Abstract: The invention provides systems, methods and apparatus for of determining and/or monitoring the strategic health of an organisation. The method includes receiving information, collating the information to form information artefacts, each information artefact having an impact on one or more aspects of the strategic health of an organisation, deriving a value for one or more of said information artefacts, and assessing a magnitude of the impact on the strategic health of the organisation based on the derived values.

Abstract: (S)-2-(Diphenylacetyl)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-6-methoxy-5-(phenylmethoxy)-3-isoquinoline carboxylic acid in substantially pure form is described together with its sodium salt and solvates. Methods for preparing the compound, its sodium salt and its solvates and pharmaceutical compositions comprising them are also described.

Abstract: A system and method for displaying a graphical context menu on a display screen of a mobile communication device. The method includes receiving a menu request, determining the number of menu items based on the context of the menu request, generating a graphical context menu based on the determined number of the determined number of menu items, inserting the menu items into the generated graphical context menu, and displaying the generated graphical context menu on the display screen with the inserted menu items. The graphical context menu can include menu items displayed in a 3×3 grid, a 2×3 grid or a 1×3 grid. The graphical context menu can include a default menu item in the center of the grid and a full menu option in the bottom most right slot of the grid.

Abstract: The preferred embodiments of the present invention provide approaches for synchronizing signals in a testing system. In some embodiments, the timing signal associated with each device under test (DUT) is maintained at an integer multiple of the tester timing signal. Additionally, in other embodiments, the timing signal associated with various DUTs is used as a timing reference for other devices.

Abstract: Eyewear, e.g., an apparatus to be worn on or adjacent to a person's eyes, which includes a heating element that is configured to provide heat. The heat provided may be sufficient to provide warmth to a wearer of the eyewear or to prevent accumulation of, e.g., snow, ice, fog or any other type of matter, whether environmental or otherwise. The eyewear may include an actuation element for actuating the heating element, the actuation element being configured to cause the heating element to generate heat either automatically or manually. Power for the heating element to generate heat may be provided by a power source, such as a battery.

Abstract: The beverage pack comprises a bladder (1) with at least one strap (T) that is integral to the pack. The pack is manufactured so that it is highly durable, strong and minimises plastic wastage, making the pack durable, cost effective and beneficial to the environment. In some forms the pack is be disposable. The pack preferably includes an area of insulation (7), such as bubble type wrap or any other appropriate insulating material, on at least part of it. The pack may also include a reflective panel, such as silver type plastic, on its front panel to keep the beverage within the pack cold and to reflect sunlight. The pack includes a non-toxic drinking hose (4) that is sealed within pack. The integrated strap enables the pack to be easily manufactured to keep it durable and strong to be carried by a person and taken anywhere.

Abstract: A miniature electrode array is utilized to stimulate tissue and measure tissue response. When the tissue response is used to diagnose tissue, the spacing of the electrodes in the array is approximately equal to the depth of tissue which is to be examined. The manufacture of such arrays can be accomplished by embedding printed circuit boards, for example, into a properly shaped probe tip. A kinetic device to position the probe on the surface of the tissue provides location information which is correlated with the simultaneous electrical response data in order to generate a tissue map. The tissue mapping capability can be combined with tissue removal devices in order to direct the excision of tissue. When the tissue response is used simply to determine that the array is in contact with the tissue, the electrodes can be widely spaced.

Abstract: The preferred embodiments of the present invention provide approaches for synchronizing signals in a testing system. In some embodiments, the timing signal associated with each device under test (DUT) is maintained at an integer multiple of the tester timing signal. Additionally, in other embodiments, the timing signal associated with various DUTs is used as a timing reference for other devices.

Abstract: Data that represents chemical structures, and fragments thereof, are transformed into corresponding molecular keywords comprising letters and numbers that are associated with the original data representation. These molecular keywords encode the structural features of a given chemical structure. Molecular keywords are generated for linear structures, branching points, adjacent branching points, monocyclic, polycyclic and macrocyclic ring systems, stereo centers, ring-substituent patterns and molecular-formula atom counts. Indexing, database searching, and Web page presentation can be provided in conjunction with the molecular keywords representation.

Abstract: A centrifuge apparatus for processing blood comprising a bottom spring-loaded support plate; a top support plate; an axial inlet/outlet for blood to be processed and processed components of the blood, the axial inlet/outlet being attached to the top support plate by a rotating seal assembly; a variable volume separation chamber mounted between the bottom support plate and the top support plate, the variable volume separation chamber being fluidly connected to the axial inlet/outlet; a pump fluidly connected to the axial inlet/outlet; and a rotary drive unit attached to the bottom support plate. The top support plate is fixed vertically and the bottom spring-loaded support plate is mounted on springs that maintain pressure on the variable volume separation chamber and allow the bottom support plate to move vertically.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method of manufacturing of optical devices, for example, semiconductor optoelectronic devices such as laser diodes, optical modulators, optical amplifiers, optical switches, and the like. There is further disclosed Optoelectronic Integrated Circuits (OEICs) and Photonic Integrated Circuits (PICs) including such devices. According to the present invention there is provided a method of manufacturing an optical device (40), a device body portion (15) from which the device (40) is to be made including a Quantum Well Intermixing (QWI) structure (30), the method including the step of plasma etching at least part of a surface of the device body portion (5) prior to depositing a dielectric layer (51) thereon so as to introduce structural defects at least into a portion (53) of the device body portion (5) adjacent the dielectric layer (51). The structural defects substanially comprise “point” defects.

Abstract: There is disclosed an improved optical device (110), such as a laser, modulator, amplifier, switch, ore the like. The invention provides an optically active device (110) comprising: an optically active region (150) having an input/output end (165); and an optically passive region (155, 160) extending from said input/output end (165, 170) of the optically active region (150) an input/output end (175, 180) of the device (110).

Abstract: There is disclosed an improved semiconductor laser device (10). Previous high power (greater than a few hundred milliwatts output) semiconductor lasers suffer from a number of problems such as poor beam quality and low brightness. The invention therefore provides a semiconductor laser device (10) including at least one portion which has been Quantum Well Intermixed (QWI) and means for providing gain profiling within an active portion of the device (10). In a preferred implementation the device (10) provides a Wide Optical Waveguide (WOW).

Abstract: There is disclosed a method of manufacturing of optical devices, for example, semiconductor optoelectronic devices such as laser diodes, optical modulators, optical amplifiers, optical switches, and the like. There is further disclosed Optoelectronic Integrated Circuits (OEICs) and Photonic Integrated Circuits (PICs) including such devices. According to the present invention there is provided a method of manufacturing an optical device (40), a device body portion (15) from which the device (40) is to be made including a Quantum Well Intermixing (QWI) structure (30), the method including the step of plasma etching at least part of a surface of the device body portion (5) prior to depositing a dielectric layer (51) thereon so as to introduce structural defects at least into a portion (53) of the device body portion (5) adjacent the dielectric layer (51). The structural defects substantially comprise “point” defects.

Abstract: There is disclosed an improved optical device (110), such as a laser, modulator, amplifier, switch, ore the like. The invention provides an optically active device (110) comprising: an optically active region (150) having an input/output end (165); and an optically passive region (155, 160) extending from said input/output end (165, 170) of the optically active region (150) to an input/output end (175, 180) of the device (110).

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an optical device, wherein the device body portion from which the device is to be made includes at least one Quantum Well, the method including the step of causing an impurity material including copper to intermix with the Quantum Well.

Abstract: There is disclosed an improved laser device (10), comprising a semiconductor laser diode. The invention provides laser device (10) comprising: at least two lasing regions (12,14); an interference region (16) into which an output of each lasing region (12,14) is coupled; and an output region (118) extending from the interference region (116) to an output (20) of the device (10).

Abstract: There is disclosed an improved semiconductor laser device (10;10a), eg a single mode index guided laser diode. The device (10;10a) comprises: an optical waveguide (15;15a); at least one electrical contact (20;20a) extending along part of a length of the waveguide (15;15a); and wherein the at least one electrical contact (20;20a) is shorter than the optical waveguide (15;15a). By this arrangement a part or parts of the waveguide (15;15a) are not electrically pumped, in use.

Abstract: There is disclosed an improved optical device (10;10a), eg comprising a semiconductor optically active or optoelectronic devices such as lasers, modulators, amplifiers, switching structures, or the like, mounted on a heatsink (28;28a) The invention provides an optically active device (10;10a) comprising a device body (12;12a) having an active region (14;14a) and an optically passive region(s) (20;22) provided at one or more ends (24,26;26a) of the active region (14;14a); and a heatsink (28;28a); the device body (12;12a) and heatsink (28;28a) being retained in thermal association with one another such that a first end of the at least one of the optically passive region(s) (20,22;22a) adjacent an end of the active region (14;14a) is provided within an area of the heatsink (28;28a), and a second end of the said at least one optically passive region(s) (20,22;22a) is provided outwith the area of the heatsink (28;28a).

Abstract: This invention is a method for making purses and other bags. The first part of the process is forming a female mold of the bag. This mold can be formed in extreme detail. The mold is then preheated and colored plastic is then poured into it. The mold is then lowered into a hot oil or salt bath and the plastic and the hot oil or salt reacts causing the plastic to line the interior wall of the mold. The mold is then taken out of the hot oil or salt bath and placed in a cooling tank where the plastic is cooled and sets. The mold is taken out of the cooling tank and the unfinished bag is removed from the mold. The bag is then finished by polishing and adding any accessories such as snaps, zippers, linings, and handles to the bag. The process can be used to form a hard or soft sided bag.