Abstract: A computer-implemented method for predicting an effect of an intervention on managed computing resources using a first system automation management system, comprising an automated operations controller and at least one automation agent is disclosed. The method comprises sending initial state data of the first system automation management system to a second system automation management system which is a functional duplicate of the first system automation management system, sending a status change command and a related expected response vector, equivalent to a result of the intervention to the second system automation management system, determining, by the second system automation management system, a predicted response vector of the managed computing resources in response to the received status change command, and responding, by the second system automation management system, with the determined response vector and a set of predicted actions derived therefrom.

Abstract: Semantically-segmented video compression includes loading a frame of video imagery, determining a context for the frame, selecting an object of interest for the context and identifying within the frame, a portion of the frame of the imagery deemed to be of greater interest than other portions of the frame of video imagery based upon the object of interest of the context determined for the video imagery, and an object, that has been pre-specified to be of importance to the context. A hybrid compression of the video imagery is then performed that includes both a higher quality compression of the portion of the video imagery determined to be a region of higher interest that produces a minimization of loss during decompression and also a compression of the other portions of the video imagery determined not to be a region of higher interest that produces more loss during decompression.

Abstract: Semantically-segmented video compression includes loading a frame of video imagery, determining a context for the frame, selecting an object of interest for the context and identifying within the frame, a portion of the frame of the imagery deemed to be of greater interest than other portions of the frame of video imagery based upon the object of interest of the context determined for the video imagery, and an object, that has been pre-specified to be of importance to the context. A hybrid compression of the video imagery is then performed that includes both a higher quality compression of the portion of the video imagery determined to be a region of higher interest that produces a minimization of loss during decompression and also a compression of the other portions of the video imagery determined not to be a region of higher interest that produces more loss during decompression.

Abstract: In one aspect, an on-chip microfluidic device (OMD) is provided for microscopic observation. In one embodiment, an on-chip gradient generating device has a silica chip having a cell loading portion configured to load the tissue. A microfluidic channel is formed in the silica chip for a chemoattractant solution having the chemoattractant to flow through, and a plurality of gradient generating ports is formed to connect to the microfluidic channel to the cell loading portion. A chemoattractant supply device is connected to an inlet of the at least one microfluidic channel for supplying the chemoattractant with a constant positive pressure to the chemoattractant solution flowing in the microfluidic channel to create the passive gradient of the chemoattractant in the chemoattractant solution such that the tissue is exposed to the chemoattractant solution having different concentration of the chemoattractant at each gradient generating port.

Abstract: A method and a system is provided for persistently storing and restoring objects of an object oriented environment established on a computer system having a volatile memory and a persistent storage. Pieces of memory, referred to as segments are allocated in the volatile memory. Then, a first list is created that contains first references to said segments. The segments are further divided into blocks. The blocks are indicated by second references. The second references are stored in a second list. In order to store an object present in the volatile memory, a block is allocated. Then an object description is created by saving the object's values of its variables. After saving the object description in the allocated block, a new element is added to the second list containing the particular reference to said created object description. Then, the references of the object descriptions of all other objects referenced in the present object are determined.

Abstract: The present invention controls the automation process in a computer network system. An Abstract Resource Model is introduced in which the model results in the automation being divided into two: an automation execution component and an automation decision-making component. The automation execution component controls how programs or resources are run within a specific environment, and the automation decision making component controls when a program or resource is run on an abstract decision-making level. In the Abstract Resource Model, the operator needs no specific knowledge as to which programs or program components belong to an overall application, or which programs or program components need to be started in which order.

Abstract: A method and a system is provided for persistently storing and restoring objects of an object oriented environment established on a computer system having a volatile memory and a persistent storage. Pieces of memory, referred to as segments are allocated in the volatile memory. Then, a first list is created that contains first references to said segments. The segments are further divided into blocks. The blocks are indicated by second references. The second references are stored in a second list. In order to store an object present in the volatile memory, a block is allocated. Then an object description is created by saving the object's values of its variables. After saving the object description in the allocated block, a new element is added to the second list containing the particular reference to said created object description. Then, the references of the object descriptions of all other objects referenced in the present object are determined.

Abstract: The present invention controls the automation process in a computer network system. The major advantage of the present invention is based on the introduction of an Abstract Resource Model. This model results in the automation being divided into two: an automation execution component (Automation Agent or Resource Agent); and an automation decision-making component (Automation Manager or Resource Manager). The automation execution component controls how programs or resources are run within a specific environment. For this, the automation execution component has at its disposal predefined routines to start, stop or monitor a program. The automation execution component is preferentially installed on the computer on which the program or resource is installed. The automation decision-making component controls when a program or resource is run on an abstract decision-making level. The automation decision-making component stores the dependencies of the programs or resources for starting or stopping.