Abstract: A system, and computer program product for preprovisioning using a mutated template. A subset of templates is selected from a set of templates that can be provisioned to a data processing system, a template in the set of templates including data to create a virtual machine on the data processing system. The mutated template is constructed using the subset of templates. A manifest is constructed such that a template in the subset of templates can be reconstructed from the mutated template using the manifest. Instead of the subset of templates, the mutated template is preprovisioned to the data processing system.

Abstract: In a method for provisioning a virtual machine, a processor rates a plurality of software images that include a first software image and a second software image. A processor provisions the virtual machine with the first software image in a first state and the second software image in a second state, wherein the second software image is rated higher than the first software image.

Abstract: Methods and arrangements for detecting and diagnosing system outages. A system outage is ascertained and aberrant user activities are categorized, as possible contributors to the system outage, based on system impact. User activities and system impact are learned, and user activities and system impact are compared against predetermined rules. A system outage alert is generated, and a user activity responsible for the system outage is displayed.

Abstract: Methods and arrangements for detecting and diagnosing system outages. A system outage is ascertained and aberrant user activities are categorized, as possible contributors to the system outage, based on system impact. User activities and system impact are learned, and user activities and system impact are compared against predetermined rules. A system outage alert is generated, and a user activity responsible for the system outage is displayed.

Abstract: Techniques for co-relating at least one of a functional design and at least one implementation artifact of a solution with at least one infrastructure component of a target deployment environment for the solution are provided. The techniques include obtaining at least one of a functional design and at least one implementation artifact of a solution, obtaining at least one infrastructure component of a target deployment environment for the solution, and co-relating at least one of a functional design and at least one implementation artifact of a solution with at least one infrastructure component of a target deployment environment for the solution, wherein co-relating comprises discovering at least one system level dependency among the at least one of a functional design and at least one implementation artifact and the at least one infrastructure component.

Abstract: Methods and arrangements for tracking changes in an information technology environment. Configuration dependencies are learned in a production environment, and a model of the production environment is built. Events on a target system in the production environment are subscribed to. Events are received and correlated with the model to generate an enhanced model, and the enhanced model is thereupon employed to predict configuration errors.

Abstract: A system and associated method for automatically pipeline parallelizing a nested loop in sequential code over a predefined number of threads. Pursuant to task dependencies of the nested loop, each subloop of the nested loop are allocated to a respective thread. Combinations of stage partitions executing the nested loop are configured for parallel execution of a subloop where permitted. For each combination of stage partitions, a respective bottleneck is calculated and a combination with a minimum bottleneck is selected for parallelization.

Abstract: An approached is provided for monitoring data from a host machine running at least one virtual machine (VM); analyzing the monitored data from the host machine; conducting inferences from the analysis to determine a preferred size of a cache; and managing the cache size based upon the inferences for adapting the cache size on the host running the at least one VM.

Abstract: The present disclosure extends to maintaining an item inventory status at an inventory cache management system. The inventory cache may be refreshed regularly by a threshold-based triggering mechanism. In embodiments, as item inventory breaches certain thresholds, the inventory cache may be refreshed with increased frequency to mitigate overselling or underselling scenarios and reduce overall network traffic for items having relatively high inventory levels.

Abstract: Techniques for facilitating a real-time virtual interaction between two or more users are provided. The techniques include extracting a dynamically changing context from two or more users, wherein the context comprises at least one of user-provided information and one or more items related to at least one of current activity and past activity of the two or more users, analyzing the context from each user to create a classification for each user, comparing the classification for each user with a classification for each additional user, wherein comparing comprises ordering each user in terms of closeness to each additional user, and using the ordering of each user in terms of closeness to each additional user to facilitate a real-time virtual interaction between two or more users. Techniques are also provided for generating a database of one or more user classifications.

Abstract: A first provider edge (PE) device is configured to: receive a Label Distribution Protocol (LDP) MAC Flush message from a PE device via an input port; flush a routing table in response to the LDP MAC Flush message; determine whether the LDP MAC Flush message comprises a PE identifier corresponding to the PE device; generate a Topology Change Notification (TCN) message based on the LDP MAC Flush message when the LDP MAC Flush message comprises the PE identifier corresponding to the PE device; and output the TCN message.

Abstract: A method of provisioning in a cloud compute environment having a set of cloud hosts associated with one another. The method begins by forming a distributed, cooperative cache across the set of cloud hosts by declaring a portion of a data store associated with a cloud host as a cache, and storing template images and patches in the cache. Caching activity across the distributed, cooperated cache is coordinated by having the caches share information about their respective contents. A control routine at a cache receives requests for template images or patches, responds to the requests if the requested artifacts are available or, upon a cache miss, forwards the request to another one of the caches. Periodically, the composition of the distributed, cooperative cache is computed, and the template images and patches are populated into the caches using the computed cache composition.

Abstract: A tunable mid-infrared laser operated in a pulsed mode is coupled off-axis into a high-finesse optical cavity to produce a long-path spectrometer. The cavity receives a gas sample. Laser pulses may be wavelength-scanned by stepping an external grating, allowing the grating to mechanically settle, then measuring the ring-down with a set of laser pulses, before moving on the next wavelength. A detector receiving infrared light exiting the cavity supplies a cavity ring-down trace representative of sample absorption of the infrared pulses. A processor determines an absolute absorption spectrum of the gas sample from the ring-down trace and analyzes sample gas composition and trace concentration from that spectrum. The absorption baseline is highly reproducible and stable, improving the accuracy of multivariate fits, and the spectral resolution can be better than 0.001 cm?1 (contingent upon the laser source), allowing for high-resolution measurements of sharp absorption features.

Abstract: A method of measuring energy expenditure in a living subject comprises: (a) administering a specified dose of doubly-labeled water (2H218O) to a living subject; (b) obtaining samples at three or more times of body water from the living subject; (c) measuring 2H/1H, 17O/16O and 18O/16O ratios in each of the obtained samples using optical spectroscopy; and (d) determining (1) a combined value of flux of body water and exhaled carbon dioxide from a change in measured 18O/16O over time, (2) a value of flux of body water alone from a change in measured 2H/1H over time, and (3) a reference value of isotopic background fluctuation from a change in measured 17O/16O over time. Using 17O measurements to estimate background fluctuations of the 2H and 18O decreases the required isotope dosing of subjects or decreases uncertainty at current dosing levels.

Abstract: A first provider edge (PE) device is configured to: receive a Label Distribution Protocol (LDP) MAC Flush message from a PE device via an input port; flush a routing table in response to the LDP MAC Flush message; determine whether the LDP MAC Flush message comprises a PE identifier corresponding to the PE device; generate a Topology Change Notification (TCN) message based on the LDP MAC Flush message when the LDP MAC Flush message comprises the PE identifier corresponding to the PE device; and output the TCN message.

Abstract: A configuration model for an existing software solution, which is distributed over a plurality of existing machines, is discovered. The model includes a plurality of configuration items, which in turn include a plurality of independent attributes and a plurality of dependent attributes, with the plurality of dependent attributes being derivable from the plurality of independent attributes based on a plurality of constraints. The configuration model is stored in a repository, together with disk images, resource configuration details, and logical names of pertinent ones of the existing machines. Specifications of new values of the independent attributes are obtained, and new values of the dependent attributes are computed from the new values of the independent attributes, based on executing the constraints on the configuration model.

Abstract: A method of and system for committing a transaction to a database. In one embodiment the method comprises initiating a database transaction; creating an electronic record that includes transaction data from the database transaction; executing a rule associated with the record to determine whether an electronic signature is required to connote review and/or approval of the electronic record, and requesting the electronic signature prior to committing the transaction to the database if execution of the rule results in a determination that an electronic signature is required.

Abstract: Illustrative embodiments include a method for creating a virtual machine using a preprovisioned mutated template. A template to use for creating the virtual machine is identified, a template including data usable to create the virtual machine on a data processing system. A block of data is selected in the mutated template for reconstructing the template from the mutated template. The block of data is included in the mutated template at a location specified in a manifest associated with the mutated template. A data structure of the template is populated with the block of data such that the block of data occupies a predetermined position in the template, thereby reconstructing the template from the mutated template. The virtual machine is created on the data processing system using the template.

Abstract: Example online payment systems and methods are described. In one implementation, a method receives a request to pay for an online order from a user and receives an image of a negotiable instrument from the user. The method validates the image of the negotiable instrument. If the negotiable instrument is validated, payment for the online order is processed using the image of the negotiable instrument.

Abstract: Example mobile payment systems and methods are described. In one implementation, a mobile device creates an order with an online marketplace. The mobile deice captures an image of a negotiable instrument and communicates the image to the online marketplace along with a request to pay for the order using the negotiable instrument. The negotiable instrument is validated by the online marketplace. The mobile device receives a notification from the online marketplace indicating whether the request to pay for the order using the negotiable instrument was accepted.