Abstract: In one aspect there is provided a foam comprising: a polymeric matrix comprising polyethylene grafted polymerized siloxane, and a plurality of cells formed in the polymeric matrix and containing a blowing agent comprising carbon dioxide. In another aspect there is provided a method of making a foam comprising: grafting polymerized siloxane to polyethylene to form a grafted intermediate; molding the grafted intermediate to form a molded intermediate; and foaming the molded intermediate using high-pressure CO2 to form the foam, wherein the foam has a porosity greater than 75%.

Abstract: A virtual machine (VM) system includes a network, hosts that are able to communicate over the network, a storage cluster of nodes made up by the hosts, and VMs running on the hosts. As part of the storage cluster, the nodes pool their storage devices into a clustered datastore shared across all the nodes. The VMs are stored in the clustered datastore. Two of the nodes take roles of a reflector node and a backup reflector node. The other nodes, excluding the reflector node but including the backup reflector node, are configured to establish unicast connections over the network with the reflector node. The nodes in the storage cluster are configured to communicate clustering service information over the unicast connections.

Abstract: A server provides communications to users and evaluates actions of the users after the provision of the communications to determine how receptive the various users are to such communications. Receptiveness is determined through a training process involving the formation of training sets based on whether users a test set of users were receptive to a previous set of communications, the derivation of relevant features for the users of the training set, the training of a model based on the derived features, and the use of the model for users whose receptiveness is to be estimated. With the most receptive users identified, the server can focus in future on communicating with those most receptive users.

Abstract: An example method for a first host to perform traffic replication in a software-defined networking (SDN) environment may include obtaining control information that includes a first identifier associated with a first replication domain to which the first host and a second host are assigned, and a second identifier associated with a second replication domain to which a third host is assigned. In response to detecting, from a virtualized computing instance, a packet that requires replication, the method also includes, generating a first encapsulated packet by encapsulating the packet with a first outer header that includes the first identifier, generating a second encapsulated packet by encapsulating the packet with a second outer header that includes the first identifier or the second identifier, and sending the first encapsulated packet to the second host, and the second encapsulated packet to third host to cause the third host to perform replication within the second replication domain.

Abstract: Cutin-based devices, coatings and methods of producing such devices and coatings are presented herein. Cutin-like materials (CLMs) are presented which mimic and adapt coatings found in nature for the next generation of functional coatings. Cutin has several advantages including excellent UV resistance, natural resistance to bacteria and viruses, noncorrosive, and stability under abrupt changes in temperature and environment. CLMs can be engineered at the nanoscale and readily impregnated with metals and metal oxides materials.

Abstract: In one form, a data transmission system includes transmission and reception circuits. The transmission circuit includes a first driver having an input for receiving a first transmit data signal, an output, a positive power supply terminal for receiving an input/output (I/O) power supply voltage, and a negative terminal for receiving an I/O ground voltage, a second driver having an input for receiving the I/O power supply voltage, an output, and a positive power supply terminal for receiving the I/O power supply voltage, and a third driver having an input for receiving the I/O ground voltage, an output, and a negative power supply terminal coupled to the I/O ground voltage. The reception circuit forms a reference voltage based an average of signal content below a predetermined frequency of outputs of the second and third drivers, and receives a signal from the output of the first driver using the reference voltage.

Abstract: A scanner is disclosed. The scanner includes a light source to emit light of a first color during a first turn-on period and emit light of a second color during a second turn-on period; a sensor to receive light from a scanning area, in response to the light of the first color directed to the scanning area, during a first sensing period, and receive light from the scanning area, in response to the light of the second color directed to the scanning area, during a second sensing period; and a controller to control the timing of the first turn-on period within the first sensing period and the second turn-on period within the second sensing period.

Abstract: A host computer and method for multicasting data between networking interfaces of hypervisors in a distributed computer system uses a Virtual Extensible LAN Network Identifier (VNI) assigned to a multicast group and an identifier of a VXLAN Tunnel End Point (VTEP) of the host computer associated to the VNI so that data being multicast for the multicast group can be routed to the networking interfaces via VTEPs associated with the VNI.

Abstract: Various resistor circuits and methods of making and using the same are disclosed. In one aspect, a method of manufacturing is provided that includes forming a resistor onboard an interposer. The resistor is adapted to dampen a capacitive network. The capacitive network has at least one capacitor positioned external to the interposer.

Abstract: In one form, a data transmission system includes transmission and reception circuits. The transmission circuit includes a first driver having an input for receiving a first transmit data signal, an output, a positive power supply terminal for receiving an input/output (I/O) power supply voltage, and a negative terminal for receiving an I/O ground voltage, a second driver having an input for receiving the I/O power supply voltage, an output, and a positive power supply terminal for receiving the I/O power supply voltage, and a third driver having an input for receiving the I/O ground voltage, an output, and a negative power supply terminal coupled to the I/O ground voltage. The reception circuit forms a reference voltage based an average of signal content below a predetermined frequency of outputs of the second and third drivers, and receives a signal from the output of the first driver using the reference voltage.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a wire or cable comprising a flame retardant-free thermoplastic inner sheath and an outer sheath composition comprising, based on the weight of the composition, (a) 10 wt % to 90 wt % of a TPU based resin, (b) 5 wt % to 90 wt % of a metal hydrate, (c) 2 wt % to 50 wt % of a nitrogen-based phosphorus flame retardant, and (d) 2 wt % to 50 wt % liquid phosphate modifier, wherein the outer sheath is in contact with the insulation covering, and wherein the outer sheath has a thickness from greater than zero to 0.8 mm.

Abstract: Various resistor circuits and methods of making and using the same are disclosed. In one aspect, a method of manufacturing is provided that includes forming a resistor onboard an interposer. The resistor is adapted to dampen a capacitive network. The capacitive network has at least one capacitor positioned external to the interposer.

Abstract: Financial transaction card data can be entered by providing a picture of the card to a server programmed with a text recognition algorithm. The server can perform text recognition on the image at the same time that a consumer enters additional required data, such as a zip code. The server can perform as much text recognition processing as possible in the time the consumer is entering the additional data. Once the additional data is received, a signal can be provided to the server indicating that the user is now waiting for results of the text recognition process, meaning the server should provide them as quickly as possible. Once text recognition results are received, a consumer can make a selection to identify a character which the text recognition algorithm did not sufficiently identify. Based on known account number constraints, the user selection can cause multiple characters to be identified.

Abstract: Load balancing across hosts in a computer system is triggered based on pairwise comparisons of resource utilization at different host. A method for load balancing across hosts includes the steps of determining a resource utilization difference between first and second hosts, wherein the first host has a higher resource utilization than the second host, comparing the resource utilization difference against a threshold difference, and upon determining that the resource utilization difference exceeds the threshold difference, selecting a workload executing in the first host for migration to the second host.

Abstract: A server of a transportation network determines characteristics of trips provided to users, as well as the usage of the services by users. Using the determined characteristics, the server trains a model that, for a given set of trips for a user, estimates a degree of likely user dissatisfaction with the trips. Based on the estimated degree of user dissatisfaction, the system can estimate user dissatisfaction in real time, directly after completion of a trip, and can take remedial actions should the user be estimated to be likely dissatisfied.

Abstract: Cutin-based devices, coatings and methods of producing such devices and coatings are presented herein. Cutin-like materials (CLMs) are presented which mimic and adapt coatings found in nature for the next generation of functional coatings. Cutin has several advantages including excellent UV resistance, natural resistance to bacteria and viruses, noncorrosive, and stability under abrupt changes in temperature and environment. CLMs can be engineered at the nanoscale and readily impregnated with metals and metal oxides materials.

Abstract: A scanner is disclosed. The scanner includes a light source to emit light of a first color during a first turn-on period and emit light of a second color during a second turn-on period; a sensor to receive light from a scanning area, in response to the light of the first color directed to the scanning area, during a first sensing period, and receive light from the scanning area, in response to the light of the second color directed to the scanning area, during a second sensing period; and a controller to control the timing of the first turn-on period within the first sensing period and the second turn-on period within the second sensing period.

Abstract: In a computer system having multiple memory proximity domains including a first memory proximity domain with a first processor and a first memory and a second memory proximity domain with a second processor and a second memory, latencies of memory access from each memory proximity domain to its local memory as well as to memory at other memory proximity domains are probed. When there is no contention, the local latency will be lower than remote latency. If the contention at the local memory proximity domain increases and the local latency becomes large enough, memory pages associated with a process running on the first processor are placed in the second memory proximity domain, so that after the placement, the process is accessing the memory pages from the memory of the second memory proximity domain during execution.

Abstract: A server provides communications to users and evaluates actions of the users after the provision of the communications to determine how receptive the various users are to such communications. Receptiveness is determined through a training process involving the formation of training sets based on whether users a test set of users were receptive to a previous set of communications, the derivation of relevant features for the users of the training set, the training of a model based on the derived features, and the use of the model for users whose receptiveness is to be estimated. With the most receptive users identified, the server can focus in future on communicating with those most receptive users.

Abstract: A surfactant and a method of forming the surfactant having the formula (I) where a is an integer from 1 to 10, b is an integer from 0 to 10, R1 is —CH3 or —H, n is an integer from 0 to 20, and R2 is a moiety selected from the group consisting of (II), (III), (IV), (V), (VI), (VII) or (VIII) where m is an integer from 0 to 4. The surfactant can be used in a method for preparing a rigid polyurethane foam.