Abstract: The invention provides a method for synthesizing platinum nanoparticles incorporated on silica. The method includes immobilizing dithiocarbamate functional group on a surface of the silica to form dithiocarbamate-silica. The method includes treating the dithiocarbamate-silica with platinic acid to form Platinum (II) [Pt (II)] dithiocarbamate complex on the silica and thereafter, reducing the Pt (II) dithiocarbamate complex.

Abstract: A system and a method provide a photovoltaic system which regenerates the output characteristics of the photovoltaic at different ambient condition with high precision under all environmental conditions. The photovoltaic system includes a photovoltaic array, a buck/boost converter, a DC link capacitor to connect the buck/booster converter to a load/inverter, an adaptive network-based fuzzy inference maximum power point tracking controller, a voltage control loop, a proportional integral controller to maintain the output voltage of the photovoltaic array to the reference voltage by adjusting the duty ratio of buck/boost converter.

Abstract: A method for melting steel in an electric arc furnace (EAF). A hot heel is provided in the EAF. Metal scrap is loaded into the EAF. The metal scrap is melted in the EAF. The mass of the hot heel in relation to the mass of the metal scrap that is initially beyond the surface of the hot heel is a certain minimum. This minimum is 0.75 times the relation between the heat required to melt the metal scrap beyond the surface of the hot heel and the heat that can be taken from the hot heel without it being solidified when a theoretical heat balance calculation is applied as defined in a formula.

Abstract: A method of extracting from a picked-up image an object that is situated in the foreground of a projected backdrop. The method includes an extraction step comprising the steps of establishing a correspondence relationship between pixels of the projected backdrop and of the background of the picked-up image, and defining said object as the set of picked-up pixels that present a departure from said correspondence relationship. The method is applicable to video conferences, to remote teaching, and to television shows.

Abstract: Described are leg supports for a vehicle occupant having a leg support base and a leg engagement member that is positionable to support the lower leg of the vehicle occupant such that the upper leg and the lower leg extend in a common plane that is substantially parallel to the sagittal plane of the vehicle occupant. According to one aspect, the leg support includes a guide configured to mount to a center console in a selected position relative to a vehicle seat in a vehicle, the leg support base being slidably mounted to the guide, and to provide adjustment of a position of the leg engagement member through sliding movement of the leg support base relative to the guide. According to another aspect, the leg support includes a pump coupled to the leg support base to provide a fluid to at least partially fill the leg engagement member.

Abstract: A system for monitoring machinery and systems in a process plant using a local monitoring and diagnostic system, the system including a plant database configured to store rule sets including at least one rule expressed as at least one of a physics-based model, a data-driven model, and a empirical model of a plant component and a relational expression of a real-time data output relative to a real-time data input, and a server grade computer configured to receive plant component data from a plant unit control panel, generate virtual sensor outputs using the at least one model associated with the plant component, transmit the plant component data and generated virtual sensor outputs to the plant database for storing and to a data visualization system for generating analytical graphics, determine using the at least one model rule set, an operating or performance condition of the plant component in near real-time.

Abstract: The adaptive fault location method for power system networks utilizes phasor measurement units (PMUs) disposed at disparate locations to obtain synchronized phasor measurements. Three different sets of pre-fault voltage and current phasor measurements are obtained at both terminals of the line under test. The three sets of local PMU measurements at each terminal are used for online calculation of a corresponding system's Thevenin equivalent (TE). This representation of the power system pre-fault network is a reduced two-terminal equivalent. Using the method of multiple measurements with linear regression (MMLR), the three sets of PMU measurements are also employed for online calculation of the transmission line parameters (series resistance, series reactance and shunt susceptance). Online determination of the TEs and line parameters can enhance fault location accuracy by avoiding possible mismatch with the actual parameters due to system loading and other environmental conditions.

Abstract: In an aspect, a leg support for a vehicle occupant is provided, and includes a leg support base and a leg engagement member. The leg support base is connected (or is connectable) to a center console of the vehicle. The leg engagement member may be integral with the leg support base or may be extendable from the leg support base. The leg engagement member is configured to engage the laterally outer face of a lower leg of a vehicle occupant. The leg engagement member has a leg engagement surface that has a lower edge and an upper edge. The lower edge is positioned to engage the lower leg of the vehicle occupant above the lateral malleolus of the fibula of the vehicle occupant. The upper edge is positioned to engage the lower leg of the vehicle occupant above a midpoint of the fibula and below the superior epiphysis of the fibula.

Abstract: Disclosed is an image acquisition workstation including a multiple examination mode. In the multiple examination mode, a user selects an anatomical view or procedure prior to acquiring data. When the image data is acquired, the acquired data is stored in a data structure related to the selected procedure or anatomical view. As the user selects a procedure or anatomical view prior to each data acquisition, the image acquisitions can be acquired in any order.

Abstract: A thermoplastic composition is disclosed that includes a polyaryl ester polymer or copolymer and a phthalone compound according to the formula wherein Z1 represents the atoms necessary to complete a 9- to 13-membered single or fused aromatic ring structure, Z2 represents the atoms necessary to complete a pyridine or quinoline ring, each R1 and each R2 can independently be halogen, an alkyl group, an aryl group, a heterocyclic group, an alkoxy group, an aryloxy group, an aromatic or aliphatic thioether group, an aromatic or aliphatic carboxylic acid ester group, or an aromatic or aliphatic amide group, a is an integer from 0 to 6, b is an integer from 0 to 4, n is 1 or 2, and X is present only if n=2 and is a single bond or a divalent organic radical bonded to the Z1 ring structure through an ether, ketone, or thio linkage.

Abstract: An apparatus for electromagnetic stirring of the steel melt in an electrical arc furnace includes two electromagnetic stirrer units, a current supply, and a control unit. The two stirrers are mounted on an outer bottom surface of the electrical arc furnace at opposites sides of a central position of the bottom surface, the current supply is operatively connected to the two electromagnetic stirrer units, and the control unit is operatively connected to the current supply to control the operation of the two electromagnetic stirrer units.

Abstract: A method for melting steel in an electric arc furnace (EAF). A hot heel is provided in the EAF. Metal scrap is loaded into the EAF. The metal scrap is melted in the EAF. The mass of the hot heel in relation to the mass of the metal scrap that is initially beyond the surface of the hot heel is a certain minimum. This minimum is 0.75 times the relation between the heat required to melt the metal scrap beyond the surface of the hot heel and the heat that can be taken from the hot heel without it being solidified when a theoretical heat balance calculation is applied as defined in a formula.

Abstract: A device for cooling a heat source of a motor vehicle is provided that includes a cooling body which has a plurality of feed flow channels and a plurality of return flow channels. At least a multiplicity of the feed flow channels and return flow channels are arranged adjacent to one another in an alternating fashion in the cooling body.

Abstract: In an aspect, a leg support for a vehicle occupant is provided, and includes a leg support base and a leg engagement member. The leg support base is connected (or is connectable) to a center console of the vehicle. The leg engagement member may be integral with the leg support base or may be extendable from the leg support base. The leg engagement member is configured to engage the laterally outer face of a lower leg of a vehicle occupant. The leg engagement member has a leg engagement surface that has a lower edge and an upper edge. The lower edge is positioned to engage the lower leg of the vehicle occupant above the lateral malleolus of the fibula of the vehicle occupant. The upper edge is positioned to engage the lower leg of the vehicle occupant above a midpoint of the fibula and below the superior epiphysis of the fibula.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a composite textile having a textile face layer and a non-woven backing layer. The textile face layer may be bonded to the non-woven backing layer using various techniques such as by providing an adhesive or adhesive material associated with at least one of the layers.

Abstract: A method for reducing vortex formation in molten metal when bottom tapping the molten metal from a metallurgical vessel in a metal making process. The method includes the steps of tapping the molten metal via a tapping hole in the metallurgical vessel, and providing a flow of the molten metal in the metallurgical vessel while tapping via a time-varying electromagnetic field applied to the metallurgical vessel, the flow of the molten metal being such that it constantly moves vortices in the molten metal away from a tapping hole region during the tapping to thereby prevent accumulation of the vortices for vortex formation over the tapping hole. It is also presented an arrangement for carrying out the method.

Abstract: This present provides kaempferol-3-(2-E,3-Z-di-p-coumaroyl)-rhamnoside, kaempferol-3-(2-Z-3-E-di-p-coumaroyl)-rhamnoside, and kaempferol-3-(2,3-di-Z-p-coumaroyl)-rhamnoside compounds useful as a new class of anti-bacterial agents. These compounds are extracted from Platanus occidentalis. These compounds were found to exhibit anti-bacterial activity against methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).

Abstract: An apparatus for electromagnetic stirring of the steel melt in an electrical arc furnace includes two electromagnetic stirrer units, a current supply, and a control unit. The two stirrers are mounted on an outer bottom surface of the electrical arc furnace at opposites sides of a central position of the bottom surface, the current supply is operatively connected to the two electromagnetic stirrer units, and the control unit is operatively connected to the current supply to control the operation of the two electromagnetic stirrer units.

Abstract: A heat transfer device for transferring heat from the passenger compartment of a vehicle to the ambient air outside the vehicle is provided comprising a sealed tube having a proximal end in fluid communication with a distal end, a chamber extending from the proximal end to the distal end, a heat transport fluid and an internal structure configured to allow the heat transport fluid to pass from the distal end to the proximal end. A method of determining an optimal structure of such a heat transfer device is also provided. comprising determining an amount of heat to remove from the vehicle determining an appropriate heat transfer fluid, configuring the internal structure of the at least one sealed tube for maximizing transport of the appropriate heat transport fluid, and determining an optimal number and optimal dimensions of the at least one sealed tube for maximizing heat transfer.

Abstract: According to various embodiments, a reagent fluid dispensing device may be provided. The reagent fluid dispensing device may include a chamber for receiving a reagent fluid, the chamber having a first opening and a second opening; a first fluid conduit connected to the first opening of the chamber; a reservoir connected to the first fluid conduit, the reservoir having a first opening, wherein the first opening of the reservoir is connected to the first fluid conduit to form a passive valve, wherein the reservoir is dimensionalized for storing a predetermined volume of the reagent fluid; and a pneumatic conduit connected to the second opening of the chamber, wherein selective application of pneumatic pressure to the chamber through the pneumatic conduit transfers the reagent fluid from the reservoir to the chamber through the first fluid conduit. According to various embodiments, a microfluidic device including the reagent fluid dispensing device, and a method of dispensing a reagent fluid may be provided.