Abstract: The invention provides a component formed of an aluminum alloy for use in a vehicle, for example an automotive vehicle component requiring high strength, light-weight, and a complex three-dimensional shape, and a method of manufacturing the component. The method begins by providing a blank formed of an aluminum alloy which is already solution heat treated and tempered, and thus has a temper designation of about T4. The method further includes heating the blank to a temperature of 150° C. to 350° C., preferably 190° C. to 225° C. The method next includes quickly transferring the blank to a hot or warm forming apparatus, and stamping the blank to form the complex three-dimensional shape. Immediately after the forming step, the component has a temper designation of about T6, but preferably not greater than T6, and thus is ready for use in the vehicle without any post heat treatment or machining.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of manufacturing a component formed of an aluminum alloy for use in an automotive vehicle application, for example those requiring high strength, light-weight, and a complex three-dimensional shape. The method begins by providing a blank formed of an aluminum alloy which is already solution heat treated and tempered, and thus has a temper designation of about T4. The method further includes heating the blank to a temperature of 150° C. to 350° C., preferably 190° C. to 225° C. The method next includes quickly transferring the blank to a hot or warm forming apparatus, and stamping the blank to form the complex three-dimensional shape. Immediately after the forming step, the component has a temper designation of about T6, but preferably not greater than T6, and thus is ready for use in the automotive vehicle application without any post heat treatment or machining.

Abstract: New and improved methods and systems for modeling the performance of selected company metrics. Multiple, non-traditional sets of objective data along with mathematical analytical techniques are used to provide transparency and visibility into company performance relating to the particular metrics. Company inflection points and changes in strategy may be identified. The performance of a company and/or the performance of a selected industry or industry sector may be analyzed.

Abstract: A process is described for laser welding a sheet metal workpiece having an anti-corrosion pre-coat material on at least one major surface thereof. The sheet metal workpiece is arranged such that first and second side edges are in contact with one another and the coated major surface faces outwardly. A first laser beam having a first beam spot-size is used to form a laser weld joint between the first and second side edges. A second laser beam having a second beam spot-size larger than the first beam spot-size is then scanned along the laser weld joint and is tilted in a tilt direction parallel to the scanning direction to produce an elongated beam spot. During the scanning, a flow of a powdered anti-corrosion surface layer material is directed toward a portion of the laser weld joint that is being irradiated by the second laser beam. The second laser beam melts the material, which forms a layer adhering to the laser weld joint.

Abstract: New and improved methods and systems for modeling the performance of selected company metrics. Multiple, non-traditional sets of objective data along with mathematical analytical techniques are used to provide transparency and visibility into company performance relating to the particular metrics. Company inflection points and changes in strategy may be identified. The performance of a company and/or the performance of a selected industry or industry sector may be analyzed.

Abstract: A curable film-forming composition is provided, comprising: (a) a polymeric binder comprising reactive functional groups; (b) a curing agent comprising functional groups that are reactive with the reactive functional groups of (a); and (c) a polysiloxane resin comprising aromatic functional groups and terminal active hydrogen groups. In certain examples of the present invention, the polymeric binder (a) comprises an acrylic polyol prepared from a monomer mixture comprising a hydroxyl functional monomer, and the curable film-forming composition further comprises a rheology modifier comprising: (1) a non-aqueous dispersion of an internally crosslinked organic polymer; (2) a silica dispersion; and/or (3) a reaction product of an amine and an isocyanate. Also provided are coated substrates that include the curable film-forming compositions described above and methods for forming a composite coating on a substrate.

Abstract: A step sequencer with a four by sixteen grid of buttons is disclosed. The sequencer is used to generate patterns of sounds on different channels. The sequencer can be used as a hardware controller to control music production software. The grid of the sequencer emulates the virtual grid generated in a graphical user interface by the music production software. The grid of the hardware controller is used to control the corresponding grid on the graphical user interface.

Abstract: A process is described for laser welding a sheet metal workpiece having an anti-corrosion pre-coat on at least one major surface thereof and having first and second opposite side edges. The sheet metal workpiece is arranged such that the first and second side edges are in contact with one another and such that the at least one major surface faces outwardly. A laser beam having a first beam spot-size, is used to form a laser weld joint between the first and second side edges. Subsequently, a localized anti-corrosion surface layer is formed on the laser weld joint. To this end, a laser beam having a second beam spot-size larger than the first beam spot-size is scanned along the laser weld joint. During the scanning, a flow of a powdered anti-corrosion surface layer material is directed toward a portion of the laser weld joint that is being irradiated by the laser beam. The laser beam melts the material, which subsequently solidifies to form a layer adhering to the laser weld joint.

Abstract: A bumper system including a bumper beam being cast from metal having a front panel and a back panel, extending between a first bumper beam end and a second bumper beam end. A plurality of reinforcing ribs integrally cast with the bumper beam extends between the front panel and the back panel defining a non-uniform cross-sectional profile along a portion of the bumper beam. The front panel includes a front center portion disposed between a pair of front side portions. The back panel includes a back center portion disposed between a pair of back side portions. The front center portion has a front center portion thickness greater than a back center portion thickness. Each of the front side portions has a front side portion thickness being less than a back side portion thickness of adjacent one of the back side portions. Method of manufacturing the bumper system is provided.

Abstract: A bumper system including a bumper beam being cast from metal having a front panel and a back panel, extending between a first bumper beam end and a second bumper beam end. A plurality of reinforcing ribs integrally cast with the bumper beam extends between the front panel and the back panel defining a non-uniform cross-sectional profile along a portion of the bumper beam. The front panel includes a front center portion disposed between a pair of front side portions. The back panel includes a back center portion disposed between a pair of back side portions. The front center portion has a front center portion thickness greater than a back center portion thickness. Each of the front side portions has a front side portion thickness being less than a back side portion thickness of adjacent one of the back side portions. Method of manufacturing the bumper system is provided.

Abstract: A curable film-forming composition is provided, comprising: (a) an acrylic polyol prepared from a monomer mixture comprising a hydroxyl functional monomer, wherein the hydroxyl functional monomer comprises a hydroxyalkyl group with an alkyl chain of at least four carbon atoms; (b) a rheology modifier comprising: (1) a non-aqueous dispersion of an internally crosslinked organic polymer; and (2) a reaction product of an amine and an isocyanate; and (c) a curing agent comprising functional groups that are reactive with hydroxyl functional groups. Also provided are a multi-component composite coating that includes the curable film-forming composition described above and methods for forming a composite coating on a substrate.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to drug delivery compositions that include recombinant spider silk and a medicinal agent and methods for preparing such materials and delivery medicinal agents. The disclosure also relates to compositions and methods of treating periodontal disease. A drug delivery composition can include a spider silk protein and a medicinal agent. The drug delivery composition can be in the form of a fiber, a solution, a gel, a hydrogel, a solid chip, a film, an adhesive, or a coating.

Abstract: A vehicle bumper assembly includes a bumper beam and a crash box. At least one of the bumper beam or the crash box is cast from metal, such as aluminum or magnesium, to reduce weight, reduce manufacturing process steps, and improve performance characteristics of the bumper assembly. In an embodiment, both of the bumper beam and the crash box are cast from metal to establish an integral connection therebetween. One of the bumper beam or the crash box can be open along a top and bottom portion of the bumper assembly and include at least one reinforcing rib cast integral therewith. In an embodiment, both of the bumper beam and the crash box can be open along a top and bottom portion of the bumper assembly and each include at least one reinforcing rib cast integral therewith.

Abstract: A method of performing an atomic write command in a data storage device comprising a volatile memory and a plurality of non-volatile memory devices configured to store a plurality of physical pages. The method may comprise storing data in a plurality of logical pages (L-Pages), each associated with a logical address. A logical-to-physical address translation map may be maintained in the volatile memory, and may be configured to enable determination of a physical location, within one or more of the physical pages, of the data referenced by each logical address. The data specified by a received atomic write command may be stored one or more L-Pages. Updates to the entry or entries in the translation map associated with the L-Page(s) storing the data specified by the atomic write command may be deferred until all L-Pages storing data specified by the atomic write command have been written in a power-safe manner.

Abstract: A method, system and device are disclosed for radar artifact reduction. Weather radar data events are received from a weather radar source. The weather radar data is filtered to produce filtered weather data, including creating temporal sequences associated with the weather radar data, accessing null temporal sequence data and comparing the radar data to null temporal sequence data. Events are removed from the radar data that correspond to a null event in the null temporal sequence data. Events are removed from the radar data that correspond to anomalous values and/or non-meteorological spatial data patterns.

Abstract: A system for detection of misidentified hydrometeors includes a raw radar null event identifier and a null event time sequence creator. The raw radar null event identifier is configured to receive weather radar data and null event information and to identify a null event in the weather radar data. The null event time sequence creator is configured to receive the null event from the raw radar null event identifier and to form a null event time sequence based on the null event.

Abstract: Medical devices made with coatings made from recombinant spider silk proteins are disclosed. Methods to make the devices are also disclosed. Methods for adhering objects to one another using recombinant spider silk proteins are also disclosed.

Abstract: Encoded information, including first data and second data that was derived using the first data, is received. The second data can be used to determine the accuracy of the first data. The first data is stored in a first memory location that has a first address, and the second data is stored in a second memory location that has a second address. First information that is useful for determining the first address is stored, and second information that is useful for determining the second address is stored. Accessing the first data using the first information also causes the second data to be accessed using the second information.