Abstract: The invention relates to a method of forming a plated object comprising forming an electrically conductive layer on a surface of a substrate, providing a catalyst on or in contact with the electrically conductive layer and contacting the catalyst with an electroless plating bath solution to form a metallic layer over the substrate. In particular, the electrically conductive layer comprises a conductive carbon material of reduced graphene oxide; and the catalysts include palladium or silver.

Abstract: An intramedullary fixation device for fractures having a core guide wire, and distal and proximal petal segments mountable on the core guide wire and being able to be moved towards each other. Each petal segment has multiple petals able to be expanded for gripping an internal wall of a medullary canal; expansion segments are also mountable on the core guide wire, each expansion segment having a tapered engagement surface for engaging with and expanding the petals of the distal and proximal petal segments. A corresponding method is also disclosed.

Abstract: An intramedullary fixation device for fractures having a core guide wire, and distal and proximal petal segments mountable on the core guide wire and being able to be moved towards each other. Each petal segment has multiple petals able to be expanded for gripping an internal wall of a medullary canal; expansion segments are also mountable on the core guide wire, each expansion segment having a tapered engagement surface for engaging with and expanding the petals of the distal and proximal petal segments. A corresponding method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for utilizing compression in database caches to facilitate access to database information. In contrast with applying compression to the database that is stored on disk, the present invention achieves performance advantages by using compression within the main memory database cache used by a database management system to manage data transfers to and from a physical database file stored on a storage system or stored on a networked attached device or node. The disclosed system and method thereby provide a significant technical advantage by increasing the effective database cache size. And this effective increase in database cache size can greatly enhance the operations-per-second capability of a database management system by reducing unnecessary disk or network accesses thereby reducing data access times.

Abstract: The present invention provides functional client side data cache coherence distributed across database servers and clients. This system includes an application resident on a client operable to request access to data, and wherein the client is coupled to a local memory cache operable to store requested date. The client is coupled to a remote memory storage system, such as disk storage or network resources by a communication pathway. This remote memory storage system is operable to store data, process requests for specified data, retrieve the specified data from within the remote memory storage system, and transmit the requested data to the client with annotated version information. The data received by the client is verified as being coherent with any downstream linked information stored in the client's local memory cache. Otherwise, updated coherent data is requested, received and verified prior to being used by the client and its resident applications.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for improving the efficiency of write operations by intelligently managing disk pages that are written during checkpoint operations so that write operations can occur with reduced numbers of writes. As write data is received and cached, for example, by a database application, disk pages are allocated to the write data. When a checkpoint operation is taken to write the data cache to disk as modifications or additions to the database file, an intelligent write management module re-assesses the disk page allocation and re-maps disk writes to improve the efficiency of disk input/output (I/O) operations. As such, significant improvements in the speed and efficiency of database operations during checkpoint events are achieved.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for utilizing compression in database caches to facilitate access to database information. In contrast with applying compression to the database that is stored on disk, the present invention achieves performance advantages by using compression within the main memory database cache used by a database management system to manage data transfers to and from a physical database file stored on a storage system or stored on a networked attached device or node. The disclosed system and method thereby provide a significant technical advantage by increasing the effective database cache size. And this effective increase in database cache size can greatly enhance the operations-per-second capability of a database management system by reducing unnecessary disk or network accesses thereby reducing data access times.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for improving the efficiency of write operations by intelligently managing disk pages that are written during checkpoint operations so that write operations can occur with reduced numbers of writes. As write data is received and cached, for example, by a database application, disk pages are allocated to the write data. When a checkpoint operation is taken to write the data cache to disk as modifications or additions to the database file, an intelligent write management module re-assesses the disk page allocation and re-maps disk writes to improve the efficiency of disk input/output (I/O) operations. As such, significant improvements in the speed and efficiency of database operations during checkpoint events are achieved.

Abstract: The present invention provides functional client side data cache coherence distributed across database servers and clients. This system includes an application resident on a client operable to request access to data, and wherein the client is coupled to a local memory cache operable to store requested date. The client is coupled to a remote memory storage system, such as disk storage or network resources by a communication pathway. This remote memory storage system is operable to store data, process requests for specified data, retrieve the specified data from within the remote memory storage system, and transmit the requested data to the client with annotated version information. The data received by the client is verified as being coherent with any downstream linked information stored in the client's local memory cache. Otherwise, updated coherent data is requested, received and verified prior to being used by the client and its resident applications.