Abstract: A system and method to protect downhole tools and equipment used in transporting fluids with erosional and/or corrosive characteristics is disclosed according to one or more embodiments. The protection assembly engages with a latch coupling or other surface in need of protection to form a barrier between the latch coupling surface and any erosional or corrosive fluids. The protection assembly comprises a barrier sleeve portion and a support sleeve portion disposed in the barrier sleeve. The support sleeve is moveable between a first and second position within the barrier sleeve. In a first position of the support sleeve, collet fingers in the barrier sleeve may flex to allow movement through the latch coupling while in a second position of the support sleeve, the collet fingers may not flex and the barrier sleeve is engaged and protecting the latch coupling.

Abstract: A method of non-line-of-sight coating of a sand screen for use in wellbores during the production of hydrocarbon fluids from subterranean formations. The coating can have uniformly coated internal and external surfaces.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods are disclosed to separate solids from liquids. A vessel includes a screw, an inlet, a first outlet, and a second outlet. The inlet receives a first slurry having an incoming solids concentration. The first slurry consists of solids and a contact liquid. The first outlet is disposed toward the first end of the vessel. The second outlet is disposed toward a second end of the vessel. The screw preferentially conveys the solids over the contact liquid towards the second end of the vessel, the solids displacing at least a portion of the contact liquid, causing that portion of the contact liquid to flow toward the first outlet. A melting device is included.

Abstract: A furniture system including a base and transverse member, with an induction charger provided in the transverse member and/or base, hidden from view and feel, embedded, e.g., at least 10 mm below the charging surface. In an embodiment, the transverse member includes a frame having an upper panel and an induction charger elastically secured at least partially above the upper panel such that the induction charger is elastically pushed down toward or through the upper panel when a force is exerted downward onto the induction charger. The induction charger elastically yields downward or otherwise toward or into the furniture system in response to loads, such as loads from sitting on the induction charger, to prevent damage thereto. The induction charger can elastically yield as such and still be positioned close enough to the surface of the furniture system to effectively charge electronic devices placed thereon.

Abstract: A system and method for variable frequency voltage regulation is presented. The system includes a variable frequency bus and a variable frequency load directly connected to the variable frequency bus. A plurality of variable frequency gensets are directly connected to the variable frequency bus. Each variable frequency genset includes a genset controller configured to select set points based on a selected frequency response curve of the variable frequency bus. A variable frequency voltage regulator is configured to regulate an electrical output of the variable frequency generator based on the selected set points. The system includes a voltage regulation controller configured to determine a desired bus frequency based on the variable frequency load, and determine an optimal frequency response curve based on the desired bus frequency and a frequency response model of each VFG. The selected frequency response curve is updated based on the determined optimal frequency response curve.

Abstract: An item and an associated method utilizing an elongated core defining an outer surface having a series of axially-disposed regions about which windable materials can be wound involves anchoring locations at which the terminal ends of windable materials are anchorable. The series of regions are arranged along the core of the item in a sequential fashion with a first region being disposed adjacent a first end of the core, and the anchoring location of each subsequent region in the series of regions subsequent to the first region is circumferentially spaced about the outer surface of the core from the anchoring location of the region which immediately precedes the subsequent region by a predetermined distance and in a circumferential direction therealong which is opposite the direction in which the item is rotated during a material unwinding process.

Abstract: A closed suction system module is provided. In one embodiment, the closed suction system module includes a coupling member configured to couple to a suction port of a multi-port manifold or endotracheal tube adapter (e.g., dual-port or tri-port adapter). In one embodiment, the closed suction system module includes a suction catheter configured to clean the interior surfaces of body-inserted tubes or artificial airways (alone or in addition to suctioning natural airways or portions of the respiratory tract or other body lumens). The suction catheter may include a cleaning portion at a distal portion of the suction catheter (e.g., near the distal end or tip of the suction catheter). In some embodiments, the cleaning portion includes at least one expandable cleaning member (e.g., balloon, sleeve, wiper).

Abstract: A novel maize variety designated X18R025 and seed, plants and plant parts thereof are produced by crossing inbred maize varieties. Methods for producing a maize plant by crossing hybrid maize variety X18R025 with another maize plant are disclosed. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into X18R025 through backcrossing or genetic transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby are described. Maize variety X18R025, the seed, the plant produced from the seed, and variants, mutants, and minor modifications of maize variety X18R025 are provided. Methods for producing maize varieties derived from maize variety X18R025 and methods of using maize variety X18R025 are disclosed.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a poly(ether-carbonate) polyol comprises a polymerization stage that includes polymerizing carbon dioxide and at least one alkylene oxide, with a starter, in the presence of a double metal cyanide polymerization catalyst and a catalyst promoter that is devoid of halide anions and cyanide. The catalyst promoter is separate from the double metal cyanide polymerization catalyst.

Abstract: In a method for providing secure data storage, a user interface is provided to a user, and a user selection of a plurality of cloaking sequences is received via the user interface. The cloaking sequences include at least a first and second cloaking sequence. The method also includes cloaking data (e.g., one or more files). Cloaking the data includes retrieving a first hidden sequence associated with the first cloaking sequence, and retrieving a second hidden sequence associated with the second cloaking sequence. The second hidden sequence includes an ordered sequence of bit sets each including one or more bits. Cloaking the data also includes using the first hidden sequence to identify offset positions within the data, and using the ordered sequence of bit sets to perform one or more operations on the data at the identified offset positions. The method further includes storing the cloaked data in a database.

Abstract: The invention includes a device for smoking smokeable material. The device has a housing, a rotatable shaft for driving smokeable material towards the first end of the housing as the smokeable material is smoked, at least one radial hole through the shaft for passage of smokeable material from the burning section of the housing into the longitudinal hole of the rotatable shaft.

Abstract: Systems including physical devices, such as button and switches, that receive audio when a user performs a specific interaction are described. The audio may correspond to a particular spoken command to be executed by a system in a time-delayed fashion. At a later time, when another interaction is performed with the physical device, the device may send the stored audio to a server for processing to determine a command associated with the audio. A device may store multiple audio data segments corresponding to multiple different commands, and each piece of audio data corresponding to a command may be associated with a specific physical operation of a device. If audio data is determined as corresponding to a multiple-input command, additional information needed to perform the multiple-input command may be audibly gathered from a user.

Abstract: Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for copying data from multiple point-in-time copies to a log storage to use to roll-back a source storage managing point-in-time copies of a source storage. A plurality of point-in-time copies of a source storage at different point-in-times are established. In response to receiving writes to the source storage after establishing each of the point-in-time copies, point-in-time data in the source storage is copied, before being updated by the received writes, to a log storage, wherein the log storage stores point-in-time data for multiple of the point-in-time copies. The log storage is used to roll-back the source storage to a selected point-in-time of one of the point-in-time copies.

Abstract: Introduced here is a technology that enables a merchant to create customer-targeted, customized communications by use of a merchant platform executing on a financial service system. The merchant platform generates content for communications that is based on a particular customer segment. The customer segment includes one or more groups of customers segmented based on one or more attributes associated with each group of customers. An attribute is determined based on data collected by the financial service system, where the data is related to transaction data of a plurality of merchants.

Abstract: A system and method of monitoring a status of a server using a baseboard management controller (BMC) is disclosed. First, the BMC may access a status code generated in Domain 0 of the server through a command line interface to the server and send the status code to an alert management system. Second, the BMC may snoop on a status code generated in the hypervisor of the server through input/output port 80h and send the status code to the alert management system. Third, the BMC may read a status code generated in the hypervisor and written in a Model Specific Register (MSR) and send the status code to the alert management system. The system and method can enable the alert management system to readily recognize the occurrence of an error, including the type of the error which is a software error, and the cause of the error in real time or nearly real time.

Abstract: Multiple electronic devices may be used together in a system. The electronic devices may use sensor measurements and other information to detect when an edge of a first electronic device is adjacent to an edge of a second electronic device. In response to detection of adjacency between the edges of the first and second devices, the devices may transition from an independent operating mode in which each device operates separately to a joint operating mode in which resources of the devices are shared. In the joint operating mode, images may extend across displays in the devices, speakers in the devices may be used to play different channels of an audio track, cameras and other sensors may be used in cooperation with each other, and other resources may be shared. Magnetic components may hold devices together in a variety of orientations.

Abstract: A method for evaluating an air purification system. The method includes generating, with an air flow generator, a flow of air through a test filter so that an upstream air flow exists an upstream side of the test filter and a downstream air flow exists on a downstream side of the test filter. A multiple contaminant mixture is injected, with a fluid injector, into the upstream air flow. Downstream concentrations for each contaminant of the multiple contaminant mixture in the downstream air flow are measured with a contaminant measurement device. Test filter breakthrough curves for each contaminant of the multiple contaminant mixture in the downstream air flow are generated based on the downstream concentrations for each contaminant of the multiple contaminant mixture.

Abstract: A seat assembly may include a seat including a seat base and a seat back, a sensor, a vent unit disposed at least partially within the seat back, and/or an electronic control unit (ECU) connected with the sensor and the vent unit. The ECU may be configured to determine, via the sensor, if a user of the seat exhibits symptoms of fatigue. The ECU may be configured to operate the vent unit in a first mode and a second mode. When the vent unit is in the first mode, the vent unit may provide cool air to said user of the seat. When the vent unit is in the second mode, the vent unit may provide warmer and/or less air to said user of the seat. The ECU may automatically switch the vent unit between first and second modes to reduce symptoms of fatigue.

Abstract: A new and distinct variety of blueberry plant, which is denominated varietally as ‘NS 16-7’ is described, with a strong plant vigor and which produces fruit considered large in size, high to very high in sweetness, and firm under the ecological conditions prevailing in Yanchep, Western Australia.

Abstract: A new and distinct Aglaonema plant having pink and green colored leaves and pink colored stems.