Abstract: An outlet provides both AC and DC power to at least one device. The outlet includes an input portion adapted to receive a first voltage input and a second voltage input wherein the first voltage input is a variable DC voltage and the second input is AC of a desired voltage and frequency. A converter reduces the first input voltage to a constant DC voltage output effective to power a PED. The outlet has a first receptacle in the form of a USB port to deliver the DC power to the device and a second receptacle to deliver the AC power to the device. A sensing circuit is coupled to the outlet and determines if a source of the second voltage may safely provide the AC power.

Abstract: The present invention provides for controlling the power consumption of an element. A first power control command is issued by software for the element. It is determined if the power control command corresponds to an allowable power control state for that element as defined by the hardware. If the power control command is not an allowable power control state for that element, the hardware sets the power control at a higher level than the power control state issued by the software. The software is real time software, and the software also sets minimally acceptable activity control states. A hierarchy of power consumption is defined for different elements of a chip by software, which provides the minimum level of power consumption by any element or sub-element on a chip.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a scanning apparatus and method for processing a workpiece, wherein the scanning apparatus comprises a wafer arm and moving arm fixedly coupled to one another, wherein the wafer arm and moving arm are operable to rotate about a first axis. An end effector, whereon the workpiece resides, is coupled to the wafer arm. A rotational shaft couples the wafer arm and moving arm to a first actuator, wherein the first actuator provides a rotational force to the shaft. A momentum balance mechanism is coupled to the shaft and is operable to generally reverse the rotational direction of the shaft. The momentum balance mechanism comprises one or more fixed spring elements operable to provide a force to a moving spring element coupled to the moving arm. A controller is further operable to maintain a generally constant translational velocity of the end effector within a predetermined scanning range.

Abstract: A method, computer program, and database system for configuring a model of a database system are disclosed. The database system has a configuration. Two or more ordered levels of configuration assistance are provided. Each of the levels offers a different combination of the following forms of assistance: no assistance, workload analysis, cost-based performance analysis, and simulation.

Abstract: A foam generator employing a foam generator nozzle that injects compressed air and ambient air into the nozzle body where the air impinges upon a spray of foam liquid within the nozzle body is disclosed. The foam generator nozzle further includes spaced apart first and second fluid dispersion media downstream from the air-liquid mixture to generate a substantially dry foam suitable for application to agricultural crops for frost protection. The method for generating the substantially dry foam is also disclosed.

Abstract: A computer lock comprising: a body having a top end, a bottom end opposite top end, a front side, a back side opposite front side, a first side adjacent to front side, and a second side opposite first side; an opening formed in front side between top end and bottom end, the opening extending from front side and terminating at a position preceding back end; a canal connected to the opening and extending from an opening on first side to an opening on second side, wherein a cable may be passed through the opening in front side and into the canal, and the openings on both first side and second side are narrower than the canal; and a push-button locking cylinder comprising a pin that blocks the opening in front side when locking cylinder is engaged and leaves the opening in front side unobstructed when locking cylinder is disengaged.

Abstract: A method, computer system, and database system for optimizing processing of a request are disclosed. The request has one or more predicates. A list of the one or more predicates in the request is created and predicates for which an actual cost has not been stored or for which a cost cannot be estimated are pruned from the list. An access path for the each of the predicates is selected. The request is processed using the selected access paths producing one or more actual predicate costs. The one or more actual predicate costs are stored.

Abstract: A closed-loop supportability system for a database system includes a system health check administrator to allow the definition of supportability service level goals, a supportability regulator to regulate the execution of the database system to attempt to achieve the supportability service level goals, a supportability monitor to provide real-time views of the database system performance against the supportability rules, and a supportability correlator to provide analysis of the database system performance against the supportability rules.

Abstract: A computer lock that comprises a body, preferably made out of metal, having a top hook, a center post, and a bottom hook. The two hooks fit into two specially located and sized corresponding slots that are built into a computer chassis. The center post fits into a specially located and sized corresponding hole that is built into the computer chassis, thereby preventing the computer lock from being improperly removed from the computer chassis. The computer lock also includes a security cable slot or channel for attaching a security cable and a cable trap protecting peripheral devices (such as mouse and keyboard) against theft.

Abstract: Systems, methods and media for dynamically generating a portal site map, including portlets of the portal site map, are disclosed. Embodiments may include determining a root node of a navigational construct of a portal site, where the root node has one or more child nodes. Embodiments may further include recursively crawling through the one or more child nodes of the root node to discover a composition subtree for at least one of the child nodes, the composition subtree comprising information relating to one or more portlets associated with at least one of the child nodes. Embodiments may further include generating a portal site map having an indication of the one or more child nodes and an indication of the one or more portlets associated with at least one of the child nodes. Further embodiments may include generating a portlet response based on the generated portal site map.

Abstract: A method, computer program, and database system are disclosed for identifying a second source of a request sent to a database management system by a first source. A database message is received from the first source. The database message includes a second value for a second source-identifying parameter. The second value identifies a second source. The second value for the second source-identifying parameter is stored in a log.

Abstract: A corrosion protected wind turbine unit includes a wind turbine unit support structure or foundation implanted in water and an impressed current anode electrochemically coupled to the wind turbine unit support structure or foundation through the water. Also included is a controlled current source configured to receive electrical current from the wind turbine unit or at least one other wind turbine unit located in proximity to the corrosion protected wind turbine unit and further configured to operate the impressed current anode.

Abstract: A virtual regulator implemented to provide closed-loop system management (CLSM) functionality to a database system and without a need to substantially adapt a given CLSM technology to account for specific nuances and requirements of an operating system. For example, the regulator may be implemented with either or both of process model operating systems and thread model operating systems. Common examples of these include UNIX, LINUX, MP-RAS, MS WINDOWS or WINDOWS NT.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for implementing a cache state as history of read/write shared data for a cache in a shared memory multiple processor computer system. An invalid temporary state for a cache line is provided in addition to modified, exclusive, shared, and invalid states. The invalid temporary state is entered when a cache releases a modified cache line to another processor. The invalid temporary state is used to enable effective optimizations within cache coherent symmetric multiprocessor (SMP) systems of an SMP caching hierarchy with distributed caches with different caching coherency traffic profiles for both commercial and technical workloads.

Abstract: A system for calculating demand on system resources in a database system, the system including an interface for receiving data indicative of database system operational characteristics; a processor responsive to the data for emulating the performance of a hypothetical database system having operational characteristics consistent with the data; and an analyzer responsive to the processor for providing a report indicative of the performance of the hypothetical database system.

Abstract: A system for processing a prioritizing protocol for a database, the system including an interface for nominating a first prioritizing protocol that maps a plurality of user accounts to one or more performance groups and to one or more periods; a processor that is responsive to the interface for defining a second prioritizing protocol; and an output in communication with the processor for exporting the second prioritizing protocol. The processor defines the second prioritizing protocol by defining a plurality of workload classes; associating each user account to a particular workload class; and mapping each workload class to a workload weight. The system provides a means for DBMS administrators to migrate their systems from user-centric management to workload-centric management, wherein many DBMS components require updating, replacement or modification.

Abstract: A system for managing a plurality of database systems, the system including an interface for obtaining data indicative of one or more operational characteristics of each of the managed database systems, such as CPU usage, query response times and performance statistics; and a monitor that is responsive to the data for providing a signal indicative of an instruction to adjust one or more of the operational characteristics of a selected one of the database systems.

Abstract: A method of facilitating replacement of a supply of air freshener every time a supply of soap is replaced, including the steps of providing a supply of air freshener, providing a supply of soap and joining the supply of soap and the supply of air freshener. Another aspect of the invention is a method of packaging a supply unit including providing a supply of soap and a supply of air freshener and connecting the supply of soap and the supply of air freshener in a manner such that when the supply of soap is removed from a dispenser, the supply of air freshener is removed from the dispenser as well. Another aspect is a supply unit for the dual dispenser including a receptacle, a supply of soap within the receptacle, and a supply of air freshener connected to or secured within the receptacle.

Abstract: This invention is directed to preparation and expression of synthetic genes encoding polypeptides containing protective epitopes of botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT). The invention is also directed to production of immunogenic peptides encoded by the synthetic genes, as well as recovery and purification of the immunogenic peptides from recombinant organisms. The invention is also directed to methods of vaccination against botulism using the expressed peptides.

Abstract: An air freshener includes a cup-shaped container including a base, a side wall, and a rim. An air freshener composition is disposed within the container. The air freshener composition includes a bottom layer disposed adjacent to the base and has a plurality of ethylene-vinyl-acetate beads. The air freshener composition further including a top layer extending over the bottom layer. Alternatively, the air freshener composition includes a single layer having a plurality of ethylene-vinyl-acetate beads dispersed throughout.