Abstract: A proppant container facilitates the transportation of wet sand for use in a hydraulic fracturing operation. The proppant container is provided with a system for dislodging the wet sand for subsequent use. This may be done by use of a vibrator or an umbrella valve. In another aspect, the proppant container may be used in combination with a rack having a wash system that slurries the proppant for delivery to a blender tub without necessarily resorting to use of a conveyor belt.

Abstract: A system for detecting forces on and measuring deformation of an anthropomorphic test device (ATD) includes a plurality of body parts and at least one optical fiber supported by and in contact with at least one of the body parts. The body parts form the ATD and simulate at least a part of a human body and the articulation of the human body. The optical fiber extends between a first end and a second end and comprises a plurality of sensors disposed between the ends. An emitter is in communication with the optical fiber for emitting a light having a predetermined band of wavelengths through the optical fiber that is reflected by the sensors and an interrogator is in communication with the optical fiber for detecting the reflected light from the sensor such that changes to the reflected light indicate a strain on the at least one body part.

Abstract: The invention relates to modified helicases with reduced unbinding from polynucleotides. The helicases can be used to control the movement of polynucleotides and are particularly useful for sequencing polynucleotides.

Abstract: Provided herein is a method of characterising a target polynucleotide as it moves with respect to a nanopore using a motor protein. Also provided are polynucleotide adapters and kits comprising such adapters. The methods, kits and adapters find use in characterising polynucleotides, for example in sequencing.

Abstract: A cable tensioning system including: a body defining a balance point; a cable receiving area having gripping elements configured to grip and bias a cable relative to the cable tensioning system; and a sensor configured to sense changes to a balance of the body about the balance point, wherein the cable tensioning system is configured to maintain the cable within a preset range of tensions.

Abstract: A sensor device is provided for attachment to a surface of a fluid fitting, including a sensor portion comprising a sensor configured for detecting a physical parameter, a flexible circuit portion comprising a flexible circuit board and one or more circuit components supported by the flexible circuit board, and a rigid circuit portion comprising a rigid circuit board and one or more other circuit components by the circuit board. The sensor portion, flexible circuit portion, and rigid circuit portion are operatively coupled together and adapted to be affixed to said surface of said fluid fitting. In one example, a strain sensor is used. In another example, the fluid fitting comprises a coupling body defining a bore for receiving said fluid element therein. A ring is configured to fit over at least one end of the coupling body for mechanically attaching the coupling body to said fluid element.

Abstract: A wellbore system includes an upper body, a lower body, removably coupled to the upper body, and a passage extending through both the upper body and the lower body, the passage being aligned and extending through an interface between the upper body and the lower body. The wellbore system also includes a latch piston, confined to the lower body, the latch piston being moveable responsive to an applied pressure via the passage. The wellbore system further includes a latch piston retaining ring, confined to the lower body.

Abstract: The present invention relates to containers for holding liquid samples. The containers may be useful for mixing a liquid sample or lysing cells in a liquid sample. The invention also relates to methods of using the containers of the invention.

Abstract: Disclosed embodiments relate to a wound dressing which can generate nitric oxide. The wound dressing may include a cover layer, an activator layer such as an acid providing layer and nitric oxide source layer, such as a nitrite providing layer. The activator layer may include acidic groups and may be hydrogel, xerogel, or other suitable material. The nitric oxide source layer may include a nitrite salt. Nitrite ions of the nitric oxide source layer may react with the acidic groups of the activating layer to generate nitric oxide. The activating layer may include a window at the center, and a central absorbent material may be positioned at the window. Various separating layers may also be incorporated into the dressing to control the interaction between activating layer and nitric oxide source layer.

Abstract: A method for the session management of content driven meeting summaries and action items in a commercial environment, which may be tied to multiple back-end cloud services. The method employs an association based data structure directed to improving the organization and persistence of post-meeting generated content or collateral (e.g., meeting summaries, notes, action items, etc.). Further, a method for learned meeting context continuity for past context and future meeting proposals tied to current meeting context. The method may match key topics, conversations, and attendees to deduce relation; and, accordingly, provide suitable next meeting predictions. Moreover, a method for intelligently managing segment audio-visual (AV) replay access, which may be indexed using users, topics, presenters, keywords, etc.

Abstract: Embodiments include a computer-implemented method (and system) for performing automated batch data alignment for modeling, monitoring, and control of an industrial batch process. The method (and system) loads, scales, and screens plant historian batch data for an industrial batch process. The method (and system) selects a reference batch as basis of the batch alignment, defines and adds or modifies one or more batch phases, and selects one or more batch variables based on one or more profiles and corresponding curvatures of the batch data. The method (and system) estimates one or more weightings, adjust one or more tuning parameters and uses a sliding time window combined with DTW, DTI and GSS algorithms, performs the batch alignment in offline mode or online mode.

Abstract: Systems and methods for computing a distribution pattern of information whereby, as the rating of thought objects in a roundtable exchange proceeds, thought objects that are more highly rated and are therefore more likely to be chosen as subjects for discussion in groups, are more widely distributed to participant devices for rating, and for computing a pattern of assignment whereby each participant device is assigned to a group discussing a subject which that participant device rated highly, within constraints specified by the facilitator.

Abstract: A system for use in servicing a machine. The system includes a tubular body including a longitudinal axis, a tip end, a dispensing nozzle defined at the tip end, and an interior channel in flow communication with the dispensing nozzle. The tubular body is configured to be flexible. An actuator is configured to selectively modify an orientation of the tubular body, and a reservoir is in flow communication with the interior channel. The reservoir is configured to supply a maintenance fluid to the tubular body for discharge from the dispensing nozzle.

Abstract: Methods of characterizing an analyte using a nanopore. One aspect features methods for characterizing a double-stranded polynucleotide using a nanopore, e.g., without using a hairpin connecting a template and a complement of the double-stranded polynucleotide. Another aspect features methods for characterizing an analyte using a tag-modified nanopore with increased sensitivity and/or higher throughput. Compositions and systems including, e.g., adaptors for attachment to double-stranded polynucleotides and tag-modified nanopores, which can be used in the methods are also provided.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of optimising a student neural network (SNN), based on a previously-trained neural network (PTNN) trained on first data (FD) using a first processing system (FPS). The method includes using a second processing system (SPS) to generate reference output data (ROD) from the previously-trained neural network (PTNN) in response to inputting second data (SD) to the previously-trained neural network (PTNN). The method also includes optimising a student neural network (SNN) for processing the second data (SD) with the second processing system (SPS), by using the second processing system (SPS) to adjust a plurality of parameters of the student neural network (SNN) such that a difference (DIFF) between the reference output data (ROD), and second output data (SOD) generated by the student neural network (SNN) in response to inputting the second data (SD) to the student neural network (SNN), satisfies a stopping criterion.

Abstract: A method for determining a metric of a feature on a substrate obtained by a semiconductor manufacturing process involving a lithographic process, the method including: obtaining an image of at least part of the substrate, wherein the image includes at least the feature; determining a contour of the feature from the image; determining a plurality of segments of the contour; determining respective weights for each of the plurality of segments; determining, for each of the segments, an image-related metric; and determining the metric of the feature in dependence on the weights and the calculated image-related metric of each of the segments.

Abstract: Distinctly keyed male-female couplers are pneumatically connected to medical ventilator by distinct lines carrying pulsatile gas or sensory signals. Ventilator-mounted female coupler has entranceway cavity and larger receiving cavity delimited by catch edge. Male fence-forming longitudinal winglets extend from sealing plate carry terminal end convexities which latch onto catch edge. Winglets move inward due to larger fence circumference than entranceway and seat on catch. Winglets placed in tension due to locking length less than entranceway span, then convert force into sealing compressive force between sealing plate and female tube end. Conjoining male tube bayoneted and sheathed by projecting female tube, resulting in another gas seal. Two compressive seals formed between male distal port and pneumatic line. Extending male key(s) on winglet insertable into matching female slots. Convexities block insertion of non-matching couplers set due to interference by convexities on female on entranceway edges.

Abstract: A method including: computing a value of a first variable of a pattern of, or for, a substrate processed by a patterning process by combining a fingerprint of the first variable on the substrate and a certain value of the first variable; and determining a value of a second variable of the pattern based at least in part on the computed value of the first variable.

Abstract: A biopharmaceutical flow port, a biopharmaceutical liquid container assembly, and a method for manufacturing the biopharmaceutical flow port and the biopharmaceutical liquid container assembly are described. The biopharmaceutical flow port includes a hose barb coupled to an elliptic body. The hose barb includes a bore. The elliptic body includes a flow passage, a first edge, and a second edge. The flow passage is fluidly coupled to the bore. The first edge extends from the elliptic body away from the flow passage in a first direction and the second edge extends from the elliptic body away from the flow passage in a second direction opposite the first direction. The biopharmaceutical liquid container assembly includes a biopharmaceutical liquid container with an opening and the biopharmaceutical flow port coupled to the biopharmaceutical liquid container within the opening and in fluid communication with a volume of the biopharmaceutical liquid container.

Abstract: A method (900) of generating an atlas for a universal atlas database (901) is provided. A new medical scan image (905) is provided. A universal auto-contouring operation (920) is performed on the medical scan image, to generate a set of universal contours (930) for the medical scan image. A local auto-contouring customisation operation (940) is performed on the medical scan image, to generate a set of local contours (950) for the medical scan image. The set of local contours is standardised (980) using a trained model to compensate for biases in the set of local contours, thereby creating a set of standardised global contours (985) for the medical scan image. The set of standardised global contours (985) and the medical scan image (905) can be added to the universal atlas database (901) as a new atlas, thereby expanding the set of atlases that are available in the universal atlas database.