Abstract: A vacuum therapy device for treatment of a defect internal of a human or animal body, the device comprising: a suction tube extending from: (i) a proximal portion for coupling to a source of negative pressure outside the body, to (ii) a distal portion for providing suction proximal to the defect when inserted into the body; a porous medium coupled to the distal portion of the suction tube to provide suction to the defect when inserted into the body for treatment thereof; and a constraining sleeve for selective compression of the porous medium, the constraining sleeve having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the constraining sleeve is movable relative to the porous medium between: an insertion position in which the proximal and distal ends of the sleeve are arranged at the distal portion of the suction tube so that the sleeve at least partially surrounds the porous medium to retain the porous medium in a compressed state during insertion into the body; and a treatment position in which the porous medium

Abstract: A method for increasing the retention of a scale inhibitor within a hydrocarbon producing system is provided. The method includes, the steps of: (i) pre-flushing the system with a liquid; (ii) treating the system with a scale inhibitor; and (iii) over-flushing the system with a composition comprising an ionic polymer and a liquid carrier. The concentration of the ionic polymer in the composition is 5 to 50% wt.

Abstract: A method of analyzing a well sample for a well treatment additive includes contacting the sample with functionalized metallic nanoparticles that contain metallic nanoparticles functionalized with a functional group including a cyano group, a thiol group, a carboxyl group, an amino group, a boronic acid group, an aza group, an ether group, a hydroxyl group, or a combination including at least one of the foregoing; irradiating the sample contacted with the functionalized metallic nanoparticles with electromagnetic radiation at a selected energy level; measuring a Raman spectrum emitted from the sample; and determining presence, type or concentration of the well treatment additive in the sample from the Raman spectrum.

Abstract: A method of analyzing a well sample for a well treatment additive includes contacting the sample with functionalized metallic nanoparticles that contain metallic nanoparticles functionalized with a functional group including a cyano group, a thiol group, a carboxyl group, an amino group, a boronic acid group, an aza group, an ether group, a hydroxyl group, or a combination including at least one of the foregoing; irradiating the sample contacted with the functionalized metallic nanoparticles with electromagnetic radiation at a selected energy level; measuring a Raman spectrum emitted from the sample; and determining presence, type or concentration of the well treatment additive in the sample from the Raman spectrum.

Abstract: A method for increasing the retention of a scale inhibitor within a hydrocarbon producing system is provided. The method includes, the steps of: (i) pre-flushing the system with a liquid; (ii) treating the system with a scale inhibitor; and (iii) over-flushing the system with a composition comprising an ionic polymer and a liquid carrier. The concentration of the ionic polymer in the composition is 5 to 50% wt.

Abstract: A method for increasing the retention of a scale inhibitor within a hydrocarbon producing system by (i) pre-flushing the system with a liquid; (ii) treating the system with a scale inhibitor; and (iii) over-flushing the system with a composition comprising an ionic polymer and a liquid carrier. The concentration of the ionic polymer in the composition is 5 to 50% wt.

Abstract: A method for increasing the retention of a scale inhibitor within a hydrocarbon producing system is provided. The method includes, the steps of: (i) pre-flushing the system with a liquid; (ii) treating the system with a scale inhibitor; and (iii) over-flushing the system with a composition comprising an ionic polymer and a liquid carrier. The concentration of the ionic polymer in the composition is 5 to 50% wt.

Abstract: A target location for an actuator of a disk drive is determined for prepositioning the actuator before receiving a command from a host. The target location is determined based on at least one of a characteristic of the disk drive, recent command activity of the host, and information provided by the host. The actuator is moved toward the target location to preposition the actuator.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for increasing the retention of a scale inhibitor within a hydrocarbon producing system, including the steps of: (i) pre-flushing said system with a liquid; (ii) treating said system with a scale inhibitor; and (iii) over-flushing said system with a composition comprising an ionic polymer and a liquid carrier, wherein the concentration of said ionic polymer in said composition is 5 to 50% wt.

Abstract: A data storage device is disclosed comprising a non-volatile memory, such as a disk of a disk drive or a non-volatile semiconductor memory. First and second write commands are received from a host, and in response first and second write data are requested from the host. The first write data is stored in the non-volatile memory, and after storing the first write data, a first acknowledge is transmitted to the host to acknowledge completion of the first write command. After transmitting the first acknowledge, a third write command is received from the host. The second write data is stored in the non-volatile memory, and after storing the second write data, a second acknowledge is transmitted to the host acknowledging completion of the second write command. After transmitting the second acknowledge, third write data is requested from the host associated with the third write command.

Abstract: A method for managing a memory stack provides mapping a part of the memory stack to a span of fast memory and a part of the memory stack to a span of slow memory, wherein the fast memory provides access speed substantially higher than the access speed provided by the slow memory.

Abstract: An embedded system with reduced susceptibility to single event upset effects. The system includes an instruction memory that can store at least one instruction set. The instruction memory utilizes a parity checking error-detection scheme. The system also includes a non-volatile memory that can store a copy of the at least one instruction set, and a data memory that can store at least one data sequence. The data memory utilizes an error correction coding (ECC) scheme. A controller, which is responsive to the instruction memory, the non-volatile memory, and the data memory, replaces the at least one instruction set in the instruction memory with the copy of the at least one instruction set from the non-volatile memory, if a parity error is detected in connection with the at least one instruction set in the instruction memory. The controller also operates in conjunction with the data memory to implement the ECC scheme.

Abstract: A material and a device for releasing chemicals in a fluid environment is disclosed, and a method for releasing substances into downhole fluid environments. The invention also relates to materials for sand control and hydraulic fracturing. The substance release device typically comprises a polymeric material for releasing a substance into a downhole fluid environment in a well, and in preferred embodiments the material comprises a spherical, plastic chemical release capsule which is hard, permeable and may encapsulate a range of solids and/or liquids for subsequent release. These solids or liquids can include inhibitors such as scale inhibitors and other oilfield production chemicals for release into the wellbore of an oil or gas producing well or a water injection well.

Abstract: An embedded system with reduced susceptibility to single event upset effects. The system includes an instruction memory that can store at least one instruction set. The instruction memory utilizes a parity checking error-detection scheme. The system also includes a non-volatile memory that can store a copy of the at least one instruction set, and a data memory that can store at least one data sequence. The data memory utilizes an error correction coding (ECC) scheme. A controller, which is responsive to the instruction memory, the non-volatile memory, and the data memory, replaces the at least one instruction set in the instruction memory with the copy of the at least one instruction set from the non-volatile memory, if a parity error is detected in connection with the at least one instruction set in the instruction memory. The controller also operates in conjunction with the data memory to implement the ECC scheme.

Abstract: A disc drive with a control processor programmed with an execution time dependent command schedule optimization method to effect data throughput with a host device. The disc drive includes a head disc assembly executing commands scheduled by the control processor. The control processor selects and schedules a next optimum command from among commands analyzed by the control processor during a time the head disc assembly is executing a current command. The steps utilized by the control processor to select and schedule the next optimum command include executing a first command with the head disc assembly, determining a computation time for a second command, storing the computation time as a computation time estimate, and using the stored computation time estimate to determine the number of commands in a command queue for analysis to provide a level of command schedule optimization commensurate with the available time.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a structural panel utilizing commercially available trusses comprising aligning a plurality of selected fillers with a plurality of selected trusses in an alternating sequence. The aligned trusses and fillers are pressed to form a panel core. Commercially available wire mesh is overlayed over opposing side surfaces of the panel core and the wire mesh is attached to the trusses by attaching commercially available metal ties to connection points of the wire mesh and trusses to hold the panel core together. The alignment of the fillers and trusses can be adjusted to accommodate different size fillers and/or trusses. Likewise, the positions of the fillers and/or trusses can be adjusted.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing a structural panel includes determining structural loads to be placed upon the structural panel. The structural panel is manufactured from at least two generally parallel and spaced-apart thin-shell cementitious skins that are joined by a truss. The thickness of each cementitious skin is selected to meet the structural loads to be placed thereon and each skin is shaped to center reinforcement in the skin.

Abstract: A material and a device for releasing chemicals in a fluid environment is disclosed, and a method for releasing substances into downhole fluid environments. The invention also relates to materials for sand control and hydraulic fracturing. The substance release device typically comprises a polymeric material for releasing a substance into a downhole fluid environment in a well, and in preferred embodiments the material comprises a spherical, plastic chemical release capsule which is hard, permeable and may encapsulate a range of solids and/or liquids for subsequent release. These solids or liquids can include inhibitors such as scale inhibitors and other oilfield production chemicals for release into the wellbore of an oil or gas producing well or a water injection well.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for scheduling commands. A tentatively scheduled command is selected from a command queue for execution. An extended scheduling period, which represents a portion of a time between when a running command is completed and the tentatively scheduled command is scheduled to begin, is then determined. During the extended scheduling period, it is determined that a newly arriving command outperforms the tentatively scheduled command. As a result, the newly arriving command replaces the tentatively scheduled command.