Abstract: A patient interface system for delivery of respiratory therapy to a patient comprises: a nasal portion including a nasal chamber and a nasal sealing portion adapted to form a seal with the patients including an opening; an inlet conduit connected to the nasal portion to deliver the pressurized, breathable gas to the nasal chamber; and a nasal chamber coupling component adapted to form part of a releasable fluid coupling to enable the nasal portion to be fluidly coupled to a mouth portion to communicate a portion of the pressurized, breathable gas through the nasal chamber opening to the mouth portion.

Abstract: A wound dressing including at least one layer made of microbially produced cellulose formed into a biocellulose layer, wherein the wound dressing is configured to adsorb bacteria and wherein the thickness of the bio-cellulose layer is between 0.08 and 1.5 mm, as well as a method for producing such a wound dressing.

Abstract: A lower leg and foot cast including foam padding, a stockinette, cast padding, one or more layers of conformable cast tape, a foam pad having a foot bed and left and right malleolar pads, and a foot and ankle positioning device configured to be positioned over the foam pad, the device including an under foot portion and left and right vertically-extending side extensions configured to be positioned covering the left and right malleolar pads of the foam pad.

Abstract: Raman interference (also known as Raman scattering) during an idle frame transmission state in a passive optical network (PON) having radio frequency video overlay is reduced by generating and transmitting data packets having both random data and random length. Randomly varying both the packet data content and the packet length can achieve significant improvement in Raman interference reduction. The random packet data and length in effect spreads the interference across a spectrum wide enough that there is no interference effect perceptible to a television viewer.

Abstract: A lower leg and foot cast including foam padding, a stockinette, cast padding, one or more layers of conformable cast tape, a foam pad having a foot bed and left and right malleolar pads, and a foot and ankle positioning device configured to be positioned over the foam pad, the device including an under foot portion and left and right vertically-extending side extensions configured to be positioned covering the left and right malleolar pads of the foam pad.

Abstract: A method of constructing a total contact cast, that includes the steps of wrapping a lower leg with foam from above the malleoli to mid-calf, covering the foot and lower leg with stockinette; covering the foot and ankle with cast padding, and applying cast tape to the leg over the previously-applied foam and allowing the cast tape to harden. A foam pad and lateral and medial malleolar pads are applied to the leg section of the cast and a foot and ankle positioning device is applied to the leg, and cast tape is applied over the lower leg and foot and allowing the cast tape to harden. A walking support is applied to the foot. A foot and ankle positioner for a total contact cast is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of constructing a total contact cast, that includes the steps of wrapping a lower leg with foam from above the malleoli to mid-calf, covering the foot and lower leg with stockinette; covering the foot and ankle with cast padding, and applying cast tape to the leg over the previously-applied foam and allowing the cast tape to harden. A foam pad and lateral and medial malleolar pads are applied to the leg section of the cast and a foot and ankle positioning device is applied to the leg, and cast tape is applied over the lower leg and foot and allowing the cast tape to harden. A walking support is applied to the foot. A foot and ankle positioner for a total contact cast is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for designating vegetation as potential impact vegetation includes identifying data relating to target vegetation from a dataset and determining a reach distance of the target vegetation. The reach distance includes a distance from a point on a ground to a point of the target vegetation that is farthest from the point on the ground. The method also includes comparing the reach distance of the target vegetation with a closest distance between the point on the ground and a structure to produce a compared reach distance value and determining a health indicator value for the target vegetation. The method further includes comparing the health indicator value of the target vegetation to a health indicator threshold value and designating the target vegetation as having a potential to impact the structure based on the compared reach distance value and the comparison of the health indicator to the health indicator threshold.

Abstract: A wound dressing including at least one layer made of microbially produced cellulose formed into a biocellulose layer, wherein the wound dressing is configured to adsorb bacteria and wherein the thickness of the bio-cellulose layer is between 0.08 and 1.5 mm, as well as a method for producing such a wound dressing.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided to acquire direct thermal measurements, for example, from a LiDAR collecting vehicle or air vessel, of an overhead electrical conductor substantially simultaneous with collection of 3-dimensional location data of the conductor, and utilize temperature information derived from the direct thermal measurements in line modeling, line rating, thermal line analysis, clearance analysis, and/or vegetation management.

Abstract: A method for estimating vegetation growth relative to an object of interest is disclosed. A target vegetation is identified from a second sensing dataset. A corresponding target vegetation is identified in a first sensing dataset, the first sensing dataset collected at a time before the second sensing dataset. A first statistic is attributed to the corresponding target vegetation based on a distance of one or more points of the corresponding target vegetation in the first sensing dataset relative to the object of interest. A second statistic is attributed to the target vegetation based on a distance of one or more points of the target vegetation in the second sensing dataset relative to the object of interest. An encroachment rate is determined from a comparison of the first statistic and the second statistic.

Abstract: A method for locating a stem of a target tree is disclosed. The target tree is identified from a sensing dataset. At least one slice is created from the sensing dataset. The at least one slice includes at least a portion of the target tree. A tree stem location of the target tree is determined from the at least one slice. A system for locating a stem of a target tree is also disclosed. The system has a processor configured to implement the described method. The system also has a data input coupled to the processor and configured to provide the processor with the sensing dataset. The system further has a user interface coupled to either the processor or the data input.

Abstract: A method for designating vegetation as potential impact vegetation includes identifying data relating to target vegetation from a dataset and determining a reach distance of the target vegetation. The reach distance includes a distance from a point on a ground to a point of the target vegetation that is farthest from the point on the ground. The method also includes comparing the reach distance of the target vegetation with a closest distance between the point on the ground and a structure to produce a compared reach distance value and determining a health indicator value for the target vegetation. The method further includes comparing the health indicator value of the target vegetation to a health indicator threshold value and designating the target vegetation as having a potential to impact the structure based on the compared reach distance value and the comparison of the health indicator to the health indicator threshold.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided to acquire direct thermal measurements, for example, from a LiDAR collecting vehicle or air vessel, of an overhead electrical conductor substantially simultaneous with collection of 3-dimensional location data of the conductor, and utilize temperature information derived from the direct thermal measurements in line modeling, line rating, thermal line analysis, clearance analysis, and/or vegetation management.

Abstract: A method for locating a stem of a target tree is disclosed. The target tree is identified from a sensing dataset. At least one slice is created from the sensing dataset. The at least one slice includes at least a portion of the target tree. A tree stem location of the target tree is determined from the at least one slice. A system for locating a stem of a target tree is also disclosed. The system has a processor configured to implement the described method. The system also has a data input coupled to the processor and configured to provide the processor with the sensing dataset. The system further has a user interface coupled to either the processor or the data input.

Abstract: A method for estimating vegetation growth relative to an object of interest is disclosed. A target vegetation is identified from a second sensing dataset. A corresponding target vegetation is identified in a first sensing dataset, the first sensing dataset collected at a time before the second sensing dataset. A first statistic is attributed to the corresponding target vegetation based on a distance of one or more points of the corresponding target vegetation in the first sensing dataset relative to the object of interest. A second statistic is attributed to the target vegetation based on a distance of one or more points of the target vegetation in the second sensing dataset relative to the object of interest. An encroachment rate is determined from a comparison of the first statistic and the second statistic.

Abstract: Raman interference (also known as Raman scattering) during an idle frame transmission state in a passive optical network (PON) having radio frequency video overlay is reduced by generating and transmitting data packets having both random data and random length. Randomly varying both the packet data content and the packet length can achieve significant improvement in Raman interference reduction. The random packet data and length in effect spreads the interference across a spectrum wide enough that there is no interference effect perceptible to a television viewer.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for the detection of fissionable materials (e.g. uranium and plutonium) in cargo, vehicles, soil, waste, etc. utilizing a penetrating photon beam causing emission of neutrons from such materials. The neutrons are detected by selected detectors able to function throughout an appropriate test and emission period. Suitable detectors are of the super-heated droplet type. The photon energy, beam intensity and direction, number of beams, emission period and detector arrangement are chosen to give the desired sensitivity for the fissionable elements of concern.

Abstract: In the present invention there is a provided an array of radiation detectors comprising at least one detector capable of detecting both low and high energy gamma radiation and adapted to provide spectrometric identification of the gamma source; at least one detector capable of detecting and providing spectrometric identification of fast neutrons and low resolution gamma spectra; at least one detector adapted to detect thermal neutrons; and, at least one plastic scintillator to give enhanced gamma ray sensitivity.