Abstract: Water-in-oil latices of water soluble or dispersible polymers and methods of using the same are presented. The latices include phosphorus functional inversion agents that provide rapid and complete inversion of the latices under conditions wherein the water source used to invert the latex is provided at high temperature, or includes a high level of total dissolved solids, or is both high temperature and high total dissolved solids.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and materials for decontamination of surfaces and fabrics, such as non-woven fabrics, that are contaminated with infestations of microorganisms such as bacteria. Biocidal oligomers having conjugated oligo-(aryl/heteroaryl ethynyl) structures and comprising at least one cationic group can be used to decontaminate infested surfaces in the presence of oxygen and, optionally, illumination. Fibers incorporating biocidal oligomers having conjugated oligo-(aryl/heteroaryl ethynyl) structures and comprising at least one cationic group, wherein the oligomer is physically associated with or covalently bonded to, or both, the fiber-forming polymer can be used to form non-woven mats. Biocidal non-woven mats prepared by methods of the invention, incorporating the biocidal oligomers, can be used to suppress bacterial growth in wound and surgical dressings and personal hygiene products.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides novel poly(phenylene ethynylene) (PPE) compounds, methods for synthesizing these compounds, and materials and substances incorporating these compounds. The various PPEs show antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal activity.

Abstract: Techniques for configuring a virtual network device are provided. Embodiments identify a network device profile specifying a virtual link teaming domain. Upon receiving a network message advertising the virtual link teaming domain from a peer network device of the two or more network devices, on a plurality of links of the first network device, the plurality of links are teamed, based on the virtual link teaming domain, to create a first link bundle. Embodiments advertise a virtual link teaming identifier to a neighboring network device of the first network device. Here, the neighboring network device is configured to use the virtual link teaming identifier to bundle links between the neighboring network device and the virtual network device.

Abstract: Various embodiments disclosed relate to conjugated polyelectrolytes and methods of using the same. Various embodiments provide a conjugated polyelectrolyte including a subunit having the structure —R1—Y—R2—Z—. At each occurrence, R1 is independently chosen from 1,4-bonded phenylene substituted by —X—R3—R4 j times and 2,5-bonded thiophene substituted by —X—R3—R4 j times. At each occurrence, Y is independently chosen from a bond and —C?C—. At each occurrence, R2 is independently chosen from a bond, a substituted or unsubstituted phenylene, thiophenylene, azulenylene, heptalenylene, biphenylene, indacenylene, fluorenylene, phenanthrenylene, triphenylenylene, pyrenylene, naphthacenylene, chrysenylene, biphenylenylene, anthracenylene, and naphthylene. At each occurrence, Z is independently chosen from a bond and —C?C—. The variables j, R3, and R4 are as defined herein.

Abstract: Techniques and a network edge device are provided herein to extend local area networks (LANs) and storage area networks (SANs) beyond a data center while converging the associated local area network and storage area network host layers. A packet is received at a device in a network. It is determined if the packet is routed to a local or remote storage area network or local area network. In response to determining that the packet routed to a remote storage area network, storage area network extension services are performed with respect to the packet in order to extend the storage area network on behalf of a remote location. In response to determining that the packet is routed to a local local area network traffic, local area network extension services are performed with respect to the packet in order to extend the local area network on behalf of the remote location.

Abstract: An active noise reduction earphone. The earphone includes structure for positioning and retaining the earphone in the ear of a user without a headband, active noise reduction circuitry including an acoustic driver with a nominal diameter greater than 10 mm oriented so that a line parallel to, or coincident with, an axis of the acoustic driver and that intersects a centerline of the nozzle intersects the centerline of the nozzle at angle ?>±30 degrees. A microphone is positioned adjacent an edge of the acoustic driver. The earphone is configured so that a portion of the acoustic driver is within the concha of a user and another portion of the acoustic driver is outside the concha of the user when the earphone is in position. An opening coupling the nozzle to the environment includes impedance providing structure in the opening.

Abstract: An active noise reduction earphone includes structure for positioning and retaining the earphone in the ear of a user and, active noise reduction circuitry including an acoustic driver with a nominal diameter greater than 10 mm oriented so that a line parallel to, or coincident with, an axis of the acoustic driver and that intersects a centerline of the nozzle intersects the centerline of the nozzle at angle ?>±30 degrees. A microphone is positioned adjacent an edge of the acoustic driver. The earphone is configured so that a portion of the acoustic driver is within the concha and another portion of the acoustic driver is outside the concha.

Abstract: Thiophene containing water-soluble oligomers were synthesized and characterized. The photophysical properties of these compounds were studied; transient absorption spectroscopy was used to probe the triplet excited state and their ability to sensitize singlet oxygen was spectroscopically monitored in deuterated methanol. The above compounds were tested for their light activated biocidal properties against S. aureus both under UV and visible radiation. Among the oligomers studied, the terthiophene derivative was found to kill the bacteria efficiently.

Abstract: An active noise reduction earphone. The earphone includes structure for positioning and retaining the earphone in the ear of a user without a headband, active noise reduction circuitry including an acoustic driver with a nominal diameter greater than 10 mm oriented so that a line parallel to, or coincident with, an axis of the acoustic driver and that intersects a centerline of the nozzle intersects the centerline of the nozzle at angle ?>±30 degrees. A microphone is positioned adjacent an edge of the acoustic driver. The earphone is configured so that a portion of the acoustic driver is within the concha of a user and another portion of the acoustic driver is outside the concha of the user when the earphone is in position. An opening coupling the nozzle to the environment includes impedance providing structure in the opening.

Abstract: An encryption key management system is provided for storage area network devices. A create key request is received at a storage area network switch. The key is created at the storage area network switch and the created key request is transmitted to a key management center. The key object is stored in the key management center and includes a unique identifier, an encrypted key, a wrapper unique identifier, and a key entity. The encrypted key can later be decrypted to generate a decrypted key. The encrypted key is decrypted using keying material accessed using the wrapper unique identifier that identifies another key object.

Abstract: A method of one example embodiment includes receiving at a first network element a packet from a host local to the first network element destined for a remote host; determining that a subnet of the remote host is not instantiated on the first network element; originating a discovery request to discover the remote host, wherein the discovery request is originated in a Virtual Routing Forwarding instance (“VRF”) and identifies the subnet to which the remote host belongs; and broadcasting the discovery request to network elements comprising the VRF. The method may further include, upon receipt of the discovery request, determining whether the identified subnet is configured locally on the second network element and if not, dropping the discovery request; otherwise, rewriting the discovery request to include to an anycast IP address of the remote host's subnet and forwarding the rewritten request.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for transmitting a plurality of Fiber-Channel packets in an FC network. A reliability protocol header comprising reliability attributes and FC attributes are prepended to the FC packets prior to their transmission for each packet in an exchange block comprising a plurality of FC packets. The FC packets are transmitted with the reliability protocol header across the FC network for delivery to a destination device.

Abstract: Efficient mechanisms are provided for transferring key objects associated with disk logical unit numbers and tape cartridges from one data center to another data center. A request is received to transfer a source data center key object from a source data center to a destination data center. The source data center key object corresponds to a data block, such as a disk logical unit number (LUN) or a tape cartridge, maintained in a storage area network (SAN) and includes a unique identifier, an encrypted key, and a wrapper unique identifier. The encrypted key is decrypted using a source data center key hierarchy. Key information is transmitted from the source data center to the destination data center. A destination data center key object is generated using a destination data center key hierarchy.

Abstract: Mechanisms are provided for generating a master key used to secure key objects associated with data blocks in a data center. A cryptographic node creation request is received. It is determined that a master key can not be obtained from another cryptographic node in the data center. A master key is generated. The master key is included in a key hierarchy used to encrypt a data center key object, the data center key object corresponding to a data block maintained in a storage area network (SAN), where the data center key object includes a unique identifier, an encrypted key, and a wrapper unique identifier. The master key is split into N shares, with M shares required to recreate the master key, wherein M is less than N. The N shares are distributed to different entities.

Abstract: Thiophene containing water-soluble oligomers were synthesized and characterized. The photophysical properties of these compounds were studied; transient absorption spectroscopy was used to probe the triplet excited state and their ability to sensitize singlet oxygen was spectroscopically monitored in deuterated methanol. The above compounds were tested for their light activated biocidal properties against S. aureus both under UV and visible radiation. Among the oligomers studied, the terthiophene derivative was found to kill the bacteria efficiently.

Abstract: Mechanisms are provided for generating a master key used to secure key objects associated with data blocks in a data center. A cryptographic node creation request is received. It is determined that a master key can not be obtained from another cryptographic node in the data center. A master key is generated. The master key is included in a key hierarchy used to encrypt a data center key object, the data center key object corresponding to a data block maintained in a storage area network (SAN), where the data center key object includes a unique identifier, an encrypted key, and a wrapper unique identifier. The master key is split into N shares, with M shares required to recreate the master key, wherein M is less than N. The N shares are distributed to different entities.

Abstract: Techniques for configuring a virtual network device are provided. Embodiments identify a network device profile specifying a virtual link teaming domain. Upon receiving a network message advertising the virtual link teaming domain from a peer network device of the two or more network devices, on a plurality of links of the first network device, the plurality of links are teamed, based on the virtual link teaming domain, to create a first link bundle. Embodiments advertise a virtual link teaming identifier to a neighboring network device of the first network device. Here, the neighboring network device is configured to use the virtual link teaming identifier to bundle links between the neighboring network device and the virtual network device.

Abstract: In one aspect, in general, an active noise reduction system detects actual or potential instability by detecting characteristics of the system related to potential or actual unstable behavior (e.g., oscillation) and adapts system characteristics to mitigate such instability. In some examples, the system adapts to variation in characteristics of an acoustic component of a feedback path that has or may induce unstable behavior to improve a user's acoustic experience.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and materials for decontamination of surfaces and fabrics, such as non-woven fabrics, that are contaminated with infestations of microorganisms such as bacteria. Biocidal oligomers having conjugated oligo-(aryl/heteroaryl ethynyl) structures and comprising at least one cationic group can be used to decontaminate infested surfaces in the presence of oxygen and, optionally, illumination. Fibers incorporating biocidal oligomers having conjugated oligo-(aryl/heteroaryl ethynyl) structures and comprising at least one cationic group, wherein the oligomer is physically associated with or covalently bonded to, or both, the fiber-forming polymer can be used to form non-woven mats. Biocidal non-woven mats prepared by methods of the invention, incorporating the biocidal oligomers, can be used to suppress bacterial growth in wound and surgical dressings and personal hygiene products.