Abstract: In an approach for routing a user analytic request to a registry of analytics models and data sources and operationalizing the user analytic request, a processor receives a user analytic request. A processor applies natural language processing to the user analytic request. A processor associates a first set of vectors and a second set of vectors from the user analytic request to one or more analytics models and data sources by utilizing a plurality of domain-specific ontologies and a plurality of knowledge bases. A processor performs a semantic search for one or more concepts in the one or more analytics models and data sources. A processor receives the one or more concepts found in the one or more analytics models and data sources. A processor selects an analytics model to process the user analytic request. A processor executes the analytics model. A processor outputs a result to the user.

Abstract: A process for producing a commercial soil additive comprises mixing a compost composition with elementary (raw) sulphur to form a mixed material and turning the mixed material until it is substantially homogenous and until there is microbial oxidation of elementary sulphur therein to at least one sulphate.

Abstract: A process for producing a commercial soil additive comprises mixing a compost composition with elementary (raw) sulphur to form a mixed material and turning the mixed material until it is substantially homogenous and until there is microbial oxidation of elementary sulphur therein to at least one sulphate.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for reducing an influence of voltage ripple on battery test measurements of battery cells coupled in series that form a direct current (DC) bus. A calibration operation is used to obtain a ratiometric difference between first and second series connected battery cells of the DC bus, which is indicative of a variance in their respective output voltages. Voltage measurements across each of the two cells may then be obtained at least substantially simultaneously. The ratiometric difference may be used to modify the voltage measurement taken across the second cell to produce a modified voltage measurement of the second cell. A difference between the measured voltage across the first battery cell and the modified voltage measurement may then be determined, which represents a filtered DC test voltage that has substantially all of the voltage ripple removed therefrom.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for reducing an influence of voltage ripple on battery test measurements of battery cells coupled in series that form a direct current (DC) bus. A calibration operation is used to obtain a ratiometric difference between first and second series connected battery cells of the DC bus, which is indicative of a variance in their respective output voltages. Voltage measurements across each of the two cells may then be obtained at least substantially simultaneously. The ratiometric difference may be used to modify the voltage measurement taken across the second cell to produce a modified voltage measurement of the second cell. A difference between the measured voltage across the first battery cell and the modified voltage measurement may then be determined, which represents a filtered DC test voltage that has substantially all of the voltage ripple removed therefrom.

Abstract: A method of standardizing provided services by categorizing the provided services into one or more functional disciplines; establishing a plurality of service maturity levels for each functional discipline; establishing a plurality of service maturity criteria for each serve maturity level; assessing the service maturity level for each functional discipline according to the associated service maturity criteria; advancing to the next service maturity level when the assessment achieves a predetermined level of success.

Abstract: An integrated optical modulator of the Mach-Zehnder type has a waveguide which, for part of its length, is divided into two waveguide sections (11, 12) arranged logically in parallel. Incoming light is divided to pass along the two sections (11, 12) and is then recombined before leaving the modulator. Each waveguide section has a pair of electrodes (13, 14) and (14, 15) associated therewith to generate an electric field through which the respective waveguide section passes, though there may be a single electrode (14) between the two waveguide sections (11, 12) to serve as one electrode of each pair, with the other electrode of each pair commoned.

Abstract: In an apparatus and method for conducting an interview between a server computer and a respondent computer, the interview includes a number of questions and each question has a unique question identifier. The server computer generates and transmits to the respondent computer signals indicative of a first question and signals indicative of a first question identifier, which is the question identifier of the first question. The respondent computer, in turn, generates and transmits to the server computer signals indicative of the identity of the respondent, signals indicative of a first answer to a second question, and signals indicative of a second question identifier, which is the question identifier of the second question. The respondent computer thereby answers the second question. The server computer stores the signals indicative of the first answer at a location prescribed by the signals indicative of the identity of the respondent computer.

Abstract: An optical modulator for duobinary modulation is based on a Mach-Zehnder interferometer but has parallel optical waveguides of a greater length than normally is employed with an optical modulator. A pair of similar electrode structures are arranged in series on the waveguides, the electrodes of the two structures being separately addressable by binary electrical signals. The phase shifts induced in the light propagating along the parallel waveguides by voltages applied to the separate electrode structures allows the output to take values of 0, 1 or 2 for binary inputs applied to the structures.

Abstract: A method of aligning a bi-refringent optical fiber with a polarisation sensitive component positioned within a package so that the bi-refrigence axes of the fiber are set in a pre-defined relation to a light guide within the component. The fiber is inserted through an aperture in the package and is approximately aligned with the light guide of the component. An optical probe having a tip provided with an optical polariser is positioned with the tip between the end of the fiber and the component, to collect light from the fiber. The free end of the fiber is manipulated and the output from the probe is monitored until the desired polarisation alignment is achieved whereafter the probe is removed from the package whilst the rotational relationship between the fiber and the component is maintained. Then, the fiber end is moved to optically couple wish the component and the fiber is secured in position. The package may thereafter be completed in the usual way.