Abstract: A steam generation system, comprising a first heat exchanger to discharge steam having a first pressure, a gas compressor discharge steam at a second pressure, the gas compressor including a first impeller made of a first material, a second impeller made of a second material, and a shaft, an auxiliary heater to receive steam at a first temperature and discharge the steam at a second temperature, an industrial processing plant to receive the steam at the second temperature and discharge a fluid, a pump to receive and discharge a the fluid, and a second heat exchanger to receive the fluid at a temperature and discharge the fluid at a higher temperature to the first heat exchanger.

Abstract: An integrated system comprising a nuclear power module to output initial steam, a turbine generator to receive the initial steam and output first steam, a first heat exchanger and a second heat exchanger. The first heat exchanger is configured to receive water, receive the first steam, and transfer heat from the first steam into the water to create second steam, and the second heat exchanger is configured to receive the second steam, and convert the second steam to a third steam.

Abstract: In order to determine contour edges within a provided image, a plurality of image cells (e.g., groupings of pixels) are created within the image. For each image cell, a numerical value for each of the pixels is compared to a predetermined threshold value to determine comparison values for each pixel. A total numerical value for each image cell may then be determined utilizing the comparison values and numerical values for each pixel within each image cell. An associated contour cell (indicating present contour edges) is then determined for each image cell by comparing the total numerical value for the image cell to a contour cell index. These operations may be performed in parallel by a graphics processing unit (GPU) for each image cell, which may improve a performance of contour edge determination for the image. The stitching of contour edges may also be performed using the GPU, which may provide additional performance improvements for image contour extraction.

Abstract: An integrated system for indirect cycle steam heating comprising a nuclear power module configured to output first steam; a turbine generator configured to receive the first steam and output second steam; a heat exchanger configured to receive water, receive at least one of first steam, second steam, and transfer heat from the at least one of first steam and second steam into the water to create third steam a peaking heater configured to receive the third steam, transfer augmenting heat into the third steam, and heat, based at least in part on the transfer, the third steam to have a temperature above a threshold temperature an auxiliary heater configured to receive the third steam; and a chemical processing plant configured to receive the third steam and transfer heat from the third steam into a chemical.

Abstract: In order to determine contour edges within a provided image, a plurality of image cells (e.g., groupings of pixels) are created within the image. For each image cell, a numerical value for each of the pixels is compared to a predetermined threshold value to determine comparison values for each pixel. A total numerical value for each image cell may then be determined utilizing the comparison values and numerical values for each pixel within each image cell. An associated contour cell (indicating present contour edges) is then determined for each image cell by comparing the total numerical value for the image cell to a contour cell index. These operations may be performed in parallel by a graphics processing unit (GPU) for each image cell, which may improve a performance of contour edge determination for the image. The stitching of contour edges may also be performed using the GPU, which may provide additional performance improvements for image contour extraction.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to thermoplastic elastomer articles comprising a crosslinked reaction product of styrene block copolymer and silane. The styrene block copolymer comprises at least one terminal polymer block A. The at least one terminal polymer block A comprises a vinyl compound having para-alkylstyrene. The styrene block copolymer is silane grafted and silane crosslinked.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to thermoplastic elastomer articles comprising a crosslinked reaction product of styrene block copolymer, rubber, and silane. The styrene block copolymer comprises at least one terminal polymer block A. The at least one terminal polymer block A comprises a vinyl compound having para-alkyl styrene. The rubber comprises at least one of ethylene propylene diene rubber, silicone rubber, and nitrile butadiene rubber. The styrene block copolymer and the rubber are silane grafted and silane crosslinked. The silane crosslinking is at least one of intramolecular silane crosslinking and intermolecular silane crosslinking.

Abstract: An integrated system for indirect cycle steam heating comprising a nuclear power module configured to output first steam; a turbine generator configured to receive the first steam and output second steam; a heat exchanger configured to receive water, receive at least one of first steam, second steam, and transfer heat from the at least one of first steam and second steam into the water to create third steam a peaking heater configured to receive the third steam, transfer augmenting heat into the third steam, and heat, based at least in part on the transfer, the third steam to have a temperature above a threshold temperature an auxiliary heater configured to receive the third steam; and a chemical processing plant configured to receive the third steam and transfer heat from the third steam into a chemical.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to thermoset articles including a crosslinked reaction product of thermoplastic polyolefin, at least one of ethylene alpha-olefin polyolefin elastomer and ethylene propylene diene rubber, nitrile butadiene rubber, and silane. At least one of the thermoplastic polyolefin, the at least one of the ethylene alpha-olefin polyolefin elastomer and the ethylene propylene diene rubber, and the nitrile butadiene rubber is silane grafted and silane crosslinked. The silane crosslinking is at least one of intramolecular silane crosslinking and intermolecular silane crosslinking.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to thermoplastic elastomer articles including a crosslinked reaction product of polar elastomer, rubber, and silane. The rubber comprises at least one of nitrile butadiene rubber, silicone rubber, ethylene alpha-olefin polyolefin elastomer, and ethylene propylene diene rubber. The rubber is silane grafted and silane crosslinked. The silane crosslinking is at least one of intramolecular silane crosslinking and intermolecular silane crosslinking.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to thermoset articles including a crosslinked reaction product of thermoplastic polyolefin, at least one of ethylene alpha-olefin polyolefin elastomer and ethylene propylene diene rubber, silicone rubber, and silane. The silicone rubber has at least one vinyl functional group. At least one of the thermoplastic polyolefin, the at least one of the ethylene alpha-olefin polyolefin elastomer and the ethylene propylene diene rubber, and the silicone rubber is silane grafted and silane crosslinked. The silane crosslinking is at least one of intramolecular silane crosslinking and intermolecular silane crosslinking.

Abstract: In order to determine contour edges within a provided image, a plurality of image cells (e.g., groupings of pixels) are created within the image. For each image cell, a numerical value for each of the pixels is compared to a predetermined threshold value to determine comparison values for each pixel. A total numerical value for each image cell may then be determined utilizing the comparison values and numerical values for each pixel within each image cell. An associated contour cell (indicating present contour edges) is then determined for each image cell by comparing the total numerical value for the image cell to a contour cell index. These operations may be performed in parallel by a graphics processing unit (GPU) for each image cell, which may improve a performance of contour edge determination for the image. The stitching of contour edges may also be performed using the GPU, which may provide additional performance improvements for image contour extraction.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to polymer blends comprising greater than or equal to 55 wt % and less than or equal to 90 wt % of an aliphatic polyketone; and greater than or equal to 10 wt % and less than or equal to 40 wt % of an acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), wherein the aliphatic polyketone has a melt flow rate greater than or equal to 1 g/10 min and less than or equal to 90 g/10 min as measured in accordance with ASTM D1238 at 240° C. and a weight of 2.16 kg.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to polymer blends comprising greater than or equal to 45 wt % and less than or equal to 90 wt % of an aliphatic polyketone; greater than or equal to 7.5 wt % and less than or equal to 40 wt % of an acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS); and greater than 0 wt % and less than or equal to 25 wt % of a flame retardant.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to polymer blends comprising greater than or equal to 30 wt % and less than or equal to 88.5 wt % of a polyamide; greater than or equal to 4 wt % and less than or equal to 50 wt % of an aliphatic polyketone; and greater than or equal to 7.5 wt % and less than or equal to 20 wt % of a rubber impact modifier.

Abstract: Photoresponsive polymers that comprise a unit derived from an amide functional diol compound that includes a coumarin group are provided. Advantageously, the photoresponsive groups of the photoresponsive polymers may be used to control the viscosity of the photoresponsive polymer. The photoresponsize polymers may also include units derived from amide functional diol compounds with include a fatty acid chain or a polyethylene glycol chain. The photoresponsive polymers may be used for 3d printing. When an adhesive group is added to a photoresponsive polymer they may be used as an adhesive. Adhesive groups include catechol groups.

Abstract: Upon use of an immersion tin plating solution, contaminants build in the solution, which cause the plating rate and the quality of the plated deposit to decrease. One primary contaminant, which builds in the plating solution upon use, is hydrogen sulfide, H2S. If a gas is bubbled or blown through the solution, contaminants, especially hydrogen sulfide, can be effectively removed from the solution and, as a result, the high plating rate and plate quality can be restored or maintained. In this regard, any gas can be used, however, it is preferable to use a gas that will not detrimentally interact with the solution, other than to strip out contaminants. Nitrogen is particularly preferred for this purpose because it is efficient at stripping out contaminants, including hydrogen sulfide, but does not induce the oxidation of the tin ions from their divalent state to the tetravalent state, which is detrimental.

Abstract: Upon use of an immersion tin plating solution, contaminants build in the solution, which cause the plating rate and the quality of the plated deposit to decrease. One primary contaminant, which builds in the plating solution upon use, is hydrogen sulfide, H2S. If a gas is bubbled or blown through the solution, contaminants, especially hydrogen sulfide, can be effectively removed from the solution and, as a result, the high plating rate and plate quality can be restored or maintained. In this regard, any gas can be used, however, it is preferable to use a gas that will not detrimentally interact with the solution, other than to strip out contaminants. Nitrogen is particularly preferred for this purpose because it is efficient at stripping out contaminants, including hydrogen sulfide, but does not induce the oxidation of the tin ions from their divalent state to the tetravalent state, which is detrimental.

Abstract: A thermoresponsive polyester comprising units derived from an amide functional diol compound having a first amide group having a nitrogen atom and a carbonyl group; a second amide group tethered directly or indirectly through an organic group at the carbonyl group of the first amide group; and two organic groups terminated with a hydroxyl group attached to the nitrogen atom of the first amide group. The thermoresponsive polyesters exhibit a lower critical solution temperature at which they undergo a thermally induced reversible hydrophobicity change. This hydrophobicity change may involve the formation of coacervates of the thermoresponsive polyesters which can then coalesce into a precipitated polymer rich phase.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a neurostimulation lead for stimulating neural tissue of a patient, comprises: a lead body of insulative material; a plurality of electrodes; a plurality of terminals; a plurality of conductors, wherein the plurality of electrodes are electrically coupled to the plurality of terminals through the plurality of conductors; wherein the plurality of conductors are disposed in a helical manner in a repeating pattern of groups of conductors separated by gaps along a substantial length of the lead body, each gap being larger than an inter-conductor pitch within the groups of conductors; wherein the insulative material is a compliant material permitting elongation of the lead at low stretching forces and the insulative material of the lead body is fused through a substantial volume of the lead body and along a substantial length of the lead body.