Abstract: Embodiments are directed to dynamically creating and managing a plurality of virtual machines and automating the instantiation and provisioning of a plurality of virtual machines. A computer system receives a user request to create virtual machines, where each virtual machine is controlled by an associated workflow. The computer system accesses a provisioning schema that indicates various configuration settings that are to be used by the associated workflow when provisioning the virtual machines. The computer system initiates a virtual service layer configured to support multiple virtual machine hosts, where each host is configured to operate at least one virtual machine. The computer system also instantiates the virtual machines on at least one virtual machine host according to the accessed provisioning schema, so that each virtual machine is provisioned according to the indicated configuration settings.

Abstract: A method for forming a functionalized latex polymer includes polymerizing a heterogeneous dispersion of water insoluble monomers in water, thereby forming a latex polymer. An at least partially water soluble halogenated non-ionic group is reacted with the latex polymer, whereby a halogen is displaced from the non-ionic group, thereby forming an at least partially water soluble non-ionic group that attaches to the latex polymer.

Abstract: A composition and method of associating stabilizer functionalities with latex particulates is provided. The composition can comprise a latex particulate configured for inclusion in an ink-jet ink to provide improved humidfastness of an image printed by the ink-jet ink, wherein the latex particulate has a molecular weight from 10,000 Mw to 10,000,000 Mw, and has a particle size from 10 nm to 2 ?m; and an image stabilizer configured for improving lightfastness of the image, wherein the image stabilizer is bound to the latex particulate. The method can comprise the steps of coupling a polymerizable monomer with a stabilizing agent reactive with the polymerizable monomer, thereby forming a precursor stabilizer-containing monomer; polymerizing the precursor stabilizer-containing monomer to form a latex particulate; and decoupling the stabilizing agent from the latex particulate.

Abstract: A method for forming a functionalized latex polymer includes polymerizing a heterogeneous dispersion of water insoluble monomers in water, thereby forming a latex polymer. An at least partially water soluble halogenated non-ionic group is reacted with the latex polymer, whereby a halogen is displaced from the non-ionic group, thereby forming an at least partially water soluble non-ionic group that attaches to the latex polymer.

Abstract: Classes of molecules are disclosed which can, for example, be used in molecular switches. The classes of molecules include at least three segments—an electronic donor (“D”), a switchable bridge (“B”), and an electronic acceptor (“A”)—chemically connected and linearly arranged (e.g., D-B-A). The electronic donor can be an aromatic ring system with at least one electron donating group covalently attached; an aromatic ring system with an electron withdrawing group covalently attached is usually employed as the electronic acceptor; and the switchable bridge can be a pi system that can be switched on or off using an external electric field.

Abstract: Embodiments are directed to dynamically creating and managing a plurality of virtual machines and automating the instantiation and provisioning of a plurality of virtual machines. A computer system receives a user request to create virtual machines, where each virtual machine is controlled by an associated workflow. The computer system accesses a provisioning schema that indicates various configuration settings that are to be used by the associated workflow when provisioning the virtual machines. The computer system initiates a virtual service layer configured to support multiple virtual machine hosts, where each host is configured to operate at least one virtual machine. The computer system also instantiates the virtual machines on at least one virtual machine host according to the accessed provisioning schema, so that each virtual machine is provisioned according to the indicated configuration settings.

Abstract: Compositions, systems, and methods for protecting an ink-jet produced image printed on a substrate are provided. The composition can comprise a liquid vehicle and latex particulates dispersed in the liquid vehicle, wherein the latex particulates have a surface dielectric constant from 2.0 to 3.0 at room temperature, and a bulk density from 0.90 g/cm3 to 1.10 g/cm3. An alternative composition can comprise a liquid vehicle and latex particulates dispersed in the liquid vehicle, wherein the latex particulates have a reactive surfactant covalently attached thereto.

Abstract: Classes of molecules are disclosed which can, for example, be used in molecular switches. The classes of molecules include at least three segments—an electronic donor (“D”), a switchable bridge (“B”), and an electronic acceptor (“A”)—chemically connected and linearly arranged (e.g., D-B-A). The electronic donor can be an aromatic ring system with at least one electron donating group covalently attached; an aromatic ring system with an electron withdrawing group covalently attached is usually employed as the electronic acceptor; and the switchable bridge can be a pi system that can be switched on or off using an external electric field.

Abstract: Compositions, systems, and methods for protecting an ink-jet produced image printed on a substrate are provided. The composition can comprise a liquid vehicle and latex particulates dispersed in the liquid vehicle, wherein the latex particulates have a surface dielectric constant from 2.0 to 3.0 at room temperature, and a bulk density from 0.1 g/cm3 less to 0.1 g/cm3 greater than the vehicle density. An alternative composition can comprise a liquid vehicle and latex particulates dispersed in the liquid vehicle, wherein the latex particulates have a reactive surfactant covalently attached thereto.

Abstract: The present invention is drawn toward latex particulates in ink-jet inks having a surface dielectric constant from 2.0 to 3.0.

Abstract: Classes of molecules are disclosed which can, for example, be used in molecular switches. The classes of molecules include at least three segments—an electronic donor (“D”), a switchable bridge (“B”), and an electronic acceptor (“A”)—chemically connected and linearly arranged (e.g., D-B-A). The electronic donor can be an aromatic ring system with at least one electron donating group covalently attached; an aromatic ring system with an electron withdrawing group covalently attached is usually employed as the electronic acceptor; and the switchable bridge can be a pi system that can be switched on or off using an external electric field.

Abstract: A composition and method of associating stabilizer functionalities with latex particulates is provided. The composition can comprise a latex particulate configured for inclusion in an ink-jet ink to provide improved humidfastness of an image printed by the ink-jet ink, wherein the latex particulate has a molecular weight from 10,000 Mw to 10,000,000 Mw, and has a particle size from 10 nm to 2 ?m; and an image stabilizer configured for improving durability of the image, wherein the image stabilizer is bound to or otherwise associated with the latex particulate. The method can comprise the steps of coupling a polymerizable monomer with a stabilizing agent reactive with the polymerizable monomer, thereby forming a stabilizer precursor-containing monomer; polymerizing the stabilizer-containing monomer to form a latex particulate; and decoupling the stabilizing agent from the latex particulate.

Abstract: A composition and method of associating stabilizer functionalities with latex particulates is provided. The composition can comprise a latex particulate configured for inclusion in an ink-jet ink to provide improved humidfastness of an image printed by the ink-jet ink, wherein the latex particulate has a molecular weight from 10,000 Mw to 10,000,000 Mw, and has a particle size from 10 nm to 2 ?m; and an image stabilizer configured for improving lightfastness of the image, wherein the image stabilizer is bound to the latex particulate. The method can comprise the steps of coupling a polymerizable monomer with a stabilizing agent reactive with the polymerizable monomer, thereby forming a precursor stabilizer-containing monomer; polymerizing the precursor stabilizer-containing monomer to form a latex particulate; and decoupling the stabilizing agent from the latex particulate.

Abstract: The invention described herein includes a molecular switch, comprising: a donor subunit; an acceptor subunit; and an aromatic bridging subunit comprising one or more bridging groups for bonding the donor subunit to the aromatic bridging subunit and for bonding the acceptor subunit to the aromatic bridging subunit wherein the aromatic bridging subunit is conformable in a manner effective for polarizing and de-polarizing the molecular switch at a low electric field voltage.

Abstract: Compositions, systems, and methods for protecting an ink-jet produced image printed on a substrate are provided. The composition can comprise a liquid vehicle and latex particulates dispersed in the liquid vehicle, wherein the latex particulates have a surface dielectric constant from 2.0 to 3.0 at room temperature, and a bulk density from 0.90 g/cm3 to 1.10 g/cm3. An alternative composition can comprise a liquid vehicle and latex particulates dispersed in the liquid vehicle, wherein the latex particulates have a reactive surfactant covalently attached thereto.

Abstract: Compositions, systems, and methods for protecting an ink-jet produced image printed on a substrate are provided. The composition can comprise a liquid vehicle and latex particulates dispersed in the liquid vehicle, wherein the latex particulates have a surface dielectric constant from 2.0 to 3.0 at room temperature, and a bulk density from 0.90 g/cm3 to 1.10 g/cm3. An alternative composition can comprise a liquid vehicle and latex particulates dispersed in the liquid vehicle, wherein the latex particulates have a reactive surfactant covalently attached thereto.

Abstract: Compositions, systems, and methods for protecting an ink-jet produced image printed on a substrate are provided. The composition can comprise a liquid vehicle and latex particulates dispersed in the liquid vehicle, wherein the latex particulates have a surface dielectric constant from 2.0 to 3.0 at room temperature, and a bulk density from 0.90 g/cm3 to 1.10 g/cm3. An alternative composition can comprise a liquid vehicle and latex particulates dispersed in the liquid vehicle, wherein the latex particulates have a reactive surfactant covalently attached thereto.

Abstract: A molecular system that is reversibly switchable between four states includes two or more ends. At least three rotors and at least two stators are located between the ends. Each of the rotors is capable of rotating when under the influence of an electric field having a predetermined strength. The predetermined strength of the electric field for rotating one of the rotors is different than that of the predetermined strength of the electric field for rotating each of the other rotors. One or more conjugated connecting units links at least one of the at least three rotors and at least one of the at least two stators. The rotation of at least one of the at least three rotors switches the molecular system to one of the four states.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing smudge resistant and durable ink-jet images having good optical density are provided. Specifically, a system for printing durable ink-jet ink images can comprise a set of two ink-jet pens, preferably thermal ink-jet pens. The first ink-jet pen contains an ink-jet ink, wherein the ink-jet ink comprises a first liquid vehicle, from 0.5% to 6% by weight of a pigment colorant, and from 0.2% to 15% by weight of an anionic or neutral latex-containing colloidal suspension. The second ink-jet pen contains a fixer composition, wherein the fixer composition comprises effective amounts of second liquid vehicle, and from 0.2% to 15% by weight of a cationic polymer such as poly(vinyl pyridine) salts, polyalkylaminoethyl acrylates, polyalkylaminoethyl methacrylates, poly(vinyl imidazole); or preferably, polyethyleneimines, polybiguanides, and/or polyguanides.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to latex particulates having a greater concentration of acid at their surfaces than at their cores. A method of making such particulates can comprise copolymerizing an acidic monomer with a non-acidic monomer so as to yield a copolymer chain having more acidic monomer at one end than at the other.