Abstract: An arrangement of a functional module F is disclosed, for installing in an installation box with a manually operable switching device S used in building installation technology, which functional module F can be influenced by actuation of an actuating element B connected to the switching device S and associated with an upper part O of the switching device S, wherein the functional module F has at least one interface, by means of which at least one actuator can be activated in accordance with an actuation of the actuating element B, wherein at least one magnet M, which changes its position when the actuating element B is actuated, is arranged on the switching device S, and wherein the functional module F has a sensor H for sensing the magnetic field, so that the change in the magnetic field when the actuating element B is actuated is detected.

Abstract: The presently disclosed subject matter relates to processes that comprise the vacuum extrusion of plant materials. In some embodiments, the plant materials are subjected to a change in pressure of ?3 kPa or more. The vacuum extrusion can be used to break open the cell walls of the plant material and of any undesirable micro-organisms associated with the plant material. In some embodiments, the vacuum extrusion can be used as a step in a process for producing ethanol from plant materials, such as from sugar beets. In some embodiments, the vacuum extrusion can be used in a process for providing a desired plant cell-derived molecule, such as a sugar or starch.

Abstract: A faux candle having dual light sources including a housing extending longitudinally and having a top end and a bottom end, which creates the appearance of a candle, having an interior space extending longitudinally throughout the housing, a first light source in the interior space of the housing located at the top end of the housing and projecting upward from the interior space to provide a candle flame simulation, a second light source in the interior space of the housing located at the bottom end of the housing for projecting light downward from the end of the housing, and a power source means located in the interior space for powering the light sources.

Abstract: The presently disclosed subject matter relates to processes that comprise the vacuum extrusion of plant materials. In some embodiments, the plant materials are subjected to a change in pressure of ?3 kPa or more. The vacuum extrusion can be used to break open the cell walls of the plant material and of any undesirable micro-organisms associated with the plant material. In some embodiments, the vacuum extrusion can be used as a step in a process for producing ethanol from plant materials, such as from sugar beets. In some embodiments, the vacuum extrusion can be used in a process for providing a desired plant cell-derived molecule, such as a sugar or starch.

Abstract: A technique for programmatically obtaining experimental measurements for model construction. A user provides criteria for the model, such as computational algorithms which characterize behavior of the real system, specifications of experiments to be performed on the real system for collecting experimental data from the real system, an identification of sought parameters which are to be derived from results of the experiments and desired tolerance constraints on the sought parameters. From experimental data collected from the real system and from the provided criteria, the inventive method and apparatus programmatically determines in an iterative loop which additional experiments are to be performed in order to achieve the desired tolerance constraints. After one or more iterations of the loop, the values for the sought parameters are determined within the desired tolerance constraints.

Abstract: A scheduler selects an I/O from a session of a pool and updates token buckets associated with resource limits and reserves for the session and the pool and statistics used in determining fair sharing. To select an I/O, the scheduler identifies sessions with a non-empty queue, identifies head I/Os in the queues, computes for the head I/O a deadline using session and pool reserve buckets and a release time using session and pool limit buckets, and selects a head I/O with an earliest deadline that is past the release time. If the deadline of the selected candidate head I/O is in the past, the scheduler transfers the selected head I/O to the tail of the storage device queue. Otherwise, the scheduler selects the pool with the least amount of I/O traffic according to a session fair share estimator.

Abstract: A method predicts performance of a system that includes a plurality of interconnected components defining at least one data flow path. The method references a workload specification for the system. The method models the system using one or more component models. Each component model represents selected one or more of the components. Each component model is arranged in like relationship to the data flow path as the selected one or more of the components represented by the component model. Each component model is (a) a constraint upon the workload specification input to that component model or (b) a transformer of the workload specification input to that component model so as to result in one or more output workload specifications that are input workload specifications to subsequent component models along the data flow path or (c) both a constraint and a transformer. At least one of the component models is a constraint.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for determining whether a multi-component target system meets a given multi-part performability requirement is provided. A description of the target system, failure probabilities for components of the target system and a multi-part performability requirement for the target system are obtained. The multi-part performability requirement indicates desired performance levels and corresponding fractions of time. One or more failure-scenarios are successively computed that represent one or more states of the target system having zero or more components failed and a corresponding probability of occurrence of the one or more of the states of the target system. Performance of the target system is modeled under the failure scenarios using a performance predictor module for generating a multi-part performability function.

Abstract: Indirect access to local file systems is provided using storage tank protocols, allowing federation of a local file system into a distributed file system while preserving local access to the existing data in the local file system. The goal of the present system is to federate and migrate the data on a computer system with minimum disruption to applications operating on the computer system. Existing applications on a computer system continue to operate during data federation and migration and require little or no reconfiguration either when the data migration starts or when it ends. Data consistency is maintained: existing applications may modify data in the file system during migration or federation. During federation, other computer systems (or hosts) may modify the data in the file system if access control information allows them to do so. All changes in the file system are seen consistently on all hosts.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for measuring and optimizing the orientation of data access of an electronic storage device according to data access characteristics. Monitoring storage access activity in an area of storage space is performed to gather data pertaining to one or more storage access characteristics. Measuring is performed of the characteristics of the storage access activity of at least two individual portions of the storage space. The portions are then combined in a manner to more judiciously utilize storage space. Depending on their homogeneity of access characteristics, the individual portions may then be left alone, merged with other similar portions, or further subdivided into sub-portions, which may be further merged, divided or left alone. At each merger or division determinations can then be made of whether the characteristics of storage access activity of one individual portion or sub-portion are similar to that of another portion according to predetermined criteria.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for measuring and optimizing the orientation of data access of an electronic storage device according to data access characteristics. Monitoring storage access activity in an area of storage space is performed to gather data pertaining to one or more storage access characteristics. Measuring is performed of the characteristics of the storage access activity of at least two individual portions of the storage space. The portions are then combined in a manner to more judiciously utilize storage space. Depending on their homogeneity of access characteristics, the individual portions may then be left alone, merged with other similar portions, or further subdivided into sub-portions, which may be further merged, divided or left alone. At each merger or division determinations can then be made of whether the characteristics of storage access activity of one individual portion or sub-portion are similar to that of another portion according to predetermined criteria.

Abstract: Given a multi-component system and a multi-part performability requirement, a method and apparatus for determining whether the system will satisfy the multi-part performability requirement is described. The method uses a failure-scenario generator that analyzes the most-likely failure scenarios first and operates only until a PASS-FAIL determination can be rendered.

Abstract: A method predicts performance of a system that includes a plurality of interconnected components defining at least one data flow path. The method references a workload specification for the system. The method models the system using one or more component models. Each component model represents selected one or more of the components. Each component model is arranged in like relationship to the data flow path as the selected one or more of the components represented by the component model. Each component model is (a) a constraint upon the workload specification input to that component model or (b) a transformer of the workload specification input to that component model so as to result in one or more output workload specifications that are input workload specifications to subsequent component models along the data flow path or (c) both a constraint and a transformer. At least one of the component models is a constraint.

Abstract: In order, in a particularly simple way, to allow multiple separation and connection of line sections of a line, through which a hot and highly compressed medium flows, in particular a pipeline, through which steam flows, there is provided a double-walled flanged connection. The double-walled flange connection is formed of an outer flange and an inner flange, between which an interspace, through which a cooling medium is capable of flowing, is formed. The apparatus is particularly suitable for the connection of line sections of a steam turbine.