Abstract: A pneumatic spring for a running gear of a motor vehicle, including a pneumatic spring cover and a pneumatic spring piston, wherein a pneumatic spring bellows composed of elastomer material is braced in air-tight fashion between the pneumatic spring cover and the pneumatic spring piston, wherein the pneumatic spring bellows is at least partially surrounded by a sleeve-like outer guide, wherein a corrugated bellows surrounds the pneumatic spring bellows and the outer guide, and wherein, between the outer guide and the corrugated bellows, there is provided a separately formed, air-permeable fastener by which the corrugated bellows is fixed to the outer guide.

Abstract: A pneumatic spring for a running gear of a motor vehicle, including a pneumatic spring cover and a pneumatic spring piston, wherein a pneumatic spring bellows composed of elastomer material is braced in air-tight fashion between the pneumatic spring cover and the pneumatic spring piston, wherein the pneumatic spring bellows is at least partially surrounded by a sleeve-like outer guide, wherein a corrugated bellows surrounds the pneumatic spring bellows and the outer guide, and wherein, between the outer guide and the corrugated bellows, there is provided a separately formed, air-permeable fastener by which the corrugated bellows is fixed to the outer guide.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein generally relate to hydrogenation catalysts, syntheses of hydrogenation catalysts, and apparatus and methods for hydrogenation. Methods for forming a hydrogenation catalyst may include mixing a silica generating precursor with a copper precursor and adding an ammonium salt to an end pH of between about 5 to about 9. Methods for hydrogenating an oxalate may include forming a reaction mixture by flowing a hydrogenation catalyst to a reactor, flowing a hydrogen source to the reactor, and flowing an oxalate to the reactor, wherein the hydrogenation catalyst has a particle size between about 10 nm to about 40 nm. Methods may further include reacting the oxalate to form ethylene glycol.

Abstract: Visual appearance is a significant aspect of how we perceive others and how we want to be perceived. With items such as eyewear, make-up and facial jewelry the style, colour, size not only impact how others perceive us based upon the selections themselves but also how these fit or suit the user's face, which is unique. With online retailing the purchaser does not get feedback as in bricks-and-mortar retailing from friends, retail assistants etc. At best the user is exposed to a basic recommendation system which is generally procedural based with a priori aesthetic rules and user classification. However, users are often incorrect in their classification of themselves whilst the aesthetic rules are hidden, can contradict, and do not take into account current fashion, age or culture. Embodiments of the invention provide automated recommendation engines for retail applications based upon simply acquiring an image of the user.

Abstract: A method for image processing in video conferencing, for correcting the gaze of an interlocutor in an image or a sequence of images captured by at least one real camera, comprises the steps of the at least one real camera acquiring an original image of the interlocutor; synthesizing a corrected view of the interlocutor's face as seen by a virtual camera, the virtual camera being located on the interlocutor's line of sight and oriented towards the interlocutor; transferring the corrected view of the interlocutor's face from the synthesized view into the original image, thereby generating a final image; at least one of displaying the final image and transmitting the final image.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein generally relate to hydrogenation catalysts, syntheses of hydrogenation catalysts, and apparatus and methods for hydrogenation. Methods for forming a hydrogenation catalyst may include mixing a silica generating precursor with a copper precursor and adding an ammonium salt to an end pH of between about 5 to about 9. Methods for hydrogenating an oxalate may include forming a reaction mixture by flowing a hydrogenation catalyst to a reactor, flowing a hydrogen source to the reactor, and flowing an oxalate to the reactor, wherein the hydrogenation catalyst has a particle size between about 10 nm to about 40 nm. Methods may further include reacting the oxalate to form ethylene glycol.

Abstract: Estimating a pose of an articulated 3D object model (4) by a computer is done by •obtaining a sequence of source images (10) and therefrom corresponding source image segments (13) with objects (14) separated from the image background; •matching such a sequence (51) with sequences (52) of reference silhouettes (13?), determining one or more selected sequences of reference silhouettes (13?) forming a best match; •for each of these selected sequences of reference silhouettes (13?), retrieving a reference pose that is associated with one of the reference silhouettes (13?); and •computing an estimate of the pose of the articulated object model (4) from the retrieved reference pose or poses. The result of these steps is an initial pose estimate, which then can be used in further steps, for example, for maintaining local consistency between pose estimates from consecutive frames, and global consistency over a longer sequence of frames.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to a catalytic gasification of coal. Catalytic gasification of a Wyodak low-sulfur sub-bituminous coal from the Powder River Basin of Wyoming was investigated using an inexpensive sodium carbonate catalyst applied via incipient wetness impregnation. Experiments in an atmospheric pressure fixed-bed laboratory gasifier were performed to evaluate the effects of reaction temperature, feed gas steam content, and Na2CO3 loading on the catalytic gasification of the Wyodak coal. The temperature range investigated (700-900° C.) was selected with consideration of the Na2CO3 melting point (850° C.) to reduce the loss by volatilization of sodium. Sodium was found to be active during both pyrolysis and gasification steps. The catalyst was most cost-effective at addition levels of approximately 3 wt %. The random pore model provided a good fit to the conversion versus time data collected under both the catalytic and the uncatalytic conditions.

Abstract: Estimating a pose of an articulated 3D object model (4) by a computer is done by •obtaining a sequence of source images (10) and therefrom corresponding source image segments (13) with objects (14) separated from the image background; •matching such a sequence (51) with sequences (52) of reference silhouettes (13?), determining one or more selected sequences of reference silhouettes (13?) forming a best match; •for each of these selected sequences of reference silhouettes (13?), retrieving a reference pose that is associated with one of the reference silhouettes (13?); and •computing an estimate of the pose of the articulated object model (4) from the retrieved reference pose or poses. The result of these steps is an initial pose estimate, which then can be used in further steps, for example, for maintaining local consistency between pose estimates from consecutive frames, and global consistency over a longer sequence of frames.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to a catalytic gasification of coal. Catalytic gasification of a Wyodak low-sulfur sub-bituminous coal from the Powder River Basin of Wyoming was investigated using an inexpensive sodium carbonate catalyst applied via incipient wetness impregnation. Experiments in an atmospheric pressure fixed-bed laboratory gasifier were performed to evaluate the effects of reaction temperature, feed gas steam content, and Na2CO3 loading on the catalytic gasification of the Wyodak coal. The temperature range investigated (700-900° C.) was selected with consideration of the Na2CO3 melting point (850° C.) to reduce the loss by volatilization of sodium. Sodium was found to be active during both pyrolysis and gasification steps. The catalyst was most cost-effective at addition levels of approximately 3 wt %. The random pore model provided a good fit to the conversion versus time data collected under both the catalytic and the uncatalytic conditions.