Abstract: As disclosed herein, the present invention provides methods and systems for detecting, measuring, or monitoring the presence of absence of at least one emotion in a subject from a speech sample obtained from the subject. In particular, the methods and systems of the present invention comprise extracting at least one feature from the speech sample, assigning the speech sample a score using a weighted frequency band scoring scheme, and comparing the score with a general reference model or a control. As disclosed, the methods, systems and computer programs of the present invention provide detection error rates of about 4.7% or less, preferably about 3.0% or less, more preferably about 2.0% or less, most preferably about 1.0% or less and thereby reduced the detection error rate by about 60.0% or more, preferably about 70.0% or more, more preferably about 80.0% or more, even more preferably about 90% or more, and most preferably 95.0% or more than the detection error rates of prior art methods.

Abstract: Methods for forming drip-free pouring surfaces for polymeric containers. The drip-free pouring surfaces are formed by heating a pouring surface, without physical contact, such as with a laser or other heat source. In one embodiment, the drip-free pouring surfaces are substantially mushroom-shaped in cross section. Also provided are containers having drip-free pour surfaces formed by the methods described herein.

Abstract: A method and system to distribute transactions among a plurality of transaction processing systems is described herein. The method includes automatically receiving data from a first transaction processing system; identifying scheduled handling resources for each of the transaction processing systems for a first time interval based on the data from each transaction processing system; determining transaction allocations for each of the transaction processing systems based upon generated forecast data; and distributing transactions among the plurality of transaction processing systems by producing routing decisions based upon the determined transaction allocations and the scheduled handling resources.

Abstract: A tape automated bonding (TAB) structure which includes a flex tape having a conductive lead pattern formed thereon. The conductive lead pattern includes a plurality of leads configured to form an inner lead bond (ILB) portion of the TAB structure. At least one of the plurality of leads is internally routed and has a contact exposed interior to the ILB portion of the TAB structure.

Abstract: A fuel processing method for a solid oxide fuel cell stack comprising the steps of: (a) supplying a feed stream comprising ethanol to a methanation reactor containing catalytic material for the methanation of ethanol; (b) processing the feed stream in the methanation reactor under adiabatic conditions to produce an effluent fuel comprising methane; (c) transferring the effluent fuel comprising methane to the anode of a solid oxide fuel cell stack comprising at least one solid oxide fuel cell; (d) providing the cathode of the solid oxide fuel cell stack with an oxygen-containing gas; and (e) converting the fuel comprising methane and the oxygen-containing gas to electricity in the solid oxide fuel cell stack.

Abstract: A containerized transport and storage system for use with a truck or other transport means to selectively store and transport goods or materials therein comprising a container configurable in a collapsed or disassembled configuration to move the container without goods or materials therein and an erected or assembled configuration to move the container with goods or materials therein and a plurality of container lift assemblies to selectively engage the container when in the erected or assembled configuration to selectively move the container vertically from a transport position on a truck or other transport means to a storage position on the ground or other support surface and from the storage position on the ground or other support surface to the transport position on a truck or other transport means.

Abstract: An insect station for luring insects, baiting insects, trapping insects, monitoring insects or any combination of these functions includes a cover that can be moved to provide access to selected insect suppression devices, such as glueboards or baited pads. The insect station may have two changeable pad areas situated facing each other to provide a compact design. In addition, a base portion of the station may have a wall access opening to facilitate applying insecticide behind a wall. The insect station of the present invention may be used with any combination of attractant pads, bait, and glueboards, as well as many other insect suppression devices.

Abstract: Reforming reactor for the conversion of a process fluid into hydrogen comprising: a reforming section and a boiler section which are both contained within a common volume and a combustion section, in which said reforming section contains one or more catalyst tubes filled with reforming catalyst, said boiler section is provided with one or more tubes carrying flue gas from the combustion section and said combustion section is provided with at least one burner, wherein the heat exchanging medium required for the reforming of said process fluid in the one or more catalyst tubes is a gas-liquid mixture that self-circulates and is encapsulated inside said common volume containing said reforming and boiler sections.

Abstract: Reforming reactor for the conversion of a process fluid into hydrogen comprising: a reforming section and a boiler section which are both contained within a common volume and a combustion section, in which said reforming section contains one or more catalyst tubes filled with reforming catalyst, said boiler section is provided with one or more tubes carrying flue gas from the combustion section and said combustion section is provided with at least one burner, wherein the heat exchanging medium required for the reforming of said process fluid in the one or more catalyst tubes is a gas-liquid mixture that self-circulates and is encapsulated inside said common volume containing said reforming and boiler sections.

Abstract: Reforming reactor for the conversion of a process fluid into hydrogen comprising: a reforming section which is contained within a closed volume, a boiler section and a combustion section, in which said reforming section contains one or more catalyst tubes filled with reforming catalyst, said boiler section is provided with one or more flow channels for the passage of flue gas from the combustion section and said combustion section is provided with at least one burner, wherein the heat exchanging medium required for the reforming of said process fluid in the one or more catalyst tubes is a gas-liquid mixture that self-circulates and is encapsulated inside said closed volume and wherein at least a portion of said closed volume protrudes inside said boiler section.

Abstract: Reforming reactor for the conversion of a process fluid into hydrogen comprising: a reforming section which is contained within a closed volume, a boiler section and a combustion section, in which said reforming section contains one or more catalyst tubes filled with reforming catalyst, said boiler section is provided with one or more flow channels for the passage of flue gas from the combustion section and said combustion section is provided with at least one burner, wherein the heat exchanging medium required for the reforming of said process fluid in the one or more catalyst tubes is a gas-liquid mixture that self-circulates and is encapsulated inside said closed volume and wherein at least a portion of said closed volume protrudes inside said boiler section.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of a hydrogen-rich stream comprising contacting a process gas containing carbon monoxide and water, the process gas further including dimethyl ether or a dimethyl ether/methanol mixture in at least one shift step in the presence of an ether hydration catalyst selected from the group of solid acids and a methanol decomposition catalyst comprising copper, zinc and aluminium and/or chromium.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of a hydrogen-rich stream comprising contacting a carbon monoxide-containing gas, methanol and water in at least one shift step in the presence of a catalyst comprising copper, zinc and aluminium and/or chromium at a shift inlet temperature of at least 280° C. and a pressure of at least 2.0 MPa.

Abstract: A swab comprising gelatine or collagen has been found to have a remarkably high recovery of microorganisms. Furthermore, the samples, such as microorganisms, spores, nucleotides and other biologically or biochemically relevant compounds can be fully recovered from the collagen- or gelatine-comprising swab. The invention thus provides a method and swab which has a high recovery of a target from a sample and furthermore a second high recovery when transferring from the swab to a medium for analysis.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for detecting performance degradation in a refrigeration system. Specifically, the present invention provides systems and methods for detecting, at a very early stage, a low refrigerant charge and degradation in condenser performance of a refrigeration system.

Abstract: A vitamin-containing system for stabilising the external and the internal immune response of animals consists of two parts or “kits” to be used successively or separately, one mainly including biotin and the other mainly including vitamins E and C. Both kits include allicin and crushed radishes and are mixed in a carrier. The system is used for prophylactic or curing treatment of a number of diseases in animals, especially in farming stocks.

Abstract: A fuel processing method for a solid oxide fuel cell stack comprising the steps of: (a) supplying a feed stream comprising methanol and/or dimethyl ether to a methanation reactor containing catalytic material for the methanation of methanol and/or dimethyl ether; (b) processing the feed stream in the methanation reactor under adiabatic conditions to produce an effluent fuel comprising methane; (c) transferring the effluent fuel comprising methane to the anode of a solid oxide fuel cell stack comprising at least one solid oxide fuel cell; (d) providing the cathode of the solid oxide fuel cell stack with an oxygen-containing gas; and (e) converting the fuel comprising methane and the oxygen-containing gas into electricity in the solid oxide fuel cell stack.

Abstract: An improved battery design which is particularly suitable for use in an implantable medical device is disclosed. The design utilizes a two-part case for the battery contents which allows freedom with respect to feedthrough locations and battery shape.

Abstract: Process for cooling an exothermic reaction zone by introducing a stream of water and a hydrocarbon-containing stream into a plurality of humidifying tubes extending through a catalytic exothermic reaction zone of a catalytic fixed bed with solid catalyst, introducing a process stream into the reaction zone for one or more catalytic exothermic reactions, passing the stream of water in a falling film along the inner circumference of the humidifying tubes, humidifying the hydrocarbon-containing stream with water in the humidifying tubes in indirect heat exchange with the exothermic reaction zone, withdrawing cooled reaction product of the exothermic reaction from the reaction zone, withdrawing the heated humidified, hydrocarbon-containing stream from the humidifying tubes, and transferring the heated humidified, hydrocarbon-containing process stream for further processing.

Abstract: A data-pattern feedback mechanism is introduced into the peak detection process of an automatic frequency compensation system in a Gaussian Frequency Shift Keying (GFSK) modulated system, providing fast and accurate fine-stage automatic frequency compensation (AFC). Maximum positive and negative peak registers are updated with new values as necessary based on detection during a sequence of identical binary bit values (e.g., during a “00” for detection of maximum negative peak frequency, or during a “11” for detection of maximum positive peak frequency), in a particular data frame. As soon as an initial value is determined for both the maximum positive and negative peak frequencies (e.g., after the first occurrence of a “11” and a “00”, in any order), fine-stage automatic frequency compensation can be initiated. Subsequent adjustments to the VCO of the local oscillator will further refine the frequency offset towards the ideal of zero.