Abstract: A method for enhancing the conductivity of MOF-5 by the development of an MOF-5 polymer composite material. The composite material incorporates a conductive polymer, preferably polyaniline, in the solvo-thermal synthesis pathway of MOF-5. The electrically conductive MOF-5 composite exhibits electric conductivity three orders of magnitude higher than that of MOF-5 while maintaining the crystallinity, robustness, and thermal stability of MOF-5.

Abstract: Cup tester unit comprising a BOP test plug insertable into a casing head housing, for sealing a space of drilling systems above the BOP test plug; a hanger connected to the lower end of the BOP test plug; and a test cup assembled at the outer circumference of the hangers, for sealing with the inner surface of a well casing. Further, a method of testing a of drilling systems and a connection between a well casing and a casing head housing is claimed.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer product for determining intracranial pressure (ICP) of a subject non-invasively. The method including: applying at least one selected controlled force to an eye of the subject; imaging retinal vascular pulsation of the eye of the subject over at least one cardiac cycle at the at least one selected controlled force; processing the retinal vascular pulsation images to produce retinal vascular pulsation amplitude data as a time-varying signal; decomposing the time-varying signal into at least two frequency components representing the time-varying signal; determining intracranial pressure from a data basis which includes at least information associated with the frequency components, and wherein the retinal vascular pulsation data includes at least retinal arterial pulsation data.

Abstract: A system (100) for monitoring a controlled spatial volume (102) includes a lighting fixture (104) with one or more embedded sensors (106), a communication device (108) to provide monitored sensor data (142) for storage within a data store (140), a server (130) including a data analytic unit (136) in communication with the data store, the data analytic unit accessing the monitored sensor data to analyze the monitored data and provide status information on the spatial volume. The server can include a machine vision unit (138) to analyze the monitored data and create augmented reality renditions (520), which are rendered for display to a user by an augmented reality application (160).

Abstract: A method and corresponding system of identifying coronary artery disease. The method comprises receiving contrast cardiac CT data indicative of a contrast cardiac CT scan carried out on a patient, and analysing the contrast cardiac CT data using machine learning to identify a plurality of seed points in the contrast cardiac CT data expected to correspond to locations in cardiac arteries of the patient. The method also comprises producing data indicative of transverse image slices of the cardiac arteries of the patient using the contrast cardiac CT data and the identified seed points, analysing the transverse image slice data using machine learning to produce inner artery wall data and outer artery wall data indicative of predicted respective inner and outer walls of the coronary arteries of the patient, and identifying presence of coronary artery disease using the predicted inner and/or outer walls of the coronary arteries of the patient.

Abstract: A hollow steel structure for carrying or holding liquid petroleum. The structure has an inner surface that is coated or lined with a piezo-electric material for precluding or minimizing bacterial biofilm-based corrosion. The method entails precluding or minimizing bacterial biofilm-based corrosion of a hollow steel structure that will be exposed to a flow of liquid petroleum by applying a piezo-electric material coating on it. In addition, the method may entail subjecting the hollow structure to the application of an agent for blocking and disrupting communication between the bacterial cells in the biofilm and/or an agent for blocking exocytosis among the bacteria cells of the biofilm.

Abstract: A process for steam cracking a whole crude including a volatilization step performed to maintain a relatively large hydrocarbon droplet size. The process may include contacting a whole crude with steam to volatilize a portion of the hydrocarbons, wherein the contacting of the hydrocarbon feedstock and steam is conducted at an initial relative velocity of less than 30 m/s, for example. The resulting vapor phase, including volatilized hydrocarbons and steam may then be separated from a liquid phase comprising unvaporized hydrocarbons. The hydrocarbons in the vapor phase may then be forwarded to a steam pyrolysis reactor for steam cracking of the hydrocarbons in the vapor phase.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to methods for sending event notifications. In some examples, a controller periodically sends messages concerning a status of an event corresponding to the controller. In some examples, at a first time while periodically sending the messages and in accordance with a determination that the status of the event has changed, the controller sends a message concerning data other than the status of the event. In some examples, at the first time while periodically sending the messages and in accordance with a determination that the status of the event has not changed, the controller continues to periodically send the messages without sending the message concerning data other than the status of the event.

Abstract: A device for generating conversational replies, including a processor with a memory; a speech input module, a user input module; a natural language processing module including one or more encoder-decode modules; the device being configured to: record portions of a conversation through the speech input module, use a speech recognition module to identify words in the conversation, and when one or more words have been recognised: generate one or more responses based on the one or more words using the natural language processing module; selecting a group of the context sensitive responses, prompt the user via the user input module to select a response from the group, output the selected response.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a filter assembly for use in an insufflation system is described. The filter assembly comprises: a filter medium operative to filter medical gases; a housing comprising an inlet, an outlet and the filter medium, the housing defining a gases flow path through the filter medium between the inlet and the outlet; and at least one heating element being positioned in the housing and being configured to heat the filter medium; and wherein, the at least one heating element is spaced apart from the filter medium and from an inner surface of the housing.

Abstract: A diffuser for use with a wound retractor and configured to deliver gases includes an interface tube for connecting to a gases supply and a diffuser interface positioned at a proximal end of the interface tube, the diffuser interface configured for delivering gases received from the gases supply through the interface tube, and the diffuser interface comprising a diffusion mechanism configured to deliver gases in a diffusion direction. A wound retractor with an integrated diffuser is also disclosed. The wound retractor includes an upper ring, a lower ring, a sleeve extending between and connecting the upper ring to the lower ring, and an integrated diffuser interface having a gases inlet and a diffusion mechanism.

Abstract: A seating arrangement may include a backrest with a shroud and/or anchor elements securing a membrane and flexible material. An actuator may operate may simultaneously operate boost/stop components acting on a tilt control mechanism of the seating arrangement. An armrest assembly may include a strap, tubular member and adapter interfacing between the strap and tubular member.

Abstract: A method for enhancing the conductivity of MOF-5 by the development of an MOF-5 polymer composite material. The composite material incorporates a conductive polymer, preferably polyaniline, in the solvo-thermal synthesis pathway of MOF-5. The electrically conductive MOF-5 composite exhibits electric conductivity three orders of magnitude higher than that of MOF-5 while maintaining the crystallinity, robustness, and thermal stability of MOF-5.

Abstract: A method of training a neural network to generate conversational replies, the method including: providing a first dataset of stored phrases linked to form a plurality of conversational sequences; training the neural network to generate responses to input phrases using the first dataset; and using the trained neural network to generate a list of conversational replies in response to conversational inputs.

Abstract: A solenoid driver operable to drive a solenoid actuating a high-voltage power switch is disclosed. The solenoid driver includes a first group of semiconductor switches including a first semiconductor switch and a second semiconductor switch in series. This group is connected to a high-voltage supply line by a diode. The solenoid driver further includes a second group of semiconductor switches including a third semiconductor switch and a fourth semiconductor switch in series. This group is connected to the high-voltage supply line by a second diode. The solenoid driver further includes a common connection between the first group of semiconductor switches and the second group of semiconductor switches. A solenoid coil of the solenoid is connected between the first group of semiconductor switches and the second group of semiconductor switches at a junction between the first and second semiconductor switches and a junction between the third and fourth semiconductor switches.

Abstract: A method for selecting portions of images from a video stream including a representation of a subject, the method including the steps of determining a first portion of an image including the subject, determining a target zoom factor among a plurality of zoom factors from the limits determined, a current zoom factor and at least one maximum image resolution and determining target coordinates of the first portion of an image reframed according to the target zoom factor determined and a maximum image resolution.

Abstract: A control signal related to a road segment is received by a processor of a vehicle from a remote server. Using at least a portion of the control signal, a cruise control parameter for controlling the vehicle is obtained. Responsive to determining that a cruise control module of the vehicle is enabled, the cruise control module is configured to use the cruise control parameter. The cruise control module operates to maintain the cruise control parameter for the vehicle.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a filter assembly for use in an insufflation system is described. The filter assembly comprises: a filter medium operative to filter medical gases; a housing comprising an inlet, an outlet and the filter medium, the housing defining a gases flow path through the filter medium between the inlet and the outlet; and at least one heating element being positioned in the housing and being configured to heat the filter medium; and wherein, the at least one heating element is spaced apart from the filter medium and from an inner surface of the housing.

Abstract: Processes herein may be used to thermally crack various hydrocarbon feeds, and may eliminate the refinery altogether while making the crude to chemicals process very flexible in terms of crude. In embodiments herein, crude is progressively separated into at least light and heavy fractions. Depending on the quality of the light and heavy fractions, these are routed to one of three upgrading operations, including a fixed bed hydroconversion unit, a fluidized catalytic conversion unit, or a residue hydrocracking unit that may utilize an ebullated bed reactor. Products from the upgrading operations may be used as feed to a steam cracker.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a blow-out preventer BOP test spool system, comprising a test spool to be mounted between a well head and a blow-out preventer; the test spool having an inner cylindrical hole extending in vertical direction of the test spool; the inner cylindrical hole in vertical direction comprising an upper section and a lower section, wherein the lower section comprises a smaller inner diameter than the inner diameter of the upper section; and a test plug, insertable into the inner cylindrical hole of the test spool, the test plug having a cylindrical outer shape with an outer diameter that is smaller than the inner diameter of the upper section and is larger than the inner diameter of the lower section, such that the plug can abut a loading shoulder between the upper and lower section and the plug is not able to move further down within the test spool. The invention also relates to a corresponding method for testing a blow-out preventer.