Abstract: A decoy system includes a ground stake, a decoy body, and a ground stake topper. The ground stake includes a first end and a second end configured to support the decoy system. The decoy body includes an outer surface, an inner surface, a bottom opening through which the ground stake extends, and a top opening. The ground stake topper is configured to extend into the top opening of the decoy body with the ground stake topper having a base connected to the ground stake, a head, and a neck between the base and the head. The neck is smaller in area than the top opening. The neck of the ground stake topper is configured to be held within the top opening of the decoy body to allow the decoy body to moderately tilt and rotate relative to the ground stake topper.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for selecting page layouts based upon an outcome prediction associated with a request for a content page. Session variables associated with a request can be extracted. A score can be calculated based upon the session variables. The score can be generated by a machine learning engine that is trained using archived session data. A page layout can be selected based upon the generated score and a respective content page generated.

Abstract: A decoy system includes a ground stake, a decoy body, and a ground stake topper. The ground stake includes a first end and a second end configured to support the decoy system. The decoy body includes an outer surface, an inner surface, a bottom opening through which the ground stake extends, and a top opening. The ground stake topper is configured to extend into the top opening of the decoy body with the ground stake topper having a base connected to the ground stake, a head, and a neck between the base and the head. The neck is smaller in area than the top opening. The neck of the ground stake topper is configured to be held within the top opening of the decoy body to allow the decoy body to moderately tilt and rotate relative to the ground stake topper.

Abstract: Data is collected for at least one metric relating to utilization of a computing resource allocated to a virtual machine. The data is compared to decision criteria. A confidence level that the virtual machine is not utilized based, at least in part, on the comparing is determined. A policy is identified that defines an action to be taken for the confidence level. A severity of the action is greater as the confidence level increases. The action is initiated the action in accordance with the policy and confidence level.

Abstract: Systems, methods and computer program products for provisioning a virtual machine are disclosed. A request to provision a virtual machine is received. Resources are identified and utilization of the resources determined for each cluster of the plurality of virtual machine clusters, the resources comprising internet protocol (IP) addresses, memory and CPUs. The availability of clusters is analyzed based on the determined resource utilization for each cluster. The analysis includes assigning dynamic weights to resources of each cluster and calculating an availability of each cluster. A cluster availability report is output indicating an availability status for each virtual machine cluster. A system for provisioning a virtual machine includes a provision manager, a resource determiner, an availability analyzer and an availability reporter.

Abstract: Data is collected for at least one metric relating to utilization of a computing resource allocated to a virtual machine. The data is compared to decision criteria. A confidence level that the virtual machine is not utilized based, at least in part, on the comparing is determined. A policy is identified that defines an action to be taken for the confidence level. A severity of the action is greater as the confidence level increases. The action is initiated the action in accordance with the policy and confidence level.

Abstract: Various embodiments illustrated and described herein include systems, methods, and computer program products to modify virtual machine resources. Some embodiments collect a wide variety of metrics and then analyze the metrics to determine whether a virtual machine is not being utilized. This determination may include an associated confidence level. When the confidence level reaches a designated threshold, action may be initiated. Such actions can include notifying users of the virtual machine and/or a user's supervisor that the virtual machine is not being utilized and that further action will be taken at a designated time. Further actions can include such things as archiving the virtual machine, reducing the resources allocated to the virtual machine, archiving user data, and deleting the virtual machine.

Abstract: Photoluminescent devices having photoluminescent strip which may be either single extruded or co-extruded, which can be easily, readily and safely installed practically in/with almost any structure/place (buildings, ships, modular structures, prefabs, rigs, platforms, stages, mines, tunnels, subterranean networks and structures, outdoor fields, vehicle, craft, etc) in order to provide a light source during low level lighting or darkness. The said devices can be fixed to substratum with the means such as double-sided adhesive, screw, etc.

Abstract: Various embodiments illustrated and described herein include systems, methods, and computer program products to modify virtual machine resources. Some embodiments collect a wide variety of metrics and then analyze the metrics to determine whether a virtual machine is not being utilized. This determination may include an associated confidence level. When the confidence level reaches a designated threshold, action may be initiated. Such actions can include notifying users of the virtual machine and/or a user's supervisor that the virtual machine is not being utilized and that further action will be taken at a designated time. Further actions can include such thins as archiving the virtual machine, reducing the resources allocated to the virtual machine, archiving user data, and deleting the virtual machine.

Abstract: An upright vacuum cleaner having a slide retractable handle which is used in a floor-cleaning mode to maneuver the cleaner across the floor, and a telescopic suction wand which is fluidly connected to separating apparatus on the cleaner via a hose and which is used, as required, to clean above the level of the floor. An upper telescopic section of the wand is releasably connected with a sliding handle assembly incorporating the handle, and a lower telescopic section of the wand is releasably connected to some other part of the cleaner so that sliding extension and retraction of the handle assembly relative to that other part of the cleaner effects telescopic extension and retraction of the wand sections.

Abstract: An upright surface treating appliance includes a main body, a surface treating head connected to a yoke, and a stand. To provide a compact appliance the yoke and the stand are pivotable independently relative to the main body about a common pivot axis. This can also enable the yoke and the stand to be rotatably connected to the main body using one or more common connectors or bearings.

Abstract: An upright vacuum cleaner comprising a wand fluidly connected to a separating apparatus on the cleaner via a hose and which is used, as required, to clean above the level of the floor. The wand is at least partly retractable inside the hose for storage, and a hose catch is provided at the end of the hose, this hose catch being biased towards a locking position in which the hose catch locks the wand in an extended position. According to the invention, the hose is a stretch hose arranged, in its coil-bound state, to act as a reaction member against which a user may readily force the biased hose catch out of said locking position using the extended wand.

Abstract: An upright surface treating appliance includes a main body and a cleaner head connected to a yoke. The main body is rotatable relative to the yoke about a first axis for movement between an upright position and a reclined position. A stand is moveable relative to both the main body and the yoke, between a supporting position for supporting the main body in its upright position, and a retracted position. The stand is biased towards its retracted position by a spring. An actuator is rotatable about a second axis spaced from the first axis and has a set of teeth which meshes with a profiled surface to drive movement of the stand towards its supporting position against the biasing force of the torsion spring. A drive member drives rotation of the actuator about the second axis as the main body is moved from a reclined position to an upright position.

Abstract: An upright surface treating appliance includes a main body having a user operable handle, a surface treating head connected to a yoke moveable relative to the main body, a stand moveable relative to both the main body and the yoke between a supporting position for supporting the main body in an upright position, and a retracted position, and a stand retaining mechanism for releasably retaining the stand in the supporting position and from which the stand is releasable upon application of a force to one of the main body and the stand. The yoke is moveable relative to the main body in response to an impact on the surface treating head to apply said force to the stand. This allows the force of the impact on the surface treating head to be transferred through the stand to the stand retaining mechanism, which, depending on the magnitude of the impact, can release both the stand and the yoke for movement relative to the main body.

Abstract: A crank arm (200) includes a mechanical ring amplifier (232), having a cavity and a connecting bridge (140), to amplify the radial strain exerted on the crank arm by a rider. Strain sensors (234, 235) are positioned to detect the amplified radial strain. The crank arm (200) may include further strain sensors (228, 229) adapted to detect tangential strain on the crank arm, allowing both the tangential and radial forces exerted by a bicycle rider to be measured. The crank arm (200) may also comprise means for adjusting the position of a pedal axle relative to the crank arm, via the loosening, rotation and retightening of a carrier disc held by the crank arm, where the carrier disc has an eccentrically mounted aperture for holding the pedal axle.

Abstract: Improved strap type exercising devices comprising an attaching band having an attaching member for attachment to a door knob or the like and two D rings supported by the band together with a pair of straps each extending slidably through a respective one of said D rings and having handles formed at each end of said straps with ankle straps attached to each of said straps adjacent one end thereof, said straps being movable individually or in unison, as desired.

Abstract: A pigment composition comprising an intimate mixture of an organic pigment and fumed silica is prepared which exhibit improved coloristic characteristics including excellent chroma, color strength and enhanced color flop when incorporated into in polymeric systems, such as plastics or surface coatings, for example inks and paints. Also provided are coating compositions and plastic articles that are pigmented with a tinctorially effective amount of the inventive pigment composition. A particular embodiment of the invention relates to pigments useful in automotive coatings.

Abstract: An upright surface treating appliance includes a main body and a cleaner head connected to a yoke. The main body is rotatable relative to the yoke about a first axis for movement between an upright position and a reclined position. A stand is moveable relative to both the main body and the yoke, preferably also about this first axis between a supporting position for supporting the main body in its upright position, and a retracted position. The stand is biased towards its retracted position by a spring. An actuator is rotatable about a second axis spaced from the first axis to move the stand away from its supporting position against the biasing force of the torsion spring. A drive member drives rotation of the actuator about the second axis as the main body is moved from a reclined position to an upright position.