Abstract: In some examples, an apparatus may be usable in a first network and configurable to operate within a proximity of a second network that communicates traffic that interferes with data communication in the first network. The apparatus may include a calculation module configured to calculate a packet loss rate. The apparatus may include a determination module coupled to the calculation module and configured to determine whether the packet loss rate exceeds a particular threshold level. The apparatus may include a preamble module coupled to the determination module and configured to dynamically adjust a number of protective bytes included in a packet preamble in response to a determination by the determination module that the packet loss rate exceeds the particular threshold level. The protective bytes may be effective to reduce packet corruption due to turnaround time collisions between packets communicated in the first network and traffic communicated in the second network.

Abstract: A method is provided for fabricating a nanopore in a membrane. The method includes: applying an electric potential across the membrane, where value of the electric potential is selected to induce an electric field which causes a leakage current across the membrane; monitoring current flow across the membrane while the electric potential is being applied; detecting an abrupt increase in the leakage current across the membrane; and removing the electric potential across the membrane in response to detecting the abrupt increase in the leakage current.

Abstract: A method is provided for precisely enlarging a nanopore formed in a membrane. The method includes: applying an electric potential across the nanopore, where the electric potential has a pulsed waveform oscillating between a high value and a low value; measuring current flowing though the nanopore while the electric potential is being applied to the nanopore at a low value; determining size of the nanopore based in part on the measured current; and removing the electric potential applied to the membrane when the size of the nanopore corresponds to a desired size.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for generating tunable attosecond-scale radiation pulses, with a frequency in range of mid-infrared to ultra-violet, from a silicon medium. The invention utilizes an intense laser pulse to drive a high harmonic generation (HHG) process in a silicon medium and a weak secondary field to control the HHG process. The weak secondary field has a frequency equal to the second harmonic of the intense laser pulse. The spatial, temporal and spectral properties of the HHG process and the emitted harmonic beam are tuned by adjusting the relative delay between the two fields and the intensity of the weak secondary field.

Abstract: Bacterial strains are provided that can be isolated from the microflora of lowbush blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium), and that are capable of increasing the antioxidant content of their growth medium. The bacteria can be used, for example, to increase the antioxidant content of various foodstuffs, as probiotics or as additives to animal feed. Antioxidant-enriched compositions produced by fermentation processes utilising the bacteria are also provided. The antioxidant-enriched compositions can be used in the preparation of cosmetics and nutritional supplements. The antioxidant-enriched compositions also have therapeutic applications.

Abstract: In some examples, a method may include determining whether a data packet is correctly received. In response to the data packet being correctly received, the method may include reading a received signal strength indication (RSSI) value, and based on the RSSI value, determining whether to transmit an acknowledgement (ACK) packet.

Abstract: There are provided fluorescent labelling agents comprising a dimaleimide core connected to a fluorophore, processes for preparation thereof, and uses thereof for labelling and/or detection of specific protein targets. Fluorescent labelling agents comprising a compound having the structure of Formula I, and salts thereof, are described.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the cell-based production of bacterial nonulosonates and their biosynthetic precursors. Specifically, the present invention provides recombinant cells for the production of pseudaminic acid, legionaminic acid, UDP-2,4-diacetamido-2,4,6-trideoxy-?-L-altropyranose, and UDP-2,4-diacetamido-2,4,6-trideoxy-?-D-glucopyranose. Methods for producing the sugars are also provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to small molecule ice recrystallization inhibitor (IRI) compounds having increased ice recrystallization inhibition activity. The IRI compounds disclosed herein are useful in compositions, kits and methods for cryopreserving biological material such as organs, tissues and cells.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a switchable aptamer having a high affinity for a selected target such as a virus, cell or antibody when in the presence of a binding ion and a low affinity for said target in the absence of said binding ion. The switchable aptamer may be isolated from a pool comprising a mixture of aptamers by incubating the pool with the target ligand and a binding ion to form target-aptamer complexes; separating unbound aptamer molecules from the target-aptamer complexes; contacting the target-aptamer complexes with a chelating agent having affinity for the binding ion wherein a switchable aptamer specific to said target is released from the target-aptamer complexes; and isolating the switchable aptamer released in the preceding step.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for launching optical pump signals into a disordered gain medium at two points thereby producing a narrow line-width random fiber laser within the disordered gain medium. The optical pump signals are propagated in a direction through the disordered gain medium towards one another. The apparatus may comprise an optical gain fiber having a first end configured to receive a first fiber pump signal and a second end configured to receive a second fiber pump signal such that the first fiber pump signal and the second fiber pump signal propagate within the optical gain fiber in a direction towards one another. An optical loss device is coupled to the optical gain fiber, wherein the optical loss device isolates a narrow line-width random fiber laser signal from a signal generated within the optical gain fiber.

Abstract: Compositions comprising biotransformed fruit extracts and methods of using the compositions in the prevention and treatment of cancer are provided. The fruit extracts are biotransformed by fermentation with a bacterial strain having all the identifying characteristics of Serratia vaccinii. The compositions can be used to inhibit tumour growth, tumour metastasis and cancer stem cell (CSC) development.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the cell-based production of bacterial nonulosonates and their biosynthetic precursors. Specifically, the present invention provides recombinant cells for the production of pseudaminic acid, legionaminic acid, UDP-2,4-diacetamido-2,4,6-trideoxy-?-L-altropyranose, and UDP-2,4-diacetamido-2,4,6-trideoxy-?-D-glucopyranose. Methods for producing the sugars are also provided.

Abstract: A Kerr medium is introduced into OFDR configuration to enable phase to power variation conversion thereby enabling an all-optical beat signal acquisition, thus eliminating performance limits associated with bandwidth capabilities of electronic and optoelectronic components.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for generating tunable attosecond-scale radiation pulses, with a frequency in range of ultraviolet to soft-X-ray, from a solid-state medium. The invention utilizes an intense laser pulse to drive a high harmonic generation (HHG) process in a solid state medium and a weak secondary field to control the HHG process. The weak secondary field has a frequency equal to the second harmonic of the intense laser pulse. The spatial, temporal and spectral properties of the HHG process and the emitted harmonic beam are tuned by adjusting the relative delay between the two fields and the intensity of the weak secondary field.

Abstract: Safety head wear for use for example in high risk activities such as sports and industrial purposes where protection from head injuries is required. Components are provided inserted between the liner and outer shell and consists of two parts; a pod and a foam or foam like surrogate or structure. The foam or foam like material is contained in the chamber and is positioned in such a way to create constant force between the surface of the shell and head. The device provides a method of managing compression force characteristics of the helmet around the head designed to decrease brain trauma resulting from high linear acceleration during impacts to the helmet.

Abstract: There are provided dicysteine peptide tags for use with dimaleimide fluorescent labelling agents for the labelling and detection of specific protein targets. Peptide tags comprising the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2 are described.

Abstract: Technologies are generally provided to virtualize hardware acceleration. In some examples, a coprovisor component may be configured to multiplex multiple domains' requests to access a hardware accelerator such as a field programmable gate array (FPGA), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or a comparable accelerator in a paravirtualized environment. Hyper-requesting may be employed for hardware acceleration virtualization, where a hardware acceleration module concurrently loads a portion of data of a request for a first accelerator application and a portion of data of another request for a second accelerator application and simultaneously processes the two portions of data. Directly situated on a device driver layer, the coprovisor may schedule portions of access requests to the hardware accelerator at the same time through direct memory access (DMA) context switching.

Abstract: Apparatus and techniques are presented such as can be used for electro-optic modulation and detection or other applications. For example, an optical metal grating is disposed on a thin metal film to couple light from broadside to the metal film as surface plasmon-polariton waves; below the metal film is located a thin insulating layer and a doped semiconductor region forming a metal-insulator-semiconductor structure. The device can be configured to operate as a reflection or transmission modulator, or as a photodetector, for example. Modulating the voltage applied to the metal-insulator-semiconductor structure modulates the carrier concentration in the semiconductor near the insulating layer, which modulates the refractive index of the semiconductor in this region, thus modulating the coupling efficiency to the surface plasmon-polaritons, thus modulating the reflectance and transmittance of the device.

Abstract: Derivatives of dillapiol, sesamol and related monolignans having the following general formula: These compounds have synergistic properties, inhibit cytochrome P450 enzymes such as human CYP3A4, and can be used as pesticide synergists or pharmaco-enhancers. Accordingly, methods for increasing the efficacy and/or bioavailability of a pharmaceutically active agent and for increasing the potency of a pesticide are described, as are synergistic pesticidal and pharmaceutical compositions.