Abstract: An optical fiber including a multimode core having a radius, R1, and a maximum relative refractive index, ?1MAX, at a wavelength ?0, an inner clad layer surrounding the core and having a radial thickness, T2, and a minimum relative refractive index, ?2MIN, of about 0.0% at a wavelength of ?0, an intermediate clad layer surrounding the inner clad layer and having a radial thickness, T3, and a maximum relative refractive index ?3MAX and an outer clad layer surrounding the inner clad layer and having a radial thickness, T4, and a maximum relative refractive index, ?4MIN, at a wavelength of ?0. The optical fiber satisfies the following relationship: ?1MAX>?3MAX>?2MIN, and the optical fiber exhibits an overfilled bandwidth of greater than or equal to about 1.5 GHz-km at ?0.

Abstract: An optical fiber including a multimode core having a radius, R1, and a maximum relative refractive index, ?1MAX, at a wavelength ?0, an inner clad layer surrounding the core and having a radial thickness, T2, and a minimum relative refractive index, ?2MIN, of about 0.0% at a wavelength of ?0, an intermediate clad layer surrounding the inner clad layer and having a radial thickness, T3, and a maximum relative refractive index ?3MAX and an outer clad layer surrounding the inner clad layer and having a radial thickness, T4, and a maximum relative refractive index, ?4MIN, at a wavelength of ?0. The optical fiber satisfies the following relationship: ?1MAX>?3MAX>?2MIN, and the optical fiber exhibits an overfilled bandwidth of greater than or equal to about 1.5 GHz-km at ?0.

Abstract: A collapsible container for hauling certain bulk materials in freight vehicles. The container includes a generally flexible barrier that defines a collapsible cavity in which bulk materials may be controlled during transportation. The flexible barrier includes at least one port for passing material into and out of the cavity, as well as a cover for closing the port. To assist in the loading and unloading, the container includes a lifting member for engagement with a crane, a strap attached to the lifting member and the barrier, and a ring attached to the lower portion of the barrier. The strap provides support to the barrier as it is lifted and suspended during loading and unloading from a freight vehicle. The ring is provided to hold the container in place as it is inverted to discharge the materials from the cavity.

Abstract: The present invention provides a nestable intermodal container for hauling materials. In one embodiment, this container includes a bottom wall; a plurality of sidewalls sloped generally outwardly from the bottom wall, the sidewalls and bottom wall defining an interior of the container, and the sidewalls having an upper perimeter defining an opening that is larger that the bottom wall; lifting members attached to at least two opposing sidewalls, each of the lifting members being adapted to engage a crane and a vertical wall of a rail car. The bottom wall, sidewalls and lifting members are desirably configured so that the container may be substantially received in another substantially similar container. In a method of the invention, a number of such containers can be used. These containers are filled at a collection site, transported to a processing site located remotely from the collection site for at least a distance on the back haul leg of a rail route and emptied at the processing site.