Abstract: A method for preparing an aqueous dispersion of metal oxide particles is disclosed. The method comprises the step of performing phase transfer of a plurality of metal oxide particles capped with hydrophobic ligands on a surface there of by contacting the metal oxide particles with a combination of tertiary amine and water to form a biphasic mixture, and agitating said biphasic mixture to produce an aqueous dispersion of metal oxide particles capped with hydrophobic ligands and tertiary amine ligands on the surface thereof.

Abstract: A multimodal PET (positron emission tomography)/MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) contrast agent, a process of synthesizing said PET/MRI contrast agent, and a pharmaceutical formulation comprising said PET/MRI contrast agent are disclosed. The PET/MRI contrast agent comprises a magnetic signal generating core, and a coating portion formed at least partially over a surface of said magnetic signal generating core, wherein the coating portion comprises a plurality of layers, including an inner layer having a functionalized surface, and an outer layer in the form of a radionuclide electrolessly plated layer formed on said functionalized surface.

Abstract: A method of purifying a plurality of metal oxide particles produced from a synthesis process comprising the step of washing a plurality of metal oxide particles in a first solvent composition comprising of at least one aliphatic ether, and at least one flocculant. In one embodiment, the plurality of metal oxide particles are iron oxide particles produced from a thermal decomposition synthesis process between an iron-oleate complex and oleic acid in 1-octadecene, wherein the first solvent composition comprises a 1:1 (vol/vol) ratio of an aliphatic ether in the form of diethyl ether and a flocculant in the form of methanol. The washed iron oxide particles are further washed in a second solvent composition comprising a 1:1 (vol/vol) ratio of hexane and ethanol, and then finally dispersed in hexane. The resulting iron oxide particles find use as a contrast agent for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or as magnetic particles in magnetic separation, magnetism-directed targeting or magnetism-induced heating.

Abstract: A method for preparing an aqueous dispersion of metal oxide particles is disclosed. The method comprises the step of performing phase transfer of a plurality of metal oxide particles capped with hydrophobic ligands on a surface there of by contacting the metal oxide particles with a combination of tertiary amine and water to form a biphasic mixture, and agitating said biphasic mixture to produce an aqueous dispersion of metal oxide particles capped with hydrophobic ligands and tertiary amine ligands on the surface thereof.

Abstract: A multimodal PET (positron emission tomography)/MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) contrast agent, a process of synthesizing said PET/MRI contrast agent, and a pharmaceutical formulation comprising said PET/MRI contrast agent are disclosed. The PET/MRI contrast agent comprises a magnetic signal generating core, and a coating portion formed at least partially over a surface of said magnetic signal generating core, wherein the coating portion comprises a plurality of layers, including an inner layer having a functionalized surface, and an outer layer in the form of a radionuclide electrolessly plated layer formed on said functionalized surface.

Abstract: A method of purifying a plurality of metal oxide particles produced from a synthesis process is disclosed. The method comprises the step of washing a plurality of metal oxide particles in a first solvent composition comprising of at least one aliphatic ether, and at least one flocculant. In one embodiment, the plurality of metal oxide particles are iron oxide particles produced from a thermal decomposition synthesis process between an iron-oleate complex and oleic acid in 1-octadecene, wherein the first solvent composition comprises a 1:1 (vol/vol) ratio of an aliphatic ether in the form of diethyl ether and a flocculant in the form of methanol. The washed iron oxide particles are further washed in a second solvent composition comprising a 1:1 (vol/vol) ratio of hexane and ethanol, and then finally dispersed in hexane.

Abstract: One or more techniques and/or systems are disclosed for providing awareness of user availability. A user may activate a device, and a request to manage an availability status can be sent from the device to a communication service. The communication service may resultantly set up monitoring of the user status, and the availability status of the user can be set to available. If an active status update is not received from the user device, the availability status of the user can be changed from available to away. If an active status update for the user continues not to be received (e.g., for a few hours) and/or device connectivity seems lost, the availability status of the user can be changed from away to offline. This can be done in a resource/power efficient manner by not requiring continual execution of an associated application and/or continual network connectivity of the device.

Abstract: Tenant changes are received at a multi-tenant service. The tenant changes are segmented, by tenant, and individual update streams are established with individual tenant stream processors. Each tenant stream processor makes changes for a given tenant, until the changes for that tenant are completed.

Abstract: Tenant changes are received at a multi-tenant service. The tenant changes are segmented, by tenant, and individual update streams are established with individual tenant stream processors. Each tenant stream processor makes changes for a given tenant, until the changes for that tenant are completed.

Abstract: Tenant changes are received at a multi-tenant service. The tenant changes are divided into sections. The sections of tenant changes are processed at the multi-tenant service, across all tenants that have requested changes, to evenly distribute processing resources across all requesting tenants.

Abstract: One or more techniques and/or systems are disclosed for providing awareness of user availability. A user may activate a device, and a request to manage an availability status can be sent from the device to a communication service. The communication service may resultantly set up monitoring of the user status, and the availability status of the user can be set to available. If an active status update is not received from the user device, the availability status of the user can be changed from available to away. If an active status update for the user continues not to be received (e.g., for a few hours) and/or device connectivity seems lost, the availability status of the user can be changed from away to offline. This can be done in a resource/power efficient manner by not requiring continual execution of an associated application and/or continual network connectivity of the device.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method, system and computer program product for online negotiations and transactions for electronic commerce spanning international boundaries and includes means for incorporating the effects of the associated uncertainties and risks into decisions related to the assignment of items and the determination of their prices and further means for mitigation of some of these uncertainties and risks. These uncertainties and risk may include those originating from price changes, currency fluctuations, counterparty default, non-conformance to quality and quantity specifications and shipment and payment delays.

Abstract: The use of software-based agents to act on behalf of human bidders for dynamic participation in multiple simultaneous online auctions is disclosed. The software-based agents may reside on computer systems or on any type of stationary or mobile terminal. On the basis of bidding-related information from a bidder, a software agent selects a plurality of auctions to place bids in. Upon being outbid, the agent determines whether to place an additional bid in a further auction. The agent can make such a determination on the basis of maximising profitability or surplus.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a computer implementable system and method for allocation and pricing of classified resources of a web server farm to customers by a resource center comprising means for providing different levels of service by dynamically allocating and pricing said resources based on customers' changing needs, and their willingness to pay.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method, system and computer program product for enabling negotiations for resolution of e-commerce transactions involving direct interactions between an offering party (seller or buyer) and a counterparty (buyer or seller). The invention includes generating a public offer containing values of a defined set of attributes by a party to the target population of the counterparties and sending private acknowledgements of acceptance or responses containing counter offers for at least one of the offers to at least one party.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method, system and computer program product for online negotiations and transactions for electronic commerce spanning international boundaries and includes means for incorporating the effects of the associated uncertainties and risks into decisions related to the assignment of items and the determination of their prices and further means for mitigation of some of these uncertainties and risks. These uncertainties and risk may include those originating from price changes, currency fluctuations, counterparty default, non-conformance to quality and quantity specifications and shipment and payment delays.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a computer implementable system, method and computer program product for conducting online negotiation and matchings for electronic commerce spanning international boundaries and includes means for computation of end-to-end costs for potential transactions including the determination of various intermediate costs like shipping costs, taxes and duties, various fees and commissions and the like. It further includes means for incorporating the computed end-to-end costs in determining the market allocations and prices, thus leading to more informed buying and selling decisions.

Abstract: A system for implementing a virtual class and distance education via a computer network is disclosed. The process carried out by the system involves receiving signals from one or more instructor entities, the signals including lesson material designated as belonging to one or more interest groups. The lesson material is sent in advance to student entities listed in one or more of the interest groups to which the lesson material is designated as belonging. Signals from one or more student entities are received requesting admission to a particular class and instructions are sent to student entities to control the display and execution of the lesson material. Interaction amongst student entities, or between student entities and instructor entities, are facilitated and moderated.