Abstract: This invention relates to methods for variant cytosine detection, and kits and probes for variant cytosine detection. In particular the variant cytosine detection is related to detection of methylated cytosine, hydroxymethylated cytosine, carboxycytosine and/or formylcytosine in nucleic acid.

Abstract: A sensing device and method. The device includes a first element and a second element. Each of the elements includes a first electrode, and a second electrode, and a piezoelectric layer between and connected to the first and second electrode. The first electrode, second electrode and piezoelectric layer of each element form a pressure wave transducer. The first and second elements are oriented such that the second electrode of the first element faces the second electrode of the second element. The elements are displaced from one another such that the second electrodes form the plates of a capacitor.

Abstract: An optical waveguide includes a clad of clad glass and a core of core glass. The clad glass includes gallium, lanthanum, and sulfur. The clad glass may include gallium sulfide and lanthanum oxide. The clad glass may also include lanthanum fluoride. The core glass includes gallium, lanthanum, sulfur, oxygen, and fluorine. The core glass may include gallium sulfide, lanthanum oxide, and lanthanum fluoride. An optical fiber perform is also disclosed.

Abstract: Apparatus for providing timing jitter tolerant optical modulation of a first signal by a second signal, the first signal having a first wavelength, the second signal including a plurality of second signal pulses having a second pulse shape and a second wavelength. The apparatus includes a first signal input port, a second signal input port, a coupler, a grating and a non-linear optical device. The apparatus is configured to direct the second signal at the second signal input port to the non-linear optical device via the coupler and the grating, and to direct the first signal at the first signal input port to the non-linear optical device. The grating is a superstructured fibre Bragg grating that converts the second signal pulses into intermediary pulses each having an intermediary pulse shape. The intermediary pulse shape is such that it provides a switching window within the non-linear optical device.

Abstract: An optical fibre arrangement has at least two optical fibre sections, each optical fibre section defining an outside longitudinally extending surface. The outside longitudinally extending surfaces are in optical contact with each other. The invention further provides for an amplifying optical device have an optical fibre arrangement as just described, and a pump source. The amplifying optical device is configured such that the pump source illuminates the amplifying optical fibre. A amplifying arrangement is also disclosed. The amplifying arrangement includes a plurality of amplifying optical devices as just described, and each amplifier also has at least one input fibre and a first multiplexer connected to the input fibre. Each amplifier is configured such that at least one of the amplifying optical fibres is connected to the first multiplexer. The amplifying arrangement also has a second multiplexer connected to each of the first multiplexers.

Abstract: A tellurite glass material has a composition of Li2O:TiO2:TeO2, and contains a dopant comprising ions of a rare earth metal. The rare earth ions can be thulium ions, Tm3+, to provide a material offering optical gain at 1470 nm. The properties of the glass make it suitable for the fabrication of high quality optical fibers and planar waveguides, which can in turn be used in optical amplifiers and oscillators. Co-doping the glass with acceptor ions such as holmium ions, Ho3+, improves the population inversion in the rare earth ions and hence enhances the gain.

Abstract: A new and improved hybrid of Ga:La:S (GLS) glass is provided, namely a glass comprising gallium sulfide, lanthanum oxide, and at least 2 mol % lanthanum fluoride. The Ga:La:S:O:F (GLSOF) glass retains the important properties of the Ga:La:S system, while introducing improved thermal stability and spectroscopic properties. In addition, GLSOF glasses are non-toxic. The glass formation region for GLSOF has been carefully evaluated with compositional variations. It has been identified that an area of glass formation as indicated by circles, is a new and previously undiscovered glass formation region.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a band-processing optical fibre filter having a center wavelength &lgr;0′, the method comprises (i) radius-reducing a mismatched multi-core optical fibre having a core phase matching wavelength (before radius reduction) of &lgr;0 and a radius (before radius reduction) of a0, to a reduced radius Ra0, where R=&lgr;0′/&lgr;0; and (ii) providing light input and output connections to a section of the radius-reduced multi-core fibre so that input light is launched into one of the cores of the multi-core fibre section and output light emerges from one of the cores of the multi-core fibre section.

Abstract: A radiation modeling apparatus comprises; a storage means (350, 360) containing details of material properties of at least one medium (100, 105, 110) which may undergo irradiation and details of the properties of at least one radiation beam (45a, 45b, 45c) operable to irradiate the media; a stochastic modeling kernel (340) operable to receive parameters of an irradiation and calculate a distribution of radiation (380) resulting from the irradiation using data from the storage means (350, 360); characterized by a filter (370) arranged so as to remove components comprising substantially statistical noise from the output of the modeling kernel (340).

Abstract: A beam shaping device for a laser device is provided. The laser device has a beam with a first beam quality factor M.sub.x.sup.2 in a first direction, and a second beam quality factor M.sub.y.sup.2 in an orthogonal direction. The beam shaping device includes at least one reflecting surface diverting at least a first part of the beam in order to reconfigure at least one of the first and second beam qualities M.sub.x.sup.2 and M.sub.y.sup.2.

Abstract: A device for separating magnetic materials from non-magnetic materials in a sample using an applied magnetic field includes an inverted upstream funnel containing a plurality of longitudinally spaced, non-magnetisable flow-smoothing surfaces extending transversely across the width of the funnel, a coaxial filter chamber coupled to the output end of the upstream funnel having mounted therein an ordered wire array of magnetisable wires and a coaxial downstream funnel containing a plurality of longitudinally spaced, non-magnetisable flow-smoothing surfaces extending transversely across the width of the downstream funnel. The device may be used to separate magnetically labelled materials from samples such as biological samples.

Abstract: A process for the production from an alcohol having n carbon atoms, wherein n is a number from 1 to 20, of a carboxylic acid having n+1 carbon atoms and/or an ester of the alcohol having n carbon atoms with the carboxylic acid by reacting the alcohol at a temperature of at least 50.degree. C.

Abstract: Methods of trapping pests and traps therefor, wherein a surface, accessible to pests, is changed, preferably at predetermined time intervals, from a pest-supporting to a pest-dislodging condition, whereby pests on the surface are dislodged into a trapping zone for retention therein. The changes can be effected mechanically, but in the embodiment of a cockroach trap, the surface comprises a pair of inclined, insulating panels (2) with parallel conductors (3) which are pulsed electrically at, preferably, 10-30 second intervals with 300-400 volts DC, sufficient to dislodge pests from the surface on to a sticky insert (5) in a removable tray (4). The voltages are applied to the conductors (3) for not longer than 1 second, pulsing being effected by a multi-vibrator which, with associated circuitry, is contained in an upper portion (7) of a removable cover (8). A suitable pheromone attractant can be used, in a bung or phial (9) between the surfaces, as a lure.

Abstract: Drive and support structure for magnetic disc stores comprising a drive spindle which is adapted for direct connection to a disc pack, a pair of self-acting air bearings which support the spindle with its axis vertical, and an alternating current synchronous motor comprising a rotor which is connected to the spindle between the bearings and carries permanent magnets, and a stator which surrounds the rotor and produces a rotating magnetic field which interacts with magnetic poles provided at the periphery of the stator by the magnets. The air bearings are each of the inward pumping zero flow herringbone type.The upper end of the spindle is adapted for connection to a disc pack, and the weight of the spindle is supported at its lower end through a self-acting fluid thrust bearing of the grooved hydro-dynamic oil type. A cooling chamber is provided around the thrust bearing to cool recirculated oil.

Abstract: An alternating current rotating electric machine having a permanent magnet rotor comprising a generally cylindrical body of magnetic material having a plurality of regularly spaced, inwardly extending slots formed around its circumference so as to define pole-pieces therebetween connected by magnetic material of the body at the base of the slots, and a plurality of permanent magnets which are located in said slots so as to induce poles of alternate polarity in the pole-pieces, the central axes of the slots being uniformly inclined relative to respective radii of the body which pass through the centers of the outer open ends of the slots, and the magnetic axes of the magnets extending transversely of the respective central axes of the slots.