Abstract: Plasma-Activated liquids and methods of using the same are described. In one aspect, a method of manufacturing an integrated circuit includes activating a photolithography liquid with a plasma; and treating a device component with the activated photolithography liquid. In one example, the photolithography liquid is a photoresist. Activating the photoresist liquid may impart reactive species to the photoresist.

Abstract: A data profiling module receives user selection of spreadsheets, and the data from the selected spreadsheets is profiled. At least one matching column is identified among the spreadsheets selected. The data profiling module calculates a match metric for the at least one matching column, and unifies the spreadsheets into a single composite spreadsheet using the at least one identified matching column. A preview view of a composite spreadsheet is generated, visually indicating the at least one matching column, any non-matching columns between the spreadsheets, and the match metric for the matching columns. An action history module identifies spreadsheets for use in the procedure, and stores any action applied to the spreadsheets as a procedure template that can be applied to a plurality of other spreadsheets.

Abstract: A data profiling module receives user selection of spreadsheets, and the data from the selected spreadsheets is profiled. At least one matching column is identified among the spreadsheets selected. The data profiling module calculates a match metric for the at least one matching column, and unifies the spreadsheets into a single composite spreadsheet using the at least one identified matching column. A preview view of a composite spreadsheet is generated, visually indicating the at least one matching column, any non-matching columns between the spreadsheets, and the match metric for the matching columns. An action history module identifies spreadsheets for use in the procedure, and stores any action applied to the spreadsheets as a procedure template that can be applied to a plurality of other spreadsheets.

Abstract: A dental composition for sealing a portion of a tooth includes a liquid acrylic or acrylate monomer, an acrylic or acrylate polymer that is soluble in the liquid acrylic or acrylate monomer, a photo-initiator for cross-linking the liquid acrylic or acrylate monomer, and a nanoparticle material dispersed within the composition.

Abstract: A method and system providing a high speed and secure data link for moving large amounts of data across a network, such as the data used in an analytic application. Featured are simultaneous compression and encryption of the data, as well as means for recovery in the event the network connection is lost.

Abstract: A method and system thereof for performing real time transformations of dynamically increasing databases is described. A session, identified as a real time session, is initialized. The real time session repeatedly executes a persistent (e.g., continually running) data transport pipeline of the analytic application. The data transport pipeline extracts data from a changing database, transforms the data, and writes the transformed data to storage (e.g., a data warehouse or data mart). The data transport pipeline is executed at the end of each time interval in a plurality of contiguous time intervals occurring during the real time session. The data transport pipeline remains running after it is executed, until the real time session is completed. Accordingly, new data are transformed in a timely manner, and processing resources are not consumed by having to repeatedly re-establish (re-initialize) the data transport pipeline.

Abstract: Hollow cathode microdischarges in a tube geometry provides the formation of stable, high-pressure discharges in a variety of flowing gases including argon, helium, nitrogen, and hydrogen. Direct current discharges are ignited in stainless steel capillary tubes (dhole=178 &mgr;m) which are operated as the cathode and using a metal grid or plate as the anode. Argon discharges can be sustained at atmospheric pressure with voltages as low as 260 V for cathode-anode gaps of 0.5 mm. In one embodiment using a molybdenum substrate as the anode, microjets are struck in H2/CH4 mixtures at 200 Torr to deposit diamond films with well-faceted crystals. Optical emission spectroscopy of discharges used for growth confirms the presence of atomic hydrogen and CH radicals. Ballasting of individual tubes allows parallel operation of the microjets for larger area materials processing.

Abstract: A method and system thereof for performing real time transformations of dynamically increasing databases is described. A session, identified as a real time session, is initialized. The real time session repeatedly executes a persistent (e.g., continually running) data transport pipeline of the analytic application. The data transport pipeline extracts data from a changing database, transforms the data, and writes the transformed data to storage (e.g., a data warehouse or data mart). The data transport pipeline is executed at the end of each time interval in a plurality of contiguous time intervals occurring during the real time session. The data transport pipeline remains running after it is executed, until the real time session is completed. Accordingly, new data are transformed in a timely manner, and processing resources are not consumed by having to repeatedly re-establish (re-initialize) the data transport pipeline.

Abstract: Hollow cathode microdischarges in a tube geometry provides the formation of stable, high-pressure discharges in a variety of flowing gases including argon, helium, nitrogen, and hydrogen. Direct current discharges are ignited in stainless steel capillary tubes (dhole=178 &mgr;m) which are operated as the cathode and using a metal grid or plate as the anode. Argon discharges can be sustained at atmospheric pressure with voltages as low as 260 V for cathode-anode gaps of 0.5 mm. In one embodiment using a molybdenum substrate as the anode, microjets are struck in H2/CH4 mixtures at 200 Torr to deposit diamond films with well-faceted crystals. Optical emission spectroscopy of discharges used for growth confirms the presence of atomic hydrogen and CH radicals. Ballasting of individual tubes allows parallel operation of the microjets for larger area materials processing.

Abstract: A computer software architecture to automatically optimize the throughput of the data extraction/transformation/loading (ETL) process in data warehousing applications. This architecture has a componentized aspect and a pipeline-based aspect. The componentized aspect refers to the fact that every transformation used in this architecture is built up with transformation components selected from an extensible set of transformation components. Besides simplifying source code maintenance and adjustment for the data warehouse users, these transformation components also provide these users the building blocks to effectively construct pertinent and functionally sophisticated transformations in a pipelined manner. Within a pipeline, each transformation component automatically stages or streams its data to optimize ETL throughput. Furthermore, each transformation either pushes data to another transformation component, pulls data from another transformation component, or performs a push/pull operation on the data.

Abstract: A method for updating a target table of a data mart in response to changes made by a transaction to data stored in a source table of an operational database. Data that was changed in the source table by the transaction is stored in a dynamic image table of a change capture database. Data that was not changed in the source table by the transaction, but which is nevertheless required to be mapped to the target table, is stored in a static image table of the change capture database. The change capture database also contains relevant information regarding the transaction. Once the dynamic and static image tables are properly staged, the changes are propagated from the change capture database to the target tables of the data marts. In other words, data is extracted from the change capture database and subsequently transformed and loaded, thereby minimizing the impact to the operational database. Thereupon, the tables of the change capture database are truncated to discard data which is now no longer needed.

Abstract: Database system and methods are described for improving scalability of multi-user database systems by improving management of locks used in the system. The system provides multiple server engines, with each engine having a Parallel Lock Manager. More particularly, the Lock Manager decomposes the single spin lock traditionally employed to protect shared, global Lock Manager structures into multiple spin locks, each protecting individual hash buckets or groups of hash buckets which index into particular members of those structures. In this manner, contention for shared, global Lock Manager data structures is reduced, thereby improving the system's scalability. Further, improved "deadlock" searching methodology is provided. Specifically, the system provides a "deferred" mode of deadlock detection. Here, a task simply goes to sleep on a lock; it does not initiate a deadlock search. At a later point in time, the task is awakened to carry out the deadlock search.

Abstract: A method of performing incremental aggregation of dynamically increasing database data sets. An embodiment of the present invention operates within a data mart or data warehouse to aggregate data stored within an operational database corresponding to newly received data to provide current information. Initially, a computer server creates an intermediate file which is initialized by the server with an aggregate data set. The aggregate data set consists of data values and count values that each correspond to specific group identifiers. The computer determines if any group identifiers within a new set of inputs data are identical to any group identifiers stored within the intermediate file. If an inputted group identifier matches a stored group identifier, the inputted data value is aggregated with the stored data value and the count value corresponding to the specific stored group identifier is incremented by one.