Abstract: An aim is to provide a technique for obtaining a higher quality print image by reducing a banding caused upon printing using a printing head having nozzle rows. As a solution, an activated nozzle row is reselected each time when the activated nozzle row has discharged ink for a preset number of times, and in each scan, an interval by which the activated nozzle row discharges ink in a main scanning direction is set to be an integer multiple of a resolution of an image to be printed on a print medium in the main scanning direction.

Abstract: A compound useful for reducing fouling in a hydrocarbon refining process is provided. A method for preparing the compound includes hydrohalogenating a polymer having a vinyl chain end to obtain a halogen-containing terminal group, and reacting the terminal group with a polyamine. Methods of using the compound and compositions thereof are also provided.

Abstract: A system includes a first sensor for detecting vehicle data and a second sensor for detecting driver data. The system also includes a memory for storing preferred stops and a GPS unit for detecting a location. The system also includes an electrical control unit (ECU) that can determine a tired value of the driver based on the vehicle performance data and the driver condition data. The ECU can also determine that the driver is getting tired when the tired value is equal to or greater than a first tired threshold. The ECU can also determine a desired destination of the driver based on the preferred stops that the vehicle can reach before the tired value reaches or exceeds a second tired threshold. The system also includes an output device for outputting navigation instructions providing directions to the desired destination from the current location of the vehicle.

Abstract: Methods are provided for characterizing the stability of a distillate fraction using a quartz crystal microbalance apparatus, such as a distillate fraction derived at least in part from a pre-refined crude oil. A sample can be aged for an aging period in a quartz crystal microbalance apparatus, and a frequency value for the sample in the quartz crystal microbalance apparatus can be determined before and after the aging period to determine a frequency difference. This frequency difference can be correlated directly with the ability of a jet fuel fraction to satisfy a stability test standard, such as a jet fuel breakpoint stability. The methods can also include using a temperature profile during characterization that can reduce or minimize operator error during the characterization.

Abstract: A system for signaling road hazards and emergency actions to nearby road users comprising a vehicle, the vehicle having at least three wheels, a vehicle control circuitry, one or more sensors, and a vehicle system controller. The vehicle control circuitry monitors data from the one or more sensors, detects hazardous situations, and controls the vehicle system controller to control the vehicle, induce a dynamic vehicle behavior, and visually signal the vehicle is performing an emergency maneuver.

Abstract: An attachment bracket for attaching electrical components is provided in a vehicle. The attachment bracket can have a deformable tab configured to be operatively connected to vehicle structure, such as a floor panel. The deformable tab can include an attachment portion and a connector portion. The attachment portion can have one or more attachment features, such as an aperture, to operatively connect the deformable tab to the vehicle structure. The connector can include different shapes, sizes, and/or configurations to control and/or influence the deformation of the deformable tab under an application of force. The attachment bracket can be used to operatively connect an electrical component to a vehicle structure. For example, the attachment bracket can retain an vehicle airbag ECU to a vehicle floor panel during impacts of the vehicle.

Abstract: Described are methods for pretreating lignocellulosic biomass that comprise passing a hot aqueous biomass slurry through a heat exchange passage from an inlet to an outlet and locally regulating pressure in the passage by feed of a pressurized liquid medium to one or more intermediate locations of the passage. Also described are methods for producing ethanol from the pretreated biomass.

Abstract: Exposure apparatus exposes a substrate by irradiating the substrate with exposure light via a projection optical system and a liquid. The exposure apparatus is provided with a liquid immersion mechanism for supplying the liquid and recovering the liquid. The liquid immersion mechanism has an inclined surface, which is opposite to a surface of the substrate and is inclined with respect to the surface of the substrate, and a liquid recovering port of the liquid immersion mechanism is formed in the inclined surface. A flat portion is provided between the substrate and the projection optical system. A liquid immersion area can be maintained to be small.

Abstract: A computer-implemented system and method creates and stores measurement statement objects representing complete statements of measurement. Each measurement statement object represents a measurement, such as “the left wing of the F-16 aircraft has a span of 36 m,” and contains a value object, an aspect object, and an entity object. The value object represents a value of the measurement (such as 36 meters) and the aspect object represents an aspect of the measurement (such as span). The value is a value of the aspect of the measurement. The entity object represents an entity (such as the left wing of an F-16 aircraft) measured by the measurement. The aspect of the measurement is an aspect of the entity measured by the measurement Mn. Measurement statement objects may be created by parsing text describing measurements. Operations including computations, validation, searching, and reporting may be performed on measurement statement objects.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed that provide for management of resources of one or more systems included in an access-controlled area of a distributed site of an electric power delivery system. In certain embodiments, one or more users entering and access-controlled area may be identified via physical access control credentials provided to an associated access control system. A determination may be made as to whether the users have access rights to one or more hardware and/or software resources of systems included in the access-controlled area. Based on the determination, control signals may be generated by the access control system to enable and/or disable associated resources.

Abstract: A polymer composite grouting method for blocking leaking and sand inrush of underground pipeline includes steps of: (1) determining a leaking and sand inrush position of an underground pipeline; (2) drilling a plurality of grouting holes in a ground surface; (3) placing two grouting pipes into each of the grouting holes, binding a film bag at a bottom of one of the grouting pipes; (4) injecting a polymer grouting material via one of the grouting pipes to form a polymer sand stabilizing body; (5) extruding water to accumulated in the pipeline; (6) installing a plurality of geotextile bags at the pipeline section displacement; (7) injecting the polymer material into the geotextile bags for blocking the leakage; and (8) filling the pumping area out of the pipeline. The present invention provides a practical technical measure to treat the leaking and sand inrush of the underground pipeline under complicated geological condition.

Abstract: A method for retrieving active material from a galvanic cell is provided. The galvanic cell includes an active material, a support for the active material and a binder for bonding the active material and the support. The method includes the following steps: (a) crushing the cells, in particular under inert gas or in a vacuum, so that solid cell fragments are also formed, (b) heating the solid cell fragments up to the decomposition temperature (Tz), which is high enough to make the binder decompose so that it loses its binding properties, preferably under inert gas or in a vacuum, such that heat treated cell fragmented are formed, and (c) classifying the heat treated cell fragments, whereby (d) the classifying comprises air jet sieving and (e) the air jet sieving is carried out in such a way that the active material is separated from the support.

Abstract: A batching/delivering system for delivering and batching high viscosity products, having at least one managing and actuating device, where the managing and actuating device have at least one control motor and at least one remotely-actuated volumetric batching pump for delivering and batching high viscosity products. The remotely-actuated volumetric batching pump has at least one sucking, volumetrically batching and delivering element with a first duct for sucking the product to be batched, at least one volumetric batching device of the product, and at least one second duct for exiting the product batched by the device. The device is connected to at least one control motor of the device by interposing at least one flexible rotary shaft.

Abstract: A vehicle wheel service system including a plurality of sensors positioned in proximity to a heavy-duty multi-axle vehicle, to measure angles associated with three or more axles of the vehicle without repositioning the mounting of the sensors after initiating a measurement procedure. Additional sensors, associated with a vehicle reference, such as the vehicle frame axis, are disposed to provide vehicle reference measurement data which is communicated to a processing system. The processing system is configured with software instructions to evaluate the measurement data and to determine various vehicle wheel alignment angle measurements and/or necessary vehicle adjustments for each axle relative to the vehicle reference or to a fixed axle having a determined relationship to the vehicle reference.

Abstract: To provide a polycarbonate resin composition excellent in surface hardness and impact strength. A polycarbonate resin composition comprising at least a polycarbonate resin (a) and a polycarbonate resin (b) having structural units different from the polycarbonate resin (a), which satisfies the requirements: (i) the pencil hardness of the polycarbonate resin (a) as specified by ISO15184 is higher than the pencil hardness of the polycarbonate resin (b) as specified by ISO15184; (ii) the weight ratio of the polycarbonate resin (a) to the polycarbonate resin (b) in the polycarbonate resin is from 1:99 to 45:55; (iii) the pencil hardness of the polycarbonate resin composition as specified by ISO15184 is higher by at least two ranks than the pencil hardness of the polycarbonate resin (b) as specified by ISO15184; and (iv) the Charpy impact strength of the polycarbonate resin composition is higher than the Charpy impact strength of the polycarbonate resin (a).

Abstract: A vehicle navigation system for a vehicle that does not provide driving instructions or information to a driver when the driver is traveling along a familiar route, but does provide audible driving instructions or information when a route deviation event includes one or more processors, a vehicle navigation system display, one or more audio speakers, a satellite module, and a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions. The one or more processors are configured to determine if the vehicle navigation system is on a familiar route and execute a Reduced Audible Mode, automatically, when the route is familiar. In addition, the one or more processors are operable to switch the vehicle navigation system from the Reduced Audible Mode to a Full Audible Mode when a route deviation event is detected.

Abstract: A system includes a continuously variable transmission having a primary pulley assembly configured to receive power and a primary oil chamber coupled to the primary pulley assembly such that a pressure of oil within the primary oil chamber is applied to the primary pulley assembly. The continuously variable transmission also includes a secondary pulley assembly and a drive belt configured to transfer power from the primary pulley assembly to the secondary pulley assembly. The system also includes a pressure sensor coupled to the primary oil chamber and configured to detect a pressure of the oil within the primary oil chamber. The system also includes an electronic control unit coupled to the pressure sensor and configured to determine whether the continuously variable transmission is set to the maximum gear ratio based on the detected pressure of the oil within the primary oil chamber.

Abstract: Methods and systems for tuning a resonant modulator are disclosed. One method includes receiving a carrier signal modulated by the resonant modulator with a stream of data having an approximately equal number of high and low bits, determining an average power of the modulated carrier signal, comparing the average power to a predetermined threshold, and operating a tuning device coupled to the resonant modulator based on the comparison of the average power and the predetermined threshold. One system includes an input structure, a plurality of processing elements, and a digital control element. The input structure is configured to receive, from the resonant modulator, a modulated carrier signal. The plurality of processing elements are configured to determine an average power of the modulated carrier signal. The digital control element is configured to operate a tuning device coupled to the resonant modulator based on the average power of the modulated carrier signal.

Abstract: Fourth toe processing apparatus and methods for the processing the fourth toes of a bird are disclosed. The fourth toe processing apparatus includes a shield, a non-contact energy source emitting energy towards the shield, a shank restraint structure receiving a shank of a bird located proximate the second side of the shield, and a fourth toe aperture extending through the first side and the second side of the shield. Energy emitted towards the shield by the energy source passes through the fourth toe aperture so that a fourth toe of a bird having its shank positioned in the fourth toe aperture is exposed to the energy.

Abstract: A catalyst recovery system that includes a concentrated slurry production unit that concentrates a slurry extracted from a reactor main unit and continuously produces a concentrated slurry, a first discharge unit that discharges the concentrated slurry from the concentrated slurry production unit, a solidified slurry production unit that cools the concentrated slurry discharged from the concentrated slurry production unit, thereby solidifying the liquid medium within the concentrated slurry and producing a solidified slurry, and a recovery mechanism that recovers the solidified slurry from the solidified slurry production unit.