Abstract: Methods are provided for characterizing crude oils, crude fractions, or other potential feedstocks for forming lubricating base oils in order to determine the suitability of a feedstock for lubricating base oil production. One type of characterization is to determine the isoparaffin, naphthene, and/or aromatics contents of the distillate portion of a feedstock. A second characterization is to determine the viscosity index of a distillate portion of a feedstock after dewaxing the distillate portion to a target pour point.

Abstract: A novel composition is provided that incorporates the residual solids from solvent deasphalting to make a high value asphalt product. A process for making the asphalt composition is also provided. A first portion of heavy oil or another feedstock can be deasphalted using propane deasphalting or another suitable deasphalting process. This generates a solvated fraction and an insoluble deasphalting residue. The deasphalting residue is then added to a second portion of heavy oil, such as a second portion of the same type of heavy oil that was used as feedstock in the solvent deasphalting. The mixture of deasphalting residue and heavy oil results in a novel dispersion that is suitable for use as an asphalt. Optionally, an additive such as an alkyl substituted aromatic sulfonic acid can be added to the composition to further improve the asphalt properties.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for reducing vibrations in a frame of a vehicle. The apparatus may include a housing component and a mass damper coupled to the housing component by a first elastic member and a second elastic member. The mass damper is configured to oscillate in a substantially vertical direction and out of phase with the frame of the vehicle. Disposed within the mass damper is a plurality of steel shots capable of movement in a relatively delayed phase with respect to the mass damper.

Abstract: An adjustable barbell or dumbbell or exercise device includes a handle having an end member, a spring biased latching element engaged in the end member, a weight member attached onto the end member and having an aperture for engaging with the spring biased latching element and for anchoring the weight member to the end member, a button is slidably engaged in the weight member for selectively depressing the spring biased latching element into the end member and for disengaging the spring biased latching element from the weight member and for allowing the weight member to be engaged onto and disengaged from the end member of the handle. The other outer weight members are attachable onto the weight member in series.

Abstract: A scoring device for evaluating the efficiency of a route travelled with a vehicle, an efficiency evaluation method and a system. Acceleration sensors are formed in a mobile telecommunications device in order to obtain position and acceleration data which are supplied to the scoring device via an interface in order to calculate a vehicle model with set parameters from the sensor data. The vehicle model serves to calculate efficiency values for the route travelled which are compared for similarity to reference efficiency values and are incorporated in a graphical depiction of the route travelled.

Abstract: Electronic devices including a semiconductor device package, a substrate, and first and second solder joints. The semiconductor device package includes a die pad, leads and enhancement elements surrounding the die pad, a chip electrically connected to the leads, and a package body encapsulating the chip, portions of the leads, and portions of the enhancement elements, but leaving exposed at least a side surface of each enhancement element. Side surfaces of the enhancement elements and the package body are coplanar. The substrate includes first pads corresponding to the leads and second pads corresponding to the enhancement elements. The first solder joints are disposed between the first pads and the leads. The second solder joints are disposed between the second pads and the enhancement elements. The second solder joints contact side surfaces of the enhancement elements. The surface area of the second pads is greater than the surface area of the corresponding enhancement elements.

Abstract: The invention provides an integrated Phased Array (PhA) structural radar transducer, permanently bonded to a structure, that can provide reliable electromechanical connection with corresponding miniaturized electronic SHM device installed above it. The integrated PhA transducer consists of a set of aligned piezo-electric discs with wrap around electrodes for transceiving of elastic ultrasonic waves, plurality of electrical traces and contact pads, several layers of a flexible printed circuit board, electromagnetic shielding between channels and overall, one electromechanical multi-pinned connector and all that integrated into one small unit easy for surface installation by bonding and final application on real structures.

Abstract: A single-layer tissue sheet having a puncture strength of 2 kgf to 6 kgf. A valve, such as a heart valve, made of one or more leaflets formed from a single-layer tissue sheet. A method of making a tissue sheet having a puncture strength of 2 kgf to 5 kgf. The ultra-strong tissue sheets described herein have very long culture times, such as in excess of 20 weeks. Valves that comprise one or more leaflets made from the ultra-strong tissue sheets described herein may be delivered via trans-cathete aortic valve implantation.

Abstract: The present invention provides a polycarbonate resin composition for molding a molded article having a thin-walled section and exhibiting a high level of flame resistance and impact resistance, and an excellent surface appearance (low-gloss property). More specifically, the present invention is a polycarbonate resin composition for molding a polycarbonate resin molded article having a thin-walled section with a wall thickness of 0.

Abstract: A phased array radar apparatus and method for identifying targets in an environment includes a phased array radar transmitter, a first phased array radar receiver, a second phased array radar receiver, and a radar controller. The first and second phased array radar receivers are configured such that the first and second phased array radar receivers have effectively the same configuration. The radar controller uses the first and second receive beams to calculate an amplitude monopulse ratio and identify angle information of the targets within the environment. The present invention enables high precision estimation of target angle information while scanning over a wide field of view in a single scan. The radar apparatus further uses a complex amplitude monopulse ratio and a weighted target angle histogram to distinguish between closely separated targets that would otherwise be viewed as a single target by conventional monopulse radar apparatuses.

Abstract: A petroleum desalting process in which the oil/water emulsion layer which forms in the desalter vessel between the settled water layer and the settled oil layer is separated into the oil and water components by contact with a heated high boiling hydrocarbon to break the emulsion and vaporize water from the emulsion in a flash drum. The vessel has an emulsion outlet for removing an emulsion stream from the emulsion layer and a conduit connecting the emulsion withdrawal port to an inlet of an optional settling drum to effect and initial separation into an oil-enriched phase and a water phase with the oil-enriched phase led to the flash drum.

Abstract: An apparatus for treating wastewater, such as high-solids contend wastewater from a fracking operation, includes a solids-oil-water separation apparatus coupled to a low-pressure membrane filtration apparatus, with a wastewater recycling conduit coupled at one end to the low-pressure membrane filtration apparatus and coupled at a second end to the solids-oil-water separation apparatus, whereby progressive recycling of membrane concentrate from the low-pressure membrane filtration apparatus through the wastewater recycling conduit, into the solids-oil-water separation apparatus, provides recovery of as much as 97% of the water from a raw wastewater stream.

Abstract: Monitoring synchronization of an electric motor using current signals from power supplied to the motor is disclosed herein. The current signals may be used to calculate representative current values which may be used to calculate a rotational frequency of the rotor of the motor. The rotational frequency may be used to determine synchronization, such as slip. Monitoring may be during startup of a synchronous motor in induction mode. Upon reaching a predetermined synchronization threshold, the motor may be configured from induction mode to synchronous mode.

Abstract: An LED optical assembly includes a linear array of LEDs, longitudinal reflecting surfaces along each side of the array and medial reflecting surfaces between the LEDs. The longitudinal reflecting surfaces include surfaces of rotation centered on the optical axis of each LED interspersed with linear reflecting portions defined by curves projected along a linear focal axis of the assembly.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided to select strains of algal cells for biomass accumulation. Based on synthetic algae sample trajectories, an illumination profile is developed. Strains of algal cells co-cultured in a vessel can then be exposed to the illumination profile under controlled conditions. Properties of algae can be measured and superior strains selected for further cultivation and/or study.

Abstract: A method of synthesizing a crystalline molecular sieve having an MSE framework type comprises crystallizing a reaction mixture comprising a source of water, a source of an oxide of a tetravalent element, Y, selected from at least one of silicon, tin, titanium, vanadium, and germanium, optionally a source of a trivalent element, X, a source of an alkali or alkaline earth metal, M, and a source of organic dications, Q, such as 3-hydroxy-1-(4-(1-methylpiperidin-1-ium-1-yl)butyl)quinuclidin-1-ium, 3-hydroxy-1-(5-(1-methylpiperidin-1-ium-1-yl)pentyl)quinuclidin-1-ium, 1,1?-(butane-1,4-diyl)bis(1-methylpiperidin-1-ium), 1,1?-(pentane-1,5-diyl)bis(1-methylpiperidin-1-ium), 1,1?-(hexane-1,6-diyl)bis(1-methylpiperidin-1-ium), and 1,1?-((3as,6as)-octahydropentalene-2,5-diyl)bis(1-methylpiperidin-1-ium).

Abstract: A pedestrian perception alert system configured to issue a warning during real-time when a driver's visual detection of a pedestrian is difficult, and a method thereof is provided. The system includes a video camera, an alert for issuing a warning, a processor, and a Pedestrian Detection Unit (“PDU”). The PDU analyzes the video camera image to detect a pedestrian. A Global Clutter Analysis Unit (“GCAU”) generates a global clutter score. A Local Pedestrian Clutter Analysis Unit (“LPCAU”) generates a local pedestrian clutter score. The processer processes the global clutter score and local pedestrian clutter score so as to generate a pedestrian detection score. The alert is actuated when the pedestrian detection score is outside of a predetermined threshold so as to notify the driver that perception of a pedestrian is difficult at that time.

Abstract: Automated tire changer machines, control systems and methods therefor utilize positive contact and contact force generation between wheel rims and bead breaker devices to break tire bead seals. The bead breaker devices may accordingly follow different geometries of wheel rims without prior knowledge or identification of the specific rim configuration by the machine.

Abstract: Multi-Task Multi-View Tracking (MTMVT) is used to visually identify and track an object. The MTMVT employs visual cues such as color, edge, and texture as complementary features to intensity in the target appearance representation, and combines a multi-view representation with a robust multi-task learning to solve feature fusion tracking problems. To reduce computational demands, feature matrices are sparsely represented in a single matrix and then decomposed into a pair of matrices to improve robustness to outliers. Views and particles are further combined based on interdependency and commonality single computational task. Probabilities are computed for each particle across all features and the particle with the greatest probability is selected as the target tracking result.

Abstract: A method for preparing crystalline cobalt nitrate. The method includes: 1) calcining a spent Co/SiO2 catalyst, cooling the calcined material to room temperature, and grinding it to yield a powder; 2) heating the powder in a fluidized bed reactor; 3) adding the heated powder into excess dilute nitric acid solution and filtering to obtain a cobalt nitrate solution; 4) adjusting the pH value of the cobalt nitrate solution to 1.5, adding a preheated oxalic acid solution, adjusting a pH value of the resulting solution to 1.5, immediately filtering the resulting solution to yield a precipitate of cobalt oxalate, washing the precipitate of cobalt oxalate to yield a neutral filtrate; 5) drying the precipitate and calcining to yield cobalt oxide; 6) dissolving the cobalt oxide in nitric acid to yield a second cobalt nitrate solution; and 7) evaporating the second cobalt nitrate solution to obtain crystalline cobalt nitrate.