Abstract: A nanocomposite optical ceramic (NCOC) material. The material having a first solid phase, a second solid phase, and a third solid phase. The first solid phase has first solid phase grains no larger than 5 ?m, and each first solid phase grain has a first solid phase grain boundary. The second solid phase has second solid phase grains no larger than 5 ?m, and each second solid phase grain has a second solid phase grain boundary. The third solid phase has a doping agent. The doping agent is less than 5 atomic % soluble in the first solid phase and the second solid phase. At least part of the third solid phase is situated at the second solid phase grain boundary.

Abstract: Methods, computer readable media, and apparatuses for monitoring regulated associates are presented. According to one or more aspects, a user command to send an electronic message using a mobile computing device may be detected. Subsequently, content of the electronic message may be analyzed to determine whether the message violates one or more policies. In response to determining that the message violates one or more policies, the message may be added to a listing of flagged messages. According to one or more additional aspects, at least one occurrence of an application installation event may be detected on a computing device. In response to detecting the at least one occurrence of the application installation event, an application corresponding to the at least one occurrence of the application installation event may be identified. Subsequently, it may be determined whether the identified application is approved for use on the computing device.

Abstract: Methods, computer readable media, and apparatuses for monitoring regulated associates are presented. According to one or more aspects, a user command to send an electronic message using a mobile computing device may be detected. Subsequently, content of the electronic message may be analyzed to determine whether the message violates one or more policies. In response to determining that the message violates one or more policies, the message may be added to a listing of flagged messages. According to one or more additional aspects, at least one occurrence of an application installation event may be detected on a computing device. In response to detecting the at least one occurrence of the application installation event, an application corresponding to the at least one occurrence of the application installation event may be identified. Subsequently, it may be determined whether the identified application is approved for use on the computing device.

Abstract: An electrically insulated connector housing has a cable receiving end and a mating end and a plurality of spaced cavities extending longitudinally therethrough for receiving terminals crimped onto electrical cables which are positioned within the cavities. The connector assembly also includes an alignment overlay overlying the mating end of the connector housing and which is adhesively secured thereto. The overlay has openings therethrough which are arranged in a plurality of predetermined patterns and which are aligned with certain ones of the terminal cavities in the housing. The housing block has projections extending from the mating end at certain locations and the alignment overlay has notches at certain locations for receiving the projections to ensure that the overlay can only be adhesively secured to the housing if properly oriented relative to the housing block.

Abstract: A method of measuring the concentration of a free ligand in a biological fluid containing the free ligand and ligand bound to endogenous binding agent, by the steps of(a) mixing a sample of the fluid with an analogue of the ligand, a specific binder with which the free ligand and the ligand analogue bind, and an exogenous binding agent which binds the ligand analogue but not the ligand, either the ligand analogue or the specific binder being labelled,(b) incubating the resulting mixture,(c) determining either the amount of the labelled analogue bound or the amount of labelled specific binder bound, or not bound, to the ligand analogue, and(d) correlating the determined amount to the amount of free ligand present in the sample.The method is useful to measure concentration of free thyroid hormones and other hormones in body fluids, employing antibodies specific to the ligand analogue as the exogenous binding agents.

Abstract: An optical fibre is provided with a moisture barrier layer by exposing a plastics coating on the fibre to a pulsed plasma in order to modify the surface, for instance by implantation of silicon and/or by the deposition on the plastics layer an inorganic layer such as a non-stoichiometric composition of silicon and carbon or silicon and nitrogen.

Abstract: A capsule for use as a temperature responsive element in a temperature sensitive electrical switch. The capsule is provided in a transistor mounting can configuration to facilitate printed circuit board mounting. The capsule contains a fluid and a concave disc. At a predetermined temperature, the disc snaps-over into a convex configuration. Movement of the disc is detected to provide an output signal which is temperature responsive.

Abstract: A snap-action switch unit uses as its movable element a spring strip (23) mounted in a frame (20) such that the strip is bowed. A rod or the like (22) across the strip at its middle constrains the strip so that one half is bowed away from a flat surface (21) while the other half is adjacent to and roughly parallel with the flat surface.On the opposite side of the spring strip (23) to the flat surface (21) there is a rocker (28) depression of which flips the spring strip (23) between two stable states. Integral with the strip (23) there are contact-bearing tongues (26, 27) which co-operate with stationary contacts on the supporting surface (21).Alternatively the spring strip carries a transverse strip carrying two contact buttons which co-operate with stationary contacts.

Abstract: A ferrule terminated optical fiber in which the fiber is held only approximately on the axis of the ferrule on the sides of which flat reference surfaces are subsequently machined. Machining is performed to a predetermined distance from the center of a fiber core, the position of which is revealed by launching light into the fiber from the other end. Providing the reference surfaces as a last manufacturing step avoids the problems of cumulative errors which arise from assembling parts having dimensional tolerances, together with the error resulting from distortion liable to occur during the setting of the adhesive holding a fiber in a ferrule.

Abstract: This relates to an optically isolated switching device made by coupling the output of a light emitting diode into a thyristor. Sensitivity is determined by optical flux density rather than total flux. Improved sensitivity is obtained with a mesa construction of a diode mounted on and bonded to a thyristor at a window in its cathode via a glass preform having a high refractive index.