Abstract: A method for creating and delivering customer solutions includes analyzing a customer's requirements; selecting at least one solution building block as part of a customer solution; and delivering at least one customer solution. The at least one solution building block comprises a preconfigured bundle of at least one asset comprising at least one of a hardware product, software product, service, or another solution building block. The at least one solution building block has been at least one of previously tested or successfully deployed in a customer environment for solving a business, infrastructure, or application problem.

Abstract: There is disclosed an insert (2) for a conduit (4) adapted to effect helical flow in the conduit (4) comprising a longitudinally extending member having a helical formation.

Abstract: A financial processing system that accesses account, event and organization attributes from a relational database management database, wherein: (1) the account attributes comprise data about accounts being measured, (2) the event attributes comprise data about account-related transactions, and (3) the organization attributes comprise data about the organization's financial status. Profitability calculations are performed using the account, event and organization attributes accessed from the relational database management system, as well as one or more profit factors and one or more rules.

Abstract: A financial processing system that accesses account, event and organization attributes from a relational database management database, wherein: (1) the account attributes comprise data about accounts being measured, (2) the event attributes comprise data about account-related transactions, and (3) the organization attributes comprise data about the organization's financial status. Profitability calculations are performed using the account, event and organization attributes accessed from the relational database management system, as well as one or more profit factors and one or more rules. The profitability calculations include the following: Profit = Net Interest Revenue (NIR) + Other Revenue (OR) ? Direct Expense (DE) ? Indirect Expense (IE) ? Risk Provision (RP) In this calculation, the Net Interest Revenue (NIR) comprises: NIR = Interest Revenue ? Cost of Funds + Value of Funds ? Interest Expense.

Abstract: A financial processing system that accesses account, event and organization attributes from a relational database management database, wherein: (1) the account attributes comprise data about accounts being measured, (2) the event attributes comprise data about account-related transactions, and (3) the organization attributes comprise data about the organization's financial status. Profitability calculations are performed using the account, event and organization attributes accessed from the relational database management system, as well as one or more profit factors and one or more rules. The profitability calculations include the following: Profit = Net Interest Revenue (NIR) + Other Revenue (OR) ? Direct Expense (DE) ? Indirect Expense (IE) ? Risk Provision (RP) In this calculation, the Net Income Revenue (NIR) comprises: NIR = Interest Revenue ? Cost of Funds + Value of Funds ? Interest Expense.

Abstract: A financial processing system that accesses account, event and organization attributes from a relational database management database, wherein: (1) the account attributes comprise data about accounts being measured, (2) the event attributes comprise data about account-related transactions, and (3) the organization attributes comprise data about the organization's financial status. Profitability calculations are performed in the computer using the account, event and organization attributes accessed from the relational database management system, as well as one or more profit factors and one or more rules. The profitability calculations comprise the following: Profit (ai) = Net Interest Revenue (NIR) (ai) + Other Revenue (OR) (ai) ? Direct Expense (DE) (ai) ? Indirect Expense (IE) (ai) ? Risk Provision (RP) (ai) for an account ai.

Abstract: In one aspect the invention provides a signal bearing medium tangibly embodying a program of machine-readable instructions that are executable by a digital processing apparatus to perform operations to determine a maintenance fee for a data storage system. The operations include monitoring at least one data storage device during operation of the data storage system to determine a duty cycle and determining a current value of the maintenance fee based at least in part on the determined duty cycle. In a further disk drive-based embodiment the operations may include, or be instead, determining a disk drive redundancy configuration of disk drives of a data storage system. The operations then compare the determined duty cycle to a threshold value and assert a redundancy configuration change signal based on the result of the comparison. For a RAID configuration embodiment having a RAID level, the asserting operation asserts a RAID level change signal based on the result of the comparison.

Abstract: A financial processing system that accesses account, event and organization attributes from a relational database management database, wherein: (1) the account attributes comprise data about accounts being measured, (2) the event attributes comprise data about account-related transactions, and (3) the organization attributes comprise data about the organization's financial status. Profitability calculations are performed in the computer using the account, event and organization attributes accessed from the relational database management system, as well as one or more profit factors and one or more rules. The profitability calculations comprise the following: Profit (ai) = Net Interest Revenue (NIR) (ai) + Other Revenue (OR) (ai) ? Direct Expense (DE) (ai) ? Indirect Expense (IE) (ai) ? Risk Provision (RP) (ai) for an account ai.

Abstract: A drug delivery device (1) is disclosed. The device comprises a vascular implant having a helical formation (4) that is capable of inducing helical flow of blood passing it. A drug is releasably associated with the helical formation.

Abstract: A detachable suction-based holder in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present invention is disclosed. Such a suction-based holder can include a lever-actuated suction portion having a substantially cup-like suction housing and a substantially circular suction interface. The suction interface can be made from an elastomeric material and further can have an inner face and an outer face. The suction holder can also include a substantially tubular receptacle portion having a substantially tubular receiving channel defined therein. The receptacle portion can have a hold actuator as an appendage from the top portion thereof where the hold actuator can be substantially tab-like and can be split. Moreover, the hold-actuating lever can be coupled to the hold actuator via, for example, a pin. Moreover, a connector member such as a bridging member can connect the suction portion and the receptacle portion.

Abstract: A tubular conduit (1) is disclosed. The tubular conduit comprises a tubular portion made from a flexible material and an axially extending external helical formation (16) located around the outside of the tubular portion. The external helical formation (16) is for supporting the tubular portion. Optionally the tubular portion also comprises an axially extending internal helical protrusion (15), which imparts a helical flow to a fluid passing through the tubular portion. It is preferred that the tubular conduit (1) is a vascular graft.

Abstract: In one aspect the invention provides a signal bearing medium tangibly embodying a program of machine-readable instructions that are executable by a digital processing apparatus to perform operations to determine a maintenance fee for a data storage system. The operations include monitoring at least one data storage device during operation of the data storage system to determine a duty cycle and determining a current value of the maintenance fee based at least in part on the determined duty cycle. In a further disk drive-based embodiment the operations may include, or be instead, determining a disk drive redundancy configuration of disk drives of a data storage system. The operations then compare the determined duty cycle to a threshold value and assert a redundancy configuration change signal based on the result of the comparison. For a RAID configuration embodiment having a RAID level, the asserting operation asserts a RAID level change signal based on the result of the comparison.

Abstract: A tubular graft comprising an internal helical formation which imparts helical flow on fluid passing through the tubular graft. One end of the tubular graft is tapered from an inner base to an outer tip.

Abstract: An improved thermal phase separation unit separates contaminants from a contaminated substrate. The improved thermal phase separation unit includes an enclosure arranged to withstand temperatures created by a combustion system, an essentially air-tight processing chamber supported within the enclosure by support columns connected between the processing chamber and a bottom of the enclosure, a heat shield disposed between the processing chamber and the bottom of the enclosure, and a vapor handling system arranged to remove vapor from the processing chamber. The combustion system heats the processing chamber, and, in turn, indirectly heats contaminated substrate being processed in the processing chamber so as to volatize contaminants in the contaminated substrate to vapor that is subsequently removed by the vapor handling system.

Abstract: A helical formation for a conduit (1). The helical formation includes an elongate member (4) defining at least a portion of a helix, the elongate member (4) comprising an inwardly extending portion (6, 7). The inwardly extending portion (6, 7) extends along the length of the elongate member (4) and extends inwardly from the internal side walls of the conduit (1) for a distance equal to between 10% and 80% of the distance (r) from the longitudinal axis (3) of the conduit (1) to an internal side wall (2).

Abstract: In one aspect the invention provides a signal bearing medium tangibly embodying a program of machine-readable instructions that are executable by a digital processing apparatus to perform operations to determine a maintenance fee for a data storage system. The operations include monitoring at least one data storage device during operation of the data storage system to determine a duty cycle and determining a current value of the maintenance fee based at least in part on the determined duty cycle. In a further disk drive-based embodiment the operations may include, or be instead, determining a disk drive redundancy configuration of disk drives of a data storage system. The operations then compare the determined duty cycle to a threshold value and assert a redundancy configuration change signal based on the result of the comparison. For a RAID configuration embodiment having a RAID level, the asserting operation asserts a RAID level change signal based on the result of the comparison.

Abstract: A Method of Determining the Helix Angle of a Helical Formation for a Conduit. A method of determing the helix angle of a helical formation (4) within a conduit (1). The method includes specifying the internal dimensions of the conduit (1) and an intended fluid mass flow through the conduit (1). The helix angle is determined from the pressure drop and the turbulent kinetic energy for a conduit (1) having the specified internal dimensions and intended fluid mass flow.

Abstract: A method of assessing the effect of a conduit section (11) on flow characteristics of a first fluid in a first conduit system (1). A first fluid is caused to flow through the first conduit system (1). A transverse flow parameter of the first fluid in the first conduit system (1) downstream of the conduit section (11) is detected. At least one transverse flow characteristic of the first fluid is determined from the detected transverse flow parameter. The effect of the conduit section (11) is then assessed from the determined flow characteristics.

Abstract: A helical formation (2) for a conduit (1). The helical formation (2) comprises an elongate member defining at least a portion of a helix, the elongate member comprising two inwardly extending portions (6, 7). The inwardly extending portions (6, 7) are spaced from each other and extend along the length of the elongate member in side-by-side relationship.

Abstract: An improved thermal phase separation unit separates contaminants from a contaminated substrate. The improved thermal phase separation unit includes an enclosure arranged to withstand temperatures created by a combustion system, an essentially air-tight processing chamber supported within the enclosure by support columns connected between the processing chamber and a bottom of the enclosure, a heat shield disposed between the processing chamber and the bottom of the enclosure, and a vapor handling system arranged to remove vapor from the processing chamber. The combustion system heats the processing chamber, and, in turn, indirectly heats contaminated substrate being processed in the processing chamber so as to volatize contaminants in the contaminated substrate to vapor that is subsequently removed by the vapor handling system.