Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for exhaust gas after-treatment for essentially lean-burn internal combustion engines and also a corresponding advantageous exhaust gas after-treatment system. In particular, the present invention relates to reducing the proportion of the greenhouse gas N20 in the total exhaust gas from a corresponding internal combustion system using at least one NOx storage catalyst as exhaust gas purification element. The objective of the invention is to operate the N20 depletion catalyst located downstream of the NOx storage catalyst under lambda=<1 conditions when the N20 formed by the NOx storage catalyst reaches the N20 depletion catalyst.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for exhaust gas after-treatment for essentially lean-burn internal combustion engines and also a corresponding advantageous exhaust gas after-treatment system. In particular, the present invention relates to reducing the proportion of the greenhouse gas N20 in the total exhaust gas from a corresponding internal combustion system using at least one NOx storage catalyst as exhaust gas purification element. The objective of the invention is to operate the N20 depletion catalyst located downstream of the NOx storage catalyst under lambda=<1 conditions when the N20 formed by the NOx storage catalyst reaches the N20 depletion catalyst.

Abstract: Provided herein are skin substitutes suitable for use in a living subject for purpose of repairing damaged tissues, methods of producing the skin substitutes and their uses. A biocomposite membrane comprising poly(?-caprolactone) (PCL) and at least one material selected from collagen and gelatin is provided. In one embodiment, the biocomposite is a 2-component membrane of PCL and gelatin. In another embodiment, the biocomposite is a 3-component membrane of PCL, collagen and gelatin. The bio-composite membrane may be used directly in vivo as a wound dressing, or as a support for cell growth on each side of the membrane to produce an in vitro cultivated artificial skin for future in vivo and/or in vitro applications.

Abstract: A method of analyzing a value of a vehicle, the method comprising: (a) receiving a request for information concerning a particular vehicle for sale; (b) receiving vehicle data concerning the particular vehicle and a plurality similar vehicles for sale from at least one source; (c) comparing the vehicle data to identify a subset comprising a plurality of comparable vehicles that are comparable to the particular vehicle and that are for sale; (d) comparing the vehicle data of the particular vehicle to the vehicle data of at least one of the plurality of comparable vehicles to asses a relative value of the particular vehicle; and, (e) generating a report that conveys the relative value of the particular vehicle.

Abstract: Provided herein are skin substitutes suitable for use in a living subject for purpose of repairing damaged tissues, methods of producing the skin substitutes and their uses. A biocomposite membrane comprising poly(?-caprolactone) (PCL) and at least one material selected from collagen and gelatin is provided. In one embodiment, the biocomposite is a 2-component membrane of PCL and gelatin. In another embodiment, the biocomposite is a 3-component membrane of PCL, collagen and gelatin. The bio-composite membrane may be used directly in vivo as a wound dressing, or as a support for cell growth on each side of the membrane to produce an in vitro cultivated artificial skin for future in vivo and/or in vitro applications.

Abstract: An approach for supporting automated fault isolation and recovery is provided. A notification configuration option is transmitted to a browser interface utilized by a user associated with a customer network that is monitored by a service provider, wherein the user selects the notification configuration option to input notification information. The notification information is received, via the browser interface, from the customer. A notification message is received from a platform configured to create a workflow event in response to an alarm indicative of a fault within the customer network, wherein isolation and recovery of the fault is performed according to the workflow event, the notification message including information about the customer network during the fault isolation and recovery process. The notification message is transmitted in accordance with the stored notification information.

Abstract: An approach for supporting automated fault isolation and recovery is provided. An alarm indicative of a fault within a customer network is received. An event within a workflow is created in response to the alarm, wherein a new trouble ticket is generated as part of the workflow. Communication with a trouble management system is performed to correlate the alarm with an existing trouble ticket. The new trouble ticket is associated with the existing trouble ticket.

Abstract: An approach provides support for automatic fault isolation in a managed services system. A fault indication corresponding to a communications network of a customer is determined. An analysis is performed to determine a root cause of the fault indication using information associated with the determined fault to output an alarm. A determination is made whether the alarm is associated with a maintenance event to update the alarm. Further, a workflow event corresponding to the alarm is created.

Abstract: An approach for supporting automated fault isolation and recovery is provided. A workflow event corresponding to an alarm indicative of a fault within a customer network is generated. Recovery from the fault is automated according to the workflow event. Alarm information is transmitted to a maintenance management system, wherein the alarm information specifies information about the alarm. A maintenance event information from the maintenance management system is received in response to the transmitted alarm information. Additionally, it is determined whether the alarm is correlated to a maintenance event based on the maintenance event information. Automated handling of the alarm is differentiated based on the correlation.

Abstract: An approach for supporting automated fault isolation is provided. An alarm is received indicating a fault within a customer network that includes one or more network elements. The customer network being monitored by a service provider. A script is retrieved for specifying a dialogue with the network elements for data collection. A command is transmitted to the customer network according to the one script to obtain data from the network elements, wherein the data is utilized to determine the fault. Further, a workflow event corresponding to the alarm is generated, wherein resolution of the fault is automated according to the workflow event.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for managing thermal loads on a laser gain medium and for boosting the output power of a diode pumped laser are disclosed. The short-term average pumping power to the gain medium is increased, to provide a burst of pumping energy to the laser gain medium. A subsequent short-term reduction in the average pumping power then allows the gain medium to cool to a desired state steady level. The average pumping power is then increased to maintain this steady state level until the next burst is desired. For example, a pulse of current may be applied to a laser diode at a first current level I1 for a first time interval ?t1, where I1 exceeds a nominal current value Inom by an amount ?I1. The current to the laser diode is reduced to a second current level I2 for a second time interval ?t2, where Inom exceeds I2 by an amount ?I2. To balance the thermal load on the diode an integral of ?I1 over the time ?t1 is approximately equal in magnitude to an integral of ?I2 over the time ?t2.

Abstract: A vehicle brake having a brake monitoring and sensor system attached to a brake shoe of a brake assembly for monitoring of temperature and wear of a brake shoe lining of a vehicle. The vehicle brake monitoring and sensor system includes a brake assembly for frictional braking of a vehicle. The brake assembly includes a brake shoe lining having a brake shoe and a brake pad for frictional engagement with the brake assembly; and the brake shoe lining has first rivet openings with rivets therein, and has second rivet openings with no rivets therein. The vehicle brake monitoring system also includes a sensor system having a first sensing element and a second sensing element each connected to the brake shoe; the first sensing element is embedded in one or more of the first rivet openings with the rivets therein; and the second sensing element is embedded in one or more of the second rivet openings having no rivets therein.

Abstract: An intracavity frequency converted, Q-switched laser and method for operating such laser to obtain high output power in secondary pulses at a converted frequency. The secondary pulses are generated by a intracavity frequency conversion element from primary pulses at the fundamental wavelength. In accordance with the invention, after the primary and secondary pulses are generated the Q-switch is turned back on before the gain is fully depleted in the generation of the primary pulse. In particular, the Q-switch is turned back on such that a certain amount of energy of the primary pulse is retained in the laser, but late enough so that a majority of the secondary pulse is out-coupled from the laser. The Q-switched laser is well-suited for use at pulse repetition rates larger than 1/&tgr;, where &tgr; is an upper state lifetime (fluorescence lifetime) of the laser. Specifically, the laser can be operated at repetition rates of 10 kHz and higher, e.g.

Abstract: The invention provides a catalyst for removing carbon monoxide from a reformate gas. The catalyst is characterized in that it contains gold and ruthenium in a ratio by weight between 5:1 and 1:5 on a support material of aluminum oxide, titanium oxide, zirconium oxide, cerium oxide, lanthanum oxide and mixtures or mixed oxides thereof.

Abstract: An intracavity frequency converted, Q-switched laser and method for operating such laser to obtain high output power in secondary pulses at a converted frequency. The secondary pulses are generated by a intracavity frequency conversion element from primary pulses at the fundamental wavelength. In accordance with the invention, after the primary and secondary pulses are generated the Q-switch is turned back on before the gain is fully depleted in the generation of the primary pulse. In particular, the Q-switch is turned back on such that a certain amount of energy of the primary pulse is retained in the laser, but late enough so that a majority of the secondary pulse is out-coupled from the laser. The Q-switched laser is well-suited for use at pulse repetition rates larger than 1/&tgr;, where &tgr; is an upper state lifetime (fluorescence lifetime) of the laser. Specifically, the laser can be operated at repetition rates of 10 kHz and higher, e.g.

Abstract: The invention relates to a double-layered sheet comprising two cover sheets (1, 2) with a space between them, and a fill material (3) which fills the space between said cover sheets. Said fill material is made of plastic, in particular of porous duroplastic plastic, comprising embedded hard bodies (6, 7, 8, 9). In order to obtain the best possible geometrical moment of inertia while keeping the weight per surface area low, and in particular in order to prevent shearing out under pressure, of the cover sheet (1) acting as a compression chord, during pressing together of the double-layered sheet, the fill material is characterised by at least two stress/strain characteristic curves. In particular the fill material comprises pores which are sealed off from each other.

Abstract: A catalyst is disclosed for the steam reforming of alcohols, which contains a palladium/zinc alloy and zinc oxide as catalytically active components. The alloy catalyst is a catalytically active component deposited on at least one support material which can be aluminum oxide, aluminum silicate, titanium oxide, zirconium oxide, zeoliths and mixtures or mixed oxides thereof.

Abstract: A front-end structure for a passenger motor vehicle has a front end region, in the direction of travel, of the brake servo unit which is assigned at least one mechanical forced guidance apparatus. The latter is fixed on at least one body-shell part. In a vehicle impact, the apparatus engages with at least one movement component in the vertical direction of the vehicle, from bottom to top, on the end region of the brake servo unit.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for stabilization of pulse energies produced by a continuously pumped, Q-switched, solid-state or gas laser, through control of the optical power delivered by an optical pump to the laser, in order to limit the energy emitted in any single laser pulse as a result of Q-switching. The laser pump is driven at full strength for a selected initial refresh time t.sub.r. If a Q-switch trigger signal is received by the laser before the elapsed time .DELTA.t has reached the refresh time t.sub.r, the laser emits a pulse with the reduced energy stored in the laser at that time. If the elapsed time reaches or exceeds the refresh time t.sub.r, the optical pump power subsequently delivered to the laser is reduced to a lower level, which may be time-dependent, that is sufficient to maintain the net energy stored in the laser at a predetermined value so that the energy in a subsequently emitted laser pulse does not exceed a selected limit.