Abstract: To increase air flow, an air intake/outtake (i.e., intake, outtake, or both) is positioned on a front surface of a housing, such as a rack-mounted computer network switch housing. The front surface includes jacks, controls, plugs, receptacles or other input/output for connection with the processor in the housing. The air intake/outtake is one or more openings on the front surface with the input/output components. In one embodiment, to avoid interference with the input/output components and increasing the height of the housing, the air intake/outtake is a slot extending most of or all of the distance between the sides of the housing and being above or below the input/output. An intermediate plate may be used to form and support the air intake/outtake.

Abstract: Apparatus, and an associated method, for determining whether to accept as valid a data segment, such as a radio block communicated pursuant to an EDGE communication session. A bit error rate measurer measures the bit error rate of a header part of a received radio block. The measured bit error rate is compared against a selected threshold. Results of the comparison are determinative of whether the radio block is accepted as valid or rejected as corrupted.

Abstract: A wireless communications device having a fast-receive mode for measuring received signal strength indication (RSSI) enables the device to handle higher time division multiple access (TDMA) multislot classes without requiring that the device include either a second receiver or a receiver with a more advanced and expensive phase-locked loop (PLL) design. The time to complete an RSSI measurement is reduced by initiating the sampling of signal strength before the radio transceiver is fully stabilized in the downlink mode. By initiating sampling before PLL stabilization is complete, the overall time to complete an RSSI measurement is reduced sufficiently to enable scheduling of an RSSI measurement in each GSM frame.

Abstract: Digestible compositions of inulin for managing blood glucose levels in a patient are disclosed. The compositions can include an inulin, a sucrose and an amylase, wherein the inulin is configured to lower blood glucose in the patient and wherein the sucrose is presented in sufficient amount to at least partially counteract the blood glucose lowering effect of the inulin. Several embodiments disclosed in the present application include a vegetable mixture comprising burdock root, carrots and daikon radish and additional constituents such as dimethyl sulfoxide, lentinan and D-eritadenine. Additionally, methods of preparing a digestible composition of inulin are also disclosed.

Abstract: Apparatus, and an associated method, for determining whether to accept as valid a data segment, such as a radio block communicated pursuant to an EDGE communication session. A bit error rate measurer measures the bit error rate of a header part of a received radio block. The measured bit error rate is compared against a selected threshold. Results of the comparison are determinative of whether the radio block is accepted as valid or rejected as corrupted.

Abstract: A portable footrest includes a foot supporting surface, a vertical support and a saddle configured to engage a spa footrest. The saddle features a pair of gripping members configured to form a concave gripping structure adapted to grip a spa footrest.

Abstract: Afoot sanding disc includes a hub; a concentric abrasive disc having a diameter smaller than the hub diameter. A shaft concentrically attached to the bottom surface of the hub has a free end and a central cavity of a determined shape extending from the free end to a determined depth into the shaft. The shaft is shaped, sized and configured to matingly receive within the cavity a portion of a mandrel attached to an output shaft of a motorized rotary tool, thereby operably coupling the disc to an output shaft of the motarized rotary tool. A circular recess concentrically formed in a top surface of the hub receives the abrasive disc. The abrasive disc is devoid of a central aperture. The hub may include a thermochromic material in a concentration effective to cause a change in color when the hub reaches a predetermined temperature. The hub may also be rigid or flexible.