Abstract: Aliphatic dithiocarboxylic acid compositions (ADTCAs) that form self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) on metal surface such as gold surfaces are disclosed. These new SAMs were characterized by optical ellipsometry, contact angle goniometry, and polarization modulation infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy (PM-IRRAS). The data indicates that the ADTCAs generate well packed and highly oriented monolayer films on gold surfaces. A method for using the ADTCAs in micro-contact printing is also disclosed, where ADTCA SAM protected regions are capable of more efficient cleaning under mild conditions due to instabilities in the ADTCA compositions.

Abstract: A manual tong is disclosed which includes a composite belt, a handle assembly, and a jaw assembly, where the composite belt is designed to take the place of the conventional linked chains used currently in manual tongs. The composite belt is held in place by a set of pins associated with the handle and jaw assemblies. Replacement of the linked chains with the composite belts improve tong safety, improve ease of use, lower cost, make adjustment easier and make belt replacement easier reducing down time and increasing tong utility so that one tong can be used for different pipe diameters by simply adjusting a length of the belt or a simple replacement of the belt with a different size belt.

Abstract: A method for padding, filtering, denoising, image enhancing and increased time-frequency acquisition is described for digitized data of a data set where unknown data is estimated using real data by adding unknown data points in a manner that the padding routine can estimate the interior data set including known and unknown data to a given accuracy on the known data points. The method also provides filtering using non-interpolating, well-tempered distributed approximating functional (NIDAF)-low-band-pass filters. The method also provides for symmetric and/or anti-symmetric extension of the data set so that the data set may be better refined and can be filtered by Fourier and other type of low frequency or harmonic filters.

Abstract: The disclosure describes a spoolable compliant guide, a system including a spoolable compliant guide and injector and methods for using the compliant guide, where the guide is designed to connect at one end to the injector and at its other end to a remote installation having a seal and to allow coiled tubing to be inserted into the installation through the seal. Because the guide permits a substantial distance to exist between the injector and the installation seal and functions as a crimp or band resistor for the coiled tubing, the guide enables the injector to be conveniently positioned remote from the installation such as a wellhead and assumes a compliant shape between the injector and the installation allowing dynamic relative movement between them without the use of heave compensators. Thus, for subsea installations, the injector, its control system and coiled tubing reels can all be located on the water's surface for ease of access and maintenance.

Abstract: A new system and method for extracting useful work from geothermal streams is disclosed. The systems and methods of this invention can achieve an estimated 20 to 30% improvement in output efficiency. The increased efficiency is derived from a secondary energy conversion step involving a low pressure vapor stream of variable composition and a low pressure turbine, which expands the vapor stream to produce the improved efficiency.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for prevention or stoppage of sulfidation or sulfuric corrosion of metal surfaces in contact with fluids including sulfiding compounds, where the method involves the addition of a compound to the fluid, where the additive has a higher affinity for metal surfaces than sulfur. The additive are group 15 of the periodic table of elements, fluorine-containing compounds, or mixtures or combinations thereof and are added in small quantities generally between about 0.001 ppm and about 20 ppm based on the amount of group 15 element or fluorine in the compound used. A protected metal surface is also disclosed which is coated with a protective coating comprising a group 15 element or fluorine and/or sulfur.

Abstract: A new thermodynamic cycle is disclosed for converting energy from a low temperature stream, external source into useable energy using a working fluid comprising of a mixture of a low boiling component and a higher boiling component and including a higher pressure circuit and a lower pressure circuit. The cycle is designed to improve the efficiency of the energy extraction process by recirculating a portion of a liquid stream prior to further cooling. The new thermodynamic processes and systems for accomplishing these improved efficiencies are especially well-suited for streams from low-temperature geothermal sources.

Abstract: A basic form of a variable capacitive apparatus and its actuating method are disclosed. The apparatus is a simple two-terminal structure and may be set by short duration, low voltage electrical pulses. Materials with perovskite structure or perovskite-related structures, especially colossal magnetoresistive materials, are the active constituents of the apparatus. The apparatus overcomes the shortcomings of its predecessors and offers the advantages of non-volatility, two or multi-level storage, non-destructive reading, free-of-power maintenance and potential high radiation hardness.

Abstract: A GUI is disclosed including a set of visualization routines designed to improve display, visualization and manipulation of multi-dimensional data. Many of the routines combine 2D and 3D renderings with domain selecting criteria and stacking criteria with line segments connecting variable values between records in a given dataset or between corresponding variable values in records of related datasets. The GUI also employs active, persistent and slider variables to probe variable relationships, group relationships and dataset relationships.

Abstract: An optoacoustic apparatus is disclosed which includes a radiation source of pulsed optical radiation and a probe having a front face to be placed in contact with a tissue site of an animal body. The probe further includes an optical fiber terminating at the surface of the front face of the probe and connected to a pulsed laser. The front face of the probe also has mounted therein or thereon a piezoelectric transducer for detecting an acoustic response to the radiation pulses connected to a processing unit which converts the transducer signal into a measure of hemoglobin concentration and/or hematocrit of blood.

Abstract: The disclosure describes a spoolable compliant guide, a system including a spoolable compliant guide and injector and methods for using the compliant guide, where the guide is designed to connect at one end to the injector and at its other end to a remote installation having a seal and to allow coiled tubing to be inserted into the installation through the seal. Because the guide permits a substantial distance to exist between the injector and the installation seal and functions as a crimp or band resistor for the coiled tubing, the guide enables the injector to be conveniently positioned remote from the installation such as a wellhead and assumes a compliant shape between the injector and the installation allowing dynamic relative movement between them without the use of heave compensators. Thus, for subsea installations, the injector, its control system and coiled tubing reels can all be located on the water's surface for ease of access and maintenance.

Abstract: A paintball gun is disclosed, which includes at least one aiming and/or pointing device mount assembly connected to, affixed to or integral with a paintball gun's hopper, adapter, and/or feed tube.

Abstract: a new thermodynamic cycle is disclosed for converting energy from a low temperature stream from an external source into useable energy using a working fluid comprising of a mixture of a low boiling component and a higher boiling component and including a higher pressure circuit and a lower pressure circuit. The cycle is designed to improve the efficiency of the energy extraction process by mixing the liquid stream from the high pressure circuit with the spent low pressure circuit stream forming a lean system that can be condensed at a low pressure. The new thermodynamic process and the system for accomplishing it are especially well-suited for streams from low-temperature geothermal sources.

Abstract: A paint ball gun is disclosed including a forward mounted gas supply system. The gas supply systems includes a straight or bent direct connection between the low pressure portion of the paintball gun and the gas cylinder and includes a gas cylinder securing and support assembly. The bent direct connections attach to the gas cylinder and the securing and support assembly is attached to the gun handle and can also include a socket surrounding a major portion of the cylinder. In the straight configurations, the securing and support assembly includes the socket and optionally a support arm attached at the gun handle.

Abstract: A paint ball gun magazine or a combined hopper/feeder apparatus is disclosed, where the magazine includes a closing assembly designed to allow the magazine to transition between a closed state and an open state, and to a paint ball gun including a closable magazine or hopper/feeder apparatus.

Abstract: The disclosure describes a spoolable compliant guide, a system including a spoolable compliant guide and injector and methods for using the compliant guide, where the guide is designed to connect at one end to the injector and at its other end to a remote installation having a seal and to allow coiled tubing to be inserted into the installation through the seal. Because the guide permits a substantial distance to exist between the injector and the installation seal and functions as a crimp or band resistor for the coiled tubing, the guide enables the injector to be conveniently positioned remote from the installation such as a wellhead and assumes a compliant shape between the injector and the installation allowing dynamic relative movement between them without the use of heave compensators. Thus, for subsea installations, the injector, its control system and coiled tubing reels can all be located on the water's surface for ease of access and maintenance.

Abstract: A non-permeable bladder is used for transporting oil within a steel compartment onboard an oil tanker. The bladder is contained within a meso-skeleton suspended within the individual metal tank which causes any force which would otherwise puncture the bladder, to be spread evenly over the exterior of the bladder and causes the fluid within the bladder to be expelled through a check valve into one or more smaller containers which can either be maintained onboard the oil tanker or forced into the water through which the tanker had been moving. To provide resistance against terrorism or other acts of war, the upper deck of the tanker has a laminated structure, starting with the upper surface of the tanker down to the bladder, of a layer of steel, a layer of Kevlar, a layer of sodium bicarbonate powder, a second layer of Kevlar, a second layer of steel and then the bladder.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for the improving the sensitivity of fluorescent detectors, especially UV fluorescent detectors using a light reaction cell including a reaction chamber having an optically smooth, highly reflective interior surface. The chamber can also include an insert that imparts either or both optically smooth and high reflectivity to the chamber. Increased interior surface smoothness and reflectivity significantly improves sensitivity and detection limits making ppb measurements routine.

Abstract: A method for imparting anti-seize protection and lubricant to threaded connections of protection during make-up and break-out is disclosed which includes adhering a metallic anti-seize film to threads of threaded connections and coating the film protected threads with a lubricating composition to form an anti-seize/lubricating system with reduced adverse environmental impact. The method can also include depositing a bonding film or layer onto the threads prior to adhering the anti-seize film.

Abstract: A non-permeable bladder is used for transporting oil within a steel compartment onboard an oil tanker. The bladder is contained within a meso-skeleton suspended within the individual metal tank which causes any force which would otherwise puncture the bladder, to be spread evenly over the exterior of the bladder and causes the fluid within the bladder to be expelled through a check valve into one or more smaller containers which can either be maintained onboard the oil tanker or forced into the water through which the tanker had been moving.