Abstract: A turbomachine comprising a turbomachine shaft for rotation about an axis and for supporting a turbine wheel at one end of the turbomachine shaft; and a bearing housing having a wall defining a bore in which the turbomachine shaft is received with a substantially annular clearance, the turbomachine shaft being supported for rotation in the bore by at least one journal bearing located within the annular clearance. A surface of the turbomachine shaft which radially underlies the or each journal bearing has a surface roughness (Ra) of less than 0.15 microns and the or each journal bearing comprises a bronze alloy incorporating bismuth in an amount of up to around 6 wt %.

Abstract: A computing platform enables the reliable delivery of message data (e.g., virtual airtime credits) into the accounts of mobile device users. The computing platform facilitates a large network of integrations (communication channels) with mobile network operators and reseller, preferably via a statistically-based message routing technique that uses a continuously updated estimate of the probability that a particular request over each integration will succeed. Requests are then routed over an integration picked using this information; if the request fails, the attempt is then retried using another integration until either it succeeds or the system believes the request will never succeed. The success or failure of each request is also used to update the probability estimate, preferably continuously, so that the system adjusts automatically as the reliability of each integration changes over time.

Abstract: A turbomachine comprising a turbomachine shaft for rotation about an axis and for supporting a turbine wheel at one end of the turbomachine shaft; and a bearing housing having a wall defining a bore in which the turbomachine shaft is received with a substantially annular clearance, the turbomachine shaft being supported for rotation in the bore by at least one journal bearing located within the annular clearance. A surface of the turbomachine shaft which radially underlies the or each journal bearing has a surface roughness (Ra) of less than 0.15 microns and the or each journal bearing comprises a bronze alloy incorporating bismuth in an amount of up to around 6 wt %.

Abstract: A computing platform enables the reliable delivery of message data (e.g., virtual airtime credits) into the accounts of mobile device users. The computing platform facilitates a large network of integrations (communication channels) with mobile network operators and reseller, preferably via a statistically-based message routing technique that uses a continuously updated estimate of the probability that a particular request over each integration will succeed. Requests are then routed over an integration picked using this information; if the request fails, the attempt is then retried using another integration until either it succeeds or the system believes the request will never succeed. The success or failure of each request is also used to update the probability estimate, preferably continuously, so that the system adjusts automatically as the reliability of each integration changes over time.

Abstract: A system and a method for distributing rewards to consumers of mobile devices in exchange for preferred consumer actions are disclosed. A reward server of the system obtains a reward offering from a reward provider, which specifies the reward and required consumer actions associated with the reward. The reward server creates a clickable link for the reward and presents the clickable link to the consumer. The consumer can perform various actions through the clickable link and the reward server monitors the consumer actions. Responsive to the verification of the consumer and the consumer actions, the reward server provides the corresponding reward in terms of a predefined amount of free mobile airtime to the consumer.