Abstract: Provided herein is a method of preparing a ceramic material, the method including: providing a ceramic gel including a plurality of metal salts and compressing the ceramic gel thereby inducing stress-induced mineralization of the ceramic gel and formation of the ceramic material, wherein the ceramic gel exists in isolated form.

Abstract: A distributed cache apparatus includes storage comprising a range of stored data and a processing device. A first cache level of the storage is segmented into a plurality of first data sub-ranges of the range of stored data, and each of the first data sub-ranges is associated with one of a first subset of a plurality of node devices. A second cache level of the storage is segmented into a plurality of second data sub-ranges of the range of stored data, and each of the second data sub-ranges is associated with one of a second subset of the node devices. Each of the second data sub-ranges is smaller than each of the first data sub-ranges. The processing device is configured to process a read request for data within the range of stored data by accessing one of the second subset of the node devices.

Abstract: A method for estimating an expected volatility for financial instruments that are quoted in spread terms but which trade with an upfront and a fixed coupon may include a computer processor: (1) selecting a plurality of options, each option having a different option expiry; (2) for each option expiry, calculating a corresponding forward index level in a price term; (3) selecting a strike price for which an absolute difference between a receiver price and a payer price is smallest; (4) extracting and grouping a plurality of traded receivers having spread strike prices that are lower than the strike price, and payers having spread strike prices greater than the strike price; (5) calculating an expected strike price for each grouped option; (6) calculating an option notional for each of the plurality of options; (7) calculating a fixed expiry VTRAC-X volatility index; and (8) interpolating a fixed time-to-expiry VTRAC-X volatility index.

Abstract: Exemplary methods for performing distributed data aggregation include receiving Internet Protocol (IP) traffic from only a first portion of the network. The methods further include utilizing a big data tool to generate a summary of the IP traffic from the first portion of the network, wherein a summary of IP traffic from a second portion of the network is generated by a second network device utilizing its local big data tool. The methods include sending the summary of the IP traffic of the first portion of the network to the third network device, causing the third network device to utilize its local big data tool to generate a summary of the IP traffic of the first and second portion of the network based on the summaries received from the first and second network devices, thereby allowing the IP traffic in the network to be characterized in a distributed manner.

Abstract: An accelerometer includes a measurement mass, a top cap silicon wafer and a bottom cap silicon wafer, both of which are coupled with the measurement mass. The measurement mass includes a support frame, a mass, and a plurality of resilient beams. The mass and the resilient beams are located within the support frame. The mass and the support frame are connected by several sets of the resilient beams, and each set comprises two resilient folding beams. The resilient folding beams are symmetrically provided with respect to the midline of the mass. A connection beam is provided in between each set of the resilient folding beams to connect the resilient folding beams together. Silicon wafers with electrodes are bonded on the top and bottom surfaces of the measurement mass, and form a capacitor with the measurement mass. The accelerometer has a large mode isolation ratio and is symmetrical in high order vibrational modes, which further decreases the noise of a MEMS chip.

Abstract: A method to synergistically sense occupancy inside a building. A coarse-grained sensor in the building generates a coarse data indicating a user is in a large area including a control zone. A fine-grained sensor in the building generates a fine data indicating the user is in a small area. The fine data is more accurate but less reliable than the coarse data. The method to improve energy efficiency by generating an actuation plan for the control zone. The method includes receiving the coarse data and the fine data, normalizing the coarse data and the fine data, checking for an overlap between the large area and the small area, calculating a change in occupancy in the control zone based on the normalized coarse data if there is no overlap and based on the normalized fine data if there is overlap, and generating the actuation plan based on the change in occupancy.

Abstract: An accelerometer has E-shaped resilient beams to isolate stress and reduce deformation. A top cap silicon wafer and a bottom cap silicon wafer are both coupled with a measurement mass to form a capacitor. The measurement mass has a mass, range-of-motion stops, and resilient beams located within a support frame. The range-of-motion stops are coupled to the support frame by connection beams, and the mass is coupled with the range-of-motion stops by groups of E-shaped resilient beams. The ends of each resilient beam are connected to the range-of-motion stops, and the middle of each resilient beam is connected to the mass.

Abstract: An accelerometer includes a measurement mass, a top cap silicon wafer and a bottom cap silicon wafer, both of which are coupled with the measurement mass. The measurement mass includes a support frame, a mass, and a plurality of resilient beams. The mass and the resilient beams are located within the support frame. The mass and the support frame are connected by several sets of the resilient beams, and each set comprises two resilient folding beams. The resilient folding beams are symmetrically provided with respect to the midline of the mass. A connection beam is provided in between each set of the resilient folding beams to connect the resilient folding beams together. Silicon wafers with electrodes are bonded on the top and bottom surfaces of the measurement mass, and form a capacitor with the measurement mass. The accelerometer has a large mode isolation ratio and is symmetrical in high order vibrational modes, which further decreases the noise of a MEMS chip.

Abstract: An accelerometer, comprises, a measurement mass, a top cap silicon wafer and a bottom cap silicon wafer, which both are coupled with the said measurement mass; the measurement mass comprises a support frame, a mass, and a plurality of resilient beams; the mass and the resilient beams are located within the support frame; the mass and the support frame are connected by several sets of the resilient beams, and each set comprises two resilient folding beams; the resilient folding beams are symmetrically provided with respect to the midline of the mass; a connection beam is provided in between each set of the resilient folding beams to connect the resilient folding beams together. Silicon wafers with electrodes are bonded on the top and bottom surfaces of the measurement mass; and forms a capacitor with the measurement mass. The accelerometer in the present invention has a large mode isolation ratio, and it is symmetrical in high order vibrational modes , which further decreases the noise of the MEMS chip.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for determining recommended geographic server locations for online social networks by attempting to minimize user-server latency and inter-user communications latency. In an embodiment, geographic and relationship information for a plurality of users is acquired. The plurality of users may belong to one or more networks. The acquired information is transformed into a graph. A first plurality of clusters is generated with a first clustering algorithm. A second plurality of clusters is generated by iteratively examining pairs of the first plurality clusters, and swapping nodes between the examined clusters if it will reduce a total cut weight of the graph and locate each pair of nodes within a defined maximum distance from the centroid of the target cluster. In an embodiment, a method uses a joint analysis approach based upon characteristics of a plurality of existing networks.

Abstract: A system for detecting state transitions when apparatuses move between significant places or routes without having to employ high resolution, and high energy cost, localization technologies. Apparatuses may receive position information via lower resolution/lower energy cost localization resources, and this information may be used to determine whether the current position of the apparatus corresponds to a significant place or route. If the apparatus is determined to be positioned in a significant place or route, a further determination may be made as to whether at least one second level classifier exists for the significant place or route. Second level classifiers may be utilized to determine when apparatuses transition from one state (e.g., one significant place or route) to another. Upon detection of a state transition based on the second level classifier, a new localization configuration may be applied in the apparatus.

Abstract: An accelerometer has E-shaped resilient beams to isolate stress and reduce deformation. A top cap silicon wafer and a bottom cap silicon wafer are both coupled with a measurement mass to form a capacitor. The measurement mass has a mass, range-of-motion stops, and resilient beams located within a support frame. The range-of-motion stops are coupled to the support frame by connection beams, and the mass is coupled with the range-of-motion stops by groups of E-shaped resilient beams. The ends of each resilient beam are connected to the range-of-motion stops, and the middle of each resilient beam is connected to the mass.

Abstract: A system that uses historical position information accumulated in an apparatus to determine whether locations and/or routes may be classified as significant. A classification of a location or route as significant may be utilized in configuring localization in the apparatus. Localization configuration may include, for example, setting a type technology utilized in determining apparatus position.

Abstract: An accelerometer has E-shaped resilient beams to isolate stress and reduce deformation. A top cap silicon wafer and a bottom cap silicon wafer are both coupled with a measurement mass to form a capacitor. The measurement mass has a mass, range-of-motion stops, and resilient beams located within a support frame. The range-of-motion stops are coupled to the support frame by connection beams, and the mass is coupled with the range-of-motion stops by groups of E-shaped resilient beams. The ends of each resilient beam are connected to the range-of-motion stops, and the middle of each resilient beam is connected to the mass.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for determining recommended geographic server locations for online social networks by attempting to minimize user-server latency and inter-user communications latency. In an embodiment, geographic and relationship information for a plurality of users is acquired. The plurality of users may belong to one or more networks. The acquired information is transformed into a graph. A first plurality of clusters is generated with a first clustering algorithm. A second plurality of clusters is generated by iteratively examining pairs of the first plurality clusters, and swapping nodes between the examined clusters if it will reduce a total cut weight of the graph and locate each pair of nodes within a defined maximum distance from the centroid of the target cluster. In an embodiment, a method uses a joint analysis approach based upon characteristics of a plurality of existing networks.

Abstract: Exemplary methods for performing distributed data aggregation include receiving Internet Protocol (IP) traffic from only a first portion of the network. The methods further include utilizing a big data tool to generate a summary of the IP traffic from the first portion of the network, wherein a summary of IP traffic from a second portion of the network is generated by a second network device utilizing its local big data tool. The methods include sending the summary of the IP traffic of the first portion of the network to the third network device, causing the third network device to utilize its local big data tool to generate a summary of the IP traffic of the first and second portion of the network based on the summaries received from the first and second network devices, thereby allowing the IP traffic in the network to be characterized in a distributed manner.