Abstract: A method for determining a characteristic of earth formations from measurements taken on the formations, includes the following steps: producing a data base that includes a multiplicity of data points, each data point representing a stored formation characteristic output related to a stored input measurement; deriving, from the data base, a mapping function; deriving an input formation measurement value; and determining an output formation characteristic value from the data base, the mapping function, and the input formation measurement value.

Abstract: A method for estimating a concentration of a substance in a test sample of formation fluid, comprising measuring an NMR parameter of a first sample of formation fluid to obtain a first measurement, adding a known quantity of the substance to the first sample to produce a modified sample, measuring the NMR parameter of the modified sample to obtain a second measurement; and determining a relation between the concentration of the substance and a function of the NMR parameter using the first and second measurements and the NMR parameter of the substance.

Abstract: A method for determining a property of a substance in a downhole measurement region includes the following steps: providing a static magnetic field having a static magnetic field gradient in the measurement region; applying, in the measurement region, a pulse sequence that includes a tipping pulse, a re-focusing pulse, and a pulsed field gradient pulse train; wherein the pulsed field gradient pulse train includes a first portion and a second portion; the first portion comprising a first pulse or set of pulses having a first polarity and a second pulse or set of pulses having a second polarity, the second polarity being opposite to the first polarity, and wherein the first portion occurs before the re-focusing pulse; the second portion comprising a third pulse or set of pulses having the first polarity and a fourth pulse or set of pulses having the second polarity, and wherein the second portion occurs after the re-focusing pulse; and receiving one or more spin echoes from the measurement region.

Abstract: Devices, systems and methods for preparing, packaging and using biological materials are disclosed. Biological materials such as cellular or subscellular materials can be introduced in one or more complete assembled devices and preserved within the devices by, for example, being cooled or frozen. Such assembled devices can allow easy transportation and subsequent storing of the biological materials. In some embodiments, the assembled devices can be configured to provide for flow of one or more fluids. Thus, the biological materials can be preserved or reconstituted for use by being in contact with the fluids or by being warmed by the fluid(s), which may be flowing. In one embodiment, subsequent assays using the biological materials in the same assembled device(s) wherein their preparation or packaging previously occurred can involve fluidic interactions among the biological materials or between the biological materials and the fluid or its contents.

Abstract: A method for evaluating formation fluids includes measuring a nuclear magnetic resonance property related to a total volume of the formation fluids, measuring a dielectric property related to an electromagnetic wave travel time, measuring a bulk density, and solving a set of linear response equations representing a reservoir fluid model to determine fractional fluid volumes from the nuclear magnetic resonance property, the dielectric property, and the bulk density.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for microscale pharmacokinetics. Various organs and their interactions with drug compounds can be simulated in vitro by use of microscale compartments that can be interconnected by microscale channels. Cells or cellular materials associated with the organs can be cultured in such compartments to allow interactions with drug compounds in one or more fluidic flows. Such fluidic systems can include, by way of examples, gastrointestinal flow, blood flow, bile flow, urinary flow, and brain fluid flow. Interactions between fluidic systems can be simulated by a microscale permeable member. In one example, blood-biliary interaction can be simulated by a microscale permeable material having hepatocytes bound to a permeable substrate via a binder.

Abstract: A method for evaluating formation fluids includes measuring a nuclear magnetic resonance property related to a total volume of the formation fluids, measuring a dielectric property related to an electromagnetic wave travel time, measuring a bulk density, and solving a set of linear response equations representing a reservoir fluid model to determine fractional fluid volumes from the nuclear magnetic resonance property, the dielectric property, and the bulk density.

Abstract: A method for determining a property of fluids in formations surrounding an earth borehole includes the following steps: producing, from measurements on a multiplicity of fluid samples, a database of stored fluid property training values related to stored fluid measurement training values; deriving, from the database, radial basis function parameters; deriving formation fluid measurement values; and determining, using radial basis function interpolation, the property of formation fluids from values in the database, the parameters, and the derived formation fluid measurement values.

Abstract: A method for evaluating formation fluids includes measuring a nuclear magnetic resonance property related to a total volume of the formation fluids, measuring a dielectric property related to an electromagnetic wave travel time, measuring a bulk density, and solving a set of linear response equations representing a reservoir fluid model to determine fractional fluid volumes from the nuclear magnetic resonance property, the dielectric property, and the bulk density.

Abstract: A method for producing borehole-compensated values from non-borehole-compensated measurement signals taken with a logging device in a borehole in earth formations, includes the following steps: producing a database that includes a multiplicity of data points, each data point representing a combination of formation parameters and borehole parameters, database input vectors representing multi-dimensional non-borehole-compensated model measurement values respectively associated with the data points, and database output vectors representing multi-dimensional borehole-compensated model measurement values respectively associated with the data points; deriving a multi-dimensional measurement signal vector from measurement signals taken with the logging device in the borehole; and interpolating the measurement signal vector using the database to obtain an interpolated output vector representative of borehole-compensated measurement signals.

Abstract: A method for producing borehole-compensated values from non-borehole-compensated measurement signals taken with a logging device in a borehole in earth formations, includes the following steps: producing a database that includes a multiplicity of data points, each data point representing a combination of formation parameters and borehole parameters, database input vectors representing multi-dimensional non-borehole-compensated model measurement values respectively associated with the data points, and database output vectors representing multi-dimensional borehole-compensated model measurement values respectively associated with the data points; deriving a multi-dimensional measurement signal vector from measurement signals taken with the logging device in the borehole; and interpolating the measurement signal vector using the database to obtain an interpolated output vector representative of borehole-compensated measurement signals.

Abstract: A method for determining a formation fluid property includes acquiring a suite of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) measurements of a fluid sample using a pulse sequence that includes pulsed field gradient pulses for encoding diffusion information, wherein each NMR measurement in the suite is acquired with a different value in a parameter in the pulsed field gradient pulses for producing a different diffusion effect, wherein the acquiring is performed in a formation fluid sampling tool in a borehole; inverting the suite of NMR measurements to produce a distribution function that relates diffusion properties of the fluid sample with an NMR property of the fluid sample; and determining the formation fluid property from the distribution function.

Abstract: A method for determining a characteristic of earth formations from measurements taken on the formations, includes the following steps: producing a data base that includes a multiplicity of data points, each data point representing a stored formation characteristic output related to a stored input measurement; deriving, from the data base, a mapping function; deriving an input formation measurement value; and determining an output formation characteristic value from the data base, the mapping function, and the input formation measurement value.

Abstract: A method for determining a formation fluid property includes acquiring a suite of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) measurements of a fluid sample using a pulse sequence that includes pulsed field gradient pulses for encoding diffusion information, wherein each NMR measurement in the suite is acquired with a different value in a parameter in the pulsed field gradient pulses for producing a different diffusion effect, wherein the acquiring is performed in a formation fluid sampling tool in a borehole; inverting the suite of NMR measurements to produce a distribution function that relates diffusion properties of the fluid sample with an NMR property of the fluid sample; and determining the formation fluid property from the distribution function.

Abstract: In vitro culture devices and methods are described. The subject methods and devices provide a means whereby cells and/or subcellular material are grown or held in a culture device that maintains the cells and/or subcellular material in a physiologically representative environment, thereby improving the predictive value of toxicity and metabolism assays, and the relevance of experimental results derived from such assays to actual in vivo conditions, processes and outcomes. The culture devices of the invention comprise a fluidic channel connected to or otherwise integrated with at least one chamber, preferably integrated in a chip format. The specific chamber geometry is designed to provide cellular interactions, liquid flow, and liquid residence and other parameter values that correlate with those found in or produced by the corresponding cell, organs or tissues, or components or products thereof, in vivo.

Abstract: A method for determining a property of fluids in formations surrounding an earth borehole includes the following steps: producing, from measurements on a multiplicity of fluid samples, a database of stored fluid property training values related to stored fluid measurement training values; deriving, from the database, radial basis function parameters; deriving formation fluid measurement values; and determining, using radial basis function interpolation, the property of formation fluids from values in the database, the parameters, and the derived formation fluid measurement values.

Abstract: A method for determining a property of a flowing fluid by nuclear magnetic resonance includes applying a static magnetic field to the flowing fluid; acquiring a suite of nuclear magnetic resonance measurements on the flowing fluid using a pulse sequence comprising a spoiling pulse, a wait time, and an acquisition pulse sequence, wherein the suite of nuclear magnetic measurements have different values for the wait time; and fitting the suite of nuclear magnetic resonance measurements to a forward model for responses of the flowing fluid to derive a parameter selected from a flow speed, longitudinal relaxation times of the flowing fluid, and a combination thereof.

Abstract: A method for determining a property of a flowing fluid by nuclear magnetic resonance includes applying a static magnetic field to the flowing fluid; acquiring a suite of nuclear magnetic resonance measurements on the flowing fluid using a pulse sequence comprising a spoiling pulse, a wait time, and an acquisition pulse sequence, wherein the suite of nuclear magnetic measurements have different values for the wait time; and fitting the suite of nuclear magnetic resonance measurements to a forward model for responses of the flowing fluid to derive a parameter selected from a flow speed, longitudinal relaxation times of the flowing fluid, and a combination thereof.

Abstract: An apparatus for adjusting the body temperature of a patient comprises an enclosure defining an interior space for receiving at least a portion of a patient's body therein. The enclosure is adapted for substantially sealingly enclosing the portion of the patient's body within the interior space with the enclosure. Heat transfer liquid may then be circulated through the interior space of the enclosure via an inlet and an outlet for flow over the patient's body in direct liquid contact therewith to promote heat transfer between the patient's body and said heat transfer liquid. The heat transfer liquid may be either warmer or cooler than the patient's body temperature, to either warm or cool the portion. Controlled cooling may be employed to induce therapeutic hypothermia, while controlled warming may be employed to counteract unintended hypothermia.

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. This ?7 acetylcholine nicotinic 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, as well as methods and compositions for development of therapeutics.