Abstract: Improved duplicate and near-duplicate detection techniques may assign a number of fingerprints to a given document by (i) extracting parts from the document, (ii) assigning the extracted parts to one or more of a predetermined number of lists, and (iii) generating a fingerprint from each of the populated lists. Two documents may be considered to be near-duplicates if any one of their fingerprints match.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display structure includes a liquid crystal display cell having a front surface and a back surface. One or more intrinsic polarizers lacking protective coatings thereon, such as K-type polarizers and thin KE polarizer sheets, are disposed adjacent to the front and back surfaces of the liquid crystal display cell. Alternatively, thinly cladded or encased iodine polarizers are disposed adjacent to the front and back surfaces of the liquid crystal display cell. The liquid crystal display structure may be used in conjunction with other optical display elements to enhance the brightness and contrast of the liquid crystal display.

Abstract: Successor versions of an application service provision runtime library of an application service provision apparatus are provided with corresponding update services to facilitate upgrade of applications to selected ones of the successor versions on request. In various embodiments, a dispatcher of the application service provision apparatus is provided with complementary functions to coordinate the servicing of the upgrade requests. In some embodiments, each of the update services is equipped to upgrade the application from an immediate predecessor version of the runtime library. In other embodiments, each of the update services is equipped to upgrade the application from any predecessor version of the runtime library.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display structure includes a liquid crystal display cell having a front surface and a back surface. One or more intrinsic polarizers lacking protective coatings thereon, such as K-type polarizers and thin KE polarizer sheets, are disposed adjacent to the front and back surfaces of the liquid crystal display cell. Alternatively, thinly cladded or encased iodine polarizers are disposed adjacent to the front and back surfaces of the liquid crystal display cell. The liquid crystal display structure may be used in conjunction with other optical display elements to enhance the brightness and contrast of the liquid crystal display.

Abstract: A web based application having non-file system structures is copied or archived by first initializing a file to store the web based application, including creation of a root directory within the file. Then, data directories are created under the root directory, and a number of storage data objects under the data directories are initialized for all non-file system structures of the web based application. Thereafter, the non-file system structures are copied and stored into the storage data objects. In embodiments where the web based application further includes files that are part of a file system, the files are stored as additional storage data objects under the root directory. Accordingly, database and operating system independence is achieved.

Abstract: An application service provision apparatus is provided with one or more components to perform a dispatching and a shared resource monitoring function to allow applications be hosted with multiple versions of a hosting service runtime library in a more efficient manner. The dispatching function, upon receipt of a request for service for an application, determines if the version of the runtime library required is known. If not, the dispatching function turns to the latest version of the runtime library to determine the version required. In one embodiment, the required earlier versions are loaded only on an as needed basis. The shared resource monitoring function, upon detecting aggregated allocation of a shared resource reaching a pre-determined threshold, requests consumers of the shared resource to provide tracked last used times of their allocations. In response, the monitoring function selects a number of the allocations for release, and instructed the shared resource consumers accordingly.

Abstract: Nucleic acid constructs comprising hypoxia response elements in operable linkage with a coding sequence of a gene of interest, and methods for expressing a nucleic acid sequence using the constructs, are disclosed. In particular, such nucleic acid constructs comprise genes encoding prodrug activation systems or cytokines.

Abstract: A grinding rod chemistry enhances wearability and durability of a steel rod and comprises levels of carbon to achieve a surface hardness in excess of 55 Rockwell C and levels of chromium which achieve significant depth in the formed outer martensite shell. The grinding rod has a core greater than 99% pearlite with a hardness less than 45 Rockwell C and the end portions of the rod are soft and have a hardness less than 35 Rockwell C. The steel bar of the selected chemistry is treated by reheating to above its austenitising temperature, transferring with minimal cooling to an open tubular quench vessel while securing the bar in the vessel to minimize bar warping, introducing quench water into the inlet end of the vessel and passing the liquid through the vessel to ensure uniform heat removal. The outer martensite shell is tempered by allowing the bar to soak back after quenching.

Abstract: A grinding rod having a hardened outer shell of tempered martensite is adapted for use in heavy duty grinding environments. The rod is stress relieved to reduce internal compressive stresses in the tempered martensitic shell to less than 60 ksi and greater than 15 ksi. Such stress relieve stabilizes the rod against break-up as caused by the balancing tensile stresses in the pearlitic core exceeding tensile strength of the core.

Abstract: Nucleic acid constructs comprising hypoxia response elements in operable linkage with a coding sequence of a gene of interest are disclosed. In particular, such nucleic acid constructs comprise genes encoding pro-drug activation systems or cytokines.

Abstract: A process for heat treating a steel bar to produce a grinding rod having a softer core of at least 99% pearlite and having a hardness of less than 45 Rockwell C, an outer shell of martensite having a hardness of at least 50 Rockwell C and softer end portions having a hardness of less than 35 Rockwell C, where the softer end portions each having an engineered heat treated length less than 15 cm, comprises reheating a formed steel bar to above its austenitising temperature, transferring with minimal cooling the reheated bar to an open tubular quench vessel while securing the bar in the vessel to minimize bar warping in the vessel during quenching, introducing quench water into an inlet end of the vessel and passing the quench liquid along the vessel at high surface velocities exceeding 4 meters per second relative to bar surface to minimize thereby production of steam along the bar length and ensure uniform heat removal and removing quench water at an outlet end of the vessel, quenching the bar in the vessel fo

Abstract: An adjustable satellite antenna mounting bracket that reinforces the eaves of a building roof. The antenna mounting bracket has a telescoping support having a rigid tubular form. The telescoping support has a back plate on one end that is secured to the sidewall of the building adjacent to the eave of the building. On the other end of the telescoping support is a base mount plate having a generally rectangular form adapted for accepting the base of a satellite antenna. The base mount plate that protrudes past the outer edge of the eave to permit unobstructed reception of satellite signals. The telescoping support is braced by a brace. The brace cradles the telescoping support in normal conditions, but in the event of severe weather, the brace maintains the position of the support. An extension lock fixes the length of the telescoping support and acts to reinforce the eave.

Abstract: A propellant strip assembly for use in propellant actuated fastener driving tools. The assembly includes a carrying strip which contains a plurality of pockets which each hold a propellant charge and a sensitizer to activate the charge. The carrying strip is adhesively joined to a cover strip to isolate the individual charges, and each pocket is also sealed around its periphery to further improve the isolation. The cover strip may contain a ribbed section to physically separate the charge and sensitizer within each pocket to aid in prevention of accidental ignition.

Abstract: A container lid with a tear-out strip forming a closure therefor in which the strip and its pull ring remains attached to the lid and container while enabling the contents to be removed by utilizing a straw disposed within the container which will pop up into position for use when the tear-out closure is elevated by using the pull ring. When an aluminum lid or non-ferrous lid is used, an insert of ferrous material is mounted in sealed relation on the container lid or on the container bottom in the event a two-piece can is used which enables pick-up and handling of discarded containers by using magnetic devices to facilitate recycling of the containers. The straw is supported by a plastic apron and the lid provided with an air channel to enable the apron to be positioned in a vertical position for receiving an end portion of the straw therethrough.