Abstract: An apparatus and process for the activation of catalyst material utilized in ammonia cracking can include an initial use of hydrogen and heat to perform an initial stage of catalyst activation and a subsequent use of ammonia and heat to perform a subsequent state of catalyst activation. The subsequent use of ammonia can be configured so that different catalytic material at different plant elements are activated in a pre-selected sequence to provide activation of the catalytic material utilized in different plant elements. Some embodiments can be configured to avoid excess temperatures that can be detrimental to equipment that can be positioned upstream of a furnace in some embodiments while also avoiding sintering of the catalytic material.

Abstract: The disclosure relates improving correctional officer safety. A system can include a first camera facing a region of a correctional facility including monitored objects, the first camera configured to generate first pixel data including first pixels corresponding to the objects, a second camera in the correctional facility and facing away from the region, the second camera configured to generate second pixel data including second pixels corresponding to a person that approaches the region, and a server configured to receive the first and second pixel data through a network connection, transmit the received data to a recognition service through the network, and receive an alert from the alert service that indicates a monitoring rule associated with an object of the objects is violated, an identification associated with the person, a last known location of the person or the object, and an indication of the monitoring rule violated.

Abstract: Disclosed is a sensor for identifying the presence of a biological material in a sample, the sensor comprising: an antenna apparatus for transmitting and receiving microwave electromagnetic (EM) signals; a signal transmitter apparatus coupled to the antenna apparatus and arranged to transmit a microwave-frequency output signal to the antenna apparatus for emission therefrom as an output electromagnetic (EM) signal for reflection at a said sample and to receive a microwave-frequency return signal from the antenna apparatus in response to a return electromagnetic (EM) signal received thereat by reflection from a said sample; a signal processor arranged to calculate a complex-valued reflection coefficient, comprising a real component and an imaginary component, according to said return signal and said output signal, and to detect the presence of said biological material in said sample according to both the real component and the imaginary component of said reflection coefficient.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a music generation method, apparatus and system, and storage medium. In an embodiment of the present disclosure: obtaining text information, and converting the text information into a corresponding voice audio; obtaining an initial music audio, wherein the initial music audio comprises a music key point, and music characteristics of the initial music audio have a sudden change at the position of an audio key point; and on the basis of the position of the music key point, synthesizing the voice audio and the initial music audio to obtain a target music audio. In the target music audio, the voice audio appears at the position of the music key point of the initial music audio. Thus, a music audio is generated from text information, and the user can customize the content of the text information and customize the initial music audio.

Abstract: In a reactor comprising a cylindrical combustion chamber, at least one burner and a circular array of catalyst-containing tubes, there is provided a ring baffle on the wall opposite the burner(s) extending into the combustion chamber which redirects combustion gas around the combustion chamber, thereby enabling more even heat distribution and an increase in overall heat transfer.

Abstract: Some embodiments process facial images to ensure the inmate present for release is the actual inmate to be released. One embodiment includes receiving a facial image and a data identifier of a person. This embodiment further includes processing the facial image of the person in view of facial image data of the person to determine whether the received facial image matches the retrieved facial image data. The facial image data may be retrieved based on the data identifier of the person, facial landmark data extracted from the facial image, or otherwise. When the received facial image and the retrieved facial image data of the person match, an indicator of a match and a successful release identity verification is output. When there is not a match, an indicator of a failed release identity verification is output.

Abstract: The invention concerns a process and apparatus for cracking ammonia in which heated ammonia at super-atmospheric pressure is partially cracked in reactor tubes containing a first catalyst in a fired reactor to produce partially cracked ammonia gas which is then cracked over a second catalyst in a reaction zone of an electrically heated reactor to produce cracked gas comprising hydrogen gas, nitrogen gas and residual ammonia. The cracked gas is cooled and hydrogen is recovered from the cooled cracked gas in a hydrogen recovery unit. Offgas from the hydrogen recovery unit, or a cracked offgas derived therefrom, provides at least some, preferably all, of the fuel requirement in the fired reactor. Varying the power input to the second part of the cracking reaction enables direct control of the heat flux profile and hence optimization of the conversion.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and compositions comprising at least one neutral metalloprotease enzyme that has improved storage stability. In some embodiments, the neutral metalloprotease finds use in cleaning and other applications. In some particularly preferred embodiments, the present invention provides methods and compositions comprising neutral metalloprotease(s) obtained from Bacillus sp. In some more particularly preferred embodiments, the neutral metalloprotease is obtained from B. amyloliquefaciens. In still further preferred embodiments, the neutral metalloprotease is a variant of the B. amyloliquefaciens neutral metalloprotease. In yet additional embodiments, the neutral metalloprotease is a homolog of the the B. amyloliquefaciens neutral metalloprotease. The present invention finds particular use in applications including, but not limited to cleaning, bleaching and disinfecting.

Abstract: The invention concerns a process and apparatus for cracking ammonia in which heated ammonia at super-atmospheric pressure is partially cracked over a first catalyst in a reaction zone of an electrically heated reactor to produce partially cracked ammonia gas which is then cracked in reactor tubes containing a second catalyst in a fired reactor to produce cracked gas comprising hydrogen gas, nitrogen gas and residual ammonia. The cracked gas is cooled and hydrogen is recovered from the cooled cracked gas in a hydrogen recovery unit. Offgas from the hydrogen recovery unit, or a cracked offgas derived therefrom, provides at least some, preferably all, of the fuel requirement in the fired reactor. Varying the power input to the first part of the cracking reaction enables direct control of the heat flux profile and hence accommodate any excess or shortfall in the heat input from the fired reactor.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a MEMS device includes forming a first solid body by forming, on a substrate, a layered structure having a thickness of a value comprised between 4 and 10 ?m, with the layered structure having a first surface that is uniformly flat or planar throughout the extension thereof that faces the substrate. The method further includes forming, on a second surface of the layered structure opposite to the first surface in a direction, multiple transducer devices. The method then proceeds with coupling the first solid body to a supporting structure, and completely removing the substrate to expose said uniformly flat or planar surface.

Abstract: Ammonia cracking process in which cracked gas is purified in a PSA system are improved by converting residual ammonia in the first cracked gas into further hydrogen and nitrogen by feeding PSA tail gas, or a gas derived therefrom, to a secondary cracking reactor and further processing the second cracked gas.

Abstract: Recovery of a renewable hydrogen product from an ammonia cracking process, in which the cracked gas is purified in a first PSA device and at least a portion of the first PSA tail gas is recycled as fuel to reduce the carbon intensity of the renewable hydrogen product.

Abstract: Reduction of the water content of ammonia used in an ammonia cracking process allows the use of water intolerant cracking catalysts. The water removal process can also be used to recover and recycle ammonia from the cracked gas.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and compositions comprising at least one neutral metalloprotease enzyme that has improved storage stability. In some embodiments, the neutral metalloprotease finds use in cleaning and other applications. In some particularly preferred embodiments, the present invention provides methods and compositions comprising neutral metalloprotease(s) obtained from Bacillus sp. In some more particularly preferred embodiments, the neutral metalloprotease is obtained from B. amyloliquefaciens. In still further preferred embodiments, the neutral metalloprotease is a variant of the B. amyloliquefaciens neutral metalloprotease. In yet additional embodiments, the neutral metalloprotease is a homolog of the the B. amyloliquefaciens neutral metalloprotease. The present invention finds particular use in applications including, but not limited to cleaning, bleaching and disinfecting.

Abstract: A precision volumetric pump with a bellows hermetic seal provides compliance time performance comparable to a conventional pump having a dynamic seal. However, the precision volumetric pump with a bellows hermetic seal is enabled to operate over a very long service life with minimal or no maintenance without a propensity to develop leaks over the long service life.

Abstract: The invention concerns a process and apparatus for cracking ammonia in which heated ammonia gas at super-atmospheric pressure is partially cracked in at least two adiabatic reactors in series with interstage heating in which the feed temperature to a first reactor is higher than the feed temperature to a further reactor to produce a partially cracked ammonia gas which is then fed to catalyst-containing reactor tubes in a furnace to produce a cracked gas comprising hydrogen gas, nitrogen gas and residual ammonia gas. The use of the adiabatic reactors enables more efficient heat integration within the process and the higher temperature in the first reactor enables the use of a nickel-based catalyst in that reactor as an alternative solution to the potential problem of the presence of oil in the ammonia.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a process and apparatus for cracking ammonia gas at super-atmospheric pressure in catalyst-filled reactor tubes in a furnace. The tubes each have an upstream layer of a first catalyst and a downstream layer of a second catalyst, the first catalyst being more active than the second catalyst. Having the more active catalyst upstream reduces the temperature of the outer walls of the tubes in the region of the burner flames and the temperature of the inner walls of the tubes in the region with the highest mole fraction of ammonia. Nitriding of the metal of the tubes in this region is thereby reduced.

Abstract: The invention concerns a process and apparatus for cracking ammonia in which heated ammonia gas at super-atmospheric pressure is partially cracked catalytically in an adiabatic reaction unit to produce partially cracked ammonia gas which is heated and fed to catalyst-containing reactor tubes in a furnace to cause cracking of further ammonia and produce a cracked gas comprising hydrogen gas, nitrogen gas and residual ammonia gas. At least some, preferably all, of the duty required to heat the partially cracked ammonia gas is provided by heat exchange with the cracked gas, enabling more efficient heat integration within the process.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a process for cracking ammonia comprising providing an ammonia-containing feed gas at a temperature of over 600° C. and a pressure in a range from about 5 bar to about 50 bar; combusting a fuel with an oxidant gas in a furnace to heat reactor tubes to achieve a maximum inner wall temperature of over 700° C. and produce a flue gas, each reactor tube comprising a catalyst bed comprising a first row transition metal-based catalyst; and feeding the ammonia-containing feed gas to the reactor tubes to produce a cracked gas at a temperature of over 600° C. on exit from the reactor tubes.

Abstract: An enterprise inventory management system, and methods of use thereof, utilizing novel functionalities. The system includes a centralized global inventory database subsystem for cataloging a plurality of inventory items from a plurality of remote physical locations, each of the items identified by at least a unique identification code; and, a plurality of localized radio frequency identification (RFID) interrogator subsystems associated with a corresponding plurality of remote physical locations, wherein each of the localized RF interrogator subsystems is operative to read RFID tags associated with ones of the plurality of inventory items located at its associated physical location, wherein each of the RFID tags is programmed with at least a unique identification code for its associated item.