Voltage controlled oscillator gain tracking is used for programming modulation gain settings to minimize modulation distortion in a phase locked loop of a mobile station. An epitaxial structure is formed on the substrate with areas of different optical properties. A second transfer apparatus includes a pusher plate which moves assembled patterns of wrapped bakery products from the vacuum turntable into bakery trays and which is retractable to facilitate the assembly of a subsequent pattern of wrapped bakery products as a previous pattern is being transferred to a bakery tray. The compositions of the invention are also useful in various assays, including assessing the autoinducer load in a subject. The joint portion is provided with a third through-penetrating passageway mutually communicating with the second through-penetrating passageway and the first through-penetrating passageway for accommodating at least one optical fiber therein.