Abstract: To enhance the scaling of data processing systems in a computing environment, a number of data objects indicated in an allocation queue and a first attribute of the allocation queue are determined, where the allocation queue is accessible to a plurality of data processing systems. A number of data objects indicated in the allocation queue at a subsequent time is predicted based on the determined number of data objects and the first attribute. It is determined whether the active subset of the plurality of data processing systems satisfies a criterion for quantity adjustment based, at least in part, on the predicted number of data objects indicated in the allocation queue and a processing time goal. Based on determining that the active subset of data processing systems satisfies the criterion for quantity adjustment, a quantity of the active subset of data processing systems is adjusted.

Abstract: A high-density optical fiber ribbon is formed by two or more cladding-strengthened glass optical fibers each having an outer surface and that do not individually include a protective polymer coating. A common protective coating substantially surrounds the outer surfaces of the two or more cladding-strengthened glass optical fibers so that the common protective coating is common to the two or more cladding-strengthened glass optical fibers. A fiber ribbon cable is formed by adding a cover assembly to the fiber ribbon. A fiber ribbon interconnect is formed adding one or more optical connectors to the fiber ribbon or fiber ribbon cable. Optical data transmission systems that employ the fiber ribbon to optically connect to a photonic device are also disclosed. Methods of forming the cladding-strengthened glass optical fibers and the high-density optical fiber ribbons are also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a liquid dispersion comprising (i) at least one growth regulator which has a solubility in vegetable oil of about 0.1 wt % or less; (ii) an organic hydrophobic carrier, preferably a vegetable oil, hydrocarbon oil or paraffin oil, or a derivative thereof; wherein the at least one growth regulator which is insoluble or unstable in water, is present in the liquid dispersion in an amount exceeding 0.1 wt %; and wherein more than 90% of the particles of said growth regulator has a particle size of between 1-7 ?m; wherein the dispersion further comprises (iii) an emulsifier which stabilizes the dispersion in the organic carrier, and which causes the concentrate to be water miscible and self-emulsifying when diluted in water in a suitable dilution, such as for example a 1:50 dilution or higher dilution; wherein the dispersion is essentially water free.

Abstract: Provided herein are articles including repellent coatings, as well as methods of making as using these articles. The articles can comprise a substrate and a repellent coating disposed on a surface of the substrate. The repellant coating can comprise hydrophobic particles dispersed within a polymer binder. The hydrophobic particles can be aggregated within the polymer binder, thereby forming a multiplicity of re-entrant structures embedded within and protruding from the polymer binder. The repellent coatings, and by extension the articles described herein, can exhibit selective wetting properties (e.g., superhydrophilicty/super-oleophobicity, or super-hydrophobicity/superoleophilicity).

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a glass article comprises: (A) forming a first layer of catalyst metal on a glass substrate; (B) heating the glass substrate; (C) forming a second layer of an alloy of a first metal and a second metal on the first layer; (D) heating the glass substrate, thereby forming a glass article comprising: (i) the glass substrate; (ii) an oxide of the first metal covalently bonded thereto; and (iii) a metallic region bonded to the oxide, the metallic region comprising the catalyst, first, and second metals. In embodiments, the method further comprises (E) forming a third layer of a primary metal on the metallic region; and (F) heating the glass article thereby forming the glass article comprising: (i) the oxide of the first metal covalently bonded the glass substrate; and (ii) a new metallic region bonded to the oxide comprising the catalyst, first, second, and primary metals.

Abstract: The invention relates to a plant growth regulator system comprising a synergistic combination of prohexadione and ethephon. The invention further relates to a method for treating plants with at least prohexadione and ethephon, wherein a water based spraying liquid is sprayed on plants, wherein the liquid comprises water and suitable amounts of prohexadione and of ethephon, wherein the amount of prohexadione is between 20 and 400 g per hectare, and wherein the amount of ethephon is between 0 and 1000 g/ha. The plants are rape seed, flax or cereal crops. Cereal can be barley, oat, wheat, lye, triticale, grain or corn. The combination shows substantial synergistic effects on stem reduction, and therefore reduce risk of lodging and improve yield.

Abstract: The invention relates to a liquid dispersion comprising (i) at least one growth regulator which has a solubility in vegetable oil of about 0.1 wt % or less; (ii) an organic hydrophobic carrier, preferably a vegetable oil, hydrocarbon oil or paraffin oil, or a derivative thereof; wherein the at least one growth regulator which is insoluble or unstable in water, is present in the liquid dispersion in an amount exceeding 0.1 wt %; and wherein more than 90% of the particles of said growth regulator has a particle size of between 1-7 ?m; wherein the dispersion further comprises (iii) an emulsifier which stabilizes the dispersion in the organic carrier, and which causes the concentrate to be water miscible and self-emulsifying when diluted in water in a suitable dilution, such as for example a 1:50 dilution or higher dilution; wherein the dispersion is essentially water free.

Abstract: The invention relates to a liquid, substantially anhydrous concentrate comprising dissolved micronutrients in an amount of between 0.3 wt %-5 wt % of metal ions, chosen from zinc, manganese, selenium, iron, copper, cobalt, molybdenum, and magnesium and mixtures of these, 0.3 wt % carboxylic acid compound which is soluble in glycol, and at least 40 wt % of a glycol compound wherein the glycol compound is a compound comprising a ?,?-ethyldiolgroup, optionally comprising ethyl-ether groups.

Abstract: The invention relates to a liquid concentrate comprising a plant growth regulator like prohexadione dissolved in an ionic liquid, the ionic liquid comprising an organic base and a strong acid. The ionic liquid may comprise an amine, amide, imine, imide or urea. The strong acid preferably is ethephon.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a glass article comprising: forming a first layer of a first metal on a glass substrate, the glass substrate comprising silicon dioxide and aluminum oxide; subjecting the glass substrate with the first layer of the first metal to a first thermal treatment; forming a second layer of a second metal over the first layer of the first metal; and subjecting the second layer of the second metal to a second thermal treatment, the first thermal treatment and the second thermal treatment inducing intermixing of the first metal, the second metal, and at least one of aluminum, aluminum oxide, silicon, and silicon dioxide of the glass substrate to form a metallic region comprising the first metal, the second metal, aluminum oxide, and silicon dioxide. The first metal can be silver. The second metal can be copper.

Abstract: Methods of making functional surfaces, including liquid repellant surfaces that can exhibit selective wetting properties. Methods of forming the functional surfaces can comprise providing a dispersion of nanoparticles; and applying the dispersion to a polymer surface to form a multiplicity of re-entrant structures embedded within and protruding from the polymer surface. The re-entrant structures are formed from aggregates of the nanoparticles. Functional surfaces are prepared by these methods, as well as articles comprising these functional surfaces.

Abstract: To enhance the scaling of data processing systems in a computing environment, a number of data objects indicated in an allocation queue and a first attribute of the allocation queue are determined, where the allocation queue is accessible to a plurality of data processing systems. A number of data objects indicated in the allocation queue at a subsequent time is predicted based on the determined number of data objects and the first attribute. It is determined whether the active subset of the plurality of data processing systems satisfies a criterion for quantity adjustment based, at least in part, on the predicted number of data objects indicated in the allocation queue and a processing time goal. Based on determining that the active subset of data processing systems satisfies the criterion for quantity adjustment, a quantity of the active subset of data processing systems is adjusted.

Abstract: A method of forming an article, comprising: forming an adhesion layer comprising MnOx on a glass, glass-ceramic or ceramic wafer; calcining the adhesion layer such that a first portion of the MnOx of the adhesion layer is chemically bonded to the wafer; depositing a metal layer on the adhesion layer; and processing the metal layer and the adhesion layer such that a portion of the MnOx of the adhesion layer is chemically bonded to the metal layer.

Abstract: Described herein are systems, methods, and software to enhance the scaling of data processing systems in a computing environment. In one implementation, a method of operating a data processing management system includes monitoring a queue length in an allocation queue for data processing system, and generating a prediction of the allocation queue based on the monitored queue length. Once the prediction is generated, the data processing management system may modify an operational state of at least one data processing system based on the prediction of the queue length and a processing time requirement for data objects in the allocation queue.

Abstract: The invention relates to a water based spraying liquid suitable for spraying plants, wherein the liquid comprises water and a suitable amount of the plant growth regulator prohexadione optionally in combination with trinexapac-ethyl, and a fungicide chosen from the group of prothioconazole, metconazole, difenoconazole, paclobutrazole, triticonazole, tebuconazole, azoxystrobin, picoxystrobin, boscalid and penthiopyrad, wherein the amount of growth regulator is between 20 and 400 g per hectare and wherein the amount of fungicide is between 20 and 500 g/ha. Preferably, the growth regulator is prohexadione-calcium, and the fungicide is prothioconazole.

Abstract: A high-density optical fiber ribbon is formed by two or more cladding-strengthened glass optical fibers each having an outer surface and that do not individually include a protective polymer coating. A common protective coating substantially surrounds the outer surfaces of the two or more cladding-strengthened glass optical fibers so that the common protective coating is common to the two or more cladding-strengthened glass optical fibers. A fiber ribbon cable is formed by adding a cover assembly to the fiber ribbon. A fiber ribbon interconnect is formed adding one or more optical connectors to the fiber ribbon or fiber ribbon cable. Optical data transmission systems that employ the fiber ribbon to optically connect to a photonic device are also disclosed. Methods of forming the cladding-strengthened glass optical fibers and the high-density optical fiber ribbons are also disclosed.

Abstract: Techniques for predictively scaling a distributed application are described. Embodiments could monitor performance of an application within a cloud computing environment over a first window of time to collect historical performance data. Here, the application comprises a plurality of application instances. A workload of the application could be monitored over a second window of time to collect historical workload data. Embodiments could analyze both the historical performance data and the historical workload data to determine one or more scaling patterns for the application. Upon determining a present state of the application matches one of the one or more scaling patterns, a plan for predictively scaling the application could be determined. Embodiments could then predictively scale the plurality of application instances, based on the determined plan.

Abstract: An article including a glass or glass ceramic substrate, a noble metal layer, an adhesion promoting layer positioned between and bonded to the substrate and the noble metal layer, and a conductive metal layer positioned on and bonded to the noble metal layer. The adhesion promoting layer includes a siloxy group bonded with the substrate and a thiol group bonded to the noble metal layer. A method for manufacturing an article including applying an adhesion promoting layer comprising mercaptosilane to at least a portion of a glass or glass ceramic substrate, wherein siloxane bonds are formed between the mercaptosilane and the substrate, applying a noble metal layer to the adhesion promoting layer, the noble metal layer bonds with a thiol present in the mercaptosilane, thermally treating the noble metal layer, and applying a conductive metal layer to the noble metal layer.

Abstract: A method for bonding a conductive metal to an oxide substrate includes applying a porous coating to a surface of the oxide substrate, the porous coating including a porous oxide and catalyst nanoparticles dispersed therein, and depositing a conductive metal onto the porous coating. A portion of the conductive metal may be deposited within the pores of the porous coating to couple the conductive metal to the porous coating. Articles are also disclosed that include the oxide substrate, the porous coating coupled to a surface of the oxide substrate, and the conductive metal coupled to the porous coating. The porous coating may include a porous oxide and catalyst nanoparticles dispersed within the metal oxide. A portion of the conductive metal may be deposited within the pores of the porous coating to interlock the conductive metal to the porous coating.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of gibberellin 7 (GA7) for thinning of stone fruit, wherein the use comprises applying the GA7 to stone fruit in a first year by foliar spray within 12 weeks after full bloom, to achieve thinning in the following year. The stone fruit can be peach, nectarine, apricot, cherry, mirabelle or plum, preferably peach or nectarine. GA7 is used or applied in the period of 4 to 12 weeks after full bloom in the first year. The GA7, if used in admixture with GA4, has relative amounts of GA7 to GA4 of 70% GA7 or more and 30% GA4 or less.