Abstract: A system includes a driver monitor system configured to receive information about driver operation, a relationship table comprising information about an expected relationship between driver operation and a preload force, and a driver controller configured to control a driver in response to the information about driver operation and according to the relationship table. A method of managing a preload force includes providing a first component, providing a second component for compression against the first component, operating a driver to move the first component into contact with the second component, monitoring an operation of the driver, and determining an expected preload force in response to the operation of the driver.

Abstract: Technologies for a field effect transistor (FET) with a ferroelectric gate dielectric are disclosed. In an illustrative embodiment, a perovskite stack is grown on a buffer layer as part of manufacturing a transistor. The perovskite stack includes one or more doped semiconductor layers alternating with other lattice-matched layers. Growing the doped semiconductor layers on lattice-matched layers can improve the quality of the doped semiconductor layers. The lattice-matched layers can be etched away, leaving the doped semiconductor layers as fins for a ribbon FET. A ferroelectric layer can be conformally grown on the fins, creating a high-quality ferroelectric layer above and below the fins. A gate can then be grown on the ferroelectric layer.

Abstract: A distributed ledger-based system, method and apparatus for managing tasks. An authorization record proposal is validated by a localized blockchain authorization network against a validated schema published by, in some cases, a core blockchain network. Once validated, it is published on a localized channel for use by other nodes to validate actions of the task as the task is being performed. Data relating to completed tasks may be shared in accordance with sharing information in the validated authorization record and the data may be deleted upon the occurrence of a predetermined condition.

Abstract: Techniques for a privacy-based user data sharing protocol disclose a system that receives a request to consent to share user data with a subscriber device. The system identifies, based on the request, a smart contract associated with the subscriber device. The smart contract comprises one or more conditions for collecting and managing the user data. The system generates a token based on the smart contract, in which the token indicates consent by a user to share the user data with the subscriber device according to the one or more conditions. The system records the generated token to a blockchain.

Abstract: A semiconductor substrate includes a first semiconductor layer, a first dielectric layer coupled to the first semiconductor layer, and a second semiconductor layer coupled to the first dielectric layer. The second semiconductor layer includes a base portion substantially aligned with the first dielectric layer and a cantilever portion protruding from an end of the first dielectric layer. The cantilever portion includes a tapered surface tapering from a bottom surface of the second semiconductor layer toward a top surface of the second semiconductor layer.

Abstract: At a rule processing unit of an evolving, self-organized machine learning-based resource management service, a rule of a first rule set is applied to a value of a first collected metric, resulting in the initiation of a first corrective action. A set of metadata indicating the metric value and the corrective action is transmitted to a repository, and is used as part of an input data set for a machine learning model trained to generate rule modification recommendations. In response to determining that the corrective actions did not meet a success criterion, an escalation message is transmitted to another rule processing unit.

Abstract: A method for forming a multi-layered, stacked grid structure includes aligning a first grid structure with a second grid structure, wherein both the first grid structure and the second grid structure each include a substrate in which a plurality of trenches are formed and a cured carrier fluid disposed within the plurality of trenches, and wherein a plurality of nano-particles are suspended within the cured carrier fluid. The method also includes, upon aligning the first grid structure and the second grid structure so that their respective plurality of trenches are aligned in the same orientation, joining the first grid structure and the second grid structure together to form the multi-layered, stacked grid structure.

Abstract: A composite material includes a polymer matrix and a quantity of electrically conductive microparticles dispersed within the polymer matrix in an amount and distribution structured so that the composite material exhibits an increase in thermal emissivity of at least about 8% with increasing temperature of the composite material, for temperatures over a range of 23° C.-60° C. inclusive. The composite material may be used as (or as part of) a passive variable radiator for cooling an object in thermal communication with the composite material.

Abstract: At least one aspect of the present disclosure is directed to systems and methods of selecting and acknowledging content to broadcast. A system can receive, at a first time, a request for content to broadcast identifying a content publisher. The system can obtain cluster data of the content publisher corresponding to a first time, the cluster data identifying content selection metrics based on predicted characteristics of the cluster corresponding to the first time. The system can determine a subset of content items having cluster filtering criteria that satisfy the content selection metrics. The system can rank the subset of content items based on the content selection metrics to create an ordered list of content items. The system can transmit data identifying the order of the content items to the content publisher. The content publisher can insert the content into a broadcast in the order identified by the system.

Abstract: The application pertains to pharmaceutical combinations of orally administered paclitaxel and a P-gp inhibitor. The pharmaceutical combinations are suitable for the treatment of cancer in a subject and for reducing or preventing toxicity, hypersensitivity-type infusion reactions, and other negative outcomes resulting from or associated with intravenously administered paclitaxel (e.g., Taxol® or paclitaxel formulated with Cremophor®) therapy in a subject suffering from cancer.

Abstract: An oxygen storage material (OSM) includes a zinc manganese iron oxide (ZMF) and an alkali metal base on the ZMF surface. The ZMF has a spinel structure. The alkali metal containing ZMF can be formed to have a weight percent of alkali metal up to about two percent. The alkali metal carbonate is retained on the ZMF surface upon heating to a temperature greater than 1,000° C. and stabilizes the ZMF to the cycling of an oxygen rich and oxygen lean atmosphere. The OSM additionally catalyzes the oxidation of hydrocarbons and CO and catalyzes the reduction of NOx for use in catalytic converters.

Abstract: Methods of making an iron based catalyst using microwave hydrothermal synthesis are provided. The methods include dissolving iron(III) nitrate, Fe(NO3)3, in an organic solvent to form a solution. Once dissolved, the methods include a step of neutralizing the solution with an alkaline mineralizing agent to obtain a precipitate. The solution with the precipitate is then subjected to microwave radiation to cause a temperature gradient and a hydrothermal crystallization process to form a synthesized product. The synthesized product is subsequently separated from the mineralizing agent. The method includes washing and drying the synthesized product to obtain particles of sodium iron oxide (NaFeO2) catalyst that can be used as a composition for a passive NOx adsorber. A two-stage NOx abatement device for removal of NOx from an exhaust gas stream during a cold start operation of an internal combustion engine is also provided.

Abstract: An oxygen storage material (OSM) includes a zinc manganese iron oxide (ZMF) and an alkali metal base on the ZMF surface. The ZMF has a spinel structure. The alkali metal containing ZMF can be formed to have a weight percent of alkali metal up to about two percent. The alkali metal carbonate is retained on the ZMF surface upon heating to a temperature greater than 1,000° C. and stabilizes the ZMF to the cycling of an oxygen rich and oxygen lean atmosphere. The OSM additionally catalyzes the oxidation of hydrocarbons and CO and catalyzes the reduction of NOx for use in catalytic converters.

Abstract: A method and system that enables a data owner to write data in an encrypted manner to an immutable ledger, and yet still be able to grant read access to specific data elements, as they were written at particular moments in time, to a requesting party. Examples therefore provide a process for encryption of data onto an immutable ledger in a time indexed manner, together with a process by which a third party can request access to the data stored in the immutable ledger from the data owner, and the data owner can provide them with certain decryption keys that allow the third party to read the data directly from the immutable ledger, again based on time-indexed queries. The data the third party can read is restricted to specific elements only of the data written, and further restricted to within a time range or to a specific point in time.

Abstract: This invention relates to a parachute sea anchor system deployable from a payload tube. There is provided a parachute sea anchor system suitable for launch from a vessel comprising at least one payload tube, said payload tube, comprising a payload canister, which comprises a parachute sea anchor, wherein said parachute sea anchor comprises a buoy tethered thereto, wherein said payload canister is attached to said vessel.

Abstract: A modular screen system includes a tubular member having an outer surface defining an outer diameter and an inner surface defining an inner diameter. The outer surface includes an opening and a recess extending about the opening. A flow control device is positioned at the opening in the recess, and a screen member is detachably mounted to the tubular in the recess. The screen member includes a filtering surface that does not project proudly of the outer surface.

Abstract: At least one aspect of the present disclosure is directed to systems and methods of selecting and acknowledging content to broadcast. A system can receive, at a first time, a request for content to broadcast identifying a content publisher. The system can obtain cluster data of the content publisher corresponding to a first time, the cluster data identifying content selection metrics based on predicted characteristics of the cluster corresponding to the first time. The system can determine a subset of content items having cluster filtering criteria that satisfy the content selection metrics. The system can rank the subset of content items based on the content selection metrics to create an ordered list of content items. The system can transmit data identifying the order of the content items to the content publisher. The content publisher can insert the content into a broadcast in the order identified by the system.

Abstract: An improved catalyst system is provided for the direct decomposition removal of NOx from an exhaust gas stream at temperatures between about 350° C. and about 600° C. that employs an (amorphous CuOx)/Co3O4 catalyst. The catalyst has an amorphous CuOx deposit on the surfaces of particles of Co3O4 spinel oxide. The catalyst is configured to reduce NOx to N2 without the presence of a reductant. The (amorphous CuOx)/Co3O4 catalyst is formed by the precipitation of the deposit from solution onto a suspension of Co3O4 spinel oxide particles. The catalyst system can be employed in a catalytic converter for the direct decomposition removal of NOx from an exhaust gas stream flowing at a temperature of less than or equal to about 500° C.

Abstract: A modular screen system includes a tubular member having an outer surface defining an outer diameter and an inner surface defining an inner diameter. The outer surface includes an opening and a recess extending about the opening. A flow control device is positioned at the opening in the recess, and a screen member is detachably mounted to the tubular in the recess. The screen member includes a filtering surface that does not project proudly of the outer surface.

Abstract: NOx abatement compositions include cobalt oxide (Co3O4) doped with cerium, and have an overall formula Co3-xCe-O4, with cerium occupying tetrahedral and/or octahedral sites in the spinel structure. The NOx abatement compositions possess NOx storage and NOx direct decomposition activity. Dual stage NOx abatement devices include an upstream portion having the NOx abatement composition to adsorb and store NOx at low temperature, and then release the NOx at higher temperature to a downstream catalytic conversion portion.