Abstract: A process is provided for contacting a nanostructured surface. In that process, a substrate is provided having a nanostructured material on a surface, the substrate being conductive and the nanostructured material being coated with an insulating material. A portion of the nanostructured material is at least partially removed. A conductor is deposited on the substrate in such a way that it is in electrical contact with the substrate through the area where the nanostructured material has been at least partially removed.

Abstract: An improved booster for use in piped fluid systems includes a motor, a fan wheel and a hermetically sealed tank assembly. Fluids enter the tank assembly through an inlet and are compressed within the tank assembly by a rotating fan wheel, before leaving the tank assembly through an outlet, which may be aligned in a plurality of angular configurations. The motor is powered by a versatile electrical connection which enters the tank assembly through a connector that maintains the hermetically sealed condition in the tank assembly, and can accommodate power of any voltage or frequency. The incremental pressure gain provided by the booster may be controlled by modifying the speed of the rotating fan wheel, and a sled assembly provides structural support and positional alignment for portions of the tank assembly when the booster system is opened for access.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and systems for removing polar molecule contaminants from a refinery stream in connection with the processing of hydrocarbon fluids, chemicals, whole crude oils, blends and fractions in refineries and chemical plants that include adding high surface energy and/or high surface area nanoparticle compounds to a refinery stream to remove the polar molecule contaminants.

Abstract: A slidable tray assembly is provided having an aperture located on the housing near the track of the slidable tray assembly to promote egress of foreign objects out of the track. The housing includes a grid-like assembly to strengthen the overall housing assembly. The grid-like pattern promotes foreign objects to become stuck within the track thereby prohibiting movement of the slidable assembly. Foreign objects enter the tray by means of a gap between the slidable tray and a panel from the interior of the vehicle. The aperture located on the housing is sized in proportion to the gap created between the panel and the slidable tray.

Abstract: A divided wall column allows for fractionation of multiple streams while maintaining separate product qualities. Effluents from multiple stages of a reaction system can be processed in a single divided wall column. The divided wall column can produce multiple cuts from each separated area, as well as at least one output from a common area.

Abstract: The present invention is a non-intrusive method to determine the fluid level in a vessel. In a preferred embodiment, the vessel is a delayed coker drum in a refinery. Waves are generated in the vessel from an outside source. For wall vibration generated in the frequency range of 1-20,000 Hz, accelerometers on the exterior wall of the vessel measures the frequency of the vibration modes of the vessel. The fluid level can be related to the frequency of the vibration mode.

Abstract: The present invention is a non-intrusive method to determine the fluid level in a vessel. In a preferred embodiment, the vessel is a delayed coker drum in a refinery. Waves are generated in the vessel from an outside source. For wall vibration generated in the frequency range of 1-20,000 Hz, accelerometers on the exterior wall of the vessel measures the attenuation of the vibration modes of the vessel. The fluid level can related to the attenuation of the vibration mode. For wall vibration generated in the ultrasonic range, the wave traveling in the vessel wall are guided waves. The guided wave will leak energy into the fluid inside the vessel and will attenuate depending on the fluid level. Ultrasonic receivers on the outside of the vessel measure the attenuation. The fluid level can be related attenuation of the ultrasonic waves.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and system for displaying braking information such as energy dissipation braking information and regenerative braking information. The present invention can be an automobile including an energy dissipation braking system, a regenerative braking system, an energy dissipation braking sensor, a regenerative braking sensor, an energy conversions system, an energy storage unit, an energy storage sensor, a processor, an engine, and/or a display. The processor, energy dissipation braking sensor, and/or the regenerative braking system can acquire and analyze energy dissipating braking data and regenerative braking data in an automobile to determine appropriate braking information for display to a user on the display. Such braking information can include, for example, an energy efficiency rate, and/or an application percentage of the energy dissipation braking system and/or the regenerative braking system.

Abstract: A gas separation process uses a structured particulate bed of adsorbent coated shapes/particles laid down in the bed in an ordered manner to simulate a monolith by providing longitudinally extensive gas passages by which the gas mixture to be separated can access the adsorbent material along the length of the particles. The particles can be laid down either directly in the bed or in locally structured packages/bundles which themselves are similarly oriented such that the bed particles behave similarly to a monolith but without at least some disadvantages. The adsorbent particles can be formed with a solid, non-porous core with the adsorbent formed as a thin, adherent coating on the exposed exterior surface. Particles may be formed as cylinders/hollow shapes to provide ready access to the adsorbent. The separation may be operated as a kinetic or equilibrium controlled process.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a peptide having bone tissue regeneration capacity and binding to a surface of apatite. More particularly, a peptide is provided having bone tissue regeneration capacity and specifically binding to a surface of apatite mineral, capable of being stably immobilized to the surface of apatite mineral to retain effective activity and exhibit bone regeneration effects for a long time, by linking an amino acid sequence having bone tissue regeneration capacity and an amino acid sequence having apatite-binding capacity to each other to thereby provide a peptide having both bone-forming effects and binding capacity to the surface of apatite mineral. A composition for bone tissue regeneration containing the peptide is further provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a semiconductor structure having an integrated passive network and a method for making the same. The semiconductor structure includes a substrate which can be an interposer. The substrate can include a plurality of conductive vias. In various embodiments, the substrate includes a dielectric layer disposed thereon, the dielectric layer having an opening forming a straight hole allowing electrical connection between the passive network and the conductive via. The passive network includes a series of patterned dielectric and conductive layers, forming passive electronic components. In an embodiment, the passive device includes a common resistor coupled to a pair of inductors, each of the inductors coupled to a capacitor. In another embodiment, the passive device includes a resistor and an inductor electrically connected to each other, a bottom surface of the inductor coplanar with a bottom surface of the resistor.

Abstract: The automobile may have an energy conversion unit, an energy storage unit, a user selection unit, a global positioning system, and a control unit. The automobile can operate in a default charging mode, which is either the charge depletion mode or the charge sustaining mode. Upon user input, the energy conversation unit and/or the energy storage unit can operate in an extended charging mode or a forced charging mode. In the extended charging mode, the state of charge is increased or decreased over a predetermined charging range. In the forced charging mode, the state of charge is increased until a predetermined charge limit is reached. The system and method can also use global positioning system signals to operate in the charge depletion mode, the charge sustaining mode, the extended charging mode, and/or the forced charging mode.

Abstract: System and method for detecting a leak in a pipeline with a sensing cable including an optical fiber sensor array aligned with a heating element. At least one heat pulse is propagated through the heating element along at least a portion of the sensing cable to affect an exchange of thermal energy between the heating element and fluid exposed to the sensing cable. A temperature profile of the sensing cable corresponding to the heat pulse at each of a plurality of sensor locations on the optical fiber sensor array is measured over time. A leak in a pipeline is detected by determining one or more properties of the fluid exposed to the sensing cable at each of the plurality of sensor locations based on the temperature profile corresponding thereto.

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: Disclosed is an apparatus for the pretreatment and subsequent conveying or plastification of plastics, with a container with a mixing and/or comminution implement that is rotatable around an axis of rotation, wherein, in a side wall, an aperture is formed, through which the plastics material can be removed, a conveyor being provided, with a screw rotating in a housing. The invention is characterized in that the imaginary continuation of the longitudinal axis of the conveyor in a direction opposite to the direction of conveying passes the axis of rotation, there being, on the outflow side, an offset distance between the longitudinal axis and the radius that is parallel to the longitudinal axis, that the L/D ratio of the screw is ?7, and that the compressing format of the screw begins only from a distance (A) of more than 1.5 times the diameter (d) of the screw.

Abstract: A fire detection and surveillance system includes a fire detector, a main control unit electrically connecting to the fire detector, and a surveillance system electrically connecting to the main control unit. When the fire detector detects occurrence of fire in a predetermined area, the fire detector is arranged to send a corresponding signal to the main control unit, and trigger the surveillance system to capture a visual video of the predetermined area.

Abstract: Described is a method for checking syringe bodies of the type comprising a hollow body, a seal for closing the hollow body and a dose of a liquid product enclosed by the hollow body and by the seal, the method comprising the steps of applying a pneumatic negative pressure to the syringe body and moving a stop body towards the syringe body in such a way that, during at least a part of the step of applying the pneumatic negative pressure, the stop body obstructs withdrawal of the seal towards a rear end of the syringe body opposite the liquid.

Abstract: The present application provides a method and system for disposing wastewater effluent through laterals placed over a drain field without the need to level the terrain. The method provides calculating sizes of one or more orifices in positioned along the length of the laterals.

Abstract: A method of controlling fluid pressure in a closed system including using a pressure regulating unit connected to the system, the unit including a first conduit fluidly connecting the closed system to an external system. A first regulating valve is interposed between the external system and one end of the conduit and a second regulating valve interposed between the closed system and the other end of the conduit. The method further includes: a) opening one of the first or second regulating valves; b) closing said one regulating valve; c) opening the other regulating valve; d) closing the other regulating valve; and e) repeating steps a) to d) in turn until the desired fluid pressure is achieved in the system.

Abstract: A system, device, and methods for autonomous navigation using intensity-based localization. One example computer-implemented method includes receiving data including a plurality of intensity values from one or more sensors disposed on a vehicle as the vehicle traverses a route and generating a first group of intensity values wherein the first group includes at least some of the plurality of intensity values received. The method further includes removing the intensity values below an adaptive threshold from the first group of intensity values to generate a second group of intensity values, comparing the second group of intensity values to an intensity map, and generating a localized vehicle position based on the comparison between the second group of intensity values and the intensity map.