Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods of using immunomodulatory sterols as vaccine adjuvants. Accordingly, certain embodiments relates to pharmaceutical compositions containing at least one antigen and at least one immunomodulatory sterol; and, methods of inducing an immunomodulatory response in a patient by administering an immunomodulatory-effective amount of at least one immunomodulatory sterol.

Abstract: Methods and systems for determining conductivity of a reservoir formation based on skin effect correction and an analytical model for admittance of the reservoir formation are presented in this disclosure. At least one analytical model of admittance of the formation can be initially built as a function of conductivity of the formation. A plurality of samples for the admittance of the formation can be generated, and one or more parameters of the at least one analytical model can be determined based on the plurality of samples and the at least one model. Then, admittance of the formation can be measured, and conductivity of the formation can be calculated from the measured admittance based on the analytical model with the parameters.

Abstract: A first magnetic cavity transmitter is in the conductive tool body. A first magnetic cavity receiver is in the conductive tool body. A first transmit module is coupled to the first magnetic cavity transmitter. A first receiver module is coupled to the first magnetic cavity receiver.

Abstract: Methods and tools for modifying magnetic tilt angle using a magnetically anisotropic material are disclosed. An electromagnetic logging tool includes an antenna coil oriented at a physical tilt angle relative to a longitudinal axis of the tool and a magnetically anisotropic material that modifies a magnetic tilt angle of the coil relative to the physical tilt angle a coil tilted at a physical tilt angle relative to an axis of the tool.

Abstract: A peritoneal dialysis system includes: a drain container; a drain line placed in fluid communication with the drain container and configured to be placed in fluid communication with a patient's peritoneal cavity; a vacuum source configured to apply a pneumatic force to cause used dialysis fluid to flow through the drain line from the patient's peritoneal cavity to the drain container; a weight sensor configured to output a weight of used dialysis fluid delivered to the drain container from the patient's peritoneal cavity; and a controller configured to: (i) determine an actual flow rate of used dialysis fluid removed from the patient's peritoneal cavity based on the output from the weight sensor; (ii) compare the actual flow rate to a desired flow rate; and (iii) adjust the pneumatic force applied by the vacuum source to attempt to match the actual flow rate to the optimal flow rate.

Abstract: System and methods for geosteering inversion are provided. A downhole tool's response along a path of a wellbore to be drilled through a formation is predicted over different stages of a downhole operation, based on each of a plurality of initial models of the formation. Each initial model represents a different number of formation layers over a specified range. The tool's actual response with respect to one or more formation parameters is determined, based on measurements obtained during a current stage of the operation. The actual response is compared with that predicted from each of the initial models. At least one of the models is selected as an inversion model, based on the comparison and a selection criterion. Inversion is performed for subsequent stages of the operation along the wellbore path, based on the selected model. The wellbore path is adjusted for the subsequent stages, based on the inversion results.

Abstract: A method of real-time impedance matching includes conveying a tool through a borehole where the tool includes a transmit cavity antenna and receive cavity antenna for transmitting and receiving signals through a subsurface formation. The tool also includes a cable for routing signals within the tool and at least one variable inductor or variable capacitor in an impedance-matching circuit. The method further includes measuring a reflection of a signal transmitted through the formation and determining a target impedance based on the impedance of the cable and the reflection. The method further includes adjusting the at least one variable inductor or variable capacitor such that the impedance of the matching circuit substantially equals the target impedance and receiving a signal from the formation via the adjusted impedance of the matching circuit.

Abstract: A pixelation-based approach to summarize downhole inversion results acquires inversion solutions and generates an initial model. Each layered solution is pixelated into pixels where each pixel contains the resistivity value of the initial model. A weighted function that weighs pixels according to their proximity to the logging tool may be used to generate the pixelated model to thereby improve accuracy. A statistical summary study is performed to identify the best pixelated model, which is then used to determine one or more formation characteristics.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments include systems and methods for multi-frequency focusing signal processing in wellbore logging. In one embodiment, the method includes obtaining a harmonic frequency set to evaluate a resistivity of a formation at a wellbore location, where the harmonic frequency set includes at least one harmonic frequency of a fundamental frequency. The method also includes selecting a waveform from a library of waveforms based on the obtained harmonic frequency set, where the library of waveforms includes a plurality of waveforms having different frequency spectrums. The selected waveform corresponds to a predicted conductivity of the formation. The method further includes generating, based on the selected waveform, a binary waveform for use in evaluating the resistivity of the formation at the wellbore location.

Abstract: Electromagnetic sensors which provide high coupling gain between the transmitter and receiver of a dielectric tool include a conductive pad having a cavity filled with dielectric filler, and an electrical conductor that provides electrical current to a conductive feeder placed inside the dielectric filler. During operation, current is fed to the conductive feeder to thereby produce an electric monopole that feeds electromagnetic power into the cavity, which then radiates out into the formation as electromagnetic signals. Because of the design of the electromagnetic sensors, the transmitter/receiver coupling gain and SNR are optimized over the entire range of the dielectric constant (i.e., 5??r?80).

Abstract: A communication system for use in a wellbore can include a first cylindrically shaped band that can be positioned around a first outer housing of a first subsystem of a well tool. The first cylindrically shaped band can be operable to electromagnetically couple with a second cylindrically shaped band. The second cylindrically shaped band can be positioned around a second outer housing of a second subsystem of the well tool. The first cylindrically shaped band can electromagnetically couple with the second cylindrically shaped band via an electromagnetic field or by transmitting a current to the second cylindrically shaped band through a fluid in the wellbore.

Abstract: A system and method for evaluating a subterranean earth formation as well as a method of steering a drill bit in a subterranean earth formation. The system comprises a logging tool that is operable to measure formation data and locatable in a wellbore intersecting the subterranean earth formation. The system also comprises a processor that is in communication with the logging tool. The processor is operable to calculate multiple distance-to-bed-boundary (DTBB) solutions using the measured formation data, identify DTBB solutions that satisfy a threshold, convert the identified solutions into pixelated solutions by dividing the identified solutions into pixels, generate a formation model based on the pixelated solutions, and evaluate the formation using the generated formation model.

Abstract: A telemetry and communication system and method. The system may comprise a well production system, which may comprise a telemetry sensor disposed in a production well below a highly conductive layer and a transmitter. The system may further comprise a well assist system comprising a sensor which is operable to receive information from the transmitter. A method for providing telemetry and communication may comprise determining a location of a well assist system for a well production system, deploying the well assist system to the location, disposing a sensor from the well assist system below a highly conductive layer, and receiving information with the sensor, the information being transmitted from a transmitter of the well production system disposed below the highly conductive layer.

Abstract: In one aspect, the invention relates methods and compositions for treating parasitic diseases, for example, leishmaniasis. In a further aspect, the compounds of the methods and compositions are isolated from Pentalinon andrieuxii. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present invention.

Abstract: A method of real-time impedance matching includes conveying a tool through a borehole where the tool includes a transmit cavity antenna and receive cavity antenna for transmitting and receiving signals through a subsurface formation. The tool also includes a cable for routing signals within the tool and at least one variable inductor or variable capacitor in an impedance-matching circuit. The method further includes measuring a reflection of a signal transmitted through the formation and determining a target impedance based on the impedance of the cable and the reflection. The method further includes adjusting the at least one variable inductor or variable capacitor such that the impedance of the matching circuit substantially equals the target impedance and receiving a signal from the formation via the adjusted impedance of the matching circuit.

Abstract: A dielectric logging tool for use in a borehole that penetrates a subsurface formation, includes: at least one wall-contacting face with one or more embedded microstrip antennas including a transmit antenna; an oscillator that supplies a transmit signal; a coherent receiver that measures the one or more scattering coefficients; and a processor that derives a formation property from the one or more scattering coefficients. The tool may be conveyed along a borehole, with the scattering coefficients and derived formation property values associated with tool position and orientation to provide a permittivity log.

Abstract: A protection device of self-propelled vehicle including a main body, a frame body, and at least two pivoting members is provided. The main body has a rail or a moving block, and the frame body has a moving block or a rail. The frame body moves on a plane relative to the main body via the moving block being removably coupled to the rail. The two pivoting members being removably pivoted to the main body and the frame body along two normal lines of the plane respectively. The frame body is forced to be rotated on the plane with one of the two pivoting members relative to the main body.

Abstract: A method for real-time determination of water-filled porosity of a formation using dielectric measurement data, whereby the refractive index of a non-water component of the formation and the downhole temperature are acquired, along with the dielectric constant of the formation. Using these values, the water salinity of the formation is calculated. Calculation of the water salinity involves the use of a complex nonlinear equation having multiple solutions. A theorem is applied to the nonlinear equation which produces a single proper solution. Once the water salinity is calculated, it is then used to calculate the water-filled porosity of the formation.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments include systems and methods for multi-frequency focusing signal processing in wellbore logging. In one embodiment, the method includes obtaining a harmonic frequency set to evaluate a resistivity of a formation at a wellbore location, where the harmonic frequency set includes at least one harmonic frequency of a fundamental frequency. The method also includes selecting a waveform from a library of waveforms based on the obtained harmonic frequency set, where the library of waveforms includes a plurality of waveforms having different frequency spectrums. The selected waveform corresponds to a predicted conductivity of the formation. The method further includes generating, based on the selected waveform, a binary waveform for use in evaluating the resistivity of the formation at the wellbore location.

Abstract: A first magnetic cavity transmitter is in the conductive tool body. A first magnetic cavity receiver is in the conductive tool body. A first transmit module is coupled to the first magnetic cavity transmitter. A first receiver module is coupled to the first magnetic cavity receiver.