Abstract: A method for screening substances for their ability to reduce malodours from emanations from an animal, said method comprising determining the effect of said substances on the C-S lyase activity of bacteria that emit volatile sulphuric compounds (VSCs), by contacting a test substance with a sample comprising said bacteria or a supernatant obtainable from a culture of said bacteria in the presence of a substrate for a C-S lyase, detecting the levels of thiol production from said bacteria, and comparing the results with those obtained from similar bacteria in the absence of said substance.

Abstract: A photon source comprising: a quantum dot; and an optical cavity, the optical cavity comprising: a diffractive Bragg grating “DBG”; and a planar reflection layer, the DBG comprising a plurality of concentric reflective rings surrounding a central disk and at least one conductive track extending from the central disk across the plurality of concentric rings, the quantum dot being provided within the central disk and the planar reflection layer being provided on one side of the DBG to cause light to be preferentially emitted from the opposing side of the DBG.

Abstract: A tread for a tire includes a circumferential center tread region comprising a plurality of block elements arranged in a symmetric pattern on opposite sides of a tire equatorial centerplane, a pair of circumferential shoulder tread regions each comprising a plurality of block elements arranged in a symmetric pattern on opposite sides of a tire equatorial centerplane, a leading edge first serrated construction disposed on a leading edge of one of the block elements, and a trailing edge second serrated construction disposed on a trailing edge of one of the block elements.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of preparing N-acyl amino acids selected from N-acyl cysteine compounds, N-acyl serine compounds, N-acyl aspartic acid compounds and N-acyl glutamic acid compounds. The present invention also relates to the use of N-acyl cysteine, N-acyl serine, N-acyl aspartic acid and N-acyl glutamic acid surfactants, in removing per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) from mixtures containing PFASs, such as soil and groundwater contaminated with PFASs and for use in cleaning compositions, detergent compositions and toothpaste compositions.

Abstract: A system for a spark plume generator system for igniting flammable gases at a drilling rig includes a support disposed within a fireproof housing proximate to the drilling rig. A grinder is mounted on the support. The grinder includes a rotatable grinder axle with an abrasive grinder surface and an igniter mounted on the support so as to cooperatively contact the grinder. The igniter includes an igniter surface that creates sparks when abraded. The fireproof housing includes an opening. Upon rotation of the grinder axle, the grinder surface abrades the igniter surface to create sparks. The support is positioned within the fireproof housing so that sparks created by the igniter surface exit the fireproof housing through the opening. The fireproof housing is positioned such that the opening is facing the drilling rig and sparks exiting the opening will ignite any flammable gases at the drilling rig.

Abstract: A pool cover for temperature regulation of pool water having an upper sheet of flexible material and a lower sheet of flexible material. The sheets are joined together at their side edges and along a plurality of longitudinally seams to form a panel having a plurality of longitudinal seams to provide a plurality of flow channels. A pump attached to an input tube draws in water from the pool, and via an input manifold forces the pumped water through the flow channels in the panel, and out the ends of the flow channels back into the pool. Pool water pumped through the flow channels picks up heat from incident solar radiation and the ambient air temperature, or gives off heat to the ambient environment, depending on the temperature of the air, the amount of incident radiation, and the temperature control settings provided by the user.

Abstract: A downhole liner delivery tool includes a housing with a flow path; a detachable nose assembly coupled to the housing and fluidly coupled to the flow path and including one or more retractable grips; a flexible wellbore liner including a first end coupled to the detachable nose assembly and a second end coupled within the housing and stored within the flow path of the housing; a seat formed in the flow path and configured to receive a member dropped in a wellbore to increase a fluid pressure of a fluid resin pumped through the flow path to anchor the one or more retractable grips to a wellbore wall and detach the detachable nose assembly from the housing, the fluid resin further pumped through the flow path to deploy the flexible wellbore liner from the housing and seal the flexible wellbore liner against the wellbore wall.

Abstract: A method, system, computer readable media and cloud systems are provided. In one example a method includes generating a virtual reality (VR) environment to be rendered for a head mounted display (HMD) of an HMD player during a session. The HMD player is provided with an HMD view that is controlled by movement of a character in the VR environment by the HMD player. The method includes providing a spectator view into the VR environment. The spectator view is associated with a viewing spot directed into the VR environment. Then, automatically moving said viewing spot of the spectator view to other viewing spots that follow the character in the VR environment. Moving the viewing spot of the spectator view has a delay in movement to follow the HMD view, and said delay in movement does not delay time progress for the session.

Abstract: A laser printhead assembly for a laser printhead is disclosed herein. The laser printhead assembly may include a laser containment door; and a laser containment housing that is configured to form a sealed enclosure with a label support of a rewriteable label. The sealed enclosure may be configured to include the rewriteable label and the laser printhead. The laser containment door, in a laser-enabled position, may be configured to permit the laser printhead, via a light beam, to modify the rewriteable label and the laser containment door, in a laser-disabled position, may be configured to prevent a light beam from escaping the laser containment housing.

Abstract: Aspects of the invention include initializing a local key manager (LKM) on a node of a computing environment. The node includes a plurality of channels. The LKM is configured to provide a secure data transfer between the node and an other node of the computing environment. A connection is established, by the LKM, between the LKM and an external key manager (EKM) that stores a shared key for the node and the other node. In response to establishing the connection, the LKM registers security capabilities of the plurality of channels. The security capabilities are used by the LKM to provide the secure data transfer between the node and the other node.

Abstract: A downhole tool includes a bore isolation valve, a sensor configured to receive to a downlink signal, an annular pressure sensor, a valve actuation mechanism coupled to the bore isolation valve and responsive to the downlink signal, a pressure relief mechanism configured to provide a negative pressure pulse signal indicative of the annular pressure by venting fluid from a bore of the tool body, and a battery. A method includes drilling a well with a drill bit coupled to an on demand annular pressure tool initially in a deactivated mode, and activating the tool by a downlink signal when fluid flow out of the annulus drops below the fluid flow into the well to close a bore of the tool, pressurizing the drill string, holding pressure in the drill string, measuring annular pressure with the tool, and sending a negative pressure pulse signal indicative of the annular pressure.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a heating system comprising: a heating arrangement for heating a process medium; an inverter configured to receive an input direct-current voltage from a power supply and to produce an intermediate alternating-current voltage; a transformer configured to receive the intermediate alternating-current voltage produced by the inverter and to supply an output alternating-current voltage to the heating arrangement; a sensor arrangement configured to generate a first sensor output signal indicative of a thermodynamic parameter of the process medium or the heating arrangement; and a controller configured to control the inverter based on the first sensor output signal.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for irradiating a fluid containing a material to be irradiated, comprising at least one irradiation chamber having at least one inlet port and outlet port, at least one fluid cooling chamber having at least one inlet port and outlet port, one or more UV radiation sources coupled to the irradiation chamber(s); and at least one heat exchange mechanism thermally coupled to the radiation source(s) and the cooling chamber(s). At least a portion of the interior surface of the cooling chamber(s) may comprise at least a portion of the exterior surface of the irradiation chamber(s) so the cooling chamber(s) is in fluid communication with the irradiation chamber(s).

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a heating system comprising: a heating element for heating a process medium; a DC power converter configured to receive an input direct-current voltage from a power supply and to deliver an output direct-current voltage to the heating element; a sensor arrangement configured to generate a first sensor output signal indicative of a thermodynamic parameter of the process medium or the heating element; and a controller configured to control the DC power converter based on the first sensor output signal.

Abstract: In an example, a circuit includes a first comparator, a second comparator, a pulse counter, a processor, a first ADC, and a second ADC. The first comparator has a first input coupled to a first node, a second input, and an output. The second comparator has a first input coupled to a second node, a second input, and an output. A first DAC is coupled to the second input of the first comparator. A second DAC is coupled to the second input of the second comparator. The pulse counter has a first input coupled to the output of the first comparator and a second input coupled to the output of the second comparator. The first ADC has an input coupled to the first node and an output coupled to the processor. The second ADC has an input coupled to the second node and an output coupled to the processor.

Abstract: Methods and systems for filtering content include identifying content for presenting in a rendering space defined by one or more mechanisms of a head mounted display (HMD), wherein the content is interactive, streaming content. A rating score for the content is identified. The content is dynamically adjusted to selectively filter a portion of the content based on a user profile of the user, rating score of the content, and ongoing interactions detected at the content. The adjusted content is formatted for rendering on the HMD. The formatted content is automatically transmitted to the HMD for rendering, in response to the request.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for irradiating a fluid containing a material to be irradiated, comprising at least one irradiation chamber having at least one inlet port, one or more UV radiation sources inside the irradiation chamber(s) optically coupled to the fluid in the irradiation chamber(s) via at least one UV-transparent window in contact with the fluid; one or more seals or gaskets disposed adjacent to the radiation sources to protect them from the fluid; and at least one heat exchange mechanism inside the irradiation chamber(s) thermally coupled to the radiation sources and to the fluid. The UV radiation sources and the at least one heat exchange mechanism are at least partially submerged in the fluid in the irradiation chamber.

Abstract: A method for screening substances for their ability to reduce malodours from emanations from an animal, said method comprising determining the effect of said substances on the C-S lyase activity of bacteria that emit volatile sulphuric compounds (VSCs), by contacting a test substance with a sample comprising said bacteria or a supernatant obtainable from a culture of said bacteria in the presence of a substrate for a C-S lyase, detecting the levels of thiol production from said bacteria, and comparing the results with those obtained from similar bacteria in the absence of said substance.

Abstract: A self-retaining shear pin tool and methods for connecting downhole tubulars in a wellbore are disclosed. The self-retaining shear pin tool includes a cap having an inner side and an outer side opposite the inner side, the cap defining a first recess formed in the inner side of the cap, the first recess of the cap having a cylindrical portion and a frustoconical portion extending from the cylindrical portion towards the outer side of the cap, and a shear pin disposed partially in the first recess of the cap and extending out of the first recess of the cap. The shear pin includes a body, a first recess extending inward from a first end of the body, a second recess extending inward from a second end of the body, a first swage, and a second swage die.