Abstract: A detection process is disclosed. The detection process includes applying a load to a preselected portion of an article. The applying of the load permits visually indiscernible cracks in the preselected portion of the article to be detected. The treated article includes a preselected portion having treated visually indiscernible cracks. The treated visually indiscernible cracks are substantially devoid of damage due to the treatment of the visually indiscernible cracks.

Abstract: A low profile lighting assembly includes a lighting fixture and a remote ballast housing mounted on a ceiling grid. The ballast housing encloses emergency ballast provides emergency power to the lighting fixture in the event of a power outage. The ballast housing can enclose a fluorescent ballast connected to one or more fluorescent lamps of the lighting fixture. The emergency ballast is recessed with respect to the top end of the ceiling grid to provide a low profile structure. Inclined side walls of the emergency ballast provide easy connection of the wiring harness and power cable to the emergency ballast while maintaining the low profile structure.

Abstract: Various embodiments enable a device to create a pool of at least one empty application. An empty application can be configured to contain resources that are common across one or more other applications and initialize the resources for the one or more other applications effective to reduce startup time of the other applications. In one or more embodiments, an empty application can further be populated with the one or more other applications effective to cause the one or more other applications to execute. Alternately or additionally, a device can be monitored for an idle state, and, upon determining the device is in the idle state, at least one empty application can be created.

Abstract: Various embodiments can control access to a computing resource (e.g., a memory resource) by detecting that a high priority activity is accessing the resource and preventing a lower priority activity from accessing the resource. The lower priority activity can be allowed access to the resource after the high priority activity is finished accessing the resource. Various embodiments enable memory operations to be mapped to account for changes in data ordering that can occur when a lower priority activity is suppressed. For example, when an activity requests that data be written to a logical memory region, a mapping is created that maps the logical memory region to a physical memory region. The data can then be written to the physical memory region.

Abstract: A low profile lighting assembly includes a lighting fixture and a remote ballast housing mounted on a ceiling grid. The ballast housing encloses emergency ballast provides emergency power to the lighting fixture in the event of a power outage. The ballast housing can enclose a fluorescent ballast connected to one or more fluorescent lamps of the lighting fixture. The emergency ballast is recessed with respect to the top end of the ceiling grid to provide a low profile structure. Inclined side walls of the emergency ballast provide easy connection of the wiring harness and power cable to the emergency ballast while maintaining the low profile structure.

Abstract: A device for supporting a tree limb. The device includes a base having top and bottom surfaces for situating the device proximate to said tree limb. A telescoping pole having a longitudinal axis and first and second ends is provided, the first end being rotatably secured to the base. A coupling is included for varying the length of the telescoping pole. A support rod is affixed to the second end of the telescoping pole, the support rod being rotatable about the longitudinal axis. A U-shaped limb support member is fixedly appended to the support rod.

Abstract: Various embodiments pertain to methods and systems for providing multi-source content in electronic program guides (EPGs). In at least some embodiments, various techniques can present the viewer with a user interface, such as a grid, that is efficiently and intelligently assembled and managed to foster a desirable user experience.

Abstract: A device for supporting a tree limb. The device includes a base having top and bottom surfaces for situating the device proximate to said tree limb. A telescoping pole having a longitudinal axis and first and second ends is provided, the first end being rotatably secured to the base. A coupling is included for varying the length of the telescoping pole. A support rod is affixed to the second end of the telescoping pole, the support rod being rotatable about the longitudinal axis. A U-shaped limb support member is fixedly appended to the support rod.

Abstract: Various embodiments allow for managed copies of multimedia content to be made by end users. The managed copy process can ensure that end users can make legitimate and controlled copies of content while, at the some time, give content producers the ability to control and authorize such copies.

Abstract: A mechanism and method for automatically leveling an assembly, such as a lighting fixture, suspended from a cable having a loop, the assembly having a support member. The mechanism comprises a hanger having an opening for receiving the support member of the assembly therein. The hanger includes a plurality of sides and at least one interior downwardly facing surface for engaging the cable loop through the hanger. The hanger is inserted through a tongue on the suspension assembly and the cable loop is inserted into the hanger and engages the interior downwardly facing surface, thereby automatically leveling and suspending the assembly from the ceiling.

Abstract: The present invention provides a time indicator and method of use for determining and visually displaying the passage of a predetermined period of time. The time indicator of the present invention comprises a top portion and a bottom portion. The top portion is a multi-layer segment comprising a dye support layer coated with a masking layer, which containing a viewing window therethrough, and a non-curing ink or dye permeable polymer layer containing a migrating agent. The bottom portion is a multi-layer segment comprising a base support layer and a migrating ink or dye printed on the top surface of the base segment. The time indicator apparatus further comprises a removable impervious film or middle layer, which can be removed allowing the top and bottom portions to come into contact with one another, thereby activating the time indicator. The time indicator of the present invention allows one to follow the uniform directional visual dye migration through the viewing window.

Abstract: The invention provides pth polypeptides and polynucleotides encoding pth polypeptides and methods for producing such polypeptides by recombinant techniques. Also provided are methods for utilizing pth polypeptides to screen for antibacterial compounds.

Abstract: This invention relates to an emergency valve shutdown system having an integrated test facility. The invention provides an apparatus for testing emergency shutdown valves in a process industry comprising: a valve having a plurality of limit switches each limit switch arranged to indicate that the valve has reached a corresponding one of a plurality of predetermined valve positions; a valve monitor module arranged to send a signal to said valve to initiate movement of said valve and to receive feedback relating to said limit switches; wherein said feedback is provided via a single feedback signal between the valve and the valve monitor module.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a portable hydraulic press comprising a c-frame having a throat and first and second ends, the first and second ends locatable about a part to be pressed and a receiving structure. The press also includes a hydraulic assembly coupled to the c-frame and having a hydraulic ram configured to move through the first end and towards and away from an interior surface of the second end of the c-frame when the press is operated. It further includes a first installation cup coupled to the hydraulic ram, and having engaging surfaces designed to conform to exterior surfaces of an exterior surface of either the part or the receiving structure, and a second installation cup coupled to the interior surface of the second end of the c-frame and having engaging surfaces designed to conform to exterior surfaces of the other of the exterior surface of the part or the receiving structure. A hydraulic pump is coupled to the hydraulic assembly to operate the press.

Abstract: A strap tensioning device for anchoring a load to an anchor point, that includes a strap, a base member having a pair of arms, a handle rotatably connected to the base member, a mechanism operated by rotation of the handle for securing the strap to the base member under a tension, an anchor for anchoring the base member to the anchor point, and a tension indicating device connected to the base member. The tension indicating device includes a load member extending between the arms, and preferably a spring connected between the load member and the base member. At least one of the anchor and the strap are configured to exert a changing force on the load member for moving the load member against a resilient force of the spring as the tension in the strap changes.

Abstract: Compounds of the general structural formula (I), and use of the compounds and salts and solvates thereof, as therapeutic agents.

Abstract: A strap tensioning apparatus (10) adapted to releasably engage and rotate the ratchet hub (100) of a strap tensioning ratchet wherein, the ratchet hub (100) is provided with a transverse bore (101) and the apparatus (10) includes a collar member (20) having a peripheral aperture (21) alignable with one end of the transverse bore (101) wherein, a lever arm (30) is pivotally connected to the collar member (20) and provided with a post (33) dimensioned to extend into the transverse bore (101) and the collar member (20) is further provided with a handle member (40) adapted to rotate both the collar member (20) and the ratchet hub (100) when the post (33) is engaged in the transverse bore (101).

Abstract: This invention relates to an emergency valve shutdown system having an integrated test facility. The invention provides an apparatus for testing emergency shutdown valves in a process industry comprising: a valve having a plurality of limit switches each limit switch arranged to indicate that the valve has reached a corresponding one of a plurality of predetermined valve positions; a valve monitor module arranged to send a signal to said valve to initiate movement of said valve and to receive feedback relating to said limit switches; wherein said feedback is provided via a single feedback signal between the valve and the valve monitor module.

Abstract: An end cap for a lighting fixture including an end wall that has a periphery, an outer surface, and an inner surface opposite the outer surface that is adapted to engage the lighting fixture. A tongue element extends from the outer surface in a first direction along the periphery of the end wall. A groove element is disposed along the periphery of the end wall and is open at the outer surface of the end wall. A suspension element extends from the inner surface of the periphery of the end wall. The suspension element extends in a second direction opposite the first direction of the tongue element. The tongue and groove elements of the end cap are adapted to engage tongue and groove elements of another substantially identical end cap of another lighting fixture.

Abstract: An end cap for a lighting fixture including an end wall that has a periphery, an outer surface, and an inner surface opposite the outer surface that is adapted to engage the lighting fixture. A tongue element extends from the outer surface in a first direction along the periphery of the end wall. A groove element is disposed along the periphery of the end wall and is open at the outer surface of the end wall. A suspension element extends from the inner surface of the periphery of the end wall. The suspension element extends in a second direction opposite the first direction of the tongue element. The tongue and groove elements of the end cap are adapted to engage tongue and groove elements of another substantially identical end cap of another lighting fixture.