Abstract: A system and method for providing multiple disk fault tolerance in an N-column by R-row logical representation of stored elements in an array of N independent disks, R minus 1 being less than N divided by a number of disk failures F, includes assigning each strip containing data to at least F different parity groups so that each strip containing data in a respective column is assigned to parity groups different than other strips containing data in the column. The method also includes calculating, for each parity group, a parity value corresponding to all of the strips assigned to the parity group. The method further includes storing each of the parity values in strips of different columns, so that none of the strips containing data in a column are assigned to a parity group for which the parity value for the parity group is stored in the column.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for efficient and reliable construction of adenovirus vectors which contain and express foreign DNA and are useful for gene transfer into mammalian cells, for vaccines and for gene therapy. The invention provides for the growth and purification of adenovirus vectors (helper dependent vectors or HDVs) from which all or most of the viral genes have been removed. The vector system described herein is a new method designed to eliminate helper viruses from the final HDV preparation by cleavage of the helper virus DNA with an endonuclease, alone or in combination with other methods known to limit the level of helper virus contamination of helper dependent vector preparations. The disclosed methods and compositions also provide for regulated control of gene expression.

Abstract: A system for removing at least one pollutant from an air stream exhaust, the system including a plurality of enclosures through which the air stream exhaust is directed to cool the air stream exhaust, a plurality of barriers within each respective enclosure to impede a flow of the air stream exhaust, a liquefied material, comprising bone glue, gelatin and/or skin glue, mixed with water provided within at least one of the plurality of enclosures, and wherein the air stream exhaust passes therethrough the liquefied material and at least one pollutant attaches to the liquefied material.

Abstract: In a railroad locomotive having a plurality of systems which collectively are used for locomotive operations, a method of self-healing a system of the plurality of systems comprising monitoring operational conditions of the system, detecting at least one of a pending and a current failure, determining a self-healing procedure to correct the failure, and applying the self-healing procedure comprising at least one of a safe mode technique, a redundancy technique, and an automatic configuration technique.

Abstract: A locomotive includes an engine (12), an intercooler (16), and an oil cooler (28), each having respective cooling passages formed therein. The locomotive also includes a cooling system (10) in selective communication with the respective cooling passages for selectively providing a first coolant (56) and a second coolant (52) at a higher temperature than the first coolant to the cooling passages. A method of operating the cooling system includes providing, in a first mode, a first coolant flow (26) to the intercooler and a second coolant flow (30) to the oil cooler at a first temperature different than the first coolant flow to achieve preferential cooling of the intercooler. The method also includes providing, in a second mode, the first coolant flow to the intercooler and the second coolant flow to the oil cooler at a second temperature different than the first coolant flow to achieve preferential cooling of the oil cooler.

Abstract: A diesel engine (10) wherein both the operating speed of the engine (RPM) and the timing of the fuel injection into the engine (AA) are cooperatively controlled to be responsive to both the temperature and the pressure of the air (30) used for combustion. A controller (44) receives a temperature signal (28), an air pressure signal (36), and a power demand signal (24) and executes control logic to produce a fuel injection control signal (46) and an engine speed control signal (48) for controlling a fuel injection system (16). A control strategy based on engine inlet air temperature and pressure or manifold air density may be useful for variable speed and power applications. For applications with discreet speed and power points, such as a locomotive, a speed and timing control strategy based on ambient temperature and pressure is useful for maximizing power during high altitude and/or high ambient/inlet air temperature operation.

Abstract: A wheel slip correction system for an electric traction motor propelled vehicle having a plurality of DC electric traction motors with series connected armature and field windings incorporates an apparatus connected in circuit with each motor for reducing motor armature current in response to a motor speed increase caused by wheel slip. The apparatus is arranged to be non-power dissipative during non-wheel slip conditions.

Abstract: A device for practicing an address stance and ball-hitting motion in a sport such as softball. A batter stands on a step plate (30) and a swivel plate (31) mounted on a flat base (12). The plates have adjustable separation, and align the user's feet using toe stops (36). The step plate (30) has foot guards (34) that force the user to step towards the pitch. The swivel plate (31) rotates about a vertical axis, and has foot-retaining straps (38, 39) that allow the heel to lift. Swivel stops (18, 20) limit the rotation range between address alignment and a safe maximum swivel. The user learns to step toward the pitch and swivel the back foot while swinging the bat, turning the body, and shifting weight toward the pitch. The foot plates (30, 31) are reversible on the base (12) for right or left-handed use.

Abstract: A method and system for batching commands and status information between a host computer and an adapter installed on the host computer. The method for command batching includes the host storing command pointers, each command pointer pointing to a command in an array, and providing an array pointer to the array. When a predetermined threshold of stored commands has been reached, the host can deliver a multitude of commands via the array pointer with a single bus access. A method for status batching includes transferring command statuses from the adapter to the host computer and providing a pointer to the transferred statuses. When a predetermined threshold of statuses has been reached, the adapter interrupts the host computer once to fetch the pointer and the host can then read the statuses without requiring any more bus interrupts.

Abstract: A compressed air system, wherein a decision to de-energize a compressor motor is made with consideration of the likely need for the operation of the compressor at a future point in time. A rate of pressure decay in an air reservoir may be extrapolated over a predetermined time period to predict the need for operation of the compressor within the time period. If operation of the compressor is predicted to be needed within the time period, the compressor is allowed to continue to run in an unloaded mode beyond a normal cool down period.

Abstract: A beverage container insulating sleeve for insulating a user's hand from a cold or hot beverage container while maintaining the serving temperature of the beverage. The material of the sleeve comprises insulating polyethylene foam. The sleeve is a low cost, lightweight, ergonomic, solution for consumers, advertisers, and anyone who sells hot or cold bottled beverages. The sleeve is further conformable to various beverage container styles and shapes due to a plurality of vertical slits formed therein.

Abstract: A radio frequency transmitting and receiving apparatus comprising an antenna further comprising a plurality of antenna segments. Each segment exhibits a different electrical length and certain of the segments are capacitively coupled to establish a resonant frequency for each segment. In one embodiment, the certain segments comprise a plurality of concentric arcuate conductive elements connected to a signal terminal and a ground plane.

Abstract: A diffuser (30) for a centrifugal compressor (60) having a flow slot (34) formed between the leading edge portion (36) of a diffuser vane (32) and an adjoining diffuser wall (70) for the passage of working fluid (67) over the vane from the pressure side ((40) to the suction side (42) of the vane. The portion (38) of the working fluid passing over the vane is injected into the flow boundary region (43), thereby minimizing the growth of a flow separation zone (58) along the suction side.

Abstract: Circuit and method for hiding peer devices from a computer host are provided. The devices and host share a common electrical bus, e.g., a PCI bus. The method allows to generate a signal indicative of the presence of a first peer device. The method further allows to hide a second peer device from the host so that the second device is controlled by the first peer device whenever the signal indicates the presence of the first device.

Abstract: Method, apparatus and computer-readable code are provided for detecting a location of an incipient ground fault in an electrical propulsion system of a relatively large land-based vehicle, such as a locomotive. A method embodying aspects of the present invention allows to simultaneously apply a forcing function to one or more electrical devices connected to a direct current (dc) bus. The forcing function is configured to magnify (without voltage stress to such devices) an incipient ground fault that may be directly associated with a given electrical device. This enables to quickly identify the incipient ground fault and to uniquely identify the electrical device likely to be experiencing the incipient ground fault.

Abstract: A RAID 6 architecture including a disk array having a prime number minus 1 disks. A method of providing multiple disk fault tolerance in an N?column×R?row logical representation of a set of data elements, wherein N represents the number of disks in the array and R is equivalent to N/2, includes assigning each strip containing data to at least two different parity groups so that each strip containing data in a respective column is assigned to parity groups different than other strips containing data in the column. The method also includes calculating, for each parity group, a parity value corresponding to all of the strips assigned to the parity group. The method further includes storing each of the parity values in strips of different columns, so that none of the strips containing data in a column are assigned to a parity group for which the parity value for the parity group is stored in the column.

Abstract: This invention provides a system for modeling neurodegenerative and other diseases through somatic gene transfer. In addition, methods of multiple gene transfer, disease analysis and drug testing are provided for.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the root cause of no trouble found events in a machine is disclosed. The actual faults occurring during a predetermined time interval prior to the no trouble found event are analyzed and correlated with the no trouble found events in an effort to identify those actual faults that have a high correlation with each no trouble found event. If a high correlation is not found, then the no trouble found event is analyzed off-line to determine the root cause.

Abstract: A shock suppression system for a fishing rod is mounted to a fishing rod and connected to the secure end of the fishing line for dampening the movement of the secure end of the toward the tip of the rod when a force is applied to the free end of the line by a fish hooked on the line. The invention may include a piston attached to a cartridge that is mounted to the handle portion of the fishing rod. The piston is attached in sliding engagement to the cartridge, which has a mechanism for dampening the movement of the piston toward the rod tip. Such a mechanism may be found in pneumatic cylinders, hydraulic cylinders or compression spring systems as found on a screen door for a home.