Abstract: An appliance can include a microphone transducer, a processor, and a memory storing instructions. The appliance is configured to receive an audio signal at the microphone transducer and to detect an utterance in the audio signal. The appliance is further configured to classify a speech mode based on the utterance. The appliance is further configured to determine conditions of an environment of the appliance. The appliance is further configured to select at least one of a playback volume or a speech output mode from a plurality of speech output modes based on the classification, and the conditions of the environment of the appliance. The appliance is further configured to adapt the playback volume and/or mode of played-back speech according to the speech output mode. The appliance may be configured to synthesize speech according to the speech output mode, or to modify synthesized speech according to the speech output mode.

Abstract: An appliance can include a microphone transducer, a processor, and a memory storing instructions. The appliance is configured to receive an audio signal at the microphone transducer and to detect an utterance in the audio signal. The appliance is further configured to classify a speech mode based on the utterance. The appliance is further configured to determine conditions of an environment of the appliance. The appliance is further configured to select at least one of a playback volume or a speech output mode from a plurality of speech output modes based on the classification, and the conditions of the environment of the appliance. The appliance is further configured to adapt the playback volume and/or mode of played-back speech according to the speech output mode. The appliance may be configured to synthesize speech according to the speech output mode, or to modify synthesized speech according to the speech output mode.

Abstract: A ceramic honeycomb body having intersecting walls that form channels extending axially from a first end face to a second end face and plugs to seal the channels at least at one of the first end face and the second end face. The plugs include a first active component, such as a catalytically active component or a chemically active component, of the plug structure, wherein the intersecting walls comprise no first active component and optionally have a second active component of the wall structure or disposed on the walls. Included are methods of making the ceramic honeycomb body having plugs of the first active component and walls with no first active component.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer readable media to improve the operation of display systems are disclosed. In general, techniques are disclosed for dynamically adjusting backlight elements based on image content. More particularly, a backlight element's intensity may be targeted for boosting (i.e., increasing) based on content of the backlight element's corresponding image region, where after a check may be made to determine if the proposed increase is likely to risk generation of a halo. If the proposed intensity increase would risk a halo, the backlight element's proposed intensity may be dimmed. Repeating the boost/dim cycle in an iterative fashion permits an image to be displayed with brighter highlights and deeper blacks.

Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a method and system for detecting disorders in retinal images. The method comprises, receiving one or more retinal images. Then, identifying one or more gross pathologies and extracting one or more patches around the one or more gross pathologies. Further, assigning confidence value to each of the one or more patches and classifying each of the one or more patches as belonging to a label of the set of labels. Further, computing a histogram for each label of the set of labels. Further, generating, a confidence vector for the corresponding retinal image. Further, generating a feature vector by combining the confidence vector generated for each of the one or more retinal images. A value of the feature vector determines the presence and grade of disorder.

Abstract: A compound honeycomb body comprising a first honeycomb section having a volume V1 and a second honeycomb section fluidly connected to the first honeycomb having a volume V2 is provided. The first honeycomb section comprises a low mass high porosity porous ceramic substrate. The second honeycomb section comprises a standard porous ceramic substrate. Wherein V1/V2 comprises a ratio in a range from about 50/50 to about 10/90.

Abstract: A compound honeycomb body comprising a first honeycomb section having a volume V1 and a second honeycomb section fluidly connected to the first honeycomb having a volume V2 is provided. The first honeycomb section comprises a low mass high porosity porous ceramic substrate. The second honeycomb section comprises a standard porous ceramic substrate. Wherein V1/V2 comprises a ratio in a range from about 50/50 to about 10/90.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer readable media to improve the operation of display systems are disclosed. In general, techniques are disclosed for dynamically adjusting backlight elements based on image content. More particularly, a backlight element's intensity may be targeted for boosting (i.e., increasing) based on content of the backlight element's corresponding image region, where after a check may be made to determine if the proposed increase is likely to risk generation of a halo. If the proposed intensity increase would risk a halo, the backlight element's proposed intensity may be dimmed. Repeating the boost/dim cycle in an iterative fashion permits an image to be displayed with brighter highlights and deeper blacks.

Abstract: A ceramic honeycomb body having intersecting walls that form channels extending axially from a first end face to a second end face and plugs to seal the channels at least at one of the first end face and the second end face. The plugs include a first active component, such as a catalytically active component or a chemically active component, of the plug structure, wherein the intersecting walls comprise no first active component and optionally have a second active component of the wall structure or disposed on the walls. Included are methods of making the ceramic honeycomb body having plugs of the first active component and walls with no first active component.

Abstract: Cyclonic separation devices and fluid stream separating apparatuses incorporating cyclonic separation devices are described. A cyclonic separation device may include an exterior housing having an exterior cylindrical portion and an exterior conical portion extending from the exterior cylindrical portion and an interior housing having an interior cylindrical portion and an interior conical portion extending from the interior cylindrical portion. The interior housing is positioned relative to the exterior housing to form a circulating chamber. The cyclonic separation device also includes a fluid inlet coupled to the exterior housing, where the fluid inlet positioned to inject a fluid stream into the circulating chamber at an orientation generally tangential to the cylindrical portions of the exterior housing and the interior housing. The cyclonic separation device further includes a low-density outlet coupled to at least one of the exterior conical portion or the interior conical portion.

Abstract: Methods of testing a honeycomb filter include the step of maintaining an average temperature of the honeycomb filter and/or fog within a range of from about 10° C. to about 30° C. and flowing a fog with moisture droplets into the honeycomb network of channels at the first end portion of the honeycomb filter, the fog including a relative humidity of at least 80%. In further examples, the moisture droplets include a mean droplet size of from about 1 micron to about 25 microns.

Abstract: A method of determining an optimal geometry for monoliths useful for capturing CO2 is described. Monoliths having the determined desired geometry are also described.

Abstract: Cyclonic separation devices and fluid stream separating apparatuses incorporating cyclonic separation devices are described. A cyclonic separation device may include an exterior housing having an exterior cylindrical portion and an exterior conical portion extending from the exterior cylindrical portion and an interior housing having an interior cylindrical portion and an interior conical portion extending from the interior cylindrical portion. The interior housing is positioned relative to the exterior housing to form a circulating chamber. The cyclonic separation device also includes a fluid inlet coupled to the exterior housing, where the fluid inlet positioned to inject a fluid stream into the circulating chamber at an orientation generally tangential to the cylindrical portions of the exterior housing and the interior housing. The cyclonic separation device further includes a low-density outlet coupled to at least one of the exterior conical portion or the interior conical portion.

Abstract: A method of determining an optimal geometry for monoliths useful for capturing CO2 is described. Monoliths having the determined desired geometry are also described.

Abstract: Methods of testing a honeycomb filter include the step of maintaining an average temperature of the honeycomb filter and/or fog within a range of from about 10° C. to about 30° C. and flowing a fog with moisture droplets into the honeycomb network of channels at the first end portion of the honeycomb filter, the fog including a relative humidity of at least 80%. In further examples, the moisture droplets include a mean droplet size of from about 1 micron to about 25 microns.

Abstract: An exhaust gas after-treatment system includes at least first and second substrates. The first substrate has a first region and a second region circumferentially surrounding the first region. The first region of the first substrate has a higher average cell density than the average cell density of the second substrate. The system can also include at least a third substrate.

Abstract: An exhaust gas after-treatment system includes at least first and second substrates. The first substrate has a first region and a second region circumferentially surrounding the first region. The first region of the first substrate has a higher average cell density than the average cell density of the second substrate. The system can also include at least a third substrate.

Abstract: A method of operating an exhaust gas after-treatment device with a substrate having a catalyst thereon directs exhaust gas through a first portion of the substrate during a cold-start of the after-treatment device, where the first portion of the substrate less than an entirety of the substrate. After light-off of the catalyst in the first portion of the substrate, exhaust gas is directed through the entirety of the substrate. An exhaust gas after-treatment device for carrying out the method includes a flow control device having a cold start configuration and a light off configuration, wherein the cold start configuration directs exhaust gas through the first portion of the substrate, and the light off configuration directs exhaust gas through the entirety of the substrate.

Abstract: A method of operating an exhaust gas after-treatment device with a substrate having a catalyst thereon directs exhaust gas through a first portion of the substrate during a cold-start of the after-treatment device, where the first portion of the substrate less than an entirety of the substrate. After light-off of the catalyst in the first portion of the substrate, exhaust gas is directed through the entirety of the substrate. An exhaust gas after-treatment device for carrying out the method includes a flow control device having a cold start configuration and a light off configuration, wherein the cold start configuration directs exhaust gas through the first portion of the substrate, and the light off configuration directs exhaust gas through the entirety of the substrate.

Abstract: Honeycomb catalyst structures and methods of using them, where the structures have honeycomb channel walls of selective catalytic reduction catalyst, the channel walls occupy at least 20% of the volume of the structure, the structure exhibits a pressure drop for flowing air not exceeding about 110 Pa at a space velocity of 20,000 hr?1, and the channel walls are of a thickness insuring high degree of catalyst utilization and NOx conversion efficiency.