Abstract: Method and apparatuses for diffuse optical tomography (DOT) are disclosed herein. A DOT device includes a substrate, one or more radiation sources, a plurality of detectors, and structures disposed over the second surface of the plurality of detectors. The one or more radiation sources are disposed over or under a surface of the substrate. Each detector of the plurality of detectors has a first surface and a second surface. The first surface is opposite the second surface. The first surface of the plurality of detectors disposed over or under the surface of the substrate. The method of DOT method of includes emitting and scattering radiation from one or more sources of a DOT device; detecting scattered radiation with a plurality of detectors of the DOT device; and translating the scattered radiation that is detected into data.

Abstract: A method for treating surfaces of equipment comprising applying a Self Assembled Monolayer of a moiety to at least one surface of the equipment, wherein the equipment is selected from the group consisting of level sensors, sucker rods, turbine meters, Coriolis meters, magnetic flow meters, down hole pumps, check valves, valves, cables, drill bits, wire lines, and pigs, and the moiety may be present in mono, di or tri headed form or as a bis, gem-bis or tris headed form, and is selected from the group consisting of thiols, amines, silanes, siloxanes, selenides, tellurides, isocyanides, or heterocycles, and equipment having at least one surface comprising such a treated surface.

Abstract: A method for treating surfaces of equipment comprising applying a Self Assembled Monolayer of a moiety to at least one surface of the equipment, wherein the equipment is selected from the group consisting of level sensors, sucker rods, turbine meters, Coriolis meters, magnetic flow meters, down hole pumps, check valves, valves, cables, drill bits, wire lines, and pigs, and the moiety may be present in di or tri headed form or as a bis, gem-bis or tris headed form, and is a phosphonate, and equipment having at least one surface comprising such a treated surface.

Abstract: Hybrid sol-gel and SAM coatings, methods of applying hybrid sol-gel and SAM coatings to a substrate, surfaces comprising hybrid sol-gel and SAM coatings, and apparatus, machines, equipment and products having at least one surface comprising hybrid sol-gel and SAM coatings.

Abstract: A method for treating surfaces of equipment comprising applying a Self Assembled Monolayer of a moiety to at least one surface of the equipment, wherein the equipment is selected from the group consisting of level sensors, sucker rods, turbine meters, Coriolis meters, magnetic flow meters, down hole pumps, check valves, valves, cables, drill bits, wire lines, and pigs, and the moiety may be present in mono, di or tri headed form or as a bis, gem-bis or tris headed form, and is selected from the group consisting of thiols, amines, silanes, siloxanes, selenides, tellurides, isocyanides, or heterocycles, and equipment having at least one surface comprising such a treated surface.

Abstract: A method for treating surfaces of equipment comprising applying a Self Assembled Monolayer of a moiety to at least one surface of the equipment, wherein the equipment is selected from the group consisting of level sensors, sucker rods, turbine meters, Coriolis meters, magnetic flow meters, down hole pumps, check valves, valves, cables, drill bits, wire lines, and pigs, and the moiety may be present in di or tri headed form or as a bis, gem-bis or tris headed form, and is a phosphonate, and equipment having at least one surface comprising such a treated surface.

Abstract: A method of forming a fracturing fluid including mixing produced water or boron-containing oilfield water having an in-situ boron concentration greater than about 20 mg/L at the time of mixing with a hydratable boron crosslinkable polymer to form a fracturing fluid.

Abstract: Exhaust emissions resulting from the combustion of hydrocarbon fuels in compression ignition engines may be reduced using a homopolymer that may be polyisobutylene, polypropylene, and/or hyperbranched polyalpha-olefins. The homopolymer may have a molecular weight of from about 1600 to about 275,000. Optionally, an alkyl nitrate such as 2-ethylhexylnitrate (2EHN), and/or a peroxide, such as hydrogen peroxide, may also be used together with the homopolymer. Both NOx and particulate matter emissions (PM) may be reduced using ppm quantities of the additive compositions; alternatively, NOx emissions may be lowered or reduced while PM emissions do not substantially increase.

Abstract: Naphthenic acid solids and/or emulsions can be inhibited by introducing an additive to crude oil prior to or concurrent with the deprotonation of the naphthenic acids present in the crude oil. The additives may be surfactants and can be amines, quaternary ammonium compounds, quaternary phosphonium compounds, and mixtures of both. The additives may also be linear compounds having at least two carboxylic acid or acrylic acid functional moieties.

Abstract: Naphthenic acid solids and/or emulsions can be inhibited by introducing an additive to crude oil prior to or concurrent with the deprotonation of the naphthenic acids present in the crude oil. The additives may be surfactants and can be amines, quaternary ammonium compounds, quaternary phosphonium compounds, and mixtures of both. The additives may also be linear compounds having at least two carboxylic acid or acrylic acid functional moieties.

Abstract: Exhaust emissions resulting from the combustion of hydrocarbon fuels in compression ignition engines may be reduced using a homopolymer that may be polyisobutylene, polypropylene, and/or hyperbranched polyalpha-olefins. Optionally, an alkyl nitrate such as 2-ethylhexylnitrate (2EHN), and/or a peroxide, such as hydrogen peroxide, may also be used together with the homopolymer. Both NOx and particulate matter emissions (PM) may be reduced using ppm quantities of the additive compositions; alternatively, NOx emissions may be lowered or reduced while PM emissions do not substantially increase.

Abstract: Provided are computer-based methods and apparatus for carrying out an incentive award program by a business entity, comprising the steps of participating in a transaction having at least two parties, determining at least one of these parties to be an award recipient, and providing as the incentive award an investment vehicle that comprises at least one issue of a sector of equity in the incentive award program itself, and wherein the business entity may be the owner or an authorized operator of the incentive award program.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and system for controlling the formation of liquid or gas slugs along a pipeline. In embodiments, an injection unit injects a liquid surface tension reducing agent, such as a foamant, into the pipeline upstream of the high point. A control unit can be used to control the injection unit. In certain arrangements, the control unit adjusts the injection of the agent based on measured parameters of interest. In embodiments where the control unit utilizes temperature measurements, one or more temperature sensors are positioned along the pipeline. The control unit utilizes the temperature measurements to determine whether a predetermined condition exists or a liquid or gas slug is present.

Abstract: A lockable media storage box includes a base and a lid connected to the base with at least one hinge. The base and lid include elements that cooperate with a locking to allows the lid to be locked in the closed position. In one embodiment, the lock is received in the concave opening disposed at the front of the storage container. The lock may be unlocked with a special key or may be unlocked by destroying portions of the lock that are designed to be destroyed. In another embodiment of the invention, a sliding lock is carried by the container. The sliding lock may be carried inside the container or on the front wall of the container.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for reducing end effect on a preform assembly during manufacture of optical fiber. The present invention provides apparatus and methods that apply a first vacuum pressure to a preform assembly during a first portion of the draw of optical fiber from the preform assembly and a second lesser vacuum pressure during a second portion of the draw. The second vacuum pressure may be a step down pressure or a gradual or an incremental decrease in pressure over time. The present invention further provides apparatus and methods that use an intermediate rod such as a dummy preform core rod and/or a support rod placed at the back of the preform core rod, wherein the preform end effect occurs on the dummy preform core rod, as opposed to the core rod of the preform assembly or is eliminated altogether by the support rod.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an apparatus for performing exercises including a base unit which doubles as a self-contained case for transporting the exercise device, as well as a base for use in performing the exercises. The base unit includes a handle and can be easily moved from one location to another. The exercise apparatus includes a resistance band with distal hand grips that can be unstowed from within the case and inserted through a roller in the base to allow the performance of a variety of resistance exercises. It is possible to exercise all of the major muscle groups, and to accurately and consistently set the desired level of resistance in order to replicate the exercises performed on larger and more expensive universal exercise apparatus.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system that monitors and controls the precipitation of asphaltenes in a formation fluid recovered from a subsurface formation or reservoir by using a sensor to make a direct real-time on-site measurement of the relative concentration asphaltenes from at least one location at a wellsite or in a pipeline. In a system including a fiber optic attenuated total reflectance probe for sensing asphaltenes and using a processor to compare sequential measurements, the system of the present invention can trigger the addition of additives in response to a change in asphaltene concentration in the formation fluid, preventing precipitation.

Abstract: A system for monitoring foaming or carry over, at a well site, of a formation fluid by taking a sample of the gas exiting from a high-pressure separator and either measuring the density of the sample or measuring the amount of oil particles present. A correlation of the density or optical density with a level of foaming is made and a signal is transmitted to a device to control the supply of at least one additive to control the foaming.