Abstract: Method and apparatus for growing plants in vertical stacks by providing vertically stacked, interconnected pairs of plant platforms and light trays carrying growth promoting light sources. Each light tray is suspended below the underside of the next above plant platform. The stack is vertically raised in succession whereby the plant platforms are suspended and vertically spaced from each other. Thereafter, plants are placed between suspended platforms under the light trays which are regulating during periods of plant growth and non-growth.

Abstract: A traffic manager includes an execution unit that is responsive to instructions related to queuing of data in memory. The instructions may be provided by a network processor that is programmed to generate such instructions, depending on the data. Examples of such instructions include (1) writing of data units (of fixed size or variable size) without linking to a queue, (2) re-sequencing of the data units relative to one another without moving the data units in memory, and (3) linking the previously-written data units to a queue. The network processor and traffic manager may be implemented in a single chip.

Abstract: A precharge circuit (20, 20?, 20?) charges at least one capacitor (22, 22?, 22?) associated with an electrical device with high capacitance, such as a motor (14) which drives a compressor (16) of the pneumatic system. One end of the at least one capacitor is connected with a high voltage bus (10). The other end of the at least one capacitor is connected by at least one charge limiting resistor (24, 24?, 24?) with a low reference node. When the at least one capacitor is charged at least to a preselected level, a control circuit (28, 28?, 28?) controls a switch (26, 26?, 26?) to bypass the current limiting resistor. In this manner, the current limiting resistors limit the surge current to charge the capacitors. Once the capacitors are charged, the resistors and their associated heat dissipation are removed from the circuit and only ripple current from across the capacitors flows through the switch reducing a required current carrying capacity and needed heat sinking for the switch.

Abstract: A micro identification system supports facile optical assemblies and components. A segment of optical fiber can comprise an identifier formed via actinic radiation. The identifier can generate a laser interference pattern that can be read through a cylindrical surface of the optical fiber to determine a code. Modified optical fibers are those fibers that have been shaped or coated to an extent beyond the demands of normal communications optical fibers. In one example, modified fibers are no longer than about two feet in length. For another example, the modified fibers can have either a non-cylindrical end face, a non flat end face, an end face the plane of which is not perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the waveguide, an end face coated with high density filter, or an identifier on or near an end face.

Abstract: Methods for centering at least one optical fiber (10) having a centerline (16) in a connector ferrule (100) having at least one bore (120) with a central axis (AC) is disclosed. One method includes inserting a bare-fiber portion (13) into a ferrule bore so that at least a section (10S) of the bare-fiber portion extends beyond the ferrule front end (106). The method also includes selectively applying an amount of energy to the bare-fiber section to form a locally deformable region (19), and forming at a bulge (250) in the locally deformable region. The method also includes causing the bulge to form a force-fit with the bore at the ferrule front end, thereby substantially centering the optical fiber centerline along the bore central axis. Methods of centering nano-engineered optical fibers are also disclosed, wherein the optical fiber end is processed so that a substantially void-free fiber end (14) is made to substantially coincide with the ferrule front end.

Abstract: A system for loading, unloading and carrying a boat, upright with motor, on a vehicle includes a raised carrying rack positioned at an incline above the vehicle and a loading arm extending rearwardly from the back of the vehicle and supported in cantilever fashion by cables. A winch, cable and pulley system pulls the boat out of the water, onto the loading arm, up onto rollers at the rear of the carrying rack, and to the forward end of the carrying rack where it is secured. The loading arm may be folded upright after the boat is loaded on the carrying rack.

Abstract: Furcation management structures and fiber optic shelf assemblies including one or more furcation management structures are disclosed. The furcation management structures are disposed in a chassis of a fiber optic shelf assembly and define a mounting surface for mounting at least one furcation body of a fiber optic cable assembly thereto. The furcation management structure may allow the fiber optic shelf assemblies to provide a greater density of fiber optic cable assemblies to support high density fiber optic equipment. Moreover, the furcation management structures provides the craft with an organized mounting structure that is relatively quick and easy to remove, rearrange, and/or reconfigure.

Abstract: A fiber optic connector assembly and method for venting gas inside in a fiber optic connector sub-assembly. The fiber optic connector assembly includes a connector sub-assembly including a ferrule and a ferrule holder having a passage extending therethrough. A stiffener tube having a tube body disposed about a portion of at least one optical fiber supports insertion of the optical fiber into the ferrule holder passage. The stiffener tube contains at least one opening in its tube body configured to vent gas trapped inside the stiffener tube during assembly. In this manner, the trapped gas does not form a gas pocket in the bonding agent, which could compromise bonding among the optical fiber, stiffener tube, and connector sub-assembly.

Abstract: A system, method, and apparatus for a virtual fax machine are provided. In one embodiment, a system for a virtual fax machine is provided including a computer configured to display a virtual fax machine based on a script, a server configured to receive at least one electronic document associated with a fax to be sent using the virtual fax machine, and a traditional facsimile machine configured to receive the fax to be sent. In another embodiment, an apparatus for a virtual fax machine is provided including a computer configured to locate and execute a script associated with a virtual fax machine, display the virtual fax machine, associate at least one electronic document with a fax to be sent, encode the at least one electronic document to a form suitable for communication over a network, and transmit the encoded electronic document over the network as the fax to be sent.

Abstract: A method and system for ultrasound treatment utilizing a multi-directional transducer to facilitate treatment, such as therapy and/or imaging or other tissue parameter monitoring, in two or more directions. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, a multi-directional transducer comprises at least two transduction elements configured to provide for ultrasound energy, such as radiation, acoustical energy, heat energy, imaging, positional information and/or tissue parameter monitoring signals in two or more directions. The transduction elements can comprise various materials for providing ultrasound energy or radiation, such as piezoelectric materials, with and without matching layers. In addition, the transduction elements can be configured for substantially uniform, focused and/or defocused radiation patterns, as well as for single, multiple-element and/or multiple-element array configurations.

Abstract: A battery charging and pulsating system including a battery having a positive terminal and a negative terminal, a charger electrically connected to the positive and the negative terminals of the battery, the charger including a controller, a pulsator electrically connected to the positive and the negative terminals of the battery, the pulsator including a controller, and a voltage measuring circuit electrically connected to the positive and the negative terminals of the battery, the voltage measuring circuit being adapted to measure a voltage across the positive and the negative terminals of the battery, wherein the controller of the pulsator is adapted to activate the pulsator when the measured voltage is at least one of (1) at or below a predetermined threshold voltage and (2) at or above a predetermined gassing voltage.

Abstract: Axial distances between ocular structures can be measured by focusing an optical unit on focus planes corresponding to the ocular structures and using the distance between focus planes to determine the distance between the ocular structures. The method is particularly useful during eye surgery, e.g., cataract surgery, where the distance between ocular structures, particularly an aphakic pupil, can be used to more accurately predict the effective lens position for an intraocular lens.

Abstract: A communication system for retrieving content stored in a content server (e.g., web server) is disclosed. The system includes a client that is configured to transmit a message requesting content specifying an object from a content server. The system also includes a plurality of proxy servers that include a downstream proxy server and an upstream proxy server. The downstream proxy server is configured to communicate with the client. The upstream proxy server is configured to retrieve the content from the content server and to forward information associated with the object over a data network to the downstream proxy server prior to the client transmitting another message requesting the object. The above arrangement has particular application to a wide area network, such as a satellite network.

Abstract: A heading determination system comprises an inertial measurement unit (IMU) coupled with at least two GNSS receivers, each receiver paired with and receiving signals from a corresponding GNSS antenna, wherein the GNSS antennas are separated by an ultra-short baseline. The heading determination system receives signals broadcast by a plurality of GNSS satellites and calculates the phase difference in the signal seen among the separate GNSS antennas. Using this phase difference information, derived from comparing the signals received from a plurality of GNSS satellites, along with attitude data generated by the IMU, the heading determination system calculates a highly-accurate heading solution. A method is provided for determining a heading of a system including an IMU coupled with at least two GNSS receivers, with each receiver being paired with and receiving signals from a corresponding GNSS antenna and the antennas being separated by an ultra-short baseline.

Abstract: A method for differentiating cancerous lesions from surrounding tissue, which includes extracting an opacity parameter from acetowhite regions of pre acetic acid and post acetic acid images of a cervix.

Abstract: Some embodiments include a method for processing information about products in a stream of commerce. The method can include recording unique identifiers in association with products; receiving, from a manufacturer of the products over a communications network, manufacturing information about the products; storing, in an electronic database, the manufacturing information in association with the unique identifiers; receiving, from entities in the stream of commerce over the communications network, additional information about the products; storing, in the electronic database, the additional information associated with the unique identifiers; receiving, over the communications network from retailers selling the products, consumer information identifying consumers of the products; and storing, in the electronic database, the consumer information in association with the unique identifiers.

Abstract: A container having a base and a cap is disclosed herein for protecting needles and/or catheters during transport. The base has a cavity for storing the needle and/or catheter and a flange region for securing the needle and/or catheter within the base. The cap can be releasably coupled to the base and provide a seal to protect the needle and/or catheter from contamination. Semi-permeable plugs can be disposed on the ends of the base and cap to enable gas sterilization of the container and the needle and/or catheter contained inside.

Abstract: Embodiments of a dermatological cosmetic treatment and imaging system and method can include use of a hand wand and a removable transducer module having an ultrasound transducer. The system can include a control module that is coupled to the hand wand and has a graphical user interface for controlling the removable transducer module, and an interface coupling the hand wand to the control module. In some embodiments, the cosmetic treatment system may be used in cosmetic procedures on at least a portion of a face, head, neck, body, and/or other part of a patient for a face lift, a brow lift, a chin lift, an eye treatment, a wrinkle reduction, a scar reduction, a burn treatment, a tattoo removal, a skin tightening, a vein reduction, a treatment on a sweat gland, a treatment of hyperhidrosis, a sun spot removal, a fat treatment, a vaginal rejuvenation, and/or an acne treatment.

Abstract: Various thermodynamic power-generating cycles employ a mass management system to regulate the pressure and amount of working fluid circulating throughout the working fluid circuits. The mass management systems may have a mass control tank fluidly coupled to the working fluid circuit at one or more strategically-located tie-in points. A heat exchanger coil may be used in conjunction with the mass control tank to regulate the temperature of the fluid within the mass control tank, and thereby determine whether working fluid is either extracted from or injected into the working fluid circuit. Regulating the pressure and amount of working fluid in the working fluid circuit helps selectively increase or decrease the suction pressure of the pump, which can increase system efficiency.

Abstract: In accordance with non-limiting examples, a nebulizer includes a main body comprising an air channel section and further comprising a mixing chamber and a venturi positioned to be placed within the patient's oral cavity and configured to receive medicine and air and mix the medicine and air within the mixing chamber and receive the air flow through the venturi and cause the medicine entering the mixing chamber to be atomized by the action of air flowing through the venturi. An air flow sensor is associated with the main body and configured to measure the air flow created by the patient's one of at least inhaling and exhaling air.