Abstract: A wellhead container for a geothermal system includes a base configured to engage a bottom of a recess within a ground. The recess extends vertically from the bottom of the recess to a surface of the ground, the base includes at least one first opening, and the at least one first opening is configured to receive a drilling string. The wellhead container includes a top configured to support a load applied by a drilling machine to the wellhead container. The top includes second openings, and each second opening is configured to receive the drilling string. The wellhead container includes a sidewall extending along a vertical axis between the base and the top. The sidewall is configured to position an upper surface of the top substantially flush with the surface of the ground, and the sidewall is configured to transfer at least a portion of the load to the base.

Abstract: The invention relates to a composition comprising a double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) having two complementary strands, comprising at least one block of poly A and the complementary block of poly U, each strand having a length of between 50 and 200 bases, preferably between 55 and 200 bases, and a pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle, carrier or excipient, for use in a method of treating a cancer expressing a TLR3 receptor.

Abstract: An energy management system for enhancing design and operation of a distributed energy resource system includes a two-level design system and a hierarchical optimization-based control system. The two-level design system includes a top-level designer configured to coordinate decentralized bottom-level designers for individual energy resources to seek a global target for the designed distributed energy resource system that satisfies the energy demand of a target deployment location within a confidence level, and multiple bottom-level designers configured to enhance detailed designs of local energy sub-systems.

Abstract: The invention relates to a composition comprising a double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) having two complementary strands, comprising at least one block of poly A and the complementary block of poly U, each strand having a length of between 50 and 200 bases, preferably between 55 and 200 bases, and a pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle, carrier or excipient, for use in a method of treating a cancer expressing a TLR3 receptor.

Abstract: Acoustic imaging waveforms are measured utilizing a downhole acoustic tool within a wellbore, and then aligned relative to a main echo of each waveform. The aligned waveforms are then subjected to a first low-pass filter. Residuals are extracted by determining differences between the aligned waveforms and the filtered waveforms. The residuals are aligned to corresponding acoustic firing pulses of the downhole acoustic tool. The aligned residuals are subjected to a second low-pass filter. The measured waveforms are aligned to the corresponding acoustic firing pulses. Noise associated with the downhole acoustic tool is removed from the pulse-aligned, measured waveforms utilizing the filtered residuals.

Abstract: Acoustic imaging waveforms are measured utilizing a downhole acoustic tool within a wellbore, and then aligned relative to a main echo of each waveform. The aligned waveforms are then subjected to a first low-pass filter. Residuals are extracted by determining differences between the aligned waveforms and the filtered waveforms. The residuals are aligned to corresponding acoustic firing pulses of the downhole acoustic tool. The aligned residuals are subjected to a second low-pass filter. The measured waveforms are aligned to the corresponding acoustic firing pulses. Noise associated with the downhole acoustic tool is removed from the pulse-aligned, measured waveforms utilizing the filtered residuals.

Abstract: Techniques involve obtaining acoustic data (including waves reflected from the casing, the annular fill material, the formation, and/or interfaces between any of the mud, the casing, and the annular fill material) from an acoustic logging tool. Techniques include normalizing the acoustic wave to result in a normalized wave having a comparable spectral shape with a reference wave, and comparing the normalized wave with the reference wave. The reference wave may be generated or modeled or produced from a look-up table or database, and may be estimated based on initial estimates of wellbore parameters. Based on the comparison of the normalized wave with the reference wave, a best-fit reference wave substantially matching the normalized wave may be identified. The best-fit reference wave may correspond with a thickness of the casing, an acoustic impedance of the annular fill material, and an acoustic impedance of mud.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media for evaluating annular material using beamforming from acoustic arrays are provided. A logging tool may include one or more acoustic phased arrays, such as one or more transmitter arrays and one or more receiver arrays each having multiple transducer elements. The acoustic signals may be beamformed by independently pulsing array elements of the arrays to excite and detect desired wave modes in a casing or other material in a well. Parameters of the casing or other material in the well may be determined using the received acoustic signal.

Abstract: A method includes performing pulse echo measurements using a pulse echo tool. The method also includes detecting a casing collar using the pulse echo measurements performed by the pulse echo tool. The method further includes estimating a tool response of the pulse echo tool response at the casing collar using one or more processors based on the pulse echo measurement at the casing collar. The method also includes and removing the pulse echo tool response estimation from at least some of the pulse echo measurements not at the casing collar.

Abstract: Methods and devices for obtaining well log data with reduced coherent noise are provided. One such method may include placing a downhole tool into a well to obtain a set of unfiltered well log data that includes individual measurements obtained at various azimuthal angles within the well. Some of the unfiltered well log data may represent eccentered well log data obtained while the downhole tool is eccentered in the well. The individual measurements of the eccentered well log data may have delays that vary as a function of the azimuthal angle at which they were obtained. By comparing the measurements of the eccentered well log data, a common pattern independent of delay, representing coherent noise, may be identified. The common pattern may be subtracted from the well log data to produce filtered well log data that is less noisy than the unfiltered well log data.

Abstract: Techniques involve obtaining acoustic data from an acoustic logging tool, where the acoustic data includes waves reflected from the casing, the annular fill material, the formation, and/or interfaces between any of the casing, the annular fill material, one or more interfaces between any of the mud, the casing, and the annular fill material. Techniques include normalizing the acoustic wave to result in a normalized wave having a comparable spectral shape with a reference wave, and comparing the normalized wave with the reference wave. The reference wave may be generated or modeled or produced from a look-up table or database, and may be estimated based on initial estimates of wellbore parameters. Based on the comparison of the normalized wave with the reference wave, a best-fit reference wave substantially matching the normalized wave may be identified.

Abstract: A method includes performing pulse echo measurements using a pulse echo tool. The method also includes detecting a casing collar using the pulse echo measurements performed by the pulse echo tool. The method further includes estimating a tool response of the pulse echo tool response at the casing collar using one or more processors based on the pulse echo measurement at the casing collar. The method also includes and removing the pulse echo tool response estimation from at least some of the pulse echo measurements not at the casing collar.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media for evaluating annular material using beamforming from acoustic arrays are provided. A logging tool may include one or more acoustic phased arrays, such as one or more transmitter arrays and one or more receiver arrays each having multiple transducer elements. The acoustic signals may be beamformed by independently pulsing array elements of the arrays to excite and detect desired wave modes in a casing or other material in a well. Parameters of the casing or other material in the well may be determined using the received acoustic signal.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for quantifying linear forms of the DNA genome of the human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) in a sample, wherein: a ligation reaction is performed with a double-stranded oligonucleotide suitable for ligation with the linear form of the HIV-1 DNA genome having a mature 3? end and/or the linear form of the HIV-1 DNA genome having a non-mature 3? end; a quantitative PCR is carried out from the ligation product obtained in the previous step; and the quantity of the linear form of the HIV-1 DNA genome having a mature 3? end and/or the quantity of the linear form of the HIV-1 DNA genome having a non-mature 3? end in the sample are deduced therefrom.

Abstract: Devices and methods for calibrating acoustic cement evaluation data using an acoustic calibration device installed behind a casing in a wellbore are provided. Such an acoustic calibration apparatus may be installed in contact with the outer diameter of a casing and cemented in place with cement in a wellbore. The acoustic calibration apparatus may include a first material different from that of the casing that has first known acoustic properties (e.g., simulating a solid) and a second material different from that of the casing and the cement that has second known acoustic properties (e.g., simulating a liquid or gas). Acoustic measurements obtained by an acoustic logging tool in the wellbore may be calibrated based on the known acoustic properties of the acoustic calibration apparatus.

Abstract: Methods and devices for obtaining well log data with reduced coherent noise are provided. One such method may include placing a downhole tool into a well to obtain a set of unfiltered well log data that includes individual measurements obtained at various azimuthal angles within the well. Some of the unfiltered well log data may represent eccentered well log data obtained while the downhole tool is eccentered in the well. The individual measurements of the eccentered well log data may have delays that vary as a function of the azimuthal angle at which they were obtained. By comparing the measurements of the eccentered well log data, a common pattern independent of delay, representing coherent noise, may be identified. The common pattern may be subtracted from the well log data to produce filtered well log data that is less noisy than the unfiltered well log data.

Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, a method of generating an encoded audio signal, the method includes estimating a time-frequency energy of an input audio signal from a time-frequency filter bank, computing a global variance of the time-frequency energy, determining a post-processing method according to the global variance, and transmitting an encoded representation of the input audio signal along with an indication of the determined post-processing method.

Abstract: An electronic apparatus (12) of a downhole tool (9, 11) comprises a first electronic device (13) operating up to a first maximum operating temperature, a second electronic device (14) operating up to a second maximum operating temperature, a switch (15) coupling the first electronic device (13) to the second electronic device (14), the second electronic device (14) providing electrical power to the first electronic device (13). The second maximum operating temperature is higher than the first maximum operating temperature. The switch (15) is a thermally controlled switch such that the switch is only closed when a measured temperature of the first electronic device is lower than the first maximum operating temperature.

Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, a method of generating an encoded audio signal, the method includes estimating a time-frequency energy of an input audio signal from a time-frequency filter bank, computing a global variance of the time-frequency energy, determining a post-processing method according to the global variance, and transmitting an encoded representation of the input audio signal along with an indication of the determined post-processing method.

Abstract: An audio encoding device (100) comprises first encoding means (101, 111) for encoding transient signal components and/or sinusoidal signal components of an audio signal (x(n)) and producing a residual signal (z(n)), and second encoding means for encoding the residual signal. The second encoding means comprise filter means (122) for selecting at least two frequency bands of the residual signal. The selected frequency bands (LF, HF) of the residual signal (z(n)) are encoded by a first encoding unit (123) and a second encoding unit (124) respectively. The first encoding unit (123) may comprise a waveform encoder, such as a time-domain encoder, while the second encoding unit (124) may comprise a noise encoder.