Abstract: A method for the treatment of liquid runoff, such as rainfall or irrigation runoff, to prevent the transportation of solutes. The method comprises permeable reactive barriers constructed to be permeable to rainfall runoff streams, and to effectively contact the stream with the contained media to facilitate removal of solutes from the runoff stream. Said method of rainfall runoff treatment is easily deployed in a variety of settings and easily maintained over long periods of time.

Abstract: Networked product containers such as vending machines identify the presence of a potential customer via sensors, and present customized interactive marketing content to consumers. Consumers interact with a touch screen to win prizes, make purchases, or have a fun and interactive experience. The prizes and purchases offered by the product container may be determined by the product container or by one or more content servers in communication with the container. The content server may also provide digital content for display on the product container and remotely update the product container's content. The networked product container also includes a wireless access point to provide nearby wireless-enabled devices network connectivity via the product container.

Abstract: A membrane filtration manifold for connecting a filter submodule including one or more elongate bundles of semipermeable polymeric fibers is provided. The manifold includes a housing and connecting collar connected with said housing. The collar is adapted to receive and locate the submodule, where the submodule has a connecting sleeve with a locking formation. The submodule can be secured at one end to the collar by a clip adapted to engage both the collar and the locking formation to prevent axial withdrawal of the submodule from the collar. Also disclosed is a membrane filtration apparatus including a filter submodule including one or more elongate bundles of semipermeable polymeric fibers. The apparatus further includes a membrane filtration manifold removably connected at one end of said filter submodule and a basepiece removably connected to the other end of said filter submodule.

Abstract: A method and mechanism are provided for accessing data. Values are stored for a set of context attributes associated with a session between a database user and a database server. The database system includes an attribute setting mechanism that selectively restricts access to the set of context attributes based on a policy. During the session, the database server executes a query that contains a reference to one or more of the context attributes. For example, the query may contain a predicate that requires a comparison between a context attribute value and a constant. The database server processes the query based on current values of the one or more of the context attributes referenced in the query. A mechanism is also provided for dynamically attaching predicates to queries, where the predicates are attached based on a policy. For example, the database system detects that a query is issued against a database object.

Abstract: A foamed closure for a container, wherein the closure consists essentially of (a) a major proportion of at least one material selected from the group consisting of polyethylene and copolymers of ethylene; and (b) a minor proportion of at least one resilient compound. The resilient compound is preferably selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, metallocene catalyzed polyolefins, ethylene vinyl acetate copolymers, styrene-butadiene-styrene copolymers or styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene copolymers.

Abstract: Techniques for allowing an application designed to store data for one group of users to store data for a plurality of groups of users include modifying the application to cause the application to indicate a routine to a database server that stores data for the application in a database. The routine provides modifications to queries of the database, which limit access based on the groups to which belong users that cause the queries to be submitted. In response to receiving a query involving the database and caused by a particular user, the database server locates the routine, and, prior to executing the query, modifies the query. Modifying the query includes invoking the routine. The modification to the query thereby limits access of the particular user to data that is associated with the group of users to which the particular user belongs.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for storing data of multiple enterprises in a set of database objects in a database system and allowing multiple enterprises to interact with the database system as if those database objects contained only their data. According to an aspect of the present invention, a database command issued against a database object by a user is modified by adding predicates that limit access to data associated with the enterprise in which the user has data access. The predicates may specify conditions based on a column in the database object that identifies the enterprise. When a user issues a database command to add data to the database object, the column is populated in a manner transparent to the user. The data in the database object that is associated with a particular enterprise is stored in a separate tablespace.

Abstract: A method and mechanism are provided for accessing data. Values are stored for a set of context attributes associated with a session between a database user and a database server. The database system includes an attribute setting mechanism that selectively restricts access to the set of context attributes based on a policy. During the session, the database server executes a query that contains a reference to one or more of the context attributes. For example, the query may contain a predicate that requires a comparison between a context attribute value and a constant. The database server processes the query based on current values of the one or more of the context attributes referenced in the query. A mechanism is also provided for dynamically attaching predicates to queries, where the predicates are attached based on a policy. For example, the database system detects that a query is issued against a database object.

Abstract: A membrane filtration manifold (1) for connecting a filter submodule (2) including one or more elongate bundles of semipermeable polymeric fibers. The manifold (1) includes a housing (3) and connecting collar (4) connected with said housing (3). The collar (4) is adapted to receive and locate the submodule (2), where the submodule has a connecting sleeve (5) with a locking formation (6). The submodule (2) can be secured at one end to the collar (4) by a clip (7) adapted to engage both the collar and the locking formation to prevent axial withdrawal of the submodule from the collar. Also disclosed is a membrane filtration apparatus (25) including a filter submodule (2) including one or more elongate bundles of semipermeable polymeric fibers. The apparatus further includes a membrane filtration manifold removably connected at one end of said filter submodule (2) and a basepiece (27) removably connected to the other end of said filter submodule.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system and method for laying masonry blocks in multiple block units. The system comprises a mortar injection device, a block hoist apparatus and a mortar applying apparatus, The mortar injection device includes a mortar feed, mortar dispensing chutes and a block tamper. The mortar dispensing chutes are positioned to inject mortar into gaps between adjacent blocks in the multiple block unit, to create a mortar joint between each block. The block tamper comprises a vibratory roller and/or a series of vibrating pistons attached to the mortar injection device, and facilitates substantially uniform settling of the mortar in the block gaps.

Abstract: A foamed closure for a container, wherein the closure consists essentially of (a) a major proportion of at least one material selected from the group consisting of polyethylene and copolymers of ethylene; and (b) a minor proportion of at least one resilient compound. The resilient compound is preferably selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, metallocene catalyzed polyolefins, ethylene vinyl acetate copolymers, styrene-butadiene-styrene copolymers or styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene copolymers.

Abstract: An easily portable electronic book reading device for reading text information of documents, books etc. previously stored on a storage medium. The device generally comprises a flat screen monitor, a control panel, and a data storage/reading device. The flat screen monitor displays text information of a document being read, and optionally system control data. The control panel allows the user to control the display of information on the monitor, including selection of a document to be read; moving to a desired page; "book-marking" a desired page to allow the user to rapidly return to that page at a later time; stepping forward and backward through a document one page at a time; and controlling the size of text displayed on the monitor. The data storage/reading device, which can conveniently be provided as a CD-ROM or (preferably) a Micro-CD-ROM is provided to read text information from a removable memory medium, for display on the monitor.

Abstract: The present invention provides a computer implemented method and apparatus for storing and retrieving data in a database management system (DBMS) in multiple languages, simultaneously, using a fully-populated Sub-Table. In one embodiment, the method and apparatus include generating a Base Table and a Translation Sub-Table. The Base Table includes base rows, each having a primary key and zero or more untranslatable values, exclusive of translatable data values. The Translation Sub-Table includes sets of sub-table rows, wherein each set of sub-table rows corresponds to a base row in the Base Table. In each set of sub-table rows, a sub-table row is provided for each operational language having at least one translatable data value corresponding to the primary key of the respective base row.

Abstract: A dynamic memory allocator in a computer assigns portions of memory into a large number of slots that include zero or more memory blocks of equal size. Free lists identify memory blocks, corresponding to a slot size, not currently in use in the computer. Software programs generate requests, including a size, for a memory block. The size of the requests are rounded up to the nearest slot size. To allocate a memory block, the free lists are searched, using a bit map index or a hierarchical bit map index, to identify an available memory block to accommodate the memory block requested. The dynamic memory allocator handles large block allocations different from small block allocations. A virtual memory allocator stores a plurality of pointers to identify one or more virtual pages of memory for allocation to the dynamic memory allocator.

Abstract: A method and system for regression testing of application logic within a software system. Software architecture can be separated into a presentation layer (e.g., user interface), an application layer (e.g., business logic), and a data/storage layer. Within the novel testing system, communication interfaces between the presentation layer and the application layer are identified such that user initiated commands ("events") passed from the presentation layer to the application layer are recorded into a test playback event file. During test playback event recordation, differences in the state of the application layer of a reference program are collected into a reference state log file. To test a program, the recorded events of the test playback event file are played back and applied directly to its application layer. After each event, the differences in the state of the program are collected into a test state log file.

Abstract: A piezoelectric pump includes a chamber and an orifice for pumping ink from a supply to an ink jet. The piezoelectric pump is similar in construction to the ink jet.