Abstract: Multi-modal neuromodulation applied to an autonomic nerve using a multicontact electrode can upregulate a portion of the autonomic nervous system and downregulate another portion of the autonomic nervous system to affect a physiological condition. A generator can generator and provide a neuromodulation signal and another neuromodulation signal, each having at least one parameter, to the electrode. The neuromodulation signal can be applied at a time and the other neuromodulation signal can be applied at another time to balance sympathetic and parasympathetic activity. A sensor can record a physiological parameter related to physiological condition and a controller can receive the recoding and can adjust which neuromodulation signal is applied and/or at least one of the parameters of the neuromodulation signal or the other neuromodulation signal based on the recording of the physiological parameter.

Abstract: One or more fibers in a nerve can be selectively stimulated and/or blocked with focused direct current (DC) neuromodulation based on application of a DC via at least one electrode coupled to a current generator. The current generator can generate at least one DC with an amplitude of less than 15 mA for a time and the at least one electrode can apply the DC to a nerve for the time. Application of the DC to the nerve for the time can create a spatially restricted DC field based on the DC and specific geometries and configurations of the at least one electrode. For instance, the spatially restricted DC field can at least partially block conduction in small-diameter nerve fibers of the nerve while leaving large-diameter, myelinated nerve fibers of the nerve substantially unblocked and able to conduct.

Abstract: A retaining system includes a retaining section, a coupler for releasably coupling to the retaining section, and means for fixing couplers coupled to adjacent retaining sections to each other to thereby maintain adjacent retaining sections in fixed relationship to each other. The retaining system has a number of possible applications such as garden or footpath edging, or earth retaining walls, but a preferred embodiment relates to the use of the retaining system as concrete formwork.

Abstract: A retaining system includes a retaining section, a coupler for releasably coupling to the retaining section, and means for fixing couplers coupled to adjacent retaining sections to each other to thereby maintain adjacent retaining sections in fixed relationship to each other. The retaining system has a number of possible applications such as garden or footpath edging, or earth retaining walls, but a preferred embodiment relates to the use of the retaining system as concrete formwork.