Abstract: A system providing methodology for policy-based resource allocation is described. In one embodiment, for example, a system for allocating computer resources amongst a plurality of applications based on a policy is described that comprises: a plurality of computers connected to one another through a network; a policy engine for. specifying a policy for allocation of resources of the plurality of computers amongst a plurality of applications having access to the resources; a monitoring module at each computer for detecting demands for the resources and exchanging information regarding demands for the resources at the plurality of computers; and an enforcement module at each computer for allocating the resources amongst the plurality of applications based on the policy and information regarding demands for the resources.

Abstract: Some embodiments include methods of forming plasma-generating microstructures. Aluminum may be anodized to form an aluminum oxide body having a plurality of openings extending therethrough. Conductive liners may be formed within the openings, and circuitry may be formed to control current flow through the conductive liners. The conductive liners form a plurality of hollow cathodes, and the current flow is configured to generate and maintain plasmas within the hollow cathodes. The plasmas within various hollow cathodes, or sets of hollow cathodes, may be independently controlled. Such independently controlled plasmas may be utilized to create a pattern in a display, or on a substrate. In some embodiments, the plasmas may be utilized for plasma-assisted etching and/or plasma-assisted deposition. Some embodiments include constructions and assemblies containing multiple plasma-generating structures.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a Generic Status Portal (GSP) configured to grant access to a Managed Entity (ME) via an Optical Network Terminal (ONT) Management and Control Interface (OMCI), wherein the ME comprises status information about a non-OMCI management domain at the ONT. Also included is an apparatus comprising at least one processor configured to implement a method comprising initializing an ONT ME, adding status information associated with a managed function to the ONT ME, indicating a status information update of the ONT ME, and providing the status information via an OMCI. Included is a method comprising providing status and performance monitoring (PM) information from an ONT via an OMCI at the ONT, wherein the status and PM information is associated with at least one managed function instance of at least one non-OMCI domain.

Abstract: The invention includes methods for selectively etching insulative material supports relative to conductive material. The invention can include methods for selectively etching silicon nitride relative to metal nitride. The metal nitride can be in the form of containers over a semiconductor substrate, with such containers having upwardly-extending openings with lateral widths of less than or equal to about 4000 angstroms; and the silicon nitride can be in the form of a layer extending between the containers. The selective etching can comprise exposure of at least some of the silicon nitride and the containers to Cl2 to remove the exposed silicon nitride, while not removing at least the majority of the metal nitride from the containers. In subsequent processing, the containers can be incorporated into capacitors.

Abstract: An image sensor uses a single row of an array of pixels elements to determine whether a pixel is defective and to recover the defective pixel. The image sensor includes a “maximum of minimum” filter to remove a “black” pixel from a raw image. The image sensor also includes a “minimum of maximum” filter to remove a “white” pixel from the raw image.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are circuitry and methods for transmitting data across a parallel bus using both high common mode and low common mode signaling. The transmitter stages are configured to work with two of three possible power supply voltages: a high Vddq voltage, a low Vssq voltage, and an intermediate Vx voltage. In one embodiment, the odd numbered transmitter stages, that drive the odd numbered outputs to the bus, use the Vddq and Vx supplies, such that the odd numbered outputs comprise high common mode signals. The even numbered transmitter stages, that drive the even numbered outputs to the bus, use the Vx and Vssq supplies, such that the even numbered outputs comprise low common mode signals. With the transmitter and power supplies so configured, no one of the three power supplies must source or sink current to or from more than half of the transmitters at any given time, which reduces power supply loading and minimizes switching noise.

Abstract: Several ceramic armour systems are provided herein. One such system is a ceramic armour system for personnel. Such system includes an integral ceramic plate, or a plurality of interconnected ceramic components providing an integral plate. The ceramic has a deflecting front surface or a flat front surface, and a rear surface. A front spall layer is bonded to the front surface of the ceramic plate. A shock-absorbing layer is bonded to the rear surface of ceramic plate. A backing is bonded to the exposed face of the shock-absorbing layer. A second such system is a ceramic armour system for vehicles. Such system also includes an integral ceramic plate, or a plurality of interconnected ceramic components providing an integral plate. The ceramic plate has a deflecting front surface or a flat front surface, and a rear surface. A front spall layer is bonded to the front surface of the ceramic plate. A shock-absorbing layer is bonded to the rear surface of the ceramic plate.

Abstract: An apparatus, comprising a plurality of closed cells disposed on a surface of a substrate. Each of the closed cells has at least one dimension that is less than about 1 millimeter and are configured to hold a medium therein. The apparatus also comprises a foam that contacts the closed cells. The foam has fluid walls that include a surfactant, and bubbles of the foam layer are filled with the medium.

Abstract: A Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) relay system is provided. The MIMO relay system performs signal processing to provide requested real data to at least one selected user mobile station sequentially connected to a first relay station located in a first cell and a second relay station located in a second cell using spare frequency capacity allocated to a first base station of the first cell instead of a second base station of the second cell that drops the requested real data due to its frequency capacity being exceeded, thereby improving reliability of seamless real data input/output in relay communication, reducing call drop probability, and raising availability of frequency capacity by automatically adjusting frequency capacity allocated between cells.

Abstract: An assay test solution, a method for using, and an apparatus for the rapid detection of multiple pathogens using a FRET-based phenomenon. A volume of fluid, possibly containing pathogens, is passed through an intake and combined with an assay solution of quantum dot/antibody-antigen/quencher complexes that dissociate and recombine with the pathogens into quantum dot/antibody-pathogen complexes. The quantum dot/antibody-antigen/quencher and quantum dot/antibody-pathogen complexes are captured on a detection filter which is illuminated by a light source. The quantum dot/antibody-pathogen complexes, but not the quantum dot/antibody-antigen/quencher complexes, fluoresce when excited by the light from the light source and the fluorescence is picked up by a photodetector, indicating the presence of the pathogens.

Abstract: A method for stimulating methane production from a carbonaceous material is described. The methods may include the step of contacting the material with cells of a methanogenic consortium under anaerobic conditions to form a reaction mixture. The method may also include maintaining anaerobic conditions for a time sufficient to permit methanogenesis, and collecting methane from anaerobic water or head space of the reaction mixture.

Abstract: A remotely controllable power switch of an appliance and a method of employing a remotely controllable power switch of an appliance to control the overall load that an electric power distribution network bears. The method may include a method of employing a remotely controllable power switch of an appliance to compute the rate that a particular customer pays for electric power. In one embodiment, the remotely controllable power switch of an appliance includes: (1) a switching device coupled between an input and an output of the remotely controllable power switch of an appliance and (2) communication circuitry coupled to the switching device, addressable only by class and configured to receive a turn-off signal and turn off the switching device in response thereto.

Abstract: A method and device for manipulating alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages to obtain desirable changes in the beverages, comprising subjecting said beverages to a flow-through hydrodynamic cavitation process and continuing the application of such process for a period of time sufficient to produce a consumable product. In the case of wine, the method includes altering the composition and accelerating the conversion of ingredients to obtain wine with a superior homogeny, an extended shelf life and a mouth feel, flavor, bouquet, color and body resembling those of wine that was subjected to a traditional oak barrel maturation. The system provided implements the described method.

Abstract: A two-pump optical parametric device (OPD) having a nonlinear birefringent fiber, in which various four-wave mixing (FWM) processes can occur. The OPD applies, to the nonlinear birefringent fiber, two pump waves, each polarized at about 45 degrees with respect to a birefringence axis of the fiber, and a polarized input signal. A relevant FWM process couples the pump waves and the signal to cause the fiber to generate a desired output signal. In one configuration, the relevant FWM process is inverse modulational interaction, which causes the desired output signal to be generated through amplification or attenuation of the input signal. In another configuration, the relevant FWM process is phase conjugation, which causes the desired output signal to be generated through amplification of the input signal. In yet another configuration, the relevant FWM process is Bragg scattering, which causes the desired output signal to be generated as a corresponding idler signal.

Abstract: The invention provides a silane compound that includes a hydrophobic group and a silane ester group linked by a hydrophilic group for use as a surface treatment to an inorganic material, such as a pigment, the silane including a hydrophobic group and a silane ester group linked by a hydrophilic group. The invention includes a coated particle including an inorganic material coated with the silane compound(s) and methods of improving the wettability and/or dispersibility of an inorganic material such as a pigment, wherein the method comprises depositing the silane compounds on the surface of a pigment.

Abstract: The present invention relates to pharmaceutical compounds for delivering active agents, such as biologically or chemically active agents, to a target. The invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising at least one delivery agent compound of the present invention and at least one active agent, and unit dosage forms comprising such compositions. Methods for the preparation and administration of the pharmaceutical compositions are also disclosed.

Abstract: An exemplary planar light source apparatus includes a number of lighting elements and a number of mirror reflectors. The lighting elements are arranged on a same plane and facing a same direction. The mirror reflectors each have a reflecting surface facing the lighting elements. The reflecting surfaces are perpendicular to the plane.

Abstract: An organic photoreceptor is disclosed, comprising on an electrically conductive support an intermediate layer, a charge generation layer, a charge transport layer and a protective layer in this order, wherein the protective layer contains inorganic particles in an amount of not less than 5% by mass and not more than 30% by mass, and a skewness (Rsk) of a cross section curve of a surface of the electrically conductive support is within a range of ?8<Rsk<0.

Abstract: A method and device are provided for mixing and manipulating fluids that comprises feeding fluid in a multi-stage flow-through hydrodynamic cavitation system, subjecting said fluid to a controlled multi-stage cavitation and continuing the treatment for a period of time sufficient for obtaining desirable changes in physical and/or chemical properties and generating upgraded products.

Abstract: A process for conversion of methanol to olefins (MTO), including: contacting methanol and air in a methanol-to-olefins reactor; recovering an effluent from the methanol-to-olefins reactor comprising methanol, ethylene, and nitrogen oxides; separating the effluent via one or more reactive distillation and/or distillation stages using a hydrocarbon absorbent to recover a first fraction comprising ethylene and a second fraction comprising methane; wherein the separating comprises operating the one or more extractive distillation and/or distillation stages at temperatures and pressures sufficient to prevent any substantial conversion of nitrogen oxides to N2O3.