Abstract: A dual-mode crawler unit for traversing a generally tubular target, the unit comprising means for effecting a hand-over-hand action along the target and also means for effecting a driven action along the target, the unit comprising two or more traversing units, the units being directly connected to each other by one or more linear actuators.

Abstract: The invention relates to a coating composition for use as a coating to prevent fouling in a marine environment, comprising: a) a curable polysiloxane polyoxyalkylene block copolymer; b) a catalyst of general formula wherein each R1 is independently a monovalent hydrocarbon group, each R2 is independently selected from a hydrogen atom, a monovalent organic group, a siloxane group, or a silyl group of formula —SiR33, wherein each R3 is independently a monovalent hydrocarbon group, and n is an integer having a value of 0 or greater, and optionally: c) a filler and/or pigment.

Abstract: The invention relates to a coating composition for use as a coating to prevent fouling in a marine environment, comprising: a) a curable polysiloxane polyoxyalkylene block copolymer; b) a catalyst of general formula wherein each R1 is independently a monovalent hydrocarbon group, each R2 is independently selected from a hydrogen atom, a monovalent organic group, a siloxane group, or a silyl group of formula —SiR33, wherein each R3 is independently a monovalent hydrocarbon group, and n is an integer having a value of 0 or greater, and optionally: c) a filler and/or pigment.

Abstract: This invention provides a method and apparatus for efficiently storing and applying related sets of pattern/message rules that are used to analyse and annotate blocks of text. Where sets of rules can include other sets, representations of the sets that speed analysis can contain significant redundancy and add to the consumption of memory. In a one aspect of the invention, all rules are represented in a single pattern-matching data structure (which is applied to a block of text to find all matches by all rules) and the rulesets are represented using boolean vectors (one of which is used to filter the matches) which are compressed by identifying common subspans. In a further aspect of the invention, each ruleset is represented by its own pattern-matching data structure, and these are compressed by identifying common parts. In each aspect, the effect is to allow the creation of a data structure that can speed up matching without consuming excessive memory.

Abstract: The invention relates to a coating composition for use as a coating to prevent fouling in a marine environment, comprising: a) a curable polysiloxane polyoxyalkylene block copolymer; b) a catalyst of general formula (i) wherein each R1 is independently a monovalent hydrocarbon group, each R2 is independently selected from a hydrogen atom, a monovalent organic group, a siloxane group, or a silyl group of formula —SiR33, wherein each R3 is independently a monovalent hydrocarbon group, and n is an integer having a value of 0 or greater, and optionally: c) a filler and/or pigment.

Abstract: A feeding bottle (10) comprises a container (12) having a threaded neck (22) around an opening of the container, a teat (16), and, a threaded annular collar. The teat has a flange (84), adapted to seat on said neck, a nipple (88), remote from the flange, and a one-way valve (110) formed in a depression (112) in the teat to allow the passage of air into the container but prevent leakage of liquid from the container through the valve. The collar is adapted to receive the teat through the aperture (56) of the collar. The depression (112) is provided with an upstanding flange (114) above the surface of the teat where the depression (112) joins a main surface of the teat, which flange (114) serves to protect the depression (112) against deformation of the main surface of the teat.

Abstract: Advanced remote self-contained chromatographic systems and techniques for analyzing a mixture comprising components having a wide range of boiling points. The chromatographic systems and techniques can utilize components and techniques that allow staged, simultaneous, and/or sequential vaporization of an analyte to facilitate rapid analysis. The chromatographic systems and techniques can also utilize components and techniques that focus eluents from a first separation stage prior to reduce characterization time in subsequent stages.

Abstract: An anti-fouling composition which comprises a cured or cross-linked polymer free of perfluoropolyether moieties and a fluid fluorinated alkyl- or alkoxy-containing polymer or oligomer. Preferably, the fluorinated alkyl- or alkoxy-containing polymer or oligomer comprises a repeating unit of the general formula: —{[CFR—(CFR)m—(O)n]p—[CFR—O]q}— wherein n is 0 or 1, m is an integer from 0 to 4, R independently is H, F, Cl, Br, or CF3, and the ratio q/p is 0-10, and the fluorine-free polymer is an organosiloxane-containing polymer comprising a repeating unit of the general structure —[SiR1R2—O]—, wherein R1 and R2 are independently hydrogen, alkyl, aryl, aralkyl, or a vinyl group.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for scanning an integrated circuit comprising a plurality of time-synchronized laser microscopes, each of which is configured to scan the same field of view of an integrated circuit under test that generates a plurality of images of the integrated circuit under test, a data processor, coupled to the laser scanning microscope, for processing the plurality of images, comprising, a netlist extractor (NE) that produces one or more netlists defining structure of the integrated circuit under test.

Abstract: This invention provides a method and apparatus for identifying potential errors in a block of text using rules contributed by a plurality of users. Each rule consists of a pattern (which matches parts of a block of text) and a message (which provides helpful information). A group of rules is applied to a block of text to generate a report that binds messages with sites in the text where the corresponding rule patterns matched. Users can create, organise, edit, publish, rate, and combine rules and groups of rules. User ratings are used to generate better reports. The invention has many potential embodiments, with a web interface being an exemplary embodiment.

Abstract: This application concerns determining whether a particular subblock of data is present in a reduced-redundancy storage system. One embodiment achieves this by hashing subblocks in the storage system into a bitfilter that contains ‘1’ bit for each position to which at least one subblock hashes. This bitfilter provides a fast way to determine whether a subblock is in the storage system. In another embodiment, index entries for new subblocks may be buffered in a subblock index write buffer to convert a large number of random access read and write operations into a single sequential read and a single sequential write operation. The combination of the bitfilter and the write buffer yields a reduced-redundancy storage system that uses significantly less high speed random access memory than other systems that store the entire subblock index in memory.

Abstract: The invention relates to a coating composition for use as a coating to prevent fouling in a marine environment, comprising: a) a curable polysiloxane polyoxyalkylene block copolymer; b) a catalyst of general formula (i) wherein each R1 is independently a monovalent hydrocarbon group, each R2 is independently selected from a hydrogen atom, a monovalent organic group, a siloxane group, or a silyl group of formula —SiR33, wherein each R3 is independently a monovalent hydrocarbon group, and n is an integer having a value of 0 or greater, and optionally: c) a filler and/or pigment.

Abstract: A shroudless blade for use in a compressor or fan of an axial flow gas turbine engine includes a treatment to the tips of the blades to improve the surge margin of the compressor. A series of cross bleed holes are formed at the tip of the blade, which may be a stator or rotor component, extending between the pressure and suction sides of the blades. Notches are provided at the tip of the blades to provide initiation sites for any fatigue cracks such that the cracks propagate from the base of these slots or notches and radially inwards into the body of the blades. The present invention provides an arrangement, which by provision of the cross bleed holes the propagation of the cracks is arrested. A preferred placement and orientation for the holes for best mechanical and aerodynamic performance is described.

Abstract: An anti-fouling coating composition comprising (i) a curable polymer and (ii) an organosilicone polymer. This anti-fouling coating composition has a low surface energy, has suitable elastomeric properties, decreases the settlement of fouling organisms and their adhesion strength, and can be used as a clear coat without a misty or milky appearance.

Abstract: A computer implemented method of generating a succession of two-dimensional image frames for a slab cine multi-planar reformatting (MPR) process by advancing a slab through a volume defined by a volume data set, including receiving a volume data set defining a volume; specifying a view axis with respect to the volume; advancing a slab through the volume along the view axis in incremental step sizes smaller than the slab thickness; and determining at each slab position an MPR view by: selecting a plurality of sample points along each of a plurality of rays cast through the slab, and performing a projection of the sample points on to an image plane using an a projection function, wherein at least some of the sample points used for the overlap region are re-used from the previous slab position.

Abstract: A process to physically deter fouling from a substrate in an aquatic fouling environment, which process comprises forming on the substrate, before exposure to the said environment, a coating composition comprising (i) a curable polyorganosiloxane polyoxyalkylene block copolymer having at least two reactive groups X situated on the copolymer chain and (ii) an organosilicon crosslinking agent and/or a catalyst.

Abstract: A fluid evaporation system includes a housing bounding an airflow path. A misting system is positioned within the airflow path for spraying a wastewater into the airflow path. Water in the misted wastewater is evaporated, thereby concentrating minerals in the wastewater. A pretreatment system is positioned upstream from the fluid evaporator. The pretreatment system includes a gas induced separator. Separation of hydrocarbons and water are enhanced using a polymer and/or by lowering the pH of the wastewater.

Abstract: A shield configured for use within a vehicle for protecting an occupant of a seat in the vehicle from a force emanating from at least a region beneath the occupant. The seat has a supporting surface for supporting the occupant. The shield includes a deflecting member having more than one deflecting surface portion for deflecting the force away from the seat. The deflecting member is positioned near a side of the seat opposite the supporting surface of the seat, and the deflecting surface portions are each inclined in a direction toward each other at a first edge and away from the seat at a second edge.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for indexing subblocks in a reduced-redundancy storage system. Each subblock is hashed to an K-bit key and an entry for the subblock added to an index data structure comprising of a tree of hash tables. In a further aspect, by replacing the top of the tree with an array, the data structure can achieve O(1) access time for random keys while still providing relatively smooth growth.

Abstract: A method for controlling a power state of a host device, the method comprising operating a processor of a power control module integral to the host to perform operations comprising determining a current power state of the host from a plurality of possible states, receiving a remote request to alter the power state of the host device, and on the basis of the request, altering the power state of the host device from the current state to one other of the plurality of states of the host.