Abstract: Catalysts for dry reforming of methane are provided. In some embodiments, the catalyst comprises a catalyst composition comprising a nickel-copper mixture and a promoter, the promoter comprising barium. The catalyst may be more resistant to sintering and/or coking than conventional catalysts, allowing for use at high temperatures over long periods of time. Related methods for making the catalyst and methods for dry reforming utilizing the catalyst are also provided.

Abstract: Asphalt binders and related methods and uses are provided. In some embodiments, the asphalt binder is produced by: providing a high-asphaltene content petroleum feedstock; performing solvent deasphalting on the feedstock to produce a partially deasphalted oil and an asphaltene-rich residue; and collecting the partially deasphalted oil (DAO). The high-asphaltene content petroleum feedstock may comprise residue from vacuum distillation or flash separation of extra heavy oil or bitumen, or recycled asphalt. The DAO may itself be used as the asphalt binder or may be a component of a blend with the original feedstock. Asphalt binders may also be produced by blending residue and heavy distillate produced from vacuum distillation or flash separation, with DAO or the asphaltene-rich residue of the solvent deasphalting process. The disclosed methods allow for production of asphalt binders of a wide variety of performance grades.

Abstract: Methods for generating a vapor are provided. In some embodiments, the method may comprise heating a pressurized stream liquid brine in an ohmic heating device and introducing the resulting heated, pressurized stream liquid brine into a flash vessel such that the heated, pressurized liquid brine flashes to a vapor portion and a remaining liquid portion. In some embodiments, the method provides integrated vapor generation and water treatment such that feedwaters of varying water quality may be used. Also provided are related systems for generating a vapor.

Abstract: An apparatus for combining a first liquid component 90 stored in a container 125 and a second component stored in a vial 7 by means of negative pressure is disclosed. A tray 1 has a vial cavity 11 and a container cavity 12. A dual-ended transfer needle 131 is fixedly held at the tray 1 at an intermediate needle holding portion 13 between the vial cavity 11 and the container cavity 12 for establishing a fluid communication between the vial 7 and the container 125 by piercing a rubber stopper of the vial and a bottom of the container, respectively. The vial cavity 11 guides the vial 7 along an axial direction AD from an intermediate position towards the transfer position for fluid communication. And the container cavity 12 guides the container 125 along the axial direction AD from an intermediate position towards the transfer position for fluid communication.

Abstract: A non-sensor type closed-loop stabilization control algorithm comprises the following steps: 1, reading all voltages Vk?1 and currents Ik?1 for driving a multi-axis stabilization motor; 2, calculating and outputting all coil resistances Rk?1 in the multi-axis stabilization motor; 3, reading all the coil resistances, voltages and currents in the steps 1 and 2, and calculating and outputting counter electromotive force Ek?1 of all the coils in the multi-axis stabilization motor; 4, reading an stabilization compensation angle ?k, each coil resistance and the counter electromotive force, and calculating and outputting a closed-loop stabilization control Fk; and 5, then waiting for a time step k=k+1, and repeating the steps in the steps 1 to 4. It aims to add a closed-loop control element to a motor without a sensor to achieve an excellent stabilization effect and to reduce the risk of image blurring caused by resonance.

Abstract: Reactors and systems for producing fuel gases are provided herein. In some embodiments, the reactor comprises: an outer sleeve, and inner reaction tube received within the outer sleeve, and an induction heater comprising an induction coil wrapped around the outer sleeve, wherein the induction coil is approximately the same length as the inner reaction tube and longitudinally aligned with the inner reaction tube. Systems including the reactor can be modular such that they can be installed on site at fuel stations and other locations. Related methods for making a fuel gas are also provided.

Abstract: Compositions for water treatment are provided. In some embodiments, the composition comprises: a cationic polyacrylamide-type polymer having a charge density of about 10% to about 40% and a molecular weight of about 600×104 g/gmol to about 900×104 g/gmol; and a cationic surfactant, the surfactant comprising an alkyl quaternary ammonium salt. Also provided are related methods and kits for treating wastewater with dispersed and dissolved organic matters and oils. Embodiments of the compositions, methods, and kits can be used to treat oil-in-water emulsions, produced water, and process water containing dispersed and/or dissolved organic matter such as hydrocarbons from various process industries including Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage (SAGD) oil operations.

Abstract: A circuit board having multiple degrees of freedom, comprises a flat board and a conductive and flexible unit disposed on the flat board. The conductive and flexible unit comprises: an inner support plate, an outer support plate, and at least one flexible connector; a hollow portion is provided on the outer support plate; the inner support plate and the flexible connector are disposed in the hollow portion; the inner and the outer support plates are connected by the flexible connector; the flexible connector comprises an outer connecting portion, an inner connecting portion corresponding to the outer connecting portion, and an extension located between the outer connecting portion and the inner connecting portion. The circuit board has a simple and compact structure; the production efficiency is high; costs are low; a multi-axis flexible anti-shaking effect can be achieved without folding a flexible structure; the resilience performance is good.

Abstract: Disclosed is a take-off and landing station (1) for a flying vehicle (2) for transporting people and/or loads, which flying vehicle takes off and lands vertically and comprises a flight module (3), having a plurality of drive units (17) arranged on a supporting framework structure (16) of the flight module (3), and a transportation module (4), which can be coupled to the flight module (3). The take-off and landing station (1) comprises a holding apparatus (21) having a plurality of gripper elements and support elements (11) for supporting, fixing and/or orienting the supporting framework structure (16) during take-off and landing of the flying vehicle (2) or the flight module (3).

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a biosensor for detecting the presence of and/or the amount of at least one fungal plant pathogen in a sample, comprising: a support structure; at least two interdigitated electrodes coupled to the support structure, wherein at least one of the interdigitated electrodes is functionalized with a linker coupled to at least one biological component that recognizes the at least one fungal plant pathogen; and an impedance measurement circuit coupled to the at least two interdigitated electrodes. The present disclosure also provides methods of detecting the presence of and/or the amount of at least one fungal plant pathogen in a sample, methods of making the biosensor described herein, as well as methods and uses of using the herein described biosensor for detecting the presence of and/or amount of at least one fungal plant pathogen.

Abstract: A sensor for detecting a target pathogen (e.g., a virus or a bacterium) in a specimen is disclosed, which includes at least two sensing units one of which is configured to detect at least one protein (such as a structural protein) associated with the target pathogen and another one is configured to detect at least one genetic component (e.g., an RNA or a DNA segment) associated with that pathogen (e.g., an RNA segment that is unique to that pathogen).

Abstract: A spring system, comprising at least three springs. The centerlines of the at least three springs are not in the same plane, and the centerlines of the springs all pass through the same rotation center. A lens anti-shaking device using the spring system, comprising: a fixing assembly comprising a housing, a positioning base, and a magnet group, the positioning base being disposed on the housing, and the magnet group being disposed on the positioning base; and a movable assembly comprising a coil group, a lens, a lens carrier, an image sensor, and a circuit board, the lens carrier being mounted on the positioning base by means of the spring system, the lens being mounted on the lens carrier, the circuit board being mounted on the positioning base, and the image sensor being disposed on the circuit board.

Abstract: A bullet-resistant user's wearable article convertible from a bullet-resistant backpack configuration and a bullet-resistant vest configuration and vice versa has two parts each provided with a bullet-proof shield and moveable relative to one another between a first position in which they are located at one side of a user's torso and assume the bullet-resistant backpack configuration and a second position which is assumed when one of them is turned around a user's torso and they become located at two opposite sides of the user's torso to assume the bullet-resistant vest configuration, a first connection releasably connecting the two parts with one another in the first position in which they are located at one side of the user's torso, a second connection located at one side of each of the Iwo parts for non-releasably connecting them with one another in the first position in which the parts are located at one side of the user's torso and in the second position in which the parts are located at opposite sides o

Abstract: A motor with a flat wire is provided. Since spatial collisions which occur in horizontal and vertical directions can be prevented by flat wire patterns which intersect with each other and are stacked on slots of a stator core, there is an advantageous effect in that a motor is miniaturized.