Abstract: Disclosed is an approach for overseeing the overall state of a virtual storage system, and for taking actions as necessary to manage the health and efficient performance of that system. A curator entity is provided on a distributed basis to manage and perform these functions. A master curator manages this workload that is performed by multiple slave curators. MapReduce operations are performed to implement the curator workload. Periodically, the master curator coordinates a full scan of all the metadata in the system using three MapReduce operations. Partial scans may also be run using a single MapReduce operation.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for generating product feeds associated with a product catalog for a third party site. Entries in a product feed that are associated with products that are in turn associated with a price that is below a threshold specified by a minimum advertised pricing restriction can be flagged. A hyperlink can be provided through which a user can add the product to a shopping cart in an electronic commerce system, which can allow the third party site to display pricing information for the product.

Abstract: Methods of forming a microelectronic packaging structure and associated structures formed thereby are described. Those methods may include attaching a patterned die backside film (DBF) on a backside of a die, wherein the patterned DBF comprises an opening surrounding at least one through silicon via (TSV) pad disposed on the backside of the die.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer readable medium is provided to provide a publisher with a single interface to a plurality of shipping service providers. To begin, the method may receive, through a message bus, a request event message sent by the publisher. The request event message may include a shipping service provider identifier. Next, the method may identify a shipping interface based on the shipping service provider identifier, where the shipping interface corresponds to a shipping service provider of the plurality of shipping service providers. The method may then send, using the shipping interface, a shipping service request to the shipping service provider, with the shipping service request corresponding to a shipping service provided by the shipping service provider.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods to prepare Heteroaryl Compounds having the following structure: wherein R1-R4 are as defined herein. The Heteroaryl compounds are useful for treating or preventing cancer, inflammatory conditions, immunological conditions, neurodegenerative diseases, diabetes, obesity, neurological disorders, age-related diseases, or cardiovascular conditions.

Abstract: A vehicular multimode cellular/PCS phone including a chipset located in the vehicle for communicating with at least one of a plurality of wireless service provider networks; an multimode antenna in communication with the chipset for communicating with a wireless base antenna of at least one of the plurality of wireless service provider networks; at least one medium port for receiving a removable medium, the removable medium containing at least one of access numbers, access codes, and access authentication numbers of at least one of the plurality of wireless service provider networks.

Abstract: In at least one embodiment, a lighting system receives an input signal, such as a supply voltage, that can be affected by a dimmer. The supply voltage can be affected by a dimmer when, for example, a dimmer phase cut (i.e. chopped) the supply voltage. A dimmer detection system of the lighting system determines if a dimmer is affecting the supply voltage. In at least one embodiment, the dimmer detection system also determines a type of the dimmer, such as detecting if the dimmer is a leading edge or trailing edge dimmer. In at least one embodiment, the dimmer detection system provides dimmer type data to one or more other circuits such as a switching power converter controller. The one or more other circuits utilize the dimmer type data to affect their operation.

Abstract: Light enhancement devices, applications for the light enhancement devices, and methods for making the light enhancement devices are provided. The light enhancement devices include a substrate and a film of metal disposed over the substrate, the film of metal including at least one cavity. The cavity may be of various shapes depending on the desired application.

Abstract: Short oligopeptides are provided which are capable of binding to the epidermal growth factor receptor on the surface of human tumor cells. Methods for using the peptides as targeting moieties in more complex compositions, such as conjugates of cytoxins, and/or structures, such as liposomal structures, for the purposes of drug delivery are also provided.

Abstract: A compression method includes measuring a waveform associated with a chemical event occurring on a sensor array, wherein the waveform comprises at least one region associated with expected measured values and at least one region associated with unpredictable measured values; applying a first compression process to the waveform, the first compression process including an averaging of one or more frames in one or more portions of the waveform; and applying a second compression process to the waveform, the second compression process including a truncating of data corresponding to a portion of the waveform that is not related to a nucleotide incorporation component of the waveform.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions comprising human placental telopeptide collagen, methods of preparing the compositions, methods of their use and kits comprising the compositions. The compositions, kits and methods are useful, for example, for augmenting or replacing tissue of a mammal.

Abstract: A stack of a gate dielectric layer and a workfunction material layer are deposited over a plurality of semiconductor material portions, which can be a plurality of semiconductor fins or a plurality of active regions in a semiconductor substrate. A first gate conductor material applying a first stress is formed on a first portion of the workfunction material layer located on a first semiconductor material portion, and a second gate conductor material applying a second stress is formed on a second portion of the workfunction material layer located on a second semiconductor material portion. The first and second stresses are different in at least one of polarity and magnitude, thereby inducing different strains in the first and second portions of the workfunction material layer. The different strains cause the workfunction shift differently in the first and second portions of the workfunction material layer, thereby providing devices having multiple different workfunctions.

Abstract: An embodiment provides an implant prosthesis. In some cases, the prosthesis can take the form of an implant strip that may be implanted through the use of a surgical procedure that minimizes incision sizes and may be considered less invasive than typical spinal implant procedures. In one aspect, a spinal prosthesis may include an implant strip configured for insertion between two adjacent vertebrae, the implant strip including a first portion having a first rigidity and a second portion having a second rigidity that is less than the first rigidity, wherein the second portion is configured to deflect under an axial load before the first portion deflects.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the present invention, a system and method may be provided for authoritative validation of mobile service permissions. The system and method may include receiving a preemption request from a first responder to preempt non-emergency communications. Determining whether the first responder is authorized to preempt communications. Prioritizing communications from the first responder, if the first responder is authorized to preempt communications. Alternatively the first responder may be notified if the first responder is not authorized to preempt communications.

Abstract: An embodiment provides an implant prosthesis. In some cases, the prosthesis can take the form of an implant strip that may be implanted through the use of a surgical procedure that minimizes incision sizes and may be considered less invasive than typical spinal implant procedures. In one aspect, a spinal prosthesis may include an implant strip including a first portion comprising a first lateral side portion and a second lateral side portion, and a second portion separating the first lateral side portion from the second lateral side portion, with the first and second lateral side portions configured to engage a first and second vertebra, with a first longitudinal portion of the implant strip forming a first inner coil, with a second longitudinal portion forming a second outer coil, and with the second outer coil spaced radially outward of the first inner coil, wherein the second portion deflects before the first portion under compressive and tensile forces.

Abstract: A path computation method includes defining photonic constraints associated with a network, wherein the photonic constraints include wavelength capability constraints at each node in the network, wavelength availability constraints at each node in the network, and nodal connectivity constraints of each node in the network, and performing a constrained path computation in the network using Dijkstra's algorithm on a graph model of the network with the photonic constraints considered therein. An optical network includes a plurality of interconnected nodes each including wavelength capability constraints, wavelength availability constraints, and nodal connectivity constraints, and a path computation element associated with the plurality of interconnected photonic nodes, wherein the path computation element is configured to perform a constrained path computation through the plurality of interconnected nodes using Dijkstra's algorithm on a graph model with the photonic constraints considered therein.

Abstract: A method of managing an interaction of a student with a class about a subject, the subject having at least one lesson having at least one topic, the topic having at least one of exposition content, demonstration content and test content, the test content having a query and a scheme for mapping a response to a result, comprising: presenting content to the student and storing the interaction of the student with the content presented.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a request at a wireless access point from a client system to access a network through the wireless access point. The wireless access point sends an identifier associated with the client system to a social-networking system, the social-networking system including user profiles arranged in one or more social graphs. The social graphs store relationships between the user profiles. The method further includes receiving at the wireless access point from the social-networking system an authorization determination. The authorization determination is based upon a first user profile of the plurality of user profiles. The first user profile includes the identifier associated with the client system. The method further includes providing the client system with access to the network through the wireless access point in accordance with the authorization determination.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes broadcasting, from a first mobile device, a message having an identity of the first mobile device and conditions for connecting to a network through the first mobile device and receiving, at the first mobile device, a request from one or more second mobile devices that includes second user identifiers corresponding to respective second users of the one or more second mobile devices. The second user identifiers correspond to respective user accounts of one or more second users in a social-networking system. The method also includes determining, at the first mobile device, whether the one or more second mobile devices are authorized to access the network through the first mobile device and, if the one or more second devices are authorized to access the network, then configuring the first mobile device to provide the second mobile device network access.

Abstract: An implant system is disclosed. The implant system includes a securing member configured to fasten an implant to a bone. The securing member includes a drive receiving portion with at least two deflecting portions that are configured to undergo inward deflection during insertion of the securing member into a securing hole of the implant. The deflecting portions also include locking protrusions that are configured to engage locking recesses on an outer rim of the securing hole.