Abstract: An apparatus for detecting and/or locating a fibre-optic cable (170) by applying a magnetic field with a component parallel to the cable (170) and detecting the cumulative rotation of polarisation of a polarised beam passing through the magnetic field multiple times. The beam is preferably input into the cable (170) multiple times, with the same polarisation and amplitude each cycle. In this case, a regeneration stage (800) is provided to recycle the beam with the correct amplitude and polarisation. A method of detecting a fibre-optic cable (170) is also disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for detecting disturbances (changes in physical configuration) in optic communication or transmission media such as fibre-optic cables 180 has a source 110 of pulsed laser light, a circulator 150 for inputting the pulsed laser light into the fibre-optic cable and receiving backscattered radiation from the cable 180, and a detection stage 160 for detecting the amplitude of radiation backscattered from the cable 180 as a function of time, the backscattered radiation being caused by pulses of laser light input into the cable 180 at a first end. The results may be analysed and may be correlated to indicate the existence and/or location of a disturbance. A method of detecting such disturbances is also disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus and method that provides for improved optical communication between at least one source and at least one destination, with reduced loss of power and superior retention of the quality of a signal when compared with the prior art. The apparatus has a body having at least one integrated optical channel along which a light signal is transmitted via an N-fold plurality of lenses. A light signal transmitted along the integrated optical channel is repeatedly refocused along the optical axis and is then highly focused at the second end. Optionally, the light signal can be switched, attenuated, filtered, tapped or monitored by positioning appropriate optical devices between the lenses.

Abstract: Probes comprising a cardiolipin derivative covalently attached to a solid phase, other than through an allylic oxygen, are described. Methods of making the probes are also described. A cardiolipin analogue which is amino-derivatised at the end of one of the fatty acid side chains is reacted with an activated ester attached to a solid support. The probes are useful for diagnosis of anti-phospholipid antibody syndrome (APS), and for identifying and purifying cardiolipin binding proteins.

Abstract: An apparatus and method that provides for improved optical communication between at least one source and at least one destination, with reduced loss of power and superior retention of the quality of a signal when compared with the prior art. The apparatus has a body having at least one integrated optical channel along which a light signal is transmitted via an N-fold plurality of lenses. A light signal transmitted along the integrated optical channel is repeatedly refocused along the optical axis and is then highly focused at the second end. Optionally, the light signal can be switched, attenuated, filtered, tapped or monitored by positioning appropriate optical devices between the lenses.

Abstract: Vaccine compositions comprising peroxiredoxin and/or &bgr;-tubulin antigenic material, preferably of Fasciola or Dicrocoelium origin, for use in combating a parasitic infestation of helminths in a mammal, are provided. Also provided are nucleic acid sequences which encode peroxiredoxin and/or &bgr;-tubulin molecules and the amino acid sequences thereof, vectors comprising said nucleic acid sequences and cells transformed with such vectors.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for improved operation of a packet network by controllably providing switched physical alternate links between packet network nodes, at least one of which is a host, and using those switched physical alternate links to supplement the capacity of the packet network. A switched physical alternate link is composed of physical elements, switchable connection devices, and a manager, such that a switched physical alternate link behaves as a single point-to-point physical link between nodes in a packet network. Creating and removing switched physical alternate links as the packet network operates provides supplemental carrying capacity between the packet network nodes connected by switched physical alternate links, while overall packet network congestion is simultaneously reduced.

Abstract: In order to identify a fiber optic cable (10) a beam (14) of polarised light is caused to pass down the cable to a first site (A) at which an electromagnetic field (24) is applied to the cable (10). The electromagnetic field (24) traverses the cable (10) in an essentially transverse direction and has a time-varying component orientated along the length of the cable (10) at the first site (A), with the component varying so that the line integral thereof along the cable (10) is non-zero. This results in a variation in the polarisation of the light, which can then be detected by a polarisation discriminator (20) at a second site (B), thereby to identify the cable (10).

Abstract: The present application relates to vaccine compositions comprising peroxiredoxin and/or &bgr;—tubulin antigenic material, preferably of Fasciola or Dicrocoelium origin, for use in combatting a parasitic infestation of helminths in a mammal. It further relates to nucleic acid sequences which encode peroxiredoxin and/or &bgr;—tubulin molecules and the amino-acid sequences thereof, vectors comprising said nucleic acid sequences and cells transformed with such vectors.

Abstract: A hand cycle includes a frame and a seat which is pivotable relative to the frame about a longitudinally extending axis to effect steerage of the hand cycle.

Abstract: In order to identify a fiber optic cable (10) a beam (14) of polarised light is caused to pass down the cable to a first site (A) at which an electromagnetic field (24) is applied to the cable (10). The electromagnetic field (24) traverses the cable (10) in an essentially transverse direction and has a time-varying component orientated along the length of the cable (10) at the first site (A), with the component varying so that the line integral thereof along the cable (10) is non-zero. This results in a variation in the polarisation of the light, which can the be detected by a polarisation discriminator (20) at a second site (B), thereby to identify the cable (10).

Abstract: A content exchange system and method of operation thereof for the dynamic acquisition, management and distribution of content through a network and to content clients. A content exchange system includes a content acquisition system communicating with a content source for receiving content from the content source and parsing and formatting the content for storage and for distribution to the content clients, a repository system for storing and managing the content and content relationships and for retrieving the content for distribution to the content clients, and a content distribution system for receiving the content from the repository system and formatting and distributing the content to the content clients.

Abstract: In a vacuum pump of the regenerative type or including a regenerative section in which a rotatable vertical shaft is supported by upper and lower bearings, a lubricating system for lubricating the upper bearing comprising an axial bore extending along the shaft and communicating at its upper end with at least one oil hole in alignment with the upper bearing, the lower open end of the axial bore extending in to a shaft reservoir located in a sump for containing lubricating fluid, the arrangement being such that centrifugal force generated by the rotation of the shaft will cause the lubricating fluid in the shaft reservoir to pass along the axial bore as a thin film towards the oil hole and hence to the upper bearing, in which at least one port is formed in a wall of the shaft reservoir to permit the passage of lubricating fluid therethrough from the sump in a controlled manner dependent upon the head of lubricating fluid in the sump above the port.

Abstract: A Sagnac or loop type interferometer is disclosed which uses a single broadband Erbium-doped fibre source (10) and a single IngaAs detector (150) together with a 40 km long sensor loop (90). A wavelength division multiplexer (50) spectrally slices the broadband light from the source (10) into two sub-bands, with different optical paths being defined between the source (10) and detector (150) for the light in the different spectrally sliced sub-bands. The two optical paths include separate phase modulators (70, 130) which modulate the two signals at different frequencies, and also separate delay loops (60, 130) at different places relative to the sensor loop (90). Effectively, two separate Sagnac loops are provided with a single sensor loop (90), source (10) and detector (150). Standard phase locked loop techniques can be used to extract information from signals that have passed through the two loops and to determine the location of a mechanical or thermal perturbation applied to the sensor loop (90).

Abstract: In order to identify a fiber optic cable (10) a beam (14) of polarized light is caused to pass down the cable to a first site (A) at which an electromagnetic field (24) is applied to the cable (10). The electromagnetic field (24) traverses the cable (10) in an essentially transverse direction and has a time-varying component orientated along the length of the cable (10) at the first site (A), with the component varying so that the line integral thereof along the cable (10) is non-zero. This results in a variation in the polarization of the light, which can then be detected by a polarization discriminator (20) at a second site (B), thereby to identify the cable (10).

Abstract: A communications interface adapter facilitates both wired and wireless communications between crew members of a vehicle having a wired intercom and has an intercom communications circuit having an input/output port for providing electrical communication between the interface adapter and the wired intercom and also has a fixed radio transceiver. The fixed radio transceiver comprises a receive circuit for receiving radio communications and for communicating the received radio communications via the intercom communications circuit to the wired intercom of the vehicle and a transmit circuit for transmitting communications received via the intercom communication circuit from the wired intercom of the vehicle.

Abstract: A device for blending materials comprising a carrier support (1) arranged to support a closed bag (3) containing a material to be blended, a kneading mechanism in the form of paddles (5) which are arranged to apply a kneading action to the bag walls for homogenizing its contents, and a clamping device (4) for holding the bag closed and against the carrier support (1) during kneading. The kneading mechanism (5) is arranged to act in conjunction with the carrier support (1) and an island baffle (7) to cause the contents of the bag to circulate during kneading.

Abstract: Apparatus for labelling a stereophonic signal includes a plurality of notch filters having selected center frequencies to form notches at the selected frequencies in the channels of a stereophonic audio signal. Code generating components produce a coded label signal in the form of one or more code words, with the code being formed of selected signal bursts at the selected frequencies. The coded label signals are inserted into both channels of the audio signal, in the notches formed by the notch filters. The code signal amplitude bears a predetermined relationship to the audio signal amplitude in each channel.

Abstract: A new family of anti-microbial proteins is described. A prototype protein can be isolated from Macadamia integrifolia. DNA encoding the protein is also described as well as DNA constructs that can be used to express the anti-microbial protein or to introduce the anti-microbial protein into a plant. Compositions comprising the anti-microbial protein or the anti-microbial protein per se can be administered to plants or mammalian animals to combat microbial infestation.