Abstract: A collet includes a cylindrical body, and a plurality of longitudinally-extending orifices defined through the body and thereby providing one or more axially-extending collet fingers. A collet lug is removably coupled to each axially-extending collet finger.

Abstract: A closing sleeve assembly with a ported sleeve is disclosed. The closing sleeve assembly includes a housing; a port formed in the housing; a sealing surface formed in the housing adjacent to the port; and a closing sleeve configured to move between an open position and a closed position. The closing sleeve includes an uphole portion configured to substantially cover the sealing surface when the closing sleeve is moved to the open position; a port formed in the closing sleeve and configured to substantially overlap with the port formed in the housing when the closing sleeve is in the open position; and a seal configured to engage with the sealing surface to form a fluid and pressure tight seal when the closing sleeve is in the closed position.

Abstract: An erosion protection system for closing sleeve assemblies is disclosed. A closing sleeve assembly including a housing; a port formed in the housing; a sealing surface formed in the housing adjacent to the port; a closing sleeve configured to move between an open position, in which a fluid flow through the port is permitted, and a closed position, in which the fluid flow through the port is prevented, the closing sleeve including a seal configured to engage with the sealing surface to form a fluid and pressure tight seal when the closing sleeve is in the closed position; and a protective sleeve configured to extend toward the port to substantially cover the sealing surface when the closing sleeve is moved to the open position and retract away from the port when the closing sleeve is moved to the closed position.

Abstract: A wheel unit includes a suspension housing having a pin defining a steering axis, a transmission housing pivotable about the steering axis, a wheel rim rotatable about a rotational axis and configured to pivot about the steering axis, and a coupled compound planetary transmission drivingly engaged with the wheel rim. The coupled compound planetary transmission includes an input drive shaft, a sun gear rotatable about the rotational axis, a constant velocity joint coupled between the input drive shaft and the sun gear, a first ring gear fixed relative to the transmission housing, a first planet gear enmeshed with the sun gear and the first ring gear, a second ring gear fixed relative to the wheel rim for co-rotation about the rotational axis, a second planet gear enmeshed with the second ring gear, and a shaft coupling the first planet gear and the second planet gear for co-rotation.

Abstract: A collet includes a cylindrical body, and a plurality of longitudinally-extending orifices defined through the body and thereby providing one or more axially-extending collet fingers. A collet lug is removably coupled to each axially-extending collet finger.

Abstract: A closing sleeve assembly with a ported sleeve is disclosed. The closing sleeve assembly includes a housing; a port formed in the housing; a sealing surface formed in the housing adjacent to the port; and a closing sleeve configured to move between an open position and a closed position. The closing sleeve includes an uphole portion configured to substantially cover the sealing surface when the closing sleeve is moved to the open position; a port formed in the closing sleeve and configured to substantially overlap with the port formed in the housing when the closing sleeve is in the open position; and a seal configured to engage with the sealing surface to form a fluid and pressure tight seal when the closing sleeve is in the closed position.

Abstract: An erosion protection system for closing sleeve assemblies is disclosed. A closing sleeve assembly including a housing; a port formed in the housing; a sealing surface formed in the housing adjacent to the port; a closing sleeve configured to move between an open position, in which a fluid flow through the port is permitted, and a closed position, in which the fluid flow through the port is prevented, the closing sleeve including a seal configured to engage with the sealing surface to form a fluid and pressure tight seal when the closing sleeve is in the closed position; and a protective sleeve configured to extend toward the port to substantially cover the sealing surface when the closing sleeve is moved to the open position and retract away from the port when the closing sleeve is moved to the closed position.

Abstract: A wheel unit includes a suspension housing having a pin defining a steering axis, a transmission housing pivotable about the steering axis, a wheel rim rotatable about a rotational axis and configured to pivot about the steering axis, and a coupled compound planetary transmission drivingly engaged with the wheel rim. The coupled compound planetary transmission includes an input drive shaft, a sun gear rotatable about the rotational axis, a constant velocity joint coupled between the input drive shaft and the sun gear, a first ring gear fixed relative to the transmission housing, a first planet gear enmeshed with the sun gear and the first ring gear, a second ring gear fixed relative to the wheel rim for co-rotation about the rotational axis, a second planet gear enmeshed with the second ring gear, and a shaft coupling the first planet gear and the second planet gear for co-rotation.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are flow-through apparatuses for delivering microcarriers, the apparatuses comprising a body having a fixed volume and comprising an inlet, an outlet, and a cavity configured to contain at least one microcarrier; a first seal attached to the inlet and comprising at least one inlet port; a second seal attached to the outlet and comprising at least one outlet port; and at least one conduit attached to the at least one inlet port and/or the at least one outlet port. Systems comprising such flow-through apparatuses in fluid contact with a bioreactor are also disclosed herein. Further disclosed herein are methods for delivering microcarriers into a reactor, the methods comprising placing a delivery apparatus comprising at least one microcarrier in fluid contact with the reactor; and applying a force sufficient to induce flow of the at least one microcarrier into the reactor.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for controlling the connection speed of downhole connectors in a subterranean well are disclosed. An apparatus includes a first assembly having a first downhole connector and a first communication medium that is positionable in the well. A second assembly includes a second downhole connector and a second communication medium and has an outer portion and an inner portion that are selectively axially shiftable relative to one another. A lock assembly including at least one lug initially couples the outer and inner portions of the second assembly together such that, upon engagement of the first assembly with the second assembly downhole, the lug is radially shifted releasing the lock assembly to allow axial shifting of the outer portion of the second assembly relative to the inner portion of the second assembly, thereby operatively connecting the first and second downhole connectors to enable communication between the communication media.

Abstract: A method of pipetting comprises (a) providing a pipette tip holder having a plurality of segregated compartments and a tip support member for supporting a plurality of pipette tips in the pipette tip holder, the tip support member configured to support a single pipette in tip each segregated compartment; (b providing a plurality of pipette tips in the tip support member; (c) removing a first pipette tip from a first segregated compartment; (d) using the first pipette tip to complete a pipetting operation and placing the first pipette tip into a segregated compartment that has not contained a used pipette tip; (e) subsequently removing the first pipette tip from the segregated compartment and using the first pipette tip to complete another pipetting operation; and, (f) replacing the first pipette tip into the pipette tip holder, whereby the first pipette tip, when placed in the segregated compartment, is segregated in the pipette tip holder to reduce the possibility of a fluid from the first pipette tip contac

Abstract: A system and method is provided for controlling the operation of notifying drivers of the fluid level. Primary and secondary keys are adapted to be associated to primary and secondary drivers. A key ignition device is positioned on the primary and secondary keys and generates driver status signals. A fluid level sensing device is operable to generate a fluid level signal indicative of the fluid level. A controller is coupled to the fluid level sensing device and the key ignition device. The controller determines whether the driver of the vehicle is the primary or secondary driver in response to the driver status signals. The controller notifies the primary or secondary driver of the fluid level in response to the fluid level signal. The controller selectively controls the operation of notifying the primary or the secondary driver based on whether the driver is the primary or secondary driver.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling the operation of stabilizing the movement of a vehicle between primary and secondary drivers is provided. A primary key is adapted to be associated to the primary driver. A secondary key is adapted to be associated to the secondary driver. A key ignition device is positioned on the primary and secondary keys and is configured to generate driver status signals indicative of whether the driver is a primary or secondary driver. The controller is adapted to determine whether the driver of the vehicle is the primary driver or the secondary driver based on the driver status signals. The controller is further adapted to stabilize the movement of the vehicle. The controller is further adapted to selectively control the operation of stabilizing the movement of the vehicle in response to the driver status signals.

Abstract: In at least one embodiment, a device for controlling one or more vehicle features for a primary driver and a secondary driver is provided. The device comprises at least one controller that is configured to receive at least one driver status signal indicative of the driver being one of the primary driver and the secondary driver and to determine whether the driver of the vehicle is the one of the primary driver and the secondary driver based on the at least one driver status signal. The controller is further configured to control one or more vehicle features and to prevent the one or more vehicle features from being disabled in response to determining that the at least one driver status signal indicates that the driver of the vehicle is the secondary driver.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for controlling the connection speed of downhole connectors in a subterranean well are disclosed. An apparatus includes a first assembly having a first downhole connector and a first communication medium that is positionable in the well. A second assembly includes a second downhole connector and a second communication medium and has an outer portion and an inner portion that are selectively axially shiftable relative to one another. A lock assembly including at least one lug initially couples the outer and inner portions of the second assembly together such that, upon engagement of the first assembly with the second assembly downhole, the lug is radially shifted releasing the lock assembly to allow axial shifting of the outer portion of the second assembly relative to the inner portion of the second assembly, thereby operatively connecting the first and second downhole connectors to enable communication between the communication media.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for controlling the operation of notifying drivers of the fluid level. Primary and secondary keys are adapted to be associated to primary and secondary drivers. A key ignition device is positioned on the primary and secondary keys and generates driver status signals. A fluid level sensing device is operable to generate a fluid level signal indicative of the fluid level. A controller is coupled to the fluid level sensing device and the key ignition device. The controller determines whether the driver of the vehicle is the primary or secondary driver in response to the driver status signals. The controller notifies the primary or secondary driver of the fluid level in response to the fluid level signal. The controller selectively controls the operation of notifying the primary or the secondary driver based on whether the driver is the primary or secondary driver.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for controlling the operation of notifying drivers of the fluid level. Primary and secondary keys are adapted to be associated to primary and secondary drivers. A key ignition device is positioned on the primary and secondary keys and generate driver status signals. A fluid level sensing device is operable to generate a fluid level signal indicative of the fluid level. A controller is coupled to the fluid level sensing device and the key ignition device. The controller determines whether the driver of the vehicle is the primary or secondary driver in response to the driver status signals. The controller notifies the primary or secondary driver of the fluid level in response to the fluid level signal. The controller selectively controls the operation of notifying the primary or the secondary driver based on whether the driver is the primary or secondary driver.

Abstract: In at least one embodiment, a device for controlling one or more vehicle features for a primary driver and a secondary driver is provided. The device comprises at least one controller that is configured to receive at least one driver status signal indicative of the driver being one of the primary driver and the secondary driver and to determine whether the driver of the vehicle is the one of the primary driver and the secondary driver based on the at least one driver status signal. The controller is further configured to control one or more vehicle features and to prevent the one or more vehicle features from being disabled in response to determining that the at least one driver status signal indicates that the driver of the vehicle is the secondary driver.

Abstract: A system and method for notifying primary and second drivers about a status of a safety restraint in a vehicle is provided. A primary and secondary keys are adapted to be associated to the primary and secondary drivers. A key ignition device is positioned on each of the primary key and secondary keys. The key ignition device is adapted to generate driver status signals indicative of whether the driver the primary driver or the secondary driver. A controller is adapted to determine whether the driver of the vehicle is the primary driver or the secondary driver based on the driver status signals. The controller is further adapted to generate restraint status signals indicative of the status of the safety restraint. The controller is further adapted to selectively control the operation of generating the restraint signals based on whether the driver of the vehicle is the primary or secondary driver.

Abstract: Nitrosamines are reduced in tobacco by treating a whole tobacco leaf with ferulic acid. Treatment is conducted by applying an aqueous solution of ferulic acid to the whole tobacco leaf immediately before, at, or after harvesting, or fire curing the whole tobacco leaf with wood smoke containing the ferulic acid.