Abstract: A tubing spool of a wellhead assembly can include a body having a body cavity, a first channel, and a second channel disposed therein, where the body cavity is configured to receive a tubing hanger used to couple to and suspend a tubing string, where the first channel is configured to be in communication with a tubing string cavity within the tubing string, where the second channel is configured to be in communication with an annulus located between the tubing string and a production casing, and where the first channel and the second channel are each configured to facilitate flow of at least one of a plurality of fluids in either direction independently of each other. The tubing spool can also include a first back pressure valve disposed within the first channel and a second back pressure valve disposed within the second channel.

Abstract: A tubing spool of a wellhead assembly can include a body having a body cavity, a first channel, and a second channel disposed therein, where the body cavity is configured to receive a tubing hanger used to couple to and suspend a tubing string, where the first channel is configured to be in communication with a tubing string cavity within the tubing string, where the second channel is configured to be in communication with an annulus located between the tubing string and a production casing, and where the first channel and the second channel are each configured to facilitate flow of at least one of a plurality of fluids in either direction independently of each other. The tubing spool can also include a first back pressure valve disposed within the first channel and a second back pressure valve disposed within the second channel.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for privacy protection. In one embodiment, disclosed is a privacy protection apparatus having a bottom enclosure that houses a listening device. The apparatus includes a speaker and a source of vocal white noise placed in the bottom enclosure. The apparatus can also include a lid coupled to the bottom enclosure, and the lid houses a speaker and a source of vocal white noise. In some embodiments, the bottom enclosure includes a false bottom, and the lid includes a false top. The bottom enclosure can have an access port to, for example, receive a cable for charging the listening device.

Abstract: A tubing spool of a wellhead assembly can include a body having a body cavity, a first channel, and a second channel disposed therein, where the body cavity is configured to receive a tubing hanger used to couple to and suspend a tubing string, where the first channel is configured to be in communication with a tubing string cavity within the tubing string, where the second channel is configured to be in communication with an annulus located between the tubing string and a production casing, and where the first channel and the second channel are each configured to facilitate flow of at least one of a plurality of fluids in either direction independently of each other. The tubing spool can also include a first back pressure valve disposed within the first channel and a second back pressure valve disposed within the second channel.

Abstract: A thermal array has a first heating element, a second, transparent heating element, a first insulator, a second insulator, and a cooling block. The transparent heating element is a layer of glass with one or more heating wires cast into, or coupled onto, the glass, or a thermo-resistive coating sputtered onto one side of the glass. The transparent heating element may further have a temperature sensor to monitor the temperature and thereby ensure that the layer of glass is held at a predetermined temperature. The thermal array includes bandpass light filters to be able to detect the exact fluorescence being produced.

Abstract: A method of nucleic acid extraction utilizes small magnetizable beads (e.g., iron, cobalt, nickel, etc.) that react to the presence of a magnetic field by participating in a paramagnetic flux. The magnetizable beads clump together in a mass inside of a reaction vessel. The reaction vessel can be different shapes and sizes, but it is typically a cylindrical test tube. A magnet is positioned proximal to the reaction vessel with the beads inside. By rotating the magnet around the tube (or spinning the tube), the beads will follow the magnet around the tube due to the magnetic flux, creating a grinding or macerating effect while mixing the contents. When biological samples are also placed into the reaction vessel with the magnetizable beads, they become homogenized in a solution in the reaction vessel as the magnet moves around the vessel.

Abstract: A computer implemented method and computer system generating dollar value estimates of the value of persons and property at risk along an aircraft route, taking into account the aircraft's physical and operating characteristics. The system comprises a property and population datasets, maps dataset for a user interface to select a route and specifying an aircraft's physical and operational characteristics.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a thermal array comprises a first heating element and a second heating element, each surrounded by insulators which cover five sides of each heating element, held in position by a cooling block. Two thermal arrays are placed opposite each other creating a conduction channel wherein a sample vessel is transported between the heating elements and cooling block as the reaction requires. Due to the low energy consumption of each array, the thermal array system may function using standard D-cell batteries.

Abstract: Traditional thermocyclers are heating devices that change sample temperatures by adding heat energy into a sample block that is usually a large metal block and then extracting that heat energy out of the block in a process called ramping the temperature. Presented herein is a technology that eliminates the large mass sample block and ramping temperatures in a sample block and thus in a sample vessel. This design called a Thermal Array requires a fraction of the energy used to process a sample. In addition, the array allows a much smaller thermal cycler to be designed leading to portability of a device. This technology is designed to allow optimal polymerase chain reactions to be executed.

Abstract: A first object of the invention is galactosaminogalactan comprising ?1-4 linked galactose, ?1-4 linked N-acetylgalactosamine, and optionally ?1-4 linked galactosamine, for use in the treatment of at least one inflammatory disease. Another object of the invention is a pharmaceutical composition comprising a galactosaminogalactan comprising ?1-4 linked galactose, ?1-4 linked N-acetylgalactosamine, and optionally ?1-4 linked galactosamine, as defined herein, and optionally a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. Another object of the invention is a pharmaceutical composition according to the invention, for use in the treatment of at least one inflammatory disease. Another object of the invention is an inhibitor of IL-1RA for use in the treatment of human fungal diseases. Another object of the invention is a pharmaceutical composition comprising an inhibitor of IL-1RA, and optionally a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

Abstract: A system and method for redistribution of the flow of fuel under faulted conditions in a fuel cell system is disclosed. The fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack; a fuel tank for storing fuel; fuel injectors that sequentially supply fuel from the fuel tank to the fuel cell stack; and a controller for determining whether a fault condition exists in one of the fuel injectors. If a fault condition exists in the first injector, the controller is capable of redistributing the flow of fuel from a first injector to a second injector.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a thermal array comprises a first heating element and a second heating element, each surrounded by insulators which cover five sides of each heating element, held in position by a cooling block. Two thermal arrays are placed opposite each other creating a conduction channel wherein a sample vessel is transported between the heating elements and cooling block as the reaction requires. Due to the low energy consumption of each array, the thermal array system may function using standard D-cell batteries.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method and system for authenticating third tier servers in a distributed application environment by using a central procedure for recognizing and managing third tier server certificates at the client system side. Third tier server certificates which have been accepted by the central procedure are stored in a common database of the distributed application environment and the client system transmits via a secure connection to the server systems all necessary information of said third tier server certificates being accepted as trustworthy for determining to accept or to decline a third tier server. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention only fingerprints of third tier server certificates being accepted as trustworthy together with server name which has transmitted said third tier server certificate, and certificate name are transferred via a secure connection to the server systems of the distributed application environment.

Abstract: An algorithm for determining a polarization curve of a fuel cell stack. When the fuel cell stack is running and certain data validity criteria have been met, the algorithm goes into a data collection mode where it collects stack data, such as stack current density, average cell voltage and minimum cell voltage. When the stack is shut down, the algorithm uses a cell voltage model to solve a least squares problem to estimate predetermined parameters that define the polarization curve. If the estimated parameters satisfy certain termination criteria, then the estimated parameters are stored to be used by a system controller to calculate the polarization curve of the stack.

Abstract: Traditional thermocyclers are heating devices that change sample temperatures by adding heat energy into a sample block that is usually a large metal block and then extracting that heat energy out of the block in a process called ramping the temperature. Presented herein is a technology that eliminates the large mass sample block and ramping temperatures in a sample block and thus in a sample vessel. This design called a Thermal Array requires a fraction of the energy used to process a sample. In addition, the array allows a much smaller thermal cycler to be designed leading to portability of a device. This technology is designed to allow optimal polymerase chain reactions to be executed.

Abstract: An algorithm for determining a polarization curve of a fuel cell stack. When the fuel cell stack is running and certain data validity criteria have been met, the algorithm goes into a data collection mode where it collects stack data, such as stack current density, average cell voltage and minimum cell voltage. When the stack is shut down, the algorithm uses a cell voltage model to solve a least squares problem to estimate predetermined parameters that define the polarization curve. If the estimated parameters satisfy certain termination criteria, then the estimated parameters are stored to be used by a system controller to calculate the polarization curve of the stack.

Abstract: A system and method for redistribution of the flow of fuel under faulted conditions in a fuel cell system is disclosed. The fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack; a fuel tank for storing fuel; fuel injectors that sequentially supply fuel from the fuel tank to the fuel cell stack; and a controller for determining whether a fault condition exists in one of the fuel injectors. If a fault condition exists in the first injector, the controller is capable of redistributing the flow of fuel from a first injector to a second injector.

Abstract: A portable sign which includes a base member having a generally cylindrical rigid lateral wall with an air input opening and an upper opening. An air blower is positioned in the base member, and an elongated display member having a flexible generally cylindrical section extends upwardly from the generally cylindrical rigid lateral wall of the base member. The flexible cylindrical section has a lower open end connecting to a disc shaped cut out in the base member and has a closed top section having an air exit opening. Lettering will be displayed on the flexible cylindrical section.

Abstract: A postformable ultraviolet curable primer coating composition is disclosed which consists essentially of: (A) from 10% to 80% of a linear acrylate-terminated polyurethane based on a polycarbonate diol; (B) from 2% to 35%, of acrylic acid; (C) from 15% to 65% of a monoethylenically unsaturated monomer having the rapid ultraviolet cure rate associated with acrylate monomers and having a glass transition temperature above 35.degree. C.,; (D) from 0% to 25% of a polyacrylate monomer; and (E) photoinitiator rendering the composition curable with ultraviolet light.

Abstract: Ultraviolet-curable, liquid coating compositions are disclosed which are resistant to abrasion and which are strongly adherent to basic plastic surfaces. These compositions comprise one or more polyacrylates or polymethacrylates, preferably including from 70% to 85% of trimethylol propane triacrylate, from 5% to 15% of a carboxylic acid which contains acrylic or methacrylic unsaturation, preferably acrylic acid itself, and photoinitiators (which are preferably ketonic and which desirably comprise a substituted acetophenone and benzophenone) are used to render the composition sensitive to ultraviolet light. The polyacrylate component preferably includes from 1% to 12% of a diacrylate or dimethacrylate of a diglycidyl ether of a bisphenol in which the molecular weight of the diglycidyl ether is less than about 600. The above proportions are based on the total weight of polymerizable material. The composition preferably also includes 0.5% to 2.