Abstract: The combination of a container of a first volume and a fluid containment and dispensing apparatus includes a flexible bag having an inner wall, an outer wall and a collar. The collar comprises a plurality of components, including a collar body, a flange that is attached to the bag, and a top plate having a first aperture therein configured to for connection to a first fluid carrying conduit, the fluid carrying conduit providing for egress of fluid from the bag. The container comprises walls the walls having inner and outer surfaces, and the collar body extends from a wall of the container. The container provides at least one second aperture providing for ingress and egress of fluid to and from a space situated between the outer surface of the bag and the inner surface of the container and the apparatus further comprises a fastener, such as a clamp, to fasten the collar components together.

Abstract: Storage systems store data in a storage pool comprising storage devices or virtual devices. The storage pool may be allocated for a particular purpose. If a virtual device within the storage pool needs to be repurposed, the virtual device is removed from the storage pool. Data is moved from the removed virtual device to one or more target virtual devices. Segments of the source virtual device being removed are copied to target virtual devices. Mapping tables associating source segments with target segments are stored. If the storage system receives a request to access data stored on a virtual device that is removed, the storage system processes the mapping tables to determine where the data is stored.

Abstract: A storage system maintains copies of a source database to allow virtual databases to be provisioned. Transaction logs received from the source database are applied to database blocks stored in the storage system to update the database blocks. The storage system checks if there are defect in the transaction logs of the source database. If a defect in transaction logs is detected, the storage system obtains a latest copy of the source database. The storage system matches database blocks of the received copy with database blocks already available in the storage system to determine whether a corresponding database block is already available in the storage system. If a received database block is different from database blocks already available at the storage system, the received database block is stored in the storage system. The database blocks may be matched using a hash value of the database blocks.

Abstract: A storage system maintains copies of a source database to allow virtual databases to be provisioned. Transaction logs received from the source database are applied to database blocks stored in the storage system to update the database blocks. The storage system checks if there are defect in the transaction logs of the source database. If a defect in transaction logs is detected, the storage system obtains a latest copy of the source database. The storage system matches database blocks of the received copy with database blocks already available in the storage system to determine whether a corresponding database block is already available in the storage system. If a received database block is different from database blocks already available at the storage system, the received database block is stored in the storage system. The database blocks may be matched using a hash value of the database blocks.

Abstract: The combination of a container of a first volume and a fluid containment and dispensing apparatus includes a flexible bag having an inner wall, an outer wall and a collar. The collar comprises a plurality of components, including a collar body, a flange that is attached to the bag, and a top plate having a first aperture therein configured to for connection to a first fluid carrying conduit, the fluid carrying conduit providing for egress of fluid from the bag. The container comprises walls the walls having inner and outer surfaces, and the collar body extends from a wall of the container. The container provides at least one second aperture providing for ingress and egress of fluid to and from a space situated between the outer surface of the bag and the inner surface of the container and the apparatus further comprises fastening means to fasten the collar components together.

Abstract: A beverage dispenser is configured as an outer pressure vessel (12) with one or more internal liner bags (11) for respective content, the dispenser having one or more content pathways, a selector valve connected to the content pathways for selection and proportion mix, a pressurization port in the container for charging the container externally of the liner bags and to promote discharge through the pathways, a bleed valve from a pressurized gas supply for selective gas injection at or close to a point of dispensing with a facility to pre-mix and feedback the pre-mix to a dedicated liner bag.

Abstract: A system and method for visual advertising and emergency alerting via a plurality of display screens is provided. The system includes a computing device, a plurality of area monitoring systems, at least one interconnection controller, and a high-speed network. The high-speed network is adapted to connect the computing device with the plurality of display screens and the plurality of area monitoring systems via the interconnection controller. The system is configured to enable a plurality of transmission signal sources to be routed to any desired destination while maintaining the ability to be overridden by an emergency message.

Abstract: A pillow drape for use with a thermal medical treatment apparatus or device is provided. The drape includes a sterilized sheet for covering the warming medical device that covers the device body and a basin that is used to store a warming liquid. The pillow drape includes an enclosure having a support member therein to support a medical instrument, such as a surgical scope, during warming of the scope. The support member can be housed between first and second sections of the pillow drape sheet in a pocket portion. The support member can be positioned on an extension shelf added to the warming device to provide additional storage room while not taking up room in the surgical or medical room. Additionally, a cord hook can be attached to the medical device to aid in routing a power cord for the device away from traffic.

Abstract: A beverage dispenser is configured as an outer pressure vessel (12) with one or more internal liner bags (11) for respective content, the dispenser having one or more content pathways, a selector valve connected to the content pathways for selection and proportion mix, a pressurisation port in the container for charging the container externally of the liner bags and to promote discharge through the pathways, a bleed valve from a pressurised gas supply for selective gas injection at or close to a point of dispensing with a facility to pre-mix and feedback the pre-mix to a dedicated liner bag.

Abstract: A storage system maintains copies of a source database to allow virtual databases to be provisioned. Transaction logs received from the source database are applied to database blocks stored in the storage system to update the database blocks. The storage system checks if there are defect in the transaction logs of the source database. If a defect in transaction logs is detected, the storage system obtains a latest copy of the source database. The storage system matches database blocks of the received copy with database blocks already available in the storage system to determine whether a corresponding database block is already available in the storage system. If a received database block is different from database blocks already available at the storage system, the received database block is stored in the storage system. The database blocks may be matched using a hash value of the database blocks.

Abstract: A storage system maintains copies of a source database to allow virtual databases to be provisioned. Transaction logs received from the source database are applied to database blocks stored in the storage system to update the database blocks. The storage system checks if there are defect in the transaction logs of the source database. If a defect in transaction logs is detected, the storage system obtains a latest copy of the source database. The storage system matches database blocks of the received copy with database blocks already available in the storage system to determine whether a corresponding database block is already available in the storage system. If a received database block is different from database blocks already available at the storage system, the received database block is stored in the storage system. The database blocks may be matched using a hash value of the database blocks.

Abstract: A pillow drape for use with a thermal medical treatment apparatus or device is provided. The drape includes a sterilized sheet for covering the warming medical device that covers the device body and a basin that is used to store a warming liquid. The pillow drape includes an enclosure having a support member therein to support a medical instrument, such as a surgical scope, during warming of the scope. The support member can be housed between first and second sections of the pillow drape sheet in a pocket portion. The support member can be positioned on an extension shelf added to the warming device to provide additional storage room while not taking up room in the surgical or medical room. Additionally, a cord hook can be attached to the medical device to aid in routing a power cord for the device away from traffic.

Abstract: A towable buoyant platform of modular floating segments is provided to serve as a floating target. The platform connects at least one pontoon thereto. The pontoon includes a keel that connects to the hull and a plurality of buoyant modules. The keel extends longitudinally along the platform. Each module has an interface that connects to the keel. Each module also includes first and second longitudinal ends. The first and second ends have a tongue and a groove, respectively. The tongue and groove are slideably connectable to each other, such that fore and aft modules of the plurality attach together.

Abstract: An external door for use in accessing a cargo area of an aircraft fuselage. The door includes a locking system, a latching system, a lock monitoring system, an uplock used to secure the door in an open position, and an actuating system that assists in at least one of opening and closing the door. The locking system works by interfering with the movement of the latching system components. The locking system includes a monitoring device that prevents the aircraft from being pressurized in case of a malfunction in the locking system. The latching system includes a handle locking system that prevents operation of the latch handle by accident or by ground loading or flight forces. The systems of the door are preferably manually operated, and utilize rigid members.

Abstract: An external door for use in accessing a cargo area of an aircraft fuselage. The door includes a locking system, a latching system, a lock monitoring system, an uplock used to secure the door in an open position, and an actuating system that assists in at least one of opening and closing the door. The locking system works by interfering with the movement of the latching system components. The locking system includes a monitoring device that prevents the aircraft from being pressurized in case of a malfunction in the locking system. The latching system includes a handle locking system that prevents operation of the latch handle by accident or by ground loading or flight forces. The systems of the door are preferably manually operated, and utilize rigid members.

Abstract: The “Internal Combustion Engine Energy Extractor” is a device that is extracts otherwise wasted heat from both the engine exhaust system and it's cooling system. This heat is converted into mechanical energy, which is 1) used to power the “Extractor” and 2) may be used for auxiliary engine devices, such as an intake air supercharger or an electrical generator. The Energy Extractor by itself 1) increases engine efficiency and power by decreasing exhaust back pressure and 2) decreases engine wear by decreasing the cylinder and engine temperature.

Abstract: An auxiliary power unit (“APU”) system and methods used to bring such system on-line and off-line are disclosed. An APU generator forming part of an APU system, is brought “on-line” smoothly in order to replace a primary generator operating at a steady-state rotational speed that is interconnected with a load. A controller forming part of the APU system controls rotational speed of the APU and thereby the generator so that it approaches a rotational speed beneath the steady-state rotational speed of the primary generator. The controller then connects the APU generator to the load and the primary generator. This causes the APU generator to motor at the steady-state rotational speed dictated by the primary generator. Thereafter, the controller may increase rotational speed of the APU generator until it provides power to the load and the primary generator may be disconnected from the load.

Abstract: A transgenic mouse which contains a predefined, specific and desired alteration in at least one of its two chromosomal alleles of a cellular adhesion gene, such that at least one of these alleles contains a mutation which alters the expression of the allele.

Abstract: This trip circuit comprises a DC source and the series combination of a trip coil and a thyristor connected across the source. Connected between the source and the gate circuit of the thyristor is a triggering circuit including protective relay contacts that are operable to cause current from the source to flow through the triggering circuit and the gate circuit, thus firing the thyristor to produce effective energization of the trip coil. For producing effective energization of the trip coil in the event that the thyristor fails to fire, there is provided back-up energizing means in the form of a low ohmic resistor connected externally of the thyristor between its gate circuit and its cathode for providing a conductive path in series with the trip coil and the triggering circuit through which effective energizing current from the source can flow through the trip coil.

Abstract: A towable buoyant platform of modular floating segments is provided to serve as a floating target. The platform connects at least one pontoon thereto. The pontoon includes a keel that connects to the hull and a plurality of buoyant modules. The keel extends longitudinally along the platform. Each module has an interface that connects to the keel. Each module also includes first and second longitudinal ends. The first and second ends have a tongue and a groove, respectively. The tongue and groove are slideably connectable to each other, such that fore and aft modules of the plurality attach together.