Abstract: A semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) is used in a double pass configuration with one of the output ports followed by an attenuator, which is followed by a modulator with a reflective facet. The variable loss between the SOA and the modulator is optimised, so that the SOA can be operated in a highly saturated regime without distorting the modulated signal. The SOA is firstly saturated by the input carrier, (21) in FIG. 2, which has a constant power and hence does not introduce patterning of the SOA gain. On the contrary the saturation induced by the carrier creates a clamping effect that prevents patterning for signals with input put power comparable with or less than the input optical carrier power. The optical carrier amplified by the SOA (22) then travels through the attenuator section and it is attenuated (23). The carrier (23) then enters the modulator section where it is modulated with the data signal (24).

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for creating a coherent optical comb comprising a plurality of lasers, each laser providing an optical output channel; means for combining each optical channel output; a modulator for modulating the combined optical channel outputs, to provide a modulated signal; means for feeding back said modulated signal to said plurality of lasers, such that each laser output channel is phase and/or frequency locked with respect to at least one other of said plurality of lasers. A discrete optical comb is obtained without the need for excessively high power laser outputs and only employs a single (optional) wavelength locker for all channels.

Abstract: The invention provides time-synchronised transmission of data on the (polarisation or phase-modulated) QKD channel and the (on-off modulated) conventional channel such that a QKD bit is only transmitted when a zero, or sequence of zeros, is transmitted on the conventional channel. Also, there is co-directional propagation of the QKD and conventional channel. Further, there is dispersion management through wavelength selection or control of fibre properties or other means such that the “walk-off in time of the QKD pulses and the Raman pulses generated by the ones on the conventional channel is less than or of the order of one bit period. The latter can be achieved, for example, by placing the conventional and QKD channel wavelengths close to the point where the group velocity-induced time delay for optical pulses propagating in the fibre reaches a minimum. This dispersion minimum occurs at a wavelength of 1.3 microns in standard fibre. The invention discloses a receiver embodiment to implement the invention.

Abstract: Described herein are isolated mammalian cells (progenitor cell biomarkers), referred to as primitive vascular progenitor cells (PVPC), which are present in and isolated from blood (e.g., peripheral blood) and useful as biomarkers of vascular remodeling in mammals (e.g., humans, rodents).

Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed that provide a radio frequency synthesizer that generates precise frequencies over a large radio frequency range. The radio frequency synthesizer can provide a high resolution of frequency generation and still provide precise frequencies over a range of radio frequencies. The precision and resolution while maintaining a large operating range come from the ability of the frequency synthesizer to generate frequencies as a product of a plurality of moduli. For example, the frequency can be generated from a reference frequency using a first modulus and a second modulus. The plurality of modulo can be implemented using nested digital delta-sigma modulators in a fractional-N frequency synthesizer.

Abstract: In one embodiment the invention describes an integrated magnetic structure, for use in a transformer coupled buck and/or boost converter, comprising a core having at least one leg portion and at least one phase winding split into two sub-windings, said two sub-windings are wound around the core and adapted to function as a single phase of a transformer wherein the core is fabricated from two C and two T ferrite or magnetic sections and adapted to cooperate with each other to form a CCTT shaped integrated magnetic structure.

Abstract: The invention provides a system for use in an optical communication network to reduce noise comprising means for tapping a low noise signal from said network and a phase sensitive amplifier (PSA) for conditioning said tapped signal by means for removing modulation of the tapped signal to allow for phase locking of the tapped signal. A laser source provides phase locked reference signals to generate at least one pump signal, wherein the at least one pump signal provides correct phase alignment for optimum PSA operation. The invention makes use of injection locked and/or phase locked laser sources in conjunction with low power input tap couplers, or post/mid amplification taps to provide the required phase locked reference signals without degrading the input loss or noise. The use of injection/phase locked local lasers suppresses the detrimental impact of the low tapped power or added noise in the generation of the required pump signals.

Abstract: Isolated strains of Lactobacillus plantarum are described that have anti-fungal activity against fungal spore suspensions, and specifically anti-fungal activity in fruit juices and fermented dairy products. The two species have also been found to have a high degree of heat tolerance and osmotolerance, and to have a high freeze-drying survival rate.

Abstract: The invention is based on the surprising finding that treatment with a chemotherapeutic agent such as 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and an autophagy inducer effectively inhibit the continued growth of, and prevent the recovery following drug withdrawal, of cancer cells. In vivo, drug resistance from a failure to adequately engage in apoptotic programmed cell death leads to a recurrence of cancer and tumours can remain dormant for periods of time before re-emerging as drug resistant metastases. It has been hypothesised that autophagy (Type II cell death) may help cancer cells survive in response to growth limiting conditions, such as nutrient depletion, hypoxia, absence of growth factor, or presence of cytotoxic drug. LiCl is a known autophagy inducer and accelerates cell survival to autophagic programmed cell death.

Abstract: A method for the early prediction of risk of hypertensive disorders in pregnant women, including for example eclampsia, mild pre-eclampsia, chronic hypertension, EPH gestosis, gestational hypertension, superimposed pre-eclampsia, HELLP syndrome, or nephropathy.

Abstract: The invention provides a variable gain amplifier system for use in a burst mode receiver, said system comprising an amplifier adapted to amplify a signal; a gain control module; a dc offset compensation module adapted to derive a compensation signal as a function of the amplifier gain. Compared to existing methods for dc offset compensation in variable gain amplifier, the system and method for dc offset compensation allows fast adjustment of rapidly changing dc offsets that occur in applications where the gain of the variable gain amplifier is adjusted rapidly.

Abstract: A Nisin derivative or variant, comprising an amino acid substitution at amino acid position 29 in the amino acid sequence. The Nisin derivative exhibits enhanced antimicrobial activity when compared to wild type Nisin. The Nisin derivative has an application as a natural food additive and as a therapeutic agent.

Abstract: The invention provides transistor device comprising a source, a drain and a connecting channel, the channel is a nano-structure device adapted to allow current flow between the source and drain. The channel comprises an ultra-high doping concentration and is of the same polarity as in the source and/or drain. Essentially the transistor device of the present invention acts as a junctionless, highly-doped gated resistor. In the context of optimal performance of the transistor high doping means equal to or exceeds 1×1019 atom/cm3 results in that the device can operate as a junctionless transistor device.

Abstract: According to the invention there is provided a tunable laser system for use in an optical communication system, said tunable laser system comprising a multi-section laser separated by at least two slots to define a plurality of sections, each section adapted to provide an optical gain. Each section comprises a separate control means to provide an adjustable optical gain in each section. The tunable laser system and method of the present invention provides a wide tuning range, narrow linewidth and fast switching times.

Abstract: A phosphorescent compound of general Formula I, or phosphorescent analogs thereof, wherein: at least one of R1 to R4 has a formula X—Y, wherein Y is a peptide sequence providing cell penetration, and X is absent or is a chemical linker; the or each of the remaining R1 to R4 groups are, independently, lipophilic, uncharged chemical groups; and Me is selected from Pt2+ or Pd2+, which probe is capable of measurement of molecular oxygen within live respiring cells by quenched-phosphorescence detection.

Abstract: A nano viscometer device suitable for determining the concentration of a solute within a fluid sample preferably includes a hollow core Photonic Crystal Fibre (HC-PCF) acting as a capillary tube having a core and means for filling the capillary tube with a fluid sample. Light is preferably guided light into the HC-PCF and detected exiting the tube. The rate at which the capillary tube is filled with the fluid is optically measured based on the light to determine the viscosity of the fluid to calculate the concentration of a solute. The preferred capillary viscometer is capable of measuring the viscosity of nano-litre quantities of a sample fluid. On one example, the preferred viscometer makes use of HC-PCF for the detection of glucose dissolved in nano water, demonstrating that HC-PCF can be used for continuous monitoring of glucose levels within blood plasma.

Abstract: A tunable laser device (1) comprises integrally formed first and second ridge waveguides (5, 6). A longitudinally extending ridge (12) defines first and second light guiding regions (19, 20) of the first and second waveguides (5, 6) A plurality of first and second slots (27, 28) extending laterally in the ridge (12) adjacent the first and second waveguides (5, 6), produce first and second mirror loss spectra of the respective first and second waveguides (5, 6) with minimum peak values at respective first and second wavelength values. The spacing between the second slots (28) is different to that between the first slots (27) so that with one exception the minimum peak values of the first and second mirror loss spectrum occur at different wavelength values. The first and second waveguides (5, 6) are independently pumped with variable currents to selectively vary the common wavelength at which the minimum peak values of the first and second mirror loss spectra occur to produce Vernier tuning of the device.

Abstract: The current invention relates to the use of a bacterial species in the preparation of a composition adapted for oral administration for the delivery of an agent to a site in the body. The site in the body may be an organ or a tumour site. The bacterial species is a food grade, non-pathogenic, gram-positive bacteria capable of anaerobic growth.

Abstract: An isolated bacteriophage MR299-2 or NH-4 deposited under NCIMB Deposit Accession Nos. 41729 and 41730, respectively, is described. The phages have lytic activity against P. aeruginosa strains, including mucoid and CF clinical isolate strains. Variant hages are also described, wherein said variants retain the phenotypic characteristics of said phage and wherein said phage and variants thereof have lytic activity against P. aeruginosa strains.

Abstract: A method for the preparation of a gum base or chewable entity comprises the step of treating a mixture comprising cereal protein, for example gluten, and water, optionally in combination with sugar, sugar substitute or other functional ingredient, at a hydrostatic pressure of at least 100 MPa for at least 2 mins. Generally, the mixture is pressure treated at an elevated pressure of at least 25° C. The temperature, pressure and treatment time may be varied provided that the combination of the three results in the modification of the viscoelastic properties of the mixture to resemble that of conventional chewing gum. The treatment time of the current invention is inversely related to the hydrostatic pressure and temperature of the treatment. Thus, if the pressure and/or the temperature are increased, the treatment time may be reduced.