Abstract: At least one example embodiment discloses a drive system including a motor including a rotor, the motor configured to receive a measured current, a controller configured to generate a voltage command for the motor, a sliding mode observer configured to determine an estimated current for the motor based on the voltage command, determine a difference between the measured current and the estimated current, and determine a switching control vector and an estimator configured to estimate a rotor position based on the switching control vector, the switching control vector being determined based on the difference and adaptive parameters of the sliding mode observer, the controller being further configured to control the motor based at least in part on the estimated rotor position.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods of reducing and/or inhibiting A deposition or A plaque formation in the brain, and/or inhibiting or slowing the progression of disorders mediated by A deposition or A plaque formation using therapeutically effective amounts of amylin agonist compounds or pharmaceutical compositions comprising amylin agonist compounds. As demonstrated herein, amylin and amylin analog administration improves cognition, including memory. Also provided herein are non-invasive, inexpensive amylin or amylin analog challenge assays and methods and kits thereof for detecting the presence of plaques comprising A? peptide in the brain, and for identifying individuals at increased risk for Alzheimer's disease (AD) and/or amnestic mild cognitive impairment.

Abstract: A method for power management of a multi-cell battery includes identifying a desired power value and voltage value, determining a battery voltage value and a battery current value for a battery, determining a number of battery banks from a plurality of battery banks to use for the battery, where each battery bank includes one or more battery cells (or battery modules), checking availability of each of the one or more battery cells (or battery modules), selecting one or more battery banks from the plurality of battery banks, where the selection of a battery bank is based on the availability of the battery cells (or battery modules) included in the battery pack, and a quantity of the selected battery banks is equal to the determined number of battery banks, and connecting the available battery cells (or battery modules) in the selected one or more battery banks to form the battery.

Abstract: A wind turbine generator fault detection method is described. The method includes acquiring current data from a wind turbine generator during operation, determining frequency demodulated signals and amplitude demodulated signals by frequency demodulating and amplitude demodulating the current data, resampling the frequency and amplitude demodulated signals corresponding to the current data, monitoring a frequency spectra of the resampled frequency and amplitude demodulated signals corresponding to the current data to identify one or more excitations in the frequency spectra. In response to identifying one or more excitations in the frequency spectra at one or more of the variable fault characteristic frequencies, the method includes generating and transmitting an alert that indicates that a wind turbine generator fault is detected.

Abstract: At least one example embodiment discloses a method of estimating a position of a rotor in a motor. The method includes determining a first estimated position of the rotor using a first algorithm, determining a second estimated position of the rotor using a second algorithm, the second algorithm being different than the first algorithm, determining a first error based on the first estimated position and the second estimated position, and determining a third estimated position of the rotor based on the first error.

Abstract: At least one example embodiment discloses a drive system including a motor including a rotor, the motor configured to receive a measured current, a controller configured to generate a voltage command for the motor, a sliding mode observer configured to determine an estimated current for the motor based on the voltage command, determine a difference between the measured current and the estimated current, and determine a switching control vector and an estimator configured to estimate a rotor position based on the switching control vector, the switching control vector being determined based on the difference and adaptive parameters of the sliding mode observer, the controller being further configured to control the motor based at least in part on the estimated rotor position.

Abstract: Novel proton exchange membrane fuel cells and direct methanol fuel cells with nanostructured components are configured with higher precious metal utilization rate at the electrodes, higher power density, and lower cost. To form a catalyst, platinum or platinum-ruthenium nanoparticles are deposited onto carbon-based materials, for example, single-walled, dual-walled, multi-walled and cup-stacked carbon nanotubes. The deposition process includes an ethylene glycol reduction method. Aligned arrays of these carbon nanomaterials are prepared by filtering the nanomaterials with ethanol. A membrane electrode assembly is formed by sandwiching the catalyst between a proton exchange membrane and a diffusion layer that form a first electrode. The second electrode may be formed using a conventional catalyst. The several layers of the MEA are hot pressed to form an integrated unit.

Abstract: A tiltable and repositionable anvil assembly for a stapler and a stapler comprising the same are provided. The tiltable and repositionable anvil assembly comprises: an anvil body having a connection portion for pivotable connection; a limitator; and a compression spring disposed between the anvil body and the limitator, in which in an operation of the stapler, the limitator is clamped at a clamping position between the connection portion of the anvil body and a connection means of the stapler so as to keep the anvil body in a vertical state, and after the operation of the stapler, the limitator is moved away from the clamping position between the connection portion of the anvil body and the connection means of the stapler, so that the anvil body is tiltable to a tilted state and the compression spring is compressed.

Abstract: Novel proton exchange membrane fuel cells and direct methanol fuel cells with nanostructured components are configured with higher precious metal utilization rate at the electrodes, higher power density, and lower cost. To form a catalyst, platinum or platinum-ruthenium nanoparticles are deposited onto carbon-based materials, for example, single-walled, dual-walled, multi-walled and cup-stacked carbon nanotubes. The deposition process includes an ethylene glycol reduction method. Aligned arrays of these carbon nanomaterials are prepared by filtering the nanomaterials with ethanol. A membrane electrode assembly is formed by sandwiching the catalyst between a proton exchange membrane and a diffusion layer that form a first electrode. The second electrode may be formed using a conventional catalyst. The several layers of the MEA are hot pressed to form an integrated unit.

Abstract: Novel proton exchange membrane fuel cells and direct methanol fuel cells with nanostructured components are configured with higher precious metal utilization rate at the electrodes, higher power density, and lower cost. To form a catalyst, platinum or platinum-ruthenium nanoparticles are deposited onto carbon-based materials, for example, single-walled, dual-walled, multi-walled and cup-stacked carbon nanotubes. The deposition process includes an ethylene glycol reduction method. Aligned arrays of these carbon nanomaterials are prepared by filtering the nanomaterials with ethanol. A membrane electrode assembly is formed by sandwiching the catalyst between a proton exchange membrane and a diffusion layer that form a first electrode. The second electrode may be formed using a conventional catalyst. The several layers of the MEA are hot pressed to form an integrated unit.

Abstract: A fuel cell electrode is provided which comprises catalyst particles and a nanotube composition comprising nanotubes which are predominantly double-walled. The catalyst particles preferably comprise platinum, and are preferably nanoparticles. The nanotubes preferably comprise carbon. A fuel cell is provided comprising an anode, a proton exchange electrolyte membrane, and a cathode, wherein the anode and/or the cathode comprise a catalyst support comprising nanotubes which are predominantly double-walled.

Abstract: A fuel cell is provided comprising an anode, a cathode, a catalyst, and a polymer electrolyte membrane comprising a heterocyclic compound with a nitrogen heteroatom and at least one electron-withdrawing substituent. The fuel cell operates at temperatures above about 100° C., preferably above about 150° C. The heterocyclic compound is preferably a substituted imidazole or benzoimidazole, most preferably a fluorinated imidazole. The heterocyclic compound is preferably liquid at the fuel cell operating temperature. The catalyst preferably contains platinum. The polymer electrolyte membrane preferably has a conductivity of 10?2 S/cm2 or higher. For efficient fuel cell operation the catalyst should not be poisoned to an undue degree by the heterocyclic compound, and so the binding energy of the heterocyclic compound to the catalyst should be low.

Abstract: A method and system for analyzing an electrogastrophic (EGG) signal are disclosed. Electrodes are positioned on abdominal skin of a subject adjacent a stomach thereof. The electrodes obtain the EGG signal produced by the stomach. An amplifier is connected to the electrodes, receives the obtained EGG signals, and amplifies the obtained EGG signal. A transforming device is operatively connected to the amplifier. The transforming device receives the amplified EGG signal and transforms the amplified EGG signal from a time domain representation to a frequency domain representation. The transformation is accomplished by way of a predetermined transform function incorporating a variable frequency and a window function. The window function has a time resolution and a frequency resolution. The frequency resolution of the window function is proportional to the frequency.