Abstract: A method for reducing adhesion between a maskant and a substrate, wherein the maskant is adhered to a surface of the substrate, the method comprising applying a composition to the maskant.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to opaque, non-pearlescent polyester articles having at least one layer formed from a polymer blend composition that includes a polyester matrix polymer, an incompatible polymer, and little to no mineral filler, and methods of manufacturing the opaque, non-pearlescent polyester articles.

Abstract: A method for reducing adhesion between a maskant and a substrate, wherein the maskant is adhered to a surface of the substrate, the method comprising applying a composition to the maskant.

Abstract: A method for reducing adhesion between a maskant and a substrate, wherein the maskant is adhered to a surface of the substrate, the method comprising applying a composition to the maskant.

Abstract: The disclosure according to some exemplary embodiments relates generally to an infrastructure for electronic records (e.g., electronic medical records (EMRs), electronic health records (EHRs), and personal health records (PHRs)). The infrastructure allows the use, for example, of the electronic records and other information sources to determine drug and other treatment prices that may differ from listed prices based on various factors, such as approved indication treated, the organization and/or individual responsible for payment, whether and what other drug or drugs are used as part of the treatment regimen, a diagnosis and treatment plan, and responses to treatment, among other factors. Advantageously, in some embodiments, systems and methods using the infrastructure allows patients to receive lower drug and treatment prices tailored to the patients' needs and can increase patients' access to drugs and other treatments.

Abstract: The invention provides a system and method of identifying when a message is received at a control station from at least one device in a network having a plurality of devices, said method comprising the steps of receiving at the control station a low bandwidth signal from at least one device; obtaining a coarse timestamp estimate of when said low bandwidth signal is received by correlating with a pre-programmed signal template; generating a higher resolution correlation estimate by phase shifting the pre-programmed signal template and repeating the correlation; and detecting where the correlation is above a preselected value; and applying a curve fitting function about the higher resolution correlation estimate to obtain an accurate timestamp when the message was received.

Abstract: The invention provides a system and method of identifying when a message is received at a control station from at least one device in a network having a plurality of devices, said method comprising the steps of receiving at the control station a low bandwidth signal from at least one device; obtaining a coarse timestamp estimate of when said low bandwidth signal is received by correlating with a pre-programmed signal template; generating a higher resolution correlation estimate by phase shifting the pre-programmed signal template and repeating the correlation; and detecting where the correlation is above a preselected value; and applying a curve fitting function about the higher resolution correlation estimate to obtain an accurate timestamp when the message was received.

Abstract: The disclosure according to some exemplary embodiments relates generally to an infrastructure for electronic records (e.g., electronic medical records (EMRs), electronic health records (EHRs), and personal health records (PHRs)). The infrastructure allows the use, for example, of the electronic records and other information sources to determine drug and other treatment prices that may differ from listed prices based on various factors, such as approved indication treated, the organization and/or individual responsible for payment, whether and what other drug or drugs are used as part of the treatment regimen, a diagnosis and treatment plan, and responses to treatment, among other factors. Advantageously, in some embodiments, systems and methods using the infrastructure allows patients to receive lower drug and treatment prices tailored to the patients' needs and can increase patients' access to drugs and other treatments.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of packaging and a packaging system for treated stents which minimize the level of exposure of the stents to oxygen, moisture and light. The package comprises two compartments, the compartments being in communication with each other via a breathable membrane.

Abstract: A distributed packet switch to control data packet flows in a network is described. The distributed packet switch includes a means for operating over an asynchronous burst optical closed fiber medium. The distributed packet switch also includes at least one control system provided at a node to control data packet flow characteristics, such that the switch is configured to operate dependent on at least one efficiency parameter.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and laser system for switching from a current operating point to a new operating point of the laser, the laser operating at a particular wavelength and includes a source channel and destination channel. The system switches and locks the output wavelength of a laser at ultra fast time scales (<50 ns) and compensate for degradation in the laser, and thermal transients in the device during the switching to ensure that within a certain time the laser has switched its wavelength to another wavelength within a specific accuracy and is not dependent on the previous wavelength of the laser.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of packaging and a packaging system for treated stents which minimise the level of exposure of the stents to oxygen, moisture and light. The package comprises two compartments, the compartments being in communication with each other via a breathable membrane.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of packaging and a packaging system for treated stents which minimise the level of exposure of the stents to oxygen, moisture and light. The package comprises two compartments, the compartments being in communication with each other via a breathable membrane.

Abstract: The invention provides an optical measurement system and method for monitoring the condition of a sail, the system comprising: an optical interrogation unit that produces and receives an optical signal; and an optical fibre network that interconnects the interrogation unit with a plurality of optical sensors in communication with the sail, wherein the sensors are mounted onto the sail. The optical system measures parameters of the sail, from which shape, integrity and overall conditions of the sail can be calculated in real-time.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method and system to detect hysteresis/unstable regions of multi-section lasers. The method comprises the steps of obtaining a first set of measurement values for the output of the laser diode by increasing a first current through a range of values in a positive direction, increasing a second control current by a step, obtaining a second set of measurement values for the output of the laser diode by decreasing the first control current through a range of values in a negative direction, and increasing a second control current by a step. The process is repeated until a sufficient range of the second control currents has been used to provide resultant data which can then be processed in order to identify regions of hysteresis of the laser diode.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and system for providing a set of continuous tuning regions from a discontinuously tuned laser, by providing a wavelength reference having at least first and second resonance peaks, sweeping the laser across a pre-determined wavelength range of the wavelength reference, and defining, within the laser sweep, one or more regions of continuous tuning operation of the laser, each of the regions corresponding to a response of the laser between adjacent resonance peaks of the wavelength reference. The advantage of the invention is that it provides a way for stitching together continuous regions of a multi-section tunable laser in an efficient and accurate manner.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and laser system for switching from a current operating point to a new operating point of the laser, the laser operating at a particular wavelength and includes a source channel and destination channel. The system switches and locks the output wavelength of a laser at ultra fast time scales (<50 ns) and compensate for degradation in the laser, and thermal transients in the device during the switching to ensure that within a certain time the laser has switched its wavelength to another wavelength within a specific accuracy and is not dependent on the previous wavelength of the laser.

Abstract: The invention provides a method to compensate for degradation in a tunable laser and ensure its performance by tracking the degradation and adjusting the control information accordingly. This is accomplished by performing some measurements of the output of the tunable laser at an initial setup or calibration procedure. Then, by effecting a periodic repetition of these measurements and using a comparison between these two measurements the present invention provides for a compensation factor for the operating conditions, primarily in the form of a look up table of operating points of the laser. These measurements show how much the operating points of the laser have drifted over the period since the last set of measurements, which provide control informatIon to compensate for degradation in the laser.

Abstract: A distributed packet switch to control data packet flows in a network is described. The distributed packet switch includes a means for operating over an asynchronous burst optical closed fiber medium. The distributed packet switch also includes at least one control system provided at a node to control data packet flow characteristics, such that the switch is configured to operate dependent on at least one efficiency parameter.

Abstract: A method relating to the calibration of tuneable lasers is described. The method provides for the provision of correct control currents so as to achieve each of desired output frequencies from the laser. The correct currents are determined by forming a matrix of the output characteristics of the laser at specific tuning currents and processing that matrix to determine stable operating points within the matrix.