B. Kelly

Integrated Two-Section Discrete Mode Laser

The authors present the design and characterization of a novel integrated two-section discrete mode index patterned diode laser source. The two slotted regions etched into the laser ridge waveguide are formed in the same fabrication step as the ridge, thus avoiding the requirement for complex lithography and regrowth steps. The laser is encased in a temperature-controlled butterfly package, which simplifies the static and dynamic measurements. Initial static characterization of this two-section laser shows that the injection, from the master laser to the slave laser, enhances the slaves emission side-mode suppression ratio from 30 dB to over 50 dB and its relative intensity noise is reduced from about -129.3 dB/Hz to -142.6 dB/Hz. Subsequent dynamic characterization then shows that the modulation bandwidth of the laser can be improved via injection to about three times the inherent free-running bandwidth. Hence, optical injection from master section into slave section enables the improvement of various parameters, which makes this two-section device attractive as a transmitter in optical communication systems.

Effect of InCl3 on the addition of Grignard reagents to α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds

Control of 1,2- versus 1,4-addition of organometallic reagents to enones remains a long-standing problem. There is still no satisfactory 1,2-directing agent comparable to the 1,4-directing effect of copper salts. We report that the presence of just 5 mol% indium(III) chloride can significantly alter the amount of 1,2-product formed in these reactions.

Implementation of a cost-effective optical comb source in a WDM-PON with 10.7Gb/s data to each ONU and 50km reach

The performance of a cost-effective optical comb source using commercial off the shelf (COTS) components in a WDM passive optical network is demonstrated. Eight comb modes are individually modulated at 10.7 Gb/s and transmitted over 50 km of single mode fiber for downlink transmission. Error free performance is obtained for each comb line and a maximum performance difference of 1.4 dB is experienced between the eight channels. Colorless operation of the optical network unit is achieved by utilizing an integrated module consisting of a tunable laser and an electro-absorption modulator as an uplink transmitter. Finally the predicted downstream performance of the system, when all the channels are transmitted simultaneously, is numerically simulated.

Low linewidth lasers for enabling high capacity optical communication systems

Coherent communications have become a commercial reality with the deployment of 40 G and 100 G systems using Quadrature Phase Shift Keying (QPSK) in the core network. In the next evolution of these systems higher order modulation formats have the potential to significantly increase capacity while maintaining the baud rate at levels which allow the use of readily available lower cost electro-optics and electronics. Higher order modulation schemes have a lower tolerance to phase noise making low linewidth lasers a requirement. In this work we will present results from using different single mode and wavelength tuneable laser devices in optical coherent systems.

Fourteen Draft Genome Sequences for the First Reported Cases of Azithromycin-Resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae in Ireland

ABSTRACT Here, we report the draft genome assemblies of 14 azithromycin-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae clinical isolates, representing the first such strains identified in Ireland. Among these isolates are the first reported highly resistant strains (MIC >256 mg/liter), which both belonged to the ST1580 sequence type.

Draft Genome Sequence of a Streptococcus agalactiae Strain Isolated from a Preterm Neonate Blood Sepsis Patient at the Royal Infirmary, Edinburgh, Scotland

ABSTRACT Herein, we report the draft genome sequence of Streptococcus agalactiae ED-NGS-1000, cultivated from a blood sample taken from a preterm neonate blood sepsis patient at the Royal Infirmary, Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom.

Discrete mode lasers for communications applications

The wavelength spectra of ridge waveguide Fabry Perot lasers can be modified by perturbing the effective refractive index of the guided mode along very small sections of the laser cavity. One way of locally perturbing the effective index of the lasing mode is by etching features into the ridge waveguide such that each feature has a small overlap with the transverse field profile of the unperturbed mode, consequently most of the light in the laser cavity is unaffected by these perturbations. A proportion of the propagating light is however reflected at the boundaries between the perturbed and the unperturbed sections. Suitable positioning of these interfaces allows the mirror loss spectrum of a Fabry Perot laser to be manipulated. In order to achieve single longitudinal mode emission, the mirror loss of a specified mode must be reduced below that of the other cavity modes. Here we review the latest results obtained from devices containing such features. These results clearly demonstrate that these devices exceed the specifications required for a number of FTTH and Datacomms applications, such as GEPON, LX4 and CWDM. As well as this we will also present initial results on the linewidth of these devices.

Draft Genome Sequences of Six Different Staphylococcus epidermidis Clones, Isolated Individually from Preterm Neonates Presenting with Sepsis at Edinburgh's Royal Infirmary

ABSTRACT Herein, we report the draft genome sequences of six individual Staphylococcus epidermidis clones, cultivated from blood taken from different preterm neonatal sepsis patients at the Royal Infirmary, Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom.

Visualizing Next-Generation Sequencing Cancer Data Sets with Cloud Computing

With the advent of next-generation sequencing technology, clinical data sets now contain enormous amounts of valuable genomic information related to a wide range of diseases such as cancer. This data needs to be analysed, managed, stored, visualized and integrated in order to be clinically useful. However, many clinicians and researchers, who need to interpret these data sets, are non-specialists in the information technology domain and so need systems that are effective and easy to use. Herein, we present an overview of a novel cloud computing based next-generation sequencing research management software system which has simplicity, scalability, speed and reproducibility at its core. A prototype that enables rapid visualization of big data cancer sets is described. We present preliminary results from a bioinformatics pipeline for the Sage Care project, a European Union funded cancer research project, for comprehensive genome mapping analysis and visualization and outlined benefits of integrating this into a graphical user interface platform such as Simplicity.

Draft Genome Sequence of a Staphylococcus aureus Isolate Taken from the Blood of a Preterm Neonatal Blood Sepsis Patient.

ABSTRACT Herein, we report the draft genome sequence of Staphylococcus aureus ED-NGS-1006, cultivated from a blood sample taken from a neonatal sepsis patient at the Royal Infirmary in Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom.