Abstract: A detonator assembly includes a capacitor, an initiator, a transformer and an addressable chip. The initiator is electrically connected to the capacitor, the transformer is mechanically and electrically connected to the capacitor and the addressable chip is mechanically and electrically connected to the transformer. The initiator may be bonded or fused to the capacitor, and the transformer may be bonded or fused to the capacitor. The capacitor, initiator, transformer and addressable chip form a unified integrated detonating unit.

Abstract: A method of obtaining a distributed measurement comprises deploying an optical fibre in a measurement region of interest, and launching into it a first optical signal at a first wavelength ?0 and a high power level, a second optical signal at a second wavelength ??1, and a third optical signal at the first wavelength ?0 and a low power level. These optical signals generate backscattered light at the second wavelength ??1 arising from Raman scattering of the first optical signal which is indicative of a parameter to be measured, at the first wavelength ?0 arising from Rayleigh scattering of the first optical signal, at the second wavelength ?—1 arising from Rayleigh scattering of the second optical signal, and at the first wavelength ?0 arising from Rayleigh scattering of the third optical signal.

Abstract: A database system includes a storage that contains plural tables as well as a predefined data structure. The database system is able to, in response to a join query, perform a join of two or more tables. The database system also is able to determine, based on values contained in the predefined data structure, whether a group-by operation can be skipped.

Abstract: A supplemental shield is used to cover a radiation leakage path through a chassis of the system. The supplemental shield is attached to at least one surface in the system to cover the radiation leakage path. In one arrangement, the supplemental shield has an adhesive portion to attach the supplemental shield to the at least one surface.

Abstract: A mobile communication system includes cell segments each associated with a base station. The base station includes transceivers capable of communicating over two sets of carriers. A first set of carriers carry circuit-switched traffic, while the second set of carriers carry packet-switched data. Co-channel interference measurements are made by mobile units or by a serving base station in each cell segment during communications of active bursts of traffic or control signaling. Such bursts may include a training sequence that is used by the measuring device to recreate a burst without interference contributions. Co-channel interference is then determined based on the recreated bursts and the received bursts. Multiple interference values may be derived and applied to an averaging filter to calculate the final interference contribution value.