Abstract: A system can include a memory device and a processing device operatively coupled with the memory device, to perform operations including receiving, from a first host application, a data object to store on the memory device and associating an object identifier with physical address ranges. The operations can further include associating the object identifier with a snapshot identifier to define a snapshot and mapping the physical address ranges to corresponding virtual address ranges of a second host application. The operations can also include responsive to receiving, from the first host application, a request to write to the data object recording, in a change log, an entry reflecting a change made to the data object, and responsive to receiving, from the first host application, a request to read a part of the data object, retrieving the part from the entry of the change log.

Abstract: A method for quantifying amounts of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) may use a PFAS detection system comprising a working electrode and one or more processors. The working electrode may have a polymer layer disposed on its surface that comprises a plurality of affinity sites for detecting a plurality of PFAS molecules. Each of the plurality affinity sites may have been created using a template PFAS. The method may comprise detecting, at the working electrode, a plurality PFAS molecules that have bonded to one or more of the plurality of affinity sites; and determining, by the one or more processors and based on the detected plurality of PFAS molecules that are bonded to the one or more affinity sites, a concentration of PFAS in an environment.

Abstract: An information management and display system includes a content management server and at least one retailer, a client advertisements server and at least one content display device communicating with the content management server. The client advertisements server is adapted to store advertising information, the content management server is adapted to receive the advertising information from the client advertisements server and the at least one content display device is adapted to receive the advertising information from the content management server and display the advertising information.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method or software development tools are provided which allow customised information systems, for example, accounts receivable or stock control software, to be designed, implemented and maintained in less time than is generally presently required, while still providing a customised information system which conforms to the requirements of an industry, individual or an organisation. The invention also provides a customised information system in which the existing development steps of Analysis, Design, and Coding are transformed into a single Definition step.

Abstract: A method and assay are described for measuring the interaction between a ligand and an analyte. The assay can include a suspension of colloidal particles that are associated with a ligand of interest. The colloidal particles are maintained in the suspension at or near a phase transition state from a condensed phase to a dispersed phase. An analyte to be tested is then added to the suspension. If the analyte binds to the ligand, a phase change occurs to indicate that the binding was successful.

Abstract: This invention provides a novel class of substituted macrocyclic metallic complexes. The complexes are useful as peroxynitrite decomposition catalysts. Pharmaceutical compositions, and methods of making and using the compounds, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, hydrate, prodrug, or mixture thereof are also described.

Abstract: This invention relates to a bed for accommodating heavy persons. The bed is particularly for use in hospitals, where heavy patients have to be treated. The invention provides a bed comprising a frame; a central support section mounted on the frame; two opposite end support sections, one being a head section and the other being a foot section, each mounted for pivoting movement relative to the central section; and drive means for driving the end support sections for pivoting movement relative to the central section; wherein the foot section has a platform which extends at an angle to the plane of the section, and the foot section can pivot to a position where the platform is substantially at ground level. In a particularly preferred embodiment the central section is mounted for pivoting movement about a pivot axis at or near to its edge adjacent the foot section and further comprises drive means for driving the central support section for pivoting movement about said pivot axis.

Abstract: A shuttle assembly for use with an end forming machine includes a shuttle and a release mechanism coupled to the shuttle. The shuttle includes a main body, a tool-receiving bore formed in the main body, and a lock mechanism associated with the tool-receiving bore. The lock mechanism is movable between a locked position where a ball detent of the lock mechanism is biased to extend into the tool-receiving bore and an unlocked position where the ball detent is removed from within the tool-receiving bore. The shuttle assembly further includes a release mechanism coupled to the shuttle for moving the locking mechanism from the locked position to the unlocked position. The release mechanism includes a release lever coupled to the shuttle for pivotable movement relative to the shuttle to engage the ball detent and move the ball detent out of the tool-receiving bore.

Abstract: A method and system for fault isolation within a network element in an optical network is described. A single fault in the system can give rise to multiple alarms detected at multiple points. Finding the root cause alarm corresponding to the fault that has triggered these alarms is important for fault isolation and is the focus of attention for this invention. The network element is modeled by a directed acyclic graph that captures the interactions among various components in the network element. Using a graph-based technique the invention analyzes the various topological faults raised and their locations for identifying root cause alarms and masking all correlated alarms.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method or software development tools are provided which allow customised information systems, for example accounts receivable or stock control software, to be designed, implemented and maintained in less time than is generally presently required, whilst still providing a customised information system which conforms to the requirements of an industry, individual or an organisation. The invention also provides a customised information system in which the existing development steps of Analysis, Design, and Coding are transformed into a single Definition step.

Abstract: An optical wavelength Bragg grating system has a length of optical waveguide (2) containing a set of Bragg gratings (10, 20, 30) at each of a number of locations along the fibre. Each location is assigned a unique digital code defining the wavelength set (&lgr;1, &lgr;4, &lgr;7; &lgr;1, &lgr;5, &lgr;9; &lgr;3, &lgr;6, &lgr;8) of the gratings at that location. The waveguide (2) is coupled to a wide-band optical source (5) and the combined response from all the grating locations is correlated (16) with each digital code to discriminate responses from the respective grating locations.

Abstract: This invention relates to a bed for accommodating heavy persons. The bed is particularly for use in hospitals, where heavy patients have to be treated. The invention provides a bed comprising a frame; a central support section mounted on the frame; two opposite end support sections, one being a head section and the other being a foot section, each mounted for pivoting movement relative to the central section; and drive means for driving the end support sections for pivoting movement relative to the central section; wherein the foot section has a platform which extends at an angle to the plane of the section, and the foot section can pivot to a position where the platform is substantially at ground level. In a particularly preferred embodiment the central section is mounted for pivoting movement about a pivot axis at or near to its edge adjacent the foot section and further comprises drive means for driving the central support section for pivoting movement about said pivot axis.

Abstract: An improved mold assembly for a continuous casting machine includes a mold liner assembly having an inner surface defining a casting space in which molten metal is shaped and cooled, an immersion nozzle, terminating within the casting space, for introducing molten metal into the casting space, and selective cooling structure for selectively cooling the mold liner assembly in such a manner that cooling is directed in varying intensities to different portions of the inner surface of the mold liner assembly according to predetermined circulation patterns in the molten metal, whereby heat transfer inequality as a result of convection is accommodated over the entire inner surface of the mold liner assembly.

Abstract: An improved mold assembly for a continuous casting machine includes a mold liner assembly having an inner surface defining a casting space in which molten metal is shaped and cooled, an immersion nozzle, terminating within the casting space, for introducing molten metal into the casting space, and selective cooling structure for selectively cooling the mold liner assembly in such a manner that cooling is directed in varying intensities to different portions of the inner surface of the mold liner assembly according to predetermined circulation patterns in the molten metal, whereby heat transfer inequality as a result of convection is accommodated over the entire inner surface of the mold liner assembly.

Abstract: A mold clamping system for clamping a first mold component to a second mold component in a continuous casting machine includes a tensioning rod that is connected to the first mold component, a support frame that is connected to the second mold component and a load cell member that has an inner portion, an outer portion and a force measuring mechanism for measuring the amount of axial force that is transmitted between the inner and outer portions. The inner portion is secured to the tensioning rod, and the outer portion is acted upon by a compression spring that is interposed between the support frame and the outer portion of the load cell member. In order to permit adjustment of the clamping force, the system also includes anti-biasing structure that is positioned to apply force to the outer portion of the load cell member for countervailing the biasing of the compression spring.

Abstract: An improved continuous metal casting mold incorporating a removable cassette insert member that has a uniform thickness copper facing plate and a steel backing plate fastened together in such a way as to allow three dimensional expansion of the copper plate in relation to the steel plate to minimize the thermal stresses exerted on the copper plate and the temperature differential along the surface of the copper plate.

Abstract: Improvements are provided in a continuous caster mold for preventing undesired variation in the angular alignment of the narrow mold walls during casting. In one aspect, an improvement is provided in a mechanism for adjusting the spacing and angular alignment of the mold wall so as to enhance the rigidity thereof. An elongated rigidly mounted housing is provided with a slidable member extending through an opening in the housing and connected to the mold wall. A mechanism is provided for adjusting the spacing of the walls by movement of the slidable member back and forth in the housing. A mechanism is provided extending longitudinally through the housing and slidable member for adjusting the angular alignment of the mold wall by tilting the wall about the axis of a first pivotal connection by movement of a second pivotal connection of the wall and said slidable member.

Abstract: An insert is provided for a continuous caster mold which permits casting of plural strands in the mold. The insert has opposed wall faces, the spacing of which is independently adjustable at their upper and lower ends. The spacing of the upper and lower ends is made adjustable by separately actuable wedge assemblies, each of which includes a wedge and ramps having mateable angularly aligned surfaces. At least one surface in each pair of adjoining wedge and ramp surfaces has a convex curvature to permit adjustment of the angular alignment of the wall faces as required at the various spacing distances thereof. The wedges provide greater rigidity than screw-type adjustment, preventing undesirable variations in taper during casting. The invention includes a method of installing the insert in the mold and adjusting the spacing and angular alignment of the opposed wall faces of the insert.

Abstract: AC electrostatic-pinning for the casting and quenching of polymeric film, especially polyethylene terephthalate film.