Abstract: An aspect of the disclosure relates to an integrated circuit. The integrated circuit includes a first electrically conductive structure, a thin film crystal layer located on the first electrically conductive structure, and a second electrically conductive structure including metal e.g. copper. The second electrically conductive structure is located on the thin film crystal layer. The first electrically conductive structure is electrically connected to the second electrically conductive structure through the thin film crystal layer. The thin film crystal layer may be provided as a copper diffusion barrier.

Abstract: A geopolymer composite material includes a geopolymer resin, a fibrous reinforcement material embedded in the geopolymer resin for reinforcing the geopolymer resin, and a protective coating material covering the fibrous reinforcement material embedded in the geopolymer resin to provide a coated fibrous reinforcement material. Further, the geopolymer resin and the coated fibrous reinforcement material are combined together to form a prepreg containing the geopolymer resin being pre-impregnated into the coated fibrous reinforcement material and being curable into a solid matrix.

Abstract: Concepts and technologies described herein provide for a lockable cable-actuated mechanism for latching and releasing aircraft and other stowage bins. According to various aspects, a cable-actuated coupling mechanism includes a handle assembly and a latch assembly. The handle assembly includes an exterior handle connected to a pivoting arm. The latch assembly includes a release mechanism configured to release the latch upon rotation of the release mechanism. A cable connects the pivoting arm of the handle assembly to the release mechanism such that rotation of the exterior handle applies tension to the cable, pulling the release mechanism of the latch assembly. According to other aspects, a locking mechanism may selectively disengage the pivoting arm from the exterior handle to prevent rotation of the pivoting arm when the exterior handle is rotated.

Abstract: In a communication network having computer systems communicatively coupled to each other with communication equipment, where the computer systems are executing network applications that send and receive either encrypted or unencrypted data packets over the communication network, a method for quantifying performance of the communication network. In one embodiment, between an application program interface and a protocol stack in a computer system, where the application program interface resides in an application layer of the computer system and the protocol stack resides in a kernel layer of the computer system, the present invention executes a process for identifying a network application, where the network application originates a request data packet and a response data packet. Second, in this embodiment the present invention records time-stamps when the request data packet and the response data packet are between the application program interface and the protocol stack in the computer system.