Abstract: A hydrogen generator includes at least two electrolytic cells, each comprising a membrane electrode assembly incorporating a solid polymer electrolyte. The membrane electrode of a first cell is exposed to water and the hydrogen produced in this cell contacts the cathode surfaces of the successive electrolytic cells, wherein any water entrained in or carried over with the hydrogen produced in the first cell is the only significant feedstock for the successive electrolytic cells. In some embodiments, the first and second cells share a common chamber enclosing the respective electrodes. Hydrogen generated by the first cell diffuses into an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene tube adjacent to the cathode. The tube discharges into a space abutting the cathode of the second cell.

Abstract: Techniques and systems for modifying a virtual machine functionality. Archive files each including at least a class files are received. The archive files are stored within the virtual machine. The virtual machine runs on a host system and neither the virtual machine nor the host system are restarted in response to the receiving or storing of the archive files. Files of the host system are scanned to find class files that are not included in a class path for the virtual machine. The class files are copied to a class path for the virtual machine. Neither the virtual machine nor the host system are restarted in response to the copying of the class files. The classes corresponding to the class files are registered in the virtual machine in response to the copying of the class files to the class path. Neither the virtual machine nor the host system are restarted in response to the registration of the classes.

Abstract: A buckle includes a female fastener and a male fastener. The female fastener includes a first body and an engaging structure. The engaging structure is formed on the first body. The male fastener is detachably connected to the female fastener. The male fastener includes a second body and a shaft device. The shaft device is disposed on the second body to be detachably coupled with the engaging structure. When the shaft device is coupled with the engaging structure, the first body can rotate relative to the second body.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compounds of formula (I) for stabilizing the tetrameric form of transthyretin, compounds for use in the treatment or prevention of amyloidosis, and agents and medicaments comprising such compounds. wherein X, Y, R1, R2, R3, R4, m, n, p, q, and the linker are as defined herein.

Abstract: A composite material elongate structural member, such as a spar or stringer, for use in an aerospace structure, comprises a web having an angled portion, for example in the form of a chamfer, curved surface or the like, which joins a foot of the member to the rest of the web. A first surface on the foot is shaped to abut a structure to be stiffened. The foot also has a second surface opposite the first surface. The web has a third surface and a fourth surface at the same layer in the composite material as the first and third surfaces, respectively. On/in the interposed portion there is a fifth surface which joins the first and third surfaces. The geometry of the member may vary along its length (L) so that with increasing distance, the first surface is displaced towards the second surface as the width of the fifth surface decreases.

Abstract: A method is disclosed including passing a plurality of e-mails through a spam filter and classifying at least of the plurality of e-mails as not spam. Thereafter, the plurality of e-mails are received at each of a plurality of user computers. The method may further include receiving a plurality of reports, the plurality of reports including one report from each of the plurality of user computers that one or more of the plurality of e-mails are spam that was not classified as spam by the spam filter. Based on the plurality of reports, one or more of the plurality of e-mails is reclassified as spam and/or the spam filter is modified.

Abstract: Systems and methods to define and store performance baselines. A baseline may be defined as a pair of snapshots, each snapshot containing the same set of statistics and having a timestamp value associated therewith. The present invention allows for the designation, automatically or manually, of statistics collected over a certain period of time to be stored and used for comparison. Baselines may be used, for example, to manually or automatically compare with current system performance, compare difference-difference values and set thresholds to monitor current system performance.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and device for limiting unwanted network traffic, including unwanted emails. The method proceeds by assigning at least one network address to a category of network addresses based on a level of trust of the network address. Connection resources are allocated to the category. When a connection is received from a network address to which the category has been assigned, a portion of the allocated resources in the category are provided to the network address.

Abstract: A technique for automatically generating a report comprising normalized differences in performance statistics between two separate periods. In one embodiment of the invention, database performance statistics are collected on a periodic basis over various time periods. In order to accurately compare database system performance between two discrete periods of time, the difference in the performance statistics of each period are normalized prior to comparing the two periods with each other. By normalizing the statistical differences in each period prior to comparing the differences, periods of different lengths of time as well as different levels of database system load may be compared. In one embodiment, a report is automatically generated which lists the performance statistics being evaluated, the difference in the statistic between each period, the value of each statistical difference as normalized by database time, and the difference between the normalized values.

Abstract: An intelligent database infrastructure wherein the management of all database components is performed by and within the database itself by integrating management of various components with a central management control. Each individual database component, as well as the central management control, is self-managing. A central management control module integrates and interacts with the various database components. The database is configured to automatically tune to varying workloads and configurations, correct or alert about bad conditions, and advise on ways to improve overall system performance.

Abstract: A method of combining businesses by creating a target component map based on the business strategy of the resulting company, and using that target map to generate a component map for each constituent company in the combination. The constituent component map describes the current state of each component instantiated in the constituent company. Where there is no overlap between constituent companies with respect to components in the target map, those component instantiations are carried over to the resulting company. Where there is overlap, a comparative analysis is done and a ‘best fit’ component is recommended for inclusion in the resulting company. A transformation plan is developed to build the resulting company from those component instances selected for inclusion, in accordance with the target component map. Where the business strategy for building the resulting company includes a divestiture, the transformation plan provides alignment of the components to be divested in order to optimize the divestiture.

Abstract: A separator is disclosed for moving a separated portion of an eye. The separator includes an upper surface. A lower planar surface is oriented at an angle with respect to the upper surface. The upper surface and the lower planar surface define an edge therebetween having a structure to remove a portion of an eye. The upper surface includes a structure to receive the removed portion of the eye and to roll the removed portion.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for preparing olefin comonomers from ethylene. The comonomer generated can be used in a subsequent process, such as a polyethylene polymerization reactor. The comonomer generated can be transported, optionally without isolation or storage, to a polyethylene polymerization reactor. One method includes the steps of: feeding ethylene and a catalyst in a solvent/diluent to one or more comonomer synthesis reactors; reacting the ethylene and the catalyst under reaction conditions sufficient to produce an effluent comprising a desired comonomer; forming a gas stream comprising unreacted ethylene, and a liquid/bottoms stream comprising the comonomer, optionally by passing the effluent to one or more downstream gas/liquid phase separators; and purifying at least a portion of said liquid/bottoms stream by removing at least one of solid polymer, catalyst, and undesirable olefins therefrom.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for preparing linear alpha olefin comonomers, such as 1-butene, 1-hexene or 1-octene, from ethylene monomer. The comonomer generated is stored on site for use in a subsequent process, such as a polyethylene polymerization reactor. The method includes the steps of feeding an ethylene monomer, and a catalyst in a solvent to one or more comonomer synthesis reactors; reacting the ethylene monomer and the catalyst in solvent under reaction conditions to produce an effluent stream comprising unreacted ethylene monomer, a catalyst in a solvent, and comonomer; passing the effluent stream to one or more downstream gas/liquid phase separators to form a gas stream of unreacted ethylene monomer, and a liquid stream of comonomer, and catalyst in a solvent; recycling to the one or more comonomer synthesis reactors the unreacted ethylene monomer and a portion of the liquid stream; and storing a remaining portion of said liquid stream for subsequent processing of the comonomer.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for managing personal information. The method includes (a) electronically receiving personal information of a monitored individual and a unique identifier of the monitored individual; (b) electronically receiving mortality information based on a mortality database having one or more records; and (c) electronically searching the mortality database records for the unique identifier of the monitored individual to obtain a mortality search result.

Abstract: The present invention provides a direct manufacturing process operable to fabricate three-dimensional physical objects. These three-dimensional physical objects have improved mechanical properties over existing direct manufactured objects. The direct manufacturing process includes an extrusion process, a polymer application process, and a solidification process. The extrusion process deposits a thermoplastic polymer in a series of sequential layers wherein the series of sequential layers are deposited in predetermined patterns. The polymer application process applies compatible polymer(s) after the deposition of each thermoplastic layer. The compatible polymer may be applied in a same or different predetermined pattern when compared to that of the previously deposited thermoplastic layer. The compatible polymer diffuses into voids within the thermoplastic layer.

Abstract: A method of combining businesses by creating a target component map based on the business strategy of the resulting company, and using that target map to generate a component map for each constituent company in the combination. The constituent component map describes the current state of each component instantiated in the constituent company. Where there is no overlap between constituent companies with respect to components in the target map, those component instantiations are carried over to the resulting company. Where there is overlap, a comparative analysis is done and a ‘best fit’ component is recommended for inclusion in the resulting company. A transformation plan is developed to build the resulting company from those component instances selected for inclusion, in accordance with the target component map. Where the business strategy for building the resulting company includes a divestiture, the transformation plan provides alignment of the components to be divested in order to optimize the divestiture.

Abstract: An instrument (110) for rolling a thin ophthalmic lens and inserting the rolled lens into the eye comprises a body (112) in which a plunger (124) is slidable. A thin lens (156) is placed on a lens roller (130) which is slidable transversely of the instrument. The lens is rolled during the sliding movement into a tubular configuration. The rolled lens is then positioned in the instrument in a cylindrical cavity and ready for contact by a push-rod of the plunger (124) so that it is delivered from the instrument through a box in a tip portion (114) of the instrument.

Abstract: A method of making a lens structure is provided comprising a first step of providing an eyewear lens substrate blank having a polarized layer or a helmet shield substrate blank. A step of spin coating a surface of the lens substrate blank with a photochromic material is then provided. Steps of curing the lens substrate, blank by heating and coating the surface of the lens substrate blank having the photochromic material with a hard coating is then provided.

Abstract: A separator that includes a body and a leading edge portion. The leading edge portion includes an upper planar surface oriented at an angle ranging from approximately 40° to 90° relative to a horizontal plane and a lower planar surface oriented at an angle ranging from approximately 0° to 30° relative to the horizontal plane, wherein the upper planar surface and the lower planar surface intersect one another so as to define a blunt leading edge and the leading edge portion is made of a material that has a hardness so as to separate an epithelial layer of an eye from an cornea stroma of said eye without substantially damaging said epithelial layer and wherein said blunt leading edge is incapable of cutting said stroma.