Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for controlling and managing virtual machines and other such virtual systems. VM execution approval is based on compliance with policies controlling various aspects of VM. The techniques can be employed to benefit all virtual environments, such as virtual machines, virtual appliances, and virtual applications. For ease of discussion herein, assume that a virtual machine (VM) represents each of these environments. In one particular embodiment, a systems management partition (SMP) is created inside the VM to provide a persistent and resilient storage for management information (e.g., logical and physical VM metadata). The SMP can also be used as a staging area for installing additional content or agentry on the VM when the VM is executed. Remote storage of management information can also be used. The VM management information can then be made available for pre-execution processing, including policy-based compliance testing.

Abstract: By implementing various types of tags, easy management and control of assets in a business system is enabled. These assets may be virtual machines, hardware assets, personnel assets, or any other kind of assets. System tags are determined and associated with an asset automatically. For example, a system automatically determines the name and version of an operating system running on a virtual machine and associates an appropriate system tag with that asset. Virtual tags and dynamic tags are tags that do not contain the information sought—rather, these tags contain instructions about how to determine the tag value associated with an asset. Management tags are user-entered tags indicating information about an asset based on the knowledge of an individual. The above-described tags can be combined using Boolean algebraic operators, resulting in a tag-based algebra system.

Abstract: A downhole tool comprises a joint, and a resilient member 65 which extends through the joint and provides a restoring force which tends to strengthen the joint. The joint may comprise a flex coupling 61 which allows limited articulation of the joint. First and second drill string sections 63, 64 may be interconnected by the joint, the resilient member 65 being fixed to interior surfaces of the first and second drill string sections 63, 64. A downhole tool may also comprise primary and secondary sleeves 46 that are supported relative to the mandrel 10 of the drill string. Rotational drive may be transferred from one of the sleeves to the other.

Abstract: An exhaust gas measurement system is provided that includes a probe to find a sample exhaust gas passageway for collecting exhaust gas. A stainless steel canister is fluidly connected to the probe for storing the exhaust gas. A pump fluidly interconnects the probe and the canister for transferring the exhaust gas from the probe to the canister. A pressure mass flow controller fluidly interconnects the probe and the canister and produces an exhaust gas flow measurement corresponding to the flow of the exhaust gas from the probe to the canister. A temperature sensor senses a temperature of the exhaust gas proximate to the pressure mass flow controller. The temperature sensor corrects the exhaust gas flow measurement based upon the temperature sensed. A pressure sensor senses a pressure of the exhaust gas proximate to the pressure mass flow controller. The temperature sensor corrects the exhaust gas flow measurement based upon the pressure sensed.

Abstract: An exhaust gas measurement system is provided that includes a probe to find a sample exhaust gas passageway for collecting exhaust gas. A stainless steel canister is fluidly connected to the probe for storing the exhaust gas. A pump fluidly interconnects the probe and the canister for transferring the exhaust gas from the probe to the canister. A pressure mass flow controller fluidly interconnects the probe and the canister and produces an exhaust gas flow measurement corresponding to the flow of the exhaust gas from the probe to the canister. A temperature sensor senses a temperature of the exhaust gas proximate to the pressure mass flow controller. The temperature sensor corrects the exhaust gas flow measurement based upon the temperature sensed. A pressure sensor senses a pressure of the exhaust gas proximate to the pressure mass flow controller. The temperature sensor corrects the exhaust gas flow measurement based upon the pressure sensed.

Abstract: A downhole tool includes first and second drill string sections interconnected by a joint, which may be a flex coupling such as a loose splined connection. A resilient, fluid-tight tube extends through the joint and is fixed and sealed to interior surfaces of the drill string sections and provides a restoring force which tends to strengthen the joint.

Abstract: Use of a substance which is COX-2 selective and which can reduce prostaglandin levels of cerebrospinal fluid in a method for reducing the perception of pain in a subject is described. A preferred COX-2 selective inhibitor is nimesulide. Use of a COX-2 selective inhibitor as described has particular application in the relief of pain following surgery, especially following thoractotomy and also in the treatment of chronic post-thoracotomy pain.

Abstract: In an enterprise-wide network which includes at least one centralized computer and a plurality of desktop computers, a method for enterprise system management comprising the steps of: storing an Already Have list for each desktop; storing a plurality of Should Have sub-lists; and generating a respective Should Have list from the stored sub-lists for a respective desktop computer during configuration of the desktop computer; wherein the Schema of the generated Should Have list includes at least one dynamic linkage which encompasses more than on Should Have sub-lists.

Abstract: An assay device for detection or determination of an analyte in a sample uses opposable components and is suitable for assay of human chorionic gonadotropin and other protein or glycoprotein hormones.

Abstract: Fading channel effects on a transmitted communication signal are simulated with both frequency and time variations using a channel scattering function to affect the transmitted signal. A conventional channel scattering function is converted to a series of channel realizations by multiplying the square root of the channel scattering function by a complex number of which the real and imaginary parts are each independent variables. The two-dimensional inverse-FFT of this complex-valued channel realization yields a matrix of channel coefficients that provide a complete frequency-time description of the channel. The transmitted radio signal is segmented to provide a series of transmitted signal and each segment is subject to FFT to generate a series of signal coefficient matrices. The channel coefficient matrices and signal coefficient matrices are then multiplied and subjected to inverse-FFT to output a signal representing the received affected radio signal.

Abstract: A flow control device which consists of a tubular body having radial sets of orifices therein covered by a resilient member which defines an annular space to which the orifices are connected. The resilient member permits positive pressure to drive fluid through the orifices but prevents negative pressure from sucking air through the orifices. A spring urges the resilient member against one of the sets of orifices.

Abstract: By means of a suitable data entry device such as an electronic digitizing tablet or graph board, items of data respectively defining the original configuration of a roughly sketched object and the desired final proportions thereof are entered into a stored table called a "pointing sequence list" (PSL), which is capable of storing all of the information required to define both the original form and the desired final configuration of the object. Initially the PSL contains positional entries representing the coordinates of definitive points on the roughly sketched object and dimensional entries specifying the proportions which the object is to have in its final delineation, all arranged in an order corresponding to a predefined pointing sequence which is followed by the operator when he enters the necessary items of graphic information into the system.