are stable for periods from an hour to several weeks in the absence of surfactants or stabilizing agents.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for extracting a charged particle beam from a charged particle source. A set of electrodes is provided at the output of the source. The potentials applied to the electrodes produce a low-emittance growth beam with substantially zero electric field at the output of the electrodes.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling the attitude of a vehicle (such as an aircraft) in a space having at least two opposed viewable regions, each region being viewed by a respective first sensor for sensing a first frequency band of electromagnetic radiation and a respective second sensor for sensing a second frequency band of electromagnetic radiation, wherein respective first and second data sets from the first and second sensors for each regions are produced, these second data sets are subsequently modified and combined with the first data sets to form respective third data sets for each region. The attitude of the vehicle is then adjusted until the third data sets are substantially equal.

Abstract: A solar cell interconnection process for forming a solar cell sub-module for a photovoltaic device, the process including the steps of mounting a plurality of elongate solar cells (101) on a crossbeam (102) on patches of solderable material (201) which is used to maintain solder in position, the elongate solar cells being in a substantially longitudinally parallel and generally co-planar configuration: and establishing one or more conductive pathways (204) extending between adjacent cells to electrically interconnect the elongate solar cells via the contacts (202, 203): wherein the one or more conductive pathways are established by wave soldering.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for increasing the usable surface area of a semiconductor wafer having a substantially planar surface and a thickness dimension at right angles to said substantially planar surface, the method including the steps of selecting a strip thickness for division of the wafer into a plurality of strips, selecting a technique for cutting the wafer into the strips at an angle to the substantially planar surface, in which the combined strip thickness and width of wafer removed by the cutting is less than the thickness of the wafer, cutting the wafer into strips using the selected technique and separating the strips from each other.