Abstract: An elective healthcare insurance model using an individual's own peripheral blood stem cells for the individual's future healthcare uses. An individual can elect to have his or her own stem cells collected, processed and preserved, while he or she is in healthy or “pre-disease” state, for future distribution for his or her healthcare needs. The process includes methods of collection, processing, preservation and distribution of adult (including pediatric) peripheral blood stem cells during non-diseased state. The stem cells collected will contain adequate dosage amounts, for one or more transplantations immediately when needed by the individual for future healthcare treatments. The collected adult or non-neonate child peripheral blood stem cells can be aliquoted into defined dosage fractions before cryopreservation so that cells can be withdrawn from storage without the necessity of thawing all of the collected cells.

Abstract: An electroabsorption modulator comprises a tandem arrangement of a conventional electroabsorption (EA) modulator element and a phase modulator element. The EA modulator element is driven by the digital data signal and the phase modulator is driven by a chirp tuning control signal, such as the complement of the data signal. By controlling the amplitude and/or bias of the chirp tuning control signal, the frequency chirp of the intensity-modulated output signal from the EA modulator element can be controlled.

Abstract: A method of retransferring print media onto a substrate material includes providing a generally continuous sheet of pigmented foil, and a generally continuous sheet of retransfer print media. A portion of the pigmented foil is contacted with a portion of the retransfer print media. A reverse resin image is thermally printed onto the retransfer print media by selectively heating the portion of the pigmented foil in contact with the portion of the retransfer print media. The reverse resin image is placed over a substrate. The reverse resin image is thermally transferred from the retransfer print media to the substrate so as to form a forward image on the substrate.

Abstract: A wavelength monitor is provided based on the transmission response of an optical filter. The monitor provides feedback to the laser enabling it to lock to any given wavelength within its tuning range. The invention is also a process for integrating the wavelength monitor directly on chip with a variety of tunable semiconductor lasers. The invention also comprises a method for controlling the wavelength of a tunable laser by using a wavelength monitor to measure the output light and provide feedback to a control system. The laser and wavelength monitor are integrated together on a single indium phosphide chip. The wavelength monitor comprises a filter with a wavelength dependent transmission function and a pair of detectors. One detector is illuminated with light that has passed through the filter and the other provides a reference to measure the input intensity. Taking the ratio of the filtered light level to the unfiltered light provides a wavelength dependent wavelength.

Abstract: An electroabsorption modulator comprises a tandem arrangement of a conventional electroabsorption (EA) modulator element and a phase modulator element. The EA modulator element is driven by the digital data signal and the phase modulator is driven by a chirp tuning control signal, such as the complement of the data signal. By controlling the amplitude and/or bias of the chirp tuning control signal, the frequency chirp of the intensity-modulated output signal from the EA modulator element can be controlled.

Abstract: A sign letter includes a front plate, a back plate, and a side wall sandwiched between the front and back plate. The side wall includes a plurality of cavities formed by removal of side wall material for allowing the side wall to be easily bent to the shape of the sign letter. The side wall also comprises one-piece construction and includes at least one feature integral thereto that allows joining of the side wall with either the front plate or the back plate. The sign letter is automatically formed on a router with computer instructions to cut the front plate, the back plate and the side wall and to remove unnecessary material therefrom. The sign letter also includes a lighting system for illuminating the sign letter.

Abstract: An elastic store circuit using a first in/first out buffer (FIFO) to accurately control the phase delay in a waveform using the write (WR) and read (RD) clocks is provided. The FIFO reads the input data at the WR clock rate. The data exits the FIFO in response to the RD clock. Large delays are accomplished by changing the relationship between the WR and RD clocks in whole clock intervals. Delays and adjustments of less than a whole clock interval are accomplished by changing the phase relationship of the RD clock with respect to the WR clock. The present invention generates the WR and RD clocks through synthesis using a lower frequency reference clock. The RD clock phase change results from phase-locking the RD clock to a phase offset version of the reference clock. A method of introducing precise delays through phase delay of the RD clock with respect to the reference clock is also provided.

Abstract: An optical modulator includes first and second modulator segments. The first and second modulator segments form an optical signal path for an optical signal. The optical modulator also includes an electrical signal path capable of receiving and carrying a modulation signal, which is applied to the optical signal at the first and second modulation segments to generate a modulated optical signal. An inductive element may be disposed between electrical inputs to the first and second modulator segments. The optical modulator may be an electro-absorption modulator (EAM). The inductive element may be an inductor or a transmission line segment.

Abstract: A game to promote communication and understanding between couples. The game involves assigning points to a number of activities to be performed by one person, for example, the man, for the benefit of the second person, the woman. When the man performs an act such as letting the woman sleep in, taking the woman out to dinner, or giving the woman a gift, he is awarded the points assigned to that act. The accumulated points are tracked on a board. Once the points reach a certain level, the man is permitted to redeem the points for a reward such as a night out. The woman is permitted to block the awarding of points temporarily in the event of an extraordinary event such as the man forgetting the woman's birthday or not helping out with household chores.

Abstract: An elastic store circuit using a first in/first out buffer (FIFO) to accurately delay and manipulate a waveform using the write (WR) and read (RD) clocks is provided. The FIFO delays data by, first, reading the input data at the WR clock rate. Then, the data exits the FIFO in response to the RD clock. Large delays are accomplished by changing the relationship between the WR and RD clocks in whole clock intervals. Delays and adjustments of less than a whole clock interval are accomplished by changing the phase relationship of the RD clock with respect to the WR clock. The present invention generates the WR and RD clocks through synthesis using a lower frequency reference clock. The RD phase change results from introducing a phase change into the reference clock driving the RD clock synthesizer. A method of introducing precise delays through phase control of the WR and RD clocks is also provided.

Abstract: A system for generating a printed product includes a printer, a cutter, and a computer. The printer and cutter are controlled by the computer to generate printed and/or contoured cut products, such as wall boarders, murals, stencils, and appliques as well as wallpaper of extremely high quality. The system, according to the present invention, allows the printed product to be customized to individual design, color and size requirements. The system of the present invention results in time and cost savings and allows complete flexibility in choices for wall boarders, murals, stencils, appliques and wallpaper.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of cysteine derivatives for preparing a medicament intended to treat diseases which result from the formation of the heterotrimeric G protein. These diseases include in particular diseases linked to the following biological functions or disorders: smell, taste, perception of the light, neurotransmission, neurodegeneration, endocrine and exocrine gland functions, autocrine and paracrine regulation, arterial tension, embryogenesis, benign cell proliferation, oncogenesis, viral infection, immunological functions, diabetes, obesity, and benign and malign proliferative diseases.

Abstract: The present invention is directed toward an edge detecting photodiode that includes a waveguide comprising a p-doped InP cladding layer, an n-doped InP cladding layer, a p-side waveguide layer, an n-side waveguide layer, and an InGaAs absorption layer therebetween, in which the absorption layer is doped to have an absorption region and a depletion region that, when under bias, will overlap by an amount sufficient to substantially balance the transit time of positive and negative charged carriers across the waveguide. The photodiode is preferably formed on an InP substrate. The photodiode preferably has a planar polymer layer in contact with the InP substrate. The polymer layer also preferably has a ridge formed therein for the photodiode waveguide. The polymer layer may have a coplanar transmission line deposited thereon, and a pair of metal-insulator-metal (“MIM”) capacitors may be incorporated into the coplanar transmission line.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of cysteine derivatives for preparing a medicament intended to treat diseases which result from the formation of the heterotrimeric G protein. These diseases include in particular diseases linked to the following biological functions or disorders: smell, taste, perception of the light, neurotransmission, neurodegeneration, endocrine and exocrine gland functions, autocrine and paracrine regulation, arterial tension, embroygenesis, benign cell proliferation, oncogenesis, viral infection, immunological functions, diabetes, obesity, and benign and malign proliferative diseases. Said cysteine derivatives include in particular: bis-1,1′-[7-(2-amino-1-oxo-3-thiopropyl)-8-(cyclohexylmethyl)-2-(2-methoxyphenyl)-5,6,7,8-tetrahydroimidazo[1.2a]pyrazine disulphide (I), and bis-1,1′-7-(2-amino-1-oxo-3-thiopropyl-(2-(1-naphtyl)-8-(2-methylpropyl)-5,6,7,8-tetrahydroimidazo[1.2a]pyrazin-7-yl)disulphide (II).

Abstract: Simultaneous demultiplexing and clock recovery of high-speed (e.g., 80 Gbps or 160 Gbps) optical time division multiplexing (OTDM) signals is achieved using a tandem electro-absorption modulator (TEAM). The TEAM has a monolithically integrated SOA to compensate the insertion loss and two EAMs to reduce the switching window. The demultiplexing and clock recovery may be performed by a single TEAM, or by two or more TEAMs. A fiber Raman amplifier may be used to boost the intensity of the OTDM signals during transmission.

Abstract: An optical device for coupling an optical signal to an optical detector is disclosed. The optical device includes a mode compression section disposed between an optical input source and a photodetector, which enables efficient coupling between the optical input source and the photodetector.

Abstract: A system for managing a development project for a customer includes at least one database having data, and allows the customer to select at least one selected product from at least one of the databases, and provides for viewing at least one selected product. The system allows customer to manage a project through a website and determine how various changes to the project will affect cost, time and other variables. The system can also allow customer to collaborate on a development project with installers, architects and other workers. The system allows customer to match a product to particular requirements. A kiosk system allows customer to view various products within the store, make selections through the kiosk and, potentially, match product to a particular requirement.

Abstract: A web and an associated web feeding and handling apparatus for performing a work operation on the web is disclosed. The apparatus feeds the web in a feed direction longitudinally of itself by means of a friction drive. The operation of the drive is controlled by lateral and longitudinal alignment indicia located on the web which insure that the web is properly aligned with the feed direction as the web is initially fed into and then through the apparatus, and to insure that any bowing of the web during the work operation is corrected or compensated for.

Abstract: A web and an associated web feeding and handling apparatus for performing a work operation on the web is disclosed. The apparatus feeds the web in a feed direction longitudinally of itself by means of a friction drive. The operation of the drive is controlled by lateral and longitudinal alignment indicia located on the web which insure that the web is properly aligned with the feed direction as the web is initially fed into and then through the apparatus, and to insure that any bowing of the web during the work operation is corrected or compensated for.