Abstract: Disclosed herein are devices and systems for detecting microbial activity. A device (100) for detecting microbial contamination comprises a light source (20) that is configured to be optically coupled to an optical element (10), the optical element comprising a waveguide (2) and a diffraction grating (4), that together support a plurality of guided mode resonances at selected wavelengths of light from the light source. The device also comprises a condensing wall (40) having a condensing surface (50) on which liquid in gas (vapour) can condense, wherein the condensing surface is shaped, or engineered, to support flow of condensed liquids under gravity towards a collecting point (55) where the liquid can pool (6) around the optical element. The device further comprises a detector (30) configured to detect a property of a resonant guided mode of the plurality of resonant guided modes thereby to detect the presence or absence of microbes in the liquid that pools around the optical element.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a method for stabilizing stucco wherein a fresh stucco is provided; water is added to the fresh stucco to obtain moistened stucco, and the moistened stucco is maintained at a temperature of at least 30° C. for a time interval of at least 30 minutes to obtain a stabilized stucco. The process allows inter alia for an easy adjustment of the activity of the stabilized stucco, which is useful to e.g. adjust setting time of a corresponding stucco slurry. The invention further pertains to a method for producing gypsum plasterboards, wherein a stabilized stucco obtained with the above method is used.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a method for stabilizing stucco wherein a fresh stucco is provided; water is added to the fresh stucco to obtain moistened stucco, and the moistened stucco is maintained at a temperature of at least 30° C. for a time interval of at least 30 minutes to obtain a stabilized stucco. The process allows inter alia for an easy adjustment of the activity of the stabilized stucco, which is useful to e.g. adjust setting time of a corresponding stucco slurry. The invention further pertains to a method for producing gypsum plasterboards, wherein a stabilized stucco obtained with the above method is used.

Abstract: A solar cell that has a thin film of active material in which is defined a series or array of diffraction cells, wherein each diffraction unit-cell has a non-periodic series of diffraction features and is adapted to suppress at least one low order diffraction mode.

Abstract: An optical device including: a waveguide of refractive index na for carrying at least one mode of at least one wavelength, and at least one resonator with a resonant wavelength. The resonator has a mode volume of less than ten cubic resonant wavelengths. In use light in the waveguide is vertically coupled into the at least one resonator, and the waveguide and resonator(s) are arranged to provide wave-vector matching between at least one mode of the resonator and at least one mode of the waveguide.

Abstract: A solar cell that has a thin film of active material in which is defined a series or array of diffraction cells, wherein each diffraction unit-cell has a non-periodic series of diffraction features and is adapted to suppress at least one low order diffraction mode.

Abstract: An optical device including: a waveguide of refractive index na for carrying at least one mode of at least one wavelength, and at least one resonator with a resonant wavelength. The resonator has a mode volume of less than ten cubic resonant wavelengths. In use light in the waveguide is vertically coupled into the at least one resonator, and the waveguide and resonator(s) are arranged to provide wave-vector matching between at least one mode of the resonator and at least one mode of the waveguide.

Abstract: A monolithic device for the non-invasive measurement of optical parameters relating to a biological tissue comprising: at least one light emitter that emits light having a range of wavelengths and/or at least one detector for detecting light in a range of wavelengths transmitted or backscattered by the tissue, wherein one or more structures with sub-wavelength features is formed on the at least one emitter and/or the at least one detector.

Abstract: A system for non-invasive measurement of parameters relating to a biological tissue comprising: a plurality of light sources, each operable to emit a light signal with one or more predetermined wavelengths; a light detector for detecting light from the tissue as a result of illumination by the sources, and means for applying modulation functions to the light emitted to implement code division multiplexing, each source being associated with a different function, wherein the functions are selected so that there is substantially no cross correlation between them, and wherein the sources have overlapping spectra.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the production of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in an organism by introducing, into the organism, nucleic acids coding for polypeptides with acyltransferase activity. These nucleic acid sequences, if appropriate together with further nucleic acid sequences coding for polypeptides of the fatty acid or lipid metabolism biosynthesis, can advantageously be expressed in the organism. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for the production of oils and/or triacylglycerides with an elevated content of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids. The invention furthermore relates to the nucleic acid sequences, and constructs, vectors and organisms comprising the nucleic acid sequences. A further part of the invention relates to oils, lipids and/or fatty acids produced by the process according to the invention and to their use.

Abstract: A method of pumping wellbore fluid, comprising the steps of: installing an electric submersible pump in a wellbore; and operating the pump at more than 4,500 rpm to pump the wellbore fluid. Pumping in this manner provides a number of advantages in use in that the required high-speed motor and pump is shorter for a given power than existing arrangements, and provides increased reliability due to reduced complexity. A much shorter motor/pump combination also allows such equipment to be used in deviated boreholes with a reduction in damage due to mishandling and bending, as well as facilitating assembly and testing in the manufacturer's plant.

Abstract: Articles and associated methods, systems, and computer program products relate to a service framework to register multiple plug-ins on a client and to provide access to functionality that would otherwise be unavailable to a user until they logged-in. One plug-in module enables an unauthenticated user to interact with a server to initiate a password reset feature from a secure desktop environment on the client. Another plug-in module enables a user to reset cached credentials on a remote client when requesting a password reset from outside of the server's local network. In some implementations, a server may authenticate the user by issuing challenge questions and monitoring the user's responses. A variety of other services may be provided as plug-ins to the client framework. A library of plug-ins may be stored on the server. The server may select plug-ins to send to each client based upon criteria according to business rules.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the production of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in an organism by introducing, into the organism, nucleic acids which code for polypeptides with acyl transferase activity. These nucleic acid sequences, if appropriate together with further nucleic acid sequences which code for polypeptides of the fatty acid or lipid metabolism biosynthesis, can advantageously be expressed in the organism. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for the production of oils and/or triacylglycerides with an elevated content of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids. The invention furthermore relates to the nucleic acid sequences, nucleic acid constructs, vectors and organisms comprising the nucleic acid sequences according to the invention, vectors comprising the nucleic acid sequences and/or the nucleic acid constructs and to transgenic organisms comprising the abovementioned nucleic acid sequences, nucleic acid constructs and/or vectors.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly for a cable having a plurality of insulated conductors comprises a body having a respective recess for receiving a terminating pin each of the conductors. A respective spigot sealingly engages within each of the recesses and has a passage for receiving an associated one of the terminating pins. Furthermore a seal is associated with each of the spigots for sealing the spigot relative to the associated terminating pin. The provision of a separate spigot for each of the conductors and for sealing engagement within a respective recess in the body enables the spigots to be sealingly fitted to the conductors prior to each spigot being introduced into its recess and sealingly engaged therein. This provides improved insulation of the conductor and increased creepage distance between the mating electrical parts and the outer surface of the housing of the assembly.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly for a cable having a plurality of insulated conductors comprises a body having a respective recess for receiving a terminating pin each of the conductors. A respective spigot sealingly engages within each of the recesses and has a passage for receiving an associated one of the terminating pins. Furthermore a seal is associated with each of the spigots for sealing the spigot relative to the associated terminating pin. The provision of a separate spigot for each of the conductors and for sealing engagement within a respective recess in the body enables the spigots to be sealingly fitted to the conductors prior to each spigot being introduced into its recess and sealingly engaged therein. This provides improved insulation of the conductor and increased creepage distance between the mating electrical parts and the outer surface of the housing of the assembly.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly for a cable having a plurality of insulated conductors comprises a body having a respective recess for receiving a terminating pin each of the conductors. A respective spigot sealingly engages within each of the recesses and has a passage for receiving an associated one of the terminating pins. Furthermore a seal is associated with each of the spigots for sealing the spigot relative to the associated terminating pin. The provision of a separate spigot for each of the conductors and for sealing engagement within a respective recess in the body enables the spigots to be sealingly fitted to the conductors prior to each spigot being introduced into its recess and sealingly engaged therein. This provides improved insulation of the conductor and increased creepage distance between the mating electrical parts and the outer surface of the housing of the assembly.

Abstract: A method of pumping wellbore fluid, comprising the steps of: installing an electric submersible pump in a wellbore; and operating the pump at more than 4,500 rpm to pump the wellbore fluid. Pumping in this manner provides a number of advantages in use in that the required high-speed motor and pump is shorter for a given power than existing arrangements, and provides increased reliability due to reduced complexity. A much shorter motor/pump combination also allows such equipment to be used in deviated boreholes with a reduction in damage due to mishandling and bending, as well as facilitating assembly and testing in the manufacturer's plant.

Abstract: A method of pumping wellbore fluid, comprising the steps of: installing an electric submersible pump in a wellbore; and operating the pump at more than 4,500 rpm to pump the wellbore fluid. Pumping in this manner provides a number of advantages in use in that the required high-speed motor and pump is shorter for a given power than existing arrangements, and provides increased reliability due to reduced complexity. A much shorter motor/pump combination also allows such equipment to be used in deviated boreholes with a reduction in damage due to mishandling and bending, as well as facilitating assembly and testing in the manufacturer's plant.

Abstract: A method of pumping wellbore fluid, comprising the steps of: installing an electric submersible pump in a wellbore; and operating the pump at more than 4,500 rpm to pump the wellbore fluid. Pumping in this manner provides a number of advantages in use in that the required high-speed motor and pump is shorter for a given power than existing arrangements, and provides increased reliability due to reduced complexity. A much shorter motor/pump combination also allows such equipment to be used in deviated boreholes with a reduction in damage due to mishandling and bending, as well as facilitating assembly and testing in the manufacturer's plant.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly for a cable having a plurality of insulated conductors comprises a body having a respective recess for receiving a terminating pin each of the conductors. A respective spigot sealingly engages within each of the recesses and has a passage for receiving an associated one of the terminating pins. Furthermore a seal is associated with each of the spigots for sealing the spigot relative to the associated terminating pin. The provision of a separate spigot for each of the conductors and for sealing engagement within a respective recess in the body enables the spigots to be sealingly fitted to the conductors prior to each spigot being introduced into its recess and sealingly engaged therein. This provides improved insulation of the conductor and increased creepage distance between the mating electrical parts and the outer surface of the housing of the assembly.