Abstract: Equipment for forming a tubular rod from a bundle of fibrous material comprising a mandrel constructed to form a space within the bundle of fibres; the mandrel includes a passage for delivering a treatment fluid to facilitate the formation of the fibres into a tubular structure as the fibre bundle as the bundle passes over the mandrel.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing 1,4-bis(4-phenoxybenzoyl)benzene, including: reacting terephthaloyl chloride with diphenyl ether in the presence of a Lewis acid, so as to obtain a product mixture including 1,4-bis(4-phenoxybenzoyl)benzene-Lewis acid complex, wherein the 1,4-bis(4-phenoxybenzoyl)benzene-Lewis acid complex is, at least partly, in the form of a precipitate; carrying out a solid/liquid separation of the product mixture to obtain a cake comprising the 1,4-bis(4-phenoxybenzoyl)benzene-Lewis acid complex precipitate; putting the cake in contact with a decomplexing solvent, wherein the decomplexing solvent is a protic solvent, so as to dissociate the 1,4-bis(4-phenoxybenzoyl)benzene-Lewis acid complex into 1,4-bis(4-phenoxybenzoyl)benzene; and, recovering the 1,4-bis(4-phenoxybenzoyl)benzene. Also, a method for manufacturing a polyaryletherketone polymer starting from 1,4-bis(4-phenoxybenzoyl)benzene manufactured by the above method.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products for digital imaging in an ambient light deficient environment are described. The methods, systems, and computer program products described include an imaging sensor with an array of pixels for sensing electromagnetic radiation, an emitter that is configured to emit a pulse of electromagnetic radiation, and a control unit that includes a processor. The control unit is in electrical communication with the imaging sensor and the emitter. The control unit is configured to synchronize the emitter and the imaging sensor so as to produce a plurality of image reference frames. The plurality of image reference frames include a luminance frame with luminance image data and a chrominance frame with chrominance data, where the plurality of image reference frames are combined to form a color image.

Abstract: The disclosure extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for digitally imaging with area limited image sensors, such as within a lumen of an endoscope.

Abstract: The invention proposes a lighting device, in particular an emergency lighting device. The lighting device includes a first housing (2), a lighting means (12), for example an LED arranged at the first housing (2) and an electronic circuitry accommodated in the first housing (2) for operating the lighting means (12). A second housing (3) of the lighting device accommodates an energy storage means (13) such as a rechargeable battery, wherein the first housing (2) and the second housing (3) are arranged spaced apart. An interconnecting means (4) mechanically connects the first housing (2) and the second housing (3) in an elastic manner and also connects electrically the electronic circuitry and the energy storage means (13). The interconnecting means (4) of the lighting device of a preferred embodiment comprises a cable which is overmoulded to provide compressive strength in an axial direction of the cable.

Abstract: There is provided a filter unit for a smoking article having a tube formed from filter material and the tube having a first portion and a second portion, wherein an inner diameter of the first portion is different from an inner diameter of the second portion. There is also provided a tube having a longitudinal axis, wherein a straight line following at least a portion of an internal or external surface of the tube intersects the longitudinal axis at an angle other than 90°. Also described is a body or tube of filter material having a longitudinal axis, a first end surface and a second end surface, said body or tube formed from a plurality of continuous fibres extending between said first and second end surfaces, wherein the density of said filter material is greater at said first end surface than at said second end surface.

Abstract: An online review system determines scores for document authors and document reviewers. An author score is based on a number of comments added to a document by reviewers. One way to compute the author score is to use a ratio of a number of comments provided by reviewers of a document to a number of lines of document contents provided by the author. A reviewer score for a reviewer is based on an amount of comments subsequently made by other reviewers, and on the document content itself, such as a ratio of a number of comments provided in subsequent reviews of a document to a number of lines of original document contents. In some embodiments, the online review system monitors trends in scores of individuals or teams.

Abstract: Methods and systems of controlling odor in. water by adding a humic composition to the water. The humic composition cm adsorb or otherwise neutralize malodorous compounds such as hydrogen sulfide, ammonia, and mercaptans. The methods are useful in food and. agricultural industries where the water may come in contact with food items.

Abstract: The disclosure extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for widening dynamic range within an image in a light deficient environment.

Abstract: A smoking article filter (20) comprises a recess (25) to receive a filter insert unit (30). The filter insert unit (30) is secured to the filter (20) once inserted. The filter (20) and the filter insert unit (30) may comprise additives such as flavourants, colourants or sorbents.

Abstract: A tool for positioning a flat ring for installation of the flat ring at the end of a cylindrical body. The tool is particularly useful for the installation of gaskets between CF flanges. The tool is configured as a collar that is placed around one of the flanges, with fingers that extend to contact the outer rim of the gasket. The collar is placed around the flange, and the fingers hold the gasket in place until the second flange is moved into position and is bolted finger-tight to the first flange. At this point, the two flanges hold the gasket in place, and the collar is removed.

Abstract: There is described an apparatus for shaping a tobacco industry product, the apparatus comprising a shaping head configured to change the shape of a first end of the tobacco industry product. The apparatus also includes an actuator configured to move the shaping head and/or tobacco industry product such that the shaping head is brought into contact with the tobacco industry product in order to change the shape of the first end of the tobacco industry product. The actuator can be configured to move the shaping head and/or tobacco industry product in a direction substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the tobacco industry product. The shaping head can be brought into contact with a first longitudinal end surface and/or an inner surface of the tobacco industry product in order to change the shape of the tobacco industry product. Also described is a corresponding method of shaping a tobacco industry product and a tobacco industry product formed using the method.

Abstract: The disclosure extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for digitally imaging with area limited image sensors, such as within a lumen of an endoscope.

Abstract: An online review system determines scores for document authors and document reviewers. An author score is based on a number of comments added to a document by reviewers. One way to compute the author score is to use a ratio of a number of comments provided by reviewers of a document to a number of lines of document contents provided by the author. A reviewer score for a reviewer is based on an amount of comments subsequently made by other reviewers, and on the document content itself, such as a ratio of a number of comments provided in subsequent reviews of a document to a number of lines of original document contents. In some embodiments, the online review system monitors trends in scores of individuals or teams.

Abstract: A die or die assembly for forming a bundle of fibres into a rod or tube comprises a body (84) defining a passage 86) for conducting the bundle fibres through the die from an inlet to an outlet, a constriction (91) in the passage having an entrance shaped to form the fibres of the bundle into a desired configuration as the bundle passes through the die, and one or more conduits (92) through which a treatment fluid e.g. steam, for curing the bundle of fibres may be introduced into the passage, and wherein at last one conduit is arranged to discharge fluid in the immediate vicinity of the entrance to the constriction to facilitate passage of the fibres through the die and reduce the risk of blockage.

Abstract: A smoking article component comprising a viscoelastic material (500).

Abstract: The subject matter of this specification can be embodied in, among other things, a method for time shifting when a cold storage facility is cooled that includes determining a thermal model of a cold storage facility, obtaining an energy cost model that describes a schedule of variable energy costs over a predetermined period of time in the future, determining an operational schedule for at least a portion of a refrigeration system based on the thermal model, the energy cost model, and a maximum allowed temperature, and powering on the portion the refrigeration system based on the operational schedule, cooling, by the powered portion of the refrigeration system to a temperature below the maximum allowed temperature, reducing power usage of the powered portion of the refrigeration system based on the operational schedule, and permitting the facility to be warmed by ambient temperatures toward the maximum allowed temperature.

Abstract: The present disclosure extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for producing an image in light deficient environments and associated structures, methods and features is disclosed and described. The features of the system may include controlling a light source through duration, intensity or both; pulsing a component controlled light source during the blanking time; maximizing the blanking time to allow optimum light; and maintaining color balance.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for enabling a consumer of streaming video to obtain different views of the video, such as zoomed views of one or more objects of interest. In an exemplary embodiment, a client device receives an original video stream along with data identifying objects of interest and their spatial locations within the original video. In one embodiment, in response to user selection of an object of interest, the client device switches to display of a cropped and scaled version of the original video to present a zoomed video of the object of interest. The zoomed video tracks the selected object even as the position of the selected object changes with respect to the original video. In some embodiments, the object of interest and the appropriate zoom factor are both selected with a single expanding-pinch gesture on a touch screen.

Abstract: The disclosure extends to endoscopic devices and systems for image correction of a rotating sensor. The disclosure allows for the distal image sensor to rotate as the user rotates the lumen with respect to a fixed handpiece. The system includes an angle sensor located at the junction of the rotating lumen and the fixed handpiece. Periodic measurements of angle are used in the system's image processing chain in order to effect suitable software image rotations, thereby providing a final displayed image or video stream with the desired orientation.