Abstract: Containers and methods for storing animal waste, such as feline or canine waste, human waste, and/or soiled waste products, and controlling associated odor are described. A container having a compressible body with an open top, is provided, the body of the container including a material substantially impermeable to vapor to prevent permeation of odor through the body. Waste is deposited within the container, and a closing member is used to secure the open top of the container in a closed position to at least partially prevent exodus of air carrying the odor from the interior. A filtering member secured within the interior of the container further removes odor to minimize exodus of odor from the container into the surrounding environment. The container can thereby effectively store waste while controlling associated odors, enabling indoor storage, or similar temporary retention of the contained waste until outdoor disposal becomes convenient.

Abstract: A method and system for providing real estate information to users, tailored to requirements and fields relating to the location of the property. A single repository, such as a database or database farm, is used with middle tier software on servers on a network, such as the Internet, to provide information to users via user terminals coupled to the network, for particular properties, and to receive information for properties for addition to the database. Information and fields specific to locations are input to the system via a system operator. User terminals utilize either downloaded software to interact with the middle tier, or a network browser. In one variation, the middle tier software is based upon an open standard, such as an open Application Program Interface standard, so as to allow access for a variety of terminal types and software.

Abstract: A disposable absorbent article including a wetness sensation member and visible highlighting indicating the presence of the wetness sensation member to facilitate an opportunity for the toilet training of the wearer. The wetness sensation member includes a permeable layer and a flow control layer. Urine deposited on the wetness sensation member can penetrate through the permeable body-facing layer in a z direction away from the wearer to the flow control layer. The flow control layer retards the passage of the urine through the wetness sensation member in the z direction while supporting the movement of the urine in an x-y plane to increase the wetted area contacting the wearer's skin and thereby enhance the wearer's awareness that urination has occurred. The visible highlighting is visible when viewing a body-facing surface of the article and may be associatively correlated with an externally visible marking and/or with the concept of toilet training.

Abstract: A disposable absorbent article including a wetness sensation member and visible highlighting indicating the presence of the wetness sensation member to facilitate an opportunity for the toilet training of the wearer. The wetness sensation member includes a permeable layer and a flow control layer. Urine deposited on the wetness sensation member can penetrate through the permeable body-facing layer in a z direction away from the wearer to the flow control layer. The flow control layer retards the passage of the urine through the wetness sensation member in the z direction while supporting the movement of the urine in an x-y plane to increase the wetted area contacting the wearer's skin and thereby enhance the wearer's awareness that urination has occurred. The visible highlighting is visible when viewing a body-facing surface of the article and may be associatively correlated with an externally visible marking and/or with the concept of toilet training.

Abstract: A pot support for a ceramic glass cooktop having integrally formed grates. The pot support is formed of a material able to withstand gas cooking temperatures without substantial alteration of its shape or composition. The pot support is configured to rest in a stable position over a gas burner head to support a relatively small diameter utensil centered over the burner head and to cooperate with the integrally formed grate to support large or small diameter utensils that are supported over the burner off-center relative to the grate.

Abstract: A method and system for providing real estate information to users, tailored to requirements and fields relating to the location of the property. A single repository, such as a database or database farm, is used with middle tier software on servers on a network, such as the Internet, to provide information to users via user terminals coupled to the network, for particular properties, and to receive information for properties for addition to the database. Information and fields specific to locations are input to the system via a system operator. User terminals utilize either downloaded software to interact with the middle tier, or a network browser. In one variation, the middle tier software is based upon an open standard, such as an open Application Program Interface standard, so as to allow access for a variety of terminal types and software.

Abstract: A method and system for providing real estate information to users, tailored to requirements and fields relating to the location of the property. A single repository, such as a database or database farm, is used with middle tier software on servers on a network, such as the Internet, to provide information to users via user terminals coupled to the network, for particular properties, and to receive information for properties for addition to the database. Information and fields specific to locations are input to the system via a system operator. User terminals utilize either downloaded software to interact with the middle tier, or a network browser. In one variation, the middle tier software is based upon an open standard, such as an open Application Program Interface standard, so as to allow access for a variety of terminal types and software.

Abstract: A vessel includes an inner layer forming a substantial enclosure and including a chemically inert material. An intermediate or bondable layer is mechanically attached to the inner layer. The intermediate layer can include a fibrous material. An outer layer is bonded to the intermediate layer, and surrounds at least a portion of the inner layer. A method for forming the vessel includes disposing a bondable layer against an inner surface of a mold shaped to form a substantial enclosure. A preform formed of a plastic material is disposed into the mold. The preform is heated and pressurized causing the preform to expand to conform to the mold to form the substantial enclosure, and causing the plastic material to embed into an exposed portion of the bondable layer. The substantial enclosure with the bondable layer is removed from the mold. Another item is bonded to the bondable layer.

Abstract: A vessel includes an inner layer forming a substantial enclosure and including a chemically inert material. An intermediate or bondable layer is mechanically attached to the inner layer. The intermediate layer can include a fibrous material. An outer layer is bonded to the intermediate layer, and surrounds at least a portion of the inner layer. A method for forming the vessel includes disposing a bondable layer against an inner surface of a mold shaped to form a substantial enclosure. A preform formed of a plastic material is disposed into the mold. The preform is heated and pressurized causing the preform to expand to conform to the mold to form the substantial enclosure, and causing the plastic material to embed into an exposed portion of the bondable layer. The substantial enclosure with the bondable layer is removed from the mold. Another item is bonded to the bondable layer.

Abstract: A method and system for providing real estate information to users, tailored to requirements and fields relating to the location of the property. A single repository, such as a database or database farm, is used with middle tier software on servers on a network, such as the Internet, to provide information to users via user terminals coupled to the network, for particular properties, and to receive information for properties for addition to the database. Information and fields specific to locations are input to the system via a system operator. User terminals utilize either downloaded software to interact with the middle tier, or a network browser. In one variation, the middle tier software is based upon an open standard, such as an open Application Program Interface standard, so as to allow access for a variety of terminal types and software.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product code using a two-tiered cache for hierarchically structured data. The present invention significantly reduces the frequency of computationally intense processing used to retrieve hierarchically structured data and reduces the system cache storage requirements for maintaining coalesced images.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for multi-phase locking for partition maintenance operations is provided. In the first phase, a shared data dictionary lock is acquired on a body of metadata in a data dictionary. Next, the data dictionary is read and a list of affected partitions is generated. In the second phase, an intent exclusive data lock is acquired on the affected table. Next, an exclusive data lock is acquired on the affected partitions of the affected table. The shared data dictionary lock on the data dictionary is released and a physical attribute of the data of the affected partitions is changed. In the third phase, an exclusive data dictionary lock is acquired on the data dictionary. The metadata associated with the affected partitions in the data dictionary is updated and the exclusive data locks on the affected partitions and the intent exclusive data lock on the affected table are released. Finally, the exclusive data dictionary lock on the data dictionary is released.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for multi-phase locking for partition maintenance operations. In the first phase, a shared data dictionary lock is acquired on a body of metadata in a data dictionary. Next, the data dictionary is read and a list of affected partitions is generated. In the second phase, an intent exclusive data lock is acquired on the affected table. Next, an exclusive data lock is acquired on the affected partitions of the affected table. The shared data dictionary lock on the data dictionary is released and a physical attribute of the data of the affected partitions is changed. In the third phase, an exclusive data dictionary lock is acquired on the data dictionary. The metadata associated with the affected partitions in the data dictionary is updated and the exclusive data locks on the affected partitions and the intent exclusive data lock on the affected table are released. Finally, the exclusive data dictionary lock on the data dictionary is released.