Abstract: Described herein are friction reducing polymers comprising two or more recurring units wherein at least one recurring unit is an acrylic acid or acrylamide monomer and at least one recurring unit is a vinyl monomer selected from a vinyl alcohol, a vinyl ester, and a vinyl ether.

Abstract: A vehicle entertainment system including a server storing media files, and smart monitors. Each smart monitor presents media selections corresponding to the media files and receives an input from passengers for playing a selection. Each smart monitor includes local content storage storing a subset of the media files. A network connects the smart monitors and server. Program logic executed by each smart monitor performs tasks including determining if a media file corresponding to an input is available from a first source, and if available, playing the media file from the first source; if the media file is not available there, determining if the media file required is available from a second source and if available, playing the media file from the second source; and if the media file is not available from the second source, determining if the media file is available from a third source.

Abstract: A well treatment fluid and method of use includes water, at least one hydratable polymer, an optional crosslinking agent, and a delayed release percarbonate formulation effective to reduce initial viscosity of the fluid after a period of time. Also disclosed are processes for fracturing a subterranean formation.

Abstract: The present invention encompasses the recognition that an F876L mutation of the androgen receptor (AR) gene confers resistance to the antiandrogens enzalutamide (MDV3100) and ARN-509 and is associated with incidence and/or risk of castration resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). The present invention also provides other AR polypeptide sequences associated with increased incidence and/or risk of CRPC. The present invention also provides screening methods for identification and/or characterization of novel AR polypeptide sequences associated with increased incidence and/or risk of CRPC via exposure to antiandrogens and for identification and/or characterization of agents to treat and/or reduce risk of CRPC by virtue of their effect on AR transcriptional activation.

Abstract: Provided are processes for treating a tailings stream which comprises water and solids, the process comprising: (i) adding one or more anionic polymer flocculants and one or more nonionic polymer flocculants to the tailings stream; (ii) allowing at least a portion of the solids to flocculate; and (iii) separating at least a portion of the flocculated solids from the tailings stream.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus for the detection of charge density distribution at the surface of a material sample. The apparatus comprises an electric potential sensor for measuring surface charge on a material sample, wherein the electrical potential sensor includes a probe for capacitively coupling the electric potential sensor to the surface of the material sample, an amplifier for generating a measurement output, the probe being connected to an input of the amplifier and the measurement output being supplied at an output of the amplifier, and a feedback arrangement driven from the output of the amplifier for enhancing the input impedance of the amplifier.

Abstract: A well treatment fluid and method of use includes water, at least one hydratable polymer, an optional crosslinking agent, and a delayed release percarbonate formulation effective to reduce initial viscosity of the fluid after a period of time. Also disclosed are processes for fracturing a subterranean formation.

Abstract: A packetized transport stream for protecting viewing content from unauthorized access and methods for manufacturing and using same. The transport stream includes a plurality of content frames, each having a frame header and a frame payload. Each frame header includes information for handling the content frame; whereas, the frame payload includes selected viewing content for which protection from unauthorized access is desirable. By encrypting only the frame payload, the header remains unencrypted and can be applied to prepare the encrypted frame payload for presentation. The viewing content thereby can be stored in an encrypted format and can be decrypted on-the-fly as the viewing content is needed for presentation. The combination of the unencrypted frame header and the encrypted frame payload advantageously enables the viewing content to be protected against unauthorized use, copying, and dissemination without impairing the presentation of the viewing content.

Abstract: A well treatment fluid and method of use includes water, at least one hydratable polymer, an optional crosslinking agent, and a delayed release percarbonate formulation effective to reduce initial viscosity of the fluid after a period of time. Also disclosed are processes for fracturing a subterranean formation.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus for the detection of charge density distribution at the surface of a material sample. The apparatus comprises an electric potential sensor for measuring surface charge on a material sample, wherein the electrical potential sensor includes a probe for capacitively coupling the electric potential sensor to the surface of the material sample, an amplifier for generating a measurement output, the probe being connected to an input of the amplifier and the measurement output being supplied at an output of the amplifier, and a feedback arrangement driven from the output of the amplifier for enhancing the input impedance of the amplifier.

Abstract: A well treatment fluid and method of use includes water, at least one hydratable polymer, an optional crosslinking agent, and a delayed release percarbonate formulation effective to reduce initial viscosity of the fluid after a period of time. Also disclosed are processes for fracturing a subterranean formation.

Abstract: A packetized transport stream for protecting viewing content from unauthorized access and methods for manufacturing and using same. The transport stream includes a plurality of content frames, each having a frame header and a frame payload. Each frame header includes information for handling the content frame; whereas, the frame payload includes selected viewing content for which protection from unauthorized access is desirable. By encrypting only the frame payload, the header remains unencrypted and can be applied to prepare the encrypted frame payload for presentation. The viewing content thereby can be stored in an encrypted format and can be decrypted on-the-fly as the viewing content is needed for presentation. The combination of the unencrypted frame header and the encrypted frame payload advantageously enables the viewing content to be protected against unauthorized use, copying, and dissemination without impairing the presentation of the viewing content.

Abstract: A packetized transport stream for protecting viewing content from unauthorized access and methods for manufacturing and using same. The transport stream includes a plurality of content frames, each having a frame header and a frame payload. Each frame header includes information for handling the content frame; whereas, the frame payload includes selected viewing content for which protection from unauthorized access is desirable. By encrypting only the frame payload, the header remains unencrypted and can be applied to prepare the encrypted frame payload for presentation. The viewing content thereby can be stored in an encrypted format and can be decrypted on-the-fly as the viewing content is needed for presentation. The combination of the unencrypted frame header and the encrypted frame payload advantageously enables the viewing content to be protected against unauthorized use, copying, and dissemination without impairing the presentation of the viewing content.

Abstract: A distribution system for vehicle information systems and methods for manufacturing and using same. The distribution system supports high-bandwidth communications among system resources via one or more active routing systems. Comprising a plurality of communication ports coupled via a high-speed switching system, each routing system transparently splits incoming communication signals received via an input communication port. The routing system thereby can provide the incoming communication to a plurality of output communication ports without effecting signal bandwidth. By providing each routing system with a bypass system, the distribution system likewise can bypass one or more of the high-speed switching system in the event of a distribution system failure such that communications among the system resources can be maintained.

Abstract: A well treatment fluid and method of use includes water, at least one hydratable polymer, an optional crosslinking agent, and a delayed release percarbonate formulation effective to reduce initial viscosity of the fluid after a period of time. Also disclosed are processes for fracturing a subterranean formation.

Abstract: A transflective display having a reflective viewing mode and a transmissive viewing mode is provided. The transflective display includes a liquid crystal (LC) panel having an array of partially reflective pixels. The reflective portions of the array of partially reflective pixels include metal positioned on a viewer side of the LC panel to reflect light back toward the viewer. The display also includes a reflective polarizer, in place of a conventional rear polarizer, positioned behind the LC panel on a side of the LC panel opposite the viewer side. The reflective polarizer is also oriented to reflect ambient light back toward the viewer.

Abstract: An assembly that includes a first reflective polarizer substantially reflecting light having a first polarization state and substantially transmitting light having a second polarization state, a polarization rotating layer or depolarizing layer (or both) positioned to receive light passing through the first reflective polarizer, and a second reflective polarizer positioned to receive light passing through the polarization rotating layer or depolarizing layer, the second reflective polarizer substantially reflecting light having a third polarization state back through the polarization rotating layer or depolarizing and substantially transmitting light having a fourth polarization state. Articles containing the assembly can be formed.

Abstract: An optical film stack is disclosed that includes a linear absorbing polarizer layer having a first polarizing transmission axis, a linear reflecting polarizer layer having a second polarizing transmission axis substantially parallel to the first polarizing transmission axis, and a retarder layer having an out-of-plane retardance value of 80 nanometers or more, or having an in-plane retardance value of 10 nanometers or greater and an out-of-plane retardance value greater than (0.6 times the in-plane retardance value). The retarder layer is disposed between the linear absorbing polarizer layer and the linear reflecting polarizer layer. A liquid crystal display including this optical film stack and methods of increasing on-axis contrast ratio of a liquid crystal display utilizing this optical film stack are also disclosed.

Abstract: Lighting devices are disclosed that include a light source, a circular reflective polarizer optically coupled to the light source, a back reflector configured and disposed to reflect light that has been reflected by the circular reflective polarizer back toward the input surface thereof, one or more optical elements having a total non-zero retardance Rs and disposed between the circular reflective polarizer and the back reflector, and a customized retarder. The customized retarder has a retardance Rc such that a total retardance of the one or more optical elements and the customized retarder, Rs+Rc, approaches n?/2. The one or more optical elements, the customized retarder and the back reflector are characterized by a total depolarization of no more than 66%. Display devices including such lighting devices are also disclosed.

Abstract: Lighting devices are disclosed that include a light source, a linear reflective polarizer optically coupled to the light source, a back reflector configured and disposed to reflect light that has been reflected by the linear reflective polarizer back toward the input surface thereof, one or more optical elements having a total non-zero retardance Rs and disposed between the linear reflective polarizer and the back reflector, and a customized retarder. The customized retarder has a retardance Rc such that a total retardance of the one or more optical elements and the customized retarder, Rs+Rc, approaches ?/4+n ?/2. The one or more optical elements, the customized retarder and the back reflector are characterized by a total depolarization of no more than 66%. Display devices including such lighting devices are also disclosed.