Abstract: A method to determine soot mass of a gasoline engine powered automobile vehicle includes: predefining a time period between approximately 50 seconds to 200 seconds defining a cold start operation of a gasoline engine; determining a critical engine cold start temperature at a time defining a start of the cold start operation; identifying a cold start soot mass value from a lookup table based on the predefined time period and the critical engine cold start temperature; calculating a hot engine soot mass value for a hot engine operating time; repeating the calculating step for at least one next successive hot engine operating time; and adding the cold start soot mass value to the hot engine soot mass value for the hot engine operating time and the at least one next successive hot engine operating time to define a total soot mass value.

Abstract: Described herein are methods of treating inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in a patient having IBD using SMAD7 antisense oligonucleotides.

Abstract: A system according to the principles of the present disclosure includes a fuel injector cleaning module and a fuel control module. The fuel injector cleaning module generates an instruction to clean a fuel injector of an engine based on engine operating conditions. The fuel control module, in response to the injector clean instruction, controls the fuel injector to perform N fuel injections for each combustion event in a cylinder of the engine and, during each of the N fuel injections, deactivates the fuel injector before the fuel injector fully opens. N is an integer greater than one.

Abstract: A system according to the principles of the present disclosure includes a fuel injector cleaning module and a fuel control module. The fuel injector cleaning module generates an instruction to clean a fuel injector of an engine based on engine operating conditions. The fuel control module, in response to the injector clean instruction, controls the fuel injector to perform N fuel injections for each combustion event in a cylinder of the engine and, during each of the N fuel injections, deactivates the fuel injector before the fuel injector fully opens. N is an integer greater than one.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine is equipped with an EGR system that includes an EGR heat exchanger. A method for monitoring the EGR heat exchanger includes monitoring an EGR gas inlet temperature to the EGR heat exchanger, an EGR gas outlet temperature from the EGR heat exchanger, a coolant temperature and a mass EGR flowrate through the EGR heat exchanger for a present engine operating point. An actual thermal effectiveness of the EGR heat exchanger for the present engine operating point is determined. A maximum heat transfer coefficient for the EGR side of the EGR heat exchanger is determined for the present engine operating point. The EGR heat exchanger is regenerated when the actual heat transfer coefficient differs from the maximum heat transfer coefficient for the present engine operating point.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine is equipped with an EGR system that includes an EGR heat exchanger. A method for monitoring the EGR heat exchanger includes monitoring an EGR gas inlet temperature to the EGR heat exchanger, an EGR gas outlet temperature from the EGR heat exchanger, a coolant temperature and a mass EGR flowrate through the EGR heat exchanger for a present engine operating point. An actual thermal effectiveness of the EGR heat exchanger for the present engine operating point is determined. A maximum heat transfer coefficient for the EGR side of the EGR heat exchanger is determined for the present engine operating point. The EGR heat exchanger is regenerated when the actual heat transfer coefficient differs from the maximum heat transfer coefficient for the present engine operating point.

Abstract: Simultaneous or independent control of a by-pass valve and a variable-geometry forced induction component on a combustion engine is based on operational parameters measured by various sensors provided as inputs to a control module. Sudden loss of power due to low turbine efficiencies is prevented during transitions between operating conditions of engine speed and load. Excessive peak cylinder pressures are also prevented by controlling engine boost pressure to a permitted limit at high engine speed and load.

Abstract: A lightning protection method and device with compound actively generated plasma and passively produced plasma provide lightning protection without the need for grounding of the protected object. The device has lightning rods with a plasma piping inside. The high density plasma generated by an active plasma generator is blown through the piping, spread out at the tips of the rods and compounded with the plasma passively produced by the corona discharge on the tips under the action of lightning cloud electric field. The compound plasma dissipates the electric charges, on the tips of the rods, inducted by the lightning cloud electric field, and neutralizes the electric charges of the lightning, preventing a thunderstruck to a protected object related to the rods.

Abstract: A system for keeping a solution of urea in a liquid state comprising a tank having a level sensing apparatus, inlet and outlet tubes for supplying and withdrawing urea solution, and a plurality of non-contact heating elements disposed in vertical relationship to one another. Preferably, the heating elements are infrared (IR) radiative coils encased in IR-transparent quartz tubes. In one embodiment, each heating element represents a horizontally defined heating zone. When the reservoir tank is full and predetermined temperature conditions are met, all of the heaters are on, each heater irradiating its own horizontal zone. As zones are progressively emptied during consumption of the urea solution, as determined by the level sensor, each respective zone heater is de-energized. Because each horizontal zone is heated by a single heater, the solution is maintained at a substantially uniform temperature over the full depth of the tank without localized overheating.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for storing a liquid NOx reductant on a vehicle. The apparatus comprises a container for containing the liquid NOx reductant, a first heating device located in the container and adapted to heat the NOx reductant in use, and a tube that has a first end adapted to be submerged in the liquid NOx reductant in the container in use. The tube is adapted to extract liquid NOx reductant from the container and the tube includes a second heating device extending along at least a portion of the length of the tube that is located within the container.

Abstract: The invention discloses a method for forwarding multimedia messages (MMs) between different multimedia messaging service centers (MMSCs), comprising: a) an originator MMSC receiving a MM submitted by an originator terminal, then editing and generating a routing forward request message; b) the originator MMSC sending the routing forward request message generated in step a) to a recipient MMSC; c) the recipient MMSC returning a routing forward response message to the originator MMSC after receiving the routing forward request message; d) the recipient MMSC delivering the MM according to the MM related information contained in the routing forward request message; and e) the recipient MMSC generating a delivery report according to the current delivery status and sending it to the originator MMSC.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for implementing prepaid MMS under the condition that the SCP in which the prepaid subscribers register can provide both prepaid service and prepaid MMS. The method comprises the following steps: a calling subscriber submitting a multimedia message to a MMSC; the MMSC judging the addresses of the calling subscriber and the called subscriber who will receive the multimedia message to determine user types of the calling subscriber and the called subscriber; and the originator MMSC or the recipient MMSC implementing charge processing and distribution of the multimedia message through sending a charge request message to SCP based on the user types.

Abstract: A new kinetic spray process is disclosed that enables one to secure a plurality of ceramic elements together quickly without the need for glues or other adhesives. The process finds special utilization in the formation of non-thermal plasma reactors wherein the kinetic spray process can be used to simultaneously secure the ceramic elements together and to form electrical connections between like electrodes in the non-thermal plasma reactor.

Abstract: A lightning protection method and its device with compound actively generated plasma and passively produced plasma are disclosed, in witch conventional lightning rods are reformed each with a plasma piping inside. The high density plasma generated by an active plasma generator is blown through the piping, spread out at the tips of the rods and compounded with the plasma passively produced by the corona discharge on the tips under the action of lightning cloud electric field. The compound plasma dissipates the electric charges, on the tips of the rods, inducted by lightning cloud electric field, and neutralizes the electric charges of the lightning cloud. Then the electric field strength in around space can be reduced, and the lightning cloud voltage puncture to the rods can be shielded and eliminated. As a result, the thunderstruck to the protected object within the protection scope related to the lightning rods of the device can be rejected.

Abstract: A method of reducing nitrogen oxides (NOx) and particulate matter (PM) in compression ignition engine emissions. The method includes monitoring at least one engine sensor that generates a signal in response to at least one engine operating condition, and adjusting at least one engine control parameter in response to the signal such that in-cylinder spacial distribution of equivalence ratio and temperature is substantially maintained to an operating region. The operating region corresponds to a set of equivalence ratio with respect to temperature values that are substantially outside regions supportive of NOx and PM formation. The temperature values are greater than 1650 K, and the equivalence ratio values are greater than 0.5.

Abstract: A method of reducing nitrogen oxides (NOx) and particulate matter (PM) in compression ignition engine emissions. The method includes monitoring at least one engine sensor that generates a signal in response to at least one engine operating condition, and adjusting at least one engine control parameter in response to the signal such that in-cylinder spacial distribution of equivalence ratio and temperature is substantially maintained to an operating region. The operating region corresponds to a set of equivalence ratio with respect to temperature values that are substantially outside regions supportive of NOx and PM formation. The temperature values are greater than 1650 K, and the equivalence ratio values are greater than 0.5.

Abstract: A support structure extends upwards from a substrate and supports a tiltable platform, the upper surface of which can be a mirror, by means of spaced flexible couplings that enable the platform to tilt relative to the support structure. Respective electrodes associated with the substrate and platform control the platform tilt in response to applied signals. The platform electrodes are preferably spaced below and tilt with the platform, with the platform extending laterally from the support structure further than the platform electrodes. The platform is preferably bulk micromachined, and the support structure surface micromachined.

Abstract: A method for preparing a non-thermal plasma reactor substrate includes disposing electrical vias on green stage first and second ceramic plates; filling the electrical vias with conductive material; and forming electrical contact via cover pads; disposing conductive material on the first ceramic plate to form an electrode plate having a main electrode portion and a terminal lead for electrically connecting the main electrode portion to the electrical vias; laminating the electrode plate and the second ceramic plate together, embedding the electrode therebetween; co-firing the plates to form a laminated co-fired embedded-conductor element; stacking a plurality of the laminated co-fired embedded-conductor elements to form a multi-cell stack, the filled electrical vias aligning in the stack to provide an electrical bus for connecting alternating elements in the stack; and disposing spacers with matching vias and via cover pads between adjacent pairs of elements to form exhaust gas passages.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for implementing prepaid MMS under the condition that the SCP in which the prepaid subscribers register can provide both prepaid service and prepaid MMS. The method comprises the following steps: a calling subscriber submitting a multimedia message to a MMSC; the MMSC judging the address types of the calling subscriber and the called subscriber who will receive the multimedia message to determine user types of the calling subscriber and the called subscriber; and the originator MMSC or the recipient MMSC implementing charge processing and distribution of the multimedia message through sending a charge request message to SCP based on the user types.