Abstract: A computer-implemented method of storing data on a storage device can receive an I/O request to read data from or write data to a data storage device. The data can be stored in special sectors as allocated sectors and regular sectors as a log-structured array (LSA). If the I/O request is to read data from the storage device, a determination can be made as to whether the data to be read is stored as a special sector, which can be read from the LSA, or as a regular sector, which can be can be read from the allocated sectors. If the I/O request is to write data to the storage device, a determination can be made as to whether the data to be written is stored as a special sector, to the LSA or as a regular sector, to the allocated sectors.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of storing data on a storage device can receive an I/O request to read data from or write data to a data storage device. The data can be stored in special sectors as allocated sectors and regular sectors as a log-structured array (LSA). If the I/O request is to read data from the storage device, a determination can be made as to whether the data to be read is stored as a special sector, which can be read from the LSA, or as a regular sector, which can be can be read from the allocated sectors. If the I/O request is to write data to the storage device, a determination can be made as to whether the data to be written is stored as a special sector, to the LSA or as a regular sector, to the allocated sectors.

Abstract: A portable communication device includes an apparatus for environmental sensing. The apparatus includes a housing, one or more environmental sensors and an ozone source. The housing includes one or more ports for allowing air flow between the surrounding environment and a cavity of the housing. The environmental sensors are coupled to the housing and can sense an environmental agent included in the air flow. The ozone source can generate ozone gas within the cavity of the housing to decompose unwanted organic compounds inside the port.

Abstract: A portable communication device includes an apparatus for environmental sensing. The apparatus includes a housing, one or more environmental sensors and an optical source. The housing includes one or more ports for allowing air flow between the surrounding environment and a cavity of the housing. The environmental sensors are coupled to the housing and can sense an environmental agent included in the air flow. The optical source can illuminate the cavity of the housing to decompose unwanted organic compounds inside the port.

Abstract: A method, computer system, and a computer program product for point-in-time copy with target write optimization in a cascading copy-on-write process is provided. The present invention may include receiving a request to perform a point-in-time copy operation to create a point-in-time copy from a source volume to a target volume. The present invention may include creating an intermediate volume, an intermediate map, and a map for the target volume. The present invention may include making the intermediate volume dependent on the source volume in a dependency chain based on the intermediate map. The present invention may include making the target volume dependent on the intermediate. The present invention may include allocating a new stream identifier to the target volume. The present invention may also include updating upstream volumes to inherit the new stream identifier as well as maintaining any existing stream identifiers.

Abstract: A method of reinforcing a structure comprising a wall built on a reinforced concrete stem wall may include removing concrete from the reinforced concrete stem wall at an exterior of the structure to expose the reinforcing material within the stem wall and create a space within the stem wall. A degraded portion of the of the reinforcing material may be removed. A hold-down may be partially disposed within the wall inserting, from below the wall, such that an upper portion of the hold-down is disposed within the wall and a lower portion of the hold-down extends into the space within the stem wall. A horizontal composite bar may be coupled to the exposed reinforcing material and to the lower portion of the hold-down. A cementitious material may be disposed in the space within the stem wall, around the lower portion of the hold-down, and around the horizontal composite bar.

Abstract: A window security device has a support rod capable of securely contacting an upper window frame and a lower window frame. The device has two horizontal arms extending from away from the support rod terminating in thin blades capable of sliding between a first stationary window and a second sliding window sash. The device prevents unwanted tampering with the device by children located on the inside of the window as well as burglars located on the exterior of the window and to be easily removed in the event of a fire. The length of the device's blade can be adjusted allow a window to safely remain open a specified distance, and the device's arms can be adjusted to fit many different widths of windows. When the blades are disposed between the windows, the window is slid open and contacts the window stop, located at the end of the horizontal arms.

Abstract: Provided is a reactor grade polypropylene suitable for injection molding applications comprising within a range from 0 wt % to 4 wt % ethylene and/or C4 to C12 ?-olefin derived units, the polypropylene produced from a single catalyst and single stage polymerization process, and having a melt flow rate (MFR, 230° C./2.16 kg) greater than 10 g/10 min, and a 1% secant flexural modulus of at least 250 kpsi (1720 MPa).

Abstract: An embodiment of the present disclosure provides a composition that comprises hyaluronic acid, or its salt or derivative thereof, and an antimicrobial agent, such as zinc citrate, that does not degrade the hyaluronic acid molecule.

Abstract: A spacer of a gas turbine engine is reinforced with a fiber. The fiber can be cured with a substrate to form a fiber reinforced composite material. As a gas turbine engine operates, the rotation creates forces which can deform, expand, contract or translate certain gas turbine engine components, including spacers. These forces can adversely affect gas turbine engine performance and reliability, particularly when they are either unpredictable or difficult to control. Reinforcing a spacer with a fiber may allow a lower system weight, more compact or configurable internal packaging or a high degree of reinforcement.

Abstract: According to an aspect, an inflatable penile prosthesis includes an inflatable member, a reservoir configured to hold fluid, and a pump assembly configured to facilitate a transfer of the fluid from the reservoir to the inflatable member when the prosthesis is in an inflation mode and facilitate a transfer of the fluid from the inflatable member to the reservoir when the prosthesis is in a deflation mode. The pump assembly includes a pump, a valve body having a first valve and a second valve, and a selection member defining a lumen, the selection member being movable from a first position to place the prosthesis in the inflation mode and a second position to place the prosthesis in the deflation mode.

Abstract: Methods of treating an age-related disorder in a subject are provided. Aspects of the methods include administering to the subject a nucleic acid vector including a coding sequence for telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) and/or telomerase RNA (TR). Gene therapy methods are also provided. Aspects of the invention further include compositions, e.g., nucleic acid vectors and kits, etc., that find use in methods of the invention.

Abstract: There is provided a training system capable of performing work. The system has a shape memory alloy (SMA) actuator exhibiting a generally planar transformational behavior. The system further has one or more heating elements for transforming the SMA actuator from an original shape to a trained shape, thereby performing work.

Abstract: A food processing system includes a base and an actuator that is releasably mounted to the base. The actuator may have an unactuated position and an actuated position. Numerous accessories each may be individually and interchangeably mountable to and releasable from at least one of the base and the actuator. Each attachment may perform a food processing function when the actuator is moved from the unactuated position to the actuated position.

Abstract: Methods of treating an age-related disorder in a subject are provided. Aspects of the methods include administering to the subject a nucleic acid vector including a coding sequence for telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) and/or telomerase RNA (TR). Gene therapy methods are also provided. Aspects of the invention further include compositions, e.g., nucleic acid vectors and kits, etc., that find use in methods of the invention.

Abstract: A soil stabilization system for a structure can include a stem wall and floor slab disposed within a perimeter of the stem wall. An aggregate base course (ABC) layer can be disposed within a perimeter of the stem wall and below the floor slab. A ventilation opening can extend to the ABC layer, and an air exhaust system can extend between the ABC layer and an exterior of the structure. A method of soil stabilization for a structure can include measuring a moisture content of an expansive soil below a structure, drawing dry air through the ABC layer and over a surface of an expansive soil. Moisture can be removed from the expansive soil into the dry air by evaporation to create moist air, and moist air can be evacuated at an exterior of the structure.

Abstract: A portable communication device includes a transducer enclosed in an enclosure. An opening allows flow of air between the transducer enclosed in the enclosure and a surrounding environment. The enclosure protects the transducer from misreading due to occlusion of environmental aggressors on the transducer. The enclosure is configured to repel the environmental aggressors away from a surface of the transducer and to keep a portion of the opening unclogged to maintain an air flow to the transducer.

Abstract: Some embodiments include a memory cell having first, second and third transistors, with the second and third transistors being vertically displaced relative to one another. The memory cell has a semiconductor pillar extending along the second and third transistors, with the semiconductor pillar containing channel regions and source/drain regions of the second and third transistors. A capacitor may be electrically coupled between a source/drain region of the first transistor and a gate of the second transistor.

Abstract: A food processing system includes a base and an actuator that is releasably mounted to the base. The actuator may have an unactuated position and an actuated position. Numerous accessories each may be individually and interchangeably mountable to and releasable from at least one of the base and the actuator. Each attachment may perform a food processing function when the actuator is moved from the unactuated position to the actuated position.