Abstract: Resources associated with a network are administered using a control plane that issues commands to those resources. A command sent to cause a resource to perform a function may specify a target state for the resource. The command may be modified, or an alternate command may be generated, based on the characteristics of the resource, which may enable a single command to be used to cause multiple resources to perform a function. Based on the characteristics of the resource or of the function, a different target state, and in some cases intermediate states that may occur before the target state, may be determined. Telemetry data for a resource may be used to determine the current state of the resource, which is compared to the valid intermediate and target states. Output indicating the states of the resources as valid or erroneous is generated.

Abstract: A glow plug includes a housing formed of a metal or metal alloy and having a first end having a first opening, and an opposing second end having a second opening, a heating element extending through the first opening and having a working end that is exposed outside of the first end of the housing and an opposing terminal end that is located inside of the housing, a brazed sealant assembly connected to the second end of the housing, first and second terminal wires that extend through the brazed sealant assembly and are electrically connected to the terminal end of the heating element, and a dielectric disk located inside of the housing and surrounding a portion of the terminal end of the heating element.

Abstract: A fuel processing unit includes a fuel line configured to transfer a fuel, a fuel processor including a processing material container configured to contain a processing material configured to remove at least one impurity from the fuel at an elevated temperature above 50° C. to produce a processed fuel, and a thermal treatment device configured to thermally treat the fuel by thermally treating at least one of the fuel line or the processing material container to the elevated temperature.

Abstract: Clusters of resources at network edges are administered using a control plane that issues commands to those resources. A command sent to cause a resource to perform a function specifies a target state for the resource. The command may be modified, or an alternate command may be generated, based on the characteristics of the resource, which may enable a single command to be used to cause multiple types of resources to perform a function. Based on the characteristics of the resource or of the function, a different target state, and in some cases intermediate states that may occur before the target state, may be determined. As the resource performs the function, telemetry data is received. The current state of the resource determined from the telemetry data is compared to the valid intermediate and target states, and output indicating the states of the resource as valid or erroneous is generated.

Abstract: Oleophobic and/or oleophilic coatings to reduce heat loads on a gas turbine engine thermal management system are disclosed herein. An example method to reduce heat load in a gas turbine engine, the method including applying an oleophobic coating to an internal wall of a sump, the sump located in proximity to a heat generating element of the gas turbine engine, and applying an oleophilic coating to the heat generating element of the gas turbine engine.

Abstract: Clusters of resources at network edges are administered using a control plane that issues commands to those resources. A command sent to cause a resource to perform a function specifies a target state for the resource. The command may be modified, or an alternate command may be generated, based on the characteristics of the resource, which may enable a single command to be used to cause multiple types of resources to perform a function. Based on the characteristics of the resource or of the function, a different target state, and in some cases intermediate states that may occur before the target state, may be determined. As the resource performs the function, telemetry data is received. The current state of the resource determined from the telemetry data is compared to the valid intermediate and target states, and output indicating the states of the resource as valid or erroneous is generated.

Abstract: Oleophobic and/or oleophilic coatings to reduce heat loads on a gas turbine engine thermal management system are disclosed herein. An example method to reduce heat load in a gas turbine engine includes applying an oleophobic coating to an internal wall of a sump, the sump located in proximity to a heat generating element of the gas turbine engine, and applying an oleophilic coating to the heat generating element of the gas turbine engine, the heat generating element positioned in a cavity of the sump.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a system and method for deformable image registration of medical image scans. The system and method described herein relate to improving treatment plans for tumors in locations that are susceptible to natural body movements, in particular, to designing radiation treatment as it relates to the respiratory cycle. The exemplary method and system disclosed herein provides a solution to this problem, which reduces the risk of treatment-related side effects and provides a better framework for more aggressive treatment methods where greater accuracy in distribution is required.

Abstract: Methods for forming carbon-based lubricious and/or wear-protective films in situ on the surface of steel alloys are provided. The methods use chromium-containing steel alloys, molybdenum-containing steel alloys, and steel alloys that contain both copper and nickel. When such alloys are subjected to a rubbing motion in the presence of a hydrocarbon fluid, the chromium, molybdenum, copper, and nickel in the steel alloy catalyzes the formation of solid carbon-containing films that reduce the friction, wear, or both of the contacting surfaces.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer readable media for detecting customer presence to initiate the ordering and purchase of goods and services are disclosed. In one example, a system includes a detection server configured to detect the presence of a mobile device in a designated area associated with a merchant location and for initiating a menu selection application in the mobile device for placing an order for at least one product. The system further includes a merchant server configured to receive, from the mobile device, purchase order data associated with the order for the at least one product, a customer identifier associated with the mobile device, and a location identifier associated with the designated area, and for utilizing the customer identifier to send a notification message that indicates that the at least one product is available to the mobile device.

Abstract: A lubricant composition includes a base lubricant and a plurality of lubricant additive molecules functioning as precursor molecules to induce tribopolymerization and forming in situ protective tribofilm with desirable robustness and low shear resistance. Each lubricant additive molecule includes one or more surface-active groups attractable to target surface, and a carbon containing component operable connected to the one or more surface active groups. The carbon containing component comprise a carbon ring structure having a high ring strain that is metastable and activatable with a ring-opening reaction. A less stable carbon ring structure is more readily activated to the intermediate state, preferable to form more active fragments. Increasing the adsorption strength further is beneficial to prolonging the residence time of additive molecules on the target surface, thereby facilitating the dissociation of molecules and subsequent polymerization.

Abstract: Methods for forming carbon-based lubricious and/or wear-protective films in situ on the surface of steel alloys are provided. The methods use chromium-containing steel alloys, molybdenum-containing steel alloys, and steel alloys that contain both copper and nickel. When such alloys are subjected to a rubbing motion in the presence of a hydrocarbon fluid, the chromium, molybdenum, copper, and nickel in the steel alloy catalyzes the formation of solid carbon-containing films that reduce the friction, wear, or both of the contacting surfaces.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to uses of radiation and benzodiazepines optionally in combination with other anticancer agents for treating cancer. In certain embodiments, this disclosure relates to methods of using radiation, benzodiazepines, and check point inhibitors in cancer therapies.

Abstract: A soft card provisioning application is instantiated on a device with wireless communications capabilities. A card number for a soft card desired to be provisioned on the device is obtained from a user of the device. An issuer identification number retrieved from the card number is communicated to a provisioning configuration server over an air interface. A provisioning issuer server network address is obtained from the provisioning configuration server based on the issuer identification number. Card issuer specific challenges are presented to the user, and the user's responses to the challenges are received. The challenge responses are communicated to the provisioning issuer server. Soft card image data and personalization data, where the personalization data includes personalized embossed and pre-printed data, are received from the provisioning issuer server over the air interface. The soft card is provisioned for use on the device based on the data received over the air interface.

Abstract: A method of reducing viability of a microbe is provided. An illustrative method comprises contacting a microbe with an antimicrobial surface comprising a copper-alloy steel comprising an iron matrix and copper nanoprecipitates distributed throughout the iron matrix, wherein the copper-alloy steel comprises: Cu in a range from 0.5 weight % to 5.0 weight %; C in a range from 0.03 weight % to 0.10 weight %; Mn in a range from 0.20 weight % to 5.0 weight %; Ni in a range from 0.0 weight % to 6.0 weight %; Al in a range from 0.0 weight % to 4.0 weight %; Nb in a range from 0.0 weight % to 0.10 weight %; Si in a range from 0.0 weight % to 2.0 weight %; Mo in a range from 0.0 weight % to 2.0 weight %; Ti in a range from 0.0 weight % to 2.0 weight %; V in a range from 0.0 weight % to 2.0 weight %; Cr in a range from 0.0 weight % to 8.0 weight %; and a balance of Fe. The antimicrobial surfaces are also provided.

Abstract: A lubricant composition includes a base lubricant and a plurality of lubricant additive molecules functioning as precursor molecules to induce tribopolymerization and forming in situ protective tribofilm with desirable robustness and low shear resistance. Each lubricant additive molecule includes one or more surface-active groups attractable to target surface, and a carbon containing component operable connected to the one or more surface active groups. The carbon containing component comprise a carbon ring structure having a high ring strain that is metastable and activatable with a ring-opening reaction. A less stable carbon ring structure is more readily activated to the intermediate state, preferable to form more active fragments. Increasing the adsorption strength further is beneficial to prolonging the residence time of additive molecules on the target surface, thereby facilitating the dissociation of molecules and subsequent polymerization.

Abstract: According to one aspect, the subject matter described herein includes a method for using a mobile device to effect a secure electronic transaction. In one embodiment, the method includes, at a mobile backend server comprising one or more processors: receiving, from a mobile device of a user that is engaged in or desires to engage in an electronic transaction with an entity other than the user, first information that identifies the user and second information that directly or indirectly identifies the electronic transaction, wherein the second information does not contain payment information for the user; using the first information to identify the user; determining user payment information for the identified user; using the second information to identify a target for the payment information; and sending the user payment information to the identified target for use to initiate the electronic transaction.

Abstract: The subject matter described herein includes methods, systems, and computer readable media for issuing and redeeming co-branded electronic certificates. In one example, a method includes receiving, via near field communication (NFC), a co-branded electronic certificate and an electronic payment card to conduct a wireless purchase transaction for at least one good or service. The method further includes determining whether qualification information contained in the co-branded electronic certificate matches at least a portion of the account number associated with the electronic payment card used to conduct the wireless purchase transaction. The method also includes applying the co-branded electronic certificate to conduct the purchase transaction if the qualification information matches the at least a portion of the account number.

Abstract: Methods and systems for performing an advertisement based single step electronic transaction with or without using a custom application are provided. According to one aspect, a method for performing an advertisement based single step electronic transaction comprises, at a backend server: receiving an indication that a user is interested in a product in an advertisement that was presented to the user; generating transaction information, the transaction information including product information, payment instrument information, and shipping information, and presenting it to the user in a manner such that the user need only perform a single step in order to trigger the transaction; detecting that the user has performed the single step; initiating the transaction; and notifying the user of the result of the transaction.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer readable media for providing contextualized, personalized pricing, offers, and recommendations to a user are disclosed. According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a method for providing contextualized, personalized pricing, offers, and recommendations to a user comprises identifying and collecting contextual information of interest, identifying algorithms, expert knowledge rules, and/or filters to apply to the contextual information of interest, and applying the identified algorithms, expert knowledge rules, and/or filters to the contextual information of interest to generate a contextualized price, offer, or recommendation.