Abstract: The inventions relate to a method for operating a controllable selective optical add/drop channel for fiber-optic communication system provided with 2N of wavelength-division multiplexing channels, whose optical frequencies are retunable at a constant frequency separations ?v between adjacent channels, with the aid of the inventive controllable optical add/drop multiplexers (70, 80, 90) that comprise multi-stage structures of optical filters ({75-i}, {85-i}, {95-i}), that are connected in different manner and provided with devices, for example electro-optical and thermo-optical phase shift devices, for controllable tuning the transmissions characteristics thereof. The optical filters are embodied in the form of single-stage (20), two-stage (40) and/or multi-stage (60) asymmetric Mach-Zehnder interferometers. The controllable optical add/drop multiplexer can be produced according to integrated optic technique in the form of monolithic solid-state device.

Abstract: Signals transmitting symbols through a multi-paths channel are received by a diversity receiver using at least two branches. The signals are combined after their processing in individual branches, minimizing combining loss of EGC receivers, minimizing BER and optimizing the performance. Processing in individual branches includes estimation of the phase changes induced by the channel at each received signal, with reference to the transmitted signal, and weighting of each signal by a co-phasing coefficient based on said estimation, so that all received signals are co-phased. An optimization step includes estimation of mean value and variance of signal to noise ratio (SNR) in each branch, using sampling techniques, and weighting the received signals by an optimization coefficient calculated from the mean value and variance. The process avoids expensive hardware for continuous estimation of instantaneous channel gains at each branch.

Abstract: An energy beam assisted solid-state welding welds a wire material to a substrate. A wire of coating or repairing material is placed in contact with a surface or surfaces of a substrate. A beam is directed into an outer flat surface of the wire, which heats the wire through flat outer surface of the wire with beam energy. Beam energy produces compression stress-waves that drive molecules of the material flat wire into a surface of the substrate, joining the material and the substrate with strong wave shaped interfaces.

Abstract: Element to prevent slipping on surfaces, where the surfaces are provided with a plurality of apertures, characterized in that the element comprises a base plate, and that a plurality of towers extend upwards from said base plate, where the towers have a cross section at least at an upper part, corresponding to the shape of the apertures in the surface, and that the towers are arranged on the base plate in a pattern corresponding to the pattern of the apertures in the surface.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for refining vegetable oils, in particular cottonseed oil or a possible mixture of it with others, as substitute of diesel fuel remarkable in that a sequence of treatment steps to be performed on crude vegetable oil, including: a) a pre-treatment thereof consisting of the removal of oil insoluble impurities from the crude oil, b) removal of oil soluble impurities therefrom, c) a free acid neutralization thereof, and d) a drying, bleaching and filtration thereof. This invention also relates to an Additive of organic basis, containing ether, ketone, toluene, hexane, turpentine, alcohols in specific concentrations.

Abstract: A method and system are described to treat ammonia-containing wastewater or process waters. Sewage containing human or animal waste and certain process liquids, typically water, contains high levels of nitrogen in the form of ammonia. An electro-chemical method to extract the ammonia from the wastewater is also described. The system described is one implementation of this method. One or more electrolysis cells convert ammonium to ammonia where the generated ammonia gas can readily be extracted for disposal or reuse. Such a system can involve electrolysis cells of numerous types as described herein.

Abstract: A laminated insecticide dispenser where a central layer contains an insecticide that migrates through the outer layer to the surface of the dispenser. The outer layer also comprises a UV protector which migrates to the surface in order to minimize the UV damage induced on the insecticide.

Abstract: A mobile platform, sensors mounted on the mobile platform, computers, data storage devices, power system, data acquisition hardware, and software form a Travel Way Measurement System. The mobile platform with sensors mounted within and upon it, moves along a surface travel way and records data to determine an accurate location and geometry of the travel way surface, surface features, transverse profile and features along side the travel way surface, structures, signs, and other features above the travel way surface, and utilities, pavement thickness and properties, pavement condition, and bridge deck properties and condition below the travel way surface. The mobile platform and sensors can travel and collect data at up to 60 miles per hour or more. The data acquisition hardware and software protocols permit the synchronization of all the sensor outputs in the temporal and spatial domain or in any other domain resulting from numerical transformation of sensor outputs.

Abstract: The invention provides a system for improving communication statuses among a sensor, a tag and a non-contact type IC card for RFID (Radio Frequency Identification). In the present system, a resonator is added to a sensor a tag, or non-contact type IC card. The resonator is constituted by a coil and a capacitor. Further a magnetic substance is attached to the coil of the resonator so as to intensify the magnetic field.

Abstract: A hydraulic prop 1 is provided for use in underground mining and tunnel construction and is to be used above all in the shield support. In this shield support or in the hydraulic prop 1, the exterior pipe 15 having the foot connection part 16 and the handle 17 and the interior pipe 19 having the head plate 20 are effectively connected together via spring steel wire ties 35 which are disposed or are to be disposed in corresponding connecting grooves 36, 37, 38 or 39, 40 41 such that in the transition region 42 sufficiently high forces can be transferred so as to ensure a connection between the components which is effective and remains effective. A setting pressure of 600 t can be realized at about 700 bar with the corresponding equipment. The connecting technique permits the use of high-strength thinner-walled pipes.

Abstract: An adjustable support in the form of a headrest comprises a flexible arm (2) carrying a bifurcated branches (3a). The arm (82) is made up of identical segments (20) that can pivot in relation to each other. A wire (5) holds the arm (2) together and may be loosened by an adjusting mechanism (6) controlled by a knob (9). Partially cylindric surfaces (27, 29) on opposing ends (21, 22) of segments (20) have teeth-like projections extending transversely of the partially cylindric faces (27, 29) for mutual engagement and securing mutual position of adjacent segments (20). The adjustable support is thus able to carry greater loads than prior art adjustable supports.

Abstract: A lance holder characterized by a high degree of safety is equipped with a mounting or a pipe fixing, which safely prevents a rotation even of a bent lance pipe in the lance holder. The clamping head has a fixing part and a clamping part which ensure a punctiform fixation by way of displaceable pressure elements, particularly in the form of spheres. At least three such spheres are disposed across the circumference in a distributed manner, and ensure the safe fixation across a large tolerance range with regard to the dimensions of lance pipes. Said large tolerance region is further secured in that sealing sleeves having a larger inside diameter may be used, since the same are no longer deformed in the longitudinal direction in order to provide the seal, but instead are deformed in the radial direction. In summary the high degree of operational safety is also completed by the association of a chip and/or attachment of a nanocoating.

Abstract: The present invention provides an axially symmetric vertical magnetic field component sensor system capable of intensifying vertical magnetic field components. The sensor system comprises an axially symmetrical magnetic substance comprising a circular, oval or polygonal shaped flat disk and a protrusion formed on a center of the flat disk. The sensor system is used for a response system having an IC wound by a coil which generates signals and the sensor system is mounted on a metal surface or buried in a hollow formed on the metal surface.

Abstract: Data is stored in data streams of varying size over a network so that a particular data stream may be considered as being stored locally or remotely. A request is received to modify a first data stream, and a frozen condition to the effect that said first data stream is not modifiable is identified. A second data stream that comprises a reference to the first data stream is created, and the information contained in said second data stream is modified according to said request.

Abstract: A method for sub-division of a plot of land comprises the steps of forming, on a polygonal basic tile shape, a layout of a basic precinct unit comprising an array of occupiable spaces of predetermined shape, at least one access way communicating with each occupiable space and tessellating the polygonal basic tile shapes over an area to be sub-divided whereby respective said at least one access way of each basic precinct unit connects with an access way of an adjacent basic precinct unit to form a network of connecting access ways, said basic precinct unit, together with an adjacent basic precinct unit forming an inter-tile unit of predetermined shape from two or more adjacent occupiable spaces, said inter-tile unit linking adjacent basic precinct units. The tessellation is formed computationally and the computation may include dimensional, boundary and topographical contour data of a plot of land to be subdivided.

Abstract: Electronic components and electrodes for transforming, storing and shielding devices have ablated femtosecond pulsed laser machined with developed nano structures for substantially increasing surface areas. Storage is multiplied in capacitors and supercapacitors, and small sizes have increased capacity. Supercapacitor heating upon charging and discharging is reduced by femtosecond pulsed laser ablation of inner and outer surfaces of cases. Battery storage capacity and charging time, fuel cell size and capacity, hydrogen generation and storage and seconds are improved by femtosecond pulsed laser machining ablation of electrode surfaces followed by chemical vapor deposition of carbon nano structures.

Abstract: A composition comprising an extract of a deep sea fish; and an extract of rooibos aspalathus linearis); and optionally an extract of bearberry (arctostaphylos uva-ursi) as active components thereof; and optionally one or more fillers or ancillary agents conventionally used in the formulation of compositions is provided. Upon administration, the composition has beneficial effect in relation to the cosmetic treatment of age-related dermatological symptoms, such as wrinkled and/or aged skin as well as hair loss.

Abstract: An ice bagging apparatus which has a frame defining a first ice collecting zone with a collecting bin and an ice bagging zone, wherein the ice bagging zone has a film feeding mechanism that conveys two heat-sealable elongated plastic film webs and a welding apparatus to form a bag from the webs. The film feeding mechanism has rollers between which film webs are passed and pressed against each other. A measuring arrangement measures ice dispensed into the bag by a first ice transport system positioned between the two film webs that form the bag.