Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method for picking up a drill bit off the bottom of an opening in a subsurface formation. The method includes setting a predetermined level of differential pressure across a mud motor at which pickup of the drill bit is to be initiated, and monitoring the differential pressure across the mud motor. The method also includes allowing differential pressure across the mud motor to decrease to the predetermined level, and when the predetermined level is reached, automatically picking up the drill bit.

Abstract: The present description relates to a method and system for generating a fuel from high sulfur fuel waste materials having a reduced SO2 emission. In one example, the fuel may include petroleum coke, a biomass constituent, and an alkali substituent. Further in another example, the fuel may include iron oxide catalyst increasing the capture of SO2.

Abstract: A circuit-carrying assembly for use in an imaging system, the assembly comprising a first circuit carrier; a second circuit carrier spaced apart from the first circuit carrier; at least one attachment member to attach the circuit-carrying assembly to a rigid support member; and a compliant part between the first circuit carrier and the second circuit carrier, the compliant part allowing the second circuit carrier to move towards and away from the first circuit carrier.

Abstract: A projectile resistant desk. The desk includes a desktop support having a receptacle and a removable desktop hingedly coupled to a slip rod; wherein the slip rod substantially corresponds to the receptacle and allows the desktop to be removably secured to the desktop support. The projectile resistant desk is suited for frame styled or storage styled supports. The desktop can be made of a variety of materials including bullet-resistant glass, polycarbonates, polyurethane, fiberglass and resins and can include one or more handles on its underside. The desk can further include a projectile resistant leg shield.

Abstract: An annulus spacer for a fuel channel assembly of a nuclear reactor, and method of manufacturing an annulus spacer. The fuel channel assembly includes a calandria tube and a pressure tube positioned at least partially within the calandria tube. The annulus spacer includes a garter spring configured to surround a portion of the pressure tube to maintain a gap between the calandria tube and the pressure tube. A girdle wire is positioned substantially within the garter spring and configured to form a loop around the pressure tube. The girdle wire includes a first segment and a second segment that overlaps the first segment to form an overlap, the overlap extending between approximately 45 degrees and approximately 135 degrees to reduce the possibility of girdle wire twisting.

Abstract: A fluid separation assembly and method are provided. The assembly has a hollow fiber bundle with a plurality of hollow fiber membranes. The assembly further has a pair of tubesheets, each encapsulating respective ends of the hollow fiber bundle. The assembly further has a plurality of radial through openings formed along a circumference of one or both of the tubesheets and radially through a body portion in one or both of the tubesheets. The radial through openings include center connected radial through openings and partial radial through openings, and intersect each, or substantially each, of the hollow fiber membranes. The assembly further has a housing surrounding the hollow fiber bundle and the tubesheets. The housing has a feed inlet port, a permeate outlet port, and a non-permeate outlet port. The feed inlet port and the non-permeate outlet port are in parallel alignment with a longitudinal central axis of the housing.

Abstract: Provided are inexpensive devices and methods for obtaining emission or scattering spectra of multiple particles simultaneously and for characterizing the particles based on their emission or scattering spectra. The disclosed devices and methods are useful for analyzing multiple particles to determine one or more characteristics of the particles, such as size, type, elastic scattering, fluorescence and/or Raman characteristics, for distinguishing between biological and non-biological particles, and for biomedical assaying applications. Laboratory or research grade spectroscopic devices are described. Smartphone-based spectroscopic devices are also described, where various components of a smartphone are used for data collection and analysis purposes.

Abstract: An image capture system and method wherein an image capture device has a plurality of virtual image capture devices and is configured to capture images according to a selected virtual image capture device. The selection of virtual image capture devices may vary with time, the number of images taken, or the occurrence of certain events. Images may be communicated over a data link to one or more processors, which may display the images to users. Users may add, edit or delete profiles, causing corresponding changes to virtual imaging devices. Virtual image capture devices may communicate with each other and may be configured to capture images based on analysis of images taken by other virtual capture devices.

Abstract: A device and a method for forming a device are disclosed. The device includes a substrate with a high voltage (HV) device region. The HV device region is defined with first and second device isolation regions and an internal dielectric region which are shallow trench isolation (STI) regions. A HV transistor is disposed in the HV device region. The HV transistor includes a gate dielectric layer on the substrate, a gate disposed on the gate dielectric layer, and a source region disposed in the substrate adjacent to the gate and first device isolation region while a drain region disposed in the substrate adjacent to the second device isolation region. A drift well and a body well are disposed in the substrate. At least one buried RESURF region is disposed under the internal dielectric region.

Abstract: An annulus spacer for a fuel channel assembly of a nuclear reactor, and method of manufacturing an annulus spacer. The fuel channel assembly includes a calandria tube and a pressure tube positioned at least partially within the calandria tube. The annulus spacer includes a garter spring configured to surround a portion of the pressure tube to maintain a gap between the calandria tube and the pressure tube. A girdle wire is positioned substantially within the garter spring and configured to form a loop around the pressure tube. The girdle wire includes a first segment and a second segment that overlaps the first segment to form an overlap, the overlap extending between approximately 45 degrees and approximately 135 degrees to reduce the possibility of girdle wire twisting.

Abstract: A method of assessing hole cleaning effectiveness of drilling comprises a) determining a mass of cuttings removed from a well wherein determining the mass of cuttings removed from a well comprises: i) measuring a total mass of fluid entering a well; ii) measuring a total mass of fluid exiting the well; and iii) determining a difference between the total mass of fluid exiting the well and total mass of fluid entering the well; b) determining a mass of rock excavated in the well; and c) determining a mass of cuttings remaining in the well wherein determining the mass of cuttings remaining in the well comprises: determining a difference between the determined mass of rock excavated in the well and the determined mass of cuttings removed from the well.

Abstract: Embodiments of packaged ice vending machines are provided. One embodiment comprises an array having a plurality of longitudinal dispensing cells. Each of the dispensing cells has a substantially horizontal surface that supports a respective ice package and a dispensing cell opening sized to permit passage of the respective ice package through the dispensing cell opening when pushed in a direction toward the dispensing cell opening. An elongated vertical ice package chute receives ice packages from the plurality of dispensing cell openings and delivers the ice packages to an ice package dispensing surface situated below the dispensing cell openings. The ice package dispensing surface is accessible by a user of the vending machine to enable the user who is situated outside of the vending machine to remove a vended ice package.

Abstract: Devices and methods of forming a device are disclosed. The method includes providing a wafer that includes a center insulator layer sandwiched by a top substrate and a bottom substrate. Both sides of the wafer are patterned and etched in sequence to form deep trenches in both substrates. A conductive seed layer is formed on both sides of the wafer in sequence to cover all exposed areas. Both sides of the wafer are electroplated simultaneously to fill both deep trenches with a conductive material. Both sides of the wafer are polished in sequence to form a coplanar surface. A protective layer is deposited on both sides of the wafer in sequence. Selective portions of the protective layer on both sides are patterned and etched in sequence to expose micro bump bonding areas. Micro bumps are formed on both sides of the wafer in sequence to facilitate electrical connection.

Abstract: An antenna subsystem having advantageous characteristics for single channel monopulse tracking applications is described. The antenna subsystem may include an array of wave guides such as a square array of four wave guides operating in a monopulse tracking operating frequency band. A single aperture horn may be connected with the array such that one or more wave guide geometry transitions deliberately generates higher order modes. The single aperture horn may be configured such that the dominant mode and the higher order modes combine to generate a corresponding radiation pattern having an enhanced symmetry and/or uniformity. A wave guide circuit may be coupled with the array and configured to generate one or more signals usable to track a moving target such as an elevation error tracking signal and an azimuth error tracking signal.

Abstract: An improved underground sprinkler system having pop-up sprinklers installed within specifically arranged underground trenches. The kit comprises a flow control member that attaches to the water faucet can be manually or automatically switched between water zones where the underground sprinkler are placed.

Abstract: Systems and methods of finalizing a semiconductor memory are disclosed. A method includes receiving an instruction to finalize data at a data storage device that includes a controller coupled to a semiconductor memory. The data storage device also includes a status indicator to indicate a finalize status of the semiconductor memory. In response to receiving the instruction to finalize the data at the data storage device, the status indicator is set to a finalize value. Write to the semiconductor memory operations are prevented by the controller in response to the status indicator having the finalize value.

Abstract: A system and method for storing nitrogen-enriched air (NEA) comprising an air separation device (ASM) and producing NEA in the ASM. One example implementation may include bleed air being supplied to a pressure intensifier. The pressure intensifier is powered by NEA compressed by a first compressor, and the pressure of the bleed air is increased by the pressure intensifier and supplied to an ASM. In another example implementation, a turbine may be drivingly connected to a second compressor and the bleed air supplied to the second compressor. The NEA compressed by the first compressor is supplied to and drives the turbine, which drives the second compressor, and the air compressed by the second compressor is supplied to the ASM. In another example implementation, a turbine may drive an electric generator, which in turn may power an electric motor that drives the second compressor.

Abstract: A delivery service system includes a cabinet having a plurality of controlled-access storage cells, located in a plurality of zones, a user interface, a user evaluation device, and a processor. The system receives a user request to accept an item for delivery, detects user physical characteristics, and provides user access to a storage cell in a selected zone, the zone being selected based on the detected user physical characteristics.

Abstract: A support assembly is for an electrical system including an electrical enclosure, an electrical switching apparatus removably disposed in the electrical enclosure, and a plate member coupled to the electrical switching apparatus. The plate member includes a distal portion facing away from the electrical enclosure. The electrical switching apparatus includes an operating handle extending through the distal portion. The support assembly includes a base assembly. The base assembly includes a base. The support assembly further includes a number of brace assemblies each coupled to the base and structured to be coupled to the distal portion of the plate member.