Abstract: A plug valve including a valve body defining an internal cavity, a first passage, and a second passage, a plug defining a third passage and being rotatable within the internal cavity, and an insert extending within the internal cavity between the valve body and the plug. The insert defines an interior surface and an opening aligned with the first passage of the valve body. The insert may also define a sealing surface extending around the opening and standing in relief against the interior surface to sealingly engage the plug. In addition to, or instead of, the sealing surface, the insert may define a projection at least partially defining the interior surface. In addition, a boot may be connected to the valve body and interlocked with the projection to prevent, or at least reduce, rotation of the insert relative to the valve body when the plug rotates within the internal cavity.

Abstract: A method, computer program product, and computer system for identifying, by a computing device, a first agent on a 2-dimensional plane. A second agent on the 2-dimensional plane may be identified. The first agent and the second agent may follow a set of travel rules that dictate a travel loop between a respective home and a respective target for the first agent and the second agent. The first agent and the second agent may follow a set of collision rules for the first agent and the second agent. A social network may be simulated based upon, at least in part, the set of travel rules and the set of collision rules for the first agent and the second agent.

Abstract: A method, computer program product, and computer system for identifying, by a computing device, content of a first social media post from a first user of a simulated social network. Content of a second social media post from a second user of the simulated social network may be identified. It may be determined that the first social media post is a candidate for an engagement event by the second user. The engagement event may be executed by the second user.

Abstract: Techniques are described herein that are capable of progressively thermally drying a quantum circuit. An inert gas is progressively heated by a heater element to provide a heated inert gas. Heated ambient air and the heated inert gas combine in a heating channel, causing a combination of the heated ambient air and the heated inert gas to flow into a probe compartment to progressively thermally dry a quantum circuit therein. A flow rate of the inert gas is controlled to cause the combination to have a relative humidity less than or equal to a threshold. A temperature of the heater element may be controlled to be approximately equal to a progressively increasing target temperature within a tolerance of 3.0° C. Heating of the inert gas may be initiated based on detection of the inert gas, and the flow and heating of the inert gas may be automatically discontinued.

Abstract: A system for supplying fracturing fluid to a fracturing tree coupled to a wellhead comprising: a zipper module having a lower block with a first opening configured to receive the fracturing fluid, the lower block being independently rotatable at a swivel assembly around a vertical axis relative to the lower block; an upper block with a second opening configured to dispel the fracturing fluid, the upper block being independently rotatable at a swivel connection around the vertical axis; an internal flow path between the upper block and the lower block; and a fluid conduit between the zipper module and the fracturing tree comprising at least one pipe, wherein the at least one pipe defines a first straight flow path between the zipper module and the fracturing tree.

Abstract: An apparatus according to which a subterranean formation in which a wellbore extends is hydraulically fractured, the apparatus comprising first and second manifolds, the first manifold including first and second flow lines adapted to be in fluid communication with first and second pumps, respectively, the first pump being adapted to pressurize fluid received from the first flow line, and the second pump being adapted to pressurize fluid received from the second flow line, and the second manifold including a third flow line adapted to convey pressurized fluid from the first and second pumps to the wellbore to hydraulically fracture the subterranean formation in which the wellbore extends. The apparatus is adapted to be connected to another apparatus used to hydraulically fracture the subterranean formation in which the wellbore extends by moving one, or both, of the first and second flow lines relative to the third flow line.

Abstract: A thermal insulating sleeve liner for fluid flow devices such as valves and piping used in severe industrial applications is preferably additively manufactured (e.g., by 3D printing) to fit into the bore of a protected fluid flow device. Internal interstices and/or external ribs provide added thermal insulation. An integrally formed end-lip or a separate end-cap secures and/or locates the sleeve liner within the protected fluid flow device between different diameter distal and proximal portions of the bore. If internal interstices are sealed they can be vacuumed or pressurized to enhance thermal insulating properties. Fitted dimensions are sufficiently small to prevent ingress of thermally conductive particles circulating in use within the flow path of the protected flow device. A pressure equalizing aperture can be provided on or through the sleeve if needed in some applications.

Abstract: A method of preconditioning time-series data for improved efficiency. The method includes repeatedly recognizing new time series entries for each of a plurality of tracked entities. For each of the plurality of tracked entities, a new time-series data entry for the tracked entity is promoted responsive to the new time-series data entry including a changed value in a normalized field. However, a previous time-series data entry for the tracked entity is maintained responsive to the new time-series data entry including an unchanged value in the normalized field. The method further incudes generating a synthetic time-series data entry for every tracked entity without a time-series data entry in a fixed time period.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems, including client devices and servers, and methods for creating a collaborative virtual session between two or more client devices, wherein each of the client devices is associable with a coupler agent for interfacing with a communicating entity (such as a person).

Abstract: Vertical probe arrays having angled guide plates are provided. With this configuration, the probes can be straight conductors (when mechanically undeformed) and the mechanical bias provided by the angled guide plates can ensure the probes have a well-defined deformation when the probe array make contact to the device under test. This allows the use of straight conductors as probes without suffering from probe shorting and mechanical interference caused by straight probes buckling in unpredictable directions when vertically compressed.

Abstract: A method, computer program product, and computer system for collecting, by a computing device, a plurality of social media posts. Each social media post may be compared to one or more data structures to determine a similarity score associated with one or more entries in the one or more data structures. Inferred information may be identified about one or more users of the plurality of social media posts based upon, at least in part, the similarity score associated with one or more entries in the one or more data structures.

Abstract: A method, computer program product, and computer system for analyzing, by a computing device, a plurality of facial images to determine a plurality of demographic labels associated with each facial image of the plurality of facial images. A model may be trained based upon, at least in part, the plurality of demographic labels associated with each facial image of the plurality of facial images. An input of at least a portion of the plurality of demographic labels may be received. An artificially generated facial image may be provided for display that is generated based upon, at least in part, the model and the input.

Abstract: Provided is an electronic device including: a housing; a camera module oriented in a first direction inside the housing; a camera window arranged in front of the camera module in the first direction; a cover including an opening into which the camera window is insertable, the cover coupled to the housing; and a window frame supporting the camera window and mounted on the cover. The window frame includes: a frame body including a support portion arranged in the opening and supporting the camera window, and a mounting portion extending from the support portion in a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction and overlapped by the cover in the first direction; a retention member retaining a first gap between the mounting portion and the cover in the first direction; and a waterproof body configured to be elastically deformed while arranged between the mounting portion and the cover.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a network device includes an uplink port, a downlink port, a memory, and a processor. The processor is configured for providing a webserver; receiving a request from a mobile device of a user to establish a connection with the downlink port; establishing a first connection between the mobile device and the webserver via the downlink port; determining a media access control (MAC) address of the mobile device; receiving, from a server, user history information associated with the MAC address; and providing targeted information to the mobile device based on the user history information. The processor may be further configured for querying the server using the MAC address to obtain the user history information, collecting new user information and transmitting updated user history information to the server.

Abstract: Provided is a touchless dispenser including a body, a motor housing coupled to the body, a control assembly including a control board, a motor communicatively coupled to the control board, a cam coupled to the motor, an actuator driven between first and second positions by movement of the cam, and a sensor communicatively coupled to the control board, a reservoir coupled to the body for holding fluid, and a tube assembly having an inlet coupled to the reservoir to receive fluid from the reservoir and an outlet positioned forward of the sensor. The sensor can sense a presence of a user, which is communicated to the control board to cause the actuator to be driven from the first position to the second position to contact the tube assembly to dispense fluid in the tube assembly to the user.

Abstract: An apparatus according to which a subterranean formation in which a wellbore extends is hydraulically fractured, the apparatus comprising first and second manifolds, the first manifold including first and second flow lines adapted to be in fluid communication with first and second pumps, respectively, the first pump being adapted to pressurize fluid received from the first flow line, and the second pump being adapted to pressurize fluid received from the second flow line, and the second manifold including a third flow line adapted to convey pressurized fluid from the first and second pumps to the wellbore to hydraulically fracture the subterranean formation in which the wellbore extends. The apparatus is adapted to be connected to another apparatus used to hydraulically fracture the subterranean formation in which the wellbore extends by moving one, or both, of the first and second flow lines relative to the third flow line.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems, including client devices and servers, and methods for creating a collaborative virtual session between two or more client devices, wherein each of the client devices is associable with a coupler agent for interfacing with a communicating entity (such as a person).

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a hearing aid which includes a lateral ear canal assembly and a medial ear canal assembly. In embodiments of the invention the medial ear canal assembly may include smart circuitry adapted to control parameters and outputs of the medial ear canal assembly. In embodiments of the invention various methods and circuitry are described, wherein the methods and circuitry are adapted to improve the performance and efficiency of the hearing aid.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a hearing aid which includes a lateral ear canal assembly and a medial ear canal assembly. In embodiments of the invention the medial ear canal assembly may include smart circuitry adapted to control parameters and outputs of the medial ear canal assembly. In embodiments of the invention various methods and circuitry are described, wherein the methods and circuitry are adapted to improve the performance and efficiency of the hearing aid.