Abstract: A MnO2 electrode active material of high capacity is provided. The high capacity MnO2 has a surface area which is greater than 60 m2/g and the MnO2 is obtained by a process comprising a redox reaction of a Mn (II) salt and permanganate at a reaction temperature less than 30° C. and a pH of 2 to 4. Also provided are a magnesium electrochemical cell having a cathode containing the MnO2 and a rechargeable magnesium battery having a cathode containing the MnO2.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to predict the most probable path of a vehicle along a roadway which may contain a junction splitting the roadway into a rootpath and one or more sub-paths, each containing one or more lanes. The method and apparatus also process vehicle sensor information pertaining to driver corrections, road boundary detection, lane marker detection, map information availability, and road surface quality at the current position of the vehicle as well as from previous passes of the vehicle past the same location and other vehicles passing the same location to provide a warning to the driver to retake control of the vehicle if information used by the automatic vehicle control will become unavailable a predetermined travel distance ahead of the current position of the vehicle.

Abstract: A process of forming two dimensional nano-materials that includes the steps of: providing a bulk two dimensional material; providing lithium iodide; suspending the lithium iodide and bulk two dimensional material in a solvent forming a solution; initiating a solvent thermal reaction forming a lithiated bulk two dimensional material. The resulting lithiated bulk two dimensional material may be exfoliated after the solvent thermal reaction forming a two dimensional layered material.

Abstract: A method is taught of creating one or more targeted fractures in a subterranean formation. The method comprises the steps of drilling and completing two wells in the formation, conditioning said wells to create a stress condition favorable for forming a fracture zone connecting said two wells and initiating and propagating the fracture zone in said formation.

Abstract: A robot includes at least one actuator or motor and a processor configured to represent the task as a meta-node having a meta start space representing starting configurations and a meta end space representing ending configurations. The meta-node may be parallel including a first sub-node and a second sub-node each having a start space within the meta start space and an end space within the meta end space. The meta-node may also be a repetition meta-node including a third sub-node having a start space within the meta start space and an end space outside of the meta end space such that the meta end space is reached by multiple executions of the third sub-node. The processor may also simulate the task by executing the meta-node and instruct the actuator to actuate the portion of the robot based on the simulation.

Abstract: A fishing reel having a drag assembly. The drag assembly brakes the unwinding rotation of a spool to prevent a fishing line from being excessively rapidly unwound from the spool and thus from being snapped when the fishing line is drawn out by a hooked fish. The drag assembly includes a washer retainer coupled to a drive gear, and a washer group having a brake washer. Therefore, there is no need for the drive gear to have a shape corresponding to the washer group, whereby the manufacturing process can be facilitated, the time it takes to manufacture the fishing reel can be reduced, and the production cost can also be reduced.

Abstract: A texting while driving caution system for a vehicle includes a vehicle control system operable to communicate with a personal electronic device via a wireless communication protocol. The control system is operable to display a caution in response to a text message being generated on the personal electronic device while the vehicle is in motion.

Abstract: A mobile concrete pump with a support structure, which can be placed on a vehicle frame of a truck chassis, for receiving functional units which form a support device and a distributing boom. The functional unit which forms the distributing boom has a rotary head mounted on a boom pedestal in a rotatable manner about a vertical axis, the boom pedestal being secured to the support structure, and the boom pedestal comprises a tank which engages into the support structure and is provided as a rotary bearing for the rotary head. Each functional unit which forms the support device has a support leg mounted in a bearing in a pivotal and/or telescopable manner, the bearing being secured to the support structure. A tank wall of the tank tapering from the top to the bottom in a truncated cone-like manner or in a truncated pyramid-like manner in the cross section, engages into the support structure and is rigidly secured, preferably welded, into the support structure.

Abstract: A seat (10) configured for detecting an occupancy state comprises an at least partially electrically conductive structural frame (14) comprising at least two fixation sites (22, 24) and an at least partially electrically conductive cushion-supporting spring (20) taut between the fixation sites. The cushion-supporting spring is electrically insulated from the structural frame. The seat comprises a cushion (16) supported by the cushion-supporting spring. The cushion-supporting spring and the structural frame are disposed in such a way that they are brought in electrical contact with each other when a force (34) is applied on the cushion that exceeds a predefined threshold force.

Abstract: A method of controlling the orientation of glass or plastic reinforcing fibers in an injection molded polymeric/fiber article including the step of applying a high electric field to at least a portion of the mold cavity during the injection of the fiber/polymer mix and during a setup or packing time preceding the ejection of the article from the mold.

Abstract: A riser tension protector and coiled tubing lift frame assembly including same for use as a backup heave compensator is described. The assembly includes a frame having an upper frame section adapted for attachment to a top drive system and a lower frame section adapted to interface with a flowhead assembly; and a pair of pneumatic cylinders spaced apart from one another. The pneumatic cylinders have a respective cylinder barrel and a piston rod translatable therein, a free end of the piston rods being fixed to the upper frame section and a lower end of the cylinder barrels being fixed relative to the lower frame section.

Abstract: A conveyor belt assembly comprises a conveyor belt, a tail pulley, and a transition zone comprising a loading device. The conveyor is looped around the tail pulley and has a generally flat transverse cross-section on the tail pulley. The conveyor belt transitions from having the generally flat cross-section to having a full-trough cross section in the transition zone. The loading device comprises a chute and skirtboards that are connected to each other and that are above the conveyor belt. The loading device is configured to load bulk material onto the belt in the transition region. The skirtboards have linear bottom surfaces that rise as the distance from the tail pulley increases. The conveyor belt is supported from below in the transition zone in a manner creating linear portions of the conveyor belt directly beneath the skirtboards that also rise as the distance from the tail pulley increases.

Abstract: A method of gasification of biomass using a gasification island. The gasification island includes: a biomass pre-treatment and storage unit, a biomass feeder, an external heat source, a gasifier, a crude syngas cooling unit, a crude syngas washing unit, a fresh syngas storage unit, and an ash and wastewater treatment unit. The method includes: pre-treating and storing biomass, gasifying the biomass in the gasifier, cooling a crude syngas, washing and removing dust from the crude syngas, and storing fresh syngas.

Abstract: A method for power management in a beacon includes determining a program density of a signaling program; determining an initial driving voltage using the program density; determining a current setting for an emitter using the initial driving voltage; adjusting the initial driving voltage to a start-up voltage; executing the signaling program using the start-up voltage; and adjusting the start-up voltage to a signaling voltage.

Abstract: A structural entity for transferring structural loads from a Tower of a Wind Turbine Generator to its Foundation, by means of a Plated Transition Piece characterized in that it consists of a cylindrical central body connected by a series of inclined plates and shear plates and beams to legs that connects to a foundation structure.

Abstract: A system and methods for monitoring work processes. Once example computer-implemented method includes recording a three-dimensional work trajectory. The work trajectory comprises a representation of the actual motion of one or more markers. The method further includes comparing the work trajectory to a work template. The work template comprises a representation of the desired motion of the one or more markers. The method further includes sending a success indication to a display when the work trajectory is similar to the work template and sending a failure indication to the display when the work trajectory is dissimilar to the work template.

Abstract: A reactor has a container through which a reactive medium is passed and a plurality of plates in the container defining a plurality of between-plate reaction spaces through which the reactive medium travels. The plates are self-supporting and fixed in the container. Respective self-contained packings each formed by a support independent of the container are each of a flat shape that completely or almost completely fills the between-plate space and are each fittable to a variable depth in and removable from a respective one of the spaces. The supports each hold a catalyst for the reactive medium and are also removable from and insertable with the respective catalyst into the respective spaces such that when the catalyst is exhausted the packings can be replaced with fresh packings.

Abstract: A system and a method for recreating an operation of a crashed vehicle during and/or before the accident. An accident data recorder collects vehicle operation data related to the operation of the crashed vehicle prior to and/or during the accident. A processor may analyze the prior vehicle operation data that may include prior acceleration input data, prior braking input data, and/or prior steering input data and may output vehicle control data to at least one electronic controller based on the prior vehicle operation data. The at least one electronic controller automatically operates the test vehicle on a test surface to recreate an operation of the crashed vehicle during and/or before the accident. At least one electronic controller unit automatically and accurately recreates a response of the crashed vehicle to the prior acceleration input, the prior steering input, and the prior braking input.

Abstract: A shut-off valve to fill a tank with a gaseous medium. The shut-off valve includes a valve housing, a piston arranged in the valve housing for displacement in an axial direction and having an axially continuous bore, a first end piece having an outlet opening which is fluidically-connected to the axially continuous bore of the piston; and a second end piece having an inlet opening which is fluidically-connected to the axially continuous bore of the piston. A first end side of the piston and a first end side of the second end piece of the valve housing form a sealing seat upon contact therebetween.

Abstract: A computer-aided system include a data storage (18) with eye data (181), which defines a three-dimensional model of the eye, and a reference generator (113) for defining and storing a geometric reference in relation to the three-dimensional model of the eye. The system additionally includes a cut surface editor for defining and positioning cut surfaces in the three-dimensional model of the eye based on user instructions. Finally, the system includes a cut pattern generator (117) for, based on the positioned cut surfaces, generating and storing three-dimensional cut patterns for defining tissue cuts to be executed in a human eye by means of femtosecond laser pulses. The generation of a three-dimensional cut pattern permits the user to define tissue cuts made possible by femtosecond laser pulses in a targeted and efficient fashion in the three-dimensional model of the eye without having to undertake manipulations directly on the eye for this purpose.