Abstract: In order to form organic thin films on electrodes, a solution of a material for the organic thin film is accurately printed via an ink-jet onto the surface of microelectrodes as required, thereby producing a high density array of microelectrodes. Further, a solution of a sample substance or a liquid substance to be sensed is ejected into air via an ink-jet nozzle to fall to the surface of organic thin membranes on the microelectrodes so that the sample can be evaluated.

Abstract: There is disclosed an improved semiconductor laser device (10). Previous high power (greater than a few hundred milliwatts output) semiconductor lasers suffer from a number of problems such as poor beam quality and low brightness. The invention therefore provides a semiconductor laser device (10) including at least one portion which has been Quantum Well Intermixed (QWI) and means for providing gain profiling within an active portion of the device (10). In a preferred implementation the device (10) provides a Wide Optical Waveguide (WOW).

Abstract: A waveguide for an optical circuit comprises a substrate; a buffer layer formed on the substrate; a doped lower cladding layer formed on the buffer layer; a doped waveguide core formed on the lower cladding layer; and a doped upper cladding layer embedding the waveguide core. The waveguide core includes mobile dopant ions which have diffused into the upper cladding layer and the lower cladding layer to form an ion diffusion region around said waveguide core such that the waveguide core boundary walls are substantially smooth. A waveguide core may be formed which is substantially symmetric about its core axis. Methods of fabricating the waveguide are also described.

Abstract: A biocompatible substrate for use as a resorbable or non-resorbable implant, graft, prosthesis, etc., has an array of projections or pits of nanometer dimensions on a surface thereof, which resist attachment of cells. Typically the projections or pits are 10-250 nm in size and at spacings of 20-500 nm. The substrate may additionally have areas where cell adhesion is promoted.

Abstract: There is disclosed an improved semiconductor laser device (10;10a), eg a single mode index guided laser diode. The device (10;10a) comprises: an optical waveguide (15;15a); at least one electrical contact (20;20a) extending along part of a length of the waveguide (15;15a); and wherein the at least one electrical contact (20;20a) is shorter than the optical waveguide (15;15a). By this arrangement a part or parts of the waveguide (15;15a) are not electrically pumped, in use.

Abstract: There is disclosed an improved laser device (10), comprising a semiconductor laser diode. The invention provides laser device (10) comprising: at least two lasing regions (12,14); an interference region (16) into which an output of each lasing region (12,14) is coupled; and an output region (118) extending from the interference region (116) to an output (20) of the device (10).

Abstract: The invention provides an isolated nucleic acid (SEQ ID NO:1) encoding a novel protein, JMY, which is found to be a co-activator of p300/CBP. The invention also provides JMY polypeptides and antibodies thereto, as well as assays for modulators of the cell cycle which target the interaction of JMY with transcription factors such as E2F; ER or TBP.

Abstract: There is disclosed an improved optical device (10;10a), eg comprising a semiconductor optically active or optoelectronic devices such as lasers, modulators, amplifiers, switching structures, or the like, mounted on a heatsink (28;28a) The invention provides an optically active device (10;10a) comprising a device body (12;12a) having an active region (14;14a) and an optically passive region(s) (20;22) provided at one or more ends (24,26;26a) of the active region (14;14a); and a heatsink (28;28a); the device body (12;12a) and heatsink (28;28a) being retained in thermal association with one another such that a first end of the at least one of the optically passive region(s) (20,22;22a) adjacent an end of the active region (14;14a) is provided within an area of the heatsink (28;28a), and a second end of the said at least one optically passive region(s) (20,22;22a) is provided outwith the area of the heatsink (28;28a).

Abstract: A method is disclosed for identifying a substance capable of disrupting an interaction between (i) a herpes simplex virus (HSV) ICP34.5 polypeptide or a homologue thereof, or a derivative thereof, and (ii) proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) or a homologue thereof, or a derivative thereof, which method comprises: (a) providing an HSV ICP34.5 polypeptide or a homologue thereof, or a derivative thereof, as a first component; (b) providing PCNA, or a homologue thereof, or a derivative thereof, as a second component; (c) contacting the two components with a substance to be tested under conditions that would permit the two components to interact in the absence of the said substance; and (d) determining whether the said substance disrupts the interaction between the first and second components.

Abstract: There is disclosed an improved method of manufacturing of an optical device (40), particularly semiconductor optoelectronic devices such as laser diodes, optical modulators, optical amplifiers, optical switches, and optical detectors. The invention provides a method of manufacturing optical device (40), a device body portion (15) from which the device (40) is to be made including a Quantum Well (QW) structure (30), the method including the step of: processing the device body portion (15) so as to create extended defects at least in a portion (53) of the device portion (5). Each extended defect is a structural defect comprising a plurality of adjacent “point” defects.

Abstract: A method and system for updating data on an information appliance based on changes in local and remote data sources. The information appliance contains a set of rules These rules allow it to define links between its existing data and local and remote data sources. Using these links it can automatically gather data from these sources using context sensitive queries that are directly relevant to the current state of the information appliance. These updates can modify any data items within the system. These updates can either directly alter these data items or modify metadata about the data items, such as the set of possible values for the item. They can do this implicitly and immediately, or explicitly after the user reviews a summary of the new data and chooses to add the information using a single action. The links themselves are data items within the system. These links are defined using a structured representation and so can themselves be sent around the network.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of oxidized thymosin &bgr;4 in therapy, more particularly in the treatment of diseases or conditions associated with an inflammatory response of septic shock.

Abstract: There is disclosed an improved method of manufacturing an optical device using impurity induced Quantum Well Intermixing (QWI) process.

Abstract: A system for conducting a histological inspection of a biological specimen supported on or in a substrate which may be provided in the form of an optically transparent disc. The disc is mounted for rotation about its central axis while a light source and detector are provided for rotation in an arc crossing the surface of the disc. The source is arranged above the disc and one or more detectors is arranged above and/or below the disc with the optical disc being provided with position and tracking encoded information which interrupts the passage of the light beam when the beam passes over it, thus allowing the scan to be aligned relative to the disc and specimen. The specimen supported on or in the disk can be displayed on a computer display using the position and tracking information.

Abstract: Vaccine formulation comprising EHV-1 gene 71 dysfunctional mutant and uses thereof.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for carrying out analysis of samples using semi-reflective beam radiation inspection in association with an optical disk and an optical reader has an optically transparent substrate having a semi-reflective layer which reflects a portion of the beam of light to form a reflected beam and transmits a portion of the beam of light to form a transmitted beam. The semi-reflective layer includes optically readable encoded information to be read by the reader for controlling the scanning of the reader relative the disk, the encoded information providing modulation of the reflected beam. The disk includes a sample support surface positioned to be scanned by the reader on which the biological, chemical or biochemical sample may be located for optical inspection with the transmitted beam.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a haptoglobin assay of the type wherein the level of haptoglobin in a sample to be tested is determined by measuring the peroxidase activity of haptoglobin/haemoglobin complex. The assay employs at least one reagent for reducing a peroxidase effect due to any albumin or any other protein(s) present in the sample. The reagent may be selected from a) a reducing agent effective against disulphide bonds; b) a protein binding inhibitor and/or c) a chaotropic agent. The present invention also relates to kits suitable for use in such an asay.

Abstract: Apparatus for measuring a vagal tone has a detector that detects a QRS waveform of an ECG signal and generates a pulse signal that is integrated by an integrator. The integrator output is passed, in parallel, to a high pass filter and a low pass filter. The filter outputs are passed to respective voltage controlled oscillators (VCOs). The outputs of the VCOs are combined in a phase comparator that generates an output pulse train with the pulse period being proportional to the phase differences of the input signals. The phase comparator output signal is integrated and combined with a DC signal to remove any offset for constant heart rate. The combined signal is applied to a vagal tone gauge, which connects the output into a standard linear vagal tone scale.

Abstract: Novel Herpes simplex viruses and vaccines based on such novel HSV-1 strains are described. In particular, viruses having a deletion in the terminal portion of RL are provided. The virus can be further modified to express heterologous antigens and also engineered to overproduce HSV Light particles. This is achieved by incorporating a ts mutation into the UL26 gene.

Abstract: A system for conducting an optical inspection of a biological, chemical, or biochemical sample supported by an optically transparent disc. The disc is mounted for rotation about its central axis while a light source and a plurality of radiation detectors are provided for scanning optically readable portions and tracking information encoded to the disc and scanning the sample. The source is arranged above the disc and the detectors are arranged above and below the disc. The optical properties of the sample can be automatically and rapidly inspected by analyzing the output of the light detectors including the use of a ratio of first and second detector output. A third detector output also may be used in the analysis.