Abstract: A system for generating a query comprises a term unit (1) for extracting a term from at least one input document (51), to obtain an extracted term. A category unit (2) is arranged for associating the extracted term with a category that is semantically related with the extracted term. A query unit (3) is arranged for generating a query in dependence on the extracted term and the category. The query unit (3) comprises an additional term unit (4) for generating at least one additional search term based on the category, and the query unit (3) is arranged for including the additional search term in the query. A submit unit (5) is arranged for submitting the query to at least one search engine (50), to obtain a plurality of found documents.

Abstract: A method of managing a distributed storage system (1) comprising a plurality of storage devices (D1, D2, . . . , Dn) on a network (N), wherein an autonomous function can be assigned to any storage device (D1, D2, . . . , Dn) of the distributed storage system (N), which autonomous function comprises collecting content according to a configurable profile (3) for the storage device (D1, D2, . . . , Dn) to which the autonomous function is assigned, and wherein a first storage device (D1, D2, . . . , Dn) of the distributed storage system (1), before leaving the network (N), delegates the responsibility for an autonomous function of that first storage device (D1, D2, . . . , Dn) to a second storage device (D1, D2, . . . , Dn) of the distributed storage system (1), and wherein the second storage device assumes responsibility for the autonomous function of the first storage device (D1, D2, . . .

Abstract: Meta data accompanying a content broadcast includes an identifier of a group of peers on a P2P network. The group provides or shares a service to enable peers to connect and interact via the P2P network within the context of the broadcast.

Abstract: A process (10) for co-producing power and hydrocarbons includes gasifying (16, 70) coal to produce a synthesis gas (36) and a combustion gas (86) both comprising at least CO1H2 and CO2 and being at elevated pressure, separating CO2 (18, 48) from the synthesis gas, and synthesizing (20, 22) hydrocarbons from the synthesis gas. Power (1 14) is generated from the combustion gas, including by combusting (78) the combustion gas in the presence of oxygen and in the presence of at least a portion of the separated CO2 as moderating agent to produce a hot combusted gas (106) which includes CO2. The CO2 is recycled (1 12) or recovered from the combusted gas. In certain embodiments, the process (10) produces a CO2 exhaust stream (134) for sequestration or capturing for further use.

Abstract: A video comprises at least one shot (SH), which is a continuous sequence of images representing a scene viewed from a particular location. Images are selected from a shot (SH) so as to obtain a continuous sequence of selected images (SI) that are evenly distributed throughout the shot. At least one continuous subsequence (SB1, SB2, SB3) of selected images that meet a predefined similarity test is identified. An image is selected from a continuous portion (SP) of the shot that coincides in time with the longest continuous subsequence (SB2) of selected images that meet the predefined similarity test. The image that is selected constitutes a representative image (RI) for the shot.

Abstract: Method of operating a three-phase slurry reactor includes feeding at a low level at least one gaseous reactant into a vertically extending slurry body of solid particles suspended in a suspension liquid, the slurry body being contained in at least two vertically extending shafts housed within a common reactor shell, each shaft being divided into a plurality of vertically extending channels at least some of which are in slurry flow communication and the slurry body being present in at least some of the channels. The gaseous reactant is allowed to react as it passes upwardly through the slurry body present in at least some of the channels of the shafts, thereby to form a non-gaseous and/or a gaseous product. Gaseous product, if present, and/or unreacted gaseous reactant is allowed to disengage from the slurry body in a head space above the slurry body.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for analysing a process. An exemplary method includes: generating a process template; and determining a probabilistic model specifying the process template. The method can include use of task nodes for tasks of the process; observables nodes for observables that may be caused by performance of the tasks; and a background activities node, wherein observables may further be caused by background activities of the background node. The method can include use of task nodes for tasks of the process; observables nodes for observables that may be caused by performance of the tasks; and a background activities node, observables may further be caused by background activities of the background node. The method can include measuring values of an observable corresponding to one of the observables nodes; and updating a probabilistic estimate of the process state using the measured values.

Abstract: Method of operating a three-phase slurry reactor includes feeding at a low level at least one gaseous reactant into a vertically extending slurry body of solid particles suspended in a suspension liquid, the slurry body being contained in at least two vertically extending shafts housed within a common reactor shell, each shaft being divided into a plurality of vertically extending channels at least some of which are in slurry flow communication and the slurry body being present in at least some of the channels. The gaseous reactant is allowed to react as it passes upwardly through the slurry body present in at least some of the channels of the shafts, thereby to form a non-gaseous and/or a gaseous product. Gaseous product, if present, and/or unreacted gaseous reactant is allowed to disengage from the slurry body in a head space above the slurry body.

Abstract: A portable data storage device (1) is disclosed to be used for organizing content (10, 11, 18) available to the data storage device (1). The device comprises means (12) for setting an information source (6) for a storage profile (9), a means (3) for receiving storage profile update data (7) from the information source (6), a means (4) for updating the storage profile (9) based upon the storage profile update data (7), a means (2) for organizing content (10, 11) based upon the storage profile (9) and a means (12, 13) for triggering the means (3) for receiving storage profile update data (7) from the information source (6). The device (1) is capable of organizing content in a dynamic manner based on data storage profiles that are also dynamic in nature whilst requiring minimum user intervention.

Abstract: A method for operating an elevator having a car driven by a motor and at least one brake to stop the car, the method including closing a brake, increasing a torque of the motor until the car moves, and registering a value indicative of the motor torque at which the car moves.

Abstract: A process (10) for co-producing power and hydrocarbons includes in a wet gasification stage (70), gasifying coal to produce a combustion gas (86) at elevated pressure comprising at least H2 and CO; enriching (72) a first portion of the combustion gas with H2 to produce an H2-enriched gas (88); and generating power (77) from a second portion of the combustion gas. In a dry gasification stage (16), coal is gasified to produce a synthesis gas precursor (36) at elevated pressure comprising at least H2 and CO. At least a portion of the H2-enriched gas (88) is mixed with the synthesis gas precursor (36) to provide a synthesis gas for hydrocarbon synthesis, with hydrocarbons being synthesized (20, 22) from the synthesis gas. In certain embodiments, the process (10) produces a CO2 exhaust stream (134) for sequestration or capturing for further use.

Abstract: In a broadcast system (210) each broadcast content item is identified by a broadcast Content Reference Identifier (CRID). In a storage device (220) with a storage (240) each broadcast content item is identified by a local CRID. A processor (230) stores a CRID list that includes for CRIDs an associated validity interval including a starting date and an ending date during which interval the CRID is unique for the content item. When the processor receives (400) a broadcast CRID, it determines (410) an initial validity interval for the broadcast CRID. The initial validity interval includes a starting date and an ending date during which interval the broadcast CRID is unique for the broadcast content item. It then determines (420) whether the initial validity interval overlaps with a validity interval stored in the CRID list for an identical CRID. If there is no overlap it adds (430) the broadcast CRID to the CRID list.

Abstract: Compositions including a comb polymer and an Fe(III)-complexing agent X selected from the group consisting of thiocyanates, condensed phosphates, amines, amino acetic acids, oxycarboxylic acids and compounds of the formula (V). The invention also relates to a method for stabilizing comb polymers in the presence of Fe(III) using such Fe(III)-complexing agents X.

Abstract: At least one region of interest within an image is determined, step 201. The image is resized to a target image size step 207. If at least one region of interest is determined the image is cropped to each of the at least one region of interest, step 205 and the cropped at least one region of interest is resized to the target image size. The re-sized image and the resized cropped at least one region of interest are stored for display, step 209.

Abstract: A method for determining a value of an attribute to be associated with an image, the method comprising the steps of: determining saturation of each of a plurality of pixels of an image; selecting a set of a plurality of pixels from the pixels of the image having a saturation above a predetermined level; determining a value of an attribute on the basis of the selected set of pixels; and associating the determined value of the attribute with the image.

Abstract: A method of generating a sequence of a plurality of images to be displayed with ambient lighting, the method comprising the steps of: extracting 201 at least one feature of each of a plurality of images; selecting 203 ambient lighting to be displayed with each of said plurality of images on the basis of said extracted at least one feature; determining 205, 207, 209, 211, 213 an order for display of said plurality of images on the basis of said selected ambient lighting to provide a smooth transition in changes in said ambient lighting during display of said plurality of images according to said order.

Abstract: A method of selecting at least one representative image from a plurality of images, the method comprising the steps of: dividing (201) the plurality of images into clusters according to a predetermined characteristic of the content of the plurality of images; selecting (203) at least one of the clusters based on the number of images in each of the clusters; and selecting (205) at least one image from the selected at least one cluster as the representative image.

Abstract: Aqueous polymer dispersions, which, in addition to water and a dispersed copolymer composed of at least two monomers selected from the group consisting of ethylene, propylene, butylene, isoprene, butadiene, styrene, acrylonitrile, acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, acrylic acid alkyl ester, methacrylic acid alkyl ester, vinyl ester, and vinyl chloride, also comprises a comb polymer having side chains that are bound to the main chain by ester or ether groups. The aqueous polymer dispersions are particularly suited for use together with hydraulic and latently hydraulic binding agents. The aqueous polymer dispersions are extremely efficient and result in a strong increase in the mechanical values and a relevant decrease in the porosity and the water absorption property.

Abstract: A process (10) for the preparation and conversion of synthesis gas includes reforming a feed gas (34) comprising methane in a reforming stage (18) to produce synthesis gas (46) which includes hydrogen and carbon monoxide. Some of the hydrogen and carbon monoxide is converted to a Fischer-Tropsch product (48) in a Fischer-Tropsch hydrocarbon synthesis stage (24). A tail gas (52), including unreacted hydrogen and carbon monoxide, methane and carbon dioxide, is separated from the Fischer-Tropsch product (48). In a tail gas treatment stage (28,30), the tail gas (52) is treated by reforming the methane in the tail gas (52) with steam (66) and removing carbon dioxide to produce a hydrogen rich gas (56). The tail gas treatment stage (28,30) may be either a combined tail gas treatment stage (28,30) or a composite tail gas treatment stage. The carbon dioxide from the tail gas treatment stage (28,30) is fed to the reforming stage (18).

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments as disclosed herein are directed to setting and curing accelerators for hydraulic binders, including at least one ester of a polyhydric alcohol with an acid and/or salts thereof, where the acid is a phosphoric acid, phosphorous acid or a C2 to C20 carboxylic acid. Compositions including at least one accelerator as disclosed herein can accelerate the setting and curing of hydraulic binders and mortar or concrete produced therefrom, such as quick-setting cement. Methods for accelerating the setting and curing of hydraulic binders and mortar or concrete produced therefrom are also disclosed.