Abstract: A process for producing olefins by cracking paraffins in the presence of methane. In the conventional steam cracking processes for olefin production, steam is used as a diluent in the feed mixture to the thermal cracker. In the processes provided herein, methane replaces steam as a diluent in the feed mixture to the thermal cracker. Replacing steam with methane as a diluent has a potential for cost savings in the construction and operation of a thermal cracking plant for olefin production. In addition, it leads to a much simpler cracking process compared to the conventional steam cracking technology as in the state of the art.

Abstract: Processes and systems for upgrading natural gas liquids. At least a portion of the natural gas liquid components in a shale gas stream can be dehydrogenated to their corresponding olefin derivatives prior to separating any methane from the liquids. Further processing subsequent to dehydrogenation could include various separations, oligomerizing olefins produced in the dehydrogenation step, recovering desired products, etc. The order of the processing steps subsequent to dehydrogenation could be adjusted in various cases.

Abstract: A novel, advanced polymeric swab is disclosed herein. The swabs have a surface texture that allows for independent motion between microscale regions, are reusable with no loss of accuracy or efficiency, and are fabricated from optoelectronically-active elements to minimize static charging during repeated use.

Abstract: An oligomerization catalyst, oligomer products, methods for making and using same. The catalyst can include a supported nickel phosphate compound. The catalyst is stable at oligomerization temperatures of 500° C. or higher and particularly useful for making oligomer products containing C4 to C26 olefins having a boiling point in the range of 170° C. to 360° C.

Abstract: An oligomerization catalyst, oligomer products, methods for making and using same. The catalyst can include a supported nickel phosphate compound. The catalyst is stable at oligomerization temperatures of 500° C. or higher and particularly useful for making oligomer products containing C4 to C26 olefins having a boiling point in the range of 170° C. to 360° C.

Abstract: The invention described herein pertains to four series of aza-A-ring indenoisoquinolines, which are inhibitors of topoisomerase IB (Top1), and the processes for preparing said aza-A-ring indenoisoquinolines. Also described are methods for treating cancer in mammals using the described aza-A-ring indenoisoquinoline compounds or pharmaceutical formulations thereof.

Abstract: The invention provides cellular assays for detecting the activity of one or more kinase from multiple conditions simultaneously, by encoding biochemically identical substrates with isotope labels that enable them to be distinguished in pooled samples by mass spectrometry.

Abstract: A non-transitory computer-readable medium encoded with a computer-readable program which, when executed by a first processor, will cause a computer to execute a method of authenticating a user, the method including training a plurality of models. The method additionally includes sending, by a computer, an acoustic signal. Further, the method includes receiving, by the computer, a reflected acoustic signal, wherein the reflected acoustic signal comprises information about a signature. Moreover, the method includes receiving, by the computer, motion data about the information about the signature. The method additionally includes comparing the information about the signature to a model to generate a score. Additionally, the method includes deciding, based on the score, if the information about the signature is within a predetermined tolerance level.

Abstract: A solar dryer system, including an upper thermal collection unit including a plurality of tiers of thermal radiation collection panels, where a vent is disposed between adjacent ones of the tiers of the thermal radiation collection panels. The solar dryer system can include a chamber disposed between the upper thermal collection unit and a base, where the chamber is configured to receive an object for a drying process using the dryer system. The solar dryer system can also include at least one fan disposed within the chamber and coupled to the base to provide circulation for the drying process.

Abstract: A process and device for electrostatically controlling an ionic environment in a droplet, such as in a droplet-based platform including polymerase-chain reaction (PCR) applications. The process includes providing a chip that comprises at least a pair of electrodes, placing a salt-containing droplet on the chip, and then applying a bias across the electrodes to accumulate ions near surfaces of the electrodes, thereby depleting a bulk salt concentration in regions of the droplet away from the electrodes.

Abstract: A novel catalyst composition and its use in the dehydrogenation of alkanes to olefins. The catalyst comprises a Group VIII noble metal selected from the group consisting of nickel, iron, cobalt, and combinations thereof, and a metal selected from the group consisting of molybdenum, indium, phosphorous, zinc, and combinations thereof, on a support. The catalyst composition is an active and selective catalyst for the catalytic dehydrogenation of alkanes to olefins.

Abstract: A novel catalyst composition and its use in the dehydrogenation of alkanes to olefins. The catalyst comprises a Group VIII noble metal and a metal selected from the group consisting of manganese, vanadium, chromium, titanium, and combinations thereof, on a support. The Group VIII noble metal can be platinum, palladium, osmium, rhodium, rubidium, iridium, and combinations thereof. The support can be silicon dioxide, titanium dioxide, aluminum oxide, silica-alumina, cerium dioxide, zirconium dioxide, magnesium oxide, metal modified silica, silica-pillared clays, silica-pillared micas, metal oxide modified silica-pillared mica, silica-pillared tetrasilicic mica, silica-pillared taeniolite, zeolite, molecular sieve, and combinations thereof. The catalyst composition is an active and selective catalyst for the catalytic dehydrogenation of alkanes to olefins.

Abstract: Provided in one example herein is an aqueous ink composition, including: pigment particles having at least one metal oxide; an aqueous medium; and a cationic double-chain surfactant consisting a quaternary ammonium salt. Methods of making and using the ink composition are also provided.

Abstract: A sensor is provided that is capable of sensing a level of a parameter in an environment surrounding the sensor, wirelessly transmitting data regarding the level of the parameter to another device, and converting a wireless signal to a current and powering the sensors with the current. The sensor may measure capacitance data and transmit the data to a computer to be converted into temperature readings. The sensor may provide temperature readings from multiple locations within a container into which the sensor is placed.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a system and method for efficiently mining multi-threshold measurements acquired using photon counting pixel-array detectors for spectral imaging and diffraction analyses. Images of X-ray intensity as a function of X-ray energy were recorded on a 6 megapixel X-ray photon counting array detector through linear fitting of the measured counts recorded as a function of counting threshold. An analytical model is disclosed for describing the probability density of detected voltage, utilizing fractional photon counting to account for edge/corner effects from voltage plumes that spread across multiple pixels. Three-parameter fits to the model were independently performed for each pixel in the array for X-ray scattering images acquired for 13.5 keV and 15.0 keV X-ray energies. From the established pixel responses, multi-threshold composite images produced from the sum of 13.5 keV and 15.

Abstract: Provided is an ordered step-wise method for the chlorination and photodestruction of MC-LR contamination of an aqueous liquid such as a potable water supply infested with blue-green algae (cyanobacteria). It has been found possible to usefully chlorinate the water at lower chlorine:MC-LR ratios as compared to known methods and then to irradiate the water with ultraviolet radiation to photolyze the chlorinated MC-LR. The methods incorporate the prechlorination of a cyanotoxin, more advantageously a microcystin, and most advantageously MC-LR, to enhance UV-induced photodegradation of this compound.

Abstract: A user authentication system for an electronic device for use with a plurality of wireless wearable medical sensors (WMSs) and a wireless base station that receives a biomedical data stream (biostream) from each WMS. The system includes a BioAura engine located on a server, the server has a wireless transmitter/receiver with receive buffers that store the plurality of biostreams, the BioAura engine has a look up stage and a classifier, the classifier generates an authentication output based on the plurality of biostreams, the authentication output authenticates the user's access to the electronic device. The wireless base station has a transmitter/receiver having receive buffers that store the biomedical data from each WMS, the wireless base station has a communication engine that retrieves the biostream from each WMS and transmits the plurality of biostreams to the server.

Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) equipped with sensor modules and mobile devices (including smartphone, tablet) running intelligent software for autonomous navigation, onboard computer vision, communication, and robotic social networks, is disclosed herein.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention is directed to compositions and methods for enhancing attachment of soft tissues to a metal prosthetic device. In one embodiment a construct is provided comprising a metal implant having a porous metal region, wherein said porous region exhibits a nano-textured surface.

Abstract: Hybrid transparent conducting materials are disclosed with combine a polycrystalline film and conductive nanostructures, in which the polycrystalline film is “percolation doped” with the conductive nanostructures. The polycrystalline film preferably is a single atomic layer thickness of polycrystalline graphene, and conductive nanostructures preferably are silver nanowires.