Abstract: A membrane electrode assembly includes an ion conducting membrane; an anode catalyst layer arranged on one side of the ion conducting membrane; a cathode catalyst layer arranged on the other side of the ion conducting membrane; an anode diffusion layer arranged on an outer side of the anode catalyst layer; and a cathode diffusion layer arranged on an outer side of the cathode catalyst layer. Only in the anode catalyst layer, the density of a first catalyst layer portion located close to the anode diffusion layer is smaller than the density of a second catalyst layer portion located close to the ion conducting membrane.

Abstract: A multiphase flowmeter for determining at least one characteristic of a first phase flowing in a pipe with at least a second phase being also present in the pipe is disclosed. The multiphase flowmeter includes a processor configured to determine the at least one characteristic of the first phase, a first transducer configured to emit a first pulse signal into the first phase at a first incident angle with respect to a straight line that is perpendicular to an interior pipe wall; the first pulse signal is in an ultrasonic range and is configured to be coupled to an exterior pipe wall; and the absolute value of the first incident angle in the first phase is configured to be at least 10 degrees and at most 80 degrees and a second transducer configured to emit a second pulse signal into the first phase at a substantially normal incidence.

Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting global positioning system (GPS) measurement errors are provided. In this regard, a representative system, among others, includes a navigation device that is configured to receive GPS signals from signal sources, the navigation device being configured to calculate pseudoranges (PRs) and delta ranges (DRs) based on the received GPS signals, the navigation device including a consistency check algorithm that is configured to: determine mismatches between the respective calculated PRs and DRs, and indicate that an error exists in the respective calculated PRs and DRs based on their mismatch and mismatch accumulations. This algorithm can be independent of navigation state and is capable of detecting slow-changing errors.

Abstract: A fuel cell includes a proton-conducting solid electrolyte, a fuel electrode provided on one side of the solid electrolyte, and an oxidant electrode provided on the other side of the solid electrolyte. The solid electrolyte includes at least one internal electrode therein. The fuel cell further includes a polarizing means for electrochemically polarizing the at least one internal electrode for oxidizing, or reducing, a fuel, or an oxidant, passing through an inside of the solid electrolyte.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods of improving GNSS receivers' satellite signal acquisition and TIFF performances by taking advantage of SBAS signals. Due to a SBAS satellite's geostationary position and typically strong signal, the SBAS satellite signal can be acquired more quickly than a GPS satellite signal. Once a SBAS satellite signal is acquired the Doppler frequency search uncertainty may be reduced for remaining GNSS satellites which are to be acquired. Furthermore, a satellite search list may be optimized to search for satellites close to the line of sight (LOS) of the SBAS satellite for which a signal has been acquired, in receiver “warm” and “hot” start modes. Moreover, since a SBAS signal sub-frame is only one second long, which is shorter than six seconds for a GPS signal sub-frame, synchronization of the SBAS signal sub-frame may be achieved faster than for GPS signals.

Abstract: A method for determining whether an individual is at an increased risk for myocardial infarction, comprising screening for the presence of Factor II and Factor XIII alleles associated with myocardial infarction. Also provided are kits and primers that specifically hybridize adjacent to the allele-specific regions of the Factor II and Factor XIII genes.

Abstract: A rack apparatus (100) for facilitating workpiece treatment includes a frame member (20) and a plurality of rack members (30). The rack members are detachably mounted on the frame member, wherein each rack member, in turn, includes a plurality of rack poles (305) that are detachably mounted thereon. When workpieces of large dimension or complicated shape require hanging/mounting on the rack apparatus, some rack poles and rack members can be disassembled, and thus the rack apparatus can provide more space to contain/carry these workpieces.

Abstract: This disclosure relates in general to systems and methods for spot checking flow properties of a multiphase mixture containing one or more hydrocarbons flowing through a pipeline or the like. More specifically, but not by way of limitation, embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for creating slug-type flows of isokinetically obtained samples of the multiphase mixture flow. By spot checking the slug-type flow of an isokinetically obtained sample of the multiphase flow, embodiments of the present invention may provide for determining flow properties of gas, oil/condensate and/or water components of the multiphase flow. In certain aspects of the present invention, an active sampling device may be used to enrich one of the phases of the slug-type flow of the sampled multiphase mixture and/or take a representative sample of one of the phases of the slug-type flow of the sampled multiphase mixture.

Abstract: A method of sampling a multi-phase fluid stream is provided which comprises the steps of: sampling, with a sampling probe, a portion of the fluid stream; measuring the flow rate of said sampled portion; and measuring, independently of the sampling step, the total flow rate of the fluid stream, wherein the flow rate of the sampled portion is controlled according to the ratio of the flow rate of the sampled portion to the flow rate of the fluid stream, in order to obtain substantially isokinetic sampling of the fluid stream. The method may provide isokinetic sampling to an accuracy of 5% or less and preferably only samples a small portion of the fluid stream. The method has particular application for high rate condensate gas wells. A corresponding sampling system is provided which has particular application in the sampling of streams from well-heads.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for measuring flow properties of a high gas-cut multiphase mixture flowing in a conduit, such as a wet-gas produced from a hydrocarbon well. In aspects of the present invention, one or more receivers are used to receive Doppler shifted signals resulting from an interaction between a propagating dominant microwave mode developed in the conduit and the high gas-cut multiphase mixture flowing in the conduit. Analysis of the Doppler shift in the received signals may provide for determining the velocity of the gas and/or the liquid phase of the high gas-cut multiphase mixture. In other aspects, analysis of the phase difference of Doppler signals received at the plurality of receivers provides for a determination of the content of the wet-gas, such as the water holdup.

Abstract: In a method for operating a fuel cell including an electrolyte membrane sandwiched by a fuel electrode and an oxidizing agent electrode, the method includes a hydrogen feedback process either before starting operation of the fuel cell or after stopping operation of the fuel cell. The hydrogen feedback process includes the processes of a process for electrically connecting a positive electrode of an external electric power source to the oxidizing agent electrode of the fuel cell, a process for electrically connecting a negative electrode of the external electric power source to the fuel electrode of the fuel cell, a process for oxidizing hydrogen remaining in the oxidizing agent electrode to generate protons, the hydrogen contained in the fuel, and a process for reducing the protons, transferred to the fuel electrode from the oxidizing agent electrode through the electrolyte membrane, into hydrogen.

Abstract: An embodiment and method of the present invention includes a frequency lock loop (FLL) having an improved frequency error estimation and a low bit error rate (BER) in data demodulation by calculating and using an improved averaged phase rotation using ‘valid’ phase rotation samples.

Abstract: A method for forming a dual damascene structure is disclosed. First a substrate is provided. There are an etching stop layer and an interlayer dielectric layer disposed on the substrate in order. The interlayer dielectric layer has a thickness A. Second, the interlayer dielectric layer is patterned to form a first opening. Later, a photo resist layer with a thickness B is formed on the interlayer dielectric layer. Then, the photo resist layer is patterned by a light source to construct a patterned photo resist layer. Later, the interlayer dielectric layer is again patterned by the patterned photo resist to pattern the interlayer dielectric layer to construct a second opening on the first opening by means of a light source and the photo resist layer so as to form a dual damascene structure. The light source has a periodic parameter C so that (A+B)/C?X/2, where X is an odd number.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for investigating a gas-liquid fluid mixture as it is conveyed in a conduit having a first constriction region providing a reduced conduit cross section. The method and system include inducing the mixture to exhibit swirling flow in the first constriction region, thereby separating the liquid from the gas, and determining one or more properties of the fluid in the first constriction region.

Abstract: A producing method includes a preparing step of preparing a chemical compound having at least one of elements of alkali metals and alkali earth metals along with platinum, and a reducing step of reducing the prepared chemical compound with a reducing agent to form platinum nanoparticles.

Abstract: Systems and methods for monitoring navigation state errors are provided. In this regard, a representative system, among others, includes a receiver that is configured to receive GPS signals and calculate pseudorange (PR) residuals, the receiver including a navigation state error manager that is configured to: calculate a distance traveled by the receiver having the PR residuals, determine whether a navigation state has errors based on the calculated PR residuals and calculated distance, and responsive to determining that the navigation state has errors, send an error message indicating that the navigation state has errors.

Abstract: Devices and methods for measuring the fraction of a liquid in a wet gas flow are described, the device including one or more light sources emitting at a first wavelength at which the liquid is highly absorbing and emitting at a second wavelength close to the first wavelength and at which the liquid is not highly absorbing; and one or more sensor for detecting the transmittance of the light at the first and second wavelengths through said gas flow, the device further including processing means for determining a liquid fraction of the liquid in the wet gas flow by correcting the transmittance measured at the first wavelength for the effects of scattering using the transmittance measured at the second wavelength. By making use of cross-correlations or know flow rate meters the device can be used as a flow meter.

Abstract: This disclosure describes measuring properties of a multiphase mixture flowing in a pipe using probes with different sensitivity depths. By generating annular flow of the multiphase mixture in the pipe, the probes may be contacted with the liquid phase of the mixture flowing on an inner-wall of the pipe and apparent permittivities of the annular flow measured by the probes. These measured permittivities may be processed to determine liquid fraction of the annular flow and water-in-liquid ratio of the liquid phase of the annular flow.

Abstract: The invention relates in a one aspect to a method or apparatus for measuring flow properties of a multiphase fluid stream flowing in a pipeline comprising means for sampling, with a sampling probe, a portion of the fluid stream; for measuring a differential pressure between a first pressure of the fluid stream in the pipeline and a second pressure of the portion of the fluid stream in the sampling probe; for controlling flow rate of the sampled portion, wherein the flow rate of the sampled portion is controlled to provide for nullification of the differential pressure in order to obtain substantially isokinetic sampling of the fluid stream; for measuring properties of the portion of the fluid stream; and for processing the measured properties to determine the flow properties of the multiphase fluid stream flowing in the pipeline, wherein the above elements do not require- or are performed without the determination of the density of fluid in the fluid stream through nuclear radiation methods.

Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting global positioning system (GPS) measurement errors are provided. In this regard, a representative system, among others, includes a navigation device that is configured to receive GPS signals from signal sources, the navigation device being configured to calculate pseudoranges (PRs) and delta ranges (DRs) based on the received GPS signals, the navigation device including a consistency check algorithm that is configured to: determine mismatches between the respective calculated PRs and DRs, and indicate that an error exists in the respective calculated PRs and DRs based on their mismatch and mismatch accumulations. This algorithm can be independent of navigation state and is capable of detecting slow-changing errors.