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: Transgenic silkworms stably expressing synthetic spider silk genes or composite silkworm/spider silk genes are disclosed. The exogenous spider silk genes are stably intergrated into a defined site of the fibroin heavy chain intron or a fibroin light chain intron of silkworms. Synthetic spider silk proteins and composite spider silk-silkworm genes and proteins are provided. The expression of exogenous spider silk genes is driven by the endogenous fibroin heavy chain promoter, improving the genetic stability of transgenic silkworms. The composite silkworm/spider silk fibers exhibit exceptional mechanical performance, compared to normal silkworm silk fibers and other transgenic silkworm fibers.

Abstract: A method for managing garbage collection of memory locations in an DSD having a plurality of dies each having a plurality of memory blocks includes: selecting a physical region of memory to be garbage collected, the selected physical region being a subset of a block management region; and garbage collecting the selected physical region. The garbage collecting includes: determining one or more journals corresponding to the selected physical region, the journal comprising transaction entries indicating what logical data are written to memory locations in the selected physical region; determining whether the memory locations within the physical region contain valid data based on a comparison of information in the journal and a mapping table; and if valid data exists, copying valid data into memory locations in memory regions other than the selected physical region of memory. The selected physical region of memory is erased when the block management region is erased.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for laser-welding sheet metal plates that have an aluminum-silicon containing pre-coat layer. The pre-coated sheet metal plates are arranged one relative to another such that an edge of one of the plates is adjacent to and in contact with an edge of the other one of the plates, and a laser-welded joint is formed along the adjacent edges of the pre-coated plates. In particular the joint is formed absent removing the aluminum-silicon containing layer from along the adjacent edges, such that aluminum from the aluminum-silicon containing layer enters into the melt pool that is formed. Additionally, an alloying material is introduced into the melt pool during forming the laser-welded joint and forms a compound with at least some of the aluminum in the melt pool.

Abstract: A solid state drive controller includes a processor configured to couple to a plurality of non-volatile memory devices. The plurality of non-volatile memory devices are configured to store a plurality of system journals and a plurality of physical pages. The solid state drive controller also includes a volatile memory configured to store a logical-to-physical address translation map configured to enable the solid state drive controller to determine a physical location of at least one logical page. The processor is configured to maintain the plurality of system journals in the plurality of non-volatile memory devices, wherein each system journal defines physical-to-logical page correspondences for a predetermined range of the plurality of physical pages, and each system journal comprises an identification number that includes a portion of an address of a first physical page of the predetermined range of the plurality of physical pages.

Abstract: A process is described for laser welding a sheet metal workpiece having an aluminum-silicon containing pre-coat layer disposed 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 closed tube-shaped product is obtained by forming a laser-weld joint between the first and second side edges. In particular the laser-weld joint is formed absent removing the aluminum-silicon containing layer from along the adjacent edges, such that aluminum from the aluminum-silicon containing layer enters into the melt pool that is formed. An alloying material is introduced into the melt pool during laser welding and forms a compound with at least some of the aluminum in the melt pool.

Abstract: An apparatus for mapping user data into a selective underlying exposure address (SUE) space includes a memory that stores machine instructions and a processor that executes the instructions to combine first user data from a plurality of logically-addressed blocks to create a SUE page. The SUE page corresponds to a respective physical page of a respective physical block on each of a plurality of dies for which corresponding physical blocks of memory cells are jointly managed as a unit in a storage device. The processor further executes the instructions to store mapping information associating the first user data with the SUE page in a logical address space in the storage device.

Abstract: A storage system includes multiple storage devices that have first partitions with first type interfaces and second partitions with selective underlying exposure (SUE) interfaces. A selected underlying aspect of the second partition is exposed in the storage system. The storage system also includes a multimode storage management system that directs conveyance of information to the storage devices. The multimode storage management system includes a controller that directs activities of the second partitions via the SUE interfaces and the selected underlying aspect of the second partition.

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: 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 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 data storage device comprises a non-volatile memory comprising a plurality of blocks, each configured to store a plurality of physical pages at predetermined physical locations. A controller programs and reads data stored in a plurality of logical pages. A volatile memory comprises a logical-to-physical address translation map configured to enabling determination of the physical location, within one or more physical pages, of the data stored in each logical page. A plurality of journals may be stored, each comprising a plurality of entries associating one or more physical pages to each logical page. At startup, the controller may read at least some of the plurality of journals in an order and rebuild the map; indicate a readiness to service data access commands after the map is rebuilt; rebuild a table from the map and, based thereon, select block(s) for garbage collection after having indicated the readiness to process the commands.

Abstract: A method of storing data items may comprise receiving an uncompressed data item for storage from a client process of a plurality of client processes over a computer network; storing the uncompressed data item; acknowledging storage of the data item to the client process and receiving at least one additional uncompressed data item for storage from the client process or from another one of the plurality of client processes. The stored uncompressed data item may then be compressed and stored. Upon receiving a request for access to the data item from one of the plurality of client processes over the computer network, the compressed data item is decompressed before providing the decompressed data item to the requesting client process over the computer network.

Abstract: The invention relates generally to structural steel components for automotive vehicles, and methods for manufacturing the structural components. The method includes heating a workpiece to at least 900° C. to form austenite in the steel material, hot forming the workpiece, and quenching the formed workpiece to transform the austenite to martensite. The method next includes tempering at least one portion of the quenched workpiece, wherein the tempering step includes simultaneously applying thermal energy and a magnetic field to the workpiece. During the tempering step, the martensite of the steel material transforms to a mixture of ferrite and cementite precipitates. The portions of the steel material subject to the thermomagnetic tempering are also typically free of pearlite and spheroid particles. The remainder of the workpiece is protected during the tempering step to maintain a hard zone including the martensite.

Abstract: A method of writing data to a range of logical blocks in a storage medium includes: receiving a command including a starting logical block address, a value indicating a range of logical block addresses to be written, and a logical block of data; storing the logical block in a first temporary storage; generating a logical page by duplicating the logical block a plurality of times corresponding to a number of logical blocks in a logical page and transporting the generated logical page to a second temporary storage and storing the generated logical page in the second temporary storage; writing the generated logical page from the second temporary storage into the storage medium beginning from the starting logical block address; and performing a read-modify-write operation if the first write operation does not begin on a logical page boundary or the last write operation does not end on a logical page boundary.

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 method of producing synthetic spider silk, including: transforming Escherichia coli with an expression vector; fermenting the transformed E. coli in a culture medium; inducing spider silk protein expression in the cultured E. coli; extracting the spider silk; and purifying the spider silk. Related vectors and genetically modified cells are also disclosed.

Abstract: A data storage device includes: a controller; an engine for performing at least one of encryption and decryption; and a logic circuit. In response to receiving a memory access command, the controller controls the logic circuit to generate an initialization vector based on initialization information in a first portion of the received command, selects a key from a plurality of keys based on key information in a second portion of the command, and controls the engine to perform at least one of encrypting and decrypting plain text data specified by the received command using the initialization vector and the selected key.

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: 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.