Abstract: An optical fiber and an optical amplifier including the optical fiber are disclosed, the optical fiber includes a core region for guiding a propagation of a multimode optical signal, a cladding region laterally surrounding the core region and at least two doped rings, each of the at least two doped rings having a corresponding rare-earth or transition metal dopant concentration. The core region includes a central core having a first refractive index, at least one core layer laterally surrounding the central core, each of the at least one core layer having corresponding internal and external radii, an internal radius of an innermost core layer corresponding to a radius of the central core and an external radius of the outermost core layer corresponding to a radius of the core region.

Abstract: A reconfigurable motion generator and control system for multi-phase motion generation. Reconfigurable motion generators are a new class of mechanical devices that are designed for a specific part family and their associated motion generation tasks. The reconfigurable motion generator may utilize revolute joints for link length and pivot adjustment to achieve different configurations from the same set of links. Due to the nature of adjustment of the mechanism this methodology may be used for different types of motion generation tasks such as (a) common start position, (b) common end position, (c) common intermediate position, and (d) distinct motion generation tasks with no common positions. This technique can be applied towards the synthesis of reconfigurable motion generators for use in many planar or spherical applications involving multi-phase function, path, and motion generation tasks.

Abstract: A reconfigurable motion generator and control system for multi-phase motion generation. Reconfigurable motion generators are a new class of mechanical devices that are designed for a specific part family and their associated motion generation tasks. The reconfigurable motion generator may utilize revolute joints for link length and pivot adjustment to achieve different configurations from the same set of links. Due to the nature of adjustment of the mechanism this methodology may be used for different types of motion generation tasks such as (a) common start position, (b) common end position, (c) common intermediate position, and (d) distinct motion generation tasks with no common positions. This technique can be applied towards the synthesis of reconfigurable motion generators for use in many planar or spherical applications involving multi-phase function, path, and motion generation tasks.

Abstract: A bipod robotic walking apparatus consisting of two feet on the coupler link of a spherical four-bar linkage, for movement in a forward or rearward direction by repeated motions of the four-bar linkage. Three four-bar linkages may be connected in tandem to form a hexapod with three points of contact with the ground.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method of determining a predisposition to atrial fibrillation (AF) in a subject comprising: determining the presence of at least one copy of a risk allele from at least one polymorphic marker in a sample from the subject, wherein the presence of at least one copy of the risk allele is indicative of a predisposition to AF, and wherein said at least one polymorphic marker is: a) rs4674485; b) rs1466560; c) rs1880039; d) rs3849387; e) rs7039; f) rs2952860; g) rs9312515; h) rs1897527; i) rs2299277; j) rs2418828; k) rs2385833; l) rs6717960; m) rs10510266; or n) a substitute polymorphic marker in linkage disequilibrium with any one of the polymorphic markers of a) to m). Also described are kits for determining a predisposition to atrial fibrillation (AF).