Abstract: Methods and systems for steam cracking a mixed butane containing feed stream are disclosed. The feed stream includes n-butane and isobutane. The disclosed methods and systems entail splitting the feed into an enriched n-butane fraction and an enriched isobutane fraction. The enriched n-butane fraction is provided to the cracking furnaces, which yield the olefin products and also yield C4 species. The C4 species are partially hydrogenated and provided as a reactant feed to an alkylation reaction. The enriched isobutane fraction is also provided to the alkylation reaction, whereby high value alkylate product is produced. The disclosed methods and systems have increase olefins (especially ethylene) yield because the feed to the cracking process is enriched in n-butane. The economics are also improved because high value alkylate product is produced from a portion of the isobutane.

Abstract: Methods and systems for treating volatile organic compounds (VOCs) generated in a hydrocarbon treating process are disclosed. An effluent stream containing the VOCs, as well as carbon dioxide (CO2) is combined with hot exhaust gas from a turbine and provided to a waste heat recovery unit (WHRU). The WHRU is adapted to contain a catalyst bed containing oxidation catalyst capable of effecting the oxidation of the VOCs. The temperature of the catalyzing reaction can be tailored based on the position of the catalyst bed within the temperature gradient of the WHRU. The methods and systems described herein solve the problem of effecting the removal of VOCs from the effluent. Heating the CO2-containing effluent in the WHRU also lend buoyancy to the effluent, thereby facilitating its dispersal upon release.

Abstract: A hardware neural network system includes an input buffer for input neurons (Nbin), an output buffer for output neurons (Nbout), and a third buffer for synaptic weights (SB) connected to a Neural Functional Unit (NFU) and a control logic (CP) for performing synapses and neurons computations. The NFU pipelines a computation into stages, the stages including weight blocks (WB), an adder tree, and a non-linearity function.

Abstract: Compositions for stabilizing and delivering proteins and/or other bioactive agents are disclosed. The bioactive agents are embedded or encapsulated in a crystalline matrix. Typically the bioactive agents are in the form of micro- or nanoparticles. The crystalline matrix confers enhanced stability to the agents embedded therein relative to other microparticulate or nanoparticulate bioactive agents. The carriers are especially useful for stabilizing bioactive macromolecules, such as proteins.

Abstract: An advanced regulatory controller for a converter of a catalytic olefins unit is disclosed. A Fluid Catalytic Cracking (FCC) type converter (i.e., reactor-regenerator) is combined with an ethylene style cold-end for product recovery. The regulatory controller operates using an Advanced Regulatory Control (ARC) application using variables, such as a controlled variable, four disturbance variables, associated variable, and a manipulated variable. The ARC application manipulates fuel oil or tail gas flow to a regenerator in response to an expected future steady state value of a regenerator bed temperature resulting from changes in the values of a selected set of the variables.

Abstract: A high speed multi-directional 3D printer includes two opposing delta 3D printers set in an opposing configuration, a modified frame to enable both delta 3D printers to slide back and forth, two horizontal/outward printing extruders, and a sliding/locking kernel substrate mount with adhesive for printing against gravity.

Abstract: Ferritin or iron-based image enhancement agents identify target tissue for treatment or ablation and are heated by microwave absorption. Microwave heat substrates enhance microwave hyperthermal ablation treatment, and may be percutaneously delivered and imaged by x-ray CT during placement of the microwave treatment antenna, allowing more precise positioning and more complete ablation of a tumor site. One method of treating a target tissue uses image-guided delivery of a heat substrate with a reverse-phase change polymer, and may apply energy to fix a mass of the material in the tissue. The fixed polymer may increase hyperthermia, form a thermal boundary, or blockade a vessel or passage so as to reduce or prevent undesired conductive cooling by contiguous tissue, or may deliver a localized treatment drug at the site, upon heating or as it degrades over time.

Abstract: Disclosed are computer-readable devices, systems and methods for generating a model of a clothed body. The method includes generating a model of an unclothed human body, the model capturing a shape or a pose of the unclothed human body, determining two-dimensional contours associated with the model, and computing deformations by aligning a contour of a clothed human body with a contour of the unclothed human body. Based on the two-dimensional contours and the deformations, the method includes generating a first two-dimensional model of the unclothed human body, the first two-dimensional model factoring the deformations of the unclothed human body into one or more of a shape variation component, a viewpoint change, and a pose variation and learning an eigen-clothing model using principal component analysis applied to the deformations, wherein the eigen-clothing model classifies different types of clothing, to yield a second two-dimensional model of a clothed human body.

Abstract: A magnetic sensing device includes a non-magnetic layer serving as a spacer and two magnetic layers that sandwich the spacer, and two oxide layers that sandwich the trilayer structure including the two magnetic layers and the spacer.

Abstract: A flowmeter may include an inlet configured to couple to a first conduit to receive a flow of a multiphase medium, an outlet configured to couple to a second conduit to deliver the multiphase medium, and a chamber extending between the inlet and the outlet and providing a flow path between the inlet and the outlet. The flowmeter may include a device within the chamber. The device may be configured to move in response to the multiphase medium to dynamically vary an effective constriction ratio of the flow path. The flowmeter may include a circuit configured to determine a flow rate of the multiphase medium based on the effective constriction ratio.

Abstract: A system and a process for dimerizing cyclopentadiene (CPD) including producing a C6+C7 rich bottoms stream and a C5 rich side draw from a debutanizer, where the C5 rich side draw and at least a portion of the C6+C7 rich bottoms stream are directed to a dimerizer where the CPD is thermally dimerized to dicyclopentadiene (DCPD). DCPD is more stable than CPD and thus safer to handle.

Abstract: A system and process for generating, on-site, a sustained C6+C7 aromatic rich solvent stream for tar solvation within the olefin plant employing a two-fuel oil tower system receiving a hydrocarbon feed from a quench water separator drum, where the two-fuel oil tower system is configured to make a sufficient solvent stream containing C6+C7 aromatic rich hydrocarbons that is recycled and mixed with quench water going to the quench water separator drum to assist in removing tar molecules out of the quench water.

Abstract: A system for hydrogenation C3 and C4 acetylenes contained within a hydrocarbon stream generated in a stream cracker unit where a debutanizer is placed upstream of a depropanizer for more economical processing of the hydrocarbon stream to produce lighter hydrocarbons, where the system requires only one stripper tower downstream of hydrogenation to remove residual hydrogen.

Abstract: A first stream containing 1,3-butadiene, C4 acetylenes, and optionally C3 hydrocarbons, is mixed with a portion of the liquid recycle stream from a C4 acetylene hydrogenation reactor containing hydrogenated C4 acetylenes and a molecular hydrogen-containing stream, the resulting mixed stream is then fed to a C4 acetylene hydrogenation reactor to selectively hydrogenate the C4 acetylenes in the crude butadiene stream without appreciable 1,3-butadiene conversion.

Abstract: The methods and assays described herein relate to the diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of subjects with emphysema, COPD, and/or cigarette-induced lung damage. In some embodiments, the methods and assays relate to subjects with a decreased level of NLRX1 expression. In some embodiments, the methods and assays relate to the administration of an agonist of NLRX1 and/or an inhibitor of MAVS.

Abstract: The described systems and related test methods provide significant improvement in test accuracy, as well as reduction of test time for Electromagnetic Environmental Effects (E3) system level testing. Systems may include a real time spectrum analyzer, a network analyzer, and a switching/filtering/coupling network controlled by an information processing device, such as a general purpose computer. These systems can scan all frequencies at each receiver.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process of using an alloy nanoparticle catalyst to catalyze one pot chemical reactions for synthesizing functional polymers with controlled polymerization and properties. In particular, the present invention provides a process of using an AuPd NP catalyst to catalyze one pot chemical reactions for synthesizing polybenzoxazole with controlled polymerization and improved chemical stability.

Abstract: A method includes simultaneously controlling and sensing aerodynamic loading of a membrane wing using a capacitance of the membrane, the membrane wing stretching under aerodynamic load, leading to thinning of a membrane thickness and increased capacitance, and using knowledge of the membrane's elastic and dielectric material properties to determine an amount of steady aerodynamic lift being generated.

Abstract: A system includes spatially isolated nodes proximal to a cortical surface or spinal cord, a telemetric antenna array located above the dura, the telemetric antenna array configured to provide power to and exchange data with the spatially isolated nodes, and a power and data distribution unit configured to power the spatially isolated nodes, aggregate recorded data, send the aggregated recorded data and commands through a wireless link.

Abstract: A new and distinct Aloe humilis plant named ‘MOBAL 33’ which is characterized by a globular profile with linear succulent foliage arranged in a basal rosette that eventually forms a short stem with age, linear foliage with an upward and outward attitude with the distal portion of the lamina strongly curled under, dark green foliage that is thinly covered with greyed-green epicuticular wax, and prominent spinose leaf margins with large spines which generally appear to be tipped near-white. The new variety has shown to be uniform and stable in the resulting generations from asexual propagation.