Abstract: An apparatus for enhancing the coalescence of a dispersed phase from a continuous phase in an emulsion is presented. The apparatus includes at least one inlet for receiving the emulsion, at least one outlet for discharging the emulsion after coalescing the dispersed phase, and at least one article disposed between the inlet and the outlet. The article includes a plurality of regions disposed on a surface in a predefined pattern, wherein a portion of the plurality of regions is substantially wetting with respect to the dispersed phase, and a portion of the plurality of regions is substantially non-wetting with respect to the dispersed phase, and wherein the pattern includes a plurality of inter-connected regions that are substantially non-wetting with respect to the dispersed phase. A related article is also presented.

Abstract: Methods and systems for in situ cleaning of internal cooling circuits of a turbine engine with detergent that provide cleaning a turbine engine that includes circumferentially arranged internal impingement cooling circuits that each include a baffle plate configured to air cool a respective surface or component of the turbine engine. Detergent is introduced through the outer wall and proximate to a back side of a baffle plate such that the detergent passes through at least aperture in the baffle plate and acts at least upon the surface or component that the baffle plate is configured to cool. The detergent may also act on the front side of the baffle plate that is proximate to the surface or component.

Abstract: A datastore for a virtual machine that can be executed on a host computer networked to a physical storage system is allocated by a server. The server generates a unique identifier to associate with the datastore, wherein the unique identifier mimics a form of identifier that is generated by the physical storage system to identify volumes of physical storage in the physical storage system that are accessible to the host computer. At least one volume of physical storage in the physical storage system having physical storage available to satisfy the request to allocate the datastore is identified and the server maintains a mapping of the unique identifier to the at least one volume of physical storage and provides the mapping to the host computer upon running the virtual machine, thereby enabling the host computer to store data for the datastore in the at least one volume of physical storage.

Abstract: An apparatus for enhancing the coalescence of a dispersed phase from a continuous phase in an emulsion is presented. The apparatus includes at least one inlet for receiving the emulsion, at least one outlet for discharging the emulsion after coalescing the dispersed phase, and at least one article disposed between the inlet and the outlet. The article includes a plurality of regions disposed on a surface in a predefined pattern, wherein a portion of the plurality of regions is substantially wetting with respect to the dispersed phase, and a portion of the plurality of regions is substantially non-wetting with respect to the dispersed phase, and wherein the pattern includes a plurality of inter-connected regions that are substantially non-wetting with respect to the dispersed phase. A related article is also presented.

Abstract: An article includes a substrate with a coating having asperities such that an average spacing between the asperities is between about 0.01 and about 1.5 micron. An average surface roughness of the coating is up to about 2 microns, and an average porosity of the coating is in the range from about 35% to about 70%. A material to reduce surface energy is disposed on the coating. A method for making such an article and a method for decreasing fluid drag across such an article are also provided.

Abstract: A method of coating a surface, preparing a doped metal-ion precursor solution for coating, and an article including a component coated by the described method are disclosed. The method of coating includes applying a fluoro-silane doped metal-ion precursor solution on the surface to form a coated surface. The metal-ion precursor solution includes greater than about 0.6 molar percent concentration of a metal-ion precursor in a solvent comprising an alcohol. The method of preparing the doped metal-ion precursor solution includes dissolving a metal-ion precursor in a solvent comprising an alcohol at a temperature greater than about 100° C. and refluxing at a temperature greater than about 150° C. such that the concentration of metal-ion precursor in the solution is greater than 0.6 molar percent of the solution, and adding a fluoro-silane to the metal-ion precursor solution.

Abstract: A method of coating a surface is provided. The method comprises feeding a feedstock to a thermal spray torch, the feedstock comprising a liquid, disposing the feedstock on a substrate by thermal spray under conditions selected to produce a textured surface comprising a hierarchical structure, wherein the hierarchical structure comprises agglomerations of at least partially melted and solidified particles derived from the feedstock with individual at least partially melted and solidified particles derived from the feedstock disposed on a surface of the agglomerations; and applying a surface energy modification material over the textured surface. An article comprising a component having a coated surface is also provided.

Abstract: This disclosure details methods and techniques for inhibiting natural gas hydrate formation in gas conduits. In one embodiment, an article is provided which comprises (a) a gas conduit defining a gas flow channel; (b) an interior surface of the gas conduit; (c) a hydrate inhibiting coating on the interior surface, wherein the coating comprises: (i) component A, a one- or two-part room temperature vulcanizable polyorganosiloxane composition comprising a surface-treated filler, a condensation catalyst, and a crosslinking agent; and any reaction products thereof; and optionally (ii) component B, a hydrate release-enhancing proportion of at least one polyorganosiloxane comprising one or more silanol or alkoxy-silyl groups and comprising from about 10 weight percent to about 85 weight percent of at least one hydroxy-terminated or alkoxy-terminated polyoxyalkylenealkyl radical; and optionally (iii) any reaction products thereof.

Abstract: A datastore for a virtual machine that can be executed on a host computer networked to a physical storage system is allocated by a server. The server generates a unique identifier to associate with the datastore, wherein the unique identifier mimics a form of identifier that is generated by the physical storage system to identify volumes of physical storage in the physical storage system that are accessible to the host computer. At least one volume of physical storage in the physical storage system having physical storage available to satisfy the request to allocate the datastore is identified and the server maintains a mapping of the unique identifier to the at least one volume of physical storage and provides the mapping to the host computer upon running the virtual machine, thereby enabling the host computer to store data for the datastore in the at least one volume of physical storage.

Abstract: An article and method of forming the article is disclosed. The article includes a heat source, a substrate, and a thermal interface element having a plurality of freestanding nanosprings disposed in thermal communication with the substrate and the heat source. The nanosprings of the article include at least one inorganic material and also at least 50% of the nanosprings have a thermal conductivity of at least 1 watt/mK per nano spring.

Abstract: A method of coating a surface, preparing a doped metal-ion precursor solution for coating, and an article including a component coated by the described method are disclosed. The method of coating includes applying a fluoro-silane doped metal-ion precursor solution on the surface to form a coated surface. The metal-ion precursor solution includes greater than about 0.6 molar percent concentration of a metal-ion precursor in a solvent comprising an alcohol. The method of preparing the doped metal-ion precursor solution includes dissolving a metal-ion precursor in a solvent comprising an alcohol at a temperature greater than about 100° C. and refluxing at a temperature greater than about 150° C. such that the concentration of metal-ion precursor in the solution is greater than 0.6 molar percent of the solution, and adding a fluoro-silane to the metal-ion precursor solution.

Abstract: This disclosure details methods and techniques for inhibiting natural gas hydrate formation in gas conduits. In one embodiment, an article is provided which comprises (a) a gas conduit defining a gas flow channel; (b) an interior surface of the gas conduit; (c) a hydrate inhibiting coating on the interior surface, wherein the coating comprises: (i) component A, a one- or two-part room temperature vulcanizable polyorganosiloxane composition comprising a surface-treated filler, a condensation catalyst, and a crosslinking agent; and any reaction products thereof; and optionally (ii) component B, a hydrate release-enhancing proportion of at least one polyorganosiloxane comprising one or more silanol or alkoxy-silyl groups and comprising from about 10 weight percent to about 85 weight percent of at least one hydroxy-terminated or alkoxy-terminated polyoxyalkylenealkyl radical; and optionally (iii) any reaction products thereof.

Abstract: Computer implemented methods and systems for providing storage virtualization of physical storage include receiving a request for storage from a virtual machine during provisioning of the virtual machine. The request includes a capability and quota requirement for storage as required by the virtual machine. A virtual datastore that satisfies the capability and quota requirements of the request is identified. If not found, one or more volumes, that satisfy the storage requirements, are discovered or created. A virtual datastore is created and maps to one or more volumes which have unique volume identifiers. A unique virtual datastore identifier is generated for the virtual datastore. The virtual datastore identifier is distinct from the volume identifiers of the underlying volumes. The volumes are mapped to the virtual datastore while retaining the virtual datastore identifier for the virtual datastore.

Abstract: In one aspect, the present invention provides a subsea separation vessel for the separation of a mixture comprising oil and water comprising (a) at least one inlet for introducing a oil-water mixture; (b) a flow path for conducting the oil-water mixture; (c) at least one oil-water separation structure; and (d) at least one fluid outlet. The oil-water separation structure includes a multifunctional surface. The oil-water separation structure is located within the flow path and wherein the multifunctional surface is superhydrophobic with respect to water, and either oleophilic or superoleophilic with respect to oil. A method for separating oil from an oil-water mixture is also provided.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an heat transfer device that includes a shell; the shell being an enclosure that prevents matter from within the shell from being exchanged with matter outside the shell; the shell having an outer surface and an inner surface; and a particle layer disposed on the inner surface of the shell; the particle layer having a thickness effective to enclose a region for transferring a fluid between opposing faces; the particle layer including a first layer and a second layer; the second layer being disposed upon the first layer; the first layer having average particle sizes of about 10 to about 10,000,000 nanometers; the second layer having average particle sizes of about 10 to about 10,000 nanometers.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a heat transfer device that includes a shell; the shell being an enclosure that prevents matter from within the shell from being exchanged with matter outside the shell during the operation of the heat transfer device; the shell having an outer surface and an inner surface; and a porous layer disposed on the inner surface of the shell; the porous particle layer having a thickness effective to enclose a vapor space between opposing faces; the vapor space being effective to provide a passage for the transport of a fluid; the heat transfer device having a thermal conductivity of greater than or equal to about 10 watts per meter-Kelvin and a coefficient of thermal expansion that is substantially similar to that of a semiconductor.

Abstract: Purified preparations of human embryonic stem cells with certain population-specific characteristics are disclosed. This preparation is characterized by the positive expression of the following pluripotent cell surface markers: SSEA-1 (?); SSEA-4 (+); TRA-1-60 (+); TRA-1-81 (+); alkaline phosphatase (+), as well as a set of ES cell markers including Oct-4, Nanog, Rex1, Sox2, Thy1, FGF4, ABCG2, Dppa5, UTF1, Cripto1, hTERT, Connexin-43 and Connexin-45. The cells of the preparation are negative for lineage specific markers like Keratin 8, Sox-1, NFH (ectoderm), MyoD, brachyury, cardiac-actin (mesoderm), HNF-3 beta, albumin, and PDX1 (endoderm). The cells of the preparation are human embryonic stem cells, have normal karyotypes, exhibit high telomerase activity and continue to proliferate in an undifferentiated state after continuous culture for over 40 passages.

Abstract: An article including a metallic substrate is presented. The article further includes a sacrificial layer disposed on a surface of the substrate and an anti-fouling layer disposed on the sacrificial layer. The anti-fouling layer includes a metal-polymer composite. An article including an anti-fouling layer having a nitride is also presented.

Abstract: Computer implemented methods and systems for providing storage virtualization of physical storage include receiving a request for storage from a virtual machine during provisioning of the virtual machine. The request includes a capability and quota requirement for storage as required by the virtual machine. A virtual datastore that satisfies the capability and quota requirements of the request is identified. If not found, one or more volumes, that satisfy the storage requirements, are discovered or created. A virtual datastore is created and maps to one or more volumes which have unique volume identifiers. A unique virtual datastore identifier is generated for the virtual datastore. The virtual datastore identifier is distinct from the volume identifiers of the underlying volumes. The volumes are mapped to the virtual datastore while retaining the virtual datastore identifier for the virtual datastore.

Abstract: Systems and methods for software development in which the development of a base product proceeds concurrently with the internationalization and localization of the base product to produce multiple language versions of the product for polylingual simultaneous shipment to customers wherein one or more of the multiple languages can be uploaded by the customer in a single installation process.