Abstract: Techniques for reclaiming resources from guest computing systems while those systems are waiting for responses to requests in virtualized and/or distributed computer systems are described herein. At a time after issuing a request and determining that the response will take longer than a threshold length of time, one or more computer system entities within a computer system invoke one or more computer system capabilities to at least instantiate a listener object, transfer the listener object to another system domain, suspend the guest computing system and reclaim resources from the suspended guest computing system. When the response is returned to the listener object, the guest computer system is restored and the response is forwarded to the restored guest. While the guest computing system is suspended, the reclaimed resources are made available to other computer system entities.

Abstract: A system for storing data includes a rack and one or more data storage modules coupled to the rack. The data storage modules may include a chassis, two or more backplanes coupled to the chassis, one or more mass storage devices coupled to the backplanes, and one or more data control modules mounted in one or more inlet air plenums extending upstream of one or more of the backplanes in the chassis interior. A data control module can be mounted in one or more air plenums extending beneath one or more of the backplanes in the chassis interior. A data control module can be mounted in one or more air plenums extending above one or more of the backplanes. A data control module mounted in a data storage module may access the mass storage devices in one or more of the data storage modules coupled to the rack.

Abstract: There is provided a meter for measuring the mass flow rate of a gas, the meter comprising a conduit through which the gas flows in use, the conduit having a flow restriction orifice through which choked flow occurs in use, the flow restriction orifice dividing the conduit into an upstream portion upstream of said orifice and a downstream portion downstream of said orifice, the meter further comprising a sensor assembly including a first piezoelectric crystal oscillator in said upstream portion such that said first piezoelectric oscillator is in contact with said gas when the meter in use, a second piezoelectric crystal oscillator in said downstream portion such that said second piezoelectric oscillator is in contact with said gas when the meter in use, said sensor assembly being arranged: to drive the first and second piezoelectric crystal oscillators such that each of the first and second piezoelectric crystal oscillators resonate at respective resonant frequencies; to measure the resonant frequency of the f

Abstract: There is provided a meter (200; 350) for measuring the mass flow rate of a gas. The meter comprises a conduit (206) through which the gas flows in use. The conduit has a flow restriction orifice (212) through which choked flow occurs in use. The flow restriction orifice divides the conduit into an upstream portion (214) upstream of said orifice and a downstream portion (216) downstream of said orifice. The meter further comprises a sensor assembly (204), the sensor assembly including a piezoelectric crystal oscillator (218) in said upstream portion such that said piezoelectric oscillator is in contact with said gas when the meter in use. The sensor assembly is arranged: to drive the piezoelectric crystal oscillator such that the piezoelectric crystal oscillator resonates at a resonant frequency; to measure said resonant frequency of said piezoelectric crystal oscillator; and to determine, from the resonant frequency, the mass flow rate through the orifice.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for acquiring information from sources on a network, such as the Internet. A voice browsing system maintains a database containing a list of information sources, such as web sites, connected to a network. Each of the information sources is assigned a rank number which is listed in the database along with the record for the information source. In response to a speech command received from a user, a network interface system accesses the information source with the highest rank number in order to retrieve information requested by the user.

Abstract: The present invention is related to systems and methods for chemical and biological analysis and, in particular, to systems, apparatus, and methods of sample conditioning and analysis.

Abstract: A heterogeneous parallel processing system that includes a computer cluster system and a device cluster system is provided. The computer cluster system includes a computer cluster node that includes at least one cluster node processor. The device cluster system includes a cluster device that includes a cluster device processor, and is substantially different from the computer cluster nodes. The system includes a heterogeneous cluster node that includes a computer cluster node from the computer cluster system and a cluster device from the device cluster system. The heterogeneous cluster node includes a runtime environment module for transmitting data between the computer cluster node and the cluster device in the heterogeneous cluster node, such that at least one process executing on the device cluster system is transparent in its operation to a plurality of processes executing in the computer cluster system.

Abstract: Methods, systems and units for liquefaction of combustible material are provided. After separating the combustible material from waste rock gravitationally in an aqueous salt solution selected to have a density which is intermediate between a density of the combustible material and a density of the waste rock and after heating and grinding the separated combustible material to yield a paste of purified combustible material, the paste is fluidizing and hydrogenated underground in a hydrogenation chamber including a Segner turbine. The described processes significantly reduce the energy consumption of the process, remove environmental hazards and result in more efficient liquefaction with respect to existing technologies.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are a variety of systems and methods for eliciting cutaneous sensations using electromagnetic radiation. In one embodiment, an optical stimulation system is configured to induce a cutaneous sensation in a user of an electronic device based upon a tactile application executable on the electronic device. The optical stimulation system may include an interface component configured to selectively direct the output of the stimulation system onto a target area of skin of the user. A controller may be configured to generate a control signal to cause the stimulation system to modify one or more characteristics of the output of the stimulation system in order to induce a cutaneous sensation based on detection of a registration mark associated with tissue to be stimulated, a representation of a simulated object, and a stimulation profile representing the simulated object.

Abstract: Voidless contact metal structures are provided. In one embodiment, a voidless contact metal structure is provided by first providing a first contact metal that contains a void within a contact opening. The void is then opened to provide a divot in the first contact metal. After forming a dielectric spacer atop a portion of first contact metal, a second contact metal is then formed that lacks any void. The second contact metal fills the entirety of the divot within the first contact metal. In another embodiment, two diffusion barrier structures are provided within a contact opening, followed by the formation of a contact metal structure that lacks any void.

Abstract: Illustrative embodiments of methods, machine-readable media, and parallel computing systems that automatically tune a communication protocol are disclosed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a computer-implemented method for updating an operating system (OS) without a memory reset. The method includes launching a Virtual Execution Environment (VEE) under a host OS of a computer system. The VEE can be a VM or a Container. Next, a snapshot of the VEE is generated, including snapshotting user process data, of any processes that run under the VEE. A new OS is loaded onto the computer system, and control is given to the new OS without performing the memory reset. It is ensured that the user process data that is part of the snapshot is unaffected by the loading of the new OS and that the user process data remains in its original location. The VEE is re-launched under the new OS. User process data is restored from the snapshot into a random access memory.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a new process which comprises the steps of hydrotreating, paraffin disproportionation and hydroisomerization to convert biological hydrocarbonaceous oxygenated oils comprising triglycerides into biologically-derived paraffinic jet/diesel fuels, solvents and base oils. A combination of conventional hydrogenation/dehydrogenation catalysts, such as Pt/Al2O3, and conventional olefin metathesis catalysts, such as WO3/SiO2, or inexpensive variations thereof, is generally employed in the paraffin disproportionation step.

Abstract: Technologies are described herein for synchronization of source code objects and software development workflow objects. Software development workflow objects are identified that are related to source code objects to be synchronized to a development device. The identified software development workflow objects are then stored in a copy of a source control object store that also includes the source code objects to be synchronized. The copy of the source control object store may then be transmitted to the development device for offline use. Tools might also be provided on the development device for utilizing the software development workflow objects stored in the copy of the source control object store maintained by the development device. The copy of a source control object store containing modified source code objects and modified software development workflow objects might also be utilized to synchronize the changes to the objects to an appropriate object store.

Abstract: Autonomic network sentinels are disclosed. An occurrence of a particular network condition is detected at a network entity. The network entity compares the particular network condition with one or more sample set rules of a first sample set of rules associated with the first network entity. The first sample set of rules comprise one or more rules from a full set of rules stored at a rule base. Each rule from the full set of rules represents a network condition and an action to be taken in response to an occurrence of the network condition. In response to determining that the particular network condition matches a particular rule from the first sample set of rules, the network entity notifies the rule base or one or more second network entities of the match.

Abstract: Techniques, including systems and methods, for providing translated content are described and suggested herein. In an embodiment, translations for instances of content are received and reviewers provide votes regarding the translations' quality. Votes received for translations are utilized in order to determine scores for the translations. Reviewers and translators may be scored as well. Scores for translations are used in various processes for providing appropriate content to users.

Abstract: A proppant pack may be formed in a fracture that extends from a wellbore formed in a subterranean formation and is accomplished through different methods. The methods involve providing multiple spaced apart proppant slugs within a hydraulic fracturing fluid that is introduced into the wellbore at a pressure above the fracturing pressure of the formation.

Abstract: A novel assembly for a hat comprised of removably coupled socks, fabric panels, gloves, and/or mittens. The present disclosure relates generally to a hat comprised of fully intact, yet selectively removable, socks, fabric panels, gloves, and/or mittens that are connected together by various disclosed methods. The socks, fabric panels, gloves, and/or mittens may be comprised of a variety of materials and styles, and can be coupled together through a number of disclosed combinations to form a winter hat that can be converted to one or more pairs of socks, fabric panels, gloves, and/or mittens.