Abstract: A method of producing synthesis gas includes directing a first flow of hot synthesis gas through a first conduit, and directing a second flow of feed gas through at least one second conduit. The second conduit contains a reforming catalyst. The feed gas includes a mixture of steam and a hydrocarbon gas. The second conduit has an outer surface in contact with the hot synthesis gas. Heat from the hot synthesis gas is transferred across the second conduit to the feed gas thereby heating the feed gas and cooling the hot synthesis gas. The heated feed gas contacts the reforming catalyst and undergoes a reforming reaction that produces a third flow of synthesis gas.

Abstract: Therapeutic compositions and methods for treatment of late-onset Gaucher disease are described herein. The compositions comprise compounds having activity as pharmacological chaperones for mutant forms of the beta-glucocerebrosidase. Methods of treatment involve providing therapeutically effective amounts of such compositions to subjects in need thereof.

Abstract: The present application relates to combination treatments for bacterial infections. For example, the application relates to the use of one or more ?-lactam antibiotics and one or more compounds of Formula I: (I) for treatment of a metallo-?-lactamase-expressing bacterial infection or a disease, disorder or condition arising from a metallo-?-lactamase-expressing bacterial infection.

Abstract: A tandem solar cell includes a bottom solar cell having an energy bandgap with Eg1 and at least a top solar cell having an energy bandgap Eg2, the energy bandgaps satisfying a relationship Eg1<Eg2. The bottom and top solar cells are vertically stacked and electrically interconnected in series in which an area of the bottom solar cell is larger than an area of the top solar cell in an appropriate ratio to provide for a substantially current matched photovoltaic device for operation in a 2-terminal configuration. This tandem structure may contain more than two (2) cells and each cell may be composed of more than one solar cell. In this case the top solar cell has the largest bandgap, the bottom solar cell has the smallest bandgap, and intervening solar cells have intermediate bandgaps that descend in magnitude from the top to the bottom solar cell.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods and compositions for modulating a microorganism's response to an antimicrobial agent. In one embodiment, the method comprises contacting the microorganism with an antimicrobial agent and bicarbonate. In one embodiment, provided herein are methods for treating a microbial infection comprising administering to a subject in need an effective amount of (i) bicarbonate and (ii) an antimicrobial agent. Also provided herein are methods of screening for antimicrobial compounds.

Abstract: Therapeutic compositions and methods for treatment of late-onset Gaucher disease are described herein. The compositions comprise compounds having activity as pharmacological chaperones for mutant forms of the beta-glucocerebrosidase. Methods of treatment involve providing therapeutically effective amounts of such compositions to subjects in need thereof.

Abstract: An electrode material for an electrochemical cell is provided. The electrode includes a porous hydrophilic substrate, an electroactive material, and a binder. The porous hydrophilic substrate includes a plurality of voids and may be formed from cellulose or cellulosic derivative material. The electroactive material is dispersed in at least a portion of the voids of the hydrophilic substrate. In other aspects, another electrode material for an electrochemical cell is provided. The electrode includes a porous hydrophilic substrate, an electroactive material, an electrically conductive particle, and a binder. The porous hydrophilic substrate includes a plurality of voids and may be formed from cellulose or cellulosic derivative material. The electroactive material and the electrically conductive particle are dispersed in at least a portion of the voids of the hydrophilic substrate. In still other aspects, the porous hydrophilic substrate comprises a coating that is electrically conductive.

Abstract: The present application relates to combination treatments for bacterial infections. For example, the application relates to the use of one or more ?-lactam antibiotics and one or more compounds of Formula I: (I) for treatment of a metallo-B-lactamase-expressing bacterial infection or a disease, disorder or condition arising from a metallo-B-lactamase-expressing bacterial infection.

Abstract: Technologies are generally described for automatically optimizing an efficiency of camera placement, numbers, and resolution in multi-camera monitoring and surveillance applications. In some examples, a fraction of a total area may be monitored at a higher resolution than the rest. Employing techniques such as combinatorial state Viterbi technique or combinatorial state trellis technique, a minimum number of cameras that provide the coverage at the needed resolution may be selected. Similarly, a number of points may be covered with at least a predefined number of cameras. For example, a subject of interest may be tracked in a public area, where specific camera(s) may be used to image the subject's face at a higher resolution than the background.

Abstract: A method of treating obesity and obesity-related disorders in a mammal is provided. The method comprises the step of administering to the mammal a compound that inhibits the synthesis or activity of peripheral serotonin, including a Tph1 inhibitor or a serotonin receptor inhibitor.

Abstract: The present application is directed to methods and systems for identifying small molecule compounds in mixtures using a library comprising calculated structures and corresponding calculated mass spectral fragmentation patterns of known and/or hypothetical small molecule compounds that may be in the mixture and screening of a mass spectrum of the mixture using the library to identify matching fragmentation patterns. If a mass spectral fragmentation pattern present in the mass spectrum of the mixture matches a calculated fragmentation pattern of one of the known or hypothetical compounds this confirms the identity of a compound in the mixture as the known or hypothetical compound. The method represents a platform method that can be used for a multitude of purposes related to the screening and identification of compounds in mixtures.

Abstract: A display illumination module for the illumination of a rear-projection screen is provided in which a first array of light sources is positioned adjacent to a first face of an optical modulating array layer for modulating the transmission of light emitted by the first array light sources. The first array light sources emit light within a defined angular range, and the optical modulating array layer is positioned relative to the first array of light sources so that light from adjacent light sources does not overlap at the optical modulating array layer. A second array of light sources is positioned adjacent to a second side of the optical modulation array layer and is arranged such that light from the second array of light sources does not pass through said optical modulation array layer and said second array of light sources does not substantially block light from the first array of light sources passing through the optical modulating array layer.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide devices and methods involving the thermal stabilization of microring resonators, such as microring modulators. Power is measured via an on-chip photodetector integrated with a drop port of the microring resonator, providing a local measurement of average power. This average power is employed as a feedback measure to actively control a heater that is integrated with the microring resonator, in order to stabilize the resonant wavelength of the microring resonator in the presence of thermal fluctuations. Employing such a system, a microring modulator can maintain error-free performance under thermal fluctuations that would normally render it inoperable.

Abstract: A multi-source power converter is proposed to permit bidirectional DC to AC conversion from n (n?2 and n?) DC voltage sources to an AC load with a reduced number of switches, and DC to DC conversion. Both single and three phases AC load are considered. The proposed topology consists in a single stage of conversion, and therefore a high efficiency can be expected for the system. Any type of DC sources can be used in the system (fuel-cell, battery, ultra-capacitor, photo-voltaic cells, DC bus, DC to DC or AC to DC converter, etc.). The AC load can be either single or three phases (single-phase AC grid/microgrid, three-phase electric machines, induction machine, synchronous machine, etc.). There is no requirement for the n DC voltage source values; they can be equal or different and they can be used individually or together by the converter to generate the AC output. If different DC voltage values are used, the converter can be controlled to generate a multi-level AC voltage.

Abstract: A method for growing semiconductor wafers by lateral diffusion liquid phase epitaxy is described. Also provided are a refractory device for practicing the disclosed method and semiconductor wafers prepared by the disclosed method and device. The disclosed method and device allow for significant cost and material waste savings over current semiconductor production technologies.

Abstract: Various embodiments are described herein for a dual-voltage charging system for electrified vehicles. In one example embodiment, the dual-voltage charging system comprises an integrated active filter auxiliary power module (AFAPM), the integrated AFAPM is applied as an active power filter (APF) to compensate low frequency harmonics in a high voltage (HV) battery charger when the HV battery is charging, and applied as a low voltage (LV) battery charger auxiliary power module (APM) when the HV battery stops the charging and starts to charge the LV battery.

Abstract: A switched reluctance machine designed for high-speed high-power operation. The switched reluctance machine has a rotor having a plurality of radially extending rotor poles, an interpolar filler positioned between the rotor poles, a stator having a plurality of stator poles extending radially inwardly from the inner surface of a machine frame, a stator winding positioned about each stator pole, wherein the stator wire has a rectangular cross-sectional profile, an axial cooling system, an end turn cooling system, and a cooling jacket positioned radially about the machine frame, and a power source configured to selectively supply electrical power to the one or more stator windings to induce rotation of the rotor.

Abstract: A method for controlling a switched reluctance motor, the method comprising: receiving a reference torque Te ref; receiving an indication of a present rotor position ? for the switched reluctance motor; determining at least one of: a reference current ie_ref(k?1) for a (k?1)th phase, a reference current ie_ref(k) for a (k)th phase, and a reference current ie_ref(k+1) for a (k+1)th phase; and outputting the determined at least one reference current to a current controller operatively coupled to the switched reluctance motor, wherein the determined at least one reference current is based on an objective function comprising the squares of phase current and derivatives of current reference.

Abstract: Various embodiments are described herein for a system and method to eliminate mutual flux effect on rotor position estimation of switched reluctance motor (SRM) drives at rotating shaft conditions without a prior knowledge of mutual flux. Neglecting the magnetic saturation, the operation of conventional self-inductance estimation using phase current slope difference method can be classified into three modes: Mode I, II and III. At positive-current-slope and negative-current-slope sampling point of one phase, the sign of current slope of the other phase changes in Mode I and II, but does not change in Mode III. In one example embodiment, in order to operate the self-inductance estimation in Mode III, a variable-hysteresis-band current control method is proposed for the incoming phase and variable-sampling method is proposed for the outgoing phase.

Abstract: Technologies are generally described for automatically optimizing an efficiency of camera placement, numbers, and resolution in multi-camera monitoring and surveillance applications. In some examples, a fraction of a total area may be monitored at a higher resolution than the rest. Employing techniques such as combinatorial state Viterbi technique or combinatorial state trellis technique, a minimum number of cameras that provide the coverage at the needed resolution may be selected. Similarly, a number of points may be covered with at least a predefined number of cameras. For example, a subject of interest may be tracked in a public area, where specific camera(s) may be used to image the subject's face at a higher resolution than the background.