Abstract: A system for forming a fluid connection includes a first connector (12) and a second connector (14). Both connectors include a tubular body (18,18?) having a membrane (19,19?) mounted on a distal end (27) thereof. A support member (16) or other fastener (214,220) facilitates the coupling of the connectors together so that the membranes are abutted together. Radiant or other form of energy is applied to the abutted membranes so as to sterilize the membranes and melt the membranes so that a passage is formed therethrough.

Abstract: The connection, assembly, or fill of two or more pre-sterilized components having at least one terminal end each for attachment to another component, and an apparatus for performing such a connection, while maintaining the sterility of the components is disclosed. The resulting connection is made permanent by bonding the contacting components together using either a solvent bonding technique, a radio frequency sealer, a heat sealer, or any other suitable process. The connection is preferably made within an active sterile field. Using a low-voltage electron beam instrument, such as the MIN-EB™, a suitable sterile field sphere can be created. The terminal ends of the multiple components remain within the sterile field sphere until the possibility of contamination within the sealed components is significantly reduced to industry acceptable standards.

Abstract: A system and method for topology constrained routing policy provisioning between a plurality of sites in a Virtual Private Network (VPN) is disclosed. The method comprises enabling graphically defining of relationships between the plurality of sites of the VPN; and automatically generating at least one routing rule for each site of the VPN based at least in part on the defined relationship.

Abstract: A system for forming a fluid connection includes a first connector and a second connector. Both connectors include a tubular body having a membrane mounted on a distal end thereof. A support member facilitates the coupling of the connectors together so that the membranes are abutted together. Radiant energy is applied to the abutted membranes so as to first sterilize the membranes and then melt the membranes so that a passage is formed therethrough.

Abstract: The connection, assembly, or fill of two or more pre-sterilized components having at least one terminal end each for attachment to another component, and an apparatus for performing such a connection, while maintaining the sterility of the components is disclosed. The resulting connection is made permanent by bonding the contacting components together using either a solvent bonding technique, a radio frequency sealer, a heat sealer, or any other suitable process. The connection is preferably made within an active sterile field. Using a low-voltage electron beam instrument, such as the MIN-EB™, a suitable sterile field sphere can be created. The terminal ends of the multiple components remain within the sterile field sphere until the possibility of contamination within the sealed components is significantly reduced to industry acceptable standards.

Abstract: A method for allocating and resizing a link on a communication medium is provided. The utilization of an allocated link is monitored and an unused bandwidth thereof is determined. Upon request for allocation of a second link, at least a portion of the unused bandwidth is included in the bandwidth of the second link allocated. A network including two nodes and a communication medium terminated thereby is operable to provide a plurality of communication links and is operable to resize the bandwidth of the allocated links is provided. The network is operable to monitor the utilization of an allocated bandwidth of an allocated link and deallocate a part of the allocated bandwidth that is non-utilized by the allocated link. The deallocated bandwidth, or a portion thereof, may then be included in a bandwidth allocation made for allocation of an additional link.

Abstract: A feed bag includes a body bounding a compartment, the compartment being adapted to hold a feed material. The body has a first end with an outlet formed thereat and an opposing second end. A vent port is formed on the body so as to communicate with the compartment. In one embodiment a filter is coupled with the vent port. A fluid port is formed on the body so as to communicate with the compartment. The fluid port is adapted to receive a fluid line for delivering a fluid into the compartment of the body.

Abstract: A windshield wiper arm assembly for wiping a windshield of a motor vehicle can include a wiper linkage head having a bore formed therein for being connected to a rotatable wiper drive shaft. A wiper arm can be coupled to the wiper linkage head through a pivot pin allowing pivoting movement of the wiper arm with respect to the wiper linkage head between a stable windshield engaged position and a stable windshield disengage position. A beam compression spring can bias the wiper arm with respect to the wiper linkage head between the stable windshield engaged position and the stable windshield disengage position. A process for fabricating a beam compression spring for a windshield wiper arm can include the steps of cross-weaving an elongate tri-axial glass fiber sock, bathing the elongate glass woven sock in a thermoset resin, and curing the bathed cross-woven sock in a heated pultrusion die to form a pultruded elongate strip.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for sealing a peripheral attachment member onto a sealed pouch that has been previously filled with a product. The invention also relates to a pouch that includes a peripheral attachment member sealingly attached to at least one of its faces. The method includes a step of providing a multi-layer pouch that is configured so as to provide an inner sealant adapted to form a closed enclosure along sealing lines and an outer sealant that forms at least one external face of the pouch wherein the outer sealant has a melting point that is lower than the melting point of the inner sealant.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for sealing a peripheral attachment member onto a sealed pouch that has been previously filled with a product. The invention also relates to a pouch that includes a peripheral attachment member sealingly attached to at least one of its faces. The method includes a step of providing a multi-layer pouch that is configured so as to provide an inner sealant adapted to form a closed enclosure along sealing lines and an outer sealant that forms at least one external face of the pouch wherein the outer sealant has a melting point that is lower than the melting point of the inner sealant.

Abstract: A self-set yarn made from bicomponent fibers forms helical crimps that lock in twist and form bulk.

Abstract: A mixing tank assembly includes a side wall having an interior surface at least partially bounding a chamber. A floor is disposed within or at the base of the chamber. The floor can be either fixed to the side wall or movably disposed within the chamber thereof. A collapsible container is disposed within the chamber so as to rest on the floor. The collapsible container bounds a compartment. A mixer is disposed within the compartment of the container.

Abstract: A mixing system includes a flexible mixing bag having an interior surface bounding a compartment, the compartment being adapted to hold a liquid solution. A mixer is disposed within the compartment of the mixing bag. A shaft has a first end and an opposing second end. The first end of the shaft is connected to the mixer within the compartment of the mixing bag. The second end of the shaft is disposed outside of the compartment. A seal is formed between the mixing bag and the shaft or the mixer to enable the shaft to raise and lower the mixer within the compartment of the mixing bag while preventing leaking of the liquid solution.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for processing messages for access to information stored in an open directory. A Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) LDAP Validation Proxy (LVP) is used to intercept LDAP request messages intended for the directory, validates the LDAP requests according to a schema description and optionally provides side-effects. The schema validation and LDAP message processing is modularized according to object classes representing the data stored in the directory and according to services provided. The schema is enforced by validating LDAP messages. This modularization provides a controlled message processing granularity and enables multi-threaded concurrent processing of multiple LDAP messages. The LVP has the capability of generating LDAP requests in processing LDAP messages. The LVP also intercepts and processes LDAP responses issued by a directory and intended for clients.

Abstract: A method for forming a sterile fluid connection includes inserting a dispensing end of a fill tube into a cavity of a sterilizer. A sterilizing field is generated within the cavity of the sterilizer. A cap mounted on the end of the fill tube is removed from the fill tube while in the cavity. A fill port is disposed within the cavity. The fill tube is fluid coupled with the fill port in the cavity of the sterilizer while the dispensing end of the fill tube and the fill port are exposed to the sterilizing field. A fluid is passed from the fill tube to the fill port.

Abstract: A system and a method to implement a three sectored business model that facilitates the trading of bandwidth as a commodity. One sector includes resource entities that require or generate the resource or commodity to be traded—bandwidth. Another sector includes bandwidth enabling entities that neutrally provide a pool of bandwidth that can be obtained from a variety of resource entities in a competitive manner. The last sector includes trading companies that interface with resource entities, bandwidth enabling entities, or traders, and facilitate the trading of the bandwidth based on the availability of the bandwidth from one or more bandwidth enabling entities or resource entities. A core engine operates as the central controller and data exchange source for facilitating the execution of trades between and for all entities, provisioning of connections, monitoring of the network, sharing and feedback of data to relative subsystems, and provide data control abilities to subscribing entities.

Abstract: A feed bag includes a body bounding a compartment, the compartment being adapted to hold a feed material. The body has a first end with an outlet formed thereat and an opposing second end. A vent port is formed on the body so as to communicate with the compartment. In one embodiment a filter is coupled with the vent port. A fluid port is formed on the body so as to communicate with the compartment. The fluid port is adapted to receive a fluid line for delivering a fluid into the compartment of the body.

Abstract: Methods of bonding glass articles that are subsequently drawn into sheets, rods, fibers, etc. are disclosed. Bonding is achieved without use of adhesives or high temperature fusion. The invention is particularly useful for bonding optical fiber preforms prior to drawing of the optical fiber.

Abstract: The connection, assembly, or fill of two or more pre-sterilized components 10,12 having at least one terminal end 14 each for attachment to another component, and an apparatus for performing such a connection, while maintaining the sterility of the components is disclosed. The resulting connection is made permanent by bonding the contacting components 10,12 together using either a solvent bonding technique, a radio frequency sealer, a heat sealer, or any other suitable process. The connection is preferably made within an active sterile field 60. Using a low-voltage electron beam instrument 54, such as the MIN-EB™, a suitable sterile field sphere can be created. The terminal ends 14 of the multiple components 10,12 remain within the sterile field sphere 60 until the possibility of contamination within the sealed components is significantly reduced to industry acceptable standards.

Abstract: A method for allocating and resizing a link on a communication medium is provided. The utilization of an allocated link is monitored and an unused bandwidth thereof is determined. Upon request for allocation of a second link, at least a portion of the unused bandwidth is included in the bandwidth of the second link allocated. A network including two nodes and a communication medium terminated thereby is operable to provide a plurality of communication links and is operable to resize the bandwidth of the allocated links is provided. The network is operable to monitor the utilization of an allocated bandwidth of an allocated link and deallocate a part of the allocated bandwidth that is non-utilized by the allocated link. The deallocated bandwidth, or a portion thereof, may then be included in a bandwidth allocation made for allocation of an additional link.