Abstract: The present invention provides for a system and method for assuring integrity of deduplicated data objects stored within a storage system. A data object is copied to secondary storage media, and a digital signature such as a checksum is generated of the data object. Then, deduplication is performed upon the data object and the data object is split into chunks. The chunks are combined when the data object is subsequently accessed, and a signature is generated for the reassembled data object. The reassembled data object is provided if the newly generated signature is identical to the originally generated signature, and otherwise a backup copy of the data object is provided from secondary storage media.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for the recovery of radiolabelled isotopes from organic substances labelled or contaminated with one or more radiolabelled isotopes, which process comprises: i) adding organic substances labelled or contaminated with a radiolabelled isotope to an acidic aqueous electrolyte containing silver ions as an electrochemically regenerable primary oxidising species; ii) subjecting the acidic aqueous electrolyte to an electric potential; and iii) recovering the radiolabelled isotope from the products of the electrochemical process resulting from the application of the electric potential; wherein the process is carried out at a slight pressure depression.

Abstract: Using a sling that includes a central portion and at least two arms extending from the central portion, a method of treating anal incontinence may include positioning the central portion posteriorly to the rectum and/or anus of a subject, and extending each arm of the sling to a respective obturator region. Using a sling having the same or similar structure, a method of treating pelvic organ prolapse may include positioning the central portion beneath the ano-rectum of a subject, and extending each arm of the sling to a respective thigh incision near the obturator region.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for therapeutically heating a target zone of a collagenous support tissue within a patient body. In exemplary embodiments, the present invention provides electronically determining an acceptable or unacceptable contact condition between an energy source and a first tissue layer disposed proximally to the target zone. Upon determining an acceptable contact condition, the target zone is irradiated or otherwise heated for a finite time period with energy. A determination of an unacceptable contact condition causes cessation of irradiating.

Abstract: The present invention provides a modular device for restoring individual joint kinematics using minimally invasive surgical procedures. The modular implants include distinct components that include interconnection means and tethering means. The modular implants provide intraoperative surgical options for articular constraint and facilitate proper alignment and orientation of the joint to restore kinematics as defined by the individual patient anatomy.

Abstract: A method of generating a stream of non-contiguous memory addresses representing contiguous points in logical space is described. The method comprises: generating initializing parameters describing the contiguous points in the logical space; configuring a memory address engine with the initializing parameters; performing an algorithm in the memory address engine according to the initialising parameters to produce a plurality of non-contiguous memory addresses; and collating the non-contiguous memory addresses into the stream of memory addresses for output to a data memory. The present invention has particular application to SIMD processing techniques where there are a plurality of memory address engines.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a method and a computer system for preserving filehandles after a file system migration on a distributed file system. One embodiment of the invention includes maintaining a cache of each filehandle provided to a client from a source file server. When files are migrated from the source file server to the destination file server, the cache entries are transferred from the source file server to the destination file server. The cache entries are then updated to link the source file server filehandle of each cached data object to the file attributes of the data object now existing on the destination file server. When a client subsequently attempts to access a file by using a previously valid filehandle, the cache will translate the source file server filehandle into the file attributes of the object on the destination file server, allowing the file to be located without receiving a filehandle expiration error.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method to resolve ambiguities for monitoring and automating UNIX processes by providing a multi-level filter routine and search approach that interrogates the active process table to identify the specific process by matching unique process criteria stored during configuration of the automation product. The filter and search method goes beyond process name, as process names are often not unique in UNIX environments, and includes process parameters and information by which the process was invoked.

Abstract: An MRI guided surgical apparatus includes a heat source formed by a laser and an optical fiber carrying the heat energy into a part to be coagulated by hyperthermia with an end reflector to direct the energy in a beam to one side of the fiber end. A reinforcing sleeve for the fiber is mounted in a shielded, Piezo-electric motor which causes movement of the fiber longitudinally and angularly within a rigid elongate cannula. A magnetic resonance imaging system is arranged to generate a series of output signals over a period of time representative of temperature in the part as the temperature of the part changes during that time. The heat source is controlled in heat energy applied and location and orientation of the beam to stop heating when the temperature at the boundary of a tumor reaches the required hyperthermic temperature. Cooling of the tip portion of the probe is effected by expansion of a supplied cooling fluid in gaseous form through a restrictive orifice into an expansion zone at the probe end.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and method for treating urinary incontinence generally relying on energy delivered to a patient's pelvic support tissue to selectively contract or shrink at least a portion of that pelvic support tissue so as to reposition the bladder. The energy will preferably be applied to the endopelvic fascia and/or an arcus tendineus fascia pelvis. A variety of devices and methods are provided for applying gentle resistive heating of these and other tissues to cause them to contract without imposing significant injury on the surrounding tissue structures. By applying sufficient energy over a predetermined time, the tissue can be raised to a temperature which results in contraction without significant necrosis or other tissue damage. By selectively contracting the support tissues, the bladder neck, sphincter, and other components of the urinary tract responsible for the control of urinary flow can be reconfigured or supported in a manner which reduces urinary leakage.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product to improve XML query processing efficiency with virtual cursors. Structural joins are a fundamental operation in XML query processing, and substantial work exists on index-based algorithms for executing them. Two well-known index features—path indices and ancestor information—are combined in a novel way to replace at least some of the physical index cursors in a structural join with virtual cursors. The position of a virtual cursor is derived from the path and ancestor information of a physical cursor. Virtual cursors can be easily incorporated into existing structural join algorithms. By eliminating index I/O and the processing cost of handling physical inverted lists, virtual cursors can improve the performance of holistic path queries by an order of magnitude or more.

Abstract: A platform mounted drive train for a professional carpet and floor cleaner system, the platform mounted drive train being formed of a rigid platform; a power plant having two spaced apart mounting structures secured to the rigid platform; a vacuum blower having one mounting structure secured to the rigid platform; a rigid structural connector coupled between the power plant and the vacuum blower for rigidly securing the vacuum blower in fixed lateral, angular and rotational alignment with the power plant; and a coupler assembly interfaced between an output drive of the power plant and an input drive of the vacuum blower. The drive train is optionally mounted using one or more vibration isolators.

Abstract: A content management system integrated with a web caching proxy that delivers content according to access control rules. An access control token is generated using a secret key when a user selects a desired object (to be provided only upon token validation, thus the object retrieval and delivery task can be delegated). However, tokens for other content and/or for other users could be generated by a rogue resource manager. If the desired object is already cached, the proxy asks the resource manager to validate the token and then selectively provides the desired object without contacting a library server. Alternately, the proxy itself performs the token validation, but must coordinate with the library server to ensure it has the latest secret key. Finally, the tokens may contain digital signatures generated with a private key and validated with a corresponding public key, so that private keys need not be distributed.

Abstract: In one aspect of the present invention, a lock assembly comprises a dial, a lock device, and a spindle having a spindle base and an elongate spindle shaft extending from the spindle base. The spindle shaft comprises a plurality of spindle segments having four sides and separated by a plurality of spaced apart grooves. Each of the spindle segments includes a chamfered leading edge. In another aspect of the present invention, a method of mounting a lock assembly on a mounting surface comprises positioning a dial on a first side of the mounting surface, positioning a lock device on a second side of the mounting surface, determining a distance between the first and second sides, providing a spindle including a plurality of spindle segments having four sides and separated by a plurality of spaced apart grooves, and cutting the spindle at a selected one of the spaced apart grooves.

Abstract: A long life high pressure seal stack provides a reliable and efficient seal between a plunger and housing of a plunger type pump. The seal stack includes a high pressure sealing element and a low pressure sealing element, both of which provide a sealing extension which surrounds and is in contact with the plunger. The sealing extension is configured to be exposed to internal pressures within the valve, thus urging the sealing extension tighter against the plunger when pressures are high, while relaxing the sealing extension when pressures are low. By incorporating this variable pressure feature, the friction between the plunger and the seal is greatly reduced, especially during low pressure conditions. Further, the sealing elements are constructed of a low friction material, thus avoiding problems related to potential overheating of a seal element.

Abstract: One aspect of the present invention includes performance of a comparative functional coverage technique for comparing analysis of actual operational load data, such as customer data, with test operational load data. In one embodiment, coverage and holes analysis operations are performed on each of actual trace data produced by the operation of actual activities, and test trace data produced by the operation of a simulation within a test execution. The functional coverage and hole analysis results produced for each of the actual data source and the test data source are then compared to discover the most important functional holes relevant to testing, namely holes which appear only in the test but not within the actual operation. The results of the holes comparison detailing which holes exist within the test are then presented and ultimately utilized to improve the test.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of mass labelled probes to characterize nucleic acids by mass spectrometry. Thus the invention provides methods of detecting the presence of a target nucleic acid in a sample, using a circularizing probe in which a mass tag is present in the probe. Further methods of detecting the presence of a target nucleic acid are provided, which in contrast use a probe detection sequence in the circularizing probe, wherein the probe detection sequence is detected with a probe attached to a mass tag. Methods for determining a genetic profile from the genome of an organism also form part of the invention.

Abstract: A device is provided for assessing impairment of blood circulation in a patient, such as that in perfusion failure, by measurement of blood flow adjacent a mucosal surface accessible by a mouth or nose and connecting with the gastrointestinal tract or upper respiratory/digestive tract of a patient. The device includes a blood-flow sensor adapted to be positioned adjacent a mucosal surface with a patient's body and measuring blood flow in adjacent tissue and a PCO.sub.2 sensor adapted to be positioned adjacent the mucosal surface and measuring PCO.sub.2. In addition a pH sensor may be used in combination with the blood flow determination. A method of detecting perfusion failure is also disclosed. The method includes utilizing blood-flow measurements in conjunction with a surface perfusion pressure index and/or an optical plethysmography index to more accurately assess perfusion failure. These measurements may also be supplement by taking measurements of pH, sublingual PCO.sub.2, and Sa O.sub.2.

Abstract: A platform mounted drive train for a professional carpet and floor cleaner system, the platform mounted drive train being formed of a rigid platform; a power plant having two spaced apart mounting structures secured to the rigid platform; a vacuum blower having one mounting structure secured to the rigid platform; a rigid structural connector coupled between the power plant and the vacuum blower for rigidly securing the vacuum blower in fixed lateral, angular and rotational alignment with the power plant; and a coupler assembly interfaced between an output drive of the power plant and an input drive of the vacuum blower. The drive train is optionally mounted using one or more vibration isolators.

Abstract: A cleaning head for carpets, walls or upholstery, including a rigid, exterior, open-bottomed main body which defines the surface subjected to the cleaning process.