Abstract: A apparatus includes a first stack having: a porous metallic current collector; a first electrode layer on the porous metallic current collector; a second electrode layer; a first electrolyte layer between the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer; a third electrode layer on the porous metallic current collector, the third electrode layer sandwiching the porous metallic current collector therebetween with the first electrode layer; a fourth electrode layer; and a second electrolyte layer between the third and the fourth electrode layers. A method includes: providing (he apparatus; applying a first electric field between the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer; applying a second electric field between the third and the fourth electrode layers; and introducing nitrogen oxide to the apparatus to be decomposed into nitrogen and oxygen in the apparatus.

Abstract: A system and a method for recovering oil from an oil-bearing formation wherein the method includes providing a reverse osmosis (RO) unit comprising at least one membrane; feeding a first feed stream having a first salinity content to a first side of the membrane; and feeding a second feed stream having a second salinity content to a second side of the membrane. The method further includes discharging a retentate stream from the first side of the membrane, and discharging a product stream having a controlled salinity content from the second side of the membrane. The method furthermore includes injecting at least a portion of the product stream into the oil-bearing formation, and recovering at least a portion of the oil from the oil-bearing formation.

Abstract: A power generation system utilizing a fuel cell is described. The system includes a fuel cell having an anode configured to generate a tail gas. The anode includes an inlet and an outlet. The system further includes a fuel path configured to divert a first portion of the anode tail gas to the inlet of the anode; and a second portion of the anode tail gas to a reciprocating engine. The associated reciprocating engine is at least partially powered by the second portion of the anode tail-gas. Another embodiment of the invention is directed to a power generation system that includes the anode and an external fuel reforming system, along with a gas splitting mechanism to divide the reformed fuel into two streams. One stream is directed back to the fuel cell anode, while another stream is used to completely or partially power an external or internal combustion engine.

Abstract: A reaction hydrogen production control mechanism is provided that includes, a solid sodium borohydride mixture, a liquid fuel reactant, at least one liquid delivery medium (LDM), a movable boundary interface (MBI) and a reaction zone, where the MBI is disposed to provide a constant contact between a reacting surface of the solid fuel mixture and the primary LDM to form the reaction zone. A reaction in the reaction zone includes a hydrolysis reaction. The MBI moves according to a spring, gas pressure, or an elastic membrane. Product paths are disposed to transfer reactants from the system. The product paths can include a channel on a surface of the solid fuel mixture, a channel disposed through the solid fuel mixture, a channel disposed about the solid fuel mixture, a contained region disposed about the solid fuel mixture, or a conduit abutting the solid fuel mixture.

Abstract: Gain values of PMTs of a PET scanner's detectors are balanced based on detected radiation from a radioactive calibration source placed in an FOV of the scanner. A time alignment is performed for scintillator crystals of the detectors based on TOF computations based on gamma photons associated with the radioactive calibration source. Baseline data is acquired using intrinsic background radiation of the scintillator crystals, without any object in the FOV. A first set of data, based on the baseline data, is stored in a memory of the scanner. After the acquisition of the baseline data, test data is acquired using intrinsic background radiation of the scintillator crystals, without any object in the FOV. A calibration status of the scanner or of an environment surrounding the scanner is automatically checked based on a comparison between the stored first set of data and a second set of data.

Abstract: The customized execution of an executable accessed from a web server. Upon receiving a request for the executable, the web server determines a customization to be applied to the executable. For instance, arguments may be parsed from the Uniform Resource Locator (URL) of the request. The web server then sends a copy of the executable to the client, and provides customization argument(s) in the name of the executable. Thus, the name of the executable may differ, depending on the customization to be applied, although the executable binary itself may be the same. The client receives the executable copy, and interprets its name to determine the customization to be applied. For instance, the client may extract the argument(s) from the name of the executable, and provide those argument(s) to the executable when executed.

Abstract: A method of operating a power adapter that includes an energy storage device and a fuel cell system including a fuel supply and a fuel cell stack, the method including determining a connectivity state of an auxiliary power source and a load with the power adapter, and selecting a power adapter operation mode based on the connection states of the auxiliary power source and the load. The operation modes of the power adapter include at least an auxiliary mode when the auxiliary power source and the load are connected to the power adapter, and a fuel cell mode when the auxiliary power source is disconnected from the power adapter and the load is connected to the power adapter. The auxiliary mode includes providing power from the auxiliary power source to the load, and the fuel cell mode includes providing fuel cell power to the load.

Abstract: A portable entertainment system for a vehicle includes a portable housing, a transceiver, a processor, a memory, and a rechargeable battery. The transceiver communicates through RF signals with Portable Electronic Devices (PEDs) operated by vehicle passengers. The rechargeable battery supplies power to the transceiver, the processor, and the memory. The memory is coupled to the processor and includes entertainment content and further includes computer readable program code that causes the processor to communicate a list, of at least some of the entertainment content available in the memory, to the PEDs. A content selection message is received through the transceiver from one of the PEDs that requests communication of a selected one of the entertainment content identified in the list. The selected entertainment content is communicated through the transceiver to the PED. The transceiver, the processor, and the memory are enclosed within the portable housing.

Abstract: A cooling system for providing chilled air is disclosed, including a cooling coil; an evaporator and absorber contained within a vacuum chamber; and a desiccant that absorbs water vapor from the cooling process. The system also includes an external heat source for treating the desiccant; along with a regenerator to make the desiccant re-useable. At least one heat exchanger is also included, along with a source of make-up water in communication with the cooling coil. Related processes are also disclosed, along with a gas turbine engine that includes or is arranged in association with the cooling system.

Abstract: A method of making a hollow metal component comprising the steps of providing at least one core comprising a first side and a reverse side; utilizing a first metal spray process to apply at least one metal or metal alloy to the first side of the core, resulting in a partially-formed structure comprising a first side and a reverse side; and utilizing a second metal spray process to apply at least one metal or metal alloy to the reverse sides of the partially-formed structure and the core, resulting in a rough structure. A hollow metal component comprising a first side having interior and exterior surfaces, a reverse side having interior and exterior surfaces, the interior surfaces of the first side and the reverse side defining at least one cavity. The component is integrally formed and has regions comprising relatively different material compositions, the regions having gradual transitions of materials therebetween.

Abstract: A system for controlling a flow rate ratio includes a fuel cell comprising an anode for generating a tail gas and having an inlet and an outlet; a fuel reformer for mixing a fuel with the tail gas from the outlet of the anode to generate a reformed stream which is split into first and second branch streams at a splitting position, the first branch stream returned to the inlet of the anode; a cooler for removing heat from the second branch stream; a bottoming cycle including an external or internal combustion engine driven in response to the cooled second branch stream; a measuring device for measuring differential pressures of two of the main stream, the first branch stream and the second branch stream; and a controlling device for controlling a flow rate ratio of the first branch stream to the main stream in response to the measured differential pressures.

Abstract: The invention provides an oral care composition suitable for delivering a temporary whitening effect to the surface of teeth, the composition comprising: a continuous phase comprising water or polyhydric alcohol or a mixture thereof; a tooth surface whitening agent which is dispersed in the continuous phase, and a deposition aid for the tooth surface whitening agent; characterized in that the tooth surface whitening agent is a pearlescent pigment in an amount of at least 0.1% by weight based on the total weight of the composition, the pearlescent pigment being formed by coating one or more metal oxide layers onto particles of an inorganic substrate.

Abstract: A face authentication or recognition system embodiment includes a processing unit; a flash illumination drive circuit; a flash illumination unit having a flashlamp configured to generate a set of flash illumination pulses; a set of spectral filters configured to pass a set of spectrally filtered flash illumination pulses; a lens; an image sensor configured to receive a set of filtered flash illumination pulses reflected from a subject's face and generate a corresponding facial image dataset; and a memory or data storage device configured to store facial image datasets, enrollment datasets, and query datasets, and which includes a face authentication or recognition module. Spectrally filtered flash illumination pulses have an intensity at least approximately equal to the intensity of ambient sunlight, essentially regardless of an outdoor environment under consideration upon or proximate to the surface of the earth.

Abstract: Drill string check valve apparatus comprises a tubular body and a flapper valve mounted in the body with a flapper movable between an open position and a closed position. An axially extending valve retainer is also mounted in the body and is translatable from a running position to a drilling position. In the running position the valve retainer extends through the valve to maintain the flapper in the open position. In the drilling position the valve retainer permits the flapper to move to the closed position to prevent flow up through the body.

Abstract: A power generation system including a first fuel cell configured to generate a first anode tail gas stream is presented. The system includes at least one fuel reformer configured to receive the first anode tail gas stream, mix the first anode tail gas stream with a reformer fuel stream to form a reformed stream; a splitting mechanism to split the reformed stream into a first portion and a second portion; and a fuel path configured to circulate the first portion to an anode inlet of the first fuel cell, such that the first fuel cell is configured to generate a first electric power, at least in part, by using the first portion as a fuel. The system includes a second fuel cell configured to receive the second portion, and to generate a second electric power, at least in part, by using the second portion as a fuel.

Abstract: The present invention relates to water-soluble films incorporating anti-tacking agents and methods of their preparation. Anti-tacking agents may improve the flow characteristics of the compositions and thereby reduce the problem of film adhering to a user's mouth or to other units of film. In particular, the present invention relates to edible water-soluble delivery systems in the form of a film composition including a water-soluble polymer, an active component selected from cosmetic agents, pharmaceutical agents, vitamins, bioactive agents and combinations thereof and at least one anti-tacking agent.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for treating surfaces comprising photochromic dyes, particularly for laundry treatment.

Abstract: A method for processing a flowback composition stream from a well head is provided. The flowback composition stream has a first flow rate and a first pressure. Method also includes controlling the first flow rate to a second flow rate by regulating the flowback composition stream to a second pressure. The method also includes separating the flowback composition stream into a first gas stream and a condensed stream The method includes discharging the condensed stream to a degasser and degassing a carbon dioxide rich gas from the condensed stream. The method also includes mixing the carbon dioxide rich gas stream with the first gas stream to produce a second gas stream. The method includes controlling the third flow rate of the second gas stream by regulating the third pressure of the second gas stream to a fourth pressure that is different than the third pressure.

Abstract: A method for decomposing nitrogen oxide includes: contacting a gas stream comprising nitrogen oxide with a device, the device comprising: a first electrode, an opposite second electrode, an electrolyte between the first and the second electrodes, and a power supply; and applying in a pulse mode an electrical current from the power supply to the first and the second electrodes to decompose nitrogen oxide. An associated apparatus is also described.

Abstract: An immunoassay method for detecting and determining ‘NBOMe’ family designer drugs is described. Also described are components for use in implementing the method, namely, antibodies, detection agents, solid state devices and kits as well as immunogens used to raise the antibodies.