Abstract: An ocular lens used in an optical apparatus, such as a telescope optical system, includes the following lens groups sequentially arranged from the object side: a first lens group G1 having negative refracting power; a second lens group G2 including a lens component having a convex surface facing the viewer's eye side; and a third lens group G3 having positive refracting power. An object-side focal plane of the third lens group G3 is located between the second lens group G2 and the third lens group G3. The first lens group G1 includes the following lens components sequentially arranged from the object side: a first lens component G1A having a convex surface facing the object side, having negative refracting power, and having a meniscus shape; and a second lens component G1B having negative refracting power.

Abstract: This invention relates to antimicrobial lenses containing metals and methods for their production.

Abstract: Described and illustrated are various insertion instruments, cap, plug, method and kit. In one aspect, a cap for a punctal insertion instrument is shown and described. In a further aspect, a punctum plug insertion system that includes the instrument and the cap is provided. In yet a further aspect, a method of releasing a punctum plug from a plug holder is provided. Additionally, a kit that contains the plug insertion instrument, cap, plugs, and instructions for use is provided.

Abstract: A night vision goggle system is shown, including optical modules, a heads-up display (HUD) module, and a camera module. Each module may be added to and removed from the system without structural, electrical, or optical damage to itself or the remaining modules. Each optical module takes input light at one end and provides an intensified image at the other. A heads-up display module (HUD) can provide an informational display in any of at least two of the optical modules or both. A camera module is capable of recording both the intensified image produced by a particular optical module, as well as the HUD information shown through that module with substantially no offset from the original display. Both the camera module and the HUD module are installable onto the same optical module at the same time, and can be installed on either (or in some embodiments, any) optical module.

Abstract: A system and method for the anticipated detection of a bend on a portion of road taken by a motor vehicle comprising the following steps: establishing, by means of a first system, called as the navigation system, a first set of information on the bend in question, the first set of information being associated with a first confidence index; establishing, by means of a second system, called as the image processing system, a second set of information on the bend in question, the second set of information being associated with a second confidence index; and establishing, from the first set of information and the second set of information and by taking into account the first confidence index and the second confidence index, a third set of information on the bend in question.

Abstract: A method of designing and/or selecting a progressive addition lens design for a wearer is disclosed. In an embodiment, the method includes displaying a graphical representation of an initial progressive addition lens design including design parameters having design values. A user interface is provided including, for each of one or more of the design parameters, a control that is adjustable over a range of levels, each level in the range being associated with a corresponding value of the respective design parameter. A control is adjusted to select a level and the selection is processed so as to substantially simultaneously update the displayed graphical representation in accordance with the selected level to provide a modified progressive lens design. A system for designing and/or selecting a progressive addition lens design for a wearer is also disclosed.

Abstract: At least one exemplary aspect comprises a method comprising: (a) receiving electronic data describing a trading order for a market-traded security; (b) checking the data describing the trading order against one or more sets of conditions, and identifying one or more of the one or more sets of conditions that is satisfied; (c) based on the identified one or more of the one or more sets of conditions that is satisfied, identifying a class of trading algorithms appropriate for execution of the trading order; (d) selecting with a processing system one or more trading algorithms from the identified class of trading algorithms, for execution of the trading order; and (e) commencing with the processing system execution of the trading order via the selected one or more trading algorithms; wherein the processing system comprises one or more processors. Other aspects and embodiments comprise related computer systems and software.

Abstract: A modular unit, system and method include a base layer having a plurality of reservoirs configured to prevent water flow through a lower portion, the lower portion for contacting a support surface, and having interlocking portions configured to interlock adjacent base layers when installed. A water permeable layer is disposed over the base layer. A detachable wall is mountable on the base layer to contain planting media. The water permeable layer may include a water-holding capillary fabric mat layer with entangled filaments.

Abstract: A method and system for purifying liquid is disclosed that includes combining powdered metal particles with the fluid to be treated. The mixture of powdered metal particles or metal and liquid to be treated is then passed through an electrolytic cell. The cell forms multivalent ions which attach to contaminants in the liquid and are subsequently separated out from the liquid using conventional solid/liquid separation techniques. The multivalent ions may also be formed from thin strips of aluminum or formed by pressing layers of powdered metallic particles together and installing in the electrolytic cell between two cathodes, the powdered metal electrode being the anode.

Abstract: This invention includes a wettable biomedical device containing a high molecular weight hydrophilic polymer and a hydroxyl-functionalized silicone-containing monomer.

Abstract: A progressive addition lens device is disclosed. The device comprises a lens body formed with a progressive power surface having a temporal part and a nasal part. The surface is characterized by an optical power map having a plurality of contours corresponding to transitions between optical powers across the surface, wherein at least 70% of the contours are substantially monotonic at the temporal part.

Abstract: The present invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions containing lactoferrin, or fragments of it, and their use in the treatment of wounds, particularly corneal wounds. The present invention also provides a pharmaceutical composition comprising an effective amount of a polypeptide or peptidomimetic consisting essentially of the C-lobe of lactoferrin, or functionally active fragments or variants thereof.

Abstract: The invention provides a use of panthenol or dexpanthenol in the prevention and/or treatment of contact lens papillary conjunctivitis in a subject. A contact lens care solution containing 0.001 to 10% by dry weight dexpanthenol is also provided.

Abstract: A method of forming a combined feature boundary based on boundaries of first and second overlapping features includes dividing the boundaries of the first and second overlapping features into line segments of known shape, identifying crossing points formed by the line segments, calculating parametric coordinates of the crossing points, and determining a sequence of crossing point evaluation based on the parametric coordinates. The method also includes calculating first and second cross products based on the line segments forming first and second crossing points in the determined sequence, and choosing first and second paths of the combined feature boundary according to mathematical signs of the cross products, wherein the combined feature boundary includes the first and second crossing points and portions of at least one of the first and second feature boundaries defining the first and second paths.

Abstract: An automatic process is provided for automatically determining a current speed limitation on a road being used by a motor vehicle, in which by means of a first system, making use in particular of a GPS aerial and cartographical details, a first set of information is established, in which at least one likely speed limitation is associated with a confidence index; by means of a second system, involving the use of a camera and image processing applications capable of identifying roadside speed limitation panels, a second set of information is established comprising at least one probable speed limitation, wherein the basis of the first and second sets of information, the current speed limitation is determined along the road in question.

Abstract: The invention provides tinted contact lenses that use a crescent-shaped pattern or pattern element to enhance the lens wearer's iris.

Abstract: An automated, computerized method is provided for processing an image. The method comprises the steps of providing an image file depicting an image, in a computer memory, generating a material intrinsic image corresponding to the image and modifying the material intrinsic image by identifying artifacts by comparing derivatives for the material intrinsic image with derivatives for the image, modifying the derivatives for the material intrinsic image to conform the derivatives for the material intrinsic to the derivatives of the image and integrating the modified derivatives for the material intrinsic image to calculate a modified material intrinsic image.

Abstract: A lens element for progressive spectacles. The lens element has at least one near viewing zone and a distance viewing zone which have different focusing powers. Further, the lens element has a predetermined prismatic power. Furthermore, a vertical component of the predetermined prismatic power is realized at a first point of the lens element, and a horizontal component of the predetermined prismatic power is realized at a second point of the lens element. The present invention also relates to a method for producing a lens element.

Abstract: A communication system for a vehicle includes a vehicle speed sensor configured to emit a periodic function with a parameter correlated to the speed of the vehicle, an acceleration monitoring system, a braking system engagement detector to detect a braking status of the vehicle, an alerting device capable of signaling other drivers of a deceleration condition of the vehicle, and a control device. The acceleration monitoring system is configured to compute the acceleration of the vehicle from variations in the parameter of the periodic function of the vehicle speed sensor and to output a deceleration status of the vehicle. The control device is coupled to the acceleration monitoring system, the braking system engagement detector, and the alerting device, wherein the acceleration monitoring system sends signals to the control device and the control device operates the alerting device in a manner dependent on the deceleration status of the vehicle.

Abstract: Hyperclusters are a cluster of clusters. Each cluster has associated with it one or more resource groups, and independent node failures within the clusters are handled by platform specific clustering software. The management of coordinated failovers across dependent or independent resources running on heterogeneous platforms is contemplated. A hypercluster manager running on all of the nodes in a cluster communicates with platform specific clustering software regarding any failure conditions, and utilizing a rule-based decision making system, determines actions to take on the node. A plug-in extends exit points definable in non-hypercluster clustering technologies. The failure notification is passed to other affected resource groups in the hypercluster.