Abstract: This invention relates to the use of hydroxybutyrate and poly hydroxybutyrate as components of animal feed or feed additives, as well as to compositions, feed additives and feed containing them. The inventors surprisingly found that hydroxybutyrate and poly-hydroxybutyrate, preferably 3-hydroxybutyrate and poly-3-hydroxybutyrate, have a great potential for use in animal feed for modulation of the gut flora. More precisely, it has been found that poly-3-hydroxybutyrate or a microbial strain capable for producing poly-3-hydroxybutyrate can be used as a potential growth promoter or gut flora modulator by releasing SCFA, preferably 3-hydroxy butyric acid, in the gut micro flora. Further, the inventors found that 3-hydroxybutyrate and poly-3-hydroxybutyrate have a great potential for suppressing or inhibiting pathogenic bacteria in the gastro intestinal tract, e.g. have a antimicrobial activity against strains of Vibrio, E. coli and Salmonella.

Abstract: An optical decision circuit, based on gain clamped semiconductor optical amplifiers, is disclosed. This optical decision circuit can be used for 2R signal regeneration in optical communication systems. By adding a clock signal to the input of said optical decision circuit, said circuit is also suited for 3R regeneration. Such a circuit can easily be implemented as an integrated circuit or an OEIC.

Abstract: The present invention is related to a system for transferring a beam of electromagnetic radiation having a vacuum wavelength. The system according to the invention includes a first dielectric medium, a second dielectric medium and a dielectric layer in between the first and the second medium. The dielectric layer has a periodicity of the dielectric properties parallel to the layer. The periodicity has a period that is smaller than the wavelength of the electromagnetic radiation in the second dielectric medium.

Abstract: The invention relates to microspheres which are suitable for biomedical uses which have a diameter in the range of 10 nm to 2 mm and which comprise a substantially spherical core particle of a non-water-soluble polymer and an outer surface layer consisting substantially of a water-soluble polymer. The water-soluble polymer is conjugated to polyethylene glycol and the non-water-soluble core particle is attached to the water-soluble polymer by the polyethylene glycol moiety. The microspheres are prepared by dissolving the non-water-soluble polymer in a suitable first solvent, dispersing the polymer solution in a solution of the PEG/water-soluble polymer conjugate and evaporating the first solvent to form microspheres in which the PEG anchors the water-soluble polymer to the core particle.