Abstract: A system includes an electromagnetic logging tool that transmits an electromagnetic signal as the tool is conveyed along a borehole through a formation. The system further includes a processing system that measures a first signal level in response to the tool being at a first measured depth, determines a first conductance based on the first signal level, measures a second signal level in response to the tool being at a second measured depth greater than the first measured depth, the second measured depth and the first measured depth defining a formation interval there between, determines a second conductance based on the second signal level, and assigns a uniform resistivity value to the formation interval based on the first conductance and the second conductance.

Abstract: An acoustic tool, system, and method for performing down-hole measurements. An encoded pulse sequence is transmitted from an acoustic tool. First reflections are received from the encoded pulse sequences. The first reflections from the encoded pulse sequence are identified from a number of reflections of the encoded pulse sequence. Measurements are performed utilizing the first reflections of the encoded pulse sequence. Other systems and methods are presented.

Abstract: In embodiments of the invention, there is provided an external fixation system comprising a first plate and a second plate and connectors therebetween. Some or all of the connectors may be adjustable in length or angular position or both. Angular adjustment may comprise a fixed amount of friction and an adjustable amount of friction, and the permitted angular deflection can vary around the perimeter of the angular joint. An adjustable-length connector may comprise a tiltable nut that can either engage or not engage a threaded rod to provide both coarse adjustment and fine adjustment. Tactile or audible feedback may be provided. Other accessories may include: provisional alignment clamps to position parts of the patient's body; a K-wire alignment guide; a K-wire support post; a universal fixation bolt; a plurality of half-pins that can be used with a common support post or block; and a resilient retention device.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for measuring a speed of sound in a fluid in a well bore may include a frame adapted to receive the fluid there through are provided. The apparatus includes an acoustic source mounted on the frame; an acoustic detector to measure a signal propagating through the fluid, the acoustic detector disposed proximate the frame at a known distance from the acoustic source; and a test circuit adapted to synchronize the acoustic detector with a signal propagating through the frame. A method to determine physical properties of a fluid in a geological formation including a shear wave anisotropy in the geological formation and the formation composition using the fluid density and the fluid speed of sound is also provided.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for measuring a speed of sound in a fluid in a well bore may include a frame adapted to receive the fluid there through are provided. The apparatus includes an acoustic source mounted on the frame; an acoustic detector to measure a signal propagating through the fluid, the acoustic detector disposed proximate the frame at a known distance from the acoustic source; and a test circuit adapted to synchronize the acoustic detector with a signal propagating through the frame. A method to determine physical properties of a fluid in a geological formation including a shear wave anisotropy in the geological formation and the formation composition using the fluid density and the fluid speed of sound is also provided.

Abstract: In embodiments of the invention, there is provided an external fixation system comprising a first plate and a second plate and connectors therebetween. Some or all of the connectors may be adjustable in length or angular position or both. Angular adjustment may comprise a fixed amount of friction and an adjustable amount of friction, and the permitted angular deflection can vary around the perimeter of the angular joint. An adjustable-length connector may comprise a tiltable nut that can either engage or not engage a threaded rod to provide both coarse adjustment and fine adjustment. Tactile or audible feedback may be provided. Other accessories may include: provisional alignment clamps to position parts of the patient's body; a K-wire alignment guide; a K-wire support post; a universal fixation bolt; a plurality of half-pins that can be used with a common support post or block; and a resilient retention device.

Abstract: A system includes an electromagnetic logging tool that transmits an electromagnetic signal as the tool is conveyed along a borehole through a formation. The system further includes a processing system that measures a first signal level in response to the tool being at a first measured depth, determines a first conductance based on the first signal level, measures a second signal level in response to the tool being at a second measured depth greater than the first measured depth, the second measured depth and the first measured depth defining a formation interval there between, determines a second conductance based on the second signal level, and assigns a uniform resistivity value to the formation interval based on the first conductance and the second conductance.

Abstract: An electromagnetic (EM) telemetry system with capacitive electrodes for use with downhole equipment is described. Embodiments of the EM telemetry system with capacitive electrodes include a downhole transceiver comprising an encoded signal transmitter, a downhole sensor disposed to monitor the downhole equipment, and an encoded signal receiver comprising one or more capacitive counter electrodes. The one or more capacitive counter electrodes receives a first encoded signal from the downhole transceiver, the encoded signal corresponding to a voltage measured between the counter electrode and a wellhead. A decoder and demodulator of the encoded signal receiver recovers information in the first encoded signal. A second encoded signal, which may include instructions for the downhole equipment, may be similarly encoded, modulated, and transmitted from the encoded signal receiver to the downhole transceiver.

Abstract: In embodiments of the invention, there is provided an external fixation system comprising a first plate and a second plate and connectors therebetween. Some or all of the connectors may be adjustable in length or angular position or both. Angular adjustment may comprise a fixed amount of friction and an adjustable amount of friction, and the permitted angular deflection can vary around the perimeter of the angular joint. An adjustable-length connector may comprise a tiltable nut that can either engage or not engage a threaded rod to provide both coarse adjustment and fine adjustment. Tactile or audible feedback may be provided. Other accessories may include: provisional alignment clamps to position parts of the patient's body; a K-wire alignment guide; a K-wire support post; a universal fixation bolt; a plurality of half-pins that can be used with a common support post or block; and a resilient retention device.

Abstract: Apparatus, systems, and methods may operate to emit acoustic pulses into a drilling fluid in a well bore, using a first acoustic transducer in a downhole tool, and detecting the acoustic pulses after reflection from the wall of the well bore, using a second acoustic transducer in the downhole tool. The faces of the first and second acoustic transducers are non-parallel. Further activities include emitting additional acoustic pulses into the drilling fluid using the second acoustic transducer, and detecting them using the second acoustic transducer. The acoustic velocity of the drilling fluid can be determined based on respective travel times. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are described.

Abstract: An acoustic tool, system, and method for performing down-hole measurements. An encoded pulse sequence is transmitted from an acoustic tool. First reflections are received from the encoded pulse sequences. The first reflections from the encoded pulse sequence are identified from a number of reflections of the encoded pulse sequence. Measurements are performed utilizing the first reflections of the encoded pulse sequence. Other systems and methods are presented.

Abstract: In embodiments of the invention, there is provided an external fixation system comprising a first plate and a second plate and connectors therebetween. Some or all of the connectors may be adjustable in length or angular position or both. Angular adjustment may comprise a fixed amount of friction and an adjustable amount of friction, and the permitted angular deflection can vary around the perimeter of the angular joint. An adjustable-length connector may comprise a tiltable nut that can either engage or not engage a threaded rod to provide both coarse adjustment and fine adjustment. Tactile or audible feedback may be provided. Other accessories may include: provisional alignment clamps to position parts of the patient's body; a K-wire alignment guide; a K-wire support post; a universal fixation bolt; a plurality of half-pins that can be used with a common support post or block; and a resilient retention device.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for measuring a speed of sound in a fluid in a well bore may include a frame adapted to receive the fluid there through are provided. The apparatus includes an acoustic source mounted on the frame; an acoustic detector to measure a signal propagating through the fluid, the acoustic detector disposed proximate the frame at a known distance from the acoustic source; and a test circuit adapted to synchronize the acoustic detector with a signal propagating through the frame. A method to determine physical properties of a fluid in a geological formation including a shear wave anisotropy in the geological formation and the formation composition using the fluid density and the fluid speed of sound is also provided.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for measuring a speed of sound in a fluid in a well bore may include a frame adapted to receive the fluid there through are provided. The apparatus includes an acoustic source mounted on the frame; an acoustic detector to measure a signal propagating through the fluid, the acoustic detector disposed proximate the frame at a known distance from the acoustic source; and a test circuit adapted to synchronize the acoustic detector with a signal propagating through the frame. A method to determine physical properties of a fluid in a geological formation including a shear wave anisotropy in the geological formation and the formation composition using the fluid density and the fluid speed of sound is also provided.

Abstract: An apparatus for coating a textile includes a coating reservoir for containing a textile coating composition, and one or more coolable rollers operable to convey a textile material through the apparatus and into contact with the coating composition, in a manner which considerably reduces build-up of the textile coating composition on the one or more rollers. Methods of using apparatus are also provided.

Abstract: When a set-top box determines to enter a low-power state, the set-top box determines a wake-up time based on a recording schedule, a maintenance schedule, and a boot spread. Before transitioning to the low-power state, the set-top box sends a message to a schedule server with the wake-up time. The server provides services to many set-top boxes. The server uses a wake-up time schedule that includes the wake-up times for the set-top boxes that it services to determine if the wake-up time will create too much load for the server given the set-top boxes already scheduled to wake-up around the wake-up time. If the proposed wake-up time will not create too much load, the server may respond to the set-top box that the proposed wake-up is acceptable. If not, the server may propose a new wake-up time based on the schedule.

Abstract: A method and system for processing MTOM messages comprising a root document and one or more binary attachments referenced by the root document, in a Web service requester or provider. When an inbound MTOM message is received, a pipeline comprising a plurality of message handlers is selected to process the received message. The message is unpackaged by separating the binary attachments from the root document, and the pipeline properties are checked to determine if conversion of the message is required. Responsive to the result of the determination, either conversion of the message is carried out, by encoding the binary data in each of the attachments and replacing each reference in the root document to a binary attachment with the encoded data for that attachment, and processing the converted message by the pipeline, or the root document and binary attachments are processed by the pipeline.

Abstract: Apparatus, systems, and methods may operate to emit acoustic pulses into a drilling fluid in a well bore, using a first acoustic transducer in a downhole tool, and detecting the acoustic pulses after reflection from the wall of the well bore, using a second acoustic transducer in the downhole tool. The faces of the first and second acoustic transducers are non-parallel. Further activities include emitting additional acoustic pulses into the drilling fluid using the second acoustic transducer, and detecting them using the second acoustic transducer. The acoustic velocity of the drilling fluid can be determined based on respective travel times. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are described.

Abstract: Managing dynamically allocated memory in a computer system in which garbage collection process is scheduled separately from data processing comprises initiating a system program and providing system memory for use by the system program, the system program being arranged to provide a processing environment, initiating an application program within the processing environment for performing one or more units of processing, allocating a portion of the memory for use by the application program for performing the processing, providing a first unit of processing to the application program, determining the proportion of the provided system memory in use on completion of processing of the first unit; and if the proportion exceeds a predetermined threshold, providing a memory recovery instruction to the system program to identify elements in the system memory occupied by objects or data inaccessible to the application program and to free the elements of the provided system memory.

Abstract: The present invention relates to arc welding torch and a method of extracting fume gas from a welding site. The torch comprises a metal electrode and at least one shield gas port adapted to direct a shield gas curtain around the metal electrode and a welding site. At least one shroud gas port is spaced radially outward from the shield gas port and adapted to impart to an exiting shroud gas a radially outward component of velocity. Fume gas is preferably extracted from a position radially intermediate the shield gas curtain and the shroud gas curtain.