Abstract: A process for polymerization of vinyl chloride may include contacting vinyl chloride, demineralized water, at least one stabilizer agent, at least one dispersing agent, an initiator and optionally one or more comonomers; continuously feeding the vinyl chloride, demineralized water, at least one stabilizer agent, at least one dispersing agent, an initiator and optionally one or more comonomers into a tubular reactor having a length of at least 20 times an internal diameter of the tubular reactor; and continuously polymerizing the vinyl chloride, and optionally the one or more comonomers.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to detecting changes to a firebreak line in an environment. Aspects include obtaining a reference aerial image of an area of interest and a current aerial image of the area of interest and identifying, based on the reference aerial image, one or more firebreak lines in the area of interest. Aspects also include identifying, based on a comparison of the reference aerial image and the current aerial image, an anomaly in at least one of the one or more firebreak lines. Aspects further include transmitting an alert, based on detecting the anomaly, the alert including an indication of the detected anomaly.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to detecting changes to a firebreak line in an environment. Aspects include obtaining a reference aerial image of an area of interest and a current aerial image of the area of interest and identifying, based on the reference aerial image, one or more firebreak lines in the area of interest. Aspects also include identifying, based on a comparison of the reference aerial image and the current aerial image, an anomaly in at least one of the one or more firebreak lines. Aspects further include transmitting an alert, based on detecting the anomaly, the alert including an indication of the detected anomaly.

Abstract: Data security and privacy are improved by a client providing a hashed version of collected data to a remote analysis service, and having the analysis service determine the relevancy of the data from the hashes before requesting the plaintext of the data. In one example, a browser plug-in obtains data which is divided into overlapping three-character sequences, and the sequences are hashed to produce a sequence of hashes. The sequence of hashes is sent by the plug-in to the remote service, which uses the hashes to determine if the associated data is relevant to the analysis performed by the remote service, without requiring access to the associated plaintext. After making the determination, the remote service may request that relevant data be provided to the service in plaintext form, while data that is not relevant need not be sent to the remote service.

Abstract: Data security and privacy are improved by a client providing a hashed version of collected data to a remote analysis service, and having the analysis service determine the relevancy of the data from the hashes before requesting the plaintext of the data. In one example, a browser plug-in obtains data which is divided into overlapping three-character sequences, and the sequences are hashed to produce a sequence of hashes. The sequence of hashes is sent by the plug-in to the remote service, which uses the hashes to determine if the associated data is relevant to the analysis performed by the remote service, without requiring access to the associated plaintext. After making the determination, the remote service may request that relevant data be provided to the service in plaintext form, while data that is not relevant need not be sent to the remote service.

Abstract: Devices that consume power may be individually and uniquely associated with a blockchain wallet into which funds may be transferred. The device can be provided with a client application that executes within the device to determine an energy provider and the cost rate of energy supply. The client application calculates a value of energy consumption by the device and creates a blockchain transaction to transfer a funds value for the energy consumption from the device's blockchain wallet to a wallet of the energy provider. By providing devices that can self-manage their electricity supply and the accounting thereof, billing of power can be decentralized from a meter that meters all supply to a premises to individual devices. The requirement for a central billing entity, billing address, etc. can also be removed.

Abstract: A method for making a porous devitalised scaffold suitable for use in repair of osseous, chondral, or osteochondral defects in a mammal comprises the steps of providing micronized extracellular matrix (ECM) tissue, mixing the micronized extracellular matrix with a liquid to provide a slurry, and freeze-drying the slurry to provide the porous scaffold. A porous scaffold suitable for use in repair of osseous, chondral, or osteochondral defects in a mammal and comprising a porous freeze-dried matrix formed from micronised decellularised extracellular matrix tissue is also described.

Abstract: Devices that consume power may be individually and uniquely associated with a blockchain wallet into which funds may be transferred. The device can be provided with a client application that executes within the device to determine an energy provider and the cost rate of energy supply. The client application calculates a value of energy consumption by the device and creates a blockchain transaction to transfer a funds value for the energy consumption from the device's blockchain wallet to a wallet of the energy provider. By providing devices that can self-manage their electricity supply and the accounting thereof, billing of power can be decentralized from a meter that meters all supply to a premises to individual devices. The requirement for a central billing entity, billing address, etc. can also be removed.

Abstract: A method for making a porous devitalised scaffold suitable for use in repair of osseous, chondral, or osteochondral defects in a mammal comprises the steps of providing micronized extracellular matrix (ECM) tissue, mixing the micronized extracellular matrix with a liquid to provide a slurry, and freeze-drying the slurry to provide the porous scaffold. A porous scaffold suitable for use in repair of osseous, chondral, or osteochondral defects in a mammal and comprising a porous freeze-dried matrix formed from micronised decellularised extracellular matrix tissue is also described.