Abstract: A logically-partitioned computer, program product and method utilize a flexible and adaptable communication interface between a partition and a partition manager, which permits optimal handling of partition management operations such as state change operations and the like over a wide variety of circumstances. In particular, a partition is permitted to indicate, in connection with a request to perform a partition management operation, whether an asynchronous notification should be generated or suppressed in association with the performance of the partition management operation by a partition manager. As a result, asynchronous notifications are selectively generated in association with the performance of partition management operations based upon indications in the requests made by partitions for such operations.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for inspecting a specimen are provided. The apparatus comprises a primary illumination source, a catadioptric objective exhibiting central obscuration that directs light energy received from the primary illumination source at a substantially normal angle toward the specimen, and an optical device, such as a prism or reflective surface, positioned within the central obscuration resulting from the catadioptric objective for receiving further illumination from a secondary illumination source and diverting the further illumination to the specimen. The method comprises illuminating a surface of the specimen at a variety of angles using a primary illumination source, illuminating the surface using a secondary illumination source, the illuminating by the secondary illumination source occurring at a substantially normal angle of incidence; and imaging all reflected, scattered, and diffracted light energy received from the surface onto a detector.

Abstract: A resource and partition manager of the preferred embodiments includes a lock mechanism that operates on a plurality of locks that control access to individual I/O slots. The resource and partition manager uses the lock mechanism to obtain a lock on an I/O slot when transferring control of the I/O slot to a logical partition that is powering on and when removing the I/O slot from a logical partition that is powering off. The resource and partition manager uses the lock mechanism to remove control of an I/O slot from, or return control to, an operating logical partition in order to facilitate hardware service operations on that I/O slot or on the physical enclosure in which it is contained.

Abstract: A first logical partition in a first processing complex of a server cluster is operated at a first level of a software code. Software code in a second logical partition in the same processing complex is updated to a second level. Processing operations are assumed by the second logical partition operating at the second level of software code. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: A catadioptric objective configured to inspect a specimen is provided. The catadioptric objective includes a Mangin element having one surface at a first axial location and an extension element positioned together with the Mangin element. The extension element provides a second surface at a second axial location. Certain light energy reflected from the specimen passes to the second surface of the extension element, the Mangin element, and through a plurality of lenses. An aspheric surface may be provided, and light energy may be provided to the specimen using diverting elements such as prisms or reflective surfaces.

Abstract: A system and method for inspecting a specimen, such as a semiconductor wafer, including illuminating at least a portion of the specimen using an excimer source using at least one relatively intense wavelength from the source, detecting radiation received from the illuminated portion of the specimen, analyzing the detected radiation for potential defects present in the specimen portion.

Abstract: A reduced size catadioptric objective and system is disclosed. The objective may be employed with light energy having a wavelength in the range of approximately 190 nanometers through the infrared light range. Elements are less than 100 mm in diameter. The objective comprises a focusing lens group configured to receive the light energy, at least one field lens oriented to receive focused light energy from the focusing lens group and provide intermediate light energy, and a Mangin mirror arrangement positioned to receive the intermediate light energy from the field lens and form controlled light energy for transmission to a specimen. The Mangin mirror arrangement imparts controlled light energy with a numerical aperture in excess of 0.65 and up to approximately 0.90, and the design may be employed in various environments.

Abstract: A resource and partition manager of the preferred embodiments includes a lock mechanism that operates on a plurality of locks that control access to individual I/O slots. The resource and partition manager uses the lock mechanism to obtain a lock on an I/O slot when transferring control of the I/O slot to a logical partition that is powering on and when removing the I/O slot from a logical partition that is powering off. The resource and partition manager uses the lock mechanism to remove control of an I/O slot from, or return control to, an operating logical partition in order to facilitate hardware service operations on that I/O slot or on the physical enclosure in which it is contained.

Abstract: A relatively high spectral bandwidth objective employed for use in imaging a specimen and method for imaging a specimen is provided. The objective includes a lens group having at least one focusing lens configured to receive light energy and form an intermediate image, at least one field lens oriented to receive the intermediate image and provide intermediate light energy, and a Mangin mirror arrangement positioned to receive the intermediate light energy and apply light energy to the specimen. The objective may provide, in certain instances, a spectral bandwidth up to approximately 193 to 266 nanometers and can provide numerical apertures in excess of 0.9. Elements are less than 100 millimeters in diameter and may fit within a standard microscope. The field lens may include more than one lens and may be formed of a material different from at least one other lens in the objective.

Abstract: 4-Amino-1-((2R,3S,4S,5R)-5-azido-4-hydroxy-5-hydroxymethyl-3-methyl-tetrahydro-furan-2-yl)-1H-pyrimidin-2-one (22) and prodrugs thereof are hepatitis C (HCV) polymerase inhibitors. Also disclosed are compositions and methods for inhibiting HCV and treating HCV-mediated diseases, processes for making the compounds and synthetic intermediates employed in the process.

Abstract: Processor time accounting is enhanced by per-thread internal resource usage counter circuits that account for usage of processor core resources to the threads that use them. Relative resource use can be determined by detecting events such as instruction dispatches for multiple threads active within the processor, which may include idle threads that are still occupying processor resources. The values of the resource usage counters are used periodically to determine relative usage of the processor core by the multiple threads. If all of the events are for a single thread during a given period, the processor time is allocated to the single thread. If no events occur in the given period, then the processor time can be equally allocated among threads. If multiple threads are generating events, a fractional resource usage can be determined for each thread and the counters may be updated in accordance with their fractional usage.

Abstract: An accounting method and multi-threaded processor include a mechanism for accounting for processor resource usage by threads within programs. Relative resource use is determined by detecting a particular cycle state of threads active within the processor. If instructions are dispatched for all threads or no threads, the processor cycle is accounted equally to all threads. Alternatively if no threads are in the particular cycle state, the accounting may be made using a prior state, or in conformity with ratios of the threads' priority levels. If only one thread is in the particular cycle state, that thread is accounted the entire processor cycle. If multiple threads are dispatching, but less than all threads are dispatching, the processor cycle is billed evenly across the dispatching threads.

Abstract: Large diameter self-expanding endoprosthetic devices, such as stents and stent grafts for delivery to large diameter vessels, such as the aorta, are disclosed having very small compacted delivery dimensions. Devices with deployed dimensions of 26 to 40 mm or more are disclosed that are compacted to extremely small dimensions of 5 mm or less, enabling percutaneous delivery of said devices without the need for surgical intervention. Compaction efficiencies are achieved by combining unique material combinations with new forms of restraining devices, compaction techniques, and delivery techniques. These inventive devices permit consistent percutaneous delivery of large vessel treatment devices. Additionally, small endoprosthetic devices are disclosed that can be compacted to extremely small dimensions for delivery through catheter tubes of less than 1 mm diameter.

Abstract: A relatively high spectral bandwidth objective employed for use in imaging a specimen and method for imaging a specimen is provided. The objective includes a lens group having at least one focusing lens configured to receive light energy and form focused light energy. The focused light energy forms an intermediate image. The objective further includes at least one field lens located in proximity to an intermediate image, and a catadioptric arrangement positioned to receive the intermediate light energy from the at and form controlled light energy. The catadioptric arrangement may include at least one Mangin element and can include a meniscus lens element.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of nucleoside derivatives of formula Ia wherein the symbols are as defined in the specification, and of pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof and to pharmaceutical compositions containing such compounds.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of nucleoside derivatives of formula Ia wherein the symbols are as defined in the specification, and of pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof and to pharmaceutical compositions containing such compounds.

Abstract: A system for use with a reduced size catadioptric objective is disclosed. The system including the reduced size objective includes various subsystems to allow enhanced imaging, the subsystems including illumination, imaging, autofocus, positioning, sensor, data acquisition, and data analysis. The objective may be employed with light energy having a wavelength in the range of approximately 190 nanometers through the infrared light range, and elements of the objective are less than 100 mm in diameter. The objective comprises a focusing lens group and at least one field lens oriented to receive focused light energy from the focusing lens group and provide intermediate light energy. The objective also includes a Mangin mirror arrangement. The design imparts controlled light energy with a numerical aperture in excess of 0.65 and up to approximately 0.90 to a specimen for imaging purposes, and the design may be employed in various environments.

Abstract: A reduced size catadioptric inspection system employing a catadioptric objective and immersion substance is disclosed. The objective may be employed with light energy having a wavelength in the range of approximately 190 nanometers through the infrared light range, and can provide numerical apertures in excess of 0.9. Elements are less than 100 millimeters in diameter and may fit within a standard microscope. The objective comprises a focusing lens group, a field lens, a Mangin mirror arrangement, and an immersion substance or liquid between the Mangin mirror arrangement and the specimen. A variable focal length optical system for use with the objective in the catadioptric inspection system is also disclosed.

Abstract: A laser illuminator and illumination method for use in an inspection system, such as a semiconductor wafer inspection system or photomask inspection system is provided. The design comprises generating fundamental frequency laser energy at different fundamental wavelengths, such as 998 nm, converting a portion of the fundamental frequency laser energy to 2nd harmonic frequency laser energy, further converting the 2nd harmonic frequency laser energy to 4th harmonic frequency laser energy, and mixing the 4th harmonic frequency laser energy with a portion of the fundamental frequency laser energy to produce laser energy at a sum frequency. Mixing is accomplished by non-critical phase matching in a crystal of Cesium Lithium Borate (CLBO).

Abstract: A method, apparatus, system, and signal-bearing medium that, in an embodiment, calculate a preemption credit for a partition if a virtual processor is preempted and the partition is unable to receive an entitled capacity of physical processor cycles during a dispatch window. The preemption credit is the portion of the entitled capacity that the partition is unable to receive. As long as the partition has a remaining preemption credit, in subsequent dispatch windows, a portion of the preemption credit is allocated to the virtual processor, and the preemption credit is reduced. In this way, in an embodiment, shared processor partitions may be ensured of receiving their entitled allocation of processor cycles.