Abstract: An elongate composite beam 26 for securing or anchoring a solar array 10. The beam 26 comprising a hollow outer shell 28 formed from a C-section beam that has a closed end wall 30, a pair of side walls 32, and end wall sections 34, 36 that extend inwardly towards each other from ends of the side walls 32. Opposed ends of the end wall sections 34, 36 are spaced apart to define an elongate gap G. The closed end wall 30, the side walls 32 and the end wall sections 34, 36 define a shell interior. At least one of the end wall sections 34, 36 comprises an inwardly extending lip 38, 40 that extends in a direction towards the closed end wall 30 inwardly into the shell interior. The shell interior is substantially filled with a settable material 42 which engages about the inwardly extending lip 38, 40.

Abstract: Methods and devices for vaporization with a device comprising a liquid input, a gas output, and one or more plates arranged below the liquid input. The one or more plates are configured to receive liquid in droplet form from the liquid input and generate gas by vaporizing the droplets, and the generated gas exits the device via the gas output. The device may include a conduit, such as a pipe carrying a fluid such as engine coolant or other heat source, where the one or more plates are mounted on the conduit or heat source.

Abstract: A method of generating an intermediate layer comprises generating local surface properties for a graphics object from parameter image maps, generating a first object image surface layer based on the local surface properties, storing intermediate surface results as an object image layer from the object local surface properties, and rendering a second object image surface layer based on the stored intermediate surface results.

Abstract: A method for generating a graphic display of frame images comprises collecting one or more graphic objects to be rendered into a frame image, the one or more graphic objects being represented as a mesh in object space; determining one or more shadels to be computed for the frame image based at least on the one or more input attributes for each of the one or more graphic objects, each shadel being a shaded portion of the mesh; allocating space in a shadel storage buffer for the one or more shadels; populating a work queue buffer, the work queue buffer containing a list of commands to be executed to compute each of the one or more shadels; computing the determined one or more shadels to generate a shaded mesh; and rasterizing the shaded mesh into the frame image. The method can be implemented using a graphics processing unit (GPU).

Abstract: A pressurized container assembly includes a pressurized container, a valve, and a shearing chamber. A flowable product and propellant are also provided within the container. The propellant is substantially non-soluble in the flowable product. Methods of producing a foamed flowable product using shearing chambers are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides bismuth-thiol (BT) compositions and methods for treating nontuberculous Mycobacterium infections and associated conditions in a subject in need thereof.

Abstract: A sequencing data analysis platform can process datasets that include a large number of sequence read. The reads are aligned to one or more reference genomes. Due to sequencing errors, sequencing noise, or genuine differences between a reference genome and the individual species being sequenced, this mapping process may tolerate a certain number of mismatches, insertions, or deletions. The sequencing data analysis platform provides a set of tools for analyzing and visualizing the sequence reads.

Abstract: Tubing anchor catchers that include a mandrel having a first end portion and a second end portion, each end portion having threading with multiple starts, a first cone, a second cone, and a slip that is at least partially disposed between the first cone and the second cone. The first cone and second cone are coupled to the mandrel via the threading with multiple starts such that when the mandrel is rotated in a first direction with respect to at least one of the first cone and the second cone, the at least one of the first cone and the second cone is configured to move to reduce a distance between the first cone and the second cone to force the slip to move laterally from the tubing anchor catcher. Furthermore, the slip engages with a well bore or casing following between less than six rotations of the mandrel.

Abstract: Merchandise security systems and methods are provided. In one example, a merchandise security system includes a plurality of security devices arranged in a wireless network, wherein the plurality of security devices are arranged in a planogram and each configured to protect one or more items from theft, each of the plurality of security devices configured to wirelessly communicate data with a remote device. The system also includes a plurality of electronic keys arranged in the wireless network and configured to wirelessly communicate data with the plurality of security devices and/or the remote device. Each of the plurality of electronic keys is configured to operate the plurality of security devices. The system also includes a gateway configured to receive the data from the plurality of security devices and electronic keys via wireless communication, wherein the gateway is configured to communicate the data to the remote computing device.

Abstract: A method of operating a solar energy plant and a solar plant are disclosed. Thermal energy produced in the plant is used to heat a first volume of water and charge a hot store in the plant. Electricity produced in the plant operates a heat engine or other device, such as a refrigeration unit, to extract heat and consequently cool a second volume of water and charge a cold store. As desired, energy is transferred from the hot store to a heat engine and energy is transferred from the heat engine to the cold store to operate the heat engine to produce power in the plant.

Abstract: A system is provided for guiding a dielectric cable from a conductor to an elevated support structure. The system comprises: an insulator arranged to be attached to a conductor. The insulator comprises a first bore for receiving a dielectric cable. The system further comprises an earth bond extending to a lower end of the insulator; and a downpipe extending between first and second ends. The first end of the downpipe is connected to the lower end of the insulator and the second end of the downpipe is arranged to be supported by an elevated support structure. The downpipe is for receiving the dielectric cable from the bore of the insulator.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an engineered, additively manufactured, microfluidic cellular structure formed from a plurality of cells, wherein the cells are each formed from a plurality of interconnected elements. The cells have voids and each cell is open at upper ends thereof. The cells each communicate at a point below its upper end with a common channel. The cells are each configured to accept a fluid and operate to channel the fluid into the common channel and to hold the fluid received therein for later selective withdrawal from the structure.

Abstract: A tank recirculation assembly comprising a recirculation line that draws fluid from the lower portion of a tank; and a pump that directs the recirculated fluid vertically toward and into the upper portion of the tank. The assembly comprises piping, pumping process and/or nozzles that spray the recirculated fluid across the surface oil inside of the tank. Recirculation is incorporated to enhance the recovery of more and cleaner oil by spraying as much of the surface area of the oil recovery zone to keep it clean. The then dispersed fluid travels down through the pad and reacts to help disperse and remove the interface that conglomerates in between the oil and water interface.

Abstract: A window balance assembly may include a carrier, a spring element, and a mounting bracket. The spring element is coupled to the carrier and, in an uninstalled, assembled configuration of the window balance assembly, the mounting bracket is retained with the carrier.

Abstract: A fan assembly includes a fan body, a motor-driven impeller contained within the fan body and arranged to generate an air flow, a nozzle including a nozzle body having an air inlet arranged to receive the air flow from the fan body, and one or more air outlets arranged to emit the airflow from the fan assembly. The fan assembly further includes a nozzle retaining mechanism for releasably retaining the nozzle on the fan body, and a rotation mechanism for rotating the nozzle body relative to the fan body. The nozzle rotation mechanism includes a rotation motor arranged to drive a drive member and a driven member that is arranged to be driven by the drive member to rotate around a rotation axis.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to processes for activating Fischer-Tropsch synthesis catalysts. In particular, the application concerns a process for the activation of a Fischer-Tropsch synthesis catalyst, the process comprising: (i) contacting the catalyst with a first gaseous composition comprising at least 80% N2 at a pressure in the range of 2 barg to 20 barg at a temperature of no more than 150° C.; (ii) contacting the catalyst with a second gaseous composition comprising at least 80% H2 to form a H2/N2 gaseous composition with a H2:N2 molar ratio in the range of 0.2:1 to 2:1, resulting in a pressure in the range of 10 barg to 30 barg; (iii) increasing the temperature to a range of 220° C. to 260° C.; (iv) maintaining the catalyst at the conditions of step (iii) for a hold period in the range of 2 hr to 96 hr.

Abstract: A method of treating a calculi mass can include using an ultrasonic probe to produce acoustic energy and fragment the mass. The method can include varying the frequency at which fragmentation occurs to treat the mass with a resonant frequency. The ultrasonic probe can have a distal tip for contact with the mass, where the tip has a morphology for concentrating stress on the mass. The ultrasonic probe can have two or more ultrasonic horns to allow for higher voltage and power levels.

Abstract: The invention relates to Bis-thiol compounds and pharmaceutical preparations thereof. The invention further relates to methods of treating, managing or lessening the severity of pulmonary infections in a subject, the method comprising administering to the subject a bismuth-thiol (BT) composition that comprises at least one BT compound.

Abstract: The invention relates to an amorphous form of bismuth-1,2-ethanedithiol (BisEDT). Methods of making amorphous BisEDT and methods of use are also provided.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for targeted sweep of a key-value data storage is provided. The method comprises before a write transaction to a database having a key value store commits, and before each of one or more write commands of the write transaction are persisted to the key value store, writing an entry for each of the one or more write commands to an end of a targeted sweep queue, the entry comprising metadata including: data identifying a cell to which the write command relates, a start timestamp of the write transaction, and information identifying a type of the write transaction.