Abstract: A radiographic projector for housing and projecting a radioisotope for use in radiography is described. The front end of the projector has a chamfered surface for receiving an ancillary shielding component. The material used for the front end surface of the projector is tungsten powder in a less dense material matrix. A locking mechanism for a projector is described, including a locking bar for locking a source holder in the projector. The locking mechanism includes an interlock section for retaining the locking bar in an unlocked position while a source holder is not in its storage position, and a latch section for latching the locking bar in the unlocked position prior to engagement of the interlock section. A holster for mounting a radiographic projector and a refraction cage for a remote windout mechanism are also described.

Abstract: Techniques are described for managing distributed execution of programs. In at least some situations, the techniques include decomposing or otherwise separating the execution of a program into multiple distinct execution jobs that may each be executed on a distinct computing node, such as in a parallel manner with each execution job using a distinct subset of input data for the program. In addition, the techniques may include temporarily terminating and later resuming execution of at least some execution jobs, such as by persistently storing an intermediate state of the partial execution of an execution job, and later retrieving and using the stored intermediate state to resume execution of the execution job from the intermediate state. Furthermore, the techniques may be used in conjunction with a distributed program execution service that executes multiple programs on behalf of multiple customers or other users of the service.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for modifying a firearm, including a kit for creating a modified handgun from first and second handguns. In one embodiment of the invention, a modified handgun is created which comprises a slide and barrel from a first handgun and a frame of a second handgun, using a kit comprising a dust cover insert, a replacement recoil spring and a replacement recoil spring guide.

Abstract: Techniques are described for managing distributed execution of programs, including by dynamically scaling a cluster of multiple computing nodes performing ongoing distributed execution of a program, such as to increase and/or decrease computing node quantity. An architecture may be used that has core nodes that each participate in a distributed storage system for the distributed program execution, and that has one or more other auxiliary nodes that do not participate in the distributed storage system. Furthermore, as part of performing the dynamic scaling of a cluster, computing nodes that are only temporarily available may be selected and used, such as computing nodes that might be removed from the cluster during the ongoing program execution to be put to other uses and that may also be available for a different fee (e.g., a lower fee) than other computing nodes that are available throughout the ongoing use of the cluster.

Abstract: When using intrusion detection systems, security specialists are concerned with false positive rates and true positive rates. False positives are when an alert is raised, but no actual intrusion occurs. True positives are when an alert is raised for an actual intrusion. Ideally, true positive rate is 1 and false positive rate is zero, but such a situation is impossible in the real world. So one must balance a true positive rate and a false positive rate to produce the best result at the best price. One can simplify the choice of detection sets by, instead of determining each possible operating point of the information detection system, by only choosing operating points that are not dominated by other operating points.

Abstract: A method for analyzing energy use. In some examples, energy data can be received from an energy meter, one or more energy consuming devices can be identified in the energy data, one or more insights can be generated based on at least the identification and a portion of the energy data, and information relating to at least the portion of the energy data can be generated for transmitting to a device, the generation being based on at least the one or more insights and the identification.

Abstract: Techniques are described for managing aggregation of data in a distributed manner, such as for a particular client based on specified configuration information. The described techniques may include storing aggregated data values for an OLAP cube or other data structure in a distributed manner, such as in some situations in a distributed hash table. The aggregated data values to be stored may be generated in various manners, such as by performing multi-stage data manipulation operations—for example, a map-reduce architecture may be used, with a first stage involving the use of one or more specified map functions to be performed, and with at least a second stage involving the use of one or more specified reduce functions to be performed.

Abstract: The dose of dialysis in terms of urea clearance is marginal in many hemodialysis patients, and metabolic acidosis as determined by the pre-dialysis serum HCO3 level is common. A dialysate that included citric acid rather than acetic acid as acidifying agent provides superior performance properties. Citrate-containing dialysate was used exclusively in 22 hemodialysis patients. Initially, only 8 of the 22 patients had a pre-dialysis serum HCO3>23 mEq/L (lower limit of normal), however, after 12 weeks of dialysis using the citrate-containing dialysate, the serum HCO3 normalized in 15 patients (p=0.0001, Chi-square). Dialysis variables were kept constant in 19 of the patients, who also used and reused the same dialyzer model throughout. In these patients, the initial average urea reduction ratio (URR) was 68.5±5.9%, and after treatment with the citrate dialysate disclosed herein, this ratio had increased to 73±5.3% (p<0.03). SpKt/V, calculated using the Daugirdas II formula, also increased from 1.23±0.

Abstract: A method of making a wide temperature-range smectic liquid crystal material comprises taking a wide temperature-range nematic mixture and doping this with a mesogenic silicon-containing material. Aspects of the invention provide wide temperature-range smectic materials and devices using the smectic materials.

Abstract: Techniques are described for managing distributed execution of programs, including by dynamically scaling a cluster of multiple computing nodes performing ongoing distributed execution of a program, such as to increase and/or decrease computing node quantity. An architecture may be used that has core nodes that each participate in a distributed storage system for the distributed program execution, and that has one or more other auxiliary nodes that do not participate in the distributed storage system. Furthermore, as part of performing the dynamic scaling of a cluster, computing nodes that are only temporarily available may be selected and used, such as computing nodes that might be removed from the cluster during the ongoing program execution to be put to other uses and that may also be available for a different fee (e.g., a lower fee) than other computing nodes that are available throughout the ongoing use of the cluster.

Abstract: Techniques are described for managing aggregation of data in a distributed manner, such as for a particular client based on specified configuration information. The described techniques may include storing aggregated data values for an OLAP cube or other data structure in a distributed manner, such as in some situations in a distributed hash table. The aggregated data values to be stored may be generated in various manners, such as by performing multi-stage data manipulation operations—for example, a map-reduce architecture may be used, with a first stage involving the use of one or more specified map functions to be performed, and with at least a second stage involving the use of one or more specified reduce functions to be performed.

Abstract: Techniques are described for managing distributed execution of programs. In at least some situations, the techniques include decomposing or otherwise separating the execution of a program into multiple distinct execution jobs that may each be executed on a distinct computing node, such as in a parallel manner with each execution job using a distinct subset of input data for the program. In addition, the techniques may include temporarily terminating and later resuming execution of at least some execution jobs, such as by persistently storing an intermediate state of the partial execution of an execution job, and later retrieving and using the stored intermediate state to resume execution of the execution job from the intermediate state. Furthermore, the techniques may be used in conjunction with a distributed program execution service that executes multiple programs on behalf of multiple customers or other users of the service.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for modifying a firearm, including a kit for creating a modified handgun from first and second handguns. In one embodiment of the invention, a modified handgun is created which comprises a slide and barrel from a first handgun and a frame of a second handgun, using a kit comprising a dust cover insert, a replacement recoil spring and a replacement recoil spring guide.

Abstract: Techniques are described for providing clients with access to functionality for creating, configuring and executing defined workflows that manipulate source data in defined manners, such as under the control of a configurable workflow service that is available to multiple remote clients over one or more public networks. A defined workflow for a client may, for example, include multiple interconnected workflow components that are specified by the client and that each are configured to perform one or more types of data manipulation operations on a specified type of input data. The configurable workflow service may further execute the defined workflow at one or more times and in one or more manners, such as in some situations by provisioning multiple computing nodes provided by the configurable workflow service to each implement at least one of the workflow components for the defined workflow.

Abstract: Creating web application using cloud-based friction-free databases without web hosting knowledge. User credentials are received at a web application service for initiating a web application task via client software. The user credentials are analyzed to determine whether to grant the user permission to initiate the requested web application task. The web application task is initiated when the permission is granted. Data associated with the initiated web application task is received at the web application service for analysis of the data to host and render a web application based solely on received data provided without basis of web hosting knowledge.

Abstract: Techniques are described for managing distributed execution of programs. In some situations, the techniques include determining configuration information to be used for executing a particular program in a distributed manner on multiple computing nodes and/or include providing information and associated controls to a user regarding ongoing distributed execution of one or more programs to enable the user to modify the ongoing distributed execution in various manners. Determined configuration information may include, for example, configuration parameters such as a quantity of computing nodes and/or other measures of computing resources to be used for the executing, and may be determined in various manners, including by interactively gathering values for at least some types of configuration information from an associated user (e.g., via a GUI that is displayed to the user) and/or by automatically determining values for at least some types of configuration information (e.g., for use as recommendations to a user).

Abstract: Acid concentrates, and dialysate compositions prepared therefrom, contain citric acid and an effective amount of a buffering agent selected from acetate and/or lactate. The buffering agent allows a physiologically acceptable amount of citrate to maintain the desired pH of the dialysate.

Abstract: A ceiling mounted extension cord that can be disposed in and HVAC diffuser and can be displaced from a ceiling mounted position to a deployed position for use. The extension cord can also be retracted upwardly adjacent the ceiling. The displacement of the cord may be by remote control.

Abstract: The dose of dialysis in terms of urea clearance is marginal in many hemodialysis patients, and metabolic acidosis as determined by the pre-dialysis serum HCO3 level is common. A dialysate that included citric acid rather than acetic acid as acidifying agent provides superior performance properties. Citrate-containing dialysate was used exclusively in 22 hemodialysis patients. Initially, only 8 of the 22 patients had a pre-dialysis serum HCO3>23 mEq/L (lower limit of normal), however, after 12 weeks of dialysis using the citrate-containing dialysate, the serum HCO3 normalized in 15 patients (p=0.0001, Chi-square). Dialysis variables were kept constant in 19 of the patients, who also used and reused the same dialyzer model throughout. In these patients, the initial average urea reduction ratio (URR) was 68.5±5.9%, and after treatment with the citrate dialysate disclosed herein, this ratio had increased to 73±5.3% (p<0.03). SpKt/V, calculated using the Daugirdas II formula, also increased from 1.23±0.

Abstract: Techniques are described for providing clients with access to functionality for creating, configuring and executing defined workflows that manipulate source data in defined manners, such as under the control of a configurable workflow service that is available to multiple remote clients over one or more public networks. A defined workflow for a client may, for example, include multiple interconnected workflow components that are specified by the client and that each are configured to perform one or more types of data manipulation operations on a specified type of input data. The configurable workflow service may further execute the defined workflow at one or more times and in one or more manners, such as in some situations by provisioning multiple computing nodes provided by the configurable workflow service to each implement at least one of the workflow components for the defined workflow.