Abstract: The oxine ligands 5-chloro-8-hydroxyquiniline and 5-sulfoxyl-8-hydroxyquinoline are covalently bound, using, for example, the Mannich reaction, to a silica gel polyamine composite made from a silanized amorphous silica xerogel and polyallylamine. The resulting modified composites, termed CB-1 (X?Cl) and SB-1 (X?SO3H), respectively, show a clear selectivity for trivalent over divalent ions and selectivity for gallium over aluminum. The compounds of the invention can be applied for the sequestration of metals, such as heavy metals, from contaminated mine tailing leachates.

Abstract: An improved interface technique for use in a southbridge or I/O hub or in similar devices is provided where non-posted read requests are received from at least one requestor, and upstream commands based on these requests are transmitted. Response data is received in reply to commands that were previously transmitted, and responses are transmitted to the at least one requester based on the response data. A buffer unit is provided for storing command identification data that identifies commands that were already transmitted or that are still to be transmitted, and response availability data that specifies response data that has been received by the receive engine. The improvement may enable multiple outstanding read requests.

Abstract: The oxine ligands 5-chloro-8-hydroxyquiniline and 5-sulfoxyl-8-hydroxyquinoline are covalently bound, using, for example, the Mannich reaction, to a silica gel polyamine composite made from a silanized amorphous silica xerogel and polyallylamine. The resulting modified composites, termed CB-1 (X?Cl) and SB-1 (X?SO3H), respectively, show a clear selectivity for trivalent over divalent ions and selectivity for gallium over aluminum. The compounds of the invention can be applied for the sequestration of metals, such as heavy metals, from contaminated mine tailing leachates.

Abstract: Various embodiments of systems and methods for dynamically reallocating buffers used in communicating packets in various communication channels are disclosed. In some embodiments, a method may involve transmitting packets in several communication channels dependent on availability of buffers allocated among the communication channels; tracking a history of packet traffic in each of the communication channels; and dynamically reallocating one or more of the buffers dependent on the history.

Abstract: A technique for negotiating the width of a link between a first device and a second device includes detecting, during initialization, a respective signal on one or more control lines associated with at least a portion of an N-bit link. The N-bit link is configured as a single link having a width of N or multiple sublinks having a width less than N based on a respective value of the respective signal on the one or more control lines.

Abstract: A first portion of a communication link is operated in a power savings mode at the same time that a second portion of the communication link is operated in a normal operational mode. For the first portion, a refresh mode is entered from the power savings mode in which one or more training patterns are transmitted over the first portion, while the second portion remains in the normal operational mode. An indication when to activate and deactivate the refresh mode may be sent over the second portion of the communication link. The refresh mode may be periodically entered from the power savings mode based on an interval register specifying the amount of time the communication link should remain in the power savings mode before a refresh occurs. In addition, the amount of time spent in the refresh mode may be programmable.

Abstract: A computer system includes a first and a second integrated circuit coupled by a communication link. The communication link operates in a power savings mode in which data is not transmitted over the link. Periodically, the communication link enters enter a training phase in which training patterns are transmitted over the communication link for a predetermined time period. The communication link returns to the power savings mode after the predetermined time period has elapsed. At least one sideband signal, separate from the communication link, and coupled between the first and second integrated circuits, is used to indicate when to enter the training phase from the power savings mode and exit the training phase and return to the power savings mode.

Abstract: A host is coupled to a serially connected chain of memory modules. In one embodiment, a method for initializing the host and each of memory modules includes the host transmitting a first synchronization pattern and a second synchronization pattern downstream in response to a reset condition. The method also includes each memory module in the serially connected chain of memory modules receiving and forwarding the first and the second synchronization pattern. Each memory module receives and forwards the first and the second synchronization pattern. Further, the method includes the host transmitting a plurality of NOP packets downstream in response to transmitting the second synchronization pattern. Lastly, the method includes a portion of the memory modules injecting and transmitting NOP packets upstream in response to receiving the second synchronization pattern from downstream.

Abstract: A system includes a host coupled to a serially connected chain of memory modules. In one embodiment, the host includes a memory controller that may be configured to issue a memory read request for data stored within the memory modules. The memory controller may further request that data be prefetched from the memory modules by encoding prefetch information within the memory read request. The memory controller may also be configured to issue a memory write request to write data to the memory modules and to selectively request that one or more pages of memory within a given one of the memory modules remain open by encoding the prefetch information within the memory write request.

Abstract: An improved interface technique for use in a southbridge or I/O hub or in similar devices is provided where non-posted read requests are received from at least one requestor, and upstream commands based on these requests are transmitted. Response data is received in reply to commands that were previously transmitted, and responses are transmitted to the at least one requester based on the response data. A buffer unit is provided for storing command identification data that identifies commands that were already transmitted or that are still to be transmitted, and response availability data that specifies response data that has been received by the receive engine. The improvement may enable multiple outstanding read requests.

Abstract: A USB host controller provides transaction type status signals indicating USB activity type. The status signals include a bulk status bit signal indicative of bulk activity on a USB, a control status bit signal indicative of control activity on the USB, an isochronous status bit signal indicative of isochronous activity on the USB and an interrupt status bit signal indicative of an acknowledged interrupt on the USB. In addition a programmable mask register is provided for masking any or all of the status bits. The status bits may be combined and provided as a single signal indicative of USB activity.