Abstract: Devices, methods, and systems for treating an ulcer or skin defect are disclosed. First and second base panels of a closure device are adhered to first and second sides of the ulcer or skin defect, respectively. Lateral ties couple the first and second base panels together and provide a predetermined separation distance or lateral gap between the inner edges of the panel. The predetermined separation distance or lateral gap is sufficient to treat the most common sized ulcers or skin defects, for example, accommodating an ulcer or skin defect with a minor axis of at most 50 mm. The lateral ties have their ends fixed to one panel and their opposite ends adjustably and reversibly attached to the other panel so that the separation distance can be reduced or adjusted to provide a lateral compressive force to the ulcer or skin defect, thereby promoting healing.

Abstract: A system, device and method for nail care is provided. The nail care system includes a shaping system, a polish removal system and/or a cuticle management system; a vision system; a nail polish application system; and a mobility system. The nail system may further include an accelerated drying system, a hand massage system, a nail identification/diagnosis/estimation of conditions system, an enclosure, a hand/foot rest system, a computer software system, a computer hardware system, a cartridge/pod system, and a multi-tool system. Related apparatuses, techniques and articles are also described.

Abstract: A printed circuit board (PCB) module may include a PCB with at least one internal PCB element and at least one external PCB element, a shielding layer fabricated from a tunable metamaterial absorber, and a structure housing the PCB. The at least one internal PCB element may be embedded between adjacent layers of the PCB. The at least one external PCB element may be coupled to an exterior surface of the PCB. The shielding layer may be tuned in response to the at least one measurement of the EMI emission and a determination of a frequency of the EMI emission from the at least one measurement. The tuning of the shielding layer may include adjusting a plurality of fins within a plurality of elements of the metamaterial absorber to absorb at least a portion of the EMI emission.

Abstract: A printed circuit board (PCB) module may include a PCB with at least one internal PCB element and at least one external PCB element, a shielding layer fabricated from a tunable metamaterial absorber, and a structure housing the PCB. The at least one internal PCB element may be embedded between adjacent layers of the PCB. The at least one external PCB element may be coupled to an exterior surface of the PCB. The shielding layer may be tuned in response to the at least one measurement of the EMI emission and a determination of a frequency of the EMI emission from the at least one measurement. The tuning of the shielding layer may include adjusting a plurality of fins within a plurality of elements of the metamaterial absorber to absorb at least a portion of the EMI emission.

Abstract: A method implemented in a time-bounded resource management system for managing a resource is described. The time-bounded resource management system includes a processor communicatively coupled to a database. The method includes storing each resource consumption event of the resource as a balanced pair of entries in the database, wherein the balanced pair of entries comprise 1) a first entry comprising a start time for the resource consumption event and a positive resource consumption amount and 2) a second entry comprising an end time for the resource consumption event and a negative resource consumption amount with the same magnitude as the positive resource consumption amount; receiving a query related to the resource; performing computations on entries in the database related to the query; and providing a result based on the computations as a response to the query.

Abstract: A system for identifying variations at a weld location and accommodating for the variations. The system includes two sensors positioned on each side of a welding location, with a welding device at the welding location. The sensors each emit a signal toward the welding location and receive feedback from the signal that indicates the shape and size of the welding surfaces at the welding location. The sensor information, along with the exact locations and orientations of the sensors, is utilized to determine whether one or more welding parameters should be adjusted.

Abstract: An Ethernet packet switch configured to manage one or more packet tunnels includes one or more ports; forwarding circuitry communicatively coupled to the one or more ports; and processing circuitry communicatively coupled to the forwarding circuitry, wherein the one or more packet tunnels are configured over the one or more ports, wherein each of the one or more packet tunnels has an associated maintenance endpoint (MEP), and wherein the processing circuitry is configured to manage the one or more packet tunnels based on performance characteristics determined through one or more of the associated MEP, intermediate switches, and a Network Management System.

Abstract: A welding system includes welding equipment for generating a welding current and voltage, a welding control system for controlling the welding current and voltage, a monitoring system for monitoring a welding parameter, and a welding helmet. The welding helmet includes a main body, a retinal tracking system configured to identify a field of view of a user by tracking movement of the user's eyes, and a visual display system configured to generate a visual image of the welding parameter and further configured to position the visual image within the field of view of the user identified by the retinal tracking system. The retinal tracking system is further configured to receive a welding parameter input from the user based on tracking movement of the user's eyes, and to communicate the welding parameter input to the welding control system to control at least one of the welding current and voltage.

Abstract: A welding system and method is disclosed for girth welding high strength materials using a short arc welding process and a self-shielding electrode. The welding system contains a welding apparatus which advances the self-shielding electrode towards a workpiece to be welded and controls the arc length and the operation of the apparatus so that the weld satisfies the requirements for welding at least American Petroleum Institute Grade X-80 line pipe. The system additionally contains a power source with a controller for creating a current pulse introducing energy into the electrode to melt the end of the self-shielding electrode and a low current quiescent metal transfer section following the end of the melting pulse during which the melted electrode short circuits against the workpiece.

Abstract: A method implemented in a time-bounded resource management system for managing a resource is described. The time-bounded resource management system includes a processor communicatively coupled to a database. The method includes storing each resource consumption event of the resource as a balanced pair of entries in the database, wherein the balanced pair of entries comprise 1) a first entry comprising a start time for the resource consumption event and a positive resource consumption amount and 2) a second entry comprising an end time for the resource consumption event and a negative resource consumption amount with the same magnitude as the positive resource consumption amount; receiving a query related to the resource; performing computations on entries in the database related to the query; and providing a result based on the computations as a response to the query.

Abstract: An Ethernet packet switch configured to manage one or more packet tunnels includes one or more ports; forwarding circuitry communicatively coupled to the one or more ports; and processing circuitry communicatively coupled to the forwarding circuitry, wherein the one or more packet tunnels are configured over the one or more ports, wherein each of the one or more packet tunnels has an associated maintenance endpoint (MEP), and wherein the processing circuitry is configured to manage the one or more packet tunnels based on performance characteristics determined through one or more of the associated MEP, intermediate switches, and a Network Management System.

Abstract: Network operating methods provide a first packet switch coupled to a second packet switch via a primary packet tunnel having an active status and one or more inactive backup packet tunnels having an inactive status. The methods access data describing at least one performance characteristic of the primary packet tunnel and, based at least on the data, deactivate the primary packet tunnel while still operational and activate one of the backup packet tunnels. Network operating methods provide a first device coupled to a second device via an active primary packet tunnel and one or more inactive backup packet tunnels, access data describing performance characteristics of the one or more backup packet tunnels, and, based at least on the data, deactivate the primary packet tunnel and activate one of the backup packet tunnels.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods of cultivating or isolating a microorganism using one or more quinones as growth factors. Also disclosed are methods of treating a mammalian species with deficiency in symbionts using such compounds.

Abstract: Network planning/provisioning systems and methods with a Generic Multi-Layer Provisioning (GMLP) service management layer that is configured to operate on any of deployed network elements and spoofed network elements to provide abstract service modeling thereon. The GMLP layer may include a spoofing engine configured to simulate network elements and provisioning functions associated therewith. The associated abstraction of the GMLP layer enables layer 0-4 topologies and services to be modeled, planned, and provisioned.

Abstract: Network planning/provisioning systems and methods with a Generic Multi-Layer Provisioning (GMLP) service management layer that is configured to operate on any of deployed network elements and spoofed network elements to provide abstract service modeling thereon. The GMLP layer may include a spoofing engine configured to simulate network elements and provisioning functions associated therewith. The associated abstraction of the GMLP layer enables layer 0-4 topologies and services to be modeled, planned, and provisioned.

Abstract: Network operating methods provide a first packet switch coupled to a second packet switch via a primary packet tunnel having an active status and one or more inactive backup packet tunnels having an inactive status. The methods access data describing at least one performance characteristic of the primary packet tunnel and, based at least on the data, deactivate the primary packet tunnel while still operational and activate one of the backup packet tunnels. Network operating methods provide a first device coupled to a second device via an active primary packet tunnel and one or more inactive backup packet tunnels, access data describing performance characteristics of the one or more backup packet tunnels, and, based at least on the data, deactivate the primary packet tunnel and activate one of the backup packet tunnels.

Abstract: If a selected packet switch connected to a neighboring packet switch makes first information identifying the neighboring packet switch available, element managers and processes retrieve the first information from the selected packet switch. The first information is derived by the selected packet switch from communication via a first protocol between the selected packet switch and the neighboring packet switch. If the first information is not available to the element manager and if the selected packet switch makes second information identifying the neighboring packet switch available to the element manager, the element managers and processes retrieve the second information from the selected packet switch. The second information is derived from communication via a second protocol between the selected packet switch and the neighboring packet switch and the first and second protocols are different protocols.

Abstract: Network operating methods provide a first packet switch coupled to a second packet switch via a primary packet tunnel having an active status and one or more inactive backup packet tunnels having an inactive status. The methods access data describing at least one performance characteristic of the primary packet tunnel and, based at least on the data, deactivate the primary packet tunnel while still operational and activate one of the backup packet tunnels. Network operating methods provide a first device coupled to a second device via an active primary packet tunnel and one or more inactive backup packet tunnels, access data describing performance characteristics of the one or more backup packet tunnels, and, based at least on the data, deactivate the primary packet tunnel and activate one of the backup packet tunnels.

Abstract: If a selected packet switch connected to a neighboring packet switch makes first information identifying the neighboring packet switch available, element managers and processes retrieve the first information from the selected packet switch. The first information is derived by the selected packet switch from communication via a first protocol between the selected packet switch and the neighboring packet switch. If the first information is not available to the element manager and if the selected packet switch makes second information identifying the neighboring packet switch available to the element manager, the element managers and processes retrieve the second information from the selected packet switch. The second information is derived from communication via a second protocol between the selected packet switch and the neighboring packet switch and the first and second protocols are different protocols.

Abstract: A welding system and method is disclosed for girth welding high strength materials, including liquefied natural gas storage tanks, using a short arc welding process and a self-shielding electrode. The welding system contains a welding apparatus which advances the self-shielding electrode towards a workpiece to be welded and controls the arc length and the operation of the apparatus so that the weld satisfies the requirements for welding at least American Petroleum Institute Grade X-80 line pipe, or can weld liquefied natural gas storage tanks. The system additionally contains a power source with a controller for creating a current pulse introducing energy into the electrode to melt the end of the self-shielding electrode and a low current quiescent metal transfer section following the end of the melting pulse during which the melted electrode short circuits against the workpiece.