Abstract: The disclosure relates to condition monitoring of wind turbine pitch bearings by measuring variations in distance between inner and outer rings of a pitch bearing during an angular rotation. Example embodiments include a method of monitoring a condition of a pitch bearing (100) of a wind turbine, the pitch bearing comprising a first ring (102) attached to a blade of the wind turbine and a second ring (103) attached to a hub of the wind turbine, the method comprising: mounting a displacement sensor (105) to the pitch bearing (100) to measure a distance between the first ring (102) and the second ring (103); rotating the first ring (102) relative to the second ring (103) over an angular range; and recording an angular position (204) of the first ring (102) relative to the second ring (103) and a distance (205a, 205b) measured by the displacement sensor (105) while rotating the first ring (103) relative to the second ring (103) over the angular range.

Abstract: Described herein is a method of enhancing the security of an internet transaction which includes the transmission of structurally formatted information, the method including the steps of: transmitting a request for the structurally formatted information across a network environment; receiving the request and sending a formulated response requiring calculation and decoding to determine the nature and content of the structurally formatted information; and receiving the structurally formatted information.

Abstract: Described herein is a method of enhancing the security of an internet transaction which includes the transmission of structurally formatted information, the method including the steps of: transmitting a request for the structurally formatted information across a network environment; receiving the request and sending a formulated response requiring calculation and decoding to determine the nature and content of the structurally formatted information; and receiving the structurally formatted information.

Abstract: A method of providing for access to a computer resource, the method including the steps of: (a) providing an initial registration process including the identification and downloading of a user selected candidate image; (b) creating a first derived identifier from the candidate image; (c) upon a user requesting access to the computer resource, requesting from the user a second candidate image, and deriving a second derived identifier from the second candidate image; and (d) comparing the first and second derived identifier and where they are equivalent, granting the user access to the computer resource.

Abstract: Described herein is a method of enhancing the security of an internet transaction which includes the transmission of structurally formatted information, the method including the steps of: transmitting a request for the structurally formatted information across a network environment; receiving the request and sending a formulated response requiring calculation and decoding to determine the nature and content of the structurally formatted information; and receiving the structurally formatted information.

Abstract: A method of providing for access to a computer resource, the method including the steps of: (a) providing an initial registration process including the identification and downloading of a user selected candidate image; (b) creating a first derived identifier from the candidate image; (c) upon a user requesting access to the computer resource, requesting from the user a second candidate image, and deriving a second derived identifier from the second candidate image; and (d) comparing the first and second derived identifier and where they are equivalent, granting the user access to the computer resource.

Abstract: A method of selectively sealing at least one cooling hole provided on an aerofoil component (10). The method comprises applying a thermoplastic material to one or more selected cooling holes (12, 14) in a molten phase, and cooling the thermoplastic material to set the thermoplastic material.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing relative optimized pricing for markdown items is provided. A financial engine for determining revenue for determining sales costs is provided. An optimization engine receiving input from the financial engine and uses the determined sales costs to provide relative optimized pricing for markdown items and provides pricing and a promotion calendar for non-markdown items.

Abstract: A viscous fluid, such as heavy crude oil which is too viscous to enable it to be pumped from a flowing phase of a reservoir into and along a pipeline for delivery to a refinery or other storage facility, may be contacted with a formulation to reduce its viscosity. The formulation comprises a polymeric material AA which includes —O— moieties pendent from a polymeric backbone thereof and said material is optionally cross-linked. In one embodiment, the formulation may comprise polyvinyl alcohol. In an alternative embodiment, the formulation may comprise a cross-linked polymeric material, such as cross-linked polyvinyl alcohol. After the viscous composition has been transported to a desired location, it may be separated from the other components.

Abstract: A viscous fluid, such as heavy crude oil which is too viscous to enable it to be pumped from a flowing phase of a reservoir into and along a pipeline for delivery to a refinery or other storage facility, may be contacted with a formulation to reduce its viscosity. The formulation comprises a polymeric material AA which includes —O—moieties pendent from a polymeric backbone thereof and said material is optionally cross-linked. In one embodiment, the formulation may comprise polyvinyl alcohol. In an alternative embodiment, the formulation may comprise a cross-linked polymeric material, such as cross-linked polyvinyl alcohol. After the viscous composition has been transported to a desired location, it may be separated from the other components.

Abstract: A method of preparing an aqueous formulation of an active material and such a formulation per se are described, wherein the active material has a very low solubility in water. The method may involve contacting active material in solid form with an optionally cross-linked water soluble polymer. The water soluble polymer is preferably a polyvinyl polymer with polyvinylalcohol being preferred. The polymer is optionally cross-linked. The method and formulation may be of particular utility in delivery of anti-cancer drugs or drugs via a pulmonary route.

Abstract: A viscous fluid, such as heavy crude oil which is too viscous to enable it to be pumped from a flowing phase of a reservoir into and along a pipeline for delivery to a refinery or other storage facility, may be contacted with a formulation to reduce its viscosity. The formulation comprises a polymeric material AA which includes —O— moieties pendent from a polymeric backbone thereof and said material is optionally cross-linked. In one embodiment, the formulation may comprise polyvinyl alcohol. In an alternative embodiment, the formulation may comprise a cross-linked polymeric material, such as cross-linked polyvinyl alcohol. After the viscous composition has been transported to a desired location, it may be separated from the other components.

Abstract: A viscous fluid, such as heavy crude oil which is too viscous to enable it to be pumped from a flowing phase of a reservoir into and along a pipeline for delivery to a refinery or other storage facility, may be contacted with a formulation to reduce its viscosity. The formulation comprises a polymeric material AA which includes —O— moieties pendent form a polymeric backbone thereof and said material is optionally cross-linked. In one embodiment, the formulation may comprise polyvinyl alcohol. In an alternative embodiment, the formulation may comprise a cross-linked polymeric material, such as cross-linked polyvinyl alcohol. After the viscous composition has been transported to a desired location, it may be separated from the other components.

Abstract: A process for recovering materials from a subterranean formation, for example in enhanced oil recovery, comprises: (A) (a) (i) selecting a first polymeric material having a repeat unit of formula (A) wherein A and B are the same or different, are selected from optionally-substituted aromatic and heteroaromatic groups and at least one comprises a relatively polar atom or group and R1 and R2 independently comprise relatively non-polar atoms or groups; or (ii) selecting a first polymeric material prepared or preparable by providing a compound of general formula (B) wherein A, B, R1 and R2 are as described above, in an aqueous solvent and causing the groups C?C in said compound to react with one another to form said first polymeric material; (b) selecting a second polymeric material which includes a functional group which is able to react in the presence of said first polymeric material to form a third polymeric material; (c) causing the formation of said third polymeric material by a reaction involving said firs

Abstract: Water problems in the production of oil or gas from subterranean formations is addressed by providing a method of restricting passage of a fluid from a first location to a second location in a subterranean formation by injecting into the formation a formulation comprising a first material, for example a dialdehyde, arranged to cross-link a second polymeric material, for example a polyvinyl alcohol, thereby to form a polymeric material of high viscosity which may block the passage between the first and second locations.

Abstract: A delivery means for delivering a deliverable material to a wound bed comprises a hydrogel (preferably an optionally cross-linked polyvinylalcohol) and a deliverable material comprising: (i) a decomposable material which in the absence of said hydrogel decomposes and/or is permanently denatured if sterilised using heat, electron beam radiation or gamma radiation; (ii) a protein, protein fragment, peptide or amino acid; or (iii) a secretion or excretion from the organism Lucilia sericata or Drosophila melanogaster.

Abstract: An underground cable (2) comprises a housing (4) filled with conductive elements (6) and an insulating oil (12). To remove the insulating oil and prevent contamination, a visco-elastic formulation is prepared, suitably from cross-linked polyvinylalcohol, and introduced into the cable (2). The fluid is forced through the cable whereby it removes insulating oil therefrom.

Abstract: A delivery means, for example a dressing, for delivering an antibacterial metal, for example silver, comprises the metal in combination with a hydrophilic polymer. The polymer may be cross-linked by a butylidene polymer to define a gel. In the examples, silver nitrate may be reduced to metallic silver, protected using polyvinylalcohol which is cross-linked to define a gel.

Abstract: Oil contaminated drill cuttings are contacted with an oil soluble surfactant with agitation which causes the hydrophobic moiety of the surfactant to interact with the oil. Next, an aqueous polymer formulation comprising a polymer having polar and/or ionic functionality is added and mixed. Then, an excess volume of water is added with gentle agitation and the mixture is allowed to settle, whereupon the cuttings sediment to the bottom of the receptacle in which the process is undertaken and the supernatant contains a colloidal suspension of particles which comprise oil, surfactant and polymer. The drill cuttings may then be separated from the supernatant by filtration. The supernatant may be treated with a flocculating agent to cause the colloidal particles to sediment. They too may then be separated.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing relative optimized pricing for markdown items is provided. A financial engine for determining revenue for determining sales costs is provided. An optimization engine receiving input from the financial engine and uses the determined sales costs to provide relative optimized pricing for markdown items and provides pricing and a promotion calendar for non-markdown items.