Abstract: Devices and methods comprise determining an actual weather independent energy consumption value and actual weather dependent energy consumption value of a building. The devices and methods further comprise, obtaining energy simulation information from a data source. Further, an ideal weather independent energy consumption value and one or more ideal loads are generated based on the energy simulation information, building information, and total energy consumption of the building. The devices and methods further comprise determining a benchmarking score for the building using the actual weather independent energy consumption value, the actual weather dependent energy consumption value, the ideal weather independent energy consumption value, and the one or more ideal loads for managing energy consumption associated with the building.

Abstract: A managed pressure drilling (MPD) operation may use an inverse model in conjunction with a hydraulic model and real-time drilling conditions and parameters as inputs to determine a wellhead pressure set point corresponding to a desired bottomhole pressure. For example, while drilling a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation with a drilling system, measured data including a wellhead pressure may be acquired. A model may then be executed that applies a hydraulic model to an a priori model estimate vector to produce predicted data; converts the measured data to a measured data vector; applies a randomized maximum likelihood algorithm to the a priori model estimate vector, the predicted data, and the measured data vector to produce an a posterioiri model estimates; and applies the hydraulic model to the a posterioiri model estimates to produce an a posteriori prediction and a calculated wellhead pressure set point corresponding to a desired bottomhole pressure.

Abstract: A silo system is described that can store and dispense material. The silo system can include a silo cap that can include features for assisting with dispensing the material efficiently and effectively. For example, the silo cap can include a discharge port positioned at an apex of the silo cap and one or more aeration ports positioned proximate the discharge port.

Abstract: A system is configured for detecting a point of sale, receiving a personal identification number (PIN), generating a PIN based key using a message digest of the PIN, decrypting a data encryption key (DEK) using the PIN based key, and generating a DEK based dynamic key using the PIN based key. The system may also decrypt a session key using the DEK based dynamic key, generate a cryptogram from the session key, and send the cryptogram to the point of sale.

Abstract: A method and system is provided for automated generation of the functional test cases for testing a software system. In an embodiment, the invention provides an expressive decision table (EDT), a requirement specification notation designed to reduce translation efforts, it implements a novel scalable row-guided random algorithm with fuzzing (RGRaF) (pronounced R-graph) to generate test cases. The invention also implements two new coverage criteria targeted at requirements and requirement interactions. The invention also provides fuzzing at time boundaries to achieve scalability. According to an embodiment, the invention also provides the feature of generating error in case the generated functional test case corresponds to system property violation of the software system. According to another embodiment, the system can also reject the functional test case if there is an improbable condition of the software system.

Abstract: A pipelay vessel has a crane having a base with a hollow interior and a stinger handling system for handling a stinger extending from the side of the vessel. The stinger handling system has a link extending out through an opening from the hollow interior towards the side of the vessel for connection to the stinger. The link is arranged to transmit both tensile and compressive loading. A jack structure, located within the hollow interior of the crane base is mounted to extend and retract the link from within the crane base to raise and lower the stinger. A universal coupling may be provided for self aligning the link to the stinger in the horizontal plane.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides the identification of tobacco Nic1 locus. Also provided are tobacco plants with altered total alkaloid and nicotine levels and commercially acceptable leaf grade, their development via breeding or transgenic approaches, and production of tobacco products from these tobacco plants. Also provided are compositions and methods for producing tobacco plants having novel Nic1 mutations or alleles to reduce nicotine levels. Further provided are sequence polymorphisms and molecular markers for breeding tobacco with reduced nicotine or nicotine free while maintaining tobacco leaf grade and tobacco product quality.

Abstract: Coring tools including a core tube assembly; a carrier chamber defined within the core tube assembly for storing one or more core samples drilled from a downhole formation having a wellbore fluid therein, wherein the wellbore fluid has a wellbore fluid density; a non-hydrocarbon, non-reactive heavy weight fluid (“HWF”) present within the carrier chamber, the HWF exhibiting a HWF density of about 2 pounds per gallon greater than the wellbore fluid density; a pressure housing cover selectively rotatable between (1) an open position, where the one or more core samples are able to be inserted into the carrier chamber, and (2) a closed position, where the carrier chamber is sealed; and a cover activation mechanism coupled to the core tube assembly and operable to move the pressure housing cover between the closed position and the open position.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes improved adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors for gene therapy applications in the treatment of glycogen storage disease, particularly glycogen storage disease type Ia (GSD-Ia). Described are recombinant nucleic acid molecules, vectors and recombinant AAV that include a G6PC promoter/enhancer, a synthetic intron, a G6PC coding sequence (such as a wild-type or codon-optimized G6PC coding sequence), and stuffer nucleic acid sequence situated between the G6PC promoter/enhancer and the intron, as well as between the intron and the G6PC coding sequence. The recombinant AAVs disclosed herein exhibit highly efficient liver transduction and are capable of correcting metabolic abnormalities in an animal model of GSD-Ia.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a metal matrix composite (MMC) tool includes coating at least a portion of an interior of a mold assembly with one or more layers of a material coating, where the mold assembly defines at least a portion of an infiltration chamber. Reinforcing materials are deposited into the infiltration chamber, and infiltrated with a binder material. One or more layers of the material coating may then be reacted with the binder material to form an outer shell on selected outer surfaces of the MMC tool.

Abstract: A dynamic root of trust can be injected in an application module on a client device using a backend server and can be continuously monitored to ensure authenticity, integrity and confidentiality at load time, run time and update time of the application module. The dynamic root of trust can be updated directly from the backend server and can be used to establish a time bound trust chain for the other software modules loaded and executed as part of the application module.

Abstract: Methods and several apparatus embodiments are disclosed operating Optical Characteristic Systems (OCS) in a container storage and/or transfer yard supporting the automated recognition of container codes displayed on various sides of the containers being stored and/or transferred. At least one processor may initiate an operational process by an OCS mounted on a container handler to create an operational result, select the operational process based upon an operational schedule and communicate with at least one OCS to receive an image of a container being handled by the container handler to at least partly create a container code estimate for a container inventory management system. A program system directing at least one computer implementing these operations, and may reside in computer readable memory, an installation package and/or a download server. The computer readable memory may or may not be accessibly coupled to the computer.

Abstract: A test system for testing electrostatic testers, is used to test at least one electrostatic tester each including a voltage test terminal and a connection test terminal. The test system includes at least one optical coupler circuit and a chip. Each optical coupler circuit is coupled the voltage test terminal and the connection test terminal of one corresponding electrostatic tester, and each optical coupler circuit converts voltages of the voltage test terminal and the connection test terminal respectively to a voltage test signal and a connection test signal. The chip is couple to the at least one optical coupler circuit, and receives the connection test signal and the voltage test signal produced by the at least one optical coupler circuit, and determines whether the corresponding electrostatic tester connected to each optical coupler circuit is worked normally according to the connection test signal and the voltage test signal.

Abstract: Various embodiments include apparatus and methods of operation with respect to well logging. Apparatus and methods include a tool having an arrangement of transmitters and receivers that are operated at different positions downhole and a processing unit to process collected signals such that the arrangement of transmitters and receivers provides measurements that mimic operation of a different arrangement of transmitters and receivers. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.

Abstract: Methods and systems described in this disclosure allow customers to quickly be authenticated. In some embodiments, a device and a user verifier are associated with a user profile. When a call is received from the device, the user may be requested to input the user verifier. After verifying that the device is unique to the user and that the user verifier matches the user verifier associated with the user profile, the user may be authenticated to the call or activity.

Abstract: Methods comprising providing a drill-in fluid including an aqueous carrier fluid, a surfactant; and a self-degradable filter cake-forming agent which includes a plurality of degradable particulates which are operable to form an acid upon degradation, and a plurality of acid-degradable particulates. Drilling a wellbore through a reservoir section of a subterranean formation with the drill-in fluid, forming a thin internal filter cake within the wellbore from the self-degradable filter cake-forming agent. Releasing an acid derivative from at least a portion of the plurality of degradable particulates, interacting the acid with the filter cake so as to at least partially degrade the acid-degradable particulates therein. Thereby at least partially removing the filter cake allowing quick lift off of the remaining particulates, and producing a hydrocarbon fluid or gas from the subterranean formation.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for setting a subsurface device in a wellbore. A downhole power unit comprises a power rod and a drive shaft. The power rod comprises a hollow interior. The drive shaft is located within the hollow interior, and the power rod is operable to selectively engage a subsurface device to be positioned downhole.

Abstract: A well drilling method can include detecting a drilling event by comparing a parameter signature generated during drilling to an event signature indicative of the drilling event, and automatically controlling a drilling operation in response to at least a partial match resulting from comparing the parameter signature to the event signature. A well drilling system can include a control system which compares a parameter signature for a drilling operation to an event signature indicative of a drilling event, and a controller which controls the drilling operation automatically in response to the drilling event being indicated by at least a partial match between the parameter signature and the event signature.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and instructions encoded in a computer-readable medium can perform operations related to evaluating surface data. Geodetic data for a plurality of surface locations are received. The geodetic data may include surface gradient information and/or surface elevation information for multiple surface locations. A set of constraining relationships is generated based on the geodetic data. The set of constraining relationships relates undetermined values of surface elevation movement and/or undetermined values of surface gradient movement to measured surface elevation changes and/or measured surface gradient changes. Some or all of the constraining relationships include multiple undetermined values. Particular values for surface elevation movements and/or particular values for surface gradient movements are calculated for multiple surface locations based on determining a solution to the set of constraining relationships.

Abstract: In some aspects, a closed boundary is computed based on locations of microseismic events associated with a stimulation treatment of a subterranean region. Based on the boundary, a stimulated reservoir volume (SRV) for the stimulation treatment is identified. The boundary encloses a first subset of the locations and a second, different subset of the locations reside outside the boundary.