Abstract: Described herein are methods, compositions and processes related to a microbial-based biosensor system for the detection of small molecules and analytes based on an analyte-responsive transcription factor-DNA binding mechanism with either a ratiometric fluorescent output through Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) or a redox sensor output for the quantification of the target analyte with high sensitivity.

Abstract: This invention relates to a wide band optical gate in the terahertz domain (wavelengths in the far infrared). It comprises a first optical source (2) emitting a first beam (FTHz) in said terahertz domain, a first plate made of a semiconducting material (1) illuminated by said terahertz beam and a second optical source (3) emitting a second beam (FIR) at a wavelength capable of saturating the first plate (1) made of a semi-conducting material and making it reflective at terahertz wavelengths. This invention also relates to a system for measuring terahertz signals and to a terahertz generator. It is particularly applicable to systems for measuring terahertz signals and to terahertz generators.

Abstract: A method and system of selecting items of data from a stream of information by comparing the information to reference data. The reference data items are recorded in the form of logical entities in a two dimensional memory table. The reference logical entities of different types are stored vertically in different horizontal zones of the table in the order in which the entities of the same type are found in the file. In a control memory are stored, line-by-line, control information which specify the comparisons to be made between the reference logical entities and logical entities which are received from the file, as well as control information related to storage of logical entities received from the file and of operations including comparisons and storage between comparison results and other data contained in the table and information related to the linkage of processes for each control line of the control memory or from one control line to another.

Abstract: An automatic asparagus picking machine is disclosed comprising a chassis able along a mound in which the asparagus are grown. The chassis has a picking tool which is mounted for horizontal and vertical translation at right angles to the direction of displacement of the chassis. The tops of the asparagus are back lit by a lighting system on one side of the mound and their images are picked up by a camera system on the other side. A microprocessor controls the direction of displacement of the chassis parallel to the mound and controls the horizontal and vertical translation of the picking tool. In one embodiment, there is one camera and the microprocessor has a window generator generating windows in two zones of the field of view of the camera. In another embodiment, juxtaposed wide angle and narrow angle cameras are used. Electric motors drive each of two front wheels at different speeds to control the direction of displacement of the machine.