Abstract: A method and system is provided in which multiple Slave Charge Stations are connected to a Master Charge Station which contains the single point metering method or power utility “smart meter” required by power utilities to access the power grid. This method describes the use of a plurality of Slave Charge Stations attached to the Master Charge Station using a daisy chain or hub and spoke attachment means.

Abstract: The disclosure relates generally to fuse structures, methods of forming and programming the same, and more particularly to fuse structures having crack stop voids. The fuse structure includes a semiconductor substrate having a dielectric layer thereon and a crack stop void. The dielectric layer includes at least one fuse therein and the crack stop void is adjacent to two opposite sides of the fuse, and extends lower than a bottom surface and above a top surface of the fuse. The disclosure also relates to a design structure of the aforementioned.

Abstract: A shutter mechanism for collimating x-rays has two parallel drive shafts and two parallel guide shafts orthogonal to the drive shafts to define a rectangular aperture. Two flexible bands moving around a generally rectangular path about the aperture independently control the positions of each set of shutters. Two cams on the drive shafts control the positions of the flexible bands and shutters. A pair of transverse shutters made of an x-ray opaque material are held in sliding engagement between the drive shafts. One end of each transverse shutter is attached to the first flexible band adjacent to the drive shafts. Similarly, a pair of longitudinal shutters are held in sliding engagement between the drive shafts. One end of each longitudinal shutter is attached to the second flexible band adjacent to the guide shafts.

Abstract: A vertical metallic stack, from bottom to top, of an elemental metal liner, a metal nitride liner, a Ti liner, an aluminum portion, and a metal nitride cap, is formed on an underlying metal interconnect structure. The vertical metallic stack is annealed at an elevated temperature to induce formation of a TiAl3 liner by reaction of the Ti liner with the material of the aluminum portion. The material of the TiAl3 liner is resistant to electromigration, thereby providing enhanced electromigration resistance to the vertical metallic stack comprising the elemental metal liner, the metal nitride liner, the TiAl3 liner, the aluminum portion, and the metal nitride cap. The effect of enhanced electromigration resistance may be more prominent in areas in which the metal nitride cap suffers from erosion during processing.

Abstract: A system comprises a plurality of storage drives coupled to logic. The logic implements a noise-reducing feature selected from a group consisting of a first feature that limits system performance based on a level of ambient noise, a second feature that staggers access transactions among said storage drives, a third feature that staggers spin up among the storage drives, a fourth feature that at least partially cancels noise generated by the system, a fifth feature that limits fan speed, and combinations thereof.

Abstract: Systems and methods provide automated provisioning of load balancing. In one implementation, a computer-implemented method configures an access point. A request to create the access point may be received and data for the access point may be stored in a data store. The method may invoke a workflow engine. The workflow engine may assign the access point to a load balancer, configure the load balancer, assign a network address to the load balancer, and publish the network address for a plurality of clients.

Abstract: A mechanism for positionally restraining a microplate is disclosed. The mechanism is defined by a base having at least one surface with a receptacle for the insertion of a microplate into the base. Supports and/or positioning structures on a surface of the base have point contacts to restrain movement of the microplate in a stable position for repeatable optical detection measurements. The supports and/or positioning structures permit insertion of the microplate for an initial measurement, removal of the microplate for analytical manipulation, and re-insertion of the microplate to an exact position so as to allow analysis of precise comparative measurements by an optical reader.

Abstract: An environmentally degradable cigarette filter includes a filter element of a bloomed cellulose acetate tow and a plug wrap surrounding said filter element. A weak organic acid and a pH adjusted inorganic ester salt are encapsulated in a matrix material which is in contact with the tow. The pH adjusted inorganic ester salt has a pH less than or equal to 8. When the cigarette filter is discarded into the environment, water liberates the weak acid and the ester salt from the matrix material. The weak acid hydrolyzes the ester liberating a strong acid. The strong acid catalyzes the degradation of the cellulose acetate tow. (The weak acid also hydrolyzes the cellulose acetate tow, but after the strong acid is generated, the strong acid becomes the dominant acid catalyst for the cellulose acetate tow degradation.

Abstract: Composite magnetic recording media are described. A composite structure is a structure that is formed of multiple components. For example, a composite magnetic recording medium may include a substrate, an underlayer formed over the substrate, the underlayer defining a coating surface, and a magnetic layer formed over the coating surface of the underlayer. Composite magnetic recording media constructed according to the materials and techniques disclosed may provide dimensional flexibility while exhibiting improved physical or electromagnetic characteristics. In some examples, dimensional flexibility may be achieved by pairing a substrate greater than or equal to approximately 4000 nanometers thick with an underlayer less than or equal to approximately 890 nanometers thick.

Abstract: A vertical metallic stack, from bottom to top, of an elemental metal liner, a metal nitride liner, a Ti liner, an aluminum portion, and a metal nitride cap, is formed on an underlying metal interconnect structure. The vertical metallic stack is annealed at an elevated temperature to induce formation of a TiAl3 liner by reaction of the Ti liner with the material of the aluminum portion. The material of the TiAl3 liner is resistant to electromigration, thereby providing enhanced electromigration resistance to the vertical metallic stack comprising the elemental metal liner, the metal nitride liner, the TiAl3 liner, the aluminum portion, and the metal nitride cap. The effect of enhanced electromigration resistance may be more prominent in areas in which the metal nitride cap suffers from erosion during processing.

Abstract: Most microalgae are obligate photoautotrophs and their growth is strictly dependent on the generation of photosynthetically-derived energy. In this study it is shown that the microalga Phaeodaclylurn tricornutum can be engineered to import glucose and grow in the dark through the introduction of genes encoding glucose transporters. Both the human and Chlorella kessleri glucose transporters facilitated the uptake of glucose by P. tricornutum, allowing the cells to metabolize exogenous organic carbon and thrive, independent of light. This is the first successful trophic conversion of an obligate photoautotroph through metabolic engineering, and it demonstrates that methods of cell nourishment can be fundamentally altered with the introduction of a single gene. Since strains transformed with the glucose transport genes are able to grow non-photosynthetically, they can be exploited for the analysis of photosynthetic processes through mutant generation and characterization.

Abstract: A drill bit includes a bit body having a face on which two different types of cutting elements are disposed, the first type being cutting elements suitable for drilling at least one subterranean formation and the second type being cutting elements suitable for drilling through a casing bit disposed at an end of a casing or liner string and cementing equipment or other components, if such are disposed within the casing or liner string, as well as cement inside as well as exterior to the casing or liner string. The second type of cutting elements exhibits a relatively greater exposure than the first type of cutting elements, so as to engage the interior of the casing bit and, if present, cementing equipment components and cement to drill therethrough, after which the second type of cutting elements quickly wears upon engagement with the subterranean formation material exterior to the casing bit, and the first type of cutting elements continues to drill the subterranean formation.

Abstract: A vertical metallic stack, from bottom to top, of an elemental metal liner, a metal nitride liner, a Ti liner, an aluminum portion, and a metal nitride cap, is formed on an underlying metal interconnect structure. The vertical metallic stack is annealed at an elevated temperature to induce formation of a TiAl3 liner by reaction of the Ti liner with the material of the aluminum portion. The material of the TiAl3 liner is resistant to electromigration, thereby providing enhanced electromigration resistance to the vertical metallic stack comprising the elemental metal liner, the metal nitride liner, the TiAl3 liner, the aluminum portion, and the metal nitride cap. The effect of enhanced electromigration resistance may be more prominent in areas in which the metal nitride cap suffers from erosion during processing.

Abstract: A system and method of a storage expansion unit for a network attached storage device. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are storage expander systems comprising an enclosure, a communications port (the communication port configured to configured to operate under a communications protocol suitable for operatively accessing long term storage devices), and a port expander circuit within the enclosure and coupled to the communications port (the port expander circuit configured to have a plurality of secondary ports that operate under the communications protocol). The storage expansion system is configured to couple to a network attached storage device over the communications port, and wherein the storage expansion system is configured to facilitate external long-term storage for the network attached storage device.

Abstract: A drill bit includes a bit body having a face on which two different types of cutters are disposed, the first type being cutting elements suitable for drilling at least one subterranean formation and the second type being at least one of an abrasive cutting structure and an abrasive cutting element suitable for drilling through a casing shoe, reamer shoe, casing bit, casing or liner string and cementing equipment or other components, as well as cement. Methods of forming earth-boring tools include disposing at least one abrasive cutting structure or element on the earth-boring tool. Methods of drilling with earth-boring tools including drilling with at least one abrasive cutting structure or element.

Abstract: A method and system is provided in which a computer system within the Electrical Vehicle periodically connects to a remote database which recommends to the driver to start a charge event based on location and proximity to a charging station, discharge history, power capacity, power cost, time of day, and power generation means (e.g. solar vs. coal), as well as displaying vehicle carbon footprint data and dynamically delivered advertising.

Abstract: The drilling of a casing bit and any other equipment in the casing with another casing bit where at least two casing bits of different diameter and having associated casing sections may be assembled to form a drilling assembly for drilling subterranean formations, the at least two casing bits and casing sections are arranged in a telescoping relationship.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and kits for the rapid exponential amplification of nucleic acid molecules using a padlock probe. The present invention improves upon the existing methods for amplifying padlock probes by eliminating or delaying the appearance of artifact products that cause false positive results, and also increase the sensitivity and speed of the assay. Further provided are nucleic acid amplification primers containing non-informative base analogs.

Abstract: Methods and constructs for genetic manipulation of one or more of shrimp, shellfish, mollusks, and fish are disclosed. The nucleic acid construct includes a promoter and an internal ribosome entry site of an insect picomavirus, such as a cricket paralysis-like picomavirus. One or more open reading frames can be operably associated with one or both of the promoter and the internal ribosome entry site, and one or more proteins or protein subunits can be expressed upon introduction of the construct into a host cell, such as into a shrimp. Method for producing immortalized crustacean cell lines using enhancer elements derived from shrimp and/or shrimp viruses are also described.

Abstract: A patient support is disclosed having an adjustable length deck and a mattress positionable on the deck.