Abstract: A golf practice mat including a surface pattern formed by thermally deforming and allowing setting of the deformed mat surface.

Abstract: A process and process line is provided for recovering heat in the form of cleaned warm water and residual bitumen from oil sand tailings produced during an oil sands extraction process. The process includes removing at least a portion of the coarse solids from the oil sand tailings to produce a reduced solids tailings fraction; separating at least a portion of the bitumen from the reduced solids tailings fraction to produce a bitumen fraction and a warm water and fines fraction; and removing at least a portion of the fines from the warm water and fines fraction to produce cleaned warm water and a concentrated fines fraction. The cleaned warm water can then be reused in the oil sands extraction process.

Abstract: An assembly for selectively supplying particulate material to an air seeder, an agricultural implement able to selectively supply and dispense particulate material into the ground and a method of selectively dispensing particulate material into the ground are provided. The assembly has at least one supply receptacle for receiving particulate material from a source and a metering roller for supplying the material to an air seeder. The assembly is operative to selectively supply the material to the air seeder and prevent the material from being supplied to the air seeder. The implement can use the assembly to selectively supply particulate material to ground engaging openers where the particulate material will be dispensed into the ground. Particulate material can be selectively supplied to the implement when it is desired to have the particulate material dispensed into the ground and then prevented from being supplied to the implement when it is not desirable.

Abstract: An effective non-intrusive data-based monitoring method may reduce the cost of control loop performance maintenance by screening and short-listing those control loops or valves that need maintenance. The invention comprises a data-based, model-free, non-invasive method that can automatically detect and quantify stiction present in control valves. The method does not require the implementation of any additional valve travel test or, as commonly known, bump test of the control loop. The method may detect and quantify stiction using controlled variable (pv), controller output (op) and set point (sp) data. It does not require valve positioner (mv) data.

Abstract: A system and method for providing or maintaining data and application continuity in a computer system. According to an embodiment, the system comprises a communication interface for a client system, a network layer for receiving data from the client system, a hardware infrastructure for creating instances of the client system for replicating data, and an applications module for executing one or more applications on the replicated data. According to a further aspect, the system includes a portal interface configured for providing a remote user with control, audit and other functions associated with the user's system configuration.

Abstract: A diverter damper seal land for installation in a flue gas duct defined by a casing wall, the diverter damper seal land includes: a front seal land and a rear seal land, the front seal land is mountable in the duct by a connection between the base edge and the casing wall and the rear seal land is connected at its base edge to the inner edge of the front seal land and spaced back and radially inwardly from the front seal such that it protrudes radially inwardly behind the front seal land. Another diverter damper seal land assembly includes: a seal land including a front seal land and a rear seal land; a first gusset; and a second gusset spaced from the first gusset, the first and second gussets connected to the casing wall and positioned at the back side of the front seal land to support the seal land in an operative position in the duct.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an apparatus, system and method for deliquifying a well. A body having gas supply passages is lowered into a well bore on the end of a string of supply tubing. A string of return tubing is lowered through the supply tubing and is inserted into a return passage in the body. A jet nozzle receives gas from the gas supply passages and elevates a fluid:gas mixture to the surface through the return tubing.

Abstract: A method and system for measuring the distribution of pressure forces over a selected area includes a sensor having an array of pressure sensing capacitance nodes formed by intersecting rows and columns, where measured capacitance of a node is compared to a fixed value of reference capacitance placed on each row that can be measured as if it was another node.

Abstract: A bracket, computer component and method for connecting to connection points associated with a socket on a computer circuit board are provided. The bracket and computer component have a mounting device including a fastener connectable to one of the connection points and positioned on a mounting flange. The mounting device is adjustable relative to the mounting flange from a first position on the mounting flange to a second position to allow the bracket and computer component to be used in conjunction with a number of different types of sockets.

Abstract: A process for removing contaminants, namely water and particulate solids, from hydrocarbon diluent-diluted bitumen froth (“dilfroth”) is provided to produce hydrocarbon diluent-diluted bitumen (“dilbit”), comprising subjecting the dilfroth to gravity settling in a primary settler to produce an overflow stream of primary raw dilbit, comprising bitumen containing water and some fine solids, and an underflow stream of primary tails, comprising solids, water and residual bitumen; removing the overflow stream of primary raw dilbit and subjecting it to gravity settling in a clarifier vessel for sufficient time to produce an overflow first stream of cleaned dilbit and an underflow stream of clarifier sludge; diluting the primary tails with hydrocarbon diluent and subjecting the diluted primary tails to gravity settling in a secondary settler to produce an overflow second stream of cleaned dilbit and an underflow stream of secondary tails; and removing the clarifier sludge and diluting the clarifier sludge with a hyd

Abstract: The present invention provides new derivatives of 4- or 5-aminosalicylic acid, and a pharmaceutical composition containing these derivatives of 4- or 5-aminosalicylic acid as active ingredients, useful for the treatment of intestinal diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and for the prevention/treatment of colon cancer. More particularly, these derivatives comprise a hydrogen sulfide releasing moiety linked via an azo, an ester, an anhydride, a thioester or an amide linkage to a molecule of 4- or 5-aminosalicylic acid. Furthermore, the present invention provides a process for preparing these compounds and their use for treating IBD and IBS and the prevention/treatment of colon cancer.

Abstract: The present invention provides new derivatives of 4- or 5-aminosalicylic acid, and a pharmaceutical composition containing these derivatives of 4- or 5-aminosalicylic acid as active ingredients, useful for the treatment of intestinal diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and for the prevention/treatment of colon cancer. More particularly, these derivatives comprise a hydrogen sulfide releasing moiety linked via an azo, an ester, an anhydride, a thioester or an amide linkage to a molecule of 4- or 5-aminosalicylic acid. Furthermore, the present invention provides a process for preparing these compounds and their use for treating IBD and IBS and the prevention/treatment of colon cancer.

Abstract: A light therapy device is taught including a light emitting assembly having light emitting diodes (LEDs) as a light source. The light emitting assembly capable of generating 2,500 lux to 7,500 lux at 12 inches.

Abstract: A control system for a reciprocating device which includes a switching valve for directing fluid supply under pressure to one of two drive lines in an alternating manner, means for alternating the switching valve, and an exhaust circuit including and exhaust outlet, a first flow restrictor disposed between one drive line and the exhaust outlet, and a second flow restrictor disposed between the other drive line and the exhaust outlet. The system may include a selection valve for alternately connecting one of two drivelines to the exhaust outlet.

Abstract: A control system for a reciprocating device includes a switching valve, a toggle for operating the valve, a trigger associated with the reciprocating device to actuate the toggle, and biasing means disposed on the trigger for applying a biasing force to the toggle. The valve includes a first drive line, a second drive line, a fluid supply inlet and a fluid exhaust outlet. The valve switches between the first and second drive lines upon actuation of the toggle by the trigger, to switch direction of the reciprocating device.

Abstract: A system and method for managing content for secure communications. The system includes an interface for receiving an encrypted message, a decryption module for decrypting the message into a clear text or other readable form and a key recovery module. The key recovery module recovers a key for the user associated with the encrypted message. The decryption module decrypts the message using the recovered key. The decrypted or clear text message is then routed or transferred for further processing or handling. The further processing includes policy enforcement, virus scanning, spam filtering and/or archiving.

Abstract: Gas packages for the delivery of therapeutic gases, and in particular gaseous nitric oxide (gNO) are provided herein. The gas packages comprise one or more of a gas reservoir, interface layer, sealing layer, and holding container. The interface layer regulates discharge of the therapeutic gas from the gas reservoir to the external environment. The sealing layer and/or holding container prevent evolution of the gas until the sealing layer is compromised or the holding container is opened. The gas packages and methods for using them are useful for the treatment, alleviation, and prevention of various disease and non-disease, medical and non-medical, conditions in humans and animals.

Abstract: The invention relates to an agitator tool for use with a progressive cavity pump for agitating a slurry of sand, heavy oil or water. The agitator tool has an elongate body having a lower end, an upper end, and a plurality of longitudinal grooves spaced between the lower and upper ends and radially about the body. The upper end is configured for coupling to a pump rotating element. Agitation members are pivotally mounted within the longitudinal grooves so as to be movable from an actuation position wherein the agitation members project outwardly from the body during rotation to agitate the slurry, to resting positions wherein the agitation members are folded within the grooves during installation or removal of the tool.

Abstract: A process for fracturing a selected region of a formation including: introducing a supply of fracturing fluid to the region of the formation until a first threshold is reached, adjusting the flow of the fracturing fluid to the region of the formation to reach a second threshold, adjusting the flow of the fracturing fluid to the region of the formation to reach a third threshold and ceasing flow of the fracturing fluid to region of the formation, the fracturing fluid being a non-participating gas and including a proppant in at least one of the stages of flow of the fracturing fluid.

Abstract: A process for extracting bitumen from oil sand, comprising: mixing oil sand with process water to produce an oil sand slurry containing bitumen, sand, water and entrained air; conditioning the oil sand slurry; optionally flooding the conditioned oil sand slurry with flood water to dilute the slurry, if required; introducing the slurry into a primary separation vessel wherein separate layers of primary bitumen froth, middlings and sand tailings are formed; removing a portion of the primary bitumen froth from the primary separation vessel and recycling the portion of primary bitumen froth to that step of the process upstream of the primary separation vessel to join and mix with the feed stream moving to the primary separation vessel; and thereafter retaining said feed stream in said primary separation vessel to produce primary bitumen froth.