Abstract: A method of manufacturing an optical fiber preform, the method comprising: providing a substantially elongated core preform made out of a core fluorinated glass; providing a substantially elongated and substantially tubular cladding preform made out of a cladding fluorinated glass, the cladding preform defining a bore extending substantially longitudinally therethrough; inserting the core preform into the bore of the cladding preform; fusing the core preform and the cladding preform to each other to produce an intermediate preform; heating the intermediate preform up to a stretching temperature, the stretching temperature being such that the core and cladding fluorinated glasses both have a viscosity of between 10?7 and 10?9 Pa s at the stretching temperature; stretching the intermediate preform at the stretching temperature to produce a stretched intermediate preform; and cutting a section of the stretched intermediate preform.

Abstract: Disclosed are, inter alia, methods, apparatus, data structures, computer-readable media, mechanisms, and means for establishing a call across a network. For example, the network may include a first edge switch, a second edge switch, and an ATM core network coupled to the first and the second edge switches and configured to allow the second edge switch to communicate with the first edge switch. The second edge switch, being responsive to a received Q.2630.1 AAL2 message, is configured to send a first Private Network-Network Interface (PNNI) setup message to the first edge switch as part of establishing a call between or through one or more of the first and the second edge switches.

Abstract: An apparatus for accessing the gastric lumen, allowing elaborate intragastric surgeries to be carried on. The apparatus consists of two parts; an external part and a transgastric part. The named external part is a cylinder ending in a larger part of different shapes, the external part will be equipped with a mechanism to allow instruments to get inside the stomach while preventing gas from escaping out. It will also contain a gas delivery port to allow insufflation of the stomach through the cannula. The named transgastric part consists of a cylinder of variable lengths ending in an internal gastric bolster that will be either solid-type or balloon-type. This part is attached to a tapering introduction system ending in a wire loop to be used for introduction of this part. The apparatus also includes an extraction catheter to be used during removal of transgastric part with solid-type gastric bolster.

Abstract: A method for converting packet-based voice data of a first format directly to packet-based voice data of a second format, and vice versa. Data from networks using non-compatible packet-based voice technologies, for example, VoATM and VoIP, are interworked for direct conversion. Connection is set between an edge gateway of a first voice packet network, having data in a first format, and an interworking unit (IWU). Another connection is set between this IWU and an edge gateway of a second voice packet network, having data in the second format. The IWU is controlled by a single call agent that co-ordinates the conversion, at the IWU, between the two packet formats. Because it has this capability, this call agent is also called the “conversion server”. This call agent may be identical to the call agent used to control one or both edge gateways that use different packet based technologies.

Abstract: The invention provides new uses and products for treatment of sexual dysfunction and male infertility. The products include bioactive components of extracts from roots of the plant Eurycoma longifolia mixed in preparations for topical application and administation.

Abstract: The purpose of the invention is heavy metal oxide thin films and their applications. These thin films will serve to produce doped and undoped planar wave-guides and planar lightwave circuit (PLC) for passive and active optical devices (amplifier, laser, filter, multiplexer, attenuators and . . . ). These thin films present low loss, good chemical and thermal stability and wide optical transmission window, high solubility of all rare earth ions and transition metals ions . . . . They can be deposited on different substrates.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for end-to-end ATM calls based on the interworking of ATM SVC signaling (such as private network-network interface signaling) with A.2630.1 AAL2 signaling. In one network, Q.2630.1 AAL2 signaling in the originating access segment triggers, on proper authentication, ATM SVC signaling (e.g., PNNI, IISP, AINI, etc.) in the core, which triggers Q.2630.1 AAL2 signaling in the terminating access segment. The triggering is done at the edge-core boundary where an AAL2 switch and/or multiplexer or an ATM switch with AAL2 multiplexing/switching capabilities is located. In the access network between the ATM-AAL2 edge switch and the edge gateway, multiplexed AAL2 virtual channel connections (VCCs) are typically used. Single-CID AAL2 SVCs are typically used in the core network, and between the ATM-AAL2 edge switch and PSTN trunk gateways. The binding of voice calls to ATM bearer channels is done at the edge gateway when triggered by a call agent.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described providing a hepatic recycling glucose tolerance test for the diagnosis of types and subtypes of diabetes mellitus and other hyperglycemic or hypoglycemic conditions. A method is also provided for screening candidate drugs for treating various types of abnormal glucose metabolism and to monitor whether the course of treatment is effective. The method also allows the correlation of gene activity, hormone and metabolite levels with glucose flux and recycling and an assessment of the degree of hepatic insulin resistance. The method utilizes a preferably non-radioactive stable labeled glucose to asses the relative rates of carbon flow in the liver and provides a hepatic recycling constant that is a measure of the relative rate of glucose recycling. The labeled glucose may be introduced to the patient orally, intravenously or by intraperitoneal administration for the desired effect.

Abstract: The invention provides new uses and products for treatment of sexual dysfunction and male infertility. The products include bioactive components of extracts from roots of the plant Eurycoma longifolia mixed in preparations for topical application and administation.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an improved process of producing natural mozzarella cheese. The process starts with a liquid dairy substrate that is cultured and coagulated. The resulting curd is cut and salted. The resulting curd (i.e., base curd) may be frozen or refrigerated and stored until needed. Once needed, the stored base curd is ground and treated in a blender where it is partially standardized to form a “partially standardized base curd.” The partially standardized base curd is then cooked in a cooker or cooker/stretcher (preferably in a lay-down cooker) where standardization is completed by the addition of a cultured or uncultured skim milk retentate. No emulsifying salts are used in the cooker/stretcher. The cheese mass is then rapidly cooled to produce the mozzarella cheese. The conventional brine cooling step normally used in mozzarella cheese production is not used in the present invention.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an improved process of producing natural mozzarella cheese. The process starts with a liquid dairy substrate that is cultured and coagulated. The resulting curd is cut and salted. The resulting curd (i.e., base curd) may be frozen or refrigerated and stored until needed. Once needed, the stored base curd is ground and treated in a blender where it is partially standardized to form a “partially standardized base curd.” The partially standardized base curd is then cooked in a cooker or cooker/stretcher (preferably in a lay-down cooker) where standardization is completed by the addition of a cultured or uncultured skim milk retentate. No emulsifying salts are used in the cooker/stretcher. The cheese mass is then rapidly cooled to produce the mozzarella cheese. The conventional brine cooling step normally used in mozzarella cheese production is not used in the present invention.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods for utilizing, frozen concentrated milkfat to manufacture cream cheese. Generally in accordance with the method, frozen concentrated milkfat which has been stored in a solid state is comminuted and mixed with a dairy fluid prior to melting of the milkfat, and the frozen concentrated milkfat is melted while in contact with the dairy fluid to provide a cream cheese mix, which is subsequently fermented, separated from whey and packaged to provide a cream cheese product with excellent keeping quality without oxidized off flavors.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the synthesis of fluoride glass by the sol-gel method.The object of the invention is to synthesize an impurity-free fluoride glass.This object is achieved with the aid of a process having stages consisting of preparing a wet oxygenated gel from precursors containing all the cations constituting said fluoride glass, hydrolyzing said gel, drying said gel and in which the process is characterized in that it also comprises the stage consisting of treating said oxygenated gel by a fluorinating agent in the vapour phase, at a temperature below the glass crystallization point.This process more particularly makes it possible to produce fluoride glass for optical fibres.