Abstract: A method of optimizing performance of a well system utilizes a neural network. In a described embodiment, the method includes the step of accumulating data indicative of the performance of the well system in response to variable influencing parameters. The data is used to train a neural network to model an output of the well system in response to the influencing parameters. An output of the neural network may then be input to a valuing model, e.g., to permit optimization of a value of the well system. The optimization process yields a set of prospective influencing parameters which may be incorporated into the well system to maximize its value.

Abstract: A metal folding chair having a tubular frame and a ganging device including female keyslots formed in internally reinforced portions of one side of the frame and male connecting elements including studs mounted in cantilever positions on an opposite side of the frame by tee nuts threadably engaged with the studs within the frame.

Abstract: The location of a termination in a properly terminated LAN can be remotely detected. The cable's skin effect produces a detectable signature at the sending-end when a step function, for example, reaches the termination. Accordingly, a network analysis device is connected to the network to inject the step function onto the network cabling. The voltage response of the cabling to this is first digitally sampled and then analyzed in a system controller. The system controller reviews the sampled data for an inflection point and then locates the termination by reference to the delay between when the signal was placed on the cable and the detection of the inflection point.

Abstract: A test slide for the calibration, characterization, standardization, use and study of photon and electron microscopes. The slide is created by forming patterns with specific types of geometries on suitable substrates and these slides provide a standard for comparison of image forming capability of any type of microscope imaging system including, without limitation, light, UV, and X-ray photon microscopical imaging systems operating in transmission or reflection modes, and other microscope techniques. Microscopists can employ one of these slides to compare images of the slide which have been produced by the microscope system under consideration with a known, accurate, image of the slide to better understand the fidelity and accuracy of the microscope system under consideration. The test patterns can also comprise reference images which can be images created by a graphic artist or the like or which can be actual images of samples, these images being either two dimensional or three dimensional.

Abstract: A cross-connect panel for a computer network is disclosed that provides a mechanism for connecting to the signal transmission media of the network. In the typical scenario, the inventive cross-connect panel replaces the common cross-connect panel that receives the various cables running between the remote nodes and the hub, switch, or other network communications device. The panel has a series of panel-node connectors that are adapted to receive the signal transmission media from the network nodes. The cross-connect panel also has panel-device connectors that in most embodiments will be of a standard type to connect to the network communications device. The panel-node connectors and the panel-device connectors are electrically interconnected to each other via a backplane to complete the communications links. The panel further includes a monitoring port that is also preferably connected to the backplane to provide physical layer access to the communications links.

Abstract: The location of a termination in a properly terminated LAN can be remotely detected. The cable's skin effect produces a detectable signature at the sending-end when a step function, for example, reaches the termination. Accordingly, a network analysis device is connected to the network to inject the step function onto the network cabling. The voltage response of the cabling to this is first digitally sampled and then analyzed in a system controller. The system controller reviews the sampled data for an inflection point and then locates the termination by reference to the delay between when the signal was placed on the cable and the detection of the inflection point.

Abstract: The location of a termination in a properly terminated LAN can be remotely detected. The cable's skin effect produces a detectable signature at the sending-end when a step function, for example, reaches the termination. Accordingly, a network analysis device is connected to the network to inject the step function onto the network cabling. The voltage response of the cabling to this is first digitally sampled and then analyzed in a system controller. The system controller reviews the sampled data for an inflection point and then locates the termination by reference to the delay between when the signal was placed on the cable and the detection of the inflection point.

Abstract: The location of a termination in a properly terminated LAN can be remotely detected. The cable's skin effect produces a detectable signature at the sending-end when a step function, for example, reaches the termination. Accordingly, a network analysis device is connected to the network to inject the step function onto the network cabling. The voltage response of the cabling to this is first digitally sampled and then analyzed in a system controller. The system controller reviews the sampled data for an inflection point and then locates the termination by reference to the delay between when the signal was placed on the cable and the detection of the inflection point.

Abstract: A smoke mask including a hood adapted to fit over a user's head, the hood having a front section adapted to be placed in front of a user's face; and a filter extending through the hood. The filter having support frame having a filter cartridge receiving opening, a replaceable cartridge containing at least one filtration medium positioned within the opening, and at least one releasable connector securing the cartridge to the frame.

Abstract: A slide system allowing rapid, sterile, clean and safe preparation and use of microscope slides containing sample materials including living and/or hazardous preparations or samples. In one embodiment, the system comprises a slide base and cover slip which are preferably pre-cleaned and supplied in a sterile wrapper. The cover slip, slide base or both have an adhesive coating that surrounds a sample area to adhere the cover slip to the slide base, thereby creating a sealed sample area or chamber that is defined by the slide, the cover slip, and the adhesive. In another embodiment, the slide base has one or two grooves or depressions in the surface of the slide base positioned within the sample area, the grooves or depressions accommodating extra or expanding sample material to prevent loss of the sample material into the environment and prevent damage to the adhesive and/or cover slip.

Abstract: The location of a termination in a properly terminated LAN can be remotely detected. The cable's skin effect produces a detectable signature at the sending-end when a step function, for example, reaches the termination. Accordingly, a network analysis device is connected to the network to inject the step function onto the network cabling. The voltage response of the cabling to this is first digitally sampled and then analyzed in a system controller. The system controller reviews the sampled data for an inflection point and then locates the termination by reference to the delay between when the signal was placed on the cable and the detection of the inflection point.

Abstract: A portable stove and a method for fabricating portable stove from an ammunition box. The stove uses the ammunition box as the body for the stove. An outlet is incorporated into the lid area of the ammunition box to allow for the attachment of a flue duct to the hollow body. A door with vents may also be included in one of the sides of the ammunition box so that fuel may be burned within said hollow body and the products of the burning of the fuel may escape the hollow body through the outlet and into the flue duct.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the present invention, a modular printing system has a plurality of modules for processing sheets. One module is a collator module configured to retain the sheets. The collator module has a collator controller and sensors linked to the collator controller. The sensors are arranged to detect erroneously processed sheets. The collator controller is configured to generate an error signal in response to detection of an error. The collator module also includes a feed assembly for presenting the sheets. A printer module is configured to receive sheets presented by the feed assembly. The printer module includes a printer controller and sensors linked to the printer controller. The sensors are arranged to detect erroneously processed sheets and to generate an error signal in response to detection of an error. The module printing system also includes a system controller linked to the collator controller and the printer controller.

Abstract: The document handling apparatus provides support structure and a plurality of retainers supported by the support structure. Each retainer includes a tray that is configured to hold a stack of sheets. A feed assembly is supported by the support structure and is substantially vertical and has a mid-section. The feed assembly defines an output port configured to output the sheets. The output port is approximate the mid-section so that the average distance from the retainers to the output port is substantially minimized. The apparatus further includes a plurality of pick mechanisms. Each pick mechanism is configured and arranged to pick sheets from one of the retainers and feed the pick sheet into the feed assembly. The apparatus can include an adjustable edge guide pivotally supported by the support structure. The adjustable edge guide is arranged and configured to control the side edge of the stack.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the present invention, a modular printing system has a plurality of modules for processing sheets. One module is a collator module configured to retain the sheets. The collator module has a collator controller and sensors linked to the collator controller. The sensors are arranged to detect erroneously processed sheets. The collator controller is configured to generate an error signal in response to detection of an error. The collator module also includes a feed assembly for presenting the sheets. A printer module is configured to receive sheets presented by the feed assembly. The printer module includes a printer controller and sensors linked to the printer controller. The sensors are arranged to detect erroneously processed sheets and to generate an error signal in response to detection of an error. The module printing system also includes a system controller linked to the collator controller and the printer controller.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the present invention, a modular printing system has a plurality of modules for processing sheets. One module is a collator module configured to retain the sheets. The collator module has a collator controller and sensors linked to the collator controller. The sensors are arranged to detect erroneously processed sheets. The collator controller is configured to generate an error signal in response to detection of an error. The collator module also includes a feed assembly for presenting the sheets. A printer module is configured to receive sheets presented by the feed assembly. The printer module includes a printer controller and sensors linked to the printer controller. The sensors are arranged to detect erroneously processed sheets and to generate an error signal in response to detection of an error. The module printing system also includes a system controller linked to the collator controller and the printer controller.

Abstract: A self contained biological indicator (A) determines an effectiveness of a microbial decontamination process. A dart (68) has a seal (80) engaged by rim (58) in detents (50C) in fins (36A-36F) of a cap (C). The dart has a cutting edge (76) aligned just above a foil seal (86) sealing a growth medium (F) in a medium housing (D). The dart has a chamber (72) in which challenge spores or other microorganisms on a paper disk (74) are housed. A microporous membrane (G) traps the challenge spores in the chamber while allowing a microbial decontamination fluid to flow through to contact the spores. The housing is lodged by a flange (56) in detents (50A) in fins (36A-36F).

Abstract: A multiple-product reentrant line scheduling method includes the steps of storing a time measurement variable for each one of a plurality of incomplete products disposed in a buffer at a workstation, the time measurement variable representing the entry of the incomplete product into the reentrant line, storing a time measurement variable for the buffer representing the time remaining for incomplete products of the same product type disposed in the buffer to be completed, calculating the difference between the stored time measurement variable for each incomplete product and the stored time measurement variable for the buffer to generate a slack variable for each incomplete product, normalizing the slack variable for each incomplete product by comparing the slack variable of each incomplete product with the slack variables for all incomplete products of same product type that have passed through the workstation to generate a selection variable for each incomplete product, comparing the selection variables to se

Abstract: In one embodiment of the present invention, a modular printing system has a plurality of modules for processing sheets. One module is a collator module configured to retain the sheets. The collator module has a collator controller and sensors linked to the collator controller. The sensors are arranged to detect erroneously processed sheets. The collator controller is configured to generate an error signal in response to detection of an error. The collator module also includes a feed assembly for presenting the sheets. A printer module is configured to receive sheets presented by the feed assembly. The printer module includes a printer controller and sensors linked to the printer controller. The sensors are arranged to detect erroneously processed sheets and to generate an error signal in response to detection of an error. The module printing system also includes a system controller linked to the collator controller and the printer controller.

Abstract: A document (or medium) collating/printing system provides automated error detection and error recovery in a high-volume printing application. The system includes a media transporter for transporting the print media, a collator having a plurality of retainers for holding groups of document types, and a printer arrangement that receives and processes presented sheets of the print media from the media transporter. The printer arrangement and the media transporter are configured and arranged to form a substantially planer path for transporting the print media from the media transporter toward the printer device for printing on the print media. Further, a programmed controller controls the presentation of the print media to the media transporter and verifies that the presented sheet of print medium is correctly processed by the printer arrangement. Error detection and recovery are provided using selectively located sensors and diverters controlled by the controller.