Abstract: An apparatus, and an associated method, for powering a powerline network apparatus, such as a HOMEPLUG™ transceiver. A data signal sensor is positioned to sense a data signal that is to be operated upon by the powerline network apparatus. When a data signal is sensed, an indication is formed, and the indication is used to control the switch positioning of a switch that interconnects a power supply with the powerline network apparatus. When the indication of sensing of the data signal is formed, the switch is closed, and the power supply is connected to the powerline-network apparatus operative power is provided to power the powerline network apparatus.

Abstract: Methods and systems for enhancing oil recovery from a subterranean formation comprising at least a first region and a second region are provided. An exemplary method includes creating an injection stream by adding a salt to a water stream to increase a concentration of an ion and injecting the injection stream into the subterranean formation through a first injection well in the first region of the subterranean formation. Fluid is produced from the subterranean formation and separated to generate an aqueous stream comprising at least a portion of the ion. The salt is added to the aqueous stream to adjust the concentration of the ion in the aqueous stream to a desired level. The aqueous stream is injected into the subterranean formation through a second injection well in the second region of the subterranean formation.

Abstract: Methods and systems for enhanced oil recovery from a subterranean formation are provided. An exemplary includes separating fluid produced from the subterranean formation into a first fluid stream that includes an aqueous stream containing multivalent ions. At least a portion of the multivalent ions in the first fluid are removed to form a second fluid stream and the second fluid stream is injected into the subterranean formation. The first fluid stream and the second fluid stream have substantially the same interfacial tension with a hydrocarbon and substantially the same kinematic viscosity, and the second fluid stream has a total concentration of ions greater than about 100,000 ppm.

Abstract: Methods for enhanced oil recovery from a subterranean formation including adding a first salt to a first aqueous stream to form a first injection stream with an increased concentration of a first ion. A second salt is added to a second aqueous stream to form a second injection stream with an increased concentration of a second ion. The second injection stream is of different composition than the first injection stream and the first injection stream and the second injection stream have substantially the same interfacial tension with a hydrocarbon and substantially the same kinematic viscosity. The first injection stream is injected into the formation at a first time and the second injection stream is injected into the formation at a second time. The first injection stream and second injection stream contact at least some overlapping portion of the formation. Oil is recovered from the overlapping portion of the formation.

Abstract: A method for controlling the displacement of a stack of a piezoelectric actuator for use in a fuel injector comprises determining a desired amount of charge (?Q) to be added or removed from the stack. The method further comprises determining an operating parameter of the fuel system and selecting a drive current level (PO, SO) and a drive time (topen, tclose) in accordance with the desired amount of charge (?Q) and the operating parameter, and driving the drive current through the stack for the drive time (topen, tclose) in order to add or remove the desired amount of charge (?Q).

Abstract: The present invention relates to droplet-based pyrosequencing including a method of identifying a base at a target position in a sample nucleic acid. The method includes: (a) providing a droplet microactuator including a first droplet including a sample nucleic acid immobilized on a bead; and (b) on the droplet microactuator: (i) contacting the first droplet with one or more reagent droplets to yield a second droplet, wherein the one or more reagent droplets include reagents for extending a double stranded portion of the sample nucleic acid by incorporating a nucleotide at the target position; (ii) splitting the second droplet to yield a third droplet including the bead and a fourth droplet lacking the bead; and (iii) assaying the third droplet to determine whether the nucleotide was incorporated at the target position.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a droplet microactuator and to systems, apparatuses and methods employing the droplet microactuator for executing various protocols using droplets. The invention includes a droplet microactuator or droplet microactuator system having one or more input reservoirs loaded with reagents for conducting sequencing protocols, such as the reagents for conducting a pyrosequencing protocol. The invention also includes a droplet microactuator or droplet microactuator system, having one or more input reservoirs loaded with a sample for conducting a pyrosequencing protocol.

Abstract: An apparatus, and an associated method, for powering a homeplug device, such as a homeplug transceiver. A data signal sensor is positioned to sense a data signal that is to be operated upon by the homeplug device. When a data signal is sensed, an indication is formed, and the indication is used to control the switch positioning of a switch that interconnects a power supply with the homeplug device. When the indication of sensing of the data signal is formed, the switch is closed, and the power supply is connected to the homeplug device operative power is provided to power the homeplug device.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a droplet microactuator and to systems, apparatuses and methods employing the droplet microactuator for executing various protocols using droplets. The invention includes a droplet microactuator or droplet microactuator system having one or more input reservoirs loaded with reagents for conducting sequencing protocols, such as the reagents for conducting a pyrosequencing protocol. The invention also includes a droplet microactuator or droplet microactuator system, having one or more input reservoirs loaded with a sample for conducting a pyrosequencing protocol.

Abstract: Negative differential resistance devices are implemented to facilitate current flow under different operating conditions. According to an example embodiment of the present invention, an NDR device is arranged for selective passage of current through relatively high tunneling efficiency regions and relatively low tunneling efficiency regions. In some applications, a gate is used to accumulate carriers to facilitate the passage of current that is predominantly one of tunneling current and generation current, respectively, by controlling the passage of current through a relatively high tunneling efficiency region and a relatively low tunneling efficiency region. In some implementations, the NDR device is arranged to mitigate leakage in a storage device using a two-terminal connection.

Abstract: A method for controlling the displacement of a stack of a piezoelectric actuator for use in a fuel injector comprises determining a desired amount of charge (?Q) to be added or removed from the stack. The method further comprises determining an operating parameter of the fuel system and selecting a drive current level (PO, SO) and a drive time (topen, tclose) in accordance with the desired amount of charge (?Q) and the operating parameter, and driving the drive current through the stack for the drive time (topen, tclose) in order to add or remove the desired amount of charge (?Q).

Abstract: A system for treating a hydrocarbon containing formation is described. The system includes two or more groups of elongated heaters. The group includes two or more heaters placed in two or more openings in the formation. The heaters in the group are electrically coupled below the surface of the formation. The openings include at least partially uncased wellbores in a hydrocarbon layer of the formation. The groups are electrically configured such that current flow through the formation between at least two groups is inhibited. The heaters are configured to provide heat to the formation.

Abstract: Compounds of formula (I) and their pharmaceutically acceptable salts are ligands at gastrin and/or cholecystokinin receptors. X and Y are independently ═N—, —N(R5)—═CH—, —S— or —O—.

Abstract: A method of producing a container (201, 231, 350) having a plurality of apertures (eg 202, 232, 352) each containing a respective dose of powdered material, such as a medicament, involves placing an empty container in a position in which its apertures communicate with a reservoir (216, 84) of powdered material. The material is then passed, for example by the flow of gas, from the reservoir into the apertures to fill the latter, and the container is then separated from the reservoir and the apertures are optionally sealed with sheet material (204, 206, 321, 323). Since the apertures are filled, their volume determines the amount of each dose which therefore does not have to be measured prior to introduction into the apertures. The container may comprise a rigid or flexible plate and in latter case can be subsequently rolled into the form of a cylinder for use in an inhaler. Apparatus for performing the method, and an inhaler for use with a cylindrical container, are also shown.

Abstract: A multi-compartment container is charged with a plurality of doses of powdered medicament so that the volume of each dose is than that of the respective compartments in which it is contained. A respective protuberance is inserted into each respective compartment, which is then filled with medicament and the protuberance is then removed. The container may take the form of an apertured plate, in which case the filling step can be achieved by placing the container on a porous bed and in communication with a reservoir of particulate material, and then passing gas through the reservoir, the apertures in the container and the bed. There is also shown apparatus for performing the method, the apparatus comprising a reservoir for the particulate material and a conduit for relaying particulate material from the reservoir to the compartments, the conduit including protuberances which are insertable into the compartments to reduce the available volume of the latter.

Abstract: A process for forming a shallow, lightly doped region in a semiconductor device. The method comprises the steps of providing a semiconductor substrate having a surface; growing an oxide layer on the substrate, the oxide having a thickness; depositing a layer of polysilicon on the oxide; patterning the polysilicon layer and the oxide layer to provide a gate structure; and implanting into the substrate a source and a drain region about the gate structure at an angle less than 90 degrees with respect to the surface of the substrate.

Abstract: A multi-compartment container (12) is charged with a plurality of doses of powdered medicament so that the volume of each dose is less than that of the respective compartments in which it is contained. A respective protuberance (for example 92) is inserted into each respective compartment, which is then filled with medicament (91) and the protuberance is then removed. The container may take the form of an apertured plate, in which case the filling step can be achieved by placing the container (12) on a porous bed (22) and in communication with a reservoir (80) of particulate material, and then passing gas through the reservoir, the apertures in the container (12) and the bed (22).

Abstract: A foldable baby bed for infants and very young children which can be used at the level of and attached to the bed of the parent or as a free standing unit. The legs of the baby bed can adjust to various heights and the front legs can be locked into a forward horizontal orientation so as to slide under the mattress of a conventional bed and form an extension of that bed permitting the baby to be near the parent so that the parent does not have to get up or to bend over to reach for the baby. The baby bed has a flexible, detachable front wall which can be rolled down at the convenience of the parent making the baby's sleeping surface contiguous with that of the parent. The baby bed is portable and folds flat for storage or travel. A pocket attached to the side holds necessaries for the baby such as diapers and powder.