Abstract:
An apparatus and a method for improving the fault tolerance of storage systems by replacing disk drives, which are about to fail, are disclosed. The set of disk drives in a storage system are monitored to identify failing disk drives. A processing unit identifies the failing disk drive and selects a spare disk drive to replace the failing disk drive. The selected spare disk drive is powered on, and data from the failing disk drive is copied to the selected spare disk drive. A memory unit stores attributes and sensor data for the disk drives in the storage system. The attributes and sensor data are used by the processing unit to identify a failing disk drive. Attributes for disk drives are obtained by using SMART, and sensor data is obtained from environmental sensors such as temperature and vibration sensors.
Abstract:
A meeting location availability system determines the meeting locations that are available for use during a specified meeting time and suggests some or all of the available meeting locations as possible locations for conducting a meeting at the specified meeting time. The meeting location availability system maintains meeting location information, such as the preferred meeting locations, for each user. The meeting location availability system may then determine the meeting locations that are available for a meeting between meeting attendees at a specified meeting time by identifying the meeting locations for all of the meeting attendees and, from these meeting locations, identifying the meeting locations that are available for use during the specified meeting time. The meeting location availability system may then suggest some or all of the identified available meeting locations as possible locations for conducting the meeting at the specified meeting time.
Abstract:
Generally described, a method is provided for use in a computer system that allows users to navigate quickly through multiple applications. In accordance with the method, when the computer receives a signal from the user, it extracts a preview representing a screen shot for each window open within the operating system. It then displays the preview, a description, and an icon for the next window in the activation hierarchy and a description and an icon for the remaining open windows. In other embodiments, the previews for all open windows with corresponding descriptions and icons are displayed utilizing several different arrangements. The computer then receives a designation from the user of the next window he or she wants to make active and brings to the foreground the top level window corresponding to the selection.
Abstract:
A carpet cutters includes a blade-supporting structure and a tuft-parting structure. The blade-supporting structure includes a longitudinally extending guide with a forward portion and a carpet-contacting edge that extends along a first axis toward the forward portion of the guide. A blade is mounted adjustably on the blade-supporting structure in a carpet-cutting position of the blade. The tuft-parting structure is on the forward portion of the guide where it functions as means for parting tufts on the carpet in order to facilitate cutting a backing portion of the carpet without cutting the tufts. The tuft-parting structure includes an elongated member with a tip. The elongated member protrudes forwardly beyond the forward end portion of the guide along a second axis that intersects the first axis, thereby to facilitate positioning of the tip of the elongated structure in between adjacent tufts of the carpet.
Abstract:
A pneumatic fastener inserter and hopper for the same is disclosed for use in inserting fasteners into material being secured. The hopper comprises a rotatable drum which tumbles the fasteners therein into position so that the shanks thereof protrude outwardly between spaced-apart bars. The fasteners are discharged from a discharge opening formed in the hopper and are delivered to a magazine which is in communication with an entrapment apparatus which feeds the fasteners to a feed tube under pressure. The air pressure in the feed tube delivers the individual fasteners to the inserter with the fastener being positioned between pivotally movable head fingers which open to receive the fastener to position the same for subsequent insertion and which pivot to enable the fastener to be driven outwardly therefrom by a piston rod so that the fastener is driven into and through the material being secured.
Abstract:
Methods and apparatuses are presented for the steam pasteurization of the meat to heat the surface of the meat and reduce surface contamination. One example of an apparatus for reducing surface contamination of meat includes a dewatering region, a steam region, a coolant region, and a controller. The dewatering region includes at least one dewatering element for directing a dewatering fluid at a piece of meat to remove surface water from the meat. The steam region includes at least one steam valve for directing steam at the piece of meat to heat the surface of the meat. The coolant region has at least one coolant element for directing a coolant fluid at the piece of meat to cool the meat. The controller is configured and arranged to control a conveyor to move the piece of meat from the dewatering region to the steam region, to stop the piece of meat in the steam region while steam is directed at the piece of meat, and to move the meat from the steam region to the coolant region.
Abstract:
A method is provided for preserving tissues during removal, storage and implantation into a subject by enhancing cell viability in a population of graft cells during the transplantation procedure. The method includes selecting an effective dose of a polycylic phenolic compound in a physiologically acceptable formulation and exposing at least the population of graft cells to the formulation containing the compound within a time that is effectively proximate to the transplantation procedure so as to confer cytoprotection on the population of graft cells.
Abstract:
The present invention concerns methods and compositions for enhancing the cytoprotective effects of polycyclic phenolic compounds through the synergistic interaction with anti-oxidants.
Abstract:
A timing sprocket for a camshaft is provided with a number of positioning holes equally spaced in a circle about its axis of rotation. A vernier plate connected to the camshaft is provided with alignment holes equally spaced in a corresponding circle as the circle of positioning holes but at a slightly greater or lesser angle. Alignment of a positioning hole and an alignment hole using a positioning pin permits incremental rotational adjustment of the sprocket wheel relative to the camshaft for angular increments equal to the difference between the angles of the positioning holes and the angles of the alignment holes.