Abstract: Secure user authentication using a OTP involve pre-storing an application on a first device for generating a valid OTP for the user responsive to receiving entry of a valid PIN, no part of the valid PIN is stored on the first device and pre-storing on a back-end server the valid PIN and a valid shared secret for the user. Upon receiving entry of a purported PIN, a purported shared secret is dynamically synthesized on the first device by the application based on the purported PIN and a purported OTP is generated on the first device. When entry of the purported OTP is received by the server in an attempt to log on the server from a second device, the server cryptographically calculates a window of OTPs, and logs on to the server from the second device is allowed if the calculated window of OTPs corresponds to the received OTP.

Abstract: Methods and systems for secure user authentication using a OTP involve, for example, pre-storing a OTP application on a first computing device for generating a valid OTP value for the user responsive to receiving entry of a valid PIN value of the user, no part of the valid PIN value is stored on the first computing device and pre-storing on a back-end server the valid PIN value and a valid shared secret for the user. Upon receiving entry of a purported PIN value of the user, a purported shared secret is dynamically synthesized on the first computing device by the OTP application based on the purported PIN value of the user and a purported OTP value is generated on the first computing device.

Abstract: Methods and systems for secure user authentication using a OTP involve, for example, pre-storing a OTP application on a first computing device for generating a valid OTP value for the user responsive to receiving entry of a valid PIN value of the user, no part of the valid PIN value is stored on the first computing device and pre-storing on a back-end server the valid PIN value and a valid shared secret for the user. Upon receiving entry of a purported PIN value of the user, a purported shared secret is dynamically synthesized on the first computing device by the OTP application based on the purported PIN value of the user and a purported OTP value is generated on the first computing device.

Abstract: An article and a method for forming a single crystal casting are disclosed. The article includes a single crystal nickel-based superalloy having a composition including greater than about 80 ppm boron (B) and a substantially single crystal microstructure with at least one grain boundary. A creep rupture strength of the article is substantially maintained up to a mismatched grain boundary of about 40 degrees. The method for forming a single crystal casting includes positioning a mold on a cooling plate, the mold including a single crystal selector, providing a molten nickel-based superalloy composition in the mold, the molten composition including greater than about 80 ppm boron (B), cooling the molten composition with the cooling plate, and forming a unidirectional temperature gradient by withdrawing the mold from within a heat source to form the single crystal casting including a substantially single crystal microstructure having at least one grain boundary.

Abstract: A grain starter for use in solidification of molten metallic material forming an article having a directional grain structure and a method for solidifying an article having a directional grain structure with a substantial absence of stray grains. The grain starter comprises a grain-starting material that initiates grain growth in the molten metallic material in a preselected crystallographic direction. The grain-starting material has a melting temperature higher than the metallic material forming the article lest the grain starter be modified by contact with the molten material. The grain starter further includes a feature that modifies heat transfer characteristics of the metallic material in contact with it in order to produce an article having grains oriented in the preselected crystallographic orientation and modifies the profile of the advancing solidification front. The article is substantially free of stray grains not oriented in the preselected crystallographic direction.

Abstract: For secure user authentication using a one-time password (OTP) application is pre-stored on a device for generating a OTP value responsive to entry of a valid PIN, no part of the PIN is stored on the device and pre-storing on a server the PIN and a valid shared secret for the user. Upon receiving entry a purported PIN, a purported shared secret is dynamically synthesized on the device by the OTP application based on the purported PIN of the user and a purported OTP value is generated based on the purported shared secret. When entry of the purported OTP value is received by the server in an attempt to log on the server from another device, the server cryptographically calculates a purported shared secret based on the purported OTP value, and log on to the server from the other device is allowed if the calculated purported shared secret corresponds to the pre-stored shared secret.

Abstract: A grain starter for use in solidification of molten metallic material forming an article having a directional grain structure and a method for solidifying an article having a directional grain structure with a substantial absence of stray grains. The grain starter comprises a grain-starting material that initiates grain growth in the molten metallic material in a preselected crystallographic direction. The grain-starting material has a melting temperature higher than the metallic material forming the article lest the grain starter be modified by contact with the molten material. The grain starter further includes a feature that modifies heat transfer characteristics of the metallic material in contact with it in order to produce an article having grains oriented in the preselected crystallographic orientation and modifies the profile of the advancing solidification front. The article is substantially free of stray grains not oriented in the preselected crystallographic direction.

Abstract: A turbine bucket includes an airfoil and a shroud. The shroud includes first and second bearing surfaces, and the first and second bearing surfaces each comprise a single grain structure. A method for forming a turbine bucket includes orienting a mold vertically, wherein the mold includes a first portion that defines a shank, a second portion connected to the first portion that defines an airfoil, and a third portion connected to the second portion that defines a shroud, wherein the third portion includes first and second sides, and wherein the first portion is higher than the second portion and the second portion is higher than the third portion. The method further includes flowing a molten metal into the mold and selectively growing large single grains in at least one of the first or second sides.

Abstract: A turbine bucket includes an airfoil and a shroud. The shroud includes first and second bearing surfaces, and the first and second bearing surfaces each comprise a single grain structure. A method for forming a turbine bucket includes orienting a mold vertically, wherein the mold includes a first portion that defines a shank, a second portion connected to the first portion that defines an airfoil, and a third portion connected to the second portion that defines a shroud, wherein the third portion includes first and second sides, and wherein the first portion is higher than the second portion and the second portion is higher than the third portion. The method further includes flowing a molten metal into the mold and selectively growing large single grains in at least one of the first or second sides.

Abstract: Methods and systems for secure user authentication using a OTP involve, for example, pre-storing a OTP application on a first computing device for generating a valid OTP value for the user responsive to receiving entry of a valid PIN value of the user, no part of the valid PIN value is stored on the first computing device and pre-storing on a back-end server the valid PIN value and a valid shared secret for the user. Upon receiving entry of a purported PIN value of the user, a purported shared secret is dynamically synthesized on the first computing device by the OTP application based on the purported PIN value of the user and a purported OTP value is generated on the first computing device.

Abstract: Methods and systems for secure user authentication utilizes OTP generation and validation techniques in which the shared secret for generating the OTP is not stored in the user's mobile device but instead is dynamically synthesized based on a PIN that activates the OTP generation and the personalized OTP data. The client software has no knowledge of what the correct PIN should be and always generates a normal looking OTP based on whatever PIN is entered, and the only way to learn whether or not the OTP is correct is to submit it during user login. By limiting the number of failed login attempts before the account is locked, brute-force attacks via the online channel will fail, and further, brute-force attacks to uncover the correct PIN for generating the correct OTP offline will also fail even if a hacker steals the user's mobile device and extracts the data inside for offline hacking, because there is nothing on the client that contains the PIN or encrypted by the PIN.

Abstract: A method of treating a component made of a non magnetic alloy on which a magnetic surface layer has formed includes: (a) engaging a magnet of a calibrated magnet gauge with a surface of the component; (b) disengaging the magnet from the surface of the component and measuring a force required to disengage the magnet; (c) correlating the force with a thickness of the magnetic surface layer; and (d) if the thickness of the surface layer is greater than a predetermined minimum thickness, removing the surface layer.

Abstract: A method and system for combining multiple access points and utilizing certificates as an access method to a system from multiple access points enables use of a certificate that is stored within a smart card to access a host system through a browser, such that when the user accesses the application on the server, the application requires that the card and certificate be present for authentication of the individual user, and concurrently allows an external system to access applications on a host server using a certificate stored on the external system for authenticating itself to the host server. A certificate for certificate-based authentication is created and distributed to a choice of storage methods, such as a microcomputer of an integrated chip card, a computer disk of a computing device disposed in a secure environment, or a Hardware Security Module (HSM) associated with the computing device.

Abstract: A family of castable and weldable nickel-base alloys that exhibit a desirable balance of strength and resistance to corrosion and oxidation suitable for gas turbine engine applications. A first alloy consists essentially of, by weight, 1 8% to 20% cobalt, 22.2% to 22.8% chromium, 1.8% to 2.2% tungsten, greater than 1.5% to 2.3% aluminum, 1.6% to 2.4% titanium, where the sum of aluminum and titanium is 2.8% to 4.4%, 0.7% to 0.9% columbium, 0.9% to 1.9% tantalum, 0.003% to 0.009% boron, 0.002% to 0.02% zirconium, 0.05% to 0.10% carbon, with the balance essentially nickel and incidental impurities. A second alloy consists essentially of, by weight, 5% to 8% cobalt, 22.2% to 22.8% chromium, 1.8% to 2.2% tungsten, 1.2% to 2.3% aluminum, 1.6% to 2.4% titanium, where the sum of aluminum and titanium is 2.8% to 4.4%, 0.7% to 0.9% columbium, 0.9% to 1.9% tantalum, 0.003% to 0.009% boron, 0.002% to 0.02% zirconium, 0.05% to 0.10% carbon, with the balance essentially nickel and incidental impurities.

Abstract: Systems and methods for monitoring and reporting data center activity are provided. The data center includes mainframe computers and client servers linked to user devices over networks. Start tasks, batch jobs and online regions on the mainframe computers are monitored and reported to a server. The reported data is parsed and formatted for display at user devices via a client interface.

Abstract: A nickel-base alloy consists of, by weight, about 15.0 to about 17.0% chromium, about 7.0 to about 10.0% cobalt, about 1.0 to about 2.5% molybdenum, about 2.0 to about 3.2% tungsten, about 0.6 to about 2.5% columbium, less than 1.5% tantalum, about 3.0 to about 3.9% aluminum, about 3.0 to about 3.9% titanium, about 0.005 to about 0.060% zirconium, about 0.005 to about 0.030% boron, about 0.07 to about 0.15% carbon, the balance nickel and impurities. Preferably, columbium is present in an amount greater than tantalum. Tantalum can be essentially absent from the alloy, i.e., only at impurity levels.

Abstract: An aluminiding process that enables the cooling holes of an air-cooled component, such as a hot gas path component of a gas turbine engine, to be machined and then aluminized after all external surface coatings have been deposited. The aluminide coating is deposited using a slurry process capable of forming the aluminide coating on the component without damaging an existing ceramic coating on the component. The process involves applying an activator-free slurry containing aluminum particles that, when the component is sufficiently heated, melt and diffuse into the component surface to form the diffusion aluminide coating.

Abstract: A nickel-base alloy consists of, by weight, about 15.0 to about 17.0% chromium, about 7.0 to about 10.0% cobalt, about 1.0 to about 2.5% molybdenum, about 2.0 to about 3.2% tungsten, about 0.6 to about 2.5% columbium, less than 1.5% tantalum, about 3.0 to about 3.9% aluminum, about 3.0 to about 3.9% titanium, about 0.005 to about 0.060% zirconium, about 0.005 to about 0.030% boron, about 0.07 to about 0.15% carbon, the balance nickel and impurities. Preferably, columbium is present in an amount greater than tantalum. Tantalum can be essentially absent from the alloy, i.e., only at impurity levels.

Abstract: An aluminiding process that enables the cooling holes of an air-cooled component, such as a hot gas path component of a gas turbine engine, to be machined and then aluminized after all external surface coatings have been deposited. The aluminide coating is deposited using a slurry process capable of forming the aluminide coating on the component without damaging an existing ceramic coating on the component. The process involves applying an activator-free slurry containing aluminum particles that, when the component is sufficiently heated, melt and diffuse into the component surface to form the diffusion aluminide coating.

Abstract: A method and system for managing transaction card data provides distributed services for use of a transaction card, such as a smart card, on board a ship when shipboard communication with a centralized host system is unavailable. Aspects of the centralized land-based system, such as card issuance, card management, and issuer host authentication are migrated to the shipboard environment, and an on board issuance system, a distributed card management system, and a local monitoring and administration system are introduced to the shipboard environment. When the ship leaves port, an instance of the central system database data for the on board ship personnel is hosted on board the ship and stored in the distributed card management system database.