Abstract: A fluid property of live crude oil removed from an earth formation is determined using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) measurements. A pressure cell, located on or near the earth's surface, and in which the live crude oil is disposed, is provided. An NMR tool capable of making NMR measurements on the live crude oil is provided, as is a database linking existing NMR data and the fluid property. A mapping function is created from a combination of radial basis functions and parameters of the mapping function are derived using the database. NMR data are acquired on the live crude oil using the NMR tool, and the fluid property is estimated from the acquired NMR data using the mapping function.

Abstract: The subject invention pertains to controlled-release dosage forms of anabaseine compounds, such as 3-(2,4-dimethoxybenzylidene)-anabaseine (also known as DMXBA or GTS-21) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, methods of use, and methods for producing controlled-release dosage forms.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods and compositions related to ?7 acetylcholine nicotinic receptor genes, in particular, the human ?7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor gene. The human ?7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor gene is associated with the pathophysiological aspects of the disease schizophrenia. The present invention further provides methods and compositions to screen populations for abnormal ?7 alleles, as well as methods and compositions for development of therapeutics.

Abstract: Compositions and methods described herein provide a cell culture system in which cells are in high metabolic states from the onset of the culture. Combinations of various cell culture components disclosed and employed herein allow cells to be in high metabolic states useful for drug testing immediately after the start of cell culture.

Abstract: A method for determining wettability of an earth formation zone surrounding a borehole, including the following steps: introducing paramagnetic ions into the water component of the zone; performing NMR measurements on the zone, and determining an NMR relaxation time parameter for the zone; extracting a fluid sample from the zone; performing NMR measurements on the sample, and determining the NMR relaxation time parameter for the sample; and determining wettability of the earth formation zone using the determined relaxation time parameter for the zone and the determined relaxation time parameter for the sample.

Abstract: The Larmor frequency for an in situ nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) tool is determined and used to acquire NMR data. An NMR tool is provided and placed in situ, for example, in a wellbore. An initial estimate of the Larmor frequency for the in situ NMR tool is made and NMR data are acquired using the in situ NMR tool. A spectral analysis is performed on the NMR data, or optionally, the NMR data are digitized and a discrete Fourier transform (DFT) is performed on the digitized NMR data. The modal frequency of the spectral analysis or DFT is determined, and the Larmor frequency for the in situ NMR tool is determined using the modal frequency. The NMR tool is modified to transmit at the determined Larmor frequency and then used to acquire further NMR data.

Abstract: The present invention relates to making one or more measurements in a virgin formation using a downhole tool that includes a miniature logging tool. The downhole tool is disposed in a wellbore penetrating the formation, adjacent to the formation, and a sidetrack borehole is made into the formation. All or a portion of the miniature logging tool is deployed into the sidetrack borehole and measurements are made in the virgin formation using the miniature logging tool. The downhole tool may include a drilling/coring module, a pump module, and packers. The drilling/coring module is used to make the sidetrack borehole, and the packers and pump module can be used to create an underbalanced drilling condition in an isolated section of the wellbore.

Abstract: Devices and methods are provided for detecting an immune reaction to a test agent using an immune modeling system comprising a barrier component configured to culture a biological barrier, an immune component configured to culture immune cells, and one or more inter-component microfluidic connections between the barrier component and the immune component. The system provides for culturing a biological barrier in the barrier component of the system, culturing immune cells in the immune component of the system, applying the test agent to the biological barrier, and monitoring the immune cells to detect an immune reaction to the test agent.

Abstract: A method for determining effective permeabilities of earth formations. The method includes receiving a database having one or more measurements made on a collection of fluid filled rocks and dividing the measurements into input measurements and output measurements. The input measurements include one or more measured properties of the fluid filled rocks and the output measurements include the corresponding effective permeabilities of the fluid filled rocks. The method then includes constructing a mapping function using the input measurements and the output measurements. The mapping function may then be used to predict the effective permeabilities of one or more rocks that are not part of the collection of fluid filled rocks.

Abstract: A method for determining wettability of an earth formation zone surrounding a borehole, including the following steps: introducing paramagnetic ions into the water component of the zone; performing NMR measurements on the zone, and determining an NMR relaxation time parameter for the zone; extracting a fluid sample from the zone; performing NMR measurements on the sample, and determining the NMR relaxation time parameter for the sample; and determining wettability of the earth formation zone using the determined relaxation time parameter for the zone and the determined relaxation time parameter for the sample.

Abstract: A fluid property of live crude oil removed from an earth formation is determined using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) measurements. A pressure cell, located on or near the earth's surface, and in which the live crude oil is disposed, is provided. An NMR tool capable of making NMR measurements on the live crude oil is provided, as is a database linking existing NMR data and the fluid property. A mapping function is created from a combination of radial basis functions and parameters of the mapping function are derived using the database. NMR data are acquired on the live crude oil using the NMR tool, and the fluid property is estimated from the acquired NMR data using the mapping function.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to an apparatus and method for conducting magnetic resonance measurements on fluids at high pressures and/or high temperatures. The apparatus can be used in conjunction with or as part of a downhole fluid sampling tool to perform NMR measurements on fluids withdrawn from petroleum reservoirs, or can also be used for laboratory measurements on live reservoir fluids. The apparatus can perform all of the measurements made by modern NMR logging tools, including multi-dimensional distribution functions of spin-spin (T2) and spin-lattice relaxation (T1) times and molecular diffusion coefficients. The spin densities of hydrogen and other NMR sensitive species can be computed from the distribution functions. The apparatus can also be used to predict the apparent conductivity of the fluids in the flowline from measurements of the quality factor (“Q”) of the NMR circuit. The apparent conductivity can be used to predict water cut or water salinity.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods and compositions related to ?7 acetylcholine nicotinic receptor genes, in particular, the human ?7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor gene. The human ?7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor gene is associated with the pathophysiological aspects of the disease schizophrenia. The present invention further provides methods and compositions to screen populations for abnormal ?7 alleles, as well as methods and compositions for development of therapeutics.

Abstract: An apparatus and method to perform measurements on fluid in a wellbore fluid sample tool in which at least a portion of the flowline of the sample tool is made of a non-magnetic and non-conductive material.

Abstract: A downhole micro MR analyzer for use in a wellbore, having a micro sample tube, a micro RF coil in close proximity to the micro sample tube, and one or more magnets disposed about the micro sample tube is disclosed. The micro MR analyzer can be used for nuclear magnetic resonance or electron spin resonance experiments to ascertain formation properties and chemical compositions.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods and compositions related to ?7 acetylcholine nicotinic receptor genes, in particular, the human ?7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor gene. The human ?7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor gene is associated with the pathophysiological aspects of the disease schizophrenia. The present invention further provides methods and compositions to screen populations for abnormal ?7 alleles, as well as methods and compositions for development of therapeutics.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to an apparatus and method for conducting magnetic resonance measurements on fluids at high pressures and/or high temperatures. The apparatus can be used in conjunction with or as part of a downhole fluid sampling tool to perform NMR measurements on fluids withdrawn from petroleum reservoirs, or can also be used for laboratory measurements on live reservoir fluids. The apparatus can perform all of the measurements made by modern NMR logging tools, including multi-dimensional distribution functions of spin-spin (T2) and spin-lattice relaxation (T1) times and molecular diffusion coefficients. The spin densities of hydrogen and other NMR sensitive species can be computed from the distribution functions. The apparatus can also be used to predict the apparent conductivity of the fluids in the flowline from measurements of the quality factor (“Q”) of the NMR circuit. The apparent conductivity can be used to predict water cut or water salinity.

Abstract: A method for determining a property of earth formations surrounding a borehole includes the following steps: deriving a fluid sample downhole in the borehole, subjecting the sample while downhole to a magnetic field; measuring a magneto-optical shift of a beam of electromagnetic radiation passed through the sample, and determining the property from the measured magneto-optical shift.

Abstract: A method for determining a property of earth formations surrounding a borehole includes the following steps: deriving a fluid sample downhole in the borehole, subjecting the sample while downhole to a magnetic field; measuring a magneto-optical shift of a beam of electromagnetic radiation passed through the sample, and determining the property from the measured magneto-optical shift.

Abstract: An apparatus and method to perform measurements on fluid in a wellbore fluid sample tool in which at least a portion of the flowline of the sample tool is made of a non-magnetic and non-conductive material.