Abstract: A device for treating a bottom-hole formation of a wellbore comprises a firing head and seal block assembly at a proximal end thereof and a bullnose assembly at a distal end thereof. A carrier tube extends between the firing head and the bullnose assembly. A perforating gun extends between the carrier tube and the bullnose assembly. The carrier tube contains a combustible chemical composition which generates hydrochloric acid gas or hydrofluoric acid gas or a combination thereof when combusted. There is a charge wire electrically connecting the firing head and sealing block assembly to the combustible chemical composition.

Abstract: Pick hole guards are provided for use in guarding pick holes on manhole covers. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the pick hole guards can have a base, biasing member, and guard member. The biasing member can be attached to the base and guard member, and can bias the guard member toward a pick hole on the manhole cover to guard the pick hole. In other embodiments, the pick hole guards do not have movable guard members, but instead have retaining surfaces to serve as a receptacle for catching waste disposed through a pick hole.

Abstract: An asset management system and biometric security method is disclosed. The asset management system monitors the operational status of living and non-living assets in the field using sensors fitted to, or otherwise associated with, the asset. The operational status of the asset includes proof of life and indications as to the death or destruction. Electrocardiogram (ECG) signals from living assets may be enrolled in a biometric system at one or more heart rates to permit the identification or authentication of the living asset. ECG signal assessments may be used to increase system performance.

Abstract: Pick hole guards are provided for use in guarding pick holes on manhole covers. In some embodiments of the present invention, the pick hole guards can have a base, biasing member, and guard member. The biasing member can be attached to the base and guard member, and can bias the guard member toward a pick hole on the manhole cover to guard the pick hole. In other embodiments, the pick hole guards do not have movable guard members, but instead have retaining surfaces to serve as a receptacle for catching waste disposed through a pick hole.

Abstract: There is a method of facilitating the consolidation of fine tailings through the application of an electrical current. The fine tailings include a combination of at least some water and some clay particles. Electrodes are placed into contact with the fine tailings. An AC voltage with a DC offset is applied to the electrodes to separate water from the clay particles and to induce movement of the separated water to a collection area. The separated clay particles can consolidate more readily than unseparated clay particles. In an embodiment, the fine tailings are mixed fine oil sands extraction tailings which include residual hydrocarbons. In an embodiment, the application of an AC voltage with a DC offset across the electrodes includes applying an AC voltage of about 1 V/cm and a DC offset of about ½ V/cm.

Abstract: There is a method of facilitating the consolidation of fine tailings through the application of an electrical current. The fine tailings include a combination of at least some water and some clay particles. Electrodes are placed into contact with the fine tailings. An AC voltage with a DC offset is applied to the electrodes to separate water from the clay particles and to induce movement of the separated water to a collection area. The separated clay particles can consolidate more readily than unseparated clay particles. In an embodiment, the fine tailings are mixed fine oil sands extraction tailings which include residual hydrocarbons. In an embodiment, the application of an AC voltage with a DC offset across the electrodes includes applying an AC voltage of about 1 V/cm and a DC offset of about ½ V/cm.

Abstract: A system and method receive the output signal from a capacitance diaphragm gauge (CDG) and generate a noise reduced output signal. An input signal processing circuit receives an input signal from a signal source that drives the CDG. The input signal processing circuit generates a segment of N normalized digital samples of the input signal. An output signal processing circuit receives the output signal from the CDG and generates M segments of N digital samples of the CDG output signal and averages the corresponding samples in the M segments to generate a signal segment of N averaged samples. Each of the N averaged samples is multiplied by a corresponding one of the N normalized samples to generate N products. The N products are averaged to generate an average product, which is multiplied by a constant to generate a system output signal with reduced noise.

Abstract: A system and method compensate for effects of gravity on the diaphragm of a capacitance diaphragm gauge (CDG). The CDG generates a measured absolute pressure value in response to an applied absolute pressure on an input of the CDG. The CDG is subjected to a variable orientation of the CDG with respect to the earth's surface that can cause inaccurate pressure measurements. A pressure measuring circuit generates a measured value of an applied absolute pressure provided to an input of the CDG. A tilt sensor generates at least one tilt sensor output value that is responsive to an orientation of the CDG with respect to the earth's surface. A processing system adjusts the measured absolute pressure value by a calibration factor to generate a calibrated absolute pressure value representing the applied absolute pressure, wherein the calibration factor is selected in response to the at least one tilt sensor output value.

Abstract: Compounds represented by formula: Wherein X, Y and Z are as defined herein, pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, and related compounds, are suitable for use in treating or preventing a Flaviviridae viral infection in a host.

Abstract: A system and method mitigate the effects of these external vibrations on a capacitance diaphragm gauge by sensing the motion of the diaphragm at the first natural frequency of the diaphragm of the CDG. The presence of the natural frequency signals superimposed on the pressure signal is determined by sensing variations in the output of a sensor at or near the known natural frequency of the diaphragm and filtering that known low frequency from the output. The filtered signal is used in a feedback circuit to impose electrostatic forces on the diaphragm. The imposed electrostatic forces oppose the motion created by the external vibration to suppress the effects of the vibration on the pressure measured by the CDG.

Abstract: A system and a method detect contamination of a diaphragm in a capacitance diaphragm gauge wherein a contaminated diaphragm deflects less in the presence of pressure than an uncontaminated diaphragm. The system and method measure a base pressure. A DC voltage is applied between the diaphragm and a fixed electrode to cause the diaphragm to deflect to simulate an effective pressure. The system and method measure a combined pressure caused by the base pressure and the effective pressure. The system and method subtract the base pressure to determine the effective pressure caused by the static diaphragm deflection. If the measured effective pressure is less than an acceptable effective pressure, the system and method determine that the diaphragm is contaminated.

Abstract: A system and method receive the output signal from a capacitance diaphragm gauge (CDG) and generate a noise reduced output signal. An input signal processing circuit receives an input signal from a signal source that drives the CDG. The input signal processing circuit generates a segment of N normalized digital samples of the input signal. An output signal processing circuit receives the output signal from the CDG and generates M segments of N digital samples of the CDG output signal and averages the corresponding samples in the M segments to generate a signal segment of N averaged samples. Each of the N averaged samples is multiplied by a corresponding one of the N normalized samples to generate N products. The N products are averaged to generate an average product, which is multiplied by a constant to generate a system output signal with reduced noise.

Abstract: An apparatus for exerting force on a subject tissue includes a linear motor for generating a force according to a predetermined force profile incorporating at least one motion control parameter. The linear motor is directly coupled to a motor output member to drivingly produce linear motion of the motor output member under direction of a motor controller executing the predetermined force profile. A tissue-contacting member is connected to the motor output member for directly proportional linear motion therewith. A load cell provides load cell feedback to the motor controller. The motor controller adjusts the motion of the motor output member responsive to the load cell feedback to substantially conform the motion to the predetermined force profile. The linear motor moves the tissue-contacting member to contact the subject tissue according to the predetermined force profile and responsively initiate a subject reaction to the exerted force.

Abstract: There is a method described of treating tailings which are composed of at least some water and clay particles. Within the tailings, at least some water molecules are weakly bond to the clay particles to form a gel like fluid from which water does not readily separate. An alternating current is applied to the tailings to change the electro-chemical properties of the tailings to reduce the weak bonding between the water and the clay particles so that water within the treated tailings is able to separate. Water within the treated tailings is then allowed to separate without further application of electricity. In some embodiments, the treated tailings are allowed to separate through evaporation. Liquid tailings may also be treated with alternating current by applying alternating current to the liquid tailings at a voltage gradient range of 1 to 5 V/cm for a total duration of 24 to 300 hours. The application of alternating current may further comprise applying alternating current at a frequency of 1 to 30 Hz.

Abstract: Pick hole guards are provided for use in guarding pick holes on manhole covers. In some embodiments of the present invention, the pick hole guards can have a base, biasing member, and guard member. The biasing member can be attached to the base and guard member, and can bias the guard member toward a pick hole on the manhole cover to guard the pick hole. In other embodiments, the pick hole guards do not have movable guard members, but instead have retaining surfaces to serve as a receptacle for catching waste disposed through a pick hole.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel compounds represented by formula I: or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof useful for treating flaviviridae viral infection.

Abstract: Compounds represented by formula: Wherein X, Y and Z are as defined herein, pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, and related compounds, are suitable for use in treating or preventing a Flaviviridae viral infection in a host.

Abstract: Compounds represented by formula: wherein X, Y and Z are as defined herein, pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, and related compounds, are suitable for use in treating or preventing a Flaviviridae viral infection in a host.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel compounds represented by formula I: or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof useful for treating flaviviridae viral infection.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for measuring electrical activity within a brain of a patient. An electrode array is configured to take measurements of electrical potential as raw electroencephalographic (EEG) data. A data processing component includes a spectral decomposition component configured to divide the raw EEG data into a plurality of frequency intervals, within a total range of frequencies and an inverse solution component configured to transform the raw EEG data associated with each frequency interval into a spatial mapping of electrical activity as to provide a set of parameters, with each parameter representing an average electrical activity at an associated location within the brain over an epoch of interest.