Abstract: A real time stereo fundus viewer is disclosed which uses IR illumination introduced either corneally or through the sclera, arranged for frontal or rear illumination of the posterior regions of the eye and displayed using two miniature false colour displays; with the option of OCT.

Abstract: An automated system, method or computer program product for providing emergency communications can include an emergency communications application and a MyFlare emergency communications server. The MyFlare emergency communications application can run on a mobile device and can be configured to, when activated, interface with the MyFlare emergency communications server to send preconfigured emergency messages to a preconfigured set of emergency contacts. Different emergency profiles can be preconfigured for which different emergency messages can be sent. Additionally, a different set of emergency contacts can be assigned for different emergency profiles. The emergency communications application can be configured to capture additional information, such as but not limited to GPS location of the device, photo, video, or sound recording, in preconfigured time intervals.

Abstract: Disclosed is a sandwich cooking accessory having a plurality of pockets in which may be assembled a sandwich or into which may be placed a raw (not yet cooked) sandwich. The accessory also includes a panel engagable to the pockets to contain the assembled sandwiches during handling and cooking. The panel cooperates with the pockets to slightly, but not excessively, compress the sandwiches. The pockets and panel are perforated to enable heat to the sandwiches during cooking. The panel include a plurality of shield to protect certain portions of the sandwiches from excessive toasting during cooking.

Abstract: Disclosed are accessories for use on the cooking grate of a barbeque grill or such, which are adapted to enable the effective grilling of such food items as fish, pizza, small items, and delicate items, alone of in combination, and which overcome drawbacks of grilling such food items while allowing the food items to receive the flavor benefits of grilling.

Abstract: A cleaning utensil is disclosed having a housing comprised of a cleaning portion and a handle portion. The housing has a reservoir and a pump. The reservoir is adapted to contain a fluid. The cleaning portion has a scrubbing surface and an orifice, and the handle portion has an actuator. The pump communicates with the reservoir, the orifice, and the actuator; whereby actuation of the actuator causes the fluid to be drawn from the reservoir and exhausted from the orifice by the pump. The orifice is arranged and adapted to cause the fluid to be exhausted forwardly from the cleaning portion. A bristled scrubbing element is removably affixable to the cleaning portion and has a scrubbing surface extending up first and second opposite side surfaces of the cleaning portion and across a bottom surface of the cleaning portion from the first side to the second side.

Abstract: A sealant having a specific gravity in the range of from about 0.7 to about 1.6 for heavy oil and/or coal bed methane fields is disclosed. The sealant has a binder including an oxide or hydroxide of Al or of Fe and a phosphoric acid solution. The binder may have MgO or an oxide of Fe and/or an acid phosphate. The binder is present from about 20 to about 50% by weight of the sealant with a lightweight additive present in the range of from about 1 to about 10% by weight of said sealant, a filler, and water sufficient to provide chemically bound water present in the range of from about 9 to about 36% by weight of the sealant when set. A porous ceramic is also disclosed.

Abstract: A process for recovering and purifying refolded heparin binding proteins produced in heterologous host cells includes the step of incubation of the solubilized protein with a polyanionic species such as dextran sulfate.

Abstract: A sealant having a specific gravity in the range of from about 0.7 to about 1.6 for heavy oil and/or coal bed methane fields is disclosed. The sealant has a binder including an oxide or hydroxide of Al or of Fe and a phosphoric acid solution. The binder may have MgO or an oxide of Fe and/or an acid phosphate. The binder is present from about 20 to about 50% by weight of the sealant with a lightweight additive present in the range of from about 1 to about 10% by weight of said sealant, a filler, and water sufficient to provide chemically bound water present in the range of from about 9 to about 36% by weight of the sealant when set. A porous ceramic is also disclosed.

Abstract: A hand-held colorimetric device (101) suitable for use by blind or colour-blind individuals to determine the colour of a surface-under-test (SUT), for example of a fabric, has an aperture (110) which, in use, is covered by the SUT (113) whose colour is to be determined. Six LEDs (115A, 115B, 116B, 117A and 117B) arranged in pairs (115A/115B, 116A/116 B, 117a/117B) emitting red/orange, green, and blue light illuminate the SUT and diffuse reflections therefrom containing red/orange, green, and blue spectrum sample values are used to determine the luminous reflectivity and chromaticity values for the colour of the SUT. The measured values are compared with colorimetric values of reference surfaces to determine the colour of the SUT. The colorimetric device may output the name of the colour aurally.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling the operation of a garage door opener is disclosed wherein a micro-controller de-energizes a garage door drive motor for a first period when a stop command is received while the garage door drive motor is energized and the garage door is travelling in a first direction. The micro-controller then energizes the drive motor to move the garage door in the opposite direction from the first direction for a second period. The micro-controller then de-energizes the drive motor, placing the door in a static state.

Abstract: The system provides an automated, centralized back-end payroll service with a full-featured web-based payroll system. Both aspects of the system have access to a central database, including: profile information on employers and employees; timesheet, salary and hourly wage data; overtime data; employee benefit data; and information regarding third-party providers and miscellaneous payees.

Abstract: The system provides an automated, centralized back-end payroll service with a full-featured web-based payroll system. Both aspects of the system have access to a central database, which includes, for example: profile information on employers and employees; timesheet, salary and hourly wage data; overtime data; employee benefit data; and information regarding third-party providers and miscellaneous payees. The full-featured payroll system functionality is implemented in a manner that provides employers and employees (to the extent security policies permit) with a robust, data-driven user interface via a standard web browser. The central database provides the system's back-end (server-side) payroll service functionality with constant access to the data.

Abstract: A process is described for purifying plasmid DNA from prokaryotic cells comprised thereof. This process comprises the steps of: (a) digesting the cells; (b) incubating the cells for about 4 to 24 hours to effect lysis and solubilization thereof, without effecting enzymatic digestion of RNA; (c) removing lysate contaminants from the cells to provide a plasmid DNA solution; (d) filtering the solution through a tangential flow filtration device to obtain a retentate containing the plasmid DNA; and (e) collecting the retentate.

Abstract: The optical receiver includes a photodiode, a preamplifier and a length of transmission line. The photodiode may be connected to the preamplifier, either via the transmission line, or directly between the preamplifier and the transmission line, that is, the transmission line is connected as an open circuit. The transmission line 14 may comprise a coaxial cable, stripline, or any other suitable form of transmission line. The input impedance of the preamplifier should be designed to match the characteristic impedance of the transmission line. The noise of the preamplifier associated with the transmission line has a periodic spectrum dependent upon the length of the line with peaks at odd multiples of f' and minima at even multiples of f'. The value of f' is related to the length of the transmission line in accordance with: f'=v/4L where v is the propagation velocity, typically 2/3 the speed of light, and L is the length of the transmission line.

Abstract: Electrical contact device such as a terminal or a contact surface, has electrodeposited nickel thereon. The crystallites of the nickel are preferentially oriented with at least 50 percent of the volume {100} atomic planes substantially parallel to the contact surface. For many purposes, the preferentially oriented nickel surface is comparable to a gold plated contact surface.

Abstract: An optical communications system comprises a pluarality of optical transmitters coupled by a common channel or bus to an optical receiver. The optical transmitters are operated using time division multiplexing (TDM), each TDM period being word or message length. The optical transmitters each comprise a least one current source to drive the light source, for example a laser, in response to the data signal, to vary its output power about a steady level which is the average of the maximum and minimum values. Therefore each current source may be controlled as to increase its output gradually (preferably sinusoidally) to reach the aforesaid mean level at the beginning of a TDM period and to decrease it in the converse way after the period ends. Such an arrangement avoids the need for guard time before and after the TDM time period, thereby increasing channel efficiency, and improves receiver sensitivity by reducing quantum shot noise due to steady light from inactive transmitters.

Abstract: A microphone arrangement, suitable for a telephone handset, comprises an array of microphone transducers, conveniently pressure transducers arranged at the vertices of a cube. Signal processing circuitry derives from the transducer outputs signals representing the magnitude and direction of the pressure gradient of the sound field at the array. In response to these signals, the microphone transducer outputs are weighted so as to direct the directional sensitivity lobe of the microphone towards the source of the maximum sound detected thereby.

Abstract: A crossover arrangement for optical conductors, each in the form of a rod of light-transmissive material, includes a multifaceted, e.g. polyhedral member having pairs of mutually parallel opposed facets. Each pair of facets extend in a direction transverse, preferably perpendicular, to that in which a second pair of facets extend. The end face of each optical conductor is abutted against one of the facets of the polyhedron. Each facet has a coating of a material having a lower refractive index than that of the polyhedron or the optical conductors. Light entering the polyhedron from one conductor passes across the polyhedron and into the opposite conductor, being constrained to stay within the polyhedron by the coatings on the side facets. Preferably the polyhedron member is a cube and the optical conductors are of square cross-sectional shape.

Abstract: A mounting arrangement for mounting an optical conductor on a "photonic" backplane provides for simple, accurate positioning during installation and easy access to, and removal of, the optical conductor when in service. The optical conductor constitutes a "busbar" in that it has a series of reflector surfaces spaced along its length to permit distribution or aggregation of several light signals. In one embodiment, an individual support is provided at each reflector/circuit card location. Each support is a seating member which houses a lens to couple light between the optical conductor and the circuit card. In another, preferred, embodiment the optical conductor is housed in a channel in a guide rail mounted upon the backplane. Separate cover members are releasably mounted upon the guide rail adjacent each circuit card. Each cover member has an aperture and lens to couple light between the reflector and the circuit card.

Abstract: An eye-position sensor for use in an eye-activated optical transducer in which a spatial filter is used to modify light reflected from the eye to form a substantially rectangular pattern on a quadrantal array of contiguous sensors. This arrangement provides a substantially linear change in the output signal from the sensors in response to an equivalent movement of the eye.