Abstract: A preventive maintenance method includes performing abrasive blast-cleaning; performing shot peening: applying a fluorescent coating material before the shot peening is performed; and irradiating a portion applied with the fluorescent coating material with an ultraviolet ray after the shot peening is performed. Coverage is calculated based on a residual fluorescent coating material that fluoresces.

Abstract: A bioretention system includes a number of connected wall portions defining an enclosure. Each wall portion includes a pair of spaced supports that support one or more panels that are interlocked with the pair of supports via mating interlocking features. Where a wall portion includes an upper panel atop of a lower panel, a lower edge of the upper panel and a top edge of the lower panel are in contact with each other to form the wall portion. The supports are then connected in spaced relation on the transverse axis by internal bars or beams which provide support for the wall portions without the need for external soil reinforcement.

Abstract: A method for quickly and reliably identifying the lithological layer of an excavated material, which includes the steps of: a) analysing a specimen of the excavated material using X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy to determine the mass concentration of each of the inorganic chemical elements contained in the specimen, step a) being performed on n different surfaces of the specimen in order to determine n mass concentrations of each of the inorganic chemical elements contained in the specimen, with n being a whole number greater than or equal to 2, b) calculating the mean of the n mass concentrations of each of the inorganic chemical elements contained in the specimen and the standard deviation of this mean, c) classifying each of the inorganic chemical elements contained in the excavated material according to certain criteria for the mean n mass concentration, and d) identifying the lithological layer of the excavated material based on the classification performed during step c).

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described including a valve frame defining a frame aperture and at least one arm attached to a portion of the valve frame on a ventricular side of said frame aperture. The at least one arm is configured to extend radially from the portion of the valve frame such that a chord receiving surface of the arm is sized and shaped to deploy among a region of the chords of the native mitral valve. The arm is curved, with an interior of the arm facing a direction in which the valve frame is configured to be rotated during deployment of the prosthetic mitral valve apparatus within the native mitral valve and with the arm having a concavely rounded leading edge facing at least partially in a circumferential direction. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: Autonomous management of resources by an administrative node network is disclosed, including: receiving, at a first node of a plurality of nodes associated with an administrative node network, a resource request directed to the administrative node network, wherein the administrative node network is associated with managing a set of resources; obtaining a first proposal with respect to the resource request; obtaining a second proposal with respect to the resource request from a second node of the plurality of nodes associated with the administrative node network; and determining a processing consensus associated with the resource request based at least in part on the first proposal and the second proposal.

Abstract: According to an aspect of some embodiments of the invention, there is provided a method of deploying an expandable prosthetic mitral valve in a subject, the method comprising: deploying a first component of the prosthetic mitral valve in a left atrium; deploying a second component of the prosthetic mitral valve in a left ventricle; and approximating the first and the second components so that leaflets of a native mitral valve are trapped between the first and the second components.

Abstract: A process for rendering excavation material inert for the purpose of their analysis, of their storage and/or of their valorisation. The process for inerting the excavation material includes adding an organic acid, of a complexing agent or of a diaminotetracarboxylic acid to the excavation material, the complexing agent being chosen from a sugar alcohol, a cationic surface-active agent and their mixtures. Also, a method of determining the concentration by weight of a polluting inorganic element included in an excavated material, a method of storage of the inert excavation material, and a method of valorising the inerted material.

Abstract: A method for quickly and reliably identifying the lithological layer of an excavated material, which includes the steps of: a) analysing a specimen of the excavated material using X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy to determine the mass concentration of each of the inorganic chemical elements contained in the specimen, step a) being performed on n different surfaces of the specimen in order to determine n mass concentrations of each of the inorganic chemical elements contained in the specimen, with n being a whole number greater than or equal to 2, b) calculating the mean of the n mass concentrations of each of the inorganic chemical elements contained in the specimen and the standard deviation of this mean, c) classifying each of the inorganic chemical elements contained in the excavated material according to certain criteria for the mean n mass concentration, and d) identifying the lithological layer of the excavated material based on the classification performed during step c).

Abstract: A paving assembly includes a transporter with a material feed to arrange a layer of paving material at a first distance from the transporter, a first material hopper in connection with the material feed to receive a paving material, and a superstructure selectively arrangeable on or over the transporter. The superstructure includes a frame, a further material feed extending beyond the transporter to convey the paving material at a second distance from said transporter, and a second material hopper. The superstructure includes the first and the second material hopper each arranged substantially central relative to the width of the transporter and accessible during use to allow them to be filled with paving material by a feeder for a continuous paving operation. The further material feed is arranged substantially central relative to the width of the transporter and extending over the transporter. A method of providing such a paving assembly.

Abstract: A paving assembly includes a transporter with a material feed to arrange a layer of paving material at a first distance from the transporter, a first material hopper in connection with the material feed to receive a paving material, and a superstructure selectively arrangeable on or over the transporter. The superstructure includes a frame, a further material feed extending beyond the transporter to convey the paving material at a second distance from said transporter, and a second material hopper. The superstructure includes the first and the second material hopper each arranged substantially central relative to the width of the transporter and accessible during use to allow them to be filled with paving material by a feeder for a continuous paving operation. The further material feed is arranged substantially central relative to the width of the transporter and extending over the transporter. A method of providing such a paving assembly.

Abstract: A method and composition of making polymer products from thermoplastic polymers by melt processing. Cross-linked polyethylene are mixed with at least one thermoplastic matrix polymer to form a polymer composition which is melt-processed. The cross-linked polyethylene is formed by a finely divided powder with particles having a screened size of less than 600 ?m and a D50 of 200 to 400 ?m. Cross-linked polyolefin can be used in a cost-effective and simple manner so that products generally considered a waste, such as scrapped cross-linked polyethylene pipes or unused cross-linked polyethylene discarded in e.g. pipe making processes, can be recycled and used as a starting material for polymer products.

Abstract: A masonry wall is provided with a plurality of passageways. At least one reinforcement member is provided in each of the passageways. The reinforcement members include a first group of reinforcement members each having a centre line on the first side of a midplane of the wall and a second group of reinforcement members each having a centre line on the second side of the midplane. The passageways include slots that are open horizontally to the first side of the wall only. The second group of reinforcement members are arranged in passageways located spaced from the second wall surface opposite of the first wall surface. The reinforcement members in the passageways are each embedded in an adhesive substance bonded to the reinforcement members and to an inner surface of the passageway in which the reinforcement member is provided.

Abstract: A stormwater drain baffle to be disposed in a flow-through stormwater sump or chamber for baffling a stormwater flow-path. The baffle has a plurality of openings distributed over the area of the baffle. The baffle comprises at least two baffle portions connected to each other. The baffle portions are disposed near to and in superposed relation to each other, so that the baffle portions overlap each other and are adjustably connected to each other for adjusting the width (Wtot) of the baffle. At least the outermost baffle portions of the baffle comprise fixing members which are monolithic with the baffle portion and adapted for fixing the baffle to the vertical inner wall of the sump or the chamber.

Abstract: The capacitor quick-charge apparatus includes an input AC power source, a phase modulator, a rectifier, a shunt, a module current supply, a current control element, a capacitor, a resistance, a comparator, a variable resistor, an Operational Amplifier 1 (OP AMP 1) to an Operational Amplifier 5 (OP AMP 5), an Auto Voltage Regulator (AVR) or a Micro Control Unit (MCU), and a monitor system.

Abstract: A method of producing a plate-like construction having a double-wall structure and its use. According to the present invention, several elongated profiles which have essentially straight central axes are arranged against each other in such a way that adjacent hollow profiles abut each other and together form, in general terms, a flat stack having two opposite sides. The hollow profiles are welded together in order to join them with welded seams, in which case the welding is essentially carried out simultaneously from both sides of the stack. Besides good flexural strength and the opportunity to recycle, thermoplastic plates which are produced by means of the present method exhibit resistance to corrosion, decay and mould.

Abstract: A system that uses the male-female coupling concept, by mechanical interference between the serrated toothing on the parts to be fastened permanently together or by way of a sleeve-like couplings, but not before sealing elements which satisfy the IP 68 rating are placed therebetween. The outermost, female part or the sleeve-like couplings have particularly elastic peripheral ribs which allow them to expand sufficiently to fit the serrated toothing, such that the mounting can only be undone by cutting the rib, thus characterizing the violation of the sleeve-like coupling or of the outermost female part having a complex profile, used in the fastening system.

Abstract: A catalyst for producing isoparaffins-rich synthetic oil is a granulated porous composite material comprising a three-dimensional heat-conducting structure of metal aluminum and Raney cobalt, and a binding component comprising an H-form zeolite. The particles of Raney cobalt and zeolite are in mutual direct contact. Fractions of macropores in an open porosity of the catalyst granules and of mesopores of the size of 70-500 ? in an open porosity of the catalyst granules are respectively 55-79% and 7-20%, a fraction of micropores being the rest. A method for preparing the catalyst comprises mixing binding component powders, peptizing the mixture with a nitric acid solution, mixing obtained homogeneous gel with powders of Raney cobalt and metal aluminum and a liquid phase to form a paste, extruding same into granules and calcinating the granules. The catalyst improves reagents mass transfer inside the granules and increases isoparaffine content in the produced oil.

Abstract: A method of spirally winding a thermoplastic profile in the manufacture of welded plastic tubes and a winding apparatus for manufacturing a spirally wound tube. A thermoplastic profile is received on a plurality of sliding members being arranged in an axial direction of the tube to be manufactured and defining an essentially cylindrically shaped winding surface with a diameter essentially corresponding to the inner diameter of the tube. The profile is directed along a spiral path towards the previous turn of the profile in order to force opposite edges of the profile together for welding. The radial position of the sliding member is adjusted to control the tension in the thermoplastic profile and the force with which it constricts itself around the winding surface as defined by the sliding member.

Abstract: A method and apparatus in the manufacture of a spirally wound and welded tube is disclosed. A thermoplastic profile is slid along a path on a slider arranged in an axial direction of the tube and defining a cylindrically shaped winding surface with a diameter corresponding to the inner diameter of the tube to be manufactured. The profile is directed along a spiral path towards a previous turn of said profile by means of radial rollers spaced along said spiral path by adjusting the position of the rollers: Opposite edges of said profile turns are welded together by providing an extruded welding mass between said profile turns. The welded tube is fed from the welding station by means the rollers by sliding it onto a rotating support.