Abstract: The invention provides a coating which exhibits fast oleophobic-hydrophilic switching behaviour with, for example, equilibration of high oil contact angle (hexadecane=80°) and low water contact angle (<10°) values which occur within 10 s of droplet impact. These optically transparent surfaces display excellent anti-fogging and self-cleaning properties. The magnitude of oleophobic-hydrophilic switching can be further enhanced by the incorporation of surface roughness and in one embodiment the coating is applied to a surface in the form of a mesh in order to form an effective filter.

Abstract: Provided herein are articles including repellent coatings, as well as methods of making as using these articles. The articles can comprise a substrate and a repellent coating disposed on a surface of the substrate. The repellant coating can comprise hydrophobic particles dispersed within a polymer binder. The hydrophobic particles can be aggregated within the polymer binder, thereby forming a multiplicity of re-entrant structures embedded within and protruding from the polymer binder. The repellent coatings, and by extension the articles described herein, can exhibit selective wetting properties (e.g., superhydrophilicty/super-oleophobicity, or super-hydrophobicity/superoleophilicity).

Abstract: Described herein are systems, methods, and software to enhance the scaling of data processing systems in a computing environment. In one implementation, a method of operating a data processing management system includes monitoring a queue length in an allocation queue for data processing system, and generating a prediction of the allocation queue based on the monitored queue length. Once the prediction is generated, the data processing management system may modify an operational state of at least one data processing system based on the prediction of the queue length and a processing time requirement for data objects in the allocation queue.

Abstract: Techniques for evaluating a second version of software. Embodiments selectively route incoming requests to software instances within a plurality of baseline instances and a plurality of canary instances, where the baseline instances run a first software version and the canary instances run the second software version. The software instances are monitored to collect performance data for a plurality of performance metrics. Embodiments calculate aggregate baseline performance metrics, where each of the aggregate baseline performance metrics is calculated based on the collected performance data for the plurality of baseline instances. For each of the performance metrics and canary instances, embodiments calculate a relative performance value that measures the collected performance data for the respective canary instance and for the respective performance metric, relative to the corresponding aggregate baseline performance metric.

Abstract: This document presents a system and method for a location-aware, cloud services mobile platform application that hosts multiple mobile applications via a proprietary mobile application configuration that simultaneously supports multiple functions and End User interactions. The platform application hosts individual and discrete mobile applications specific to each organization or entity, and may engage the End User with one or more Commercial Customers that have a presence within the platform application. The system also provides Functional Channels to the End User to permit interaction with the Commercial Customer via information transfer, as well as mobile commerce transactions. The platform architecture is design with flexibility to allow for the integration of multiple inherent Functional Channels, or custom Functional Channels that integrate with third-party systems via a web services API.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a new and distinct hybrid variety of spinach, NUN 06212 SPS as well as seeds and plants and leaves thereof.

Abstract: A method of producing an electrochemically derived graphene oxide and product produced therefrom. The method comprises locating graphite particles within an electrochemical cell having a working electrode, counter electrode, and an aqueous acid electrolyte, the working electrode being positioned within the electrolyte to contact at least a portion of the graphite particles; agitating the graphite particles within the electrolyte; and applying a potential difference between the working electrode and counter electrode, thereby resulting in electrochemical exfoliation and oxidation of the graphite particles to produce graphene oxide.

Abstract: Articles including repellent surfaces and methods of making and using these articles are disclosed. The repellant surface can comprise a polymer having a roughened surface and a fluorinated silane and a lubricating liquid deposited on the roughened surface. The repellent surface, and by extension the articles described herein, can exhibit superomniphobic properties. The methods for producing the repellant surface can comprise dissolving a polymer in a solvent to produce a polymer solution and optionally adding a non-solvent to the polymer solution to produce a casting mixture. The polymer solution or casting mixture can be deposited on a surface of a substrate and the solvent and/or the non-solvent evaporated to provide a coated-substrate having a roughened surface. A functional layer comprising a fluorinated silane followed by a lubricating liquid can be deposited on the roughened surface to form the repellant surface.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods of making functional surfaces, including liquid repellant surfaces that can exhibit selective wetting properties. Methods of forming a functional surfaces can comprise providing a dispersion of nanoparticles; and applying the dispersion to a polymer surface to form a multiplicity of re-entrant structures embedded within and protruding from the polymer surface. The re-entrant structures are formed from aggregates of the nanoparticles. Also provided are functional surfaces prepared by these methods, as well as articles comprising these functional surfaces.

Abstract: Multilayer coatings, articles comprising multilayer coatings, and methods of making and using thereof are described herein. The multilayer coating can contain two or more oppositely charged alternating layers, comprising at least one fixed layer comprising a first polymer and at least one inorganic layer comprising a plurality of particles, wherein the inorganic layer forms a surface of the two or more oppositely charged alternating layers. The multilayer coating can further contain an adhesion layer disposed on the at least one inorganic layer, the adhesion layer comprising a second polymer having a charge opposite that of the plurality of particles. The multilayer coating can also contain a functional layer disposed on the adhesion layer, wherein the functional layer forms a surface of the multilayer coating. In some embodiments, the coatings can separate a liquid mixture comprising a polar liquid and a non-polar liquid.

Abstract: Techniques are described for identifying a root cause of a pattern of performance data in a system including a plurality of services. Embodiments provide dependency information for each of the plurality of services, where at least one of the plurality of services is dependent upon a first one of the plurality of services. Each of the plurality of services is monitored to collect performance data for the respective service. Embodiments further analyze the performance data to identify a cluster of services that each follow a pattern of performance data. The first one of the services in the cluster of services is determined to be a root cause of the pattern of performance data, based on the determined dependency information for each of the plurality of services.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of gibberellin 7 (GA7) for thinning of stone fruit, wherein the use comprises applying the GA7 to stone fruit in a first year by foliar spray within 12 weeks after full bloom, to achieve thinning in the following year. The stone fruit can be peach, nectarine, apricot, cherry, mirabelle or plum, preferably peach or nectarine. GA7 is used or applied in the period of 4 to 12 weeks after full bloom in the first year. The GA7, if used in admixture with GA4, has relative amounts of GA7 to GA4 of 70% GA7 or more and 30% GA4 or less.

Abstract: The invention provides a coating which exhibits fast oleophobic-hydrophilic switching behaviour with, for example, equilibration of high oil contact angle (hexadecane=80°) and low water contact angle (<10°) values which occur within 10 s of droplet impact. These optically transparent surfaces display excellent anti-fogging and self-cleaning properties. The magnitude of oleophobic-hydrophilic switching can be further enhanced by the incorporation of surface roughness and in one embodiment the coating is applied to a surface in the form of a mesh in order to form an effective filter.

Abstract: The invention relates to a liquid dispersion comprising (i) at least one growth regulator which has a solubility in vegetable oil of about 0.1 wt % or less; (ii) an organic hydrophobic carrier, preferably a vegetable oil, hydrocarbon oil or paraffin oil, or a derivative thereof; wherein the at least one growth regulator which is insoluble or unstable in water, is present in the liquid dispersion in an amount exceeding 0.1 wt %; and wherein more than 90% of the particles of said growth regulator has a particle size of between 1-7 ?m; wherein the dispersion further comprises (iii) an emulsifier which stabilizes the dispersion in the organic carrier, and which causes the concentrate to be water miscible and self-emulsifying when diluted in water in a suitable dilution, such as for example a 1:50 dilution or higher dilution; wherein the dispersion is essentially water free.

Abstract: A braking system includes at least one rotating disc and at least one brake disc. A brake disc wear plate is configured for retarding engagement with a rotating disc brake pad. Each brake disc has an annular coolant cavity associated with two inlet ports spaced apart 180° and two outlet ports spaced apart 180°. Each outlet port is spaced 90° from an adjacent inlet port. Each port leads to a respective radial channel. The channels are in open flow communication with each other. Inlet port coolant received into an inlet channel flows in both angular directions toward the outlet ports. Heated coolant gathered at an outlet channel is a mixture of coolant received from both inlet channels. Each inlet channel includes a stepped configuration to divert additional coolant to the outermost portion of the coolant cavity, which portion underlies the outermost (and hottest) portion of the wear plate.

Abstract: Techniques for predictively scaling a distributed application are described. Embodiments could monitor performance of an application within a cloud computing environment over a first window of time to collect historical performance data. Here, the application comprises a plurality of application instances. A workload of the application could be monitored over a second window of time to collect historical workload data. Embodiments could analyze both the historical performance data and the historical workload data to determine one or more scaling patterns for the application. Upon determining a present state of the application matches one of the one or more scaling patterns, a plan for predictively scaling the application could be determined. Embodiments could then predictively scale the plurality of application instances, based on the determined plan.

Abstract: Techniques are described for identifying a root cause of a pattern of performance data in a system including a plurality of services. Embodiments provide dependency information for each of the plurality of services, where at least one of the plurality of services is dependent upon a first one of the plurality of services. Each of the plurality of services is monitored to collect performance data for the respective service. Embodiments further analyze the performance data to identify a cluster of services that each follow a pattern of performance data. The first one of the services in the cluster of services is determined to be a root cause of the pattern of performance data, based on the determined dependency information for each of the plurality of services.

Abstract: Techniques for evaluating a second version of software. Embodiments selectively route incoming requests to software instances within a plurality of baseline instances and a plurality of canary instances, where the baseline instances run a first software version and the canary instances run the second software version. The software instances are monitored to collect performance data for a plurality of performance metrics. Embodiments calculate aggregate baseline performance metrics, where each of the aggregate baseline performance metrics is calculated based on the collected performance data for the plurality of baseline instances. For each of the performance metrics and canary instances, embodiments calculate a relative performance value that measures the collected performance data for the respective canary instance and for the respective performance metric, relative to the corresponding aggregate baseline performance metric.

Abstract: A braking system includes at least one rotating disc and at least one brake disc. A brake disc wear plate is configured for retarding engagement with a rotating disc brake pad. Each brake disc has an annular coolant cavity associated with two inlet ports spaced apart 180° and two outlet ports spaced apart 180°. Each outlet port is spaced 90° from an adjacent inlet port. Each port leads to a respective radial channel. The channels are in open flow communication with each other. Inlet port coolant received into an inlet channel flows in both angular directions toward the outlet ports. Heated coolant gathered at an outlet channel is a mixture of coolant received from both inlet channels. Each inlet channel includes a stepped configuration to divert additional coolant to the outermost portion of the coolant cavity, which portion underlies the outermost (and hottest) portion of the wear plate.

Abstract: The instant invention discloses a process for the preparation a polyolefin nanocomposite which comprises melt mixing a mixture of a polyolefin, a filler and a non-ionic surfactant.