Abstract: The present invention provides a steerable medical or surgical device, in particular a steerable catheter having one or more actuators which may be integrated into a catheter without the need for welding the actuator to the catheter, the device comprising a main shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, and at least one braided actuator coupled to the main shaft at or adjacent the distal end.

Abstract: A system and method to partially vaporize a process or feed water stream does so in a liquid pool zone of a vessel as the stream comes into contact with a heating medium that is less volatile than the process stream. To keep the pool hot, the heating medium can be recirculated through a heater of a pump-around loop or a heater can be placed in the liquid pool. As the process stream is partially vaporized, any solids present in the process stream together with the unvaporized process or feed water stream move into the heating medium. These solids and unvaporized liquids may be further removed from the heating medium in the pool or in the pump-around loop. The vaporized process stream can be further condensed. Any heat recovered can be used to pre-heat the process stream or in the pump-around loop's heater in case of mechanical vapor recovery.

Abstract: A system for performing irrigation of a body cavity includes a reservoir containing an irrigation liquid, a catheter and a controller. The catheter is configured to be at least partially inserted into the body cavity and has a flushing passage, a drain passage and a retention balloon. A waste drain valve is in fluid communication with the drain passage of the catheter and is movable between a closed configuration, where waste is retained within the drain passage, and an open configuration where waste flows through the drain passage. The controller is in fluid communication with the reservoir and the catheter, and has a pump and a valve assembly. The valve assembly is changeable between configurations where, when the pump is actuated, irrigation liquid is pumped from the reservoir to the retention balloon, from the reservoir to the flushing passage of the catheter and from the retention balloon to the reservoir.

Abstract: Monoethylene glycol (MEG) may be reclaimed by a process that includes contacting a MEG-water-salt stream with a heat transfer fluid and then flash separating the MEG and water in the flash separator vessel where the pressure is higher than 0.3 barA (0.03 MPa), the temperature is in the range of above 120° C. to about 250° C., and the residence time of the MEG and water ranges from about 1 second to about 10 minutes, and then removing the MEG and water in an overhead of the flash separator vessel and removing the salt from the flash separator vessel. In some embodiments it is expected that the temperature of the process may range from above 165° C. to about 250° C. and/or that the pressure may be atmospheric.

Abstract: Disclosed in embodiments herein are ionomers and methods of making the same. The ionomers comprise a neutralized blend of olefin-carboxylic acid copolymers and Group II, Group IIIA, and transition metal salts. The method includes mixing an acid copolymer formed from an ?-olefin monomer and an ?,?-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid having at least one carboxylic acid group with an amine-containing aqueous solution to form an aqueous dispersion containing an amine salt of the acid copolymer. The method further includes mixing a solution of a Group IIA , Group IIIA, or transition metal salt with the aqueous dispersion containing the amine salt of the acid copolymer to exchange at least a portion of the amine salt for the Group IIA , Group IIIA, or transition metal salt, thereby forming the ionic copolymer.

Abstract: A trans-anal irrigation (TAI) device has a pump base unit, an irrigation fluid reservoir, a wireless electronic controller, fluid tubing, and a disposable rectal catheter in fluid communication with the tubing. The rectal catheter has a retention balloon and a waste control valve. The fluid tubing contains two or three separate lumens for irrigation fluid and retention balloon inflation/deflation and optionally for waste control valve actuation. None of the lumens ever communicates with any other lumen. A hydraulic control circuit has a pump that pumps in one direction only but, with suitable control valves, is able to pump water to and from the retention balloon and to and from an optional waste control valve. A water temperature sensor is mounted in the pump base unit at a thin-wall section. The temperature sensor sends a signal to a controller which provides an indication of whether the water temperature is suitable for use.

Abstract: The unique annual herbaceous Cannabis plant variety ‘Red KROSS02-BK’ is provided. The variety can be distinguished by its outstanding features as described.

Abstract: Inventory data is stored, wherein the inventory data represents for each of a plurality of broadcast stations a corresponding inventory of audio advertising spots available from that broadcast station to be filled by an advertising placement system. An advertising campaign data representing a set of advertising objectives of an advertising campaign is received. The inventory data is used to iteratively select advertising spots to be associated with the advertising campaign, based at least in part on a respective computed fitness of match between each selected advertising spot and said advertising objectives.

Abstract: A selection of a broadcast media ad network and a set of parameters including one or both of a goal and a constraint associated with an advertising campaign is received. Based at least in part on said selection and said set of parameters an advertising proposal, the advertising proposal is determined including an identification of a set of broadcasters associated with the selected broadcast media ad network and for each a corresponding advertising plan portion of the advertising proposal. Information representing the advertising proposal is caused to be displayed at a node from which said selection and set of parameters were received.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for implementing assistance for customer service agents are disclosed. In one aspect, a method includes the actions of receiving, by a computing device, customer interaction data that reflects an interaction between a first user and a second user. The actions further include receiving, by the computing device, a customer summary file that reflects characteristics of the first user. The actions further include, based on the customer interaction data and the customer summary file, determining, by the computing device, instructions for the second user to continue interacting with the first user during the interaction between the first user and the second user. The actions further include, based on determining the instructions, providing, for output to the second user, the instructions for the second user to continue interacting with the first user.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for implementing assistance for customer service agents are disclosed. In one aspect, a method includes the actions of receiving, by a computing device, customer interaction data that reflects an interaction between a first user and a second user. The actions further include receiving, by the computing device, a customer summary file that reflects characteristics of the first user. The actions further include, based on the customer interaction data and the customer summary file, determining, by the computing device, instructions for the second user to continue interacting with the first user during the interaction between the first user and the second user. The actions further include, based on determining the instructions, providing, for output to the second user, the instructions for the second user to continue interacting with the first user.

Abstract: A treated cellulosic material comprising a cellulosic material having a porous structure defining a plurality of pores, the cellulosic material comprising wood including wood or wood composite materials, at least a portion of the pores containing the reaction product of one or more of the following: a water soluble polyol, an epoxy-containing resin, a catalyst or curing agent, and the cellulosic material. A method for preparing a treated cellulosic material comprising providing a cellulosic material; a first treatment protocol comprising impregnating the cellulosic material with a water-soluble polyol; and a second treatment protocol comprising impregnating the cellulosic material with an epoxy-containing resin.

Abstract: A system for performing irrigation of a body cavity includes a reservoir containing an irrigation liquid, a catheter and a controller. The catheter is configured to be at least partially inserted into the body cavity and has a flushing passage, a drain passage and a retention balloon. A waste drain valve is in fluid communication with the drain passage of the catheter and is movable between a closed configuration, where waste is retained within the drain passage, and an open configuration where waste flows through the drain passage. The controller is in fluid communication with the reservoir and the catheter, and has a pump and a valve assembly. The valve assembly is changeable between configurations where, when the pump is actuated, irrigation liquid is pumped from the reservoir to the retention balloon, from the reservoir to the flushing passage of the catheter and from the retention balloon to the reservoir.

Abstract: A system and method to partially vaporize a process or feed water stream does so in a liquid pool zone of a vessel as the stream comes into contact with a heating medium that is less volatile than the process stream. To keep the pool hot, the heating medium can be recirculated through a heater of a pump-around loop or a heater can be placed in the liquid pool. As the process stream is partially vaporized, any solids present in the process stream together with the unvaporized process or feed water stream move into the heating medium. These solids and unvaporized liquids may be further removed from the heating medium in the pool or in the pump-around loop. The vaporized process stream can be further condensed. Any heat recovered can be used to pre-heat the process stream or in the pump-around loop's heater in case of mechanical vapor recovery.

Abstract: A system and method to reboil a process or feed water stream in a distillation system does so in a liquid pool zone of a vessel as the stream is removed from a distillation column and comes into contact with a heating medium that is immiscible with and less volatile than the process stream. To keep the pool hot, the heating medium can be recirculated through a heater of a pump-around loop or a heater can be placed in the liquid pool. As the process stream is partially vaporized, any solids present in the process stream together with the unvaporized process or feed water stream move into the heating medium. These solids and unvaporized liquids may be further removed from the heating medium in the pool or in the pump-around loop. The vaporized stream is returned to the distillation column.

Abstract: An auxiliary welding heating system includes an induction heating coil disposed adjacent to a welding torch or plasma cutter. The auxiliary welding heating system further includes an induction power supply configured to generate an alternating current and a step-down transformer coupled to the induction power supply. The induction heating coil is coupled to the step-down transformer and is configured to receive the alternating current and induce eddy currents in a welding work piece to heat the welding work piece before an advancing welding arc or plasma cut to a homologous temperature of at least approximately 0.5.

Abstract: A selection of a broadcast media ad network and a set of parameters including one or both of a goal and a constraint associated with an advertising campaign is received. Based at least in part on said selection and said set of parameters an advertising proposal, the advertising proposal is determined including an identification of a set of broadcasters associated with the selected broadcast media ad network and for each a corresponding advertising plan portion of the advertising proposal. Information representing the advertising proposal is caused to be displayed at a node from which said selection and set of parameters were received.

Abstract: Inventory data is stored, wherein the inventory data represents for each of a plurality of broadcast stations a corresponding inventory of audio advertising spots available from that broadcast station to be filled by an advertising placement system. An advertising campaign data representing a set of advertising objectives of an advertising campaign is received. The inventory data is used to iteratively select advertising spots to be associated with the advertising campaign, based at least in part on a respective computed fitness of match between each selected advertising spot and said advertising objectives.

Abstract: A system and method to vaporize a process or feed water stream does so in a liquid pool zone of a vessel as the stream comes into contact with a heating medium that is less volatile than the process stream. To keep the pool hot, the heating medium can be recirculated through a heater of a pump-around loop or a heater can be placed in the liquid pool. As the process stream is vaporized, any solids present in the process stream come out of the process stream and move into the heating medium. These solids may be further removed from the heating medium in the pool or in the pump-around loop. The vaporized process stream can be further condensed. Any heat recovered can be used to pre-heat the process stream or used in the pump around loop's heater in case of mechanical vapor recovery.

Abstract: The unique annual herbaceous Cannabis plant variety ‘Red KROSS02-BK’ is provided. The variety can be distinguished by its outstanding features as described.