Abstract: The present invention provides a method for detecting and/or quantifying the presence of, and relative abundance of, methylated nucleic acid bases within double-stranded nucleic acid by i) contacting a double-stranded nucleic acid sample with an intercalating fluorescent dye when bound to the nucleic acid sample fluoresces when exposed to light of a wavelength capable of causing the dye to fluoresce; 2) altering the hybridisation conditions of the solution containing the double-stranded nucleic acid-dye complex such that dissociation of the two strands of the said nucleic acid-dye complex occurs at a rate that permits progressive release of the dye 3) and monitoring the difference in fluorescence, and uses thereof.

Abstract: The present invention relates to haploid oil palm plants and homozygous doubled haploid oil palm plants. The invention also relates to methods for producing and selecting haploid and doubled haploid plants. More particularly, but not exclusively, the method may be used for selecting haploid and doubled haploid oil palm plants. Haploid and doubled haploid plants are selected by a large-scale screening based on a combination of the phenotype with the use of molecular methods combined with flow cytometry techniques to identify haploid and doubled haploid plants. More particularly, a method for selecting haploid and doubled haploid plants is described comprising: (a) germinating seeds; (b) selecting seedlings with atypical phenotype; (c) assessing heterozygosity using markers; (d) isolating cells from the seedlings and determining the DNA content of the cells; and (e) isolating and purifying the DNA and using defined molecular markers to characterise the genotype of the plant.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein provide a non-intrusive thermal (NIT) monitor for sensing temperatures useful for semiconductor manufacturing applications. In some embodiments, a NIT monitor comprises a thermopile, a fluid housing with a fluid window, and an elongated member positioned between the thermopile and the fluid window for transmitting or reflecting infrared signals corresponding to a temperature of a fluid in the fluid housing. The fluid housing may have a cross-sectional profile to enable the manipulation of the fluid flow under the fluid window, enhancing the speed and accuracy of the temperature sampling. The elongated member, which may be hollow and coated with gold, may an extended piece of the fluid housing or a part of an optics housing. In some embodiments, the NIT monitor is connected to a main conditioning circuit board via a cable for processing the temperature measurements at a remote location.

Abstract: A control system for a linear feed-forward amplifier, using the ratio of measured spurious energy. Measuring receivers are coupled to two monitoring points to measure the spurious energy content in the error signal and at the main output of a feed-forward amplifier. The control system measures the ratio of these detected spurious, and uses this to optimize the settings of the second loop distortion cancellation. With the addition of an extra monitoring point, the same technique may also be used to control an adaptive predistorter prior to the main amplifier.

Abstract: A planar optical platform for generating a Raman signal from a foreign object comprises an input region and an output region, for receiving and extracting optical radiation, optically coupled to a plasmonic band structure region. The plasmonic band structure region comprises a layer of a first material, having a first refractive index, patterned with an array of sub-regions of a second material, having a second refractive index, wherein a side-wall of each sub-region is coated with a metallodielectric layer. The array of sub-regions gives rise to a plasmonic band structure and, in use, each sub-region confines a plasmon resonance excited by optical radiation coupled into the plasmonic band structure region, which gives rise to a Raman signal from a foreign object placed proximate the plasmonic band structure region. The platform may be incorporated into a spectroscopic measurement system and is particularly useful for surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy of analyte molecules.

Abstract: A planar optical platform for generating a Raman signal from a foreign object comprises an input region and an output region, for receiving and extracting optical radiation, optically coupled to a plasmonic band structure region. The plasmonic band structure region comprises a layer of a first material, having a first refractive index, patterned with an array of sub-regions of a second material, having a second refractive index, wherein a side-wall of each sub-region is coated with a metallodielectric layer. The array of sub-regions gives rise to a plasmonic band structure and, in use, each sub-region confines a plasmon resonance excited by optical radiation coupled into the plasmonic band structure region, which gives rise to a Raman signal from a foreign object placed proximate the plasmonic band structure region. The platform may be incorporated into a spectroscopic measurement system and is particularly useful for surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy of analyte molecules.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein provide a non-intrusive thermal (NIT) monitor for sensing temperatures useful for semiconductor manufacturing applications. In some embodiments, a NIT monitor comprises a thermopile, a fluid housing with a fluid window, and an elongated member positioned between the thermopile and the fluid window for transmitting or reflecting infrared signals corresponding to a temperature of a fluid in the fluid housing. The fluid housing may have a cross-sectional profile to enable the manipulation of the fluid flow under the fluid window, enhancing the speed and accuracy of the temperature sampling. The elongated member, which may be hollow and coated with gold, may an extended piece of the fluid housing or a part of an optics housing. In some embodiments, the NIT monitor is connected to a main conditioning circuit board via a cable for processing the temperature measurements at a remote location.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of recording video and/or audio material on a recording medium, the method including an identifier for identifying a piece of video and/or audio material recorded on the recording medium, an activity indicator representative of relative activity within a content of the video and/or audio material, and metadata in accordance with the activity indicator.

Abstract: A control system for a linear feed-forward amplifier, using the ratio of measured spurious energy. Measuring receivers are coupled to two monitoring points to measure the spurious energy content in the error signal and at the main output of a feed-forward amplifier. The control system measures the ratio of these detected spurious, and uses this to optimize the settings of the second loop distortion cancellation. With the addition of an extra monitoring point, the same technique may also be used to control an adaptive predistorter prior to the main amplifier.

Abstract: A dispenser for an elongate material is provided having a support and a spool rotatably mounted in the support. The spool includes a core and two ends extending radially outward from the core. At least one ring on the support encircles a respective end of the spool. In one embodiment, the radial outside of each ring is provided with a formation tapering towards the middle of the spool.

Abstract: A dispenser for an elongate material is provided having a support and a spool rotatably mounted in the support. The spool includes a core and two ends extending radially outward from the core. At least one ring on the support encircles a respective end of the spool. In one embodiment, the radial outside of each ring is provided with a formation tapering towards the middle of the spool.

Abstract: A fuel stabilization system includes a first deoxygenator and a second deoxygenator both for removing dissolved oxygen from a hydrocarbon fuel. The first and second deoxygenators are arranged in parallel or series to sequentially remove a portion of dissolved oxygen from the hydrocarbon fuel. The arrangement of several deoxygenators for a single fuel stream improves removal of dissolved oxygen and provides for scalability of the fuel system to meet application specific demands. The arrangement also provides for the preservation of partial system functionality in the event of the failure of one of the deoxygenator modules.

Abstract: The compressed air foam and high pressure liquid dispersal system provides a compressed air foam product in addition to concurrently producing a liquid under pressure for decontamination, general cleaning, vapor suppression, Hazmat remediation, fuel spills, and fire suppression support for durable equipment, vehicles, terrain, facilities, and aircraft. The system includes a power plant for powering the compressed air foam and high pressure liquid sub-systems of the system. The high pressure sub-system further includes a boiler for heating the liquid to a temperature above ambient temperature. The boiler and power plant may use the same type of fuel for decreasing the number of fuel supplies to the system. In addition, the power plant drives an air compressor for providing compressed air for powering the compressed air foam sub-system. The power plant further drives a high pressure water pump for pressurizing the water for the high pressure sub-system.

Abstract: An identification system and method for medication management comprises a controller, a drug library accessible by the controller, the drug library containing drug library profiles including a data set of drug information, and an identification module configured to read patient identification information from machine-readable identification devices worn by patients and to read drug information from machine-readable identification devices affixed to drugs or containers of drugs. The controller compares the read information to each other and to the drug library profile and provides alerts or error signals in the event of an inconsistency. In one case, identification devices are read by an optical reader fixedly mounted to the identification module. In another case, identification devices are read by an optical reader that is hand-held and mobile and can be moved to the location of the identification device. The hand-held reader communicates with the identification module by wired or wireless means.

Abstract: A planar optical platform for generating a Raman signal from a foreign object comprises an input region and an output region, for receiving and extracting optical radiation, optically coupled to a plasmonic band structure region. The plasmonic band structure region comprises a layer of a first material, having a first refractive index, patterned with an array of sub-regions of a second material, having a second refractive index, wherein a side-wall of each sub-region is coated with a metallodielectric layer. The array of sub-regions gives rise to a plasmonic band structure and, in use, each sub-region confines a plasmon resonance excited by optical radiation coupled into the plasmonic band structure region, which gives rise to a Raman signal from a foreign object placed proximate the plasmonic band structure region. The platform may be incorporated into a spectroscopic measurement system and is particularly useful for surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy of analyte molecules.

Abstract: Selecting an obscured object of a computer-generated model consisting of a plurality of objects displayed on a computer screen includes receiving input data interpreted as an instruction to change a visibility characteristic of a first one of the plurality of objects (the first one of the objects obscuring another of the objects, and the first object being determined based on the location of an on-screen cursor), and modifying a visibility characteristic of the first object to cause another one of the objects to become discernable and selectable.

Abstract: There is provided a non-linear optical device for enhancing the bandwidth accessible in the nonlinear generation of an optical signal. The device comprises a planar optical waveguide, the planar optical waveguide being operative to generate an optical output from an optical input having an input bandwidth by means of a non-linear optical process, the optical output having a wavelength within an accessible bandwidth, wherein the planar optical waveguide is operative to enhance the accessible bandwidth such that the ratio of the accessible bandwidth to the input bandwidth is at least 4. The device is particularly applicable to broad optical continuum generation, but may also be used in a parametric oscillator or amplifier arrangement with broad tuning range.

Abstract: There is provided a non-linear optical device for enhancing the bandwidth accessible in the nonlinear generation of an optical signal. The device comprises a planar optical waveguide, the planar optical waveguide being operative to generate an optical output from an optical input having an input bandwidth by means of a non-linear optical process, the optical output having a wavelength within an accessible bandwidth, wherein the planar optical waveguide is operative to enhance the accessible bandwidth such that the ratio of the accessible bandwidth to the input bandwidth is at least 4. The device is particularly applicable to broad optical continuum generation, but may also be used in a parametric oscillator or amplifier arrangement with broad tuning range. The planar waveguide geometry permits easy integration in more complex photonic integrated circuits such as a Michelson interferometer for low coherence interferometry based optical coherence tomography.

Abstract: There is provided a non-linear optical device for enhancing the bandwidth accessible in the nonlinear generation of an optical signal. The device comprises a planar optical waveguide, the planar optical waveguide being operative to generate an optical output from an optical input having an input bandwidth by means of a non-linear optical process, the optical output having a wavelength within an accessible bandwidth, wherein the planar optical waveguide is operative to enhance the accessible bandwidth such that the ratio of the accessible bandwidth to the input bandwidth is at least 4. The device is particularly applicable to broad optical continuum generation, but may also be used in a parametric oscillator or amplifier arrangement with broad tuning range.

Abstract: A target designation system for indicating a target to be destroyed by remotely guided ordnance comprising a receiver arranged to produce a receiver output signal in response to an incident electromagnetic signal from an attack aircraft. An auto-switch is connected to the receiver and arranged to produce a power signal in response to the receiver output signal. A transmitter is connected to the auto-switch to be activated by the power signal. When activated, the transmitter transmits a homing signal that indicates its location or the location of the target.