Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for protecting a biological system from molecular damage due to electrostatic discharge. The apparatus, system, and method include an electrical contact point, a resistive element, and a connection point. The electrical contact point is positioned to facilitate electrical communication with the biological system. The resistive element is coupled to the electrical contact point. The resistive element has an electrical resistive value tuned to drain electrostatic charge from the biological system based on a contact time of the electrical contact point with the biological system. The connection point is coupled to the resistive element to create an electrical potential difference across the resistive element in response to the contact of the electrical contact point with the biological system.

Abstract: Provided are techniques for building a search index. While building the search index and using the search index to respond to one or more search requests, an anchor information store is maintained, wherein each entry of the anchor information store identifies a referring document, a target document, and anchor text associated with a link from the referring document to the target document; a document is received for processing; one or more entries in the anchor information store for which the document to be processed is identified as the target document are located; anchor text is retrieved from each of the identified entries; and the retrieved anchor text is stored in an entry of the search index for the document.

Abstract: Provided are techniques for building a search index. While building the search index and using the search index to respond to one or more search requests, an anchor information store is maintained, wherein each entry of the anchor information store identifies a referring document, a target document, and anchor text associated with a link from the referring document to the target document; a document is received for processing; one or more entries in the anchor information store for which the document to be processed is identified as the target document are located; anchor text is retrieved from each of the identified entries; and the retrieved anchor text is stored in an entry of the search index for the document.

Abstract: Apparatus for measuring microcirculatory flow of a target tissue without the necessity for direct contact of a probe is disclosed. The apparatus includes a probe (10) arranged to generate a pulsed source of infrared light (16) and a matched infrared sensor (18) which transduces variations in the reflected light to an electric signal and a signal processor which compares the signal at a first time when the pulsed light source is on with a second time when the pulsed light is off. The signal is processed to reduce or ameliorate the effect of the ambient light in the signal and the Tissue Perfusion Index (TPI) is then calculated. Without the need to contact tissue, the apparatus can be used to measure the TPI for chronic ulcers on the extremities, the surface of the retina, the vascular pulp within a tooth or the surface of internal organs accessed by fiber optic or endoscopic means.

Abstract: A recovery utility apparatus for expediting recovery time during failure of one or more database data sets is provided. A backup copy restore utility is configured to read and restore a backup copy of the database data set. A change accumulation manager is configured to read detail records in an incomplete change accumulation data set. A log manager is configured to read a log to derive updates subsequent to a merge end point, wherein the updates are reflective of spill records. An image copy restore utility is configured to apply the detail records to the backup copy to thereby create a restored database data set. A database update manager is configured to apply the updates to the restored database data set.

Abstract: A process is provided for the production of titania rich slag from ilmenite. The ilmenite is fed together with carbonaceous reductant, and in the absence of fluxes, to the molten bath of a D.C. arc furnace. The molten bath of the furnace forms the anode and one or more electrodes in the roof of the furnace forms the cathode. A frozen lining is established and maintained between the refractory lining of the furnace and the molten bath and the process includes means to control the thickness of the frozen lining as well as the whole smelting process.

Abstract: A process is provided for the production of titania rich slag from ilmenite. The ilmenite is fed together with carbonaceous reductant, and in the absence of fluxes, to the molten bath of a D.C. arc furnace. The molten bath of the furnace forms the anode and one or more electrodes in the roof of the furnace forms the cathode. A frozen lining is established and maintained between the refractory lining of the furnace and the molten bath and the process includes means to control the thickness of the frozen lining as well as the whole smelting process.

Abstract: The present invention establishes a merge end point in logs reflecting a sharing session with a common database. The merge end point is established at an earlier point to thereby reduce the number of unmergeable records. The system of the present invention includes a log archive module which determines the position of each log volume end-start point in the logs. A database recovery control module receives the positions of the log volume end-start points and determines the most recent log volume end-start point for each log. The database recovery control module next determines which of the most recent log volume end-start points has the earliest time value. This log volume end-start point is the latest identifiable point wherein all log records for all logs will be committed and is selected as the merge end point. A change accumulation utility is able to incorporate the merge end point in a CADS to separate unmergeable and mergeable log records.

Abstract: The invention provides a furnace having a frozen lining inbetween a furnace lining and a furnace charge, the furnace having means to control the operation of the furnace, including means to measure the temperature in a wall of the furnace adjacent the frozen lining, and to estimate the thickness of the frozen lining as a function of the temperature in the wall, and means to control the rate of heat production in the furnace to urge a thickness of the frozen lining towards a predetermined value. Variables including side wall thermocouple measurements, gas plant instrument measurements, cooling system measurements and electrical, in-feed and chemical composition recordings are monitored, analysed and manipulated. There is also provided means to estimate a future furnace charge composition, perform chemistry control, estimate a material balance of the furnace, and perform inventory control over the furnace.

Abstract: A method of determining the presence or onset of capillary leakage includes introducing into the blood stream of the subject a first low dosage of a low molecular weight macromolecular material and determining the volume of distribution thereof (an apparent volume of distribution). The determined value of volume of distribution is influenced not only by extravasation through the capillary wall but also by binding of smaller molecules to pores or receptor binding sites in the wall which occurs much faster than extravasation and is an important indicator of the onset of capillary leakage. The process is repeated with a high dose of high molecular weight macromolecular material to determine a further volume of distribution (the true circulating plasma volume). The two values are compared to determine the presence or onset of capillary leakage.