Abstract: An apparatus attaches to a microscope slide to form an enclosed fluidic chamber with input and output ports, where a tissue or cell sample on the slide can be processed using techniques such as immunohistochemical staining. Flow of reagents within the chamber can be laminar and highly uniform across the sample surface to achieve staining that is free of gradients. The sample can be imaged prior to, during, or after any given processing step. Methods for staining and imaging a sample can be implemented through one or more rounds of labeling, label removal or erasure and imaging. Samples can be imaged many times to achieve very high multiplexing levels. Samples can be placed on an imaging apparatus at various times and removed from the imaging apparatus for certain steps.

Abstract: An apparatus attaches to a microscope slide to form an enclosed fluidic chamber with input and output ports, where a tissue or cell sample on the slide can be processed using techniques such as immunohistochemical staining. Flow of reagents within the chamber can be laminar and highly uniform across the sample surface to achieve staining that is free of gradients. The sample can be imaged prior to, during, or after any given processing step. Methods for staining and imaging a sample can be implemented through one or more rounds of labeling, label removal or erasure and imaging. Samples can be imaged many times to achieve very high multiplexing levels. Samples can be placed on an imaging apparatus at various times and removed from the imaging apparatus for certain steps.

Abstract: A method of subterranean drilling comprising monitoring at least one drilling criteria at the surface; communicating a marker signal to a bottom hole assembly of a drill string upon meeting a condition of the at least one drilling criteria; and repeating the marker signal at least two consecutive times the condition is met. In an embodiment, the marker signal can be repeated every time the condition is met. A system for subterranean drilling comprising a drill rig adapted to monitor at least one drilling criteria at the surface; a communication element adapted to communicate a marker signal to a bottom hole assembly of a drill string upon meeting a condition of the at least one drilling criteria, wherein the communication element is adapted to communicate the marker signal to the bottom hole assembly at least two consecutive times the condition is met.

Abstract: An apparatus attaches to a microscope slide to form an enclosed fluidic chamber with input and output ports, where a tissue or cell sample on the slide can be processed using techniques such as immunohistochemical staining. Flow of reagents within the chamber can be laminar and highly uniform across the sample surface to achieve staining that is free of gradients. The sample can be imaged prior to, during, or after any given processing step. Methods for staining and imaging a sample can be implemented through one or more rounds of labeling, label removal or erasure and imaging. Samples can be imaged many times to achieve very high multiplexing levels. Samples can be placed on an imaging apparatus at various times and removed from the imaging apparatus for certain steps.

Abstract: A method includes coupling a strain gauge to a tubular member, and positioning the tubular member in the wellbore such that the tubular member is placed under bending stress by a curvature or deviation in the wellbore. The method also includes measuring bend on the tubular member with the strain gauge in at least one plane and determining one or more of the magnitude or orientation of the curvature of the wellbore based on an output of the strain gauge.

Abstract: A method of subterranean drilling comprising monitoring at least one drilling criteria at the surface; communicating a marker signal to a bottom hole assembly of a drill string upon meeting a condition of the at least one drilling criteria; and repeating the marker signal at least two consecutive times the condition is met. In an embodiment, the marker signal can be repeated every time the condition is met. A system for subterranean drilling comprising a drill rig adapted to monitor at least one drilling criteria at the surface; a communication element adapted to communicate a marker signal to a bottom hole assembly of a drill string upon meeting a condition of the at least one drilling criteria, wherein the communication element is adapted to communicate the marker signal to the bottom hole assembly at least two consecutive times the condition is met.

Abstract: An improved gap sub assembly that can withstand the rigors of directional drilling, while still being cost effective and easy to deploy at the drill site. Embodiments can be assembled by sliding a mandrel into a housing without any threading or clocking, filling the gap between the housing and mandrel with an electrically isolating material, and curing the electrically isolating material to mechanically couple the housing and mandrel. In some embodiments, the interior surface of the housing and the outer surface of the mandrel comprise a plurality of complimentary axial sections having staggered diameters so that a constant dielectric gap is maintained. In some embodiments, the interior surface of the housing and the outer surface of the mandrel comprise non-overlapping right- and/or left-handed helical grooves that, when filled with a cured electrically insulating material, forms a complex 3D shear resistance mechanism optimized to resist torsion or twisting.

Abstract: A data management system for managing the storage of data on primary and secondary storage from a primary information source having original file content to be stored including: a data file stub stored on primary storage; a data file stored on secondary storage; and wherein: the data file stub comprises original file meta data and additional stub meta data relevant to the data file; the data file comprises the original file content and additional file meta data relevant to the data file stub; the additional stub meta data includes location and information relevant to locate and recover the data file; the additional file meta data includes information relevant to the location and content of the stub; the additional stub meta data and additional file meta data being so formed and arranged that the data to be stored may be accessed without stateful middleware.

Abstract: A method includes coupling a strain gauge to a tubular member, and positioning the tubular member in the wellbore such that the tubular member is placed under bending stress by a curvature or deviation in the wellbore. The method also includes measuring bend on the tubular member with the strain gauge in at least one plane and determining one or more of the magnitude or orientation of the curvature of the wellbore based on an output of the strain gauge.

Abstract: An improved MWD system for drilling unconventional wells. Embodiments provide a particular combination of sensors in a specific arrangement in order to provide a system expressly designed for drilling unconventional wells. By minimizing modularity to reduce the need for redundant/duplicated components, including only sensors specifically needed for unconventional wells, and by separating long-life components such as sensors from components requiring more frequent maintenance or service such as batteries, the components can be more efficiently combined into a BHA sensor assembly having the shortest possible length.

Abstract: An improved MWD system for drilling unconventional wells. Embodiments provide a particular combination of sensors in a specific arrangement in order to provide a system expressly designed for drilling unconventional wells. By minimizing modularity to reduce the need for redundant/duplicated components, including only sensors specifically needed for unconventional wells, and by separating long-life components such as sensors from components requiring more frequent maintenance or service such as batteries, the components can be more efficiently combined into a BHA sensor assembly having the shortest possible length.

Abstract: An improved gap sub assembly that can withstand the rigors of directional drilling, while still being cost effective and easy to deploy at the drill site. Embodiments can be assembled by sliding a mandrel into a housing without any threading or clocking, filling the gap between the housing and mandrel with an electrically isolating material, and curing the electrically isolating material to mechanically couple the housing and mandrel. In some embodiments, the interior surface of the housing and the outer surface of the mandrel comprise a plurality of complimentary axial sections having staggered diameters so that a constant dielectric gap is maintained. In some embodiments, the interior surface of the housing and the outer surface of the mandrel comprise non-overlapping right- and/or left-handed helical grooves that, when filled with a cured electrically insulating material, forms a complex 3D shear resistance mechanism optimized to resist torsion or twisting.

Abstract: A data management system for managing the storage of data on primary and secondary storage from a primary information source having original file content to be stored including: a data file stub stored on primary storage; a data file stored on secondary storage; and wherein: the data file stub comprises original file meta data and additional stub meta data relevant to the data file; the data file comprises the original file content and additional file meta data relevant to the data file stub; the additional stub meta data includes location and information relevant to locate and recover the data file; the additional file meta data includes information relevant to the location and content of the stub; the additional stub meta data and additional file meta data being so formed and arranged that the data to be stored may be accessed without stateful middleware.

Abstract: A binding device (300) is useful for securing materials such as booklets and magazines in a ring binder. The device (300) has a perforated side (305) including holes (315) for securing the device (300) in a ring binder. A clamping side (310) includes an upper jaw (320) and a lower jaw (325). The upper jaw (320) and the lower jaw (325) each include a component (335) of a snap fit mechanism for securing the upper jaw (320) and the lower jaw (325) together along a longitudinal axis of the device (300).

Abstract: An apparatus for telemetering a downhole parameter from a well. The apparatus comprises a housing having a bore. The apparatus further comprises an annular main valve with an enlarged end positioned within the bore, with the main valve having a center of axis. A restrictor is concentrically disposed within the bore, the restrictor configured to define an annular passage with the main valve. The apparatus also includes: a pressure device for supplying hydraulic pressure to the main valve; a control valve, operatively associated with the restrictor member, for controlling pressure to the main valve; and a solenoid control valve assembly for activating the control valve.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and systems for microscope imaging that involve positioning a biological sample within a field of view of a microscope having an optical axis, and rotating the biological sample about a rotation axis different from the optical axis to improve an image of the sample produced by the microscope. The methods and systems are especially useful in assisted reproductive technologies, for example, to assess the developmental potential of oocytes.

Abstract: Geophysical measurement system employed during the drilling of a well borehole. The system employs a reference clock disposed within equipment at the surface of the earth and a borehole assembly which houses a downhole clock and at least one sensor. The borehole assembly is operationally connected to a drill string, which advances the borehole. At least one synchronization shuttle apparatus containing a shuttle clock is conveyed downhole to the borehole assembly to synchronize the borehole clock with the reference clock. Reference and borehole clock synchronization is maintained at one millisecond or less over a period of days. Outputs from the reference clock and borehole clock and sensor are combined to obtain a measure of a geophysical parameter of interest. Although the measurement system is particularly applicable to seismic-while-drilling measurements, it can be used in a wide variety of clock driven geophysical measurements.

Abstract: The apparatus has a sensor disposed on the first end of an elongate connector by means of fixed interface link. A recorder unit is disposed on the second end of the connector opposite the first end. The connector is bendable within a predefined curvature range. When the apparatus is deployed into the sea, it is adapted to free-fall through the body of water and to land on the seafloor such that the sensor is spaced apart from the recorder unit. The apparatus is additionally adapted to substantially vibrationally de-couple the sensor from the recorder unit. The length of the connector is dynamically variable within a predefined range so as to minimise vibration coupling between the recorder unit to the sensor. Physical separation of the sensor and the recorder unit, together with the mechanical characteristics of the connector, ensure that the sensor is substantially vibrationally de-coupled from the recorder unit.

Abstract: Geophysical measurement system employed during the drilling of a well borehole. The system employs a reference clock disposed within equipment at the surface of the earth and a borehole assembly which houses a downhole clock and at least one sensor. The borehole assembly is operationally connected to a drill string, which advances the borehole. At least one synchronization shuttle apparatus containing a shuttle clock is conveyed downhole to the borehole assembly to synchronize the borehole clock with the reference clock. Reference and borehole clock synchronization is maintained at one millisecond or less over a period of days. Outputs from the reference clock and borehole clock and sensor are combined to obtain a measure of a geophysical parameter of interest. Although the measurement system is particularly applicable to seismic-while-drilling measurements, it can be used in a wide variety of clock driven geophysical measurements.

Abstract: A method to determine the systematic error of an instrument that measures features of a semiconductor wafer includes the following sequential steps. Collecting sensor data from measurement runs on front and back surfaces of a wafer while the wafer is oriented at different angles to the instrument for each run, yielding a front data set and a back data set for each angle. Then organizing the data in each set into a wafer-fixed coordinate frame. Reflecting all back surface data about a diameter of the wafer creates a reflected back data set. Subtracting the reflected back data from the front data for each wafer angle, and dividing the result by two, yields an averaged wafer shape for each load angle. Adding the reflected back data to the front data and dividing the result by two, yields an instrument signature for each load angle. The symmetric corrector is calculated by taking the average over all instrument signatures at each load angle.