Abstract: A drilling apparatus, sensor, system and method. The drilling apparatus includes a drill bit and a steering controller that steers the drill bit. The drilling apparatus includes a reluctance sensor system that measures changes in magnetic flux. The reluctance sensor includes two or more magnets creating a bucking effect. The drilling apparatus includes a processor in communication with the reluctance sensor that receives the measurements made by the reluctance sensor to determine a distance or direction to a target object. The distance is utilized by the steering controller to steer the drill bit.

Abstract: A well tool apparatus comprises a control arrangement configured to control response of the downhole tool by varying downhole drilling fluid conditions. The control arrangement includes a valve piston longitudinally slidable in a generally tubular controller housing that is in operation substantially co-axial with the wellbore, to open or close a valve port to a fluid flow connection between the drill strings interior and the tool. A latch mechanism is configured to latch the valve piston in an activated mode and/or a deactivated mode. Unlatching of the valve piston can be effected by displacement thereof in a particular axial direction to a mode change position. A stay member is automatically displaceable in the particular actual direction under hydraulic actuation responsive to above-threshold drilling fluid conditions, to obstruct movement of the valve piston under hydraulic actuation to the mode change position.

Abstract: Systems and methods for using gellable gravel packing fluids that may comprise polysaccharide gelling agents and gel stabilizers to extend the working temperature range for the polysaccharide gelling agents. A method for placing a gravel pack in a subterranean formation comprising: providing a gravel packing fluid in the form of a linear gel and comprising an aqueous base fluid, a polysaccharide gelling agent, a thermal stabilizer, and a gravel; placing the gravel packing fluid into the subterranean formation; and allowing the gravel packing fluid to form a gravel pack in the subterranean formation.

Abstract: A surface excitation ranging method includes installing a customized grounding arrangement for a power supply located at earth's surface, wherein the customized grounding arrangement fulfills an impedance criteria or ranging performance criteria. The method also includes conveying an electrical current output from the power supply along a target well with a metal casing. The method also includes sensing electromagnetic (EM) fields emitted from the target well due to the electrical current. The method also includes using distance or direction information obtained from the sensed EM fields to guide drilling of a new well relative to the target well.

Abstract: A wellbore isolation device includes a wedge member that defines an outer surface and a barrel seal having a cylindrical body that provides an inner radial surface and an outer radial surface. The inner radial surface is engageable with the outer surface of the wedge member. The barrel seal further includes a plurality of longitudinally extending grooves defined through the body in an alternating configuration at opposing ends of the body. A raised lip protrudes radially from the outer radial surface and circuitously extends about a circumference of the body. A plurality of slip buttons is positioned in a corresponding plurality of holes defined in the outer radial surface of the body. At least one of the wedge member and the barrel seal is made of a degradable material that degrades when exposed to a wellbore environment.

Abstract: Example embodiments relate to a cartridge configured to house a pre-vapor formulation for an e-vaping device, the cartridge including an inner portion and an outer portion configured to store the pre-vapor formulation. The outer portion includes a plurality of fibers configured to be mobile and/or configured to be substantially free of entanglement with one another. The fibers are configured to be substantially free of entanglement with one another based on the lengths of the plurality of fibers. For example, the lengths of the plurality of fibers may be in a range of about 3 mm to about 7 mm. The lengths may also be about 5 mm.

Abstract: The extraction room and ventilation system comprises an extraction room involving opposing supply and exhaust systems that provide a laminar type air flow configured to transmit fresh air flow to said extraction room at a rate of more than 1000 cubic feet per minute at a static pressure of more than 0.5 inch water. The extraction room is configured to use intrinsically safe or Class 1 Division 1, group D electrical appliances; a flammable gas detector, with an alarm and automatic ventilation system connected to said flammable gas detector; and be constructed in accordance with the International Fire Code & International Building Code definition for a One Hour Fire Rated Room construction. In another embodiment the ventilation system may be prefabricated or installed in a standardized movable unit such as a trailer or shipping container.

Abstract: A drill pipe mountable wellbore cleaning tool apparatus is of an improved configuration that enables attachment to a drill pipe joint having first and second connector end portions and a cylindrically shaped portion in between the connector end portions. The drill pipe joint with attached debris cleaning tool or tools is made part of a drill string. The apparatus includes a support sleeve that is mounted to the drill pipe joint in between the connector end portions. The support sleeve abuts but does not invade the integrity of the cylindrical portion. Centralizers are attached to the opposing ends of the support sleeve, with each centralizer overlapping a portion of the support sleeve. The support sleeve carries one or more debris cleaning tools in between the centralizers. These tools enable debris to be removed from a wellbore. At least one locking clamp is attached to the cylindrical portion next to a said centralizer.

Abstract: A device may obtain a set of documents, including at least two documents of different document types, for conversion to a uniform and an editable or a searchable format. The set of documents may include at least two documents of a different document type. The device may determine conversion information, associated with converting the set of documents, that includes an editable or a searchable document type to which the set of documents is to be converted. The device may determine zone information, associated with converting the set of documents, that includes information that identifies a portion of the set of documents that is to be converted. The device may generate a set of converted documents based on the conversion information and the zone information. Each document, of the set of converted documents, may be of the document type. The device may provide the set of converted documents.

Abstract: This disclosure relates generally to image processing, and more particularly to system and method for image inpainting. In one embodiment, a method for image inpainting includes aligning a plurality of multi-view images of a scene with respect to a reference image to obtain a plurality of aligned multi-view images. A region of interest (ROI) representing a region to be removed from the reference image for image inpainting is selected. A dictionary is created by selecting image-patches from the reference image and the plurality of aligned multi-view images, and 3D rotations thereof. A priority value of each of a plurality of pixels of the ROI is created. The ROI is systematically reconstructed in the reference image based at least on the priority values of the plurality of pixels and the dictionary by computing a linear combination of two or more image-patches selected from the plurality of image-patches of the dictionary.

Abstract: Substantially purified salivary Lu. longipalpis polypeptides, and polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides are disclosed. Vectors and host cells including the Lu. longipalpis polynucleotides are also disclosed. In one embodiment, a method is disclosed for inducing an immune response to sand fly saliva. In other embodiments, methods for treating, diagnosing, or preventing Leishishmaniasis are disclosed.

Abstract: A method of purchasing and selling insurance includes transmitting property information, having the property information analyzed, modifying at least one quotation calculation underwriting rule based on the analysis of the information, creating an insurance pricing model based on the modified underwriting rule, transmitting and receiving the insurance quote, and purchasing insurance via computer. A method for modifying insurance coverage including transmitting property information and existing policy information to a first insurance provider, generating a document directed to a second insurance provider authorizing cancellation of the existing insurance policy and directing the second insurance provider to remit a refund payment.

Abstract: A device may obtain text to be categorized, and may determine rules for categorizing portions of the text. A rule may specify text patterns to be used to categorize the portions of the text into a category, and may specify a relationship, between at least two text patterns, to be used to categorize the portions of the text into the category. The device may determine that the text patterns and the relationship between the at least two text patterns exist in a text portion. The device may categorize the text portion into the category based on determining that the text patterns and the relationship between the at least two text patterns exist in the text portion. The device may provide an indication of an association between the text portion and the category based on categorizing the text portion into the category.

Abstract: There is disclosed herein drilling apparatus, in particular for use in the field of oil prospecting, comprising: a first tubular member (1, 2, 3); a second tubular member (6, 7, 8, 9) mounted at least partly within the first tubular member so as to be reciprocally free in rotation with respect to the first tubular member about an axis (5); and a drill bit (4) operatively connected to one of the first or second tubular members so as to be rotated in response to the one tubular member being turned in order to effect drilling, characterized in that: the drilling apparatus further comprises a restoring member (18, 36) for applying a forces between the first tubular member and the second tubular member at least in respective first axial directions in response to relative displacement of the first tubular member and the second tubular member in the respective opposite axial directions. Also provided are a tubular assembly and a method of assembling tubular members.

Abstract: A computer device and method for processing risk related data to determine one or more insurance products for appliances and other systems located in or on an insured property. Informatic data is received from one or more informatic sensor devices relating to one or more appliances located in or on an insured property. Analysis is performed on the received informatic data to determine one or more insurance products to be recommended for at least one appliance located in or on the insured property. Notification is provided regarding determination of the one or more insurance products for the at least one appliance located in or on the insured property.

Abstract: A monopole acoustic transmitter for logging-while-drilling comprising as a ring that comprises one or more piezoelectric arc segments. The ring is oriented in a plane whose normal is essentially coincident with the major axis of a logging tool in which it is disposed. The ring disposed within a recess on the outer surface of a short, cylindrical insert. The insert is inserted into a drill collar, rather than into the wall of the collar. The ring can comprise a continuous ring of piezoelectric material, or alternately arc segments or active ring segments of piezoelectric ceramic bonded to segments of other materials such as alumina to increase the frequency or heavy metals such as tungsten to reduce the frequency. The material and dimensions of the material used in-between the piezoelectric segments is chosen to alter the frequency of the ring.

Abstract: The invention relates to vaccine compositions including CEV serogroup immunogens, attenuated and inactivated viruses of the CEV serogroup and chimeric Bunyaviridae. Also disclosed are methods of treating or preventing CEV serogroup infection in a mammalian host, methods of producing a subunit vaccine composition or an immunogenic composition, isolated polynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding a CEV serogroup immunogen, methods for detecting La Crosse virus (LACY) infection in a biological sample and infectious chimeric Bunyaviridae.

Abstract: Techniques and apparatus based on metamaterial structures provided for antenna and transmission line devices, including single-layer metallization and via-less metamaterial structures.

Abstract: A wire installation tool for installing a wire through an existing wiring harness includes a handle configured to be manually grasped by a user, an elongated shaft extending from the handle, and a wire engagement feature disposed at the free end of the shaft. In one aspect, the wire engagement feature is a generally flat elongated plate defining two openings sized to snugly receive the wire and spaced apart a distance sufficient to receive the wire bent to a curvature between the openings. In another aspect, the wire engagement feature includes a pig-tail element about which the wire is wound and held by friction between the wire and the pig-tail element to hold the wire in engagement with the wire installation tool as the tool and wire are pulled through an existing wiring harness.

Abstract: A portable charging case configured to contain and charge an electronic vaping device or a battery thereof is provided. The portable charging case includes a body, a cover hingedly connected to the body at a hinge axle, and a hinge assembly. The hinge assembly includes a biasing component including a pin having an integrally formed straight first end portion and a curved second end portion. The biasing component also includes a spring arranged about the straight first end portion of the pin. The pin extends through an opening in a housing, such that the spring presses against a bottom surface of the housing and against a base of the curved second end portion of the pin.