Abstract: The instant disclosure generally relates to lubricating compositions having an oil of lubricating viscosity, an ashless phosphorus-containing antiwear agent an alkaline earth metal detergent, an ashless antioxidant, and an ashless dispersant where the lubricating compositions are substantially free of zinc and methods of lubricating an engine with such lubricating compositions. The instant lubricating compositions are useful as alternative lubricating compositions the reduce and/or eliminate zinc to achieve a desired performance goal of the lubricating composition.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to guidewire devices having shapeable tips and effective torquability. A guidewire device includes a core having a proximal section and a tapered distal section. A tube structure is coupled to the core such that the tapered distal section extends into the tube structure. The tube structure includes a plurality of bypass cuts formed tangentially within the tube structure to increase the flexibility of the tube structure and to reduce the tendency of resilient forces from the tube structure to disrupt a shaped distal tip of the guidewire device.

Abstract: A hybrid receiver for a concentrator photovoltaic-thermal power system combines a concentrator photovoltaic (CPV) module and a thermal module that converts concentrated sunlight into electrical energy and thermal heat. Heat transfer fluid flowing through a cooling block removes waste heat generated by photovoltaic cells in the CPV module. The heat transfer fluid then flows through a helical tube illuminated by sunlight that misses the CPV module. Only one fluid system is used to both remove the photovoltaic-cell waste heat and capture high-temperature thermal energy from sunlight. Fluid leaving the hybrid receiver can have a temperature greater than 200° C., and therefore may be used as a source of process heat for a variety of commercial and industrial applications. The hybrid receiver can maintain the photovoltaic cells at temperatures below 110° C. while achieving overall energy conversion efficiencies exceeding 80%.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to guidewire devices with an outer tube and a core. The distal section of the core extends into and is surrounded by the outer tube. One or more centering mechanisms are also disposed within the outer tube and are arranged to fill a portion of the annular space between the core and the inner surface of the tube. The one or more centering mechanisms thereby assist in keeping the distal section of the core axially aligned within the tube, which enables effective control of the device and minimizes undesirable whip movements of the guidewire.

Abstract: A golf club head with plate-like, heel and toe side internal stiffeners is disclosed herein. Each stiffener has a planar portion extending approximately parallel with a portion of the striking face, and is entirely disposed within an interior cavity of the golf club head. The heel side stiffener is connected to top, sole, and heel walls of the club head, with a toe-side edge unconnected to any other portion of the head, and the toe side stiffener is connected to the top, sole, and toe walls of the club head, with a heel-side edge unconnected to any other portion of the head. The toe and heel side edges may have large concavities that distribute mass away from the geometric face center and toward the heel and toe sides of the golf club head.

Abstract: A method for performing authentication of a client device using a hash chain includes: receiving a first data request from a client device, the first data request including at least a user identifier and a first hash value; transmitting a first data response message to the client device; receiving a second data request from the client device, the second data request including at least the user identifier and a second hash value; generating a validating hash value by applying a hashing algorithm to the second hash value; validating the first hash value as being equal to the generated validating hash value; and transmitting a second data response message to the client device upon successful validation of the first hash value, wherein the second data response message includes one or more data values associated with the user identifier.

Abstract: Described herein are database systems including one or more remote analytical instruments operably connected to one or more servers. The instruments can transmit rich data to the servers, and the one or more servers can compile a database of the rich data. One or more processors associated with the servers can be configured to execute a data analytics program on the database to identify a stochastic phenomenon or to process the data and present in real-time at a location of the one or more instruments comparison information about the instruments.

Abstract: A system for communicating between blockchains on heterogeneous blockchain networks. The system can include a sending blockchain configured to transmit a first message via a sending blockchain protocol, wherein the sending blockchain forms a part of a sending blockchain network. The system can include a sending adapter node configured to receive the first message from the sending blockchain and translate the first message from the sending blockchain protocol to an adapter protocol. The system can include a receiving adapter node configured to receive the first message from the sending adapter node and translate the first message from the adapter protocol to a receiving blockchain protocol. The system can include a receiving blockchain configured to receive the first message from the receiving adapter node, and validate the first message, wherein the receiving blockchain forms a part of a receiving blockchain network.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to guidewire devices having shapeable tips and effective torquability. A guidewire device includes a core having a proximal section and a tapered distal section. A tube structure is coupled to the core such that the tapered distal section extends into the tube structure. The tube structure includes a plurality of bypass cuts formed tangentially within the tube structure to increase the flexibility of the tube structure and to reduce the tendency of resilient forces from the tube structure to disrupt a shaped distal tip of the guidewire device.

Abstract: Rifle scopes with a locking feature including a body having an internal movable optical adjustor adapted to shift an image generated by the riflescope, a knob connected to the body for rotation about a knob axis and operably connected to the optical adjustor to position the optical adjustor based on a rotational position of the knob, an indicator skirt rotatably engaged to the body and threadedly engaged to the knob, the indicator skirt being operable to move axially with respect to the knob such that the axial position of the indicator skirt is based on the rotational position of the knob, and the knob including a knob stop surface and the indicator skirt including a skirt stop surface, wherein the knob stop surface and the skirt stop surface are configured to positively contact each other to establish a limit of rotational travel of the knob.

Abstract: Devices, methods and systems are provided for occluding an opening within the tissue of a body, such as a left atrial appendage. In one embodiment, a medical device includes an occluder portion and an anchor portion. The occluder portion includes a hub that defines an axis, the occluder portion extending between a proximal end coupled to the hub and a distal end defining an occluder eyelet adjacent thereto. The anchor portion extends between a first end and a second end, the first end coupled to an anchor hub and the second end defining an anchor eyelet adjacent thereto and hingeably coupled to the occluder eyelet. With this arrangement, the anchor hub is moveable along the axis to move the anchor portion between a retracted position and a deployed position upon the occluder portion being in an expanded position.

Abstract: A method for moderation in a permissioned blockchain using a hash-oriented scheme includes: storing a blockchain including a most recent block; receiving transaction data values; receiving a first reference value and a second reference value; generating a first hash value by hashing the first reference value; generating a block proof including the first hash value, a second hash value, a third reference value, and a block value; verifying a block header of the most recent block using the block proof; receiving a new block value; generating a new block header including the first reference value, the second reference value, a fourth reference value, and the new block value; generating a new block for the blockchain including the new block header and the transaction data values; and transmitting the new block to one or more additional nodes associated with the blockchain.

Abstract: A paintbrush guard a hollow body sized to fit over a felt of a paintbrush, a pair of opposing side shields and end shields extending from the body, the side shields having a plurality of interlocking tabs which can be used to lock the shields in an open bell shaped position or a closed position for cutting in a painted surface. The paintbrush guard may also be equipped with a downward facing hook extending from an end shield to hold the guard and paintbrush on the side of a paint container. Further the paintbrush guard maybe equipped with a comb on the side of the guard for use in cleaning a paintbrush.

Abstract: A method of one aspect may include receiving a rotate instruction. The rotate instruction may indicate a source operand and a rotate amount. A result may be stored in a destination operand indicated by the rotate instruction. The result may have the source operand rotated by the rotate amount. Execution of the rotate instruction may complete without reading a carry flag.

Abstract: Rifle scopes with a locking feature including a body having an internal movable optical adjustor adapted to shift an image generated by the riflescope, a knob connected to the body for rotation about a knob axis and operably connected to the optical adjustor to position the optical adjustor based on a rotational position of the knob, an indicator skirt rotatably engaged to the body and threadedly engaged to the knob, the indicator skirt being operable to move axially with respect to the knob such that the axial position of the indicator skirt is based on the rotational position of the knob, and the knob including a knob stop surface and the indicator skirt including a skirt stop surface, wherein the knob stop surface and the skirt stop surface are configured to positively contact each other to establish a limit of rotational travel of the knob.

Abstract: Integrated power modules according to the present technology may include a printed circuit board characterized by a first surface and a second surface. The integrated power modules may include one or more surface-mounted components coupled with the first surface of the printed circuit board. The integrated power modules may include a heat-transfer substrate. The integrated power modules may include one or more gallium nitride transistors coupled between and soldered to each of the second surface of the printed circuit board and the heat-transfer substrate. The integrated power modules may include one or more spacers coupled between and soldered to each of the printed circuit board and the heat-transfer substrate.

Abstract: The invention provides compositions and methods useful for mobilizing populations of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells within a donor, as well as for determining whether samples of mobilized cells are suitable for release for ex vivo expansion and/or therapeutic use. In accordance with the compositions and methods described herein, mobilized hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells can be withdrawn from a donor and administered to a patient for the treatment of various stem cell disorders, including hematological, among others.

Abstract: A method for maintaining a consistent blockchain ledger for storing commitments across multiple separate blockchains includes: storing a blockchain comprised of a plurality of blocks, each block including at least a block header and one or more blockchain data values; receiving a base commitment from a first node, where the first node is included in a first blockchain network; generating a first new block including at least a first block header and the received base commitment; storing the first new block in the blockchain; receiving a state commitment from an additional node included in each of at least two additional blockchain networks; generating an additional new block including at least an additional block header and each received state commitment; and storing the additional new block in the blockchain.

Abstract: A method for verification of a data value via a Merkle root includes: storing, in a memory of a processing server, a Merkle root; receiving at least a data value, a nonce, and a plurality of hash path values; generating a combined value by combining the data value and the nonce; generating a first hash value via application of a hashing algorithm to the combined value; generating a subsequent hash value via application of the hashing algorithm to a combination of the first hash value and a first of the plurality of hash path values; repeating generation of the subsequent hash value using a combination of the next hash path value of the plurality of hash path values and the most recent subsequent hash value; and verifying the data value based on a comparison of the Merkle root and the last generated subsequent hash value.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the fields of medicine, cell biology, molecular biology and genetics. In particular, the present invention provides methods to isolate and purify microvesicles from cell culture supernatants and biological fluids. The present invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions of microvesicles to promote or enhance wound healing, stimulate tis -sue regeneration, remodel scarred tissue, modulate immune reactions, alter neoplastic cell growth and/or mobility, or alter normal cell growth and/or mobility. The present invention also provides compositions of microvesicles to be used as diagnostic reagents, and methods to prepare the compositions of microvesicles.