Abstract: Signals are routed to and from identical stacked integrated circuit dies by selectively coupling first and second bonding pads on each of the dies to respective circuits fabricated on the dies through respective transistors. The transistors connected to the first bonding pads of an upper die are made conductive while the transistors connected to the second bonding pads of the upper die are made non-conductive. The transistors connected to the second bonding pads of a lower die are made conductive while the transistors connected to the first bonding pads of the lower die are made non-conductive. The second bonding pads of the upper die are connected to the second bonding pads of the lower die through wafer interconnects extending through the upper die. Signals are routed to and from the circuits on the first and second dies through the first and second bonding pads, respectively.

Abstract: A riser system (202) comprises a riser (204) to be secured between a floating body (206) and a subsea location (209). The riser comprises a composite material formed of at least a matrix and one or more reinforcing elements embedded within the matrix. In use, the riser (204) comprises an upper portion (214) extending from the floating body (206) and having a region arranged to be in tension, a lower portion (216) extending from the subsea location (209) and having a region arranged to be in tension, and an intermediate portion (218) located between the upper and lower portions (214, 216) and having a region arranged to be in compression. A flow-line jumper (302, 402) configured to be secured between two subsea locations, a flow-line jumper arrangement comprising a flow-line jumper (302, 402) and a method of forming a flow-line jumper 302, 402 are also disclosed.

Abstract: Low weight and non-square carpet tile suitable for use in mass transit vehicles, particularly passenger aircraft. The carpet tile preferably weighs less than about 82 ounces per square yard. The carpet tile of this invention may have a carpet pile and at least one backing layer. The backing layer may use a low weight filler material. The carpet tiles satisfy transportation industry standards for flame, smoke and toxicity. Tiles may be sized during manufacture and installed in configurations that minimize the number of tile sizes needed and minimize the need for cutting tiles during installation. The patterns used for such tiles may be orthogonally ambiguous or otherwise suitable for “random” installation. In other embodiments, a passenger aircraft cabin includes a floor having rectangular carpet tiles installed thereon, and the carpeting can be installed in the aircraft without removing seats from the aircraft.

Abstract: A pipe system comprises a metallic pipe section having a wall comprising a metal material, and a deformation absorber coupled to the first pipe section in end-to-end relation. The deformation absorber comprises a composite pipe section having a wall comprising a composite material formed of at least a matrix and a plurality of reinforcing fibres embedded within the matrix. The composite pipe section is configured to sustain a greater level of strain than the metallic pipe section when the pipe system is subject to deformation by a load event.

Abstract: A pipe connection apparatus or assembly 10 for use in applications in, e.g., the oil and gas industry, comprises an engagement member 20 adapted to engage an end region 41 of a pipe 40 when said pipe 40 is connected to a structure, wherein the engagement member 20 comprises a composite material 60 formed of at least a matrix 61 and one or more reinforcing fibres 62 embedded within the matrix 61, and the construction of the composite material 60 of the engagement member 20 is configured to accommodate the end region 41 of the pipe 40.

Abstract: A vibration detector (1) comprising at least one fiber optic sensor (2) mechanically coupled to a flexible support member (3). The vibration detector (1) is mounted on the outside of the pipeline and a signal from the fiber optic sensor is measured. This signal is indicative of whether the vibration detector is experiencing vibrations due to collisions of contaminant particles with each other and/or with the walls of the pipeline. A method for detecting particulate contaminants in a fluid flowing in a pipeline is also provided.

Abstract: A system controls net thrust of a steam turbine having a stepped rotating shaft. A first leak off line fluidly couples a first stage of a turbine section to a packing near a stepped portion on the rotating shaft. A second leak off line fluidly couples a second stage of the turbine section that has a pressure different from the first stage to a step area immediately adjacent to the stepped portion, and a connection line fluidly couples the first leak off line to the second leak off line. The lines include control valves such that a controller can actively control the net thrust by regulating thrust pressure on the stepped portion using steam from the first and second stages of the turbine section. The controller may also prevent damage to an active retractable seal using the control valves.

Abstract: A pipe comprises a pipe wall formed of a composite material of a matrix and a plurality of reinforcing fibres embedded within the matrix. At least one longitudinal portion of the pipe wall comprises or defines a local variation in construction to provide a variation in a property of the pipe.

Abstract: A pipe comprises a pipe wall formed of a composite material of at a matrix and a plurality of reinforcing fibres embedded within the matrix, wherein at least one circumferential segment of the pipe wall comprises or defines a local variation in construction to provide a local variation in a property of the pipe.

Abstract: A pipe comprises a pipe wall formed of a composite material of a matrix and a plurality of reinforcing fibres embedded within the matrix, wherein the composite material in at least one region of the pipe wall is pre-stressed. The composite material in at least one region of the pipe wall comprises or defines at least one of a level of pre-tension and pre-compression.

Abstract: A system for the structural monitoring of blades 1 on a wind turbine. Each blade 1 has respective optical fiber bragg grating sensors 5. The system has a number of input connectors, which connect to the strain sensors 5 of respective blades 1. A single output connector connects to a data processing device 3 which processes signals from the strain sensors 5. The input connectors each have a signal path to the output connector that is different in length to the signal path from the other input connectors, such that signals from a given blade 1 can be identified at the data processing device 3 by the time of arrival of the signals. The system has the advantage that the each of the blades 1, including the sensors attached to it or embedded within it can be identical and therefore interchangeable.

Abstract: A system controls net thrust of a steam turbine having a stepped rotating shaft. A first leak off line fluidly couples a first stage of a turbine section to a packing upstream of a stepped portion on the rotating shaft. A second leak off line fluidly couples a second stage of the turbine section that is subsequent to the first stage to a step area upstream of the stepped portion, and a connection line fluidly couples the first leak off line to the second leak off line. The lines include control valves such that a controller can actively control the net thrust by regulating thrust pressure on the stepped portion using steam from the first and second stages of the turbine section. The controller may also prevent damage to an active retractable seal using the control valves.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods for detecting the presence or absence of disease in subjects based, at least in part, on results of analysis of a sample using computational molecular phenotyping. Further disclosed herein are methods for monitoring the status of subjects diagnosed with disease based at least partially on results of computational molecular phenotyping. The test samples disclosed herein are represented by, but not limited in anyway to, biopsy samples of body tissue.

Abstract: A document processing system comprises an input receptacle for receiving documents. A transport mechanism receives the documents from the input receptacle and transports the documents past an image scanner and a discrimination unit. An output receptacle receives the documents from the transport mechanism after being transported past the image scanner and the discrimination unit. The image scanner obtains an image of the documents, obtains an image of a selected area of the documents, and obtains information contained in the selected area of the document. The discrimination unit determines the authenticity of the document. A system controller directs the flows of documents over the transport mechanism.

Abstract: A liquid foliar nutrient composition comprising oil, essential element(s) and optionally, a surfactant to enable a stable useable dispersion of the oil and the essential element(s) to be formed.

Abstract: An oil-in-water emulsion liquid composition suitable for use as an agricultural adjuvant comprising an oil, a saturated or substantially saturated aqueous solution of an ammonium salt and one or more of high molecular weight polymeric surfactants.

Abstract: The solar surfboard is a full functioning surfboard; it can be made in all sizes of surfboards, short board, long board or standup paddle boards. The solar surfboard works the same way as any surfboard, except it has a solar charging system under the fiberglass bonded to the foam core to keep it safe and waterproof, it collects the suns radiation and converts it into electricity for the purpose of charging small electrical devices, such as cell phones, I pods, mp3 players, and various electrical devices, it replaces the need for costly toxic batteries, and damage to landfills, the solar surfboard is a green sustainable energy source that can be used for charging when no electrical infrastructure is available, the thin film solar panels or solar cells used only weigh ounces, it looks the same as a regular surfboard and works the same as a regular surfboard.

Abstract: A locking spacer for use with a tire building drum is disclosed. The locking spacer includes an arcuate panel having an outer surface, an inner surface, opposite first and second curved side surfaces, and opposite first and second straight end surfaces. The panel is sized and shaped to span between and extend along the opposing inner surfaces of the segments. A first fastener is disposed along the first side surface and is configured to secure the first side surface to a first of the pair of segments, and a second fastener is disposed along the second side surface and is configured to secure the second side surface to a second of the pair of segments. The first and second fasteners limit movement of the first and second side surfaces in relation to the segments along a radial direction of the tire building drum.

Abstract: A system for simulating a Positron Emission Tomography (PET) gantry has a computer system having a bus system for receiving expansion cards, a mass data storage support system, the mass storage system being operable to store coincidence-event and tag packet data, and a data transfer simulation card for said bus system, wherein the data transfer simulation card is operable to simulate transfer timing of the stored coincidence-event and tag packet data.

Abstract: An expandable deck comprises a plurality of elongated deck carriers mounted upon an expansion mechanism in a generally parallel and cylindrical formation. A fixed rod is mounted upon a first one of the deck carriers. A pivot rod is mounted upon an adjacent second deck carrier. A pivot segment defines a rotation aperture and a guide slot. The rotation aperture is rotatably mounted upon the pivot rod and the guide slot slidingly receives the fixed rod.