Abstract: A power generation system that includes a membrane reformer assembly, wherein syngas is formed from a steam reforming reaction of natural gas and steam, and wherein hydrogen is separated from the syngas via a hydrogen-permeable membrane, a combustor for an oxy-combustion of a fuel, an expander to generate power, and an ion transport membrane assembly, wherein oxygen is separated from an oxygen-containing stream to be combusted in the combustor. Various embodiments of the power generation system and a process for generating power using the same are provided.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling lateral movement of a laterally translating component includes a first fixed housing that remains in a fixed position with respect to a central axis and a second housing interfaced with the laterally translating component that moves linearly along the central axis. The first fixed housing and the second housing together define a first fluid chamber and a second fluid chamber for containing fluid interconnected by a fluid channel. The second housing moves linearly between a first position along the central axis that defines a first size for the first fluid chamber and the second fluid chamber and a second position along the central axis that defines a second size for the first fluid chamber and the second fluid chamber to control flow of the fluid through the channel. The first size is larger than the second size.

Abstract: A method for selective sound field environment processing for one or more wireless earpieces, each of the one or more wireless earpieces including comprising a plurality of microphones is provided. The method includes receiving audio input of a sound field environment from the plurality of microphones of each of the one or more wireless earpieces, identifying background noise in the sound field environment, identifying audio from at least one sound source within the sound field environment, processing the audio input using one or more processors of at least one of the wireless earpieces to reduce the background noise and processing the audio input using one or more processors of the at least one of the wireless earpieces to enhance the audio from the at least one sound source within the sound field environment to provide processed audio, and transducing the processed audio at one or more speakers of the one or more wireless earpieces.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for in vivo sampling of biological species, comprising:—a capture medium made from a nanoporous material, having a capture surface for said species, said capture medium being supported by a plate,—a gripping rod,—an articulation comprising a first limb coupled to the gripping rod and a second limb coupled removably to the plate supporting the capture medium, such that the capture surface can be selectively oriented relative to the gripping rod, so as to adjust the orientation of the capture medium relative to the gripping rod.

Abstract: Electrospun Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA)/Inulin composite nanofibers (CNFs) are provided using electrospinning technique and tested for their prebiotic and antibacterial activities. The PVA/Inulin electrospun CNFs were tested for prebiotic activity with Lactobacillus sp. and for antibacterial activity against both Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). A number of electrospinning parameters such as solution concentration, PVA: Inulin mixing ratio, solution flow rate and applied voltage were carefully varied and the best PVA/Inulin electrospun CNFs (bead free) were selected for prebiotic and antibacterial tests. The concentration of the composite solution varied between 14-20%, the flow rate ranged between 0.005-0.5 mL/min and the applied voltage used ranged between 15-20 Kv. The structural properties and morphology of the PVA/Inulin electrospun CNFs were fully characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM).

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosed technology relate to techniques for protocol analysis during a circuit design verification process. A protocol-specific message capture unit captures messages while or after being transmitted over one or more communication channels between a circuit design model and one or more target devices. A protocol-independent interface unit receives signals carrying the messages and information for processing the messages from the protocol-specific message capture unit. After processing the messages, the protocol-independent interface unit sends the messages to an analysis unit for analyzing the messages based on a protocol file. The analysis unit may then output the messages for displaying.

Abstract: Testing a database replication system within a multi-container system architecture comprises receiving a first request for creating a database recovery system within a multi-container system architecture. The multi-container system architecture is configured to contain a plurality of tenant databases and a system database, and the database recovery system includes a primary system and a secondary system. The primary system is then identified from the information in the first request. Upon identification, a first tenant database included in the plurality of tenant databases is determined that corresponds to the identified primary system. Upon determining the first tenant database, a second tenant database of the plurality of tenant database is generated that corresponds to the secondary system, and which is enabled to test replicating information that would otherwise be associated with the first tenant database. Related apparatus, systems, techniques and articles are also described.

Abstract: A pneumatic valve system that includes an actuator that pneumatically actuates a valve, and circuitry that calculates a control signal to control the actuator by compensating for nonlinear dynamic of the actuator using a stable inverse model of the valve, optimizes parameters of the stable inverse model such that a difference between output information of the pneumatic valve system and desired reference information is reduced, and outputs the control signal to control the actuator.

Abstract: A tapered magnetorheological (MR) valve includes a first fixed housing that remains in a fixed position along a central axis of the tapered MR valve. A second housing moves linearly along the central axis of the tapered MR valve. The first fixed housing and the second housing together define a first MR fluid chamber and a second MR fluid chamber for containing MR fluid interconnected by an MR fluid channel. The second housing moves linearly between a first position and a second position along the central axis of the tapered MR valve to control flow of the MR fluid through the MR fluid channel.

Abstract: A system includes a wearable device having at least one sensor configured to determine a user's fingerprint data, at least one data storage device containing authentication data, and at least one processor configured to compare the user's fingerprint data with the authentication data to authenticate a user. A method of authenticating a wearable device includes producing a fingerprint, determining fingerprint data derived from the fingerprint with one or more sensors, comparing the fingerprint data with authentication data on one or more data storage devices, and authenticating the user if the fingerprint data and the authentication data match.

Abstract: An intelligent wireless headset system in embodiments of the present invention may have one or more of the following features: (a) a left ear portion having at least one microphone and at least one speaker associated therewith, (b) a right ear portion having at least one microphone and at least one speaker associated therewith, (c) a connecting band between the left ear portion and the right ear portion, (d) a wireless radio transceiver disposed within the intelligent wireless headset, (e) a cellular transceiver disposed within the intelligent wireless headset, (f) a headset network capable of operably coupling the intelligent wireless headset with at least one device in the headset network, (g) sensors to collect biometric information, (h) a camera for collecting video information, (i) outer speakers located on the housing, and (j) a memory for storing biometric information.

Abstract: A method for selective sound field environment processing for one or more wireless earpieces, each of the one or more wireless earpieces including comprising a plurality of microphones is provided. The method includes receiving audio input of a sound field environment from the plurality of microphones of each of the one or more wireless earpieces, identifying background noise in the sound field environment, identifying audio from at least one sound source within the sound field environment, processing the audio input using one or more processors of at least one of the wireless earpieces to reduce the background noise and processing the audio input using one or more processors of the at least one of the wireless earpieces to enhance the audio from the at least one sound source within the sound field environment to provide processed audio, and transducing the processed audio at one or more speakers of the one or more wireless earpieces.

Abstract: A thermoplastic sulfur-polymer composite comprises a thermoplastic polymer, such as polyethylene and polystyrene; and a sulfur element. Such sulfur element functions as passive sulfur filler in this composite. The thermoplastic polymer is a polymer matrix; and the sulfur filler is dispersed in the polymer matrix. There is no chemical reaction occurs after the addition of the sulfur filler into the host polymer and no chemical bond formed between the polymer and the sulfur filler. The thermoplastic sulfur-polymer composite can be a nanocomposite by either adding certain nanofillers into the composite or making the sulfur filler as sulfur nanoparticles. With its similar physical properties and lower manufacturing costs, the thermoplastic sulfur-polymer composites are good alternatives of the respective pure polymers.

Abstract: The invention relates to a lateral flow device (10) for taking at least one analyte of interest in a fluid, comprising: a fluid receiving zone (100) for receiving the fluid, comprising a first absorbent material (111) that is capable of collecting the fluid; at least one zone of migration (201) for migration of the fluid, extending between a first end and a second end, each zone of migration including a draining material (211) in fluid continuity with the first absorbent material; at least one fluid reservoir (storage) zone (301) comprising a second absorbent material (311) in contact with the draining material at the level of the second end of each fluid migration zone; the detection means between the receiving zone and the reservoir zone, that provide the ability to determine the presence or absence of the said one or more analyte(s) of interest in the sample; characterised in that at least the one of the said zones of migration further also comprises at least one capture zone (400) that is capable of re

Abstract: A system includes a wearable device having at least one sensor configured to determine a user's fingerprint data, at least one data storage device containing authentication data, and at least one processor configured to compare the user's fingerprint data with the authentication data in order to authenticate a user. A method of authenticating a wearable device includes producing a fingerprint, determining fingerprint data derived from the fingerprint with one or more sensors, comparing the fingerprint data with authentication data on one or more data storage devices, and authenticating the user if the fingerprint data and the authentication data match.

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 tapered magnetorheological (MR) valve includes a first fixed housing that remains in a fixed position along a central axis of the tapered MR valve. The first fixed housing defines a first surface of a MR fluid channel that is at an angle with respect to the central axis of the tapered MR valve. A second housing moves linearly along the central axis of the tapered MR valve. The second housing defines a second surface of the MR fluid channel that is at the angle with respect to the central axis of the tapered MR valve. The first fixed housing and the second housing together define a first MR fluid chamber and a second MR fluid chamber interconnected by the MR fluid channel. The second housing moves linearly between a first position and a second position along the central axis of the tapered MR valve.

Abstract: A tapered magnetorheological (MR) valve includes a first fixed housing that remains in a fixed position along a central axis of the tapered MR valve. A second housing moves linearly along the central axis of the tapered MR valve. The first fixed housing and the second housing together define a first MR fluid chamber and a second MR fluid chamber for containing MR fluid interconnected by an MR fluid channel. The second housing moves linearly between a first position and a second position along the central axis of the tapered MR valve to control flow of the MR fluid through the MR fluid channel.

Abstract: A pneumatic valve system that includes an actuator that pneumatically actuates a valve, and circuitry that calculates a control signal to control the actuator by compensating for nonlinear dynamic of the actuator using a stable inverse model of the valve, optimizes parameters of the stable inverse model such that a difference between output information of the pneumatic valve system and desired reference information is reduced, and outputs the control signal to control the actuator.

Abstract: A method for reconstructing displacement and strain maps of human tissue of a subject in vivo or other objects includes applying a mechanical deformation for a target area, imaging tissues while deformation is applied on the target area, measuring the axial and lateral displacements and axial, lateral, and shear strains of tissue in the target area, differentiating between tissues of different stiffness and strain responses, and labeling tissues of different stiffness and strain responses. In some embodiments, displacement and strain imaging are performed using a high-resolution, high-speed, highly-accuracy hierarchy recursive displacement tracking from conventional ultrasound brightness mode images. Particularly, this invention relates to the reconstruction of displacement and strain images from conventional ultrasound B-mode images acquired using any ultrasound machine of different manufacturers without the need to use carrier signals.