Abstract: Compounds of general formula (1): wherein R1, R2 and R3 are as defined herein; are of use in the treatment and prevention of neurodegenerative disorders including Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease.

Abstract: A method of fabricating an optical structure comprises providing a layer of single crystal crystalline silicon supported on an insulating surface of a silicon substrate; using etching to remove part of the silicon layer and define a side wall which is non-parallel to the insulating surface of the substrate; forming a layer of insulating material over the side wall; forming a further layer of silicon over at least the insulating material; and removing the silicon of the further layer to a level of the layer of silicon such that the layer of insulating material occupies a slot between a portion of silicon in the layer and a portion of silicon in the further layer, a thickness of the layer of insulating material defining a width of the slot.

Abstract: A hollow core optical fibre comprises a tubular jacket; a cladding comprising a plurality of primary capillaries spaced apart from one another in a ring and each bonded to an inner surface of the jacket at a peripheral location around the circumference of the jacket; and a hollow core formed by a central void within the ring of primary capillaries; wherein the cladding further comprises, within each primary capillary, two secondary capillaries and no more, the two secondary capillaries spaced apart from one another and each bonded to an inner surface of the primary capillary at an azimuthal location around the circumference of the primary capillary which is displaced from the peripheral location of the primary capillary.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are isolated follicular helper T cell (TFH) and engineered follicular helper T cell (TFH) and methods of isolating or engineering such cells. Further disclosed herein are methods of using such cells for treating diseases, such as cancer.

Abstract: A preform (10) for an antiresonant hollow core optical fibre comprises an outer jacket tube (12) having an inner surface and a central longitudinal axis (24); a plurality of antiresonant cladding tubes (14) spaced apart at predefined peripheral locations around the inner surface of the outer jacket tube (12), each antiresonant cladding tube (14) in contact with the inner surface such that a central longitudinal axis (26) of each antiresonant cladding tube (14) is at a first radial distance from the central longitudinal axis (24) of the outer jacket tube (12); and a plurality of spacing elements (22) disposed alternately with the antiresonant cladding tubes (14) and each in contact with an outer surface of each of two adjacent antiresonant cladding tubes (14) at one or more contact points (28), the contact points (28) at a second radial distance from the central longitudinal axis (24) of the outer jacket tube (12), the second radial distance being greater than the first radial distance.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a method of forming an erasable optical coupler in a photonic device comprising a conventional optical waveguide formed in a crystalline wafer. The method comprises selectively implanting ions in a localized region of the wafer material adjacent to the conventional waveguide of the photonic device, to cause modification of the crystal lattice structure of, and a change in refractive index in, the ion implanted region of the wafer material to thereby form an ion implanted waveguide optically coupled to the adjacent conventional waveguide to couple light out therefrom, or in thereto. The crystalline wafer material and ion implanted waveguide are such that the crystal lattice structure or composition can be modified to adjust or remove the optical coupling with the conventional waveguide by further modification of the refractive index in the ion implanted region.

Abstract: A method of fabricating at least one single-crystal alloy semiconductor structure. At least one seed, containing an alloying material, on a substrate for growth of at least one single-crystal alloy semiconductor structure is formed. At least one structural form, formed of a host material, on the substrate is crystallized to form the at least one single-crystal alloy semiconductor structure. The at least one structural form is heated such that the material of the at least one structural form has a liquid state. Also, the at least one structural form is cooled, such that the material of the at least one structural form nucleates at the least one seed and crystallizes as a single crystal to provide at least one single-crystal alloy semiconductor structure, with a growth front of the single crystal propagating in a main body of the respective structural form away from the respective seed.

Abstract: Techniques for making fluid flow devices are described. The technique is based on radiation-induced conversion of a radiation-sensitive substance from a first state to a second state. With adjustment of the radiation parameters such as power and scan speed we can control the depths of barriers that are formed within a substrate which can produce 3D flow paths. We have used this depth-variable patterning protocol for stacking and sealing of multilayer substrates, for assembly of backing layers for two-dimensional (2D) lateral flow devices and for fabrication of 3D devices. Since the 3D flow paths can be formed via a single laser-writing process by controlling the patterning parameters, this is a distinct improvement over other methods that require multiple complicated and repetitive assembly procedures.

Abstract: A method of determining a displacement comprises: generating an interferometric superoscillatory field from coherent electromagnetic radiation, the interferometric superoscillatory field comprising an interference pattern between a reference field and a superoscillatory field; detecting with a detector a first set of intensity distributions of the interferometric superoscillatory field, each intensity distribution from a different polarisation state of the electromagnetic radiation; detecting with the detector a second set of intensity distributions of the interferometric superoscillatory field, each intensity distribution from the same polarisation states of the electromagnetic radiation as the first set of intensity distributions; extracting a first local wavevector distribution from the first set of intensity distributions and a second local wavevector distribution from the second set of intensity distributions; comparing the first local wavevector distribution and the second local wavevector distribution

Abstract: A discrete wavelength tunable laser capable of switching between a plurality of lasing channels of different wavelengths, the tunable laser comprising: a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA); a wavelength demultiplexer (Demux), having a Demux input which receives the output from the SOA, and a plurality of Demux outputs, each Demux output defining a different spatial path for a respective lasing channel; each of the respective lasing channels being within the bandwidth of the SOA; a reflector located within each spatial path for reflecting light of the respective lasing channel; and a lasing suppression mechanism located within each lasing channel; wherein one or more desired lasing channels are selected by application of the lasing suppression mechanism in each spatial path other than the one or more spatial paths corresponding to the one or more desired lasing channels.

Abstract: The invention relates to a polymer-clay composite material comprising clay nanoparticles and a polymer, and wherein (a) the polymer comprises phosphate and/or phosphonate ligands; or (b) the polymer-clay composite further comprises linker molecules comprising a phosphate or phosphonate ligand, wherein the linker molecules are arranged to be anchored to the polymer. The invention further relates to organoclays, BMP-clay composite material. Uses, treatments, and manufacturer of the material are also provided.

Abstract: An interferometric optical fibre sensor comprises optical fibre defining an optical circuit configured to propagate a first optical wave via an environment in which the optical fibre can be exposed to a stimulus that modifies the first optical wave, and a second optical wave, and to combine the first optical wave and the second optical wave to create an interference signal containing information about the stimulus, wherein optical fibre propagating either or both of the first optical wave and the second optical wave comprises hollow core optical fibre configured to propagate the optical wave or waves by an antiresonant optical guidance effect.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of labelling biological molecules with 18F, via attachment to fluorine to a macrocyclic metal complex of a non-radioactive metal, where the metal complex is conjugated to the biological molecule. Also provided are pharmaceutical compositions, kits and methods of in vivo imaging.

Abstract: The invention relates to compounds of general formula (I): wherein R2a, R2b, R3a, R3b, R5, Y and R7 are as defined herein are selective agonists at the FXR receptor and are useful for the treatment or prevention of diseases and conditions including nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH); primary biliary cirrhosis; primary sclerosing cholangitis; biliary atresia; cholestatic liver disease; hepatitis C infection; alcoholic liver disease; fibrosis; and liver damage arising from fibrosis.

Abstract: A method of labelling biological molecules with 18F, via attachment of fluorine to a metal complex, where the metal complex is conjugated to the biological molecule. The invention highlights the incorporation of hydrogen bonding (H-bonding) into the metal complex scaffold, and how this can be utilised to improve the kinetics of fluoride incorporation. Also provided are pharmaceutical compositions, kits and methods of in vivo imaging.

Abstract: A method of operating an optical modulator. The optical modulator having: a rib waveguide which includes a junction which is either a PIN or PN junction, the junction having a breakdown voltage. The method comprising: applying a reverse bias to the junction, so as to operate the optical modulator around the breakdown voltage of the junction; operating the modulator in an avalanche multiplication and/or band-to-band tunnelling mode by increasing the reverse bias past the breakdown voltage.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a hollow-core photonic-bandgap fiber, comprising the steps of: providing a stack of capillaries, wherein the stack has a hollow core and the capillaries at a boundary of the core comprise a plurality of first, corner core capillaries and a plurality of second, intermediate core capillaries; applying a pressure differential between the corner core capillaries and the intermediate core capillaries, whereby a size of the corner core capillaries can be controlled in relation to the intermediate core capillaries; and reducing the stack to a fiber, wherein the fiber has a hollow core and a cladding which surrounds the core at a core boundary and comprises a lattice or network of struts and interstitial nodes which together define an array of cavities.

Abstract: A method of trimming the refractive index of material forming at least part of one or more structures integrated in one or more pre-fabricated devices, the method comprising: implanting one or more first regions of material of one or more pre-fabricated devices, encompassing at least partially one or more device structures, with ions to alter the crystal form of the material within the one or more first regions and change the refractive index of the material within the one or more first regions; and heat treating one or more second regions of material of the one or more devices, encompassing at least partially the one or more first regions, to alter the crystal form of the material within the one or more first regions encompassed by the one or more second regions and change the refractive index thereof, thereby trimming the refractive index of the material of at least part of the one or more device structures, such that the one or more device structures provide one or more predetermined device outputs.

Abstract: An optoelectronic device and method of manufacturing the same. The device includes: a layer disposed above a substrate, the layer having a first cavity therein, which cavity is at least partially defined by an inclined interface between the cavity and an insulating liner, the interface being disposed at an angle relative to the substrate of greater than 0° and less than or equal to 90°; and a regrown semiconductor material, providing or forming a part of a waveguide, the regrown semiconductor material being at least partly disposed in the first cavity and including an inclined interface between the regrown semiconductor material and the insulating liner, the interface being disposed at an angle relative to the substrate of greater than 0° and less than or equal to 90°.

Abstract: The present invention relates to inhibitors of HIF-1 and HIF-2 and uses thereof. The present invention further relates to the inhibitors for use in treatment of diseases. An isolated polypeptide is provided, that prevents dimerization of HIF-1? with HIF-1? and HIF-2? with HIF-1? and/or inhibits the activity of HIF-1 and HIF-2, wherein the polypeptide comprises the amino acid sequence C-X1-X2-X3-Z-X4 (SEQ ID NO 1) and wherein X1, X2, X3 and X4 are any amino acid and wherein Z is leucine, valine of isoleucine or a non-natural derivative or leucine, valine or isoleucine. The isolated polypeptide prevents dimerization of HIF-1? with HIF-1? and HIF-2? with HIF-1? and inhibits the activity of HIF-1 and HIF-2 by binding to HIF-1? or HIF-1? and/or HIF-2? or HIF-1?.