Abstract: Thermal foggers may include two or more feed inlets for introducing multiple feed streams to a thermal fogger aerosol generation zone such that the feeds may be introduced at different temperatures. Alternatives also include thermal foggers having multiple barrels such that different chemicals may be aerosolized in different aerosol generation zones to produce multiple aerosols which may be combined and applied to agricultural products, produce, or other surfaces or volumes, and thermal foggers including inlets for injecting non-combustible gases or liquids.

Abstract: Methods and kits for assaying a chemical in a sample are disclosed. The method includes placing an extraction solution and an internal standard in a container. A sample is collected from a first location and placed in the container. The container is transported to a second location where the chemical in the extraction solution is assayed. A kit for transporting the sample from a first location to a second location includes at least one container for holding the sample. The at least one container includes an extraction solution for dissolving a chemical in the solution and an internal standard for calibrating an assay of the chemical. The methods and kits may be used in a system for quantitating an amount of a sprout inhibitor on a tuber, such as a potato.

Abstract: A power supply and a method of supplying power to, for example, an optical network. In one embodiment, the power supply includes: (1) a transformer having a main power primary winding, an auxiliary power winding and a secondary winding, (2) a first controllable switch coupled to said main power primary winding that, in response to a first control signal, configures said main power primary winding to receive main DC power, (3) a second controllable switch coupled to said auxiliary power winding that, in response to a second control signal, configures said auxiliary power winding to receive auxiliary DC power and (4) an integrated controller, coupled to said secondary winding, that controls said first and second controllable switches in a current mode and as a function of a voltage of said secondary winding and a presence of said main DC power.

Abstract: A battery backed-up power supply and a method of operating the same to test a battery therein. In one embodiment, the power supply includes: (1) a transformer having a main power primary winding, an auxiliary power primary winding and a secondary winding, (2) a main power converter, coupled to the main power primary winding, that provides main power received from a main power source to the main power primary winding and (3) an auxiliary power converter, coupled to the auxiliary power primary winding, that provides auxiliary power received from a battery to the auxiliary power primary winding when the main power source is interrupted and is further selectively activatable while the main power source is operational to discharge the battery through the transformer and thereby test the battery.

Abstract: In an ISDN network, terminals connected to an S-bus (4) are fed via this S-bus (4) by a d.c. supply arrangement (6, 7, 20). The d.c. supply arrangement comprises a main supply unit (7) and an emergency supply unit (6) which are coupled with opposite polarity to the S-bus (4) via a coupling circuit (20). Consequently, the emergency supply unit (6) needs to supply only those terminals which are also made suitable for voltages with opposite polarity, and which generally present only elementary telecommunications functions. An electrically arranged coupling circuit (20) includes a monitoring circuit which monitors the value of the main supply unit output voltage and inhibits the output from the main supply unit and connects the emergency supply unit when the output voltage drops below a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: In a d.c. voltage converter 1 including a series arrangement of a transformer 3 and a pulse-switched current source 7 the power converted by means of the transformer 3 is kept constant with the aid of a control circuit 13. In the event of a short-circuit in one of the secondary windings 5-1, 5-2 a voltage drop across an auxiliary winding 6 of the transformer 3 is used to limit the converted power during the short-circuit.