Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for the evaluation of non-fuel components within a selected fuel with respect to engine knock performance. A non-fuel component such as a lubricant oil is now evaluated to determine onset of engine knock relative to baseline oil formulations that indicate relative low reactivity and optimum engine performance and those engine oils that exhibit relatively high reactivity and sub-optimum engine performance.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to non-aggregating nanoparticles and their associated methods of preparation. The nanoparticles may have a surface and a size range of 1 nm to 999 nm, along with a zeta potential of ?50 to 50 millivolts. A polycation and/or polyanion may be disposed on the nanoparticle surface. In addition, an active ingredient may be encapsulated within the nanoparticles or associated with the polycation or polyanion on the nanoparticle surface.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to the development of terrain image analogy filters which may be used to convert visible terrain imagery from a first condition to a second condition. For example, from a seasonal “daytime/summer” view to a “nighttime/winter” appearance. The image analogy filters may be generated using processors such as one or more graphics processing units.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for magnetron sputter coating of an interior surface of a hollow substrate defining at least one irregular contour. The apparatus may contain a vacuum chamber and a target containing one or more metals having an exterior surface defining at least one irregular contour. The exterior surface of the target may be configured to conform to at least a portion of an irregular contour of the interior surface of the hollow substrate to be coated. A magnet assembly may be supplied which may include a plurality of magnets where the magnets are positioned substantially within a metallic target alloy.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an apparatus and method for depositing coatings on the surface of a workpiece with sputtering material in an ion plasma environment. The apparatus may include a magnetron including a core cooling system surrounded by a magnet assembly and target material having a surface capable of providing a source of sputtering material. An RF plasma generation assembly is also provided in the apparatus including an RF antenna capable of providing an RF plasma and drawing ions to one or both of the workpiece surface and target material surface.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a system for overlaying ultrasound imagery on a laparoscopic camera display. The system may include a laparoscope configured to capture a laparoscopic image of a surgical field and a laparoscopic ultrasound probe configured to capture an ultrasonic image of a structure in the surgical field. The system may further include a tracking system configured to detect a position and orientation of the laparoscope and a position and orientation of the laparoscopic ultrasound probe. The system may further include data associated with the laparoscope wherein the data indicates a distortion in the laparoscopic image. The system may further include a computer configured to receive the laparoscopic image, the ultrasonic image and the distortion data associated with the laparoscope.

Abstract: The present invention relates to corrosion resistance coatings suitable for elevated temperature applications, which employ compositions of iron (Fe), chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni) and/or aluminum (Al). The compositions may be configured to regulate the diffusion of metals between a coating and a substrate, which may then influence coating performance, via the formation of an inter-diffusion barrier layer. The inter-diffusion barrier layer may comprise a face-centered cubic phase.

Abstract: A survey method and system for survey method and system for detecting and/or characterizing a radiation field The method may include acquiring energy-dependent radiation spectral data at a location of interest in a radiation field using a detector, wherein the energy-dependent radiation spectral data may include counts versus energy. The method may further include acquiring radiation spectral data at at least one other location wherein the at least one other location is positioned relative to the location of interest.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a reference yaw rate generator for an autonomous ground vehicle control system. The reference yaw rate generator is configured to generate a reference yaw rate (rr) based on an actual latitudinal position (Y), a desired latitudinal position (Yd), an actual longitudinal position (X), a desired longitudinal position (Xd) and an actual heading (?) of the autonomous ground vehicle.

Abstract: The invention provides methods of providing fuel to an internal combustion engine, fuel systems for an internal combustion engine and a fuel injector for an internal combustion engine. Ammonia may be heated and pressurized to a selected condition and may used as fuel which is supplemented with hydrogen to assist with ignition, flame propagation, and/or combustion speed.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed relating to gas leak detection. The techniques can be deployed, for example, in compact, handheld portable devices usable for detecting leaks in space-confined applications. The devices generally include a non-laser light source and thermal imaging camera that allow for detection of a target gas (or gasses) that absorbs at least some of the light source's wavelengths of operation. The light source can be implemented, for example, with an incoherent infrared (IR) light source, such as a resonance lamp configured with a gas cell containing a volume of a gas that, when excited by electric discharge, emits a wavelength that is absorbed by the target gas.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to lubricant oil compositions formed from base stock oils to optimize internal combustion engine performance. Base stock oils are identified that have selected cetane number characteristics and relatively reduced reactivity to improve their associated combustion characteristics and reduce engine knock without the need to modify the engine fuel or engine parameters such as compression ratio and/or ignition timing. The base stocks may specifically include esters of dicarboxylic acids, esters of trimellitic anhydride and/or alklyated naphthalene compounds.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a system which may allow a user to visualize and/or monitor motor activities during, e.g., rehabilitation exercises and/or athletic training. The system may include a camera that may be configured to capture images of a user performing a motor activity. The system may also include a computer configured to receive the captured images from the camera while the user is performing the motor activity. The computer may be further configured to provide static and dynamic augmentation of the captured images. The system may further include a display for the user. The display may be configured to receive the augmented captured images from the computer and to display the augmented captured images to the user.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed relating to gas leak detection. The techniques can be deployed, for example, in compact, handheld portable devices usable for detecting leaks in space-confined applications. The devices generally include an unstablized laser and thermal imaging camera that allow for detection of gas that absorbs at least some of the wavelength of operation of the unstablized laser. The devices can be operated at a low-power density for safety and/or may be configured to mitigate wavelength hopping associated with unstablized laser light sources.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a coating and a method of applying such coating that may include nanocrystals of a transition metal compound embedded in an amorphous phase or layered structure of transition metal compounds with an amorphous phase. The transition metal compound may be selected from the group consisting of metal nitrides, metal carbides, metal silicides and combinations thereof. The amorphous matrix may include a ceramic.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for plasma ion deposition and coating formation. A vacuum chamber may be supplied, wherein the vacuum chamber is formed by a hollow substrate having a length, diameter and interior surface. A plasma may be formed within the chamber while applying a negative bias to the hollow substrate to draw ions from the plasma to the interior surface of the hollow substrate to deposit ions onto the interior surface and forming a coating. The coating may have a Vickers Hardness Number (Hv) of at least 500.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method or apparatus for controlling reductant dosing level introduced to a selective catalytic reduction device. The method or apparatus may determine available reductant and determine a distance to a source of reductant. This may be followed by adjusting a reductant dosing level based upon the available reductant and the distance to the reductant source. The apparatus may be installed in a vehicle and may also regulate in-cylinder emission control variables to reduce NOx emissions.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a device, system and method of automated interpretation of medical prescription text. Prescription text may be entered into a user interface that may be analogous to a paper prescription entry such as manually written text. The system may then provide parsing, prompts and/or hints along with validity feedback as the prescription information is entered by the user.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a composite particle that is microscopically two-dimensional with a third nanoscopic dimension, and to methods of making same. The particle may include a support and a metal layer. The metal layer may be catalytically active such that the particle is adapted to act as a catalyst.

Abstract: A fuel for a homogeneous charge compression ignition engine having a 95 V % distilled temperature by boiling point measurement in the range of about 35.degree. C. to about 350.degree. C., a cetane number in the range of about 2 to about 120, and an octane number in the range of 10 to about 110. The invention also relates to a method of operating a homogeneous charge compression ignition engine of mixing a fuel with air and feeding the fuel into a combustion chamber.