Abstract: A fishing pole including a handle and a seat that is integrated with the handle and structured to engage a line reel supporting a fishing line disposed about a spool of the line reel. The fishing pole further includes a flexible rod connecting to the handle and extending axially along an elongate axis. The flexible rod is structured to cast a fishing line a distance from the spool of the line reel. The flexible rod further includes at least two node locations. A plurality of rod guides are aligned with each of the at least two node locations and are operative to mitigate mechanical interaction with, and frictional drag on, the fishing line as it passes through each of the rod guides.

Abstract: A hitch is provided. The hitch has a ball adapter including a rod. The hitch also has a receiver adapter including a guide having a pair of rails that define a pathway sized to receive the rod of the ball adapter. The receiver adapter also includes a lock having a pair of fingers spaced apart from one another to receive the rod between the fingers such that, when the rod is in the pathway, the lock is positionable to wrap partly around the rod.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for melting raw batch materials into molten glass includes feeding raw batch materials into a chamber through a feed port, heating the chamber with a plurality of plasma torches positioned above a predetermined level, each plasma torch emitting a plasma flame into the chamber, and melting the raw batch materials into molten glass up to the predetermined level.

Abstract: A fishing pole including a handle and a seat that is integrated with the handle and structured to engage a line reel supporting a fishing line disposed about a spool of the line reel. The fishing pole further includes a flexible rod connecting to the handle and extending axially along an elongate axis. The flexible rod is structured to cast a fishing line a distance from the spool of the line reel. The flexible rod further includes at least two node locations. A plurality of rod guides are aligned with each of the at least two node locations and are operative to mitigate mechanical interaction with, and frictional drag on, the fishing line as it passes through each of the rod guides.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a fishing rod which optimally locates the line guides of the rod for improved distance casting. The method includes the steps of: (i) inducing a vibratory force transversely of the elongate axis to identify node locations associated with one or more rod harmonics along the length of the rod; and (ii) placing guides at each node location for receiving fishing line. The node positions minimize the relative motion of the line guides relative to the fishing line when casting to minimize line drag while maximizing rod damping.

Abstract: An antimicrobial lighting system is used to reduce microbial growth on surfaces in or on air conditioning and/or heating equipment. In some examples, antimicrobial light within one or more antimicrobial wavelength ranges is applied to inactivate one or more microorganisms on target surface(s) within or on a packaged terminal air conditioner (PTAC). The antimicrobial light may include light within a first antimicrobial wavelength range and/or light within a second antimicrobial wavelength range. The antimicrobial lighting system may include an array of individually controllable antimicrobial light segments. An array controller may individually control activation of the one or more antimicrobial light segments based on the status information or commands received from a PTAC controller or from an external computing device.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a fishing rod which optimally locates the line guides of the rod for improved distance casting. The method includes the steps of: (i) inducing a vibratory force transversely of the elongate axis to identify node locations associated with one or more rod harmonics along the length of the rod; and (ii) placing guides at each node location for receiving fishing line. The node positions minimize the relative motion of the line guides relative to the fishing line when casting to minimize line drag while maximizing rod damping.

Abstract: Systems for high-performance, low-latency database log mining applications. A method commences upon receiving a log mining query. The query specifies desired results that correspond to a prior logical state of the database system. A first type of processing entity is invoked to process contents of the redo stream by loading metadata into a data dictionary, and a second type of processing entity is invoked to construct metadata from the redo stream, wherein the constructed metadata pertains only database objects referenced in the query. During the time that the first type of processing entity is processing contents of the redo stream by loading metadata into a data dictionary, a process of a second type serves incoming queries using a subset of entries in the redo stream. When the data dictionary is completed, a switchover point is reached and thenceforth, incoming queries are served using the first type of processing entity.

Abstract: Apparatus for producing a glass ribbon includes a convection cooling device including at least one vacuum source configured to promote convection cooling of the glass ribbon by forcing a cooling fluid to flow along the glass ribbon. In further examples, methods of producing glass ribbon include the step of creating a vacuum to promote convection cooling of the glass ribbon by forcing a cooling fluid to flow along the glass ribbon.

Abstract: Systems for high-performance, low-latency database log mining applications. A method commences upon receiving a log mining query. The query specifies desired results that correspond to a prior logical state of the database system. A first type of processing entity is invoked to process contents of the redo stream by loading metadata into a data dictionary, and a second type of processing entity is invoked to construct metadata from the redo stream, wherein the constructed metadata pertains only database objects referenced in the query. During the time that the first type of processing entity is processing contents of the redo stream by loading metadata into a data dictionary, a process of a second type serves incoming queries using a subset of entries in the redo stream. When the data dictionary is completed, a switchover point is reached and thenceforth, incoming queries are served using the first type of processing entity.

Abstract: Apparatus for producing a glass ribbon includes a convection cooling device including at least one vacuum source configured to promote convection cooling of the glass ribbon by forcing a cooling fluid to flow along the glass ribbon. In further examples, methods of producing glass ribbon include the step of creating a vacuum to promote convection cooling of the glass ribbon by forcing a cooling fluid to flow along the glass ribbon.

Abstract: An interlocking structure including: a top panel; a first wall and second wall; a first brace and a second brace each having interlocks that interlock with complementary interlocks on the top panel and at least one of the first and second walls. The structure can optionally have an additional interlocking joint, for example, a boss and via, between the top panel and contact point(s) or contact regions of each wall, and the interlocking joint can optionally have an adhesive seal to lock the optional interlocking joints. Also disclosed is a method of making the liner article and methods for using the article for forming glass, as defined herein.

Abstract: An interlocking structure including: a top panel; a first wall and second wall; a first brace and a second brace each having interlocks that interlock with complementary interlocks on the top panel and at least one of the first and second walls. The structure can optionally have an additional interlocking joint, for example, a boss and via, between the top panel and contact point(s) or contact regions of each wall, and the interlocking joint can optionally have an adhesive seal to lock the optional interlocking joints. Also disclosed is a method of making the liner article and methods for using the article for forming glass, as defined herein.

Abstract: Techniques used in an automatic failover configuration having a primary database system, a standby database system, and an observer for preventing divergence among the primary and standby database systems while increasing the availability of the primary database system. In the automatic failover configuration, the primary database system remains available even in the absence of both the standby and the observer as long as the standby and the observer become absent sequentially. The failover configuration further permits automatic failover only when the observer is present and the standby and the primary are synchronized and inhibits state changes during failover. The database systems and the observer have copies of failover configuration state and the techniques include techniques for propagating the most recent version of the state among the databases and the observer and techniques for using carefully-ordered writes to ensure that state changes are propagated in a fashion which prevents divergence.

Abstract: Techniques used in an automatic failover configuration having a primary database system, a standby database system, and an observer for preventing divergence among the primary and standby database systems while increasing the availability of the primary database system. In the automatic failover configuration, the primary database system remains available even in the absence of both the standby and the observer as long as the standby and the observer become absent sequentially. The failover configuration further permits automatic failover only when the observer is present and the standby and the primary are synchronized and inhibits state changes during failover. The database systems and the observer have copies of failover configuration state and the techniques include techniques for propagating the most recent version of the state among the databases and the observer and techniques for using carefully-ordered writes to ensure that state changes are propagated in a fashion which prevents divergence.

Abstract: Techniques used in an automatic failover configuration having a primary database system, a standby database system, and an observer for preventing divergence among the primary and standby database systems while increasing the availability of the primary database system. In the automatic failover configuration, the primary database system remains available even in the absence of both the standby and the observer as long as the standby and the observer become absent sequentially. The failover configuration further permits automatic failover only when the observer is present and the standby and the primary are synchronized and inhibits state changes during failover. The database systems and the observer have copies of failover configuration state and the techniques include techniques for propagating the most recent version of the state among the databases and the observer and techniques for using carefully-ordered writes to ensure that state changes are propagated in a fashion which prevents divergence.

Abstract: Techniques used in an automatic failover configuration having a primary database system, a standby database system, and an observer for preventing divergence among the primary and standby database systems while increasing the availability of the primary database system. In the automatic failover configuration, the primary database system remains available even in the absence of both the standby and the observer as long as the standby and the observer become absent sequentially. The failover configuration further permits automatic failover only when the observer is present and the standby and the primary are synchronized and inhibits state changes during failover. The database systems and the observer have copies of failover configuration state and the techniques include techniques for propagating the most recent version of the state among the databases and the observer and techniques for using carefully-ordered writes to ensure that state changes are propagated in a fashion which prevents divergence.

Abstract: A sheet of writing material bears a plurality of position indicating markings. The markings on the sheet constitute parts of a plurality of characters which are printed on the sheet, directly abutting each other. The characters make up a font in which each character is defined within a substantially rectangular area having a predetermined width and height. The predetermined area is divided into four virtual grids with each grid containing a marking, and each marking being located in one of four positions within its associated virtual grid. The four positions are displaced from the center of the virtual grid in four directions.

Abstract: A system and a method for indexing pedestrian traffic are disclosed. Traffic information is gathered from counter units (30, 31) placed at entrances in provider malls, retail stores, or other locations where pedestrians may be counted. The counters give daily reports to the traffic indexing system (40) of the amount of pedestrian traffic flowing through traffic monitoring points (30, 31). Traffic data are collected daily from providers and compiled into an index (40). These data may be integrated and indexed with other data such as sales data, labor data and promotion data. Providers (30, 31) and other users (45) may access the traffic index (40) along with other industry information to gauge their performance as compared to the performance of others in the industry or to make educated decisions on development and marketing issues.

Abstract: Techniques used in an automatic failover configuration having a primary database system, a standby database system, and an observer for preventing divergence among the primary and standby database systems while increasing the availability of the primary database system. In the automatic failover configuration, the primary database system remains available even in the absence of both the standby and the observer as long as the standby and the observer become absent sequentially. The failover configuration further permits automatic failover only when the observer is present and the standby and the primary are synchronized and inhibits state changes during failover. The database systems and the observer have copies of failover configuration state and the techniques include techniques for propagating the most recent version of the state among the databases and the observer and techniques for using carefully-ordered writes to ensure that state changes are propagated in a fashion which prevents divergence.