Abstract: A sensor system for detecting one of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), landmines or other buried explosives, the sensor system is mounted in place of a standard backhoe digging bucket of a backhoe vehicle. The sensor system includes a mounting portion having arc swing points for hanging the sensor system on a backhoe arm, and a holding pin opening for receiving a holding pin when positioned in a mounting position on the backhoe arm; and an electronic sensor wand arm assembly mounted to the mounting portion.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compounds, compositions, and methods for the study, diagnosis, and treatment of traits, diseases and conditions that respond to the modulation of gene expression and/or activity, and/or modulate a gene expression pathway. Specifically, the invention relates to double-stranded nucleic acid molecules including small nucleic acid molecules, such as short interfering nucleic acid (siNA) molecules that are capable of mediating or that mediate RNA interference (RNAi) against target gene expression.

Abstract: Multitask vehicles for military use, rescue, transport, and explosive detection and removal. In one embodiment, the multitask, motorized vehicle, includes: a vehicle body having a rigid frame with a pair of front wheels and a pair of rear wheels mounted thereon; and a rotary mounting platform disposed on top of the vehicle body and which has a mounting portion being configured to interchangeably mount and remove various secondary systems or components, thereby permitting the multitask, motorized vehicle to change functions. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to novel transportable silo systems for storage of materials. The invention relates to self-erecting silo storage systems for use in the oil and natural gas mining and drilling industries. The silo storage systems of embodiments of the instant invention are uniquely designed to improve storage capabilities and mobility while at the same time reducing space requirements at well sites.

Abstract: An optical disc having at least two metal-containing layers with different compositions and partially overlapping areal extents in the plane of the disc and method of forming the disc are described. The optical disc with dual metallization exhibits visually distinct regions suitable for use for identification purposes.

Abstract: A vacuum electronic power tool sense system senses the operation of a power tool that is plugged into an auxiliary outlet box and the vacuum source is automatically operated to facilitate user clean-up of debris generated by use of the power tool. The auxiliary outlet box can be removably mounted to the vacuum housing.

Abstract: A display system is provided for a vehicle. The system includes a first data source configured to provide low resolution terrain data; a second data source configured to provide high resolution terrain data; a processing unit coupled to the first data source and the second data source, the processing unit configured to receive the low resolution terrain data and high resolution terrain data, to integrate the low resolution terrain data and the high resolution terrain data into a common three-dimensional view that includes graphical elements representing both the low and the high resolution terrain data, and to supply display commands associated with the low and the high resolution terrain data; and a display device coupled to the processing unit and configured to receive the display commands and operable to render the common three-dimensional view to thereby allow simultaneous viewing of the low and the high resolution terrain data.

Abstract: An apparatus for performing dissolved gas analysis on electrical insulating oil. The apparatus is connectable to a first oil source and a second oil source and has a respective sample cell for each source, an analysis cell and a gas analyser. Each sample cell is selectably connectable to said analysis cell to allow fluid communication therebetween, while the other sample cell is isolated from the analysis chamber. The apparatus allows dissolved gas analysis to be performed on samples from more than one source while minimizing the effects of cross-contamination between samples.

Abstract: Games and devices for playing games based on market simulations are described. The games may use real market data or may simulate markets using real data. Other games may use guesses from a large number of other players to simulate the market. One embodiment is described where real estate markets are the basis for a game. The value of the real estate may be determined by actual sales prices or valuations, by automated valuation models of the sales or valuation of similar items, or from a “wisdom of the crowd” algorithm. In one embodiment, the wisdom of the crowd algorithm uses a segmented authority model to make the pricing algorithm more robust.

Abstract: A modular safety unit for application to surfaces requiring reflectivity and friction. The unit has a front surface with a high-reflectivity portion and a roughening agent. The high reflectivity portion and roughening agent can be connate or separate. The unit also has a back surface which may be applied to a platform surface such as a rail car step, ladder rung or walkway. The back surface of the unit comprises an adhesive, or may itself be adhered to a surface.

Abstract: Embodiments are directed to providing distributed database service upgrades of database server instances in a computer cluster using multiple database server instances and to monitoring and maintaining a distributed database service during upgrade. In an embodiment, each computer system in a computer cluster instantiates at least two different database server instances on each of the nodes in the cluster. The first database server instances are configured to operate using a current distributed database version and the second instances are configured to operate using a new, updated distributed database service version. The computer system receives an indication that the distributed database service is to be upgraded. Then, based on the received indication, the computer system migrates database replicas from the first database server instances to the second database server instances which operate the new, updated service version, substantially without user-visible downtime.

Abstract: Embodiments are directed to providing distributed database service upgrades of database server instances in a computer cluster using multiple database server instances and to monitoring and maintaining a distributed database service during upgrade. In an embodiment, each computer system in a computer cluster instantiates at least two different database server instances on each of the nodes in the cluster. The first database server instances are configured to operate using a current distributed database version and the second instances are configured to operate using a new, updated distributed database service version. The computer system receives an indication that the distributed database service is to be upgraded. Then, based on the received indication, the computer system migrates database replicas from the first database server instances to the second database server instances which operate the new, updated service version, substantially without user-visible downtime.

Abstract: A system for implementing a situational awareness includes a plurality of data gathering devices for observing the physical environment and transforming observations of physical phenomena into digital information; a plurality of field monitoring units with each of the plurality of units communicating with a corresponding plurality of data gathering devices to obtain data therefrom; and an aggregate monitoring unit communicating with each of the plurality of field monitoring units to monitor and control each of the plurality of field monitoring units and collect and store data from the plurality of data gathering devices.

Abstract: A method of generating radiation comprises: manufacturing a structure comprising a substrate supporting a layer of InGaAs, InGaAsP, or InGaAlAs material doped with a dopant, said manufacturing comprising growing said layer such that said dopant is incorporated in said layer during growth of the layer; illuminating a portion of a surface of the structure with radiation having photon energies greater than or equal to a band gap of the doped InGaAs, InGaAsP, or InGaAlAs material so as to create electron-hole pairs in the layer of doped material; and accelerating the electrons and holes of said pairs with an electric field so as to generate radiation. In certain embodiments the dopant is Fe. Corresponding radiation detecting apparatus, spectroscopy systems, and antennas are described.

Abstract: Mitigating problems related to the Halloween problem including where update operations potentially allow the record to be visited more than once during the operation. A method includes accessing an instance of a data store operation statement. The instance of the data store operation statement is executed causing an update or delete to an old version of data store record or creation of a data store record resulting in a new version of the data store record in the case of an update or creation of a data store record and a deleted version of the data store record in the case of a delete in the data store. The instance of the data store operation statement is correlated with the new version of the data store record or the deleted version of the data store record.

Abstract: A handle assembly for a vehicle door includes a back plate, including a recessed region displaced away from the exterior surface of the vehicle door. A handle aperture is provided within the recessed region of the back plate with at least one pin mount integrally formed within the recessed region of the back plate. The pin mount includes a void and a slot that is narrower than the void. A handle is pivotally mounted to the back plate and located at least partially within the recessed region, the handle having at least one integrally-formed pin extending at an angle substantially parallel to the body of the handle; the pin operable to be seated in the aperture to allow pivotal movement of the handle. The handle further includes a spring locator operable to retain a handle spring prior to mounting the handle to the back plate.

Abstract: Web server processes can host multiple web applications that process multiple requests from multiple clients. Recorded diagnostic information may not provide a useful separation of server execution data (e.g., functionality executed to process a request) based on a client's use of the web server process. An effective method for separating server execution data by client information is provided herein. Dye is injected into a request from a client, the dye comprises information regarding the client application making the request and a transaction (e.g., client defined set of requests) that the request is comprised within. The dye injected request is sent to a web server process (e.g., on a web server) that extracts the dye and executes the request. During execution of the request, executed functionality is associated and stored with the extracted dye. The recorded server execution data may be organized based upon the request, client, application, and/or transaction.

Abstract: A debugger enhancement provides a debug-task-provider interface whose implementation includes routines designed to support debugging of programs that contain tasks written for a specific programming model. Task creation hierarchies, individual task properties, resource dependencies, synchronization dependencies, and other information can be made accessible during debugging, through a model-independent interface. In a multithreaded environment, a mapping between tasks and threads is also available.

Abstract: A method for measuring an absorption characteristic of a sample comprises: providing a microstrip waveguide comprising a ground plane, an elongate conductive strip having a first end and a second end, and a dielectric substrate separating the ground plane from the elongate strip such that the strip extends from its first end to its second end in a plane substantially parallel to the ground plane; emitting electromagnetic radiation from a first intermediate position along the microstrip waveguide, said first intermediate position being a position between the first and second ends of the strip, such that said radiation propagates along the waveguide in a direction towards the second end; positioning a sample at a position external to the microstrip waveguide and between the first intermediate position and a second intermediate position along the microstrip waveguide, the second intermediate position being a position between the first intermediate position and the second end, such that at least a portion of the