Abstract: Quantum secure communication systems communicate quantum signals for quantum key distribution and classical signals with encrypted data and commands via a single optical fiber. In some systems, the single fiber carries classical data in both directions along with quantum communications. For example, quantum keys can be used to encrypt packets for bidirectional communication between two parties. In other systems, a single fiber is used for one way classical communications and quantum communications. The communication systems are secured using a security parameter based on the quantum and classical communications across the optical fiber.

Abstract: A premixing apparatus for a gas turbine system includes non-swirl elements around a periphery of a face of a premixing apparatus and a swirl assembly located substantially at a center of the face. The non-swirl elements premix a premixture prior to the premixture being delivered to a combustor of the gas turbine system. The swirl assembly disturbs a flow of fluid prior to the fluid being delivered to the combustor. The premixture includes fuel and oxidant, and the fluid disturbed by the swirl assembly includes the oxidant or the premixture.

Abstract: A straddle packer tool for setting against a constraining wall includes: a drag assembly with a locking mechanism for locking a position of the drag assembly relative to the constraining wall; a mandrel installed in and axially moveable through an inner bore of the drag assembly; and a packing element housing including a first annular packing element and a second annular packing element spaced from the first annular packing element, the packing element housing positioned between a stop shoulder on the mandrel and the drag assembly, the packing element being settable to expand the first annular packing element and the second annular packing element by compression between the drag assembly and the stop shoulder. A valve sub including a pressure actuated piston is also described and may be operated to open using the straddle packer tool.

Abstract: A combustor includes an end cap that extends radially across at least a portion of the combustor. The end cap includes an upstream surface axially separated from a downstream surface. A plurality of tubes extend from the upstream surface through the downstream surface of the end cap to provide fluid communication through the end cap. Each tube in a first set of the plurality of tubes has an inlet proximate to the upstream surface and an outlet downstream from the downstream surface. Each outlet has a first portion that extends a different axial distance from the inlet than a second portion.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system includes a turbine combustor of a turbine system with the turbine combustor at least partially enclosed within a compressor discharge casing. The turbine system also includes an exhaust gas recovery system that includes an exhaust gas recirculation duct. The exhaust gas recirculation duct is configured to recirculate exhaust gas from a downstream end of the turbine combustor to an upstream end of the turbine combustor. This exhaust gas recirculation duct is entirely enclosed within the compressor discharge casing.

Abstract: A wellbore treatment tool for setting against a constraining wall in which the wellbore treatment tool is positionable, the wellbore treatment tool including: a tool body including a first end formed for connection to a tubular string and an opposite end; a no-go key assembly including a tubular housing and a no-go key, the tubular housing defining an inner bore extending along the length of the tubular housing and an outer facing surface carrying the no-go key, the no-go key configured for locking the no-go key and tubular housing in a fixed position relative to the constraining wall, the tubular housing sleeved over the tool body with the tool body installed in the inner bore of the tubular housing; and a sealing element encircling the tool body and positioned between a first compression ring on the tool body and a second compression ring on the tubular housing, the sealing element being expandable to form an annular seal about the tool body by compression between the first compression ring and the second c

Abstract: A WIP management system is disclosed that comprises a data storage device arranged to store work in progress (WIP) data indicative of work in progress financial amounts associated with at least one person, and a filter arranged to facilitate filtering of the WIP data according to received criteria so as to produce filtered WIP data. The system is arranged to facilitate display of filtered WIP information indicative of the filtered WIP data, to facilitate selection by a user of WIP from the filtered WIP information and to instigate invoice processing based on the selected WIP. A corresponding method of managing WIP is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for analysing microbial growth on a solid culture medium, the method including obtaining image data of the solid culture medium and any microbial growth, generating an associated feature vector of values obtained by applying one or more filters to the image data, using a classifier to classify each pixel in a plurality of pixels in the image data based on the associated feature vector, analysing results of pixel classifications of each said pixel to derive a microbiological assessment of the solid culture medium and any microbial growth, and outputting the microbiological assessment.

Abstract: Birefringence in optical fibers is compensated by applying polarization modulation at a receiver. Polarization modulation is applied so that a transmitted optical signal has states of polarization (SOPs) that are equally spaced on the Poincaré sphere. Fiber birefringence encountered in propagation between a transmitter and a receiver rotates the great circle on the Poincaré sphere that represents the polarization bases used for modulation. By adjusting received polarizations, polarization components of the received optical signal can be directed to corresponding detectors for decoding, regardless of the magnitude and orientation of the fiber birefringence. A transmitter can be configured to transmit in conjugate polarization bases whose SOPs can be represented as equidistant points on a great circle so that the received SOPs are mapped to equidistant points on a great circle and routed to corresponding detectors.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for optimizing an online advertising campaign both before the campaign begins, and dynamically during the campaign. Optimizations are performed comparatively between a plurality of MPs (Media Properties) based on their relative cost-per-engagement. Comparisons are performed by first stack ranking MP inventory including any of sites, feeds, and verticals, based on cost per engagement. Once ranked, scores are assigned to the targeted inventory and a mean score is determined. Then, the inventory is rated as high, normal, or low impact based on their scores compared with the mean and a standard deviation for all scores. Higher impact sites with scores at least a standard deviation above the mean are initially favored, and the MP targeting strategy is dynamically adjusted during the campaign based on periodically re-evaluating the MP rankings, frequencies of engagement, and campaign progress relative to fulfillment in an allotted run time.

Abstract: Techniques and tools for quantum key distribution (“QKD”) between a quantum communication (“QC”) card, base station and trusted authority are described herein. In example implementations, a QC card contains a miniaturized QC transmitter and couples with a base station. The base station provides a network connection with the trusted authority and can also provide electric power to the QC card. When coupled to the base station, after authentication by the trusted authority, the QC card acquires keys through QKD with a trust authority. The keys can be used to set up secure communication, for authentication, for access control, or for other purposes. The QC card can be implemented as part of a smart phone or other mobile computing device, or the QC card can be used as a fillgun for distribution of the keys.

Abstract: Insecticidal, acaricidal, nematicidal or molluscicidal compounds of formula (I) wherein Y is a single bond, C?O, C?S or S(O)q where q is 0, 1 or 2; and R1, R2, R3, R4, R8, R9 are R10 are as defined in the claims or salts or N-oxides thereof, processes for preparing them and compositions containing them.

Abstract: Techniques and tools for implementing protocols for secure multi-party communication after quantum key distribution (“QKD”) are described herein. In example implementations, a trusted authority facilitates secure communication between multiple user devices. The trusted authority distributes different quantum keys by QKD under trust relationships with different users. The trusted authority determines combination keys using the quantum keys and makes the combination keys available for distribution (e.g., for non-secret distribution over a public channel). The combination keys facilitate secure communication between two user devices even in the absence of QKD between the two user devices. With the protocols, benefits of QKD are extended to multi-party communication scenarios. In addition, the protocols can retain benefit of QKD even when a trusted authority is offline or a large group seeks to establish secure communication within the group.

Abstract: Methods for filtering fluid suspensions to obtain clarified fluids may include providing a fluid to be filtered, wherein the fluid contains solid particulate contaminants. The method may further include providing a constricted-fibre filtering device, providing a particulate filter aid, and filtering the fluid to be filtered and the particulate filter aid using the constricted-fibre filtering device. The method may further include collecting a filtered fluid and optionally filtering the collected filtered fluid again, using the constricted-fibre filtering device. A constricted-fibre filtering device may include an inlet for a fluid to be filtered and/or particulate filter aid, wherein the inlet includes a manifold leading to feeds arranged near or within fibres of the filtering device.

Abstract: In a first aspect, a frac valve tool is taught, said tool comprising one or more ports a sleeve movable between a closed position in which the sleeve prevents fluid flow through said one or more ports and an open position in which the sleeve allows fluid flow through said one or more ports and a ball receiving seat removably connected to the sleeve wherein receipt of a ball on the ball receiving seat moves said seat and said sleeve from closed to open positions. In a second aspect, a frac valve tool is taught, said tool comprising a ball receiving seat removably received within said tool, said seat comprising a seating profile for receiving a ball; wherein said seating profile matches a radius of said ball to nondeformably grip said ball.

Abstract: Insecticidal, acaricidal, nematicidal or molluscicidal compounds of formula (I) wherein Y is a single bond, C?O, C?S or S(O)q where q is 0, 1 or 2; and R1, R2, R3, R4, R8, R9 are R10 are as defined in the claims or salts or N-oxides thereof, processes for preparing them and compositions containing them.

Abstract: A single element hydraulic open hole packer is provided. A method is provided for multistage isolation and fluid treatment of a borehole, in which a first frac valve tool and a second frac valve tool are provided, a first packer is mounted downstream from the first frac valve tool, a second packer is mounted between the first frac valve tool and the second frac valve tool, a third packer is mounted upstream from the second frac valve tool, at least one of the first, second and third packers being a hydraulic set packer having a single packing element, the first frac valve tool being moveable between a closed and an open position, the second frac valve tool moveable between a closed and an open position; running the liner into a wellbore; hydraulically setting the single element packers; conveying means for moving the first frac valve tool to the open position; and forcing stimulation fluid out through the first frac sleeve tool.

Abstract: An apparatus for cooling electronic devices to be used in the vacuum of space is described. a window frame is provided as packaging for an electronic device having a substrate and a chip. The window frame includes an opening to allow a heat pipe to be in direct contact with a backside of the chip. The window frame is hermetically sealed to the backside of the chip. The window frame is also welded to a kovar ring located on the backside of the chip to provide a hermetic seal between the window frame and the substrate.

Abstract: A combustor includes a plurality of tubes arranged in a tube bundle and supported by at least one plate that extends radially within the combustor, wherein each tube includes an upstream end axially separated from a downstream end and provides fluid communication through the tube bundle. A flow conditioner extends upstream from the upstream end of one or more of the plurality of tubes, and a radial passage extends through the flow conditioner. A method for distributing fuel in a combustor including flowing a working fluid through a flow conditioner that extends from a tube that is configured in a tube bundle comprising a plurality of tubes and that is supported by at least one plate. The flow conditioner includes at least one radial passage to impart radial swirl to the working fluid. Flowing a fuel through an annular insert that is at least partially surrounded by the flow conditioner.

Abstract: A combustor for a gas turbine engine has a head end portion that carries at least one fuel/air nozzle. Each fuel/air nozzle includes a premixed pilot nozzle having premix conduits where each premix conduit has an upstream end defining an opening and having a central axis and downstream end defining an outlet and having a central axis where the central axis of the downstream end is non-parallel with a central axis of a center body of the fuel/air nozzle. The premixed pilot nozzle can include an annular channel disposed radially outwardly from the premix conduits and may include air jets that direct air radially outwardly from the premix conduits.