Abstract: In accordance with an example embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus, configured to compare reputation information of a first user to access criteria relating to data of a second user, and to decide on an extent of access to the data based at least in part on the comparison, and a transmitter configured to cause an indication of the decision to be transmitted. The apparatus may receive the reputation information from a reputation source.

Abstract: Systems and techniques for controlling access to data are described. Data is delivered to a repository in such a way that access to the data can be controlled, for example, by encrypting the data before delivery. The power to provide a requester with the ability to gain access to the data is divided, so that multiple entities can provide the requester with a portion of the information needed to gain access to the data. The portions of the information may be partial keys that can be assembled into a complete key. The requester can gain access to the data only if it receives all portions of the information needed to gain access to the data, and different criteria may be used to decide whether or not to provide each portion of the information to the requester.

Abstract: An approach is provided for providing secure communications based on trust evaluation in a distributed manner. A method can comprises: sending data to a plurality of devices, the data being encrypted with a communication key; encrypting the communication key with public attribute keys associated with attributes, wherein the attributes comprising at least one trust level related attribute representing an access condition for the data based on a trust level; evaluating a trust level of each device of the plurality of devices, to identify eligible devices of the plurality of devices whose trust levels satisfy the access condition; sending the encrypted communication key to the plurality of devices; and sending secret attribute keys associated with the attributes to each device of the eligible devices for decrypting the encrypted communication key, the secret attribute keys being personalized for the each device of the eligible devices.

Abstract: Disclosed herein, among other things, are methods and apparatus for detecting battery chemistry or battery type and reconfiguring a hearing assistance device based on the detected battery. One aspect of the present subject matter relates to a method of operating a hearing assistance device having a battery. A voltage of the battery is detected at a predetermined load current and a battery chemistry or battery type is determined based on the detected voltage. An operating parameter of the hearing assistance device is adjusted based on the determined battery chemistry or battery type, in various embodiments. Examples of adjustments made based on the determined battery chemistry or battery type include gain, feedback cancellation (FBC) filter, self-diagnostic thresholds of the hearing assistance device, indicator loudness, low battery set point, or an end-of-discharge battery set point.

Abstract: An approach is provided for providing access control to shared data based on a trust level. A method comprising, encrypting, at a first device, data with public attribute keys associated with attributes according to an attribute-based encryption (ABE) scheme, wherein the attributes comprising at least one trust level related attribute representing an access condition for the data based on a trust level; storing the encrypted data into a data center, determining the eligibility of a user of a second device by checking whether a trust level of the user of the second device satisfies the access condition; and issuing to the second device, secret attribute keys associated with attributes and personalized for the user of the second device for decrypting the encrypted data, when the user of the second device is eligible.

Abstract: In various embodiments, the present disclosure provides methods of forming graphene films by: (1) depositing a non-gaseous carbon source onto a catalyst surface; (2) exposing the non-gaseous carbon source to at least one gas with a flow rate; and (3) initiating the conversion of the non-gaseous carbon source to the graphene film, where the thickness of the graphene film is controllable by the gas flow rate. Additional embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to graphene films made in accordance with the methods of the present disclosure.

Abstract: An example apparatus is provided that receives a pseudonym and encrypted identifier, where the pseudonym is of a user's personal data. The pseudonym has been generated using a first secret key, and the encrypted identifier has been generated by encrypting the identifier using a second secret key. The first and second secret keys are known to other user(s) authorized to access the data, and are unknown to the apparatus. The operations also include storing the personal data in a database under the pseudonym, and indexed by the encrypted identifier. The keys used for encryption and pseudorandom generation can be provided by a second apparatus (e.g. an offline security manager), which may employ a proxy re-encryption scheme to provide proper keys to the apparatus based on access policies. Only the authorized users can decrypt the keys with their private keys, thus can query the user records stored in the apparatus.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method, computer method, system, and apparatus for measuring two-dimensional distributions of optical emissions from a plasma in a semiconductor plasma processing chamber. The acquired two-dimensional distributions of plasma optical emissions can be used to infer the two-dimensional distributions of concentrations of certain chemical species of interest that are present in the plasma, and thus provide a useful tool for process development and also for new and improved processing tool development. The disclosed technique is computationally simple and inexpensive, and involves the use of an expansion of the assumed optical intensity distribution into a sum of basis functions that allow for circumferential variation of optical intensity. An example of suitable basis functions are Zernike polynomials.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for providing an active ticket in a mobile terminal for use by a mobile terminal user, wherein at least one active ticket has a ticket characteristic that dynamically changes based on one or more states in a life cycle of the active ticket. Dynamic changes to the ticket characteristic include multimedia changes or other presentation data, including text, sound (audio), animation, video, still pictures, or some combination thereof. The active ticket can have different states in it's life cycle, such as purchased, validated, invalid for certain events. Also the ticket service provider or issuer can send new control data to change the characteristic and/or contents of the active ticket.

Abstract: An approach is provided for providing information consistency in distributed computing environments. An information consistency platform determines one or more finite state machines based, at least in part, on one or more states of one or more respective steps of at least one update operation operating on one or more data items, wherein the one or more finite state machines executes, at least in part, the at least one update operation, one or more other operations, or a combination thereof on the one or more data items.

Abstract: In some embodiments, the present disclosure pertains to methods of forming a reinforcing material by: (1) depositing a first material onto a catalyst surface; and (2) forming a second material on the catalyst surface, where the second material is derived from and associated with the first material. In some embodiments, the first material includes, without limitation, carbon nanotubes, graphene nanoribbons, boron nitride nanotubes, chalcogenide nanotubes, carbon onions, and combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the formed second material includes, without limitation, graphene, hexagonal boron nitride, chalcogenides, and combinations thereof. In additional embodiments, the methods of the present disclosure also include a step of separating the formed reinforcing material from the catalyst surface, and transferring the separated reinforcing material onto a substrate without the use of polymers.

Abstract: An approach is provided for controlling access to social networking data for each of a plurality of members by issuing one or more first keys for at least one of data encryption or data decryption, based on a respective current trust level associated with a corresponding member and one or more context attributes corresponding to the social networking data. The one or more first keys expire at an expiration time determined with reference to a time clock. Based on a signal accepted from the time clock, one or more second keys for at least one of data encryption or data decryption are issued to one or more members of the plurality of members who are associated with a trust level above a predetermined threshold and/or who satisfy specified context attributes, prior to the expiration time of the first keys.

Abstract: In some embodiments, the present invention provides methods of making graphene-carbon nanotube hybrid materials. In some embodiments, such methods generally include: (1) associating a graphene film with a substrate; (2) applying a catalyst and a carbon source to the graphene film; and (3) growing carbon nanotubes on the graphene film. In some embodiments, the grown carbon nanotubes become covalently linked to the graphene film through carbon-carbon bonds that are located at one or more junctions between the carbon nanotubes and the graphene film. In some embodiments, the grown carbon nanotubes are in ohmic contact with the graphene film through the carbon-carbon bonds at the one or more junctions. In some embodiments, the one or more junctions may include seven-membered carbon rings. Additional embodiments of the present invention pertain to graphene-carbon nanotube hybrid materials that are formed in accordance with the methods of the present invention.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for providing an active ticket in a mobile terminal for use by a mobile terminal user, wherein at least one active ticket has a ticket characteristic that dynamically changes based on one or more states in a life cycle of the active ticket. Dynamic changes to the ticket characteristic include multimedia changes or other presentation data, including text, sound (audio), animation, video, still pictures, or some combination thereof. The active ticket can have different states in it's life cycle, such as purchased, validated, invalid for certain events. Also the ticket service provider or issuer can send new control data to change the characteristic and/or contents of the active ticket.

Abstract: Provided are compounds of the formula (I): or a stereoisomer, tautomer, salt, hydrate or prodrug thereof that modulate tyrosine kinase activity, compositions comprising the compounds and methods of their use.

Abstract: In various embodiments, the present disclosure provides methods of forming graphene films by: (1) depositing a non-gaseous carbon source onto a catalyst surface; (2) exposing the non-gaseous carbon source to at least one gas with a flow rate; and (3) initiating the conversion of the non-gaseous carbon source to the graphene film, where the thickness of the graphene film is controllable by the gas flow rate. Additional embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to graphene films made in accordance with the methods of the present disclosure.

Abstract: An approach is provided for providing a list-based interface to key-value stores. The library interface platform determines one or more key-value pairs of at least one key-value store, the one or more key-value pairs comprising one or more data entries. Next, the library interface platform causes, at least in part, an association of at least one list object with the one or more key-value pairs, one or more sub-list objects, or a combination thereof. Then, the library interface platform provides at least one interface for performing one or more operations on the at least one list object to interact with the one or more data entries, the one or more key-value pairs, the one or more sub-list objects, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods of forming graphene films on various non-catalyst surfaces by applying a carbon source and a catalyst to the surface and initiating graphene film formation. In some embodiments, graphene film formation may be initiated by induction heating. In some embodiments, the carbon source is applied to the non-catalyst surface before the catalyst is applied to the surface. In other embodiments, the catalyst is applied to the non-catalyst surface before the carbon source is applied to the surface. In further embodiments, the catalyst and the carbon source are applied to the non-catalyst surface at the same time. Further embodiments of the present invention may also include a step of separating the catalyst from the formed graphene film, such as by acid etching.

Abstract: An approach is provided for implementing a virtual file system using a key-value-based storage interface. A key-value directory framework determines one or more files stored in at least one stream-based file store. The key-value directory framework causes, at least in part, a grouping of the one or more files into at least one key-value directory. The key-value directory includes, at least in part, one or more key-value pairs of a distributed key-value store. The key-value directory framework also causes, at least in part, a storage of (a) at least one identifier of the one or more files, the at least one key-value directory, or a combination thereof as one or more keys of the one or more key-value pairs; (b) block-based access information associated with the one or more files as one or more values of the key-value pairs; and (c) a locking mechanism to facilitate coordination of threads across multiple hosts.

Abstract: In some embodiments, the present disclosure pertains to methods of forming single-crystal graphenes by: (1) cleaning a surface of a catalyst; (2) annealing the surface of the catalyst; (3) applying a carbon source to the surface of the catalyst; and (4) growing single-crystal graphene on the surface of the catalyst from the carbon source. Further embodiments of the present disclosure also include a step of separating the formed single-crystal graphene from the surface of the catalyst. In some embodiments, the methods of the present disclosure also include a step of transferring the formed single-crystal graphene to a substrate. Additional embodiments of the present disclosure also include a step of growing stacks of single crystals of graphene.