Abstract: This invention relates to a measurement tool and method of use, and in particular to a measurement tool for use in determining a parameter of a stationary or moving fluid. The measurement tool has been designed primarily for use in borehole formation testing. The measurement tool can measure the dielectric constant of a fluid within a pipe or surrounding the tool. The pipe or wall between the tool and the fluid is electrically insulating. The tool has pair of capacitor plates mounted adjacent to the pipe or wall, a signal generator which can deliver an alternating electrical signal to at least one of the capacitor plates, and a detector for measuring a signal dependent upon the electrical capacitance between the capacitor plates. The measurement tool can additionally measure the electrical resistivity of the fluid.

Abstract: To provide a spindle stage for testing a magnetic head in which high precision servo following can be performed by an inexpensive VCM mechanism without using a piezoelectric element, and to provide a device for mounting/demounting a magnetic head automatically. In a spindle stage for testing a magnetic head which includes: a head arm device having a head arm portion which is driven to swing by a VCM mechanism; and an HGA attached to the head arm portion, and loads the head arm device and the HGA relative to a surface of a medium in rotation to measure the electrical and mechanical characteristics, wherein the spindle stage includes: a fitting portion in which a swaging boss of the HGA is removably fitted; and a clamping member which moves between a locking position in which the swaging boss fitted in the fitting portion is locked and a releasing position in which the swaging boss can be freely fitted and removed into and from the fitting portion.

Abstract: A system, method and computer program product are provided for supplying information relating to the hierarchical structure of a plurality of process models. A storage unit stores process controls for process models. A processor associates the process controls with corresponding ones of the process controls. A media file creator creates a media file which depicts, at the direction of a user, relational linkages of the process models based on the association of the process controls.

Abstract: A device includes a main body adapted to couple between a first element of a working string and a second element of the working string. A seal is provided about the main body and is adapted to substantially sealingly engage a wall of the wellbore. An conductor is carried by the main body. The conductor is adapted to communicate at least one of electrical current or a light signal between an interior of the first element and the second element while the seal is substantially sealingly engaging the wall of the wellbore, while the device is released from sealingly engaging the wall of the wellbore, and/or both.

Abstract: Disclosed are compounds of Formula (I) wherein X, Y, Ri-R7, T1, T2, Z, and p are as described herein; a pharmaceutical composition comprising a compound of Formula (I) and a carrier; a method of inhibiting growth of a cell, which method comprises administering in an amount effective to inhibit growth a compound of Formula (I); a method of treating cancer in a mammal, which method comprises administering in an amount effective to treat cancer a compound of Formula (I); a method of treating a viral, parasitic, or bacterial infection of a cell, which method comprises administering in an amount effective to treat a viral, parasitic, or bacterial infection a compound of Formula (I); and a method of preparing a compound of Formula (I) as described herein.

Abstract: There is disclosed a downhole packer for use in a well bore, and in particular, a packer which can be used for downhole testing. In an embodiment of the invention, a packer tool (10) for mounting on a work string to provide a seal against a tubular (32) is disclosed, the packer tool comprising a body (12) with one or more packer elements (18) and a sleeve (14), the packer tool being set by movement of the sleeve relative to the tool body compressing the one or more packer elements, wherein the tool has a plurality of bypass channels (16) to provide a fluid path past the packer elements, the sleeve including at least owe anchoring member (22, 50), the at least one anchoring member being actuate to contact the tubular by fluid pressure from the bypass channels when the packer is set.

Abstract: The instant invention relates to methods for treating a subject suffering from or susceptible to an autoimmune disease or disorder, or a disease or disorder having an autoimmune component, comprising administering to the subject an effective amount of cyclophilin or a biologically active fragment thereof.

Abstract: Density-reducing additives comprising low-density particulates, and cement compositions comprising such additives, are provided. In one embodiment, the present invention provides a cement composition comprising: a cement component; a density-reducing additive comprising particulates that comprise an agglomerating material; and a base fluid.

Abstract: System and method for cementing through a safety valve. A system includes a flow passage, closure mechanism, opening prong repeatedly displaceable to thereby repeatedly operate the closure mechanism open and closed, and a latching device initially maintaining the opening prong positioned isolating the closure mechanism from the flow passage, and releasing the latching device permits the opening prong to open and close the closure mechanism while it is exposed to the flow passage. A method includes the steps of: latching an opening prong so that a closure mechanism is open and is isolated from a flow passage; releasing the opening prong so that the closure mechanism is closed and is exposed to the flow passage; and displacing the opening prong to a position in which the closure mechanism is open and is exposed to the flow passage.

Abstract: This disclosure provides modified antimicrobial agents, for example modified defensin polypeptides. In one embodiment, compositions including a modified arginine residue, such as an ADP-ribosylated and/or ribosylated alpha defensin polypeptide, are provided. Also provided are methods of modulating an immune response using the modified defensin polypeptides. In one embodiment, a method is provided for modulating an antimicrobial activity. In another embodiment, a method is provided for inhibiting a cytotoxic activity. Also disclosed are methods for treating diseases in a subject that are associated with an immune response, such as inflammatory and pulmonary diseases, using the disclosed modified defensin polypeptides.

Abstract: A cargo harness for securing an item resting on a vehicle seat with a back support. The harness has three belts. The first belt wraps around the seat back support and is tightened with fasteners at the end of the belt. The second belt, which is attached to the first belt, wraps around the piece of cargo in the horizontal plane and is tightened with fasteners at the end of the belt. The third belt is also attached to the first belt, and it wraps around the piece of cargo in the vertical plane and is tightened with fasteners at the end of the belt. The seat back belt and the horizontal cargo belt form a figure 8 when viewed from above. The vertical cargo belt lies in a vertical plane that bisects the ends of the figure 8.

Abstract: A method of acidizing a subterranean formation with a diverting agent composed of a gelled or thickened viscoelastic foam or fluid generated from (i.) an amidoamine oxide gelling agent and (ii.) an acid or foam, water and/or brine. The gelled or thickened foam or fluid may be generated in-situ or introduced directly into the formation by mixing of the amidoamine oxide gelling agent and acid or foam, water and/or brine. As the acid spends, the acidizing fluid thickens. When the acid is further spent, the fluid viscosity declines eventually returning to a low viscosity state, allowing for easy cleanup. The process allows for selective acidizing of less permeable zones of the formation and more uniform stimulation of the hydrocarbon bearing formation.

Abstract: A cryptographic system (500) includes cryptographic sub-units (510) and associated input buffers (520) connected to a scheduler (530) and a reassembler (540). The scheduler (530) receives packets, where each of the packets includes one or more data blocks, and assigns each of the packets to one of the sub-units (510). The input buffers (520) temporarily store the packets from the scheduler (530). Each of the sub-units (510) performs a cryptographic operation on the data blocks from the associated input buffer (520) to form transformed blocks. The reassembler (540) receives the transformed blocks from the sub-units (510), reassembles the packets from the transformed blocks, and outputs the reassembled packets in a same order in which the packets were received by the scheduler (530).

Abstract: A disconnectable mooring system for a vessel comprises a mooring buoy member and a turret structure mounted in a moonpool of the vessel. The mooring buoy member is anchored to the seabed and has a plurality of passages each adapted to receive a riser. The turret structure has a receptacle for receiving the buoy member and a locking device for locking the buoy member in the receptacle. The turret structure accommodates a plurality of conduits to be connected to risers installed in passages of the buoy member and the turret structure is rotatably supported in the moonpool of the vessel by at least a bearing assembly mounted above sea level. The buoy member is provided with a conical outer casing and the receptacle of the turret structure has a cone shape corresponding to the conical outer casing of the buoy member. The turret structure comprises a turntable carrying the conduits to be connected to the risers.

Abstract: A method of measuring jitter of a packet flow includes identifying the data packet flow at each of a first and second network locations by analyzing the data fields of each of the packets in the flow. The method associates a transmit time code with each packet transmitted from the first location, and associates a receive time code with each packet received at the second location. The method calculates inter-arrival times for consecutive pairs of packets by (i) subtracting the transmit time code of the first packet from the transmit time code of the second packet, (ii) subtracting the receive time code associated with the first packet from the receive time code associated with the second packet, and (iii) subtracting the results. The method includes calculating a jitter value as a smoothed version of two or more inter-arrival times, smoothed over a predetermined number of pairs of consecutive packets.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for subterranean well bore operations. An exemplary embodiment of a method is a method of activating a device in a subterranean well bore, the device having a baffle adapter configured to achieve sealing contact with a cementing plug, the cementing plug having an outer body and a detachable inner mandrel attached to the outer body, including the steps of: displacing the cementing plug into contact with the baffle adapter so that the outer body of the cementing plug achieves sealing contact with the baffle adapter; and applying a differential pressure across the cementing plug, thereby activating the device. An exemplary embodiment of an apparatus is a baffle adapter, having an inner bore designed to engage and seal against the outer body of a plug.

Abstract: A protective barricade system to prevent persons from accidentally falling through holes in roofs or floors or from the edges of stairwells, balconies, or pitched roofs. The barricade system comprises a plurality of barricade brackets that are spaced apart and can be releasably attached to the underlying surface.

Abstract: An apparatus, system and method are provided for measuring state properties without requiring an internal or proximate power supply. The apparatus provides a sensing device that is responsive to fluctuations in a state property that are encountered within the test zone. Due to the fluctuations experienced by the sensing device, a sensing signal is generated and transmitted to an optical device, such as an interferometer. The sensing signal's affect on the optical device produces an interference pattern that may be detected remotely and correlated to the fluctuation experienced by the sensing device.

Abstract: One embodiment includes an apparatus comprising a steerable well bore drilling tool having a main tool body. The steerable well bore drilling tool includes an inertial measurement unit to output a measurement used to determine an azimuthal deviation and inclination of the steerable well bore drilling tool during a drilling operation.

Abstract: An electrical connector with a release mechanism configured to prevent it from hooking other cables lying transverse to its path of removal from its receptacle, when it is being removed. The default or equilibrium state of the release mechanism is such that its end remains in contact with the body of the connector, whereby any transverse cable in its path of removal simply slides over the release mechanism of the connector being removed. This prevents damage to the connector and damage to other cables/equipment which would otherwise be ensnared. Embodiments of the present invention can be used with virtually all standard connectors such as, for example, RJ11, RJ14 and RJ45 (telephone registered jacks) or 8P8C, 6P6C and 6P4C (modular connectors).