Abstract: Methods, devices, and systems are described for free space optical communication. An example device can comprise a defocuser configured to receive an optical signal from a laser and control a beam divergence of the optical signal. The device can comprise a controller configured to cause the defocuser to adjust the beam divergence based on an operational mode of the laser.

Abstract: Methods, devices, and systems are described for free space optical communication. An example device can comprise a defocuser configured to receive an optical signal from a laser and control a beam divergence of the optical signal. The optical signal can comprise a data signal and a beacon signal. The device can comprise a controller configured to cause the defocuser to adjust the beam divergence based on an operational mode of the laser.

Abstract: A standalone electronic passive reminder device allows a user to manually actuate a first switch to cause a display to show a count-up in the form of an elapsed time in days since a routine task was last completed. The user can manually actuate the first switch again when the user subjectively determines that too long of an interval has elapsed, and after the task has been completed again, so that a new count-up and display of elapsed time are initiated. The user can also manually actuate a second switch to selectively show on the display data that informs the user about the length and frequency of the time intervals between multiple task completions.

Abstract: The present application is directed to an optical terminal including two linearly polarized optical transmit beams configured to exhibit a time-delay therebetween. The optical terminal may include a quarter-wave plate such that the linearly polarized transmit beam becomes circularly polarized. The optical terminal may also include a receiving ground terminal including a properly oriented quarter-wave plate for separating and directing the two recovered linearly polarized beams. The application is also directed to a method for reconstructing an originally transmitted data stream.

Abstract: Methods, devices, and systems are described for free space optical communication. An example device can comprise a laser, a modulator configured to cause the laser to output an optical signal comprising a data signal and a beacon signal, a defocuser optically coupled to the laser and configured to receive the optical signal and control a beam divergence of the optical signal, an optical interface configured to receive the optical signal from the defocuser and output the optical signal into free space, and a controller configured to cause the defocuser to adjust the beam divergence based on an operational mode of the laser.

Abstract: The present application is directed to an optical terminal including two linearly polarized optical transmit beams configured to exhibit a time-delay therebetween. The optical terminal may include a quarter-wave plate such that the linearly polarized transmit beam becomes circularly polarized. The optical terminal may also include a receiving ground terminal including a properly oriented quarter-wave plate for separating and directing the two recovered linearly polarized beams. The application is also directed to a method for reconstructing an originally transmitted data stream.

Abstract: The present application is directed to an optical terminal including two linearly polarized optical transmit beams configured to exhibit a time-delay therebetween. The optical terminal may include a quarter-wave plate such that the linearly polarized transmit beam becomes circularly polarized. The optical terminal may also include a receiving ground terminal including a properly oriented quarter-wave plate for separating and directing the two recovered linearly polarized beams. The application is also directed to a method for reconstructing an originally transmitted data stream.

Abstract: A blood sample collection and/or storage device includes a medium, such as a membrane or microstructured environment for storing a body fluid sample such as a blood sample. The medium has hydrophobic patterns formed thereon or therein to define precisely dimensioned channels for fluid flow or fluid retention. Break lines in the medium defined predetermined areas (or volumes) of the medium. After sample collection, the medium may be broken apart along the break lines to obtain a precisely measured amount of the fluid sample.

Abstract: Methods, devices, and systems are described for free space optical communication. An example device can comprise a laser, a modulator configured to cause the laser to output an optical signal comprising a data signal and a beacon signal, a defocuser optically coupled to the laser and configured to receive the optical signal and control a beam divergence of the optical signal, an optical interface configured to receive the optical signal from the defocuser and output the optical signal into free space, and a controller configured to cause the defocuser to adjust the beam divergence based on an operational mode of the laser.

Abstract: Methods, devices, and systems are described for free space optical communication. An example device can comprise a defocuser configured to receive an optical signal from a laser and control a beam divergence of the optical signal. The optical signal can comprise a data signal and a beacon signal. The device can comprise a controller configured to cause the defocuser to adjust the beam divergence based on an operational mode of the laser.

Abstract: The present application is directed to an optical terminal including two linearly polarized optical transmit beams configured to exhibit a time-delay therebetween. The optical terminal may include a quarter-wave plate such that the linearly polarized transmit beam becomes circularly polarized. The optical terminal may also include a receiving ground terminal including a properly oriented quarter-wave plate for separating and directing the two recovered linearly polarized beams. The application is also directed to a method for reconstructing an originally transmitted data stream.

Abstract: A free-space optical communication system is provided. The free-space optical communication system includes a transmitter configured to optically transmit data in a plurality of subcarrier signals over a free-space scattering medium. The free-space optical communication system includes a coherent receiver configured to receive the plurality of subcarrier signals and extract the transmitted data from the plurality of subcarrier signals after traversal over the free-space scattering medium.

Abstract: A free-space optical communication system is provided. The free-space optical communication system includes a transmitter configured to optically transmit data in a plurality of subcarrier signals over a free-space scattering medium. The free-space optical communication system includes a coherent receiver configured to receive the plurality of subcarrier signals and extract the transmitted data from the plurality of subcarrier signals after traversal over the free-space scattering medium.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to mutations in the DGAT1 gene that produce an advantageous milk, tissue and/or growth rate profile in animals carrying the mutations. The present invention is also directed to methods of identifying animals carrying the mutations in order to facilitate the selection of animals with altered milk, tissue and/or growth rate traits.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of genotyping bovine for improved milk production traits by determining the DGAT1 genotypic state of said bovine, wherein the DGAT1 gene and polymorphisms within said gene have been found to be associated with such improved milk production traits.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods for measuring the effects of environmental, physiological, or lifestyle variables on DNA damage and DNA repair activity as well as the use of measurements of DNA damage and DNA repair activity to predict increased risk for disease. Embodiments of the methods involve the use of a combination of assays to measure DNA damage and DNA repair activity in an individual and comparing these measurements to suitable controls using the selected assays for normal healthy individuals of varying ages. In other embodiments, the methods may comprise a comparison of DNA damage levels to DNA repair levels to obtain an apparent net measurement of DNA damage accumulation.

Abstract: A mounting member for mounting at least one wall covering member to a wall surface. The mounting member comprises an adherent rear surface removably fastenable to the wall surface and an exposed outer surface which defines at least one wall covering receiving portion for captively receiving the wall covering member. The wall covering receiving portion has a localization aid provided to align the wall covering member in a fixed predetermined position and orientation on the wall covering receiving portion.

Abstract: A gas turbine engine blade root shim includes a dovetail shim portion with a dovetail shape and a longitudinally extending substantially flat base and distal first and second longitudinally spaced apart forward and aft ends. Transversely spaced apart first and second walls extend upwardly from the base which includes at least two longitudinally extending elongated base apertures. Each of the base apertures includes a main region and longitudinally spaced apart rounded end regions. Dog-bone-shaped base apertures or rounded end base apertures having semi-circular rounded end regions may be used. The shim is designed for a blade dovetail root with a root slot formed in a bottom of the dovetail root. The dovetail shim portion with the dovetail shape substantially conforms to at least a portion of a cross-sectional dovetail shape of the dovetail root through the root slot. The base is disposed within the root slot.

Abstract: A gas turbine engine blade root shim includes a dovetail shim portion with a dovetail shape and a longitudinally extending substantially flat base and distal first and second longitudinally spaced apart forward and aft ends. Transversely spaced apart first and second walls extend upwardly from the base which includes at least two longitudinally extending elongated base apertures. Each of the base apertures includes a main region and longitudinally spaced apart rounded end regions. Dog-bone-shaped base apertures or rounded end base apertures having semicircular rounded end regions may be used. The shim is designed for a blade dovetail root with a root slot formed in a bottom of the dovetail root. The dovetail shim portion with the dovetail shape substantially conforms to at least a portion of a cross-sectional dovetail shape of the dovetail root through the root slot. The base is disposed within the root slot.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of genotyping bovine for improved milk production traits by determining the DGAT1 genotypic state of said bovine, wherein the DGAT1 gene and polymorphisms within said gene have been found to be associated with such improved milk production traits.