Abstract: A perforating gun string may include a first perforating gun; a second perforating gun axially offset from the first perforating gun; a connector configured to interpose and couple the first and second perforating guns; and a detonation cord that passes axially through a central bore of the connector; and is connected to the first and second perforating guns. In some instances, the connector may have a body with an inner surface that defines the central bore, wherein the body has a ratio of an average diameter of the outer surface to an average diameter of the inner surface of about 1.2 to about 4.

Abstract: This disclosure concerns the discovery of the use of fenoterol and (R,R)- and (R,S)-fenoterol analogues for the treatment of a tumor expressing a ?2-adrenergic receptor, such as a primary brain tumor, including a glioblastoma or astrocytoma expressing a ?2-adrenergic receptor. In one example, the method includes administering to a subject a therapeutically effective amount of fenoterol, a specific fenoterol analogue or a combination thereof to reduce one or more symptoms associated with the tumor, thereby treating the tumor in the subject.

Abstract: Consolidation compositions comprising a multipodal silane coupling agent comprising at least two silane groups and at least one amino group; a curable resin; and a resin hardening agent. The curable resin is selected from the group consisting of an epoxy resin, an aliphatic epoxy resin, a glycidylamine epoxy resin, and combinations thereof.

Abstract: Methods including optically interacting electromagnetic radiation with a flowing powder composition and a first integrated computation element (“ICE”), the first ICE being configured to detect a contaminant in the powder composition; receiving the electromagnetic radiation with a detector; and generating an output signal corresponding to a characteristic of the contaminant in the powder composition.

Abstract: A nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) sensor including a magnet that generates a static magnetic field, a soft magnetic core secured to the magnet, and an antenna extending at least partially about the soft magnetic core and generating a radio frequency (RF) magnetic field. A magnetic permeability of the soft magnetic core in a direction of the static magnetic field is less than the magnetic permeability of the soft magnetic core in a direction of the RF magnetic field.

Abstract: Methods including introducing a treatment fluid into a wellbore in a subterranean formation, wherein the subterranean formation includes a coal seam gas reservoir, a freshwater reservoir, and formation laminae interposed therebetween, and the wellbore penetrating each, and wherein the treatment fluid comprises an aqueous base fluid and an aqueous curable resin; penetrating at least a portion of the formation laminae with the aqueous curable resin while maintaining the treatment fluid in the wellbore at a pressure sufficient to prevent the flow of freshwater from the freshwater reservoir into the wellbore; curing the aqueous curable resin, thereby stabilizing the formation laminae; creating permeability pathways in the coal seam gas reservoir itself; removing the treatment fluid from the wellbore; recovering gas from the coal seam gas reservoir.

Abstract: Adjustable drill string housings are described for use in the directional drilling of wellbores, e.g. wellbores for hydrocarbon recovery wells. The adjustable drill string housings permit adjustment of a bend angle in the housings without removing the housings from a wellbore. In some exemplary embodiments, the bend angle can be adjusted by changing the internal stresses in a support member carried by the housings. In other embodiments, the bend angle may be adjusted by causing failure of sacrificial support members carried by the housings, and the failure may be caused by delivering chemicals through a chemical delivery system to the sacrificial support members. Methods of operating the adjustable drill string housings include multi-lateral drilling operations wherein the bend angle is adjusted when a casing window has been detected.

Abstract: Methods including providing an actual formation core sample; determining an internal anatomy of at least a portion of the actual formation core sample; determining a virtual 3D model of the external anatomy of the actual formation core sample in a computer readable format, wherein the virtual 3D model of the external anatomy of the actual formation core sample is represented by successive 2D cross-sectional layers; providing a 3D printer; transmitting the virtual 3D model of the external anatomy of the actual formation core sample to the 3D printer; and printing a facsimile core sample using the 3D printer, thereby replicating at least a portion of the external anatomy of the actual formation core sample.

Abstract: Master BOM creation may include extracting BOM data from first and second BOMs, and determining which BOM extracted data is greater. If the first or second BOM is a CAD BOM and the other BOM is a non-CAD BOM, the CAD BOM and non-CAD BOMs may be respectively used as a first and a second source BOM data for a master BOM table. If the first and second BOMs are non-CAD BOMs, or both of the first and second BOMs are CAD BOMs, the greater and lesser of the first and second BOM extracted data may be respectively used as the first and as the second source BOM data. A master BOM may be created based on mapping of the master BOM table to the second source BOM data.

Abstract: A well fluid treatment is disclosed that utilizes ethoxylated alcohols with a hydrophilic lipophilic balance between 10 and 13 and/or alkyl benzene sulfonic acid and alkyl naphthalene sulfonic acids either neutralized or non-neutralized and salts thereof either singly or in combination to assist in suspending solids such as drilling mud and cement in fluids such as water.

Abstract: An illustrative interferometric system with high-fidelity optical phase demodulation includes a receiver having a fiberoptic coupler that produces optical interferometry signals having mutual phase separations of 120° and balanced photo-detectors that each produce an electrical difference signal based on a respective pair of said optical interferometry signals. The system further includes circuitry that converts the electrical difference signals into measurements of an interferometric phase.

Abstract: Methods of biosynthesizing bacterial extracellular galactomannan polysaccharides for use in subterranean formation operations such as drilling operations, fracturing operations, or gravel packing operations including providing a feedstock comprising mannose and galactose; providing bacteria effective at fermenting mannose and galactose; introducing the bacteria to the feedstock; and fermenting the bacteria so as to produce an extracellular galactomannan polysaccharide.

Abstract: A setting tool for an expandable liner hanger. A method includes the steps of: releasably securing the setting tool to the hanger, the setting tool including an expansion cone for displacing through the hanger; and conveying the setting tool and hanger into the well on a generally tubular work string while no portion of the hanger extends longitudinally between the expansion cone and the work string. A setting tool includes an expansion cone, which is displaceable through the liner hanger to expand the hanger; at least one piston positioned on one side of the expansion cone; and an anchoring device for releasably securing the setting tool to the liner hanger, the anchoring device being positioned on an opposite side of the expansion cone. The expansion cone is pressure balanced between its two sides when the expansion cone is displaced through the liner hanger.

Abstract: A method for acidizing subterranean formations may include providing a treatment fluid comprising an aqueous carrier fluid, an acid, and a chelating agent comprising N-(phosphonomethyl)iminodiacetic acid, the treatment fluid having a pH at or below that at which carboxylic or phosphonic acid groups of the N-(phosphonomethyl)iminodiacetic acid are protonated and the chelating agent is ineffective for complexing a metal ion; introducing the treatment fluid into a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation comprising a carbonate mineral; reacting the acid with the carbonate mineral in the presence of the chelating agent, such that the acid at least partially spends as the pH of the treatment fluid rises; and complexing a metal ion with the chelating agent once the pH of the treatment fluid rises above a pKa value for one or more of the carboxylic or phosphonic acid groups of the N-(phosphonomethyl)iminodiacetic acid.

Abstract: A system includes a patient support apparatus that has one or more therapies. The therapies are optionally available depending on the acuity of the patient. A request for enablement of a therapy is transferred to a service provider for approval and, when approved, the therapy is enabled by the service provider. The patient support apparatus may be in communication with a server that is in communication with multiple patient support apparatuses so that the server is operable to selectively enable therapies on various patient support apparatuses.

Abstract: Methods of propping subterranean fractures using swellable particulates. Some methods alternate the placement into a fracture of proppant and swellable particulates. Other methods alternate the placement into a fracture of proppant-free fluid and swellable particulates. Still other methods combine proppant and swellable particulates into a single fluid and place that fluid into a subterranean fracture. The methods are useful for treatment of low closure stress formations.

Abstract: A method and system for providing geographic location notifications for targeted offers is disclosed. One embodiment of the invention is directed to a method including monitoring for an event to trigger a targeted offer. Upon detection of the event, the offer is generated. The offer is targeted to a consumer and is generated using payment data generated in response to transactions conducted by the consumer with a plurality of different merchants. A geographic location for redeeming the offer is determined. A notification message is generated about the offer. The notification message includes the offer and the geographic location for redeeming the offer. The notification message is sent to a notification device which is operated by the consumer. A graphical depiction of the offer is displayed on a map on the notification device.

Abstract: A sealing element comprises two distinct materials of different melting points. An outer shell material has a higher melting point than an inner core material. The core material can be a relatively low melting point metal, plastic or polymer. The seal is positioned in the wellbore and, in response to heating to a selected temperature, such as a bottom hole static temperature, the core material melts or softens. Upon melting or softening of the inner material, the outer shell's elastic modulus decreases, allowing longitudinal compression and radial expansion of the sealing element. The inner material can also thermally expand and thereby assist or cause radial expansion of the outer shell. The sealing element can provide a metal-to-metal seal with a casing or tubing. The cross-sectional shape of the outer shell can take various shapes to promote controlled compression, expansion and sealing.

Abstract: Systems and methods for scanning an item utilizing an X-ray scanner in order to facilitate a determination of whether the X-ray radiation penetrated through the entirety of the scanned item. Various embodiments comprise a conveying mechanism, an X-ray emitter, a detector, and an X-ray penetration grid (XPG). The XPG may comprise a radiopaque grid that may serve as a reference for determining whether radiation passes through the scanned item, the grid oriented such that the grid members are neither parallel nor perpendicular to the direction of travel. Such orientation may minimize or eliminate “ghosted” radiation signals included in a visual display of the radiation received by the detector. A scanned item may be oriented with the XPG such that radiation emitted by the X-ray emitter that passes through a portion of the scanned item must also pass through the XPG before being received by the detector.

Abstract: Disclosed are inhibitors of the farnesoid X receptor, for example of formula (I), wherein R1, R2, R4, X, Y, Z, m, and n are as defined herein, which are useful in treating or preventing obesity, type 2 diabetes/insulin resistance and non alcoholic fatty liver disease in a mammal in need thereof. Also disclosed is a composition comprising a pharmaceutically suitable carrier and at least Cone compound of the invention, a method of method of inhibiting a farnesoid X receptor in a mammal, and a method of treating or preventing obesity in a mammal.