Abstract: A soil raining system combining flat sheet pile wails in an open cell configuration includes integral soil anchors providing an improved earth retaining system. Another aspect of the invention is a method of designing and installing a soil retaining system with an open sheet pile cell structure having integral soil anchors. The method includes, inter alia, calculating soil forces by taking into account material strength of sheet pile, soil friction against the sheet pile in combination with the strength of the integral soil anchor, selecting sheet pile size and length based on soil forces calculation; and installation of sheet pile to form a soil retaining system. The integral soil anchors serve to provide higher load resistance to the improved earth retaining system.

Abstract: A method of installing a mud flap onto a vehicle having a fender which has a contour, so that the mud flap is in a predetermined position. A mud flap installation kit is used. This kit has a mud flap that defines a set of at least three apertures positioned along a curve that parallels the fender contour and a set of flat clips equal in number to the apertures, each flat clip having a bolt and a leaf, defining a leaf aperture. Each flat clip bolt is threaded through a mud flap aperture and a leaf aperture. Then the mud flap is aligned so that each of the apertures is a predetermined distance from the fender, thereby placing the mud flap in the predetermined position. Finally, the flat clips are used to clamp the mud flap to the fender.

Abstract: A soil retaining system combining flat sheet pile walls in an open cell configuration includes integral soil anchors providing an improved earth retaining system. Another aspect of the invention is a method of designing and installing a soil retaining system with an open sheet pile cell structure having integral soil anchors. The method includes, inter alia, calculating soil forces by taking into account material strength of sheet pile, soil friction against the sheet pile in combination with the strength of the integral soil anchor, selecting sheet pile size and length based on soil forces calculation; and installation of sheet pile to form a soil retaining system. The integral soil anchors serve to provide higher load resistance to the improved earth retaining system.

Abstract: A surgical instrument valve assembly is provided with a valve seal where the upper portion of the valve seal is rigidly mounted to the body of the valve assembly. The lower portion of the valve seal is configured to allow some radial movement while the upper portion of the valve seal remains rigidly mounted within the valve assembly. The valve seal may be provided with stay that prevents the valve seal from inverting when an instrument is withdrawn from the valve assembly.

Abstract: Provided are a method, system, and program for maintaining data in a first cache and second cache, wherein a backup cache maintains a backup copy of data in the first cache, and wherein the first cache is used to cache a first set of data in a storage system and the second cache is used to cache a second set of data in the storage system. An unavailable state of the first cache is detected. In response to detecting the unavailable state, requests to the first set of data are blocked and at least one space in the second cache is allocated for data in the backup cache. Requests to the first set of data are allowed to proceed after the at least one space is allocated in the second cache and before the data in the backup cache is copied to the at least one allocated space in the second cache. The data from the backup cache is copied to the allocated at least one space in the second cache after the requests to the first set of data are allowed to proceed.

Abstract: A soil retaining system combining flat sheet pile walls in an open cell configuration includes integral soil anchors to provide an earth retaining system. A method of designing and installing a soil retaining system with an open sheet pile cell structure having integral soil anchors. The method includes, inter alia, calculating soil forces by taking into account material strength of sheet pile, soil friction against the sheet pile in combination with the strength of the integral soil anchor, selecting sheet pile size and length based on soil forces calculation; and installation of sheet pile to form a soil retaining system. The integral soil anchors serve to provide higher load resistance to the earth retaining system.

Abstract: Provided are a method, system, and program for increasing processor utilization. A list of work is divided for processing among a plurality of processes, wherein a process is allocated a part of the list of work to process, and the processes execute in parallel. If a process completes the list of work allocated to the process then the process is made available on an available process queue. Before a process performs any work, the process reads the available process queue and determines if any process is available to share the work. If so, the work is split up between the examining process and the available process. In one implementation, the work involves scanning a cache and if necessary destage data.

Abstract: A surgical instrument and method for facilitating the capture of objects during surgery are provided. The surgical instrument includes a flexible tube defining a cable passageway and being configured for insertion of at least portion of the flexible tube into a body cavity of a patient. The surgical instrument further includes flexible cable slidably disposed in the cable passageway. A snare loop is attached to the cable end and both are adapted so that the snare loop can be selectively retracted or extended within the cable passageway by sliding the cable proximally or distally within the cable passageway. The loop member is adapted for selectively encircling and engaging at least a portion of an object in the body cavity. The system also comprises a tether, the tether attached to the loop member at one end and to the flexible tube at the other, so that extension of the flexible cable causes the snare loop to deform in a predetermined manner.

Abstract: An occlusion clip is disclosed that comprises an upper occlusion member having substantially parallel first and second upper occlusion arms each having proximal and distal upper occlusion arm ends. The first and second upper occlusion arms define an upper main body width dimension. An upper arcuate portion connects the first and second upper occlusion arms at their distal ends. The occlusion clip also comprises a lower occlusion member having substantially parallel first and second lower occlusion arms each having proximal and distal lower occlusion arm ends. The first and second lower occlusion arms define a lower main body width dimension. A lower arcuate portion connects the first and second lower occlusion arms at their distal ends. The occlusion clip further comprises a torsion spring connecting the proximal end of the first lower occlusion arm to the proximal end of the second upper occlusion arm.

Abstract: An occlusion clip is disclosed that comprises an occlusion portion having an upper single element occlusion member having proximal and distal upper member ends and a lower single element occlusion member having proximal and distal lower member ends. The lower single element occlusion member and the upper single element occlusion member combine to define an occlusion member plane. The occlusion clip further comprises a spring portion having a torsion spring connecting the proximal upper member end to the proximal lower member end. The torsion spring has a spring height dimension in the occlusion member plane perpendicular to the upper and lower single occlusion members and is adapted to bias the upper and lower single element occlusion members toward a closed position wherein the upper single element occlusion member is in force contact with the lower single element occlusion member.

Abstract: A load limiting device for a jib extension includes a pivotal insert adjacent the tip of the jib extension, a cable sheave mounted on the insert, a force measuring device for measuring forces imposed upon the insert by a load on the cable, an angle transducer for measuring the angle of orientation, and means for determining, based upon such force and angle of orientation, the load on the jib extension.

Abstract: A soil retaining system combining flat sheet pile walls in an open cell configuration includes integral soil anchors providing an improved earth retaining system. Another aspect of the invention is a method of designing and installing a soil retaining system with an open sheet pile cell structure having integral soil anchors. The method includes, inter alia, calculating soil forces by taking into account material strength of sheet pile, soil friction against the sheet pile in combination with the strength of the integral soil anchor, selecting sheet pile size and length based on soil forces calculation; and installation of sheet pile to form a soil retaining system. The integral soil anchors serve to provide higher load resistance to the improved earth retaining system.

Abstract: A load limiting device for a jib extension includes a pivotal insert adjacent the tip of the jib extension, a cable sheave mounted on the insert, a force measuring device for measuring forces imposed upon the insert by a load on the cable, an angle transducer for measuring the angle of orientation, and means for determining, based upon such force and angle of orientation, the load on the jib extension.

Abstract: This invention describes synthetic redwood building material fashioned from a silicone mold that was impressioned with a genuine article of redwood and contains an outward layer of photoinitiated polyester clear gel coat, which is used only with the red pigmented gel coat in an intermediate layer of color-bearing polyester gel coat, a second intermediate layer of matting material, a third intermediate layer of honeycomb material and a rearward-facing layer. The invention also includes a method for making said synthetic redwood building material.

Abstract: A soil retaining system combining flat sheet pile walls in an open cell configuration includes integral soil anchors to provide an earth retaining system. A method of designing and installing a soil retaining system with an open sheet pile cell structure having integral soil anchors. The method includes, inter alia, calculating soil forces by taking into account material strength of sheet pile, soil friction against the sheet pile in combination with the strength of the integral soil anchor, selecting sheet pile size and length based on soil forces calculation; and installation of sheet pile to form a soil retaining system. The integral soil anchors serve to provide higher load resistance to the earth retaining system.

Abstract: Provided are a method, system, and program for maintaining data in a first cache and second cache, wherein a backup cache maintains a backup copy of data in the first cache, and wherein the first cache is used to cache a first set of data in a storage system and the second cache is used to cache a second set of data in the storage system. An unavailable state of the first cache is detected. In response to detecting the unavailable state, requests to the first set of data are blocked and at least one space in the second cache is allocated for data in the backup cache. Requests to the first set of data are allowed to proceed after the at least one space is allocated in the second cache and before the data in the backup cache is copied to the at least one allocated space in the second cache. The data from the backup cache is copied to the allocated at least one space in the second cache after the requests to the first set of data are allowed to proceed.

Abstract: A method of training brokers in a multi-level marketing business to make sales of a product and to recruit new brokers includes the steps of presenting materials to train brokers on order form procedures. The order form procedures include collecting identification information and payment information. The method also includes presenting materials to train brokers on recruiting form procedures. The recruiting form procedures include collecting identification information, payment information, and the selection of sales packages. The method also includes presenting materials to train brokers on sales procedures. The sales procedures include the steps of listing prospects, approach prospects, provide a sales presentation, enroll members and brokers, and continually repeat the sales procedure.

Abstract: Provided are a method, system, and program for increasing processor utilization. A list of work is divided for processing among a plurality of processes, wherein a process is allocated a part of the list of work to process, and the processes execute in parallel. If a process completes the list of work allocated to the process then the process is made available on an available process queue. Before a process performs any work, the process reads the available process queue and determines if any process is available to share the work. If so, the work is split up between the examining process and the available process. In one implementation, the work involves scanning a cache and if necessary destage data.

Abstract: A connector component for fluidly or electrically connecting two or more devices to one another is constructed in such a manner that it can be repeatedly quickly and easily mounted to and subsequently separated from a connector mounting component. The connector component includes a mounting portion that is disposed within a connector opening in the connector mounting component when the connector component is mounted to the connector mounting component. The connector component includes at least one quick connect clip such as an E-clip or snap ring clip that can be engaged to the connector component to maintain its attachment to the connector mounting component.

Abstract: A transport and storage trailer to transport a gas container having features that facilitate safe and secured storage of the fuel container as an unattended fuel source. The trailer includes a main frame having attached wheels and a hitch-receiving end for connection to a standard trailer hitch and a mechanism for safe and secured storage orientation. The mechanism for safe and secured storage orientation comprises an anchoring mechanism that secures the trailer and attached fuel container in a secured storage orientation. The secured storage orientation facilitates hook-up to a fuel inlet valve, which is ordinarily coupled by a hose that is ultimately connected to an inlet for the destined gas using apparatus (e.g. gas inlet of a home). The safe and secured storage orientation resists external forces that might topple the fuel container resulting in hazardous conditions.