Abstract: A certification authority generates certificates in response to respective certification requests. The certification authority generally includes a computer that is bootable from a removable medium and a removable medium. The removable medium includes a machine readable medium having encoded thereon an operating system module configured to enable the computer to boot from the removable medium and a certificate generation module configured to, after the computer has been booted, control the computer to facilitate the generation of at least one certificate in response to an associated certificate request, the certification authority module being configured to provide that the computer not be remotely controlled during a certificate generation session.

Abstract: Provided is a computer implemented method, system, and program for discovering a topology of a switch from an initiator device. The switch includes a plurality of switch ports. A plurality of Input/Output (I/O) devices are connected to the switch ports, wherein each I/O device and the initiator device connect to the switch through one of the switch ports. The initiator and I/O devices communicate on a first network configured by the switch and the initiator device communicates with the switch over a second network. The initiator device performs submitting a first query over the first network to the switch requesting a unique address of a plurality of I/O devices that are accessible to the initiator device over the first network. In response to the first query to the switch on the first network, the unique address of each I/O device is received from the switch. A second query is submitted over the second network to the switch for information on switch ports on the switch.

Abstract: A system for enabling on-line creation of greeting cards and distribution of the cards with gifts also purchased on-line includes a server system and one or more client systems. The server system is accessible online and enables network users to select and customize electronic versions of greeting cards. The customizations to the cards, as well as data identifying the card, the network user, the card recipient, and a vendor, are transmitted to a client system located at the vendor's distribution facilities. The transmitted information is utilized to print the card in hard copy form for shipment by the vendor to the designated recipient. In the disclosed system, a network user may view the card including any customizations in WYSIWYG format.

Abstract: A multi-threaded garbage collector operates in increments and maintains, for each of a plurality of car sections in which it has divided a portion of the heap, a respective remembered set of the locations at which it has found references to objects in those car sections. It stores the remembered sets in respective hash tables, whose contents it updates in a scanning operation, executed concurrently by multiple threads, in which it finds references and records their locations in the appropriate tables. Occasionally, one of the threads replaces the hash table for a given car section. Rather than wait for the replacement operation to be completed, a thread that has an entry to be made into that car section's remembered set accesses the old table to find out whether the entry has already been made. If so, no new entry is necessary. Otherwise, it places an entry into the old table and sometimes places an insertion record containing that entry into a linked list associated with that car section.

Abstract: An organic light-emitting device comprising a layer of light-emissive organic material interposed between a first electrode and a second electrode, at least one of the first and second electrodes comprising one or more electrode layers on the layer of light-emissive organic material for injecting charge carriers into the light-emissive organic material, wherein the organic light-emitting device further comprises a layer of dielectric material on the surface of the outermost electrode layer remote from the layer of light-emissive organic material.

Abstract: The present invention provides a surgical implant and method for supporting the urethra (118), the implant comprising: a suburethral support (10) suspended between two soft tissue anchors (30) that do not penetrate the lower abdominal wall and are attached at either side of the suburethral support (10). The soft tissue anchors (30) retain each anchor in soft tissue, suspending each side of the suburethral support (10). The suburethral support (10) passes under the urethra (118) to support the urethra The implant has uses including treating urinary incontinence and uterovaginal prolapse.

Abstract: An NMR buffer is particularly useful for biomolecules that require a certain amount of salt in the buffer solution. A primary buffer component and a titrating component are selected based on low ion mobility. These selections allow for a lower conductivity buffer without reducing the salt content. As such, a higher sensitivity experiment results.

Abstract: A small angle x-ray diffraction scattering system has a vertical orientation, allowing for simplified analysis of liquid samples. The system may function in a beam-up or a beam-down configuration. An x-ray source provides an initial x-ray beam that is directed vertically along a primary beampath to a sample located on a sample support. The small angle scattered x-ray energy travels through a secondary beampath to a detector. The primary and secondary beampaths may be evacuated and separated from a sample chamber by fluid seals. Beam conditioning optics and a collimator may be used in the primary beampath, and a beamstop used in the secondary beampath. The sample chamber may have a microscope or camera, which may be movable, for observing the sample, and a translation stage for moving the sample in at least two dimensions.

Abstract: A method and system for managing cache levels based on battery backup level are described. In one embodiment, the method comprises measuring the level of charge stored in an exhaustible power source. The method further comprises monitoring the level of charge stored in the exhaustible power source. The method further comprises adjusting the storage level of the cache in response to a detected change in the level of charge. In this way, the method ensures that adequate battery power is available to transfer the contents of the cache to a non-volatile data storage medium.

Abstract: A cooling system is presented. The system includes a cooling circuit and at least one electronic component coupled to a surface. One or more heat dissipation structures are in thermal contact with the at least one electronic component. At least one sliding seal mechanism is coupled to the cooling circuit and the one or more heat dissipation structures so as to provide fluid communication between the cooling circuit and the one or more heat dissipation structures. The cooling circuit may include a tank that has a volumetric center and that is capable of holding a maximum volume of fluid. Fluid enters the tank through a tank input and exits the tank through a tank output. The tank output has a port through which fluid from the tank enters the tank output. The tank is capable of being filled with a fluid volume that is less than the maximum volume of fluid, such that the port remains immersed in fluid irrespective of tank orientation.

Abstract: Each time data, in the form of data blocks protected by code checks, must be reformatted, the original data is broken into new data blocks and a new code check is calculated from, and combined with, each new data block, but the new data blocks and new code checks are both reconstituted versions of the original data blocks and the original code checks. Consequently, the data is never left without protection. In one embodiment, an ingress encoder recomputes an ingress code check from an original data block and its associated header. An egress encoder computes an egress code check from the egress header for an outgoing data block reformatted from the original data block and the ingress code check. The outgoing information is then assembled from the egress header, the outgoing data block and the newly computed egress code check.

Abstract: An in-memory storage manager represents XML-compliant documents as a collection of objects in memory. The storage manager allows real-time access to the objects by separate processes operating in different contexts. The data in the objects is stored in memory local to each process and the local memories are synchronized by means of a distributed memory system that stores the data in the same data region, but maps the data region to the address space of each process. Data corruption in the data region is prevented by a locking mechanism that prevents the processes from simultaneously modifying same data.

Abstract: A circuit for a nuclear magnetic resonance probe uses three resonators to create resonances intermediate to the resonator resonant frequencies. The circuit is particularly useful for creating magnetic fields for two closely spaced high frequencies, such as those used for the excitation of 1H and 19F. The resonators are arranged in a parallel combination, or the electrical equivalent thereof, with input ports connected to it for inputting the desired high frequency resonances. Admittance inverters may be used to provide isolation between the input ports. Some of the resonators and the admittance inverters may be transmission lines. The transmission lines may have additional ports for additional input signals of lower frequencies located at null points for the frequencies of the signals coupled to the primary input ports. Adjustable dielectric components in the resonator transmission lines may be used for tuning purposes.

Abstract: A garbage collector employs a plurality of task queues for a parallel-execution operation in a garbage-collection cycle. Each task queue is associated with a different ordered pair of the threads that perform the parallel-execution operation in parallel. One of the threads, referred to as that task queue's “enqueuer” thread, is the only one that can “push” onto that queue an identifier of a dynamically identified task. The other thread, referred to as that task queue's “dequeuer,” is the only one that can “pop” tasks from that task queue for execution. Since, for each task queue, there is only one thread that can “push” task identifiers on to it and only one thread that can “pop” task identifiers from it, the garbage collector can share dynamically identified tasks optimally among its threads without suffering the cost imposed by making combinations of otherwise separate machine instructions atomic.

Abstract: A flexible container of the pouch type, made of material in film form, derived from a contoured tubular body formed by a film with longitudinal and transverse heat-seals of the two ends. The longitudinal heat-seal forms the edge of a longitudinal wing that is folded against the corresponding wall. A portion of the wing is joined to a corresponding portion of the wall with low-tack adhesive so as to surround a region preset to form a hole for access to the container, the first lifting of the wing opening the hole and the container, and the low-tack adhesive ensuring successive repeated opening and closure actions.

Abstract: A dedicated service finder runs on each host on which data management services run. This service finder caches handles that allow clients to manage the corresponding service and keeps track of other hosts that are also running the service finder. In one embodiment, the service finder registers itself with an existing lookup service so that a client can perform a single lookup for the service finder and then obtain other services from it. Accordingly, only a single lookup is required to obtain all the services running on a specific host. In accordance with another embodiment, the service finder monitors events generated by existing lookup services that occur when other service finders register with the lookup services. In this manner, the service finder can maintain a list of other hosts that have service finders running on them. This arrangement allows a client that has located one service finder to retrieve from that service finder information concerning other hosts and data services running on those hosts.

Abstract: A method of making a polyester container having an enhanced level of crystallinity in the sidewall while maintaining a low level of crystallinity in a thickened base portion. The container is particularly useful as a refillable container which can withstand higher caustic wash temperatures and exhibits reduced flavor carryover, or as a hot-fill container. According to the method, a sidewall-forming section of a preform is initially expanded, heated to contract and crystallize the same, and than reexpanded; a base-forming portion of the preform is shielded from the heat treatment and is expanded either before or after the heat treatment step.

Abstract: A socket, such as a Land Grid Array (LGA) socket, for forming electrical connections between a first surface having a first contact array and a second surface having a second contact array. The socket includes a plurality of compliant contacts, each contact inserted into one of a plurality of passages that extend through a plate. Each contact has a first contact surface for electrically engaging the first contact array, and a second contact surface for electrically engaging the second contact array. At least one of the contacts is a low current contact, and at least one of the contacts is a high current contact capable of passing more current than the low current contact.

Abstract: The present invention is a method and device, which is suitable for use in an operating theater just prior to implantation, for selectively applying a medical coating to an implantable medical device, for example a stent. Disclosed is a device for use with a stent deployed on a catheter balloon. The device is configured to apply a medical coating of a desired thickness to the surface of a stent only. This is done by use of a drop-on-demand ink-jet printing system in association with an optical scanning device. The device is further configured so as to, if necessary, apply a plurality of layered coats, each layered coat being of a different coating material, and if appropriate, different thickness. The section of the housing in which the stent is held during the coating procedure is detachable from the housing base. The detachable housing section may be easily cleaned and re-sterilized or simply disposed of.

Abstract: Method for assessing the patency of a patient's blood vessel, advantageously during or after treatment of that vessel by an invasive procedure, comprising administering a fluorescent dye to the patient; obtaining at least one angiographic image of the vessel portion; and evaluating the at least one angiographic image to assess the patency of the vessel portion. Other related methods are contemplated, including methods for assessing perfusion in selected body tissue, methods for evaluating the potential of vessels for use in creation of AV fistulas, methods for determining the diameter of a vessel, and methods for locating a vessel located below the surface of a tissue.