Abstract: A method of installing a modular workbench system in a laboratory comprising installing a workbench having a work surface accessible to a user from a free side for user manipulation of objects on the work surface such that the side opposite to the free side is installed against an object. A robotic arm is mounted on the free side and has at last least three degrees of freedom to manipulate objects on the work surface. The workbench may comprise a rail extending along the free side to slidably support the robotic arm. The workbench may have a transport surface with a magnetic conveyor system to transport objects at a level below the work surface.

Abstract: A system can include a memory device and a processing device operatively coupled with the memory device, to perform operations including recording, in a change log associated with a snapshot of a data object, an entry reflecting a change made by a first host application to the data object, wherein the entry contains information reflecting a current state of a part of the data object; receiving a request to read the part of the data object; determining whether the request is received from the first host application; and responsive to determining that the request is received from the first host application, retrieving the part from the entry of the change log.

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