Abstract: Dispersed powders are disclosed that comprise fine nanoscale powders dispersed on coarser carrier powders. The composition of the dispersed fine powders may be oxides, carbides, nitrides, borides, chalcogenides, metals, and alloys. Fine powders discussed are of sizes less than 100 microns, preferably less than 10 micron, more preferably less than 1 micron, and most preferably less than 100 nanometers. Methods for producing such powders in high volume, low-cost, and reproducible quality are also outlined. Such powders are useful in various applications such as catalysts, sensor, electronic, electrical, photonic, thermal, biomedical, piezo, magnetic, catalytic and electrochemical products.

Abstract: A caching pattern and associated method for caching in a programming environment are disclosed. The caching pattern includes an extensible cache entry component that includes methods for retrieving, updating, and setting expiration parameters for a cache entry. A cache store component includes methods for reading and writing objects to cache entries. A cache manager component includes methods implementing a first interface to the cache store component to cause the cache store component to read and write objects to the data store and includes methods implementing a second interface to the cache entry component for adding, removing, getting and committing data to the cache entry. The cache store component may also include instantiating a virtual machine and the caching pattern may be used, in one embodiment, in a JAVA programming environment.

Abstract: Methods for lowering processing and raw material costs are disclosed. Specifically, the use of nanostructured powders is disclosed for faster and lower sintering temperatures whereby electrodes currently employing platinum can be substituted with lower melting point metals and alloys.

Abstract: A method and system that manage upgrades in a high-availability computer system by viewing the upgrade process as driving the system between a succession of stable configurations. The mechanism used by a described embodiment is an availability manager that is capable of ascertaining the state of each component and driving it toward a goal state by driving toward a succession of desired stable configurations. A high-level orchestration agent instructs the availability manager when a stable configuration has been reached and it is time to drive toward a next stable configuration.

Abstract: Ion conducting solid electrolytes are constructed from nanoscale precursor material. Nanocrystalline powders are pressed into disc structures and sintered to the appropriate degree of densification. Metallic material is mixed with 0 to 65 vol % nanostructured electrolyte powders to form a cermet mix and then coated on each side of the disc and fitted with electrical leads. The electrical conductivity of a Ag/YSZ/Ag cell so assembled exhibited about an order of magnitude enhancement in oxygen ion conductivity. As an oxygen-sensing element in a standard O2/Ag/YSZ/Ag/N2 set up, the nanocrystalline YSZ element exhibited commercially significant oxygen ion conductivity at low temperatures. The invention can be utilized to prepare nanostructured ion conducting solid electrolytes for a wide range of applications, including sensors, oxygen pumps, fuel cells, batteries, electrosynthesis reactors and catalytic membranes.

Abstract: A method for scoring queued frames 18 for selective transmission through a switch (12) includes providing one or more switches in a fibre channel fabric, particularly one or more fibre channel switches (12′). The method includes assigning an initial score (20) to the content (42) of the one or more frames (18) of data (26). The initial score (20) is adjusted by one or more alternative score components to determine one or more adjusted scores (22). The adjusted scores (22) are compared. The method also provides for selecting frames (18) having the highest adjusted scores (22), and transmitting through the switches (12) the frames (18) having the highest adjusted scores (22).

Abstract: Nanostructured non-stoichiometric materials are disclosed. Novel magnetic materials and their applications are discussed. More specifically, the specifications teach the use of nanotechnology and nanostructured materials for developing novel magnetic devices and products.

Abstract: A method and apparatus including a plurality of data processing units. A plurality of memory banks having a shared address space are coupled to the processors by a crossbar coupling to enable reading and writing data between the processors and memory banks. A unidirectional network couples the memory banks and the processors to enable cache coherency messages to be transmitted from the memory to the processors. A plurality of semaphore registers are implemented within the shared address space of the memory banks wherein the semaphore registers are accessible by the processors through the crossbar coupling.

Abstract: Nanostructured non-stoichiometric materials are provided and electronic materials and their applications are discussed. More specifically, the uses of nanotechnology and nanostructured materials for electronic products.

Abstract: Nanostructured non-stoichiometric materials are disclosed. Novel biomedical materials and their applications are discussed. More specifically, the specifications teach the use of nanotechnology and nanostructured materials for developing novel biomedical products.

Abstract: A warmswap operation to replace modules in a mirrored cache system has been accomplished by disabling mirrored write operations in the cache system; testing the replacement memory module in the cache system; and restoring the mirrored data in the cache system. The restoring operation is accomplished by first quiescing write operations to stop writing data in the cache system not backed up in non-volatile data storage. Then data is copied from surviving memory modules to the replacement module, and the cooperative interaction of the surviving memory modules with the replacement memory module is validated. The validating operation verifies the cache modules are ready and the controllers are synchronized. After validation the quiesced write operations are un-quiesced, and mirrored-write operations for the cache system are enabled.

Abstract: Novel non-ionics and energy device materials made from non-stoichiometric nanomaterials and their applications are discussed. More specifically, the specifications teach the use of nanotechnology and nanostructured materials for developing novel energy related products.

Abstract: Nanostructured non-stoichiometric materials are disclosed. Novel sensing materials and their applications are discussed. More specifically, the specifications teach the use of nanotechnology and nanostructured materials for developing novel sensing devices and products.

Abstract: A method of producing very high purity fine powders of oxides, carbides, nitrides, borides, chalcogenides, metals, and alloys. The purity of powders produced by the method exceeds 99.9%, preferably 99.999%, more preferably 99.99999%, and most preferably 99.9999999%. Fine powders produced are of size less than 100 microns, preferably less than 10 micron, more preferably less than 1 micron, and most preferably less than 100 nanometers. Methods for producing such powders in high volume, low-cost, and reproducible quality are also outlined. The very high purity, fine powders are envisioned to be useful in various applications such as biomedical, sensor, electronic, electrical, photonic, thermal, piezo, magnetic, catalytic and electrochemical products.

Abstract: Nanostructured non-stoichiometric materials are disclosed. Novel catalysts and their applications are discussed. More specifically, the specifications teach the use of nanotechnology and nanostructured materials for developing novel catalysts for petrochemical, polymers, plastics, specialty chemicals, environmental and pharmaceutical applications.

Abstract: Nanostructured non-stoichiometric non-equilibrium materials are disclosed. Novel electromagnetic materials and their applications are discussed. More specifically, the specifications teach the use of nanotechnology and nanostructured materials for developing novel electrical devices and products.

Abstract: A mechanism for managing a plurality of profile data structures including a plurality of profile objects having an interface for sending and receiving information and a profile service mechanism having an interface for sending and receiving information. A protocol layer operatively coupled to the profile objects interface and the profile service interface, the protocol layer defining a plurality of request elements and a plurality of response elements. A protocol layer interface within the protocol layer receives user-entity specified set of request elements from the user entity and sends a responsive set of response elements to the user entity. A first set of methods within the profile service mechanism that create instances of the profile objects, where each of the first set of methods correspond to one of the request elements and one of the response elements.

Abstract: Illustrations are provided on applications and usage of electrically activated catalysts. Methods are disclosed for preparing catalysts from nanomaterials. Processes and devices are described that utilize catalysts. The invention can also be applied to improve the performance of existing catalysts, to enhance the performance of substances by inducing or applying charge in nanostructured forms of substances, and to prepare novel devices. Example processes for hydrogen production are discussed. Finally, the invention can be utilized to engineer the thermal, structural, electrical, magnetic, electrochemical, optical, photonic, and other properties of nanoscale substances.

Abstract: Sensors for monitoring environmental variables such as chemical composition are disclosed. These low-cost sensors comprise multiple layers in a laminated stack. Very high numbers of sensing layers (e.g., 500) may be incorporated into a single laminated sensor device. The sensors may be produced from nanostructured materials. Additionally, multilayer magnetic, optical, photonic, thermal and biomedical sensors are disclosed.

Abstract: This invention describes a method of rapidly monitoring the temperature of a medium and a method of preparing a quantum confined device that can enable such measurements. The monitoring principle uses changes in impedance of nanostructured devices, i.e. devices in which one or more materials have the domain size precision engineered to less than 500 nanometers, preferably to dimensions less than the domain sizes where quantum confinement effects become significant and modify the electrical or thermal properties of the materials. The invention can be used to monitor absolute values of and changes in temperature of gases, inorganic and organic liquids, solids, suspensions, and mixtures of one or more of the said phases. The invention can be used to monitor radiation, power, heat and mass flow, charge and momentum flow, and phase transformation.