Abstract: Present herein is a technique for providing computer and internet access for a group of participants, which can include economically disadvantaged persons. An orientation is first conducted wherein computer technical skills are taught. After the orientation, a computer is provided and installed in the homes of each participant. During installation, the participant is provided with additional training. Internet access is also provided for the participant through a partnership with the local telecommunications provider.

Abstract: The present invention provides a high gain collimator producing generally uniform intensity profiles for use in lithography and other applications. A focusing optic is also provided. The collimator includes a reflector and guide channel. The guide channel preferably includes polycapillary tubes and/or microchannel plates. The polycapillary tubes are used to collimate or focus the central portion of the x-ray beam in a circular, elliptic, square, or rectangular shape. A conical, parabolic resonance reflector or grazing incidence reflector with a shape similar to the polycapillary collimator is used to increase the solid angle collected and produce a circular, square, etc. annular x-ray beam whose inside dimensions are approximately equal to the exit dimensions of the polycapillary collimator.

Abstract: An adapter and associated apparatus for transferring gas/fluid are presented herein. The adapter is configured to connect valves and connectors of plural sizes to each other. The adapter includes an outer surface having an outer thread for connection to a tightening nut of the connector. The adapter also includes a first and second inner surfaces sized for different size valves.

Abstract: A system and method for dispensing tokens in a Point-Of-Sale (“POS”) transaction. The system and method include sensing errors in the token-dispensing operation whereby a POS terminal operator can be notified if a token is jammed in the token dispenser or if the token dispenser is empty.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for laser cutting a target material is disclosed. The method includes the steps of generating laser pulses from a laser system and applying the laser pulses to the target material so that the laser pulses cut through the material. The laser pulses have an approximately ellipse shaped spot, have a temporal pulse width shorter than about 100 nanoseconds, and have an energy density from about 2 to about 20 times the ablation threshold energy of the target material. The laser pulses are applied to the material such that the major axis of the ellipse shaped spot moves parallel to the cutting direction. The spot has a leading edge and a trailing edge on the major axis, and the energy density of each laser pulse increases from zero to a maximum along the leading edge and decreases back to zero along the trailing edge.

Abstract: An apparatus for estimating a shadow on a scaled figure is presented herein. The apparatus includes a circular disk with a lines corresponding to the declination angle of the earth with respect to the sun at particular dates of the year. The apparatus also includes arcs on the circular disk which correspond to the earth's rotation at particular times of the day. The circular disk can also have a slot to facilitate insertion of a pencil or pen time therein. The circular disk is substantially transparent to enable a user to lay the disk over a scaled figure and make calculations and measurements corresponding to a shadow to be estimated. Also disclosed is a method for estimating a shadow for a structure depicted in a scaled figure. The circular disk is placed over the scaled figure such that the slot in the disk is aligned with an azimuth of the sun so as to trace a shadow line. The circular disk is then reoriented perpendicular to the shadow line so that a scaled height line may be traced.

Abstract: A parallel nanotomography imaging system is provided having an x-ray source, which is preferably a laser-based x-ray source that generates x-rays that are collected using a collector optic and are received in a composite objective assembly. The composite objective assembly includes plural micro-objectives, each imaging the target. The x-ray image is received by an x-ray image formation and acquisition apparatus, and processed and/or displayed.

Abstract: A method and associated apparatus are presented for stimulating biological activity of cell receptors. The biological activity of cell receptors is stimulated by positioning a transmitter in proximity with the target cell receptors, generating an electromagnetic field, such that the flux of the electromagnetic field extends through the target cell receptors, and fluctuating the electromagnetic field at a predetermined rate of fluctuation. An associated apparatus is presented which stimulates biological activity of cell receptors. The apparatus comprises a field coil electrically connected to an alternating current source with a predetermined rate of fluctuation. The alternating current flows through the field coils, thereby generating an electromagnetic field with a predetermined rate of fluctuation.

Abstract: An adapter and associated apparatus for transferring gas/fluid are presented herein. The adapter is configured to connect valves and connectors of plural sizes to each other. The adapter includes an outer surface having an outer thread for connection to a tightening nut of the connector. The adapter also includes a first and second inner surfaces sized for different size valves.