Abstract: A method of applying an electroplated layer to a surface of a polymeric composite material, the method includes the steps of: providing an uncured polymeric composite substrate; positioning a veil layer over a surface of the uncured polymeric composite substrate, the veil layer providing a conductive surface on the uncured polymeric composite substrate, the veil layer having a mat of metal coated fibres consolidated by an organic binder material; subjecting the uncured polymeric composite substrate to a curing cycle to form a cured polymeric composite material in which the veil layer is partially exposed; and applying an electroplated layer to the conductive surface of the cured polymeric composite material.

Abstract: A method of applying an electroplated layer to a surface of a polymeric composite material, the method includes the steps of: providing an uncured polymeric composite substrate; positioning a veil layer over a surface of the uncured polymeric composite substrate, the veil layer providing a conductive surface on the uncured polymeric composite substrate, the veil layer having a mat of metal coated fibres consolidated by an organic binder material; subjecting the uncured polymeric composite substrate to a curing cycle to form a cured polymeric composite material in which the veil layer is partially exposed; and applying an electroplated layer to the conductive surface of the cured polymeric composite material.

Abstract: The invention relates to an impeller for use in a bioreactor for growing adherent mammalian cells and/or a cell separator for adherent mammalian cells. The impeller of the invention is designed to efficiently and rapidly lift a bed of settled cells and microcarrier beads at low rotational speeds. Cell growth and concomitant yield is therefore improved by maintaining the culture in an environment of low shear force.

Abstract: The invention relates to an impeller for growing adherent mammalian cells on microcarrier beads. In other aspects, the invention relates to methods of using the impeller and to bioreactors or cell separators comprising the impeller.

Abstract: A tape drive for exchanging data with a tape cartridge, which has tape media and auxiliary memory that is not tape media, is operable, in response to a boot request from a computer apparatus that is bootable from a kind of initial program load device that is not a tape drive, to read boot data stored on the auxiliary memory and to output the boot data for booting the computer apparatus.

Abstract: Data storage apparatus comprises a tape drive and a tape cartridge, the tape cartridge having a data storage tape on which write-once-read-many (WORM) data is stored. The data storage apparatus is controlled by providing a format command to the tape drive commanding a formatting operation that conditions the tape for erasure or overwriting of the WORM data. A format command key is provided with the format command to be compared with a key recorded in the cartridge. The format command is enabled in dependence upon the comparison between the format command key and the recorded key.

Abstract: A method is provided of detecting if WORM data has been tampered with, the data having been recorded in a sequence of data sets. Each data set includes a write pass value and the write pass values are incremented at intervals in the sequence according to a predetermined rule providing that the write pass values are incremented each time a predetermined number of the data sets has occurred in the sequence. The data sets are read in sequence and the write pass value of each data set is compared with the write pass value of the preceding data set. An indication is made if the write pass value of any of the data sets differs from the write pass value of the preceding data set by an amount that breaches the predetermined rule.

Abstract: A library for storing and retrieving removable information storage elements such as tape cartridges that uses unique identifiers of the removable information storage elements stored in non-volatile memory in order to generate a cartridge map.

Abstract: A data storage apparatus comprises a tape cartridge having a cartridge memory which is configured to store data representing a distinctive identity of the memory and data representing a distinctive identity of the cartridge. The cartridge has a data storage tape storing WORM data in a succession of data sets. Each data set is recorded with data representing a respectively associated data set information table. The data set information table includes an identifying data structure including data representing the identity of the cartridge memory and the data representing the identity of the cartridge. The integrity of all the WORM data written at any point along the tape can be checked against tampering by reference to the data structure that is recorded with each WORM data set.

Abstract: A tape library has a library controller that directs an accessor and a tape drive unit to perform the operations required for storage in a non-volatile memory of the tape cartridge of bar code label information that has been optically read from a tape cartridge bar code label. The non-volatile memory can be for example, a predefined storage location on the tape itself or the cartridge memory. One advantage is that bar code label information can be recovered in case the bar code label becomes unreadable or is lost.

Abstract: First and second ports of a storage switch are respectively coupled to a data source and a first port of a first data sink having a second port coupled to a first port coupled to a first port of a second data sink. The first data sink has a first component for determining whether a data packet received at the first port of the first and second data sink is addressed to the first data sink and a second component for forwarding the data packet from the second port of the first data sink to the first port of the second data sink if the data packet is not addressed to the first data sink.

Abstract: A tape drive apparatus comprising: a data transfer apparatus for transferring bootable data between a loaded tape media and the tape drive apparatus, an emulation apparatus for emulating an optical storage device, a first port for communicating with the tape drive apparatus in a tape drive mode, a second port for communicating with the tape drive apparatus in an optical storage device mode, the second port enabling an external device to access the emulation apparatus.

Abstract: A method of sequentially transferring boot-image data comprising: causing first boot-image data to be transferred to a tape medium starting at a first offset, causing second boot-image data to be transferred to the tape medium starting at a second offset, causing data relating to the first and second offsets to be transferred to a non-volatile memory.

Abstract: An automated storage apparatus moves digital data storage units relative to at least one digital data transfer device by recognizing a designated one of the digital data storage units as a reference unit for diagnostic use. The unit has at least one storage portion. A record of data transfer operation occurrences performed relative to the or each storage portion is used to limit the number of data transfer operations performed on the storage portion(s).

Abstract: A destination website access system employs a bar code reader cooperating with a personal computer or workstation for accessing a unique destination website through a remote Internet service provider (ISP). The address of the unique destination website is embedded within a visibly displayed bar code on a visible medium. In turn, the bar code on the visible medium is scanned and the workstation automatically connects the workstation to the destination website. An intermediary website stores (for further usage) the identities of (i) the workstation; (ii) the visible medium; and/or (iii) the destination website.