Abstract: An optical-fiber ribbon having excellent flexibility, strength, and robustness facilitates separation of an optical fiber from the optical-fiber ribbon without damaging the optical fiber's glass core, glass cladding, primary coating, secondary coating, and ink layer, if present.

Abstract: Techniques for automating testing of a first computing system comprises identifying a plurality of system interface elements of a second computing system; determining an untested state at the first computing system of one of the identified plurality of system interface elements; determining the existence of any dependency of the one of the identified plurality of system interface elements upon another of the identified plurality of system interface elements; responsive to a finding of no the dependency, seeking in a repository a system interface element test corresponding to the one of the identified plurality of system interface elements and having an expected output according to a structure of the second computing system; and executing the system interface element test at the first computing system.

Abstract: Techniques for automating testing of a first computing system comprises identifying a plurality of system interface elements of a second computing system; determining an untested state at the first computing system of one of the identified plurality of system interface elements; determining the existence of any dependency of the one of the identified plurality of system interface elements upon another of the identified plurality of system interface elements; responsive to a finding of no the dependency, seeking in a repository a system interface element test corresponding to the one of the identified plurality of system interface elements and having an expected output according to a structure of the second computing system; and executing the system interface element test at the first computing system.

Abstract: A sheet metal fastener for securing a covering member to a cementitious-like base or insulating material wherein the fastener includes at least two hollow shanks that depend from a common head and wherein each shank includes opposing generally U-shaped spreadable legs for trapping plugs of the material there between and wherein side walls of the legs also flare laterally away from one another to grasp an additional plug of the material between adjacent shanks as the fastener is driven into the base or insulating material.

Abstract: A method of providing localized corrosion protection to products manufactured of sheet metal wherein coils of sheet metal are passed through a coil coating line wherein one or more stripes of corrosion resistant material are applied to selected areas along both the upper and lower surfaces of the metal prior to the metal being cut, punched, or bent to form a product having predetermined portions of its surface area coated. In one embodiment, a selected corrosion resistant coating is applied to galvanized sheet metal prior to the metal being punched and formed into sheet metal fasteners having coated heads but uncoated shanks.

Abstract: Sheet metal fasteners and/or washers of the type which are used to fasten membranes to cementitious materials of a type such as utilized in roofing wherein the fasteners are treated to provide a corrosion resistant coating to the washers and those portions of the fasteners not inserted into the cementitious material.