Abstract: A dark fiber design tool for hardware, circuits, and paths is provided. A method can include generating, by a system comprising a processor, a data record that identifies respective equipment of a group of dark fiber equipment that have been assigned for a development of new dark fiber network infrastructure usable via a communication network; generating, by the system, a circuit plan representing optical connections between the respective ones of the group of dark fiber equipment as determined based on a first constraint defined by rules; and associating, by the system, respective optical wavelength paths with respective connections of the optical connections of the circuit plan based on a second constraint defined by the rules.

Abstract: A dark fiber design tool for hardware, circuits, and paths is provided. A method can include generating, by a system comprising a processor, a data record that identifies respective equipment of a group of dark fiber equipment that have been assigned for a development of new dark fiber network infrastructure usable via a communication network; generating, by the system, a circuit plan representing optical connections between the respective ones of the group of dark fiber equipment as determined based on a first constraint defined by rules; and associating, by the system, respective optical wavelength paths with respective connections of the optical connections of the circuit plan based on a second constraint defined by the rules.

Abstract: An example of an apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a container to store a powder. The apparatus includes a flow generator to move a gas to the container. The flow generator is to move the gas at a first velocity and a second velocity, the first velocity to fluidize the powder in a fluidized state, and the second velocity to pass through stationary powder in a powder pack. The apparatus includes pressure sensors to measure pressures in the container. The apparatus includes a measurement engine in communication with the pressure sensors, wherein the measurement engine is to calculate a mass of the powder based on a fluidized pressure differential and based on a pack pressure differential.

Abstract: A dark fiber design tool for hardware, circuits, and paths is provided. A method can include generating, by a device comprising a processor, a data record comprising properties of a group of hardware elements associated with a wireless communication network; establishing, by the device, a set of rules that define permissible interactions between respective hardware elements of the group of hardware elements based on the data record; building, by the device, a circuit plan associated with the wireless communication network, the circuit plan comprising optical connections between the respective hardware elements of the group of hardware elements as determined based on the data record and the set of rules; and associating, by the device, respective optical wavelength paths with respective ones of the optical connections of the circuit plan further based on the set of rules.

Abstract: A dark fiber design tool for hardware, circuits, and paths is provided. A method can include generating, by a device comprising a processor, a data record comprising properties of a group of hardware elements associated with a wireless communication network; establishing, by the device, a set of rules that define permissible interactions between respective hardware elements of the group of hardware elements based on the data record; building, by the device, a circuit plan associated with the wireless communication network, the circuit plan comprising optical connections between the respective hardware elements of the group of hardware elements as determined based on the data record and the set of rules; and associating, by the device, respective optical wavelength paths with respective ones of the optical connections of the circuit plan further based on the set of rules.

Abstract: Cigarettes are manufactured using modified automated cigarette making apparatus. Those cigarettes possess smokable rods having wrapping paper having additive materials applied thereto as patterns. The additive materials, which can include a starch and/or a polymer, are applied to a continuous paper web either online or offline the cigarette making apparatus. The formulation can be applied to the paper web using application apparatus possessing a series of rollers. In particular, a wrapping paper for a smokable rod can include a pattern of bands having a water-insoluble material comprising a starch ester, a starch-coated inorganic filler, and/or a thermoplastic polymer in an amount such that the material is sufficiently deformable so as to (a) reduce an amount of pressure to apply the bands, (b) decrease paper diffusivity, and (c) maintain paper opacity at a level acceptable for commercial production of the smokable rods.

Abstract: The invention provides a filter element of a smoking article having a longitudinal axis and adapted for filtration of mainstream smoke generated by the smoking article, the filter element including a first region extending along the longitudinal axis of the filter element and exhibiting a first pressure drop and a second region extending along the longitudinal axis of the filter element and exhibiting a second pressure drop lower than said first pressure drop, wherein the first and second regions are arranged in a side-by-side configuration such that both regions are visible in a cross-section of the filter element perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, and wherein mainstream smoke can move from the second region into the first region, and further comprising a smoke-altering material, such as an oxidation catalyst, positioned in the first region.

Abstract: An electrochemical fuel cell having an anode, an ion transfer membrane and a cathode has liquid water delivered to the fluid flow channels within the cathode so as to maintain a relative humidity of 100% throughout the fluid flow channels. A calibration method and apparatus is described for determining an optimum quantity or range of quantities of liquid water to be delivered to the cathode fluid flow channels under varying operating conditions. An operating method and apparatus is described that ensures an optimum quantity of liquid water is delivered to the cathode fluid flow channels under varying operating conditions.

Abstract: A method and system for site path evaluation using web session clustering is provided. The method identifies properties of a plurality of web site traversal paths. Data is acquired from a plurality of sessions corresponding to at least a portion of the plurality of web page traversal paths. Portions of the web site traversal paths are grouped into a unified web page category. The plurality of sessions is clustered into a plurality of web session clusters according to a similarity measure. One of the plurality of web session clusters most closely exhibiting at least one predefined metric is selected for analysis of the propertied of a web page traversal path contained therein. A system includes a plurality of web pages, a monitoring program and a computational process configured to receive data and identify properties of the plurality of traversal paths.

Abstract: An image processing system includes an image analysis module and an error detection module. The image analysis module is configured to analyze a digital image and to locate a plurality of head points of a subject in the digital image. The image analysis module is configured to detect a high hair condition of a subject, and to compute an adjusted top of head point if a high hair condition is present. The error detection module is configured to evaluate the head points identified by the image analysis module by performing a geometry test to evaluate a geometry of the head points.

Abstract: An electrochemical fuel cell having an anode, an ion transfer membrane and a cathode has liquid water delivered to the fluid flow channels within the cathode so as to maintain a relative humidity of 100% throughout the fluid flow channels. A calibration method and apparatus is described for determining an optimum quantity or range of quantities of liquid water to be delivered to the cathode fluid flow channels under varying operating conditions. An operating method and apparatus is described that ensures an optimum quantity of liquid water is delivered to the cathode fluid flow channels under varying operating conditions.

Abstract: A fuel cell comprising a membrane-electrode assembly having an anode electrode face; an anode plate adjacent said membrane-electrode assembly electrode face and coupled thereto by a sealing gasket. The sealing gasket, electrode face and anode plate together define a fluid containment volume for delivery of anode fluid to the electrode face. A sheet of porous diffuser material is situated in the fluid containment volume and having at least one plenum defined between at least one lateral edge of the sheet of diffuser material and the sealing gasket. Fluid for delivery to an active surface of the membrane-electrode assembly may be delivered by the plenum and by diffusion through the diffuser material to such an extent that fluid flow channels in the anode plate are not required.

Abstract: An electrochemical fuel cell having an anode, an ion transfer membrane and a cathode has liquid water delivered to the fluid flow channels within the cathode so as to maintain a relative humidity of 100% throughout the fluid flow channels. A calibration method and apparatus is described for determining an optimum quantity or range of quantities of liquid water to be delivered to the cathode fluid flow channels under varying operating conditions. An operating method and apparatus is described that ensures an optimum quantity of liquid water is delivered to the cathode fluid flow channels under varying operating conditions.

Abstract: One or more operating parameters, such as electrical current flow from and air flow to, a fuel cell stack within a fuel cell assembly is periodically modulated during rehydration intervals to intermittently increase hydration levels of the fuel cell stack independently of the electrical current demand on the fuel cell assembly from an external load, while maintaining electrical current delivery to that external load.

Abstract: An electrochemical fuel cell includes a membrane-electrode assembly (MEA) having a cathode face and an anode face. The MEA is between a cathode fluid flow field plate and an anode fluid flow field plate. A diffusion structure is between the MEA and a corresponding fluid flow field plate, which is either the cathode fluid flow field plate or the anode fluid flow field plate. The diffusion structure has a first face in contact with, or adjacent to, the MEA and a second face in contact with, or adjacent to, the corresponding fluid flow field plate. The diffusion structure includes a first layer having a first level of hydrophobicity and a second layer that is hydrophilic. The second layer is adjacent to the corresponding fluid flow field plate, and includes a hydrophilic binder material.

Abstract: The invention provides a filter element of a smoking article having a longitudinal axis and adapted for filtration of mainstream smoke generated by the smoking article, the filter element including a first region extending along the longitudinal axis of the filter element and exhibiting a first pressure drop and a second region extending along the longitudinal axis of the filter element and exhibiting a second pressure drop lower than said first pressure drop, wherein the first and second regions are arranged in a side-by-side configuration such that both regions are visible in a cross-section of the filter element perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, and wherein mainstream smoke can move from the second region into the first region, and further comprising a smoke-altering material, such as an oxidation catalyst, positioned in the first region.

Abstract: Cigarettes are manufactured using modified automated cigarette making apparatus. Those cigarettes possess smokable rods having wrapping paper having additive materials applied thereto as patterns. The additive materials, which can include a starch and/or a polymer, are applied to a continuous paper web either online or offline the cigarette making apparatus. The formulation can be applied to the paper web using application apparatus possessing a series of rollers. In particular, a wrapping paper for a smokable rod can include a pattern of bands having a water-insoluble material comprising a starch ester, a starch-coated inorganic filler, and/or a thermoplastic polymer in an amount such that the material is sufficiently deformable so as to (a) reduce an amount of pressure to apply the bands, (b) decrease paper diffusivity, and (c) maintain paper opacity at a level acceptable for commercial production of the smokable rods.

Abstract: One or more operating parameters, such as electrical current flow from and air flow to, a fuel cell stack within a fuel cell assembly is periodically modulated during rehydration intervals to intermittently increase hydration levels of the fuel cell stack independently of the electrical current demand on the fuel cell assembly from an external load, while maintaining electrical current delivery to that external load.

Abstract: A smoking article including a smokable rod manufactured using a paper wrapping material having an additive material applied thereto as a pattern. The additive material is applied as aqueous coating formulation incorporating both an alginate and hydroxypropylcellulose.

Abstract: A method for attaching a surface mountable unit to a ground surface, said method comprising (i) fixing a foundation frame, an upper portion of which is attachable to said surface mountable unit to the ground surface, and (ii) attaching the surface mountable unit to the upper portion of the foundation frame. Systems comprising combinations of foundation frames and surface mountable units and elements for use therein are also described and claimed.