Abstract: Software architectures, platforms, and data constructs are disclosed which provide a system for enabling a non-technical or lay user to perform discrete technical tasks necessary to build a complete network-based, multiuser application. The system also allows the user to have a uniform user experience throughout development of the application. For example, the platform can be used to construct and maintain an Internet or online Web site capable of handling e-commerce transactions or can be used to develop a customer relationship management system. A software architecture is described that enables many users to perform a variety of tasks via a wide-area network, such as an enterprise network or the Internet. The architecture has several services, systems, and an extensible database for storing data objects. The database has an underlying structure referred to as a schema that can be extended with previously undefined attributes without having to alter the basic format of the schema.

Abstract: Data constructs and architectures are disclosed for providing a foundation for an application-building system for enabling a non-technical user to perform discrete tasks to build a complete network-based application and maintain the same user experience throughout the application development. A data model having an extensible underlying structure that can be used in a user-oriented application development system having a task-based architecture is defined. The data model is capable of allowing for extensible attributes such that the addition of a new data attribute can be made without changing the underlying structure of the data model. Multiple applications making up the user-oriented application development system can access data from the data model. Data stored in a database having the data model as an underlying structure can be reused by the task-based architecture for various applications.

Abstract: The invention features a sort computer which interfaces with a sorting device in order to control the sorting of beads on a bead by bead basis. The invention further features novel methods for the directed synthesis of encoded libraries of oligomers, e.g., oligonucleotides, on beads. These methods allow the synthesis of libraries that are sufficiently large to permit complex genomic analyses to be carried out. New methods of using the encoded libraries also are described.

Abstract: A method for controlling ground plane voltages by locally, at one or more discrete points on the working ground reference, sensing a voltage difference between a working ground reference and an isolated ground reference, generating a voltage compensation signal based on the voltage difference, and driving the working ground reference with the voltage compensation signal to reduce the voltage difference.

Abstract: A method for controlling ground plane voltages by locally, at one or more discrete points on the working ground reference, sensing a voltage difference between a working ground reference and an isolated ground reference, generating a voltage compensation signal based on the voltage difference, and driving the working ground reference with the voltage compensation signal to reduce the voltage difference.

Abstract: A passive zero or microgravity leg restraint (10) includes a central support post (17) with a top (12) and a bottom (20). Extending from the central support post (17) and calf pad tab (15), to which calf pad (16) is attached, and foot pad tab (19), to which foot pad (18) is attached. Also extending from central support post (17) are knee pads (13 and 14). When the restraint is in use the user's legs are forced between pads (13, 14, 16 and 18) by a user imposed scissors action of the legs. The user's body is then supported in a zero or microgravity neutral body posture by the leg restraint. Calf pad (16) has semi-rigid elastic padding material covering structural stiffener (26). Foot pad (18) has padding material (25) and structural stiffener (27). Knee pads (13 and 14) have structural tube stiffener (28) at their core.

Abstract: In a laser system, the method of operating a laser simultaneously as an oscillator to produce a beam of coherent light and as an amplifier for backscattered light from targets illuminated by the coherent light in such beam is disclosed.

Abstract: A laser heterodyne system is disclosed wherein received reflections of a beam of coherent light are amplified in a laser. The amplified received reflections are heterodyned with the light produced by the laser and the resulting beat frequency is detected using a photodetector. A controller, responsive to the beat frequency, controls, in one case, the frequency of a transmitting laser, and hence the frequency of the received light, and, in another case, the frequency of the light produced by the amplifying laser so that, in either case, the difference between the frequency of the received light and the frequency of the light produced by the amplifying laser is adjusted to maximize the amplification of the received light by the amlifying laser prior to detection by the photodetector.