Abstract: Surgical knives are disclosed, for initiating percutaneous access to a surgical site. The knife has a body with a rear handle and a front cutter portion. It may have a central cannulation to receive a guide wire, along a front-to-rear operating axis. The cutter portion has first and second blades opposed across the axis, each having an outward cutting edge directed laterally outwardly relative to the operating axis and a flat outward face also directed laterally outwardly relative to the operating axis and transversely to the respective outward cutting edge. The first and second outward faces of the two blades converge forwardly to their tip points, which lie close to the axis, and their cutting edges are oppositely directed. Alternatively a single blade may be used, forwardly convergent with the axis.

Abstract: Provided are methods for making yolk sac like hematopoietic progenitors by specifying a KDR+CD235a/b+ mesoderm cells capable of giving rise to T lymphoid lineage cells or cells differentiated therefrom. The method involves contacting pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) with a mesoderm specifying culture composition comprising a BMPR1/R2 agonist, an FGF receptor agonist and an activin receptor agonist to produce a KDR+CD235a/b+ mesoderm cells; and optionally isolating the KDR+CD235a/b+ mesoderm cells.

Abstract: Technologies for controlling jitter at network packet egress at a source computing device include determining a switch time delta as a difference between a present switch time and a previously captured switch time upon receipt of a network packet scheduled for transmission to a target computing device and determining a host scheduler time delta as a difference between a host scheduler timestamp associated with the received network packet and a previously captured host scheduler timestamp. The source computing device is additionally configured to determine an amount of previously captured tokens present in a token bucket, determine whether there are a sufficient number of tokens available in the token bucket to transmit the received packet as a function of the switch time delta, the host scheduler time delta, and the amount of previously captured tokens present in the token bucket, and schedule the received network packet for transmission upon a determination that sufficient tokens in the token bucket.

Abstract: Surgical knives are disclosed, for initiating percutaneous access to a surgical site. The knife has a body with a rear handle and a front cutter portion. It may have a central cannulation to receive a guide wire, along a front-to-rear operating axis. The cutter portion has first and second blades opposed across the axis, each having an outward cutting edge directed laterally outwardly relative to the operating axis and a flat outward face also directed laterally outwardly relative to the operating axis and transversely to the respective outward cutting edge. The first and second outward faces of the two blades converge forwardly to their tip points, which lie close to the axis, and their cutting edges are oppositely directed. Alternatively a single blade may be used, forwardly convergent with the axis.

Abstract: A cathodic protection system that is able to monitor the operational status of a plurality of test points and rectifiers. The cathodic protection system includes a plurality of test point monitors that are associated with test points and a plurality of rectifier controllers that are associated with the rectifiers located along a utility pipeline. The test point monitors are battery powered while the rectifier controllers may be utility line powered. Each of the test point monitors and rectifier controllers communicates with a base station utilizing a wireless communication technique. The base station communicates with a back end server that operates to accumulate data and visually present the data to an operator on a display associated with cathodic protection software application. The software application allows the operator to monitor the health of the system and address alerts generated by any of the test points or monitored rectifiers.

Abstract: Technologies for controlling jitter at network packet egress at a source computing device include determining a switch time delta as a difference between a present switch time and a previously captured switch time upon receipt of a network packet scheduled for transmission to a target computing device and determining a host scheduler time delta as a difference between a host scheduler timestamp associated with the received network packet and a previously captured host scheduler timestamp. The source computing device is additionally configured to determine an amount of previously captured tokens present in a token bucket, determine whether there are a sufficient number of tokens available in the token bucket to transmit the received packet as a function of the switch time delta, the host scheduler time delta, and the amount of previously captured tokens present in the token bucket, and schedule the received network packet for transmission upon a determination that sufficient tokens in the token bucket.

Abstract: This invention relates to a beverage insulating sleeve that can hold two portable beverage containers, cold or hot packs and personal belongings around back of neck of user facilitating hands free activities. The sleeve is light weight and highly absorbent.

Abstract: A liquid receptacle and water reservoir in combination with a pet collar is provided by the present invention. The water reservoir is comprised of: a tubular shaped water reservoir provided with a first orifice for filling said reservoir with fluid and a second orifice for dispensing the fluid from said reservoir, a plurality of reflective strips applied to the surface of said water reservoir, a standard choke and harness attachment provided for attaching said water reservoir with the body of an animal, a spigot-type dispensing member provided from said second orifice for assisting the dispensing of the fluid from said water reservoir, and a receptacle connecting the reservoir to said dispensing device.

Abstract: A cathodic protection system that is able to monitor the operational status of a plurality of test points and rectifiers. The cathodic protection system includes a plurality of test point monitors that are associated with test points and a plurality of rectifier controllers that are associated with the rectifiers located along a utility pipeline. The test point monitors are battery powered while the rectifier controllers may be utility line powered. Each of the test point monitors and rectifier controllers communicates with a base station utilizing a wireless communication technique. The base station communicates with a back end server that operates to accumulate data and visually present the data to an operator on a display associated with cathodic protection software application. The software application allows the operator to monitor the heath of the system and address alerts generated by any of the test points or monitored rectifiers.

Abstract: The present application relates to a system (10) for anatomical reduction of bone fractures in which first and second manipulators (12, 14), and optionally a third manipulator (16), are attached to fragments of the fracture to be reduced by percutaneous attachment devices such as Schanz pins. An underlying processing system determines, from one or more medical images of the fracture, manipulations such as rotations and translations of the bone fragments required to correctly reposition and align the fragments for optimum healing of the fracture. The processing system provides motion reference signals (position, speed, acceleration and force) for a controller, which in turn causes the first, second and third manipulators (12, 14, 16) to effect the calculated manipulations.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer program for modifying a model, comprising the steps of reading a model geometry into a constraint solver; generating a set of base values from said constraint solver; applying said set of base values to said model geometry; recalculating said model geometry in response to a plurality of modified values; and regenerating a valid model from said recalculated model geometries and appropriate means and computer-readable instructions.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer program for a finding an intersection for geometrically coincident curves, comprising selecting a curve pair where at least one curve in said curve pair is a parametric curve; determining a curve parameter for each curve in said curve pair; splitting each of said curves into a plurality of candidate segments; recursively subdividing each of said candidate segments into a pair of finalized segments that are sufficiently straight; intersecting an approximation for each of said finalized segments; obtaining a plurality of next parameter values from said intersecting step; and testing for a terminating condition and appropriate means and computer-readable instructions.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include a singlemode optical fiber having an antimony (Sb) doped core region, a suitable cladding region formed on the core region, and one or more gratings written in the optical fiber. Optical fibers manufactured according to embodiments of the invention provide faster growth of grating strength, higher thermal stability, and longer photosensitive wavelength compared to conventional Ge doped silica optical fibers. The optical fiber is fabricated for applications such as fiber grating applications where the index of the core is modulated by UV radiation. Also, the addition of Sb in the core region of the singlemode optical fiber provides higher temperature (e.g., greater than 100° C.) applications of fiber gratings and a reduced degradation of the band rejection efficiency. Also, the optical fibers are more conducive to direct and non-destructive grating writing over polymer jackets with a longer photosensitive wavelength in the UV range.

Abstract: This invention is predicated upon applicants' discovery that UV-induced gratings can be formed through polymer coatings that include conjugated double bonds and aromatic moieties. Coatings with low concentrations of aromatic-containing free-radical photoinitiators provide both reasonable curing speeds and sufficient transparency that gratings can be written through them. Moreover some of these aromatic-containing free-radical photoinitiators act synergistically with non-aromatic ketone photoinitiators. Advantageous aromatic-containing free-radical photoinitiator concentrations are in the range 0.01%-0.1% and preferably in the range 0.02% to 0.05%. Advantageous polymer coatings are acrylate-based coatings.

Abstract: Applicants have determined that much of the nonuniformity in solution doped preforms is due to nonuniformity of the soot layer caused by the high temperature necessary for complete reaction, and that MCVD fabrication using reaction temperature lowering gases such as nitrous oxide (N.sub.2 O) can produce more uniform soot layers. The conventional oxygen/reactant gas mixture presents a very small temperature window in which a uniform silica soot layer can be deposited without sintering. If the temperature in oxygen is too low, SiCl.sub.4 will not react completely and silicon oxychlorides will form. This degrades the soot layer and makes it unusable. If the temperature is too high the soot layer begins to sinter, decreasing the surface area and porosity. Adding a reaction temperature lowering gas lowers the reaction temperature and enables deposition of soot on the tube wall at a temperature substantially lower than the sintering temperature.

Abstract: In accordance with the invention, the index of refraction of a region of a glass body is selectively increased by treating the glass with hydrogen or deuterium, heating the hydrogenated glass to a temperature in excess of 500.degree. C., permitting the glass to rapidly cool below 100.degree. C. and exposing the region to UV radiation, preferably in the range 300 nm to 400 nm. The result is an increase in the refractive index of the irradiated region. Absorption is via a GODC band at 330 nm believed to result from a singlet to triplet transition. This band is about 1000 times weaker than the commonly used band at 240 nm. This process can be used to make and adjust a variety of optical waveguide devices such as photoinduced Bragg gratings and long period gratings.

Abstract: A method is provided of trimming the optical coupling ratio of an optical coupler to a prescribed value. The optical coupler is formed from a plurality of waveguides which each include a core and cladding. In accordance with the method, an irradiation energy is selected that is absorbed by portions of the waveguides located in a coupling region. A dosage of radiation is applied to the waveguide portions at least sufficient to adjust the optical coupling ratio to the prescribed value. The radiation, which may be absorbed by the cladding and/or the core of the waveguides, causes a change in the refractive index difference between the core and cladding of the waveguides. This change in the refractive index difference will result in a change in the optical coupling ratio of the device.

Abstract: The method of making an optical fiber refractive index grating comprises writing the grating through the fiber coating. The method involves providing optical fiber of significantly higher photosensitivity than conventional fiber, such that the grating can be written before unacceptable darkening of the coating occurs. Such fiber is H.sub.2 and/or D.sub.2 -loaded silica-based fiber having a Ge-doped core, the fiber selected to have a germanium-oxygen deficiency center content that provides the fiber with a photosensitivity that is at least twice as large as that of an otherwise identical, conventionally prepared, optical fiber. The fiber typically is drawn from a preform, at least a portion of which was exposed to a reducing atmosphere at an elevated temperature.

Abstract: An optical fiber formed from a glass preform substantially free of OH impurities is disclosed. The optical fiber is made to be free of OH impurities by a method having the steps of introducing a moving stream of vapor mixture including at least one compound glass-forming precursor together with an oxidizing medium into a tube, while generating a hydrogen-fee isothermal plasma on an outer surface of the tube to react the mixture and produce a glassy deposit on an inner surface of the tube. The glass preform is drawn to produce the optical fiber.