Abstract: A system and methods for predicting and assessing risk before an event occurs. More particularly, the present invention predicts and assesses risk such as the occurrence of an earthquake prior to the event by collecting and analyzing changes in Total Electron Content (“TEC”) in the ionosphere.

Abstract: A female edge connector is cut into a circuit board to reduce the connector size and therefore the distance the signal path is separated from the ground plane. Preferably, the female connector is a surface mount connector and is provided in two pieces. This allows the female connector to be attached to either side of the printed circuit board or can be connected to both sides if half of the connector is mounted on the opposite side of the board from the other. A male edge connector of a plug-in board can then be inserted through the aperture formed in the mother board to contact the female edge connector, providing very little distance between the ground planes of the plug-in board and the mother board. The distance between the two pieces of the female connector can be varied by changing the width of the aperture such that PC boards of various thicknesses can be accommodated.