Abstract: Measurement of gene expression relative to an endogenous control gene is prone to excessive variability between samples and even replicates. The disclosure provides methods for normalizing expression levels of a gene by scaling gene expression levels to that of the most highly expressed gene in the set of genes whose expression levels are measured, rather than a house-keeping gene.

Abstract: A purge system for use with a well intervention system and apparatus is disclosed. The purge system permits well fluids contained in a subsea intervention system to be purged prior to retrieval of the intervention system to the surface. The system comprises a vessel (44) for storing and deploying wireline tooling, the vessel being exposed to well fluids via the well control package (16) and first fluid communication means (58) connected between a purging fluid supply and the well control package, and second fluid communication means (60) connected between the vessel and the well control package wherein, in use, the purging fluid supply to the vessel via the first fluid communication means displaces fluid from the vessel into a second fluid communication means and into the well control package.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to methods of constructing liquid bridges and methods of forming predetermined combinations of samples using liquid bridges.

Abstract: A multi-port liquid bridge (1) adds aqueous phase droplets (10) in an enveloping oil phase carrier liquid (11) to a draft channel (4, 6). A chamber (3) links four ports, and it is permanently full of oil (11) when in use. Oil phase is fed in a draft flow from an inlet port (4) and exits through a draft exit port (6) and a compensating flow port (7). The oil carrier and the sample droplets (3) (“aqueous phase”) flow through the inlet port (5) with an equivalent fluid flow subtracted through the compensating port (7). The ports of the bridge (1) are formed by the ends of capillaries held in position in plastics housings. The phases are density matched to create an environment where gravitational forces are negligible. This results in droplets (10) adopting spherical forms when suspended from capillary tube tips. Furthermore, the equality of mass flow is equal to the equality of volume flow.

Abstract: A microfluidic analysis system (1) performs polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis on a bio sample. In a centrifuge (6) the sample is separated into DNA and RNA constituents. The vortex is created by opposing flow of a silicon oil primary carrier fluid effecting circulation by viscous drag. The bio sample exits the centrifuge enveloped in the primary carrier fluid. This is pumped by a flow controller (7) to a thermal stage (9). The thermal stage (9) has a number of microfluidic devices (70) each having thermal zones (71, 72, 73) in which the bio sample is heated or cooled by heat conduction to/from a thermal carrier fluid and the primary carrier fluid. Thus, the carrier fluids envelope the sample, control its flowrate, and control its temperature without need for moving parts at the micro scale.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus and computer program code for terrain correction for geophysical surveys, in particular potential field surveys. A method of terrain correction for a geophysical survey involves capturing a multi- or hyperspectral image of a region to be surveyed; determining a surface geological composition of the surveyed region using the captured image multi- or hyperspectral image; determining terrain correction data for the geophysical survey using the determined surface geological composition; and using the terrain correction data for performing the terrain correction for the geophysical survey.

Abstract: A well servicing tool storage system for subsea well intervention is disclosed which provides a tool storage means as part of the intervention system and which has a plurality of tool storage arms deployed around the tool storage means. Each arm has a clamp capable of clamping a tool, and moving the clamped tool between a stored position near the perimeter of the tool storage means, and a deployed position in the centre of the tool storage means where the tool can be made up into a wireline connection.

Abstract: This invention relates to improved techniques for processing potential field measurement data from airborne surveys such as gravity surveys, and to improved techniques for data acquisition which are enabled by the improved data processing techniques.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a bi-material radio frequency transmission line of cylindrical shape comprising a thin layer of highly conductive material supported by a base material wherein both materials are selected in function of the frequency of the transmitted signal and wherein the thickness of the thin layer is in a range from 1.2 to 2.4 times the depth of the skin effect at the frequency corresponding to the transmitted signal.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for preparing a polymer, employing the steps of: (1) contacting a free radical initiator; a chain transfer agent containing a thiocarbonyl thio group and a free radical leaving group; and a radically polymerisable monomer, to form a polymer chain; and (2) contacting the polymer chain of step (1) with at least one of a polyvalent coupling agent, a polymerisation inhibitor, a grafting acylating agent, an amine and an oil of lubricating viscosity. The invention further provides compositions and uses for the polymer.

Abstract: A readily burstable slide fastener 1 for an inflatable device, such as a lifejacket 101?, comprises a first stringer 3, a second stringer 5 and a slider 19 slidably mounted on the second stringer 5. At a weakened region 23 along the slide fastener 1 coupling elements 15 are omitted from each of the stringers 3, 5 so that when a bursting force is applied to this region 23 the coupling elements 15 adjacent thereto are disengaged. Coupling elements 15 are omitted from the top of the first stringer 3 so that when the slider 19 is at the top of the coupling elements 15 of the second stringer 5, the first stringer 3 can disengage from the slider 19. When the slide fastener 1 is fitted to an inflatable lifejacket 101?, the stringers 3, 5 are separated completely when the lifejacket 101? is inflated.

Abstract: The use of alkoxylates and nitrogen containing detergents in a fuel additive composition to prevent intake valve sticking and reduce intake valve deposits.

Abstract: Disclosed are gaming machines, including related methods, apparatus, and systems, including computer program products, implementing and using techniques for players of wagering games to find friends in a gaming environment. Player identification information identifies a first player of a first gaming device configured to play a game of chance. One or more friend-finding criteria associated with the identified first player are retrieved from a storage medium. A second player is identified as a friend or a friend candidate of the first player based on the retrieved friend-finding criteria. A location associated with the second player is identified as being in a designated area of the gaming environment. Output data indicating the identified second player is provided.

Abstract: This invention relates to a composition containing: (a) a hydrocarbon fluid; and (b) a hydrocarbyl- and hydroxy-substituted aromatic condensate comprising the reaction product of: (1) at least 75 mole percent based on the total amount of (b)(1) and (b)(2) of a hydrocarbyl- and hydroxy-substituted aromatic compound wherein the hydrocarbyl substituent is a linear substituent containing 8 to 36 carbon atoms; (2) 0.001 to 25 mole percent based on the total amount of (b)(1) and (b)(2) of a hydrocarbyl- and hydroxy-substituted aromatic compound wherein the hydrocarbyl substituent is a branched substituent containing 8 to 20 carbon atoms; and (3) an amount of an aldehyde, ketone, or reactive equivalent thereof effective to condense (1) and (2) to form the hydro-carbyl- and hydroxy-substituted aromatic condensate. The invention further relates to method of preparing the condensate and its use as an additive in a crude oil, a liquid fuel or an oil of lubricating viscosity.

Abstract: A bridge (30) comprises a first inlet port (31) at the end of a capillary, a narrower second inlet port (32) which is an end of a capillary, an outlet port (33) which is an end of a capillary, and a chamber (34) for silicone oil. The oil is density-matched with the reactor droplets such that a neutrally buoyant environment is created within the chamber (34). The oil within the chamber is continuously replenished by the oil separating the reactor droplets. This causes the droplets to assume a stable capillary-suspended spherical form upon entering the chamber (34). The spherical shape grows until large enough to span the gap between the ports, forming an axisymmetric liquid bridge. The introduction of a second droplet from the second inlet port (32) causes the formation of an unstable funicular bridge that quickly ruptures from the, finer, second inlet port (32), and the droplets combine at the liquid bridge (30).

Abstract: A thermal cycling device (3) device a number of fixed thermal zones (11, 12, 13) and a fixed conduit (10) passing through the thermal zones. A controller maintains each thermal zone including its section of conduit (10) at a constant temperature. A series of droplets flows through the conduit (10) so that each droplet is thermally cycled, and a detection system detects fluorescence from droplets at all of the thermal cycles. The conduit is in a single plane, and so a number of thermal cycling devices may be arranged together to achieve parallelism. The flow conduit comprises a channel (17) and a capillary tube (10) inserted into the channel. The detection system may perform scans along a direction to detect radiation from a plurality of cycles in a pass.

Abstract: A device for electrical energy transmission includes one or more current converters. Each current converter has phase elements with at least one series connection of circuit elements each with at least two power semiconductors and at least two free-wheeling diodes that are connected in parallel thereto, and energy storing means. The transfer properties in or between power distribution networks are improved with the novel device. The phase elements have at least two parallel branches that are connected in parallel with each other and each having with a series connection of circuit elements.

Abstract: A zip fastener comprises a pair of tapes and coupling elements along adjacent edges of the tapes. The tapes are partly cut away to form a gap into which an end stop is moulded. The end stop is provided so as to extend along the tape edges away from the fastener coupling elements.

Abstract: A device for the transmission of electrical energy includes at least one current converter. Each current converter has phase elements with respective arrangements of circuit elements that comprise at least two switchable power semiconductors each and at least two free-wheeling diodes, each connected in parallel thereto, and energy storing means. The transfer properties in or between power distribution networks are improved with the novel device. The device is provided with means for controlling the current converter in such a manner that the zero crossing, the amplitude and/or the instantaneous values of an alternating current of a transfer network that can be connected to the device and/or the direct current of a direct current line that connects at least one current converter to a direct current source, and/or the direct voltage and the direct current of at least three interconnected current converters can be controlled.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of asphaltene control in a hydrocarbon fluid, the method employing a composition comprising: a dispersant of formulae (I) or (II), including salts thereof, wherein T or T? is hydrogen or a polymerizing terminating group; A is C16-20 alkylene or alkenylene group; B is C10-20 alkylene or alkenylene group; Z and Z? are the residue of a polyamine or polyimine; n is 2 to 50; m is 0 to 25; p and p? are 2 or more, in one embodiment not greater than 2000 and in another embodiment not greater than 1000; A? is C8-20 alkylene or alkenylene group; n? is 2 to 10; and the weight ratio of T-(O-A-CO)n (O—B—CO)m to Z or T?-(O-A?-CO)n to Z? is at least 5:1.