Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for evaluating an earth formation. Apparatus include an electrically conducting tubular; at least one transmitter configured to propagate an electromagnetic field in the earth formation; and at least one receiver configured to receive an electromagnetic signal resulting from interaction of an electromagnetic field with said earth formation. The at least one transmitter and at least one receiver may employ antenna assemblies comprising: a recess in the conducting tubular defined by at least one radially extending surface substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the conducting tubular and non-radially extending surfaces; an antenna in the recess; and conductive shielding, the conductive shielding having a conductivity significantly more than a conductivity of the conducting tubular and covering the whole of each of the plurality of radially extending surfaces.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a surgical snare structure in which the material used for the snare and the deployment mechanism of the snare are configured to improve the cutting efficacy of the snare. In particular, the surgical snare structure of the invention may omit the kink or nib present in the loop of known surgical snares and/or may provide a reaction surface against which the cutting action of the snare is effective. The surgical snare of the invention may be a cold, i.e. mechanical-only effect, snare, or may be used in conjunction with radiofrequency (RF) and/or microwave energy to enhance a cutting or coagulation effect.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide an energy conveying structure for delivering RF and/or microwave energy to an electrosurgical instrument, where the energy conveying structure is incorporated into an insertion tube of a surgical scoping device (e.g. endoscope, laparoscope or the like). The insertion tube is a flexible conduit that is introduced into a patient's body during an invasive procedure, and can include an instrument channel and an optical channel. The energy conveying structure may be a layered coaxial structure that formed a liner that fits within the scoping device, e.g. within an instrument channel. Alternatively, the energy conveying structure may be a coaxial structure integrally formed as part of the flexible conduit.

Abstract: Various techniques are described herein for generating and managing computing infrastructure instances within datacenters. Data identifying various computing infrastructure characteristics may be receive and analyzed in order to determine one or more computing infrastructure definitions to be instantiated within a datacenter. Specific datacenters may be determined for instantiating the computing infrastructure definitions, various provisioning and configuration management tools may be selected, and computing infrastructure instances comprising multiple interoperable services (e.g., web services) and other components may be provisioned, configured, tested, and maintained. In some examples, instance execution data may be received and analyzed via instance monitor components transmitted and deployed within computer infrastructure instances executing on datacenters.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for evaluating an earth formation. Methods may include inducing a current in the formation; measuring a time-dependent transient electromagnetic (TEM) signal induced by the formation responsive to the current; and estimating apparent resistivity values for each of a plurality of samples derived from the TEM measurement, wherein each sample corresponds to a discrete time window of the TEM measurement. Estimating the apparent resistivity values for each of the samples includes determining for each sample a simulated homogeneous formation that provides a best fit for the sample. The apparent resistivity values may be used to estimate distance to an interface. The apparent resistivity values or the estimated distance may be logged and the log displayed. The apparent resistivity values, the estimated distance, or the log may be used to conduct further operations in a borehole, including geosteering.

Abstract: The invention includes an XRF analyzer with reduced x-ray attenuation between sample and target and between sample and detector. Attenuation can be reduced by removing atmospheric-air paths through which the x-rays must travel. Reduced x-ray attenuation can allow for easier detection of low-atomic-number elements. Cost saving can be achieved by reducing the number of x-ray windows.

Abstract: An electrosurgical instrument for applying to biological tissue RF electromagnetic energy and/or microwave frequency EM energy, wherein the instrument tip has a protective hull with a smoothly contoured convex undersurface facing away from a planar body, and wherein the planar body has a tapering distal edge, and wherein an underside of the planar body extends beyond the protective hull at the tapering distal edge. Also disclosed herein is an interface joint for integrating into a single cable assembly all of (i) a fluid feed, (ii) a needle movement mechanism, and (iii) an energy feed (e.g. a coaxial cable), and a torque transfer device for permitting controlled rotation of the cable assembly within the instrument channel of an endoscope. The interface joint and torque transfer device may be integrated as a single component.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for evaluating an earth formation. Apparatus may include a carrier configured for conveyance in a borehole including a conducting tubular comprising a reduced conductivity portion made of reduced conductivity material adjacent at least one of (i) at least one transmitter antenna, and (ii) at least one receiver antenna on the carrier. The material may be a composite and may have a resistivity of between 10?4 and 102 ohm-meters. Methods and apparatus may be configured for producing time-dependent transient electromagnetic (TEM) signals using the transmitter(s) and receiver(s) and estimating a value of a resistivity property using the signals. The apparatus may be used in drilling and may include a bottom hole assembly with a drill bit, and the value may be indicative of a portion of the earth formation ahead of the bit. The value may be used to conduct further operations in a borehole, including geosteering.

Abstract: A ride control system for controlling a plurality of vehicles on a path includes a path processor and a bi-directional voting circuit in circuit with the path processor. Each vehicle of the plurality of vehicles may include a vehicle processor supported by the at least one vehicle and shunt relays in circuit with the at least one vehicle processor. Each vehicle processor may be configured to close a respective shunt relay upon a predetermined condition of the vehicle whereby the bi-directional voting circuit is activated to notify all other vehicles.

Abstract: An applier for ligation clip is provided. The applier includes: an outer tube having mounting bosses; a pair of jaws pivotally connected to the mounting bosses, the jaws having actuating projections; a feed tube located in the outer tube and configured to move axially within the outer tube, the feed tube having actuating slots in which the actuating projections are located; a clip lock arm located in the outer tube and configured to move axially within the outer tube; and a clip advance arm located in the outer tube and configured to move axially within the outer tube, the clip advance arm having flexible pinchers at one end of the clip advance arm. A method of applying a ligation clip is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for determining slippage of at least one wheel of at least one vehicle having a motor and a processor that communicates velocity commands to the motor for varying a velocity of the vehicle is presented. The method includes determining an actual velocity of the vehicle over regular intervals; comparing, over regular intervals, the actual velocity of the vehicle to the expected velocity from the magnitude of the velocity commands to determine whether there is slip of the wheel of the vehicle; and reducing the magnitude of the velocity commands to equal approximately the actual velocity of the vehicle where there is slip of the wheel. A system and circuit carrying out the method are also presented.

Abstract: A sterilization or disinfecting system in which non-thermal plasma is generated in pulses, in which pulses of microwave frequency energy are used to sustain each plasma pulse, and a detectable characteristic of each pulse of microwave energy is used to trigger a radiofrequency strike pulse which strikes the plasma. The system includes a strike signal generation circuit arranged to condition and/or process the signal from the microwave signal coupler to form a control signal based on the detectable characteristic, which may be the rising edge or amplitude of the pulse.

Abstract: Immunogenic polysaccharide-protein conjugates having a polysaccharide antigen (or its oligosaccharide fragment representing one or more antigenic epitopes) derived from a nosocomial pathogen conjugated to a staphylococcal surface adhesin carrier protein are used in immunogenic compositions to elicit antibody responses to both the polysaccharide antigen and the staphylococcal surface adhesion carrier protein. Such immunogenic compositions are used to immunize against diseases caused by Staphylococcal aureus, Staphylococcal epidermidis or other nosocomial pathogens.

Abstract: A ride control system for controlling a plurality of vehicles on a path includes a path processor and a bi-directional voting circuit in circuit with the path processor. Each vehicle of the plurality of vehicles may include a vehicle processor supported by the at least one vehicle and shunt relays in circuit with the at least one vehicle processor. Each vehicle processor may be configured to close a respective shunt relay upon a predetermined condition of the vehicle whereby the bi-directional voting circuit is activated to notify all other vehicles.

Abstract: The invention provides a molecule that modulates an activity of a Src family kinase for use in preventing or treating a metastatic cancer a subject. Preferably, the molecule comprises or consists of the structure: Bj-[(Pro)n-Xr-His-Pro-His-Ala-Arg-Ile-Lys]m-Rp, or Bj-[lys-ile-arg-ala-his-pro-his-xr-(pro)n]m-Rp, or a derivative or fragment thereof, wherein B is a first chemical moiety, j is 0 or 1, n is an integer from 1-10, X is any amino acid, r is an integer from 0 to 2, m is an integer from 1 to 3, R is a second chemical moiety, p is 0 or 1, and [lys-ile-arg-ala-his-pro-his-xr-(pro)n] is the retro-inverso peptide of [(Pro)n-Xr-His-Pro-His-Ala-Arg-Ile-Lys].

Abstract: An applier for ligation clip is provided. The applier includes: an outer tube having mounting bosses; a pair of jaws pivotally connected to the mounting bosses, the jaws having actuating projections; a feed tube located in the outer tube and configured to move axially within the outer tube, the feed tube having actuating slots in which the actuating projections are located; a clip lock arm located in the outer tube and configured to move axially within the outer tube; and a clip advance arm located in the outer tube and configured to move axially within the outer tube, the clip advance arm having flexible pinchers at one end of the clip advance arm. A method of applying a ligation clip is also disclosed.

Abstract: Various techniques are described herein for generating and managing computing infrastructure instances within datacenters. Data identifying various computing infrastructure characteristics may be receive and analyzed in order to determine one or more computing infrastructure definitions to be instantiated within a datacenter. Specific datacenters may be determined for instantiating the computing infrastructure definitions, various provisioning and configuration management tools may be selected, and computing infrastructure instances comprising multiple interoperable services (e.g., web services) and other components may be provisioned, configured, tested, and maintained. In some examples, instance execution data may be received and analyzed via instance monitor components transmitted and deployed within computer infrastructure instances executing on datacenters.

Abstract: A system for confirming authorization of a operator for controlling a vehicle on fixed paths, the system having at least one ride vehicle with an onboard control system being configured to confirm operator authorization prior to allowing operator control thereof and an electronic device dimensioned and configured to be supported by an operator, the electronic device being further configured to remotely authorize operator control of the onboard control system. A method for confirming authorization of an operator for controlling a vehicle on fixed paths is also provided.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for estimating a value of a resistivity property of an earth formation intersected by a borehole. Apparatus may include a carrier conveyable in the borehole; a tri-axial induction antenna assembly along the carrier; and a magnetically transparent sleeve enclosing the antenna assembly. The antenna assembly includes panels circumferentially arrayed about a portion of the carrier to form at least three collocated antennas. Each panel includes a magnetic core, an axially sensing coil that is transversely wound about the magnetic core, and a laterally sensing coil that is longitudinally wound about the magnetic core. The axially sensing coil of each panel may be electrically connected to the axially sensing coils of the other panels to form an axial antenna. Corresponding lateral coils may be electrically connected to form a lateral antenna. Each panel may be individually removable from the carrier, and assembled together may form a cylinder.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for evaluating an earth formation. Apparatus may include a carrier configured for conveyance in a borehole including a conducting tubular comprising a reduced conductivity portion made of reduced conductivity material adjacent at least one of (i) at least one transmitter antenna, and (ii) at least one receiver antenna on the carrier. The material may be a composite and may have a resistivity of between 10?4 and 102 ohm-meters. Methods and apparatus may be configured for producing time-dependent transient electromagnetic (TEM) signals using the transmitter(s) and receiver(s) and estimating a value of a resistivity property using the signals. The apparatus may be used in drilling and may include a bottom hole assembly with a drill bit, and the value may be indicative of a portion of the earth formation ahead of the bit. The value may be used to conduct further operations in a borehole, including geosteering.