Abstract: A method of preparing a polymer-sand nanocomposite for water shutoff. The method includes applying a surface polymerization to sand particles. The surfaced polymerization formed by combining a polymerization initiator dissolved in a solvent with the sand particles to form a precursor sand mixture, combining a co-monomer and additional polymerization initiator in the presence of graphene, where the graphene is not functionalized, to form a precursor polymer mixture, and combining the precursor sand mixture and the precursor polymer mixture to form a sand-copolymer-graphene nanocomposite. The method further includes drying the sand-copolymer-graphene nanocomposite, preparing a polymer hydrogel, and combining the polymer hydrogel and the sand-copolymer-graphene nanocomposite to crosslink the components and form the polymer-sand nanocomposite.

Abstract: Methods of preparing a crosslinked hydraulic fracturing fluid include combining a hydraulic fracturing fluid comprising a polyacrylamide polymer with a plurality of coated proppants. The plurality of coated proppants include a proppant particle and a resin proppant coating on the proppant particle. The resin proppant coating includes resin and a zirconium oxide crosslinker. The resin includes at least one of phenol, furan, epoxy, urethane, phenol-formaldehyde, polyester, vinyl ester, and urea aldehyde. Methods further include allowing the zirconium oxide crosslinker within the resin proppant coating to crosslink the polyacrylamide polymer within the hydraulic fracturing fluid at a pH of at least 10, thereby forming the crosslinked hydraulic fracturing fluid.

Abstract: A coated proppant having a proppant particle, an intermediate cross-linked terpolymer layer encapsulating the proppant particle, and an outer resin layer encapsulating the intermediate cross-linked terpolymer layer. The proppant particle is selected from sand, ceramic, glass, and combinations thereof. The intermediate cross-linked terpolymer layer includes styrene, methyl methacrylate, and divinyl benzene. The outer resin layer includes a cured epoxy resin formed from an epoxy resin and a curing agent.

Abstract: A method for producing a coated proppant having an intermediate cross-linked terpolymer layer includes mixing a monomers solution including a first monomer, a second monomer that is different from the first monomer, a cross-linking agent, and an initiator. The proppant particle is combined with the monomers solution, and the monomer solution on the surface of the at least one proppant particle is polymerized to form at least one proppant particle having the intermediate cross-linked terpolymer layer on a surface of the at least one proppant particle. A resin solution including an epoxy resin, a curing agent, and graphene is mixed, and combined with the at least one proppant particle having the intermediate cross-linked terpolymer layer on a surface of the at least one proppant particle. The resin solution is cured to form the coated proppant comprising an intermediate cross-linked terpolymer layer.

Abstract: A method of preparing a polymer-sand nanocomposite for water shutoff. The method includes applying a surface polymerization to sand particles. The surfaced polymerization formed by combining a polymerization initiator dissolved in a solvent with the sand particles to form a precursor sand mixture, combining a co-monomer and additional polymerization initiator in the presence of graphene, where the graphene is not functionalized, to form a precursor polymer mixture, and combining the precursor sand mixture and the precursor polymer mixture to form a sand-copolymer-graphene nanocomposite. The method further includes drying the sand-copolymer-graphene nanocomposite, preparing a polymer hydrogel, and combining the polymer hydrogel and the sand-copolymer-graphene nanocomposite to crosslink the components and form the polymer-sand nanocomposite.

Abstract: A polymer composite hydrogel includes a polymer composite, water, an organic crosslinker, and a salt. The polymer composite includes a nanosheet filler dispersed throughout a polymerized polyacrylamide. The nanosheet filler includes one or more of zirconium hydroxide, zirconium oxide, titanium oxide, graphene oxide, non-functionalized graphene, and hexagonal boron nitride. Further, a weight ratio of the nanosheet filler to the polymerized polyacrylamide is between 1:99 and 1:9. The polymer composite hydrogel includes 0.5 to 6 weight percent of the polymer composite and 0.25 to 5 weight percent of the salt, the salt being a monovalent salt, a divalent salt, or a combination of monovalent and divalent salts. A method of preparing a polymer composite, a method of preparing a polymer composite hydrogel for water shutoff applications, and the associated method of forming a barrier to shut off or reduce unwanted production of water in a subterranean formation is also provided.

Abstract: A method of preparing a polymer composite includes dispersing a nanosheet filler within a polymer matrix by dissolving a monomer in water to form a first solution, dispersing the nanosheet filler in an organic solvent in the presence of an emulsifying agent to form a second solution, combining the first solution and the second solution, and adding a polymerization initiator to initiate a polymerization reaction of the monomer to form a polymer composite precursor comprising the nanosheet filler dispersed in the polymer matrix. The method further includes quenching the polymerization reaction and then filtering, washing, grinding, and drying the polymer composite precursor to form the polymer composite. A method of preparing a polymer composite hydrogel for water shutoff applications and the associated method of forming a barrier to shut off or reduce unwanted production of water in a subterranean formation utilizing the polymer composite hydrogel is also provided.

Abstract: A molecular communication system in body (MoCoBo) and a molecular signaling method (MoSiMe) for communicating information via molecules in a body of an organism with a circulatory system are disclosed. The MoCoBo system includes a transmitter configured to release signaling molecules in the body in a controlled manner to modulate information, and a receiver for receiving data by measuring the quantity of molecules in the body to infer the encoded information, and a communication channel which is a body of an organism with a circulatory system used as the medium through which the signaling molecules travel from the transmitter to the receiver. The MoSiMe method exploits the bodily absorption, distribution, metabolization, and excretion processes to create a signal across the body by controlling the amount of signaling molecules and the time of release so that the receiver will be able to detect and extract the encoded information within it.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a Two Factor Authentication system using Molecular Communication (TFAMoCo) to prevent hacking the wireless link of an IEMD. Also, disclosed herein a Two Factor Authentication using Molecular Communication (TFAMoCo) method that wakes up an IEMD and activate its electromagnetic (EM) module utilizing the IEMD's molecular communication (MC) module for detecting a molecular signal that carries a PIN number.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a Two Factor Authentication system using Molecular Communication (TFAMoCo) to prevent hacking the wireless link of an IEMD. Also, disclosed herein a Two Factor Authentication using Molecular Communication (TFAMoCo) method that wakes up an IEMD and activate its electromagnetic (EM) module utilizing the IEMD's molecular communication (MC) module for detecting a molecular signal that carries a PIN number.

Abstract: A method and process to make and use cotton-tipped electrochemical immunosensor for the detection of corona viruses is described. The immunosensor were fabricated by immobilizing the virus antigens on carbon nanofiber-modified screen printed electrodes which were functionalized by diazonium electrografting and activated by EDC/NHS chemistry. The detection of virus antigens were achieved via swabbing followed by competitive assay using fixed amount of antibody in the solution. Ferro/ferricyanide redox probe was used for the detection using square wave voltammetric technique. The limits of detection for our electrochemical biosensors were 0.8 and 0.09 pg/ml for SARS-CoV-2 and MERS-CoV, respectively indicating very good sensitivity for the sensors. Both biosensors did not show significant cross reactivity with other virus antigens such as influenza A and HCoV, indicating the high selectivity of the method.

Abstract: Coated particles include a particulate substrate, a surface copolymer layer surrounding the particulate substrate, and a resin layer surrounding the surface copolymer layer. The surface copolymer layer includes a copolymer of at least two monomers chosen from styrene, methyl methacrylate, ethylene, propylene, butylene, imides, urethanes, sulfones, carbonates, and acrylamides. The resin layer includes a cured resin. Methods of preparing the coated particles include preparing a first mixture including at least one polymerizable material, an initiator, and optionally a solvent; contacting the first mixture to a particulate substrate to form a polymerization mixture; heating the polymerization mixture to cure the polymerizable material and form a polymer-coated particulate; preparing a second mixture including the polymer-coated substrate, an uncured resin, and a solvent; and adding a curing agent to the second mixture to cure the uncured resin and form the coated particle.

Abstract: The developed long and short aptamer sequences can be used as high affinity and specificity tools to analyze the drug Dabigatran etexilate for therapeutic drug monitoring, pharmacokinetic and naturalization studies. Using the technique by performing several rounds of selection and enrichment with a randomized 60-mer DNA library, a number of specific aptamer sequences were successfully selected for Dabigatran etexilate. We evaluated the binding affinity and specificity of the generated aptamers showing dissociation constants (kd) ranging from 47-312 nM and very weak or no cross-reactivity to other analytes. Complimentary sequences labelled with a fluorophore and a quencher was used for mapping the binding region within the aptamer by monitoring the change in the fluorescence signal. A truncated sequence was used to construct a turn-on fluorescence sensor.

Abstract: The multi-layered sand assembly comprising neat sand, super-hydrophilic and super-hydrophobic sands for feasible and sustainable desert agriculture is described. The ingredients such as PAM used in the super-hydrophilic sand layer and the PS-PMMA/DVB polymer for the super-hydrophobic layer are relatively less expensive and thus the overall development of the coated sand is economical and cost effective for the mass production of modified sand layers. The tandem action of high water absorption and retention over time by super-hydrophilic sand layer and high water repulsion to avoid water loss by super-hydrophobic sand of the proposed assembly would make the achievable agriculture in desert lands.

Abstract: A vehicular power system, a vehicle and a method of providing auxiliary power to a vehicle using an auxiliary power unit that uses a molten metal anode solid oxide fuel cell rather than an internal combustion engine. The auxiliary power unit includes a container with numerous fuel cells disposed within it such that when the metal anode is heated, the metal converts to a molten state that can be electrochemically cycled between oxidized and reduced states by oxygen and a fuel present in the molten metal, respectively. The auxiliary power unit further includes a furnace that selectively provides heat to the fuel cells in order to place the anode into its molten metal state. Seals may provide fluid isolation between the molten metal within the container and the ambient environment.

Abstract: A novel perovskite layer to form a solar cell using 2D material with titanium dioxide are made using microwave technology is described. A specific layers of 2D nanocomposite is deposited between the Flourine-doped tin oxide (FTO) glass and hole transport material to make a more efficient perovskite solar cell is disclosed. The 2D materials are reduced graphene oxide, graphene oxide, hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN), transitional metal dichalcogenides, transition metal carbides, transitional metal nitrides etc. or a combination of the two 2D materials that are used as the mesoporous layer in perovskites.

Abstract: The computer mouse device with modified design and functionalities have several touch centres including but not limited to, four finger click buttons, two function buttons and a scroll wheel button, is described. The computer mouse device provides comfort for the hand in prolonged, normal or extensive usage, an enhanced accuracy for pixel accurate applications, and a more immersive and realistic interaction with 3D, virtual or augmented reality environments operating drones, medical instruments, machines, robots or drones, as well as 3D applications including but not limited to 3D CAD applications, video games, virtual or augmented reality.

Abstract: An electrochemical screening method for the selection of DNA aptamers against 11-deoxycortisol (11-DCL) using gold electrode for target immobilization is described. The gold electrode is used as solid matrix instead of the beads for SELEX. The selection steps (SELEX) are performed on the 11-DC modified electrode directly as the DNA library in the first round or the enriched DNA pools in the subsequent rounds were incubated on the electrode, then the unbound DNA is washed and the bound DNA is measured directly by square wave voltammetry. Then elution of the bound DNA is performed for further use.

Abstract: There is provided a biosensor for detecting pathogens in a sample. The detection is based on colorimetry. The biosensor comprises one or more particle supports and a magnetic material attached to a planar support. The biosensor embodies magnetic particles that are functionalized using a chemical substrate specific to the pathogens to be detected. The sensor may allow for a simultaneous detection of a plurality of pathogens in the sample. Also, the sensor may be disposable. Moreover, the sensor may be integrated in a portable detection device.