Characterization of a photonic active integrated antenna using a direct off-air transmission technique

This article presents a characterization study of a state-of-the-art 40 GHz mode-locked laser using a hybrid integrated microstrip patch antenna and bias-T circuit. A passive mode-locking range of 300 MHz is measured using this technique by tuning the gain and saturable absorber bias values for a maximum wireless distance of 15 cm. The passive mode-locking signal is detected by a direct off-air method from a photonic active integrated antenna. This signal can be used as a remote local oscillator to downconvert incoming signals as part of a bidirectional system for in-building/campus wide remote antenna units in next generation millimetre-wave radio-over-fibre systems.     

Identification of a new mutation of the myosin VII head region in Usher syndrome type 1

We characterized apneas by a quantitative method (esophageal pressure measurements) and by a qualitative method (strain gauges) at the same time in 22 patients with sleep-related breathing disorders. Detection of respiratory effort by strain gauges significantly overestimated the total number of central apneas in each patient. Despite this overestimation, none of the patients was wrongly diagnosed as having pure central sleep apnea syndrome. Strain gauges are sufficiently reliable for the characterization of apneas in most patients. When strain gauges reveal that most apneas are central in origin, verification by esophageal pressure measurements is recommended.     

A method for the determination of the optical constants ( n and k ) of thin films with large optical inhomogeneities

The existing methods for determining the optical constants of inhomogeneous thin films deal with non-absorbing films or at the most with films that have very small absorption (k?<?0.02). In this work, a method is presented for the determination of the optical constants of inhomogeneous thin films with large optical inhomogeneities. The optical constants are derived from normal-incidence measurements of reflectance and transmittance. The refractive index was modelled by quadratic variation. However, the absorption index was replaced by its mean value. The accuracy of this assumption was tested and its range of validity was determined. Subsequently, the method was applied to the determination of the optical constants of cerium oxide thin films.     

Feasibility study of repeated fluorescent in-situ hybridization in the same human blastomeres for preimplantation genetic diagnosis

In order to increase the number of chromosomes examined in each blastomere, we have developed a repeated fluorescent in-situ hybridization (FISH) procedure by which six or more chromosomes can be analysed per blastomere of a human embryo. Three consecutive FISH procedures with directly-labelled fluorescent Vysis DNA probes were carried out for examination of chromosomes X, Y, 11, 13, 18 and 21 in the same blastomeres (n = 126) and lymphocytes (n = 164). Based on the initial number of nuclei, the percentages of nuclear loss and presence of signals were 3 and 92% respectively in blastomeres; 6 and 91% respectively in lymphocytes after the first FISH; 7 and 87% respectively in blastomeres and 10 and 86% respectively in lymphocytes, after the second FISH. These percentages were 13 and 78% respectively in blastomeres and 14 and 81% respectively in lymphocytes after the third FISH. The FISH procedure was repeated successfully in a couple for preimplantation genetic diagnosis of chromosomal aneuploidies in biopsied blastomeres of their embryos in our clinic. In conclusion, it is feasible to carry out repeated FISH procedures in the same blastomeres. Six or more chromosomes of a single blastomere may be examined using this procedure.