Abstract: A method, program, and system for notarizing and verifying documents via a distributed computer network are provided by the present invention. The invention includes creating an electronic version of the document on a client computer in the network and inserting a pre-written acknowledgment template into said electronic document, wherein the acknowledgment template complies with local legal formalities for a certified party that has authority by law to verify and authenticate the signer of a document. The document is then encrypted and stored on a secure server in the computer network, wherein the stored electronic document may be retrieved by any client in the computer network. The signing party is then notified of the electronic document's identity and directed to the location of a certified notary within the signing party's geographic vicinity. The signing party visits the notary and retrieves the electronic document on the notary's client computer.

Abstract: Windrow shields that pivot adjacent the forward ends thereof into and out of the path of crop material to control the width of the windrow. An electric motor and linkage to the shields allows the special relationship between the shields to be adjusted on-the-go from the operator's location.

Abstract: An annulus replacement technique includes inserting a guide wire into an annulus space. A first dilator tube is then slid over the guide wire and into the intervertebral space. The first dilator tube has a first longitudinal channel of a first cross section that is shaped to matingly engage with the guide wire. A second dilator tube is then slid over the first dilator tube and into the intervertebral space. The second dilator tube has a second longitudinal channel of a second cross section that mating engages with an outer cross section of the first dilator tube. The first dilator tube and the guide wire can then be removed and an implant can be inserted into the intervertebral space through the second dilator tube.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for high power amplification in a multimode fiber amplifier. The apparatus includes a diffraction limited low power laser, a multimode fiber amplifier, and a lens. The multimode fiber amplifier is coupled to the low power laser to amplify the low power laser output. The multimode fiber amplifier has a length that is set to a phase-matching length at which the transverse modes of the multimode fiber amplifier are in phase. The lens is coupled to the multimode fiber amplifier and outputs a kilowatt (KW)-level, diffraction-limited output beam from the multimode fiber amplifier.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to a method of modifying gene expression and to synthetic genes for modifying endo gene expression in a cell, tissue or organ of a transgenic organism, in particular a transgenic animal or plant. More particularly, the invention utilises recombinant DNA technology to post-transcriptionally modify or modulate the expression of a target gene in tissue, organ or whole organism, thereby producing novel phenotypes. Novel synthetic genes and genetic constructs which are cap repressing delaying or otherwise reducing the expression of an endogenous gene or a target gene in an organism when introduced are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to synthetic genes for modifying endogenous gene expression in a cell, tissue or organ of a transgenic organism, in particular a transgenic animal or plant. More particularly, the present invention provides novel synthetic genes and generic constructs which are capable of repressing delaying or otherwise reducing the expression of an endogenous gene or a target gene in an organism when introduced thereto.

Abstract: A hybrid laser source including a solid state laser driven by an array of fiber laser amplifiers, the inputs of which are controllable in phase and polarization, to compensate for distortions that arise in the solid state laser, or to achieve desired output beam properties relating to direction or focus. The output beam is sampled and compared with a reference beam to obtain phase and polarization difference signals across the output beam cross section, at spatial positions corresponding with the positions of the fiber laser amplifiers providing input to the solid state laser. Therefore, phase and polarization properties of the output beam may be independently controlled by predistortion of these properties in the fiber laser amplifier inputs.

Abstract: A method, program, and system for notarizing and verifying documents via a distributed computer network are provided by the present invention. The invention includes creating an electronic version of the document on a client computer in the network, which is then encrypted and stored on a secure server in the computer network, wherein the stored electronic document may be retrieved by any client in the computer network. The signing party is then notified of the electronic document's identity and directed to the location of a certified notary within the signing party's geographic vicinity. The signing party visits the notary and retrieves the electronic document on the notary's client computer. The signing party then electronically signs the document using an electronic writing pad. The notary verifies the transaction and affixes his electronic signature to the document and also affixes an electronic image of his notary seal to the document and saves it on the server.

Abstract: A laser array architecture scalable to very high powers by fiber amplifiers, but in which the output wavelength is selectable, and not restricted by the wavelengths usually inherent in the choice of fiber materials. A pump beam at a first frequency is amplified in the fiber amplifier array and is mixed with a secondary beam at a second frequency to yield a frequency difference signal from each of an array of optical parametric amplifiers. A phase detection and correction system maintains the array of outputs from the amplifiers in phase coherency, resulting in a high power output at the desired wavelength. A degenerate form of the architecture is disclosed in an alternate embodiment, and a third embodiment employs dual wavelength fiber amplifiers to obtain an output at a desired difference frequency.

Abstract: A laser array architecture scalable to very high powers by closely stacking fiber amplifiers, but in which the output wavelength is selectable to be in the visible or ultraviolet region, without being restricted by the wavelengths usually inherent in the choice of fiber materials. A pump signal at a fundamental frequency is amplified in the fiber amplifier array and input to an array of nonlinear crystals that function as harmonic generators, producing an output array at a desired harmonic of the fundamental frequency. A phase detection and correction system maintains the array of outputs in phase coherency, resulting in a high power output with high beam quality, at the desired frequency. The array of nonlinear crystals may a single array to produce a second harmonic output frequency, or a combination of multiple cascaded arrays configured to produce a selected higher order harmonic frequency.

Abstract: A fiber optic phased array and control method are provided for controllably adjusting the phase and amplitude of the optical signals emitted by a plurality of fiber optic amplifiers to compensate for atmospheric turbulence. The fiber optic phased array also includes a sensor assembly for detecting: (i) the phase of the optical signals that are emitted by the fiber optic amplifiers, and (ii) both the phase and the amplitude of the optical signals that have been reflected by the target. The fiber optic phased array also includes phase modulators and a gain adjustment mechanism for altering the phase and the amplitude of the optical signals propagating along the fiber optic amplifiers to compensate for modifications in the phase and amplitude that will be introduced by atmospheric turbulence. Among other things, the amplitude control of the optical signals is not adversely effected by intensity nulls in the reflected wavefront.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for modifying a free electron laser (FEL) to produce a non-diverging laser beam. A relativistic electron beam is converted to a Bessel beam in an FEL resonator with conical end mirrors, and the Bessel beam is coupled to the optical field within the laser resonator. The resultant laser beam is propagated with minimal divergence, and is wave corrected at the resonator output to produce a uniform intensity circular beam. The laser beam can be of smaller diameter than that of a conventional resonator due to its diffractionless propagation, which enables the magnetic structure gap within the resonator to be smaller, thus producing a higher optical gain.

Abstract: A multimode optical fiber has a core that includes radially dependent dopant materials to provide a desired refractive index profile and a desired Raman gain coefficient profile. A laser diode pump laser array provides high brightness light that is launched into the fiber and is subject to maximum Raman gain along the optical axis, thereby favoring the lowest order mode of the fiber, discriminating against higher order modes and providing a high brightness, diffraction limited output. The fiber can be incorporated into oscillators, amplifiers and other optical devices.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for detecting a target substance in an atmospheric target area. The target area is illuminated with a laser beam to produce back-scatter light from substances within the target area. The back-scatter light is combined with a sample of the target substance within a hollow core fiber that has been pumped with a laser spectrum identical to the illuminating beam. If a back-scatter spectrum matches the pumped sample in the hollow core fiber, stimulated Raman scattering emissions can occur, which provide optical gain for the matching spectrum. A detector analyzes the amplified matching spectrum to identify the target substance. The disclosed apparatus may be expanded to detect multiple target substances simultaneously by using hollow core fibers containing different target samples.

Abstract: A method and related apparatus for sensing selected emotions or physical conditions in a human subject. The technique employs a two-dimensional camera to generate a facial image of a human subject. Then, an image processing module scans the image to locate the face position and extent, and then scans for selected critical areas of the face. The size and activity of the selected critical areas are monitored by comparing sequential image frames of the subject's face, and the areas are tracked to compensate for possible movements of the subject. The sensed parameters of the selected critical areas are compared with those stored in a database that associates activities of the critical areas with various emotional and physical conditions of the subject, and a report or assessment of the subject is generated.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for a system for high speed data transmission. The apparatus is a light source for transmitting data, a large core multimode fiber optic cable, and a lens. The fiber optic cable has a core with a diameter greater than 50 microns. The lens has a focal length f and is placed a distance f from an exposed end of the fiber optic cable. A light signal from the lens has a diameter approximately equal to the diameter of the core to reduce higher order modes excited in the fiber optic cable thereby increasing a length/data rate product. The method increases a length/data rate product of a large core multimode fiber optic cable. Light signals are launched to the fiber optic cable to promote lower order modes and reduce higher order modes. Higher order modes are attenuated as the light signals travel through the fiber optic cable.

Abstract: The invention is directed towards constructs for RNAi techniques. The invention provides a ribonucleic acid (RNA) for use as interfering RNA in gene silencing techniques to silence a target gene comprising in a 5? to 3? direction at least a first effector sequence, a second effector sequence, a sequence substantially complementary to the second effector sequence and a sequence substantially complementary to the first effector sequence, wherein the complementary sequences are capable of forming double stranded regions with their respective effector sequences and wherein at least one of these sequences is substantially identical to the predicted transcript of a region of the target gene, and a nucleic acid construct encoding such an RNA.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting physiological stress in a person is provided which includes an imagining device and a processor. The processor receives an output from the imagining device representative of the. The processor identifies a characteristic of the person in the image which indicates that the person is not experiencing stress and a second characteristic which indicates the person is experiencing stress. A comparator compares the image of the subject and the two characteristics and the processor extrapolates from the comparison whether or not the person is experiencing a heightened state of stress or nervousness. If so the processor provides an output to activate an alarm or otherwise signal this condition to other individuals involved in monitoring a given area.

Abstract: A laser diode array is formed on a substrate (310) in which a number of parallel grooves (312) are formed. A metal layer (410) is formed on the grooves (312). Laser diode bars (314) are fitted in alternate grooves, and every other groove is left vacant to serve as a cooling channel (316). The array is immersion cooled in a housing (210). Liquid coolant is circulated through the housing (210) and through a heat exchanger (216). The liquid coolant flows over a major surface of the substrate (310) and through the cooling channels (316). Thus, heat is removed by circulating fluid from three sides of the laser diode bars (314). Such high-performance cooling permits the laser diode array to have a greater power density.

Abstract: An integrated journey planner deconstructs user enquiries into information requests, each specifying a journey part using a single transport mode, e.g., rail, car or coach. The planner sends each request to one of a plurality of local and on-line databases, each corresponding to a different transport mode. Responses from the databases are reconstructed into multi-modal travel option(s) for the user specified journey, incorporating different transport modes. The multi-modal travel option(s) incorporates timetable travel information and non-timetable travel information. Also, a user can specify a geographical location and a transport mode to find the most suitable terminals and services for uni-modal point to point travel.