Abstract: A method for enhanced oil recovery may comprise inputting into a computer system data related to properties of a hydrocarbon reservoir and depletion of the hydrocarbon reservoir; calculating, with the computer system, a current oil saturation and a current gas saturation of the hydrocarbon reservoir based on the data; determining, with the computer system, that the current reservoir pressure is less than a bubble point pressure based on the data; calculating, with the computer system, a time to repressure the hydrocarbon reservoir by waterflooding based on the data; comparing, with the computer system, the data related to properties of the hydrocarbon reservoir to oil recovery screening criteria; selecting a flooding technique from a plurality of flooding techniques, with the computer system, based on satisfying the oil recovery screening criteria with the data related to properties of the hydrocarbon reservoir; and flooding the hydrocarbon reservoir.

Abstract: Systems and methods for recovering rare earth metals from rare earth metal-containing magnets includes fragmenting or commutating the magnets, contacting the commutated magnets with a mixture of low molecular weight carboxylic acids such as formic acid and water, and removing or extracting non-rare earth metal carboxylate phases such as an iron carboxylate (formate) phase from a rare earth metal carboxylate (formate) phase, using a solvent such as water.

Abstract: Systems and methods for real-time detecting and quantification of surface and bulk corrosion and erosion in materials involve measuring and characterizing the electrical resistances, capacitances, and/or inductances of the materials and their interfaces, preferably by using an impedance analyzer precision LCR meter. The materials may be metals, non-metals (such as plastics, polymers, cements, concrete, ceramics, rocks and soils) and composite materials with various types of material constituents (such as metals, plastics, polymers, and cements).

Abstract: A methodology is disclosed to produce nanostructured carbon particles that act as effective reinforcements. The process is conducted in the solid state at close to ambient conditions. The carbon nanostructures produced under this discovery are nanostructured and are synthesized by mechanical means at standard conditions. The benefit of this processing methodology is that those carbon nanostructures can be used as effective reinforcements for composites of various matrices. As example, are to demonstrate its effectiveness the following matrices were including in testing: ceramic, metallic, and polymeric (organic and inorganic), as well as bio-polymers. The reinforcements have been introduced in those matrices at room and elevated temperatures. The raw material is carbon soot that is a byproduct and hence abundant and cheaper than pristine carbon alternatives (e.g. nanotubes, graphene).

Abstract: In one aspect, the present disclosure provides nano and microstructures of conducting polymers which may be used in the treatment of neuron regeneration. In some embodiments, the microstructures may be a microcup or a nanogroove structure. The present disclosure also provides methods of preparing the conducting polymer coated microstructures and methods of using these compositions or structures.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting lubrication conditions, lubrication regimes, impingement, stick-slip, and/or surface damage allows the health of a joint to be monitored. The system and method provides in situ or in vivo real-time monitoring of dynamic and static conditions of the joint. The monitoring system may use both passive and active sensing approaches that employ strategically placed piezoelectric transducers on/in the articulating components of the joint. In some embodiments, the transducers may be Lead Zirconate Titanate (PZT) transducers. Active sensing may be used to detect lubrication regimes under static and dynamic conditions. Passive sensing may be used to characterize the joint motion and abnormities, such as impingements and surface damages.

Abstract: Identified compounds demonstrate protein kinase inhibitory activity. More specifically, the compounds having the structures below (I) are demonstrated to inhibit receptor interacting kinase 2 (RIPK2) and/or Activin-like kinase 2 (ALK2). Compounds that are either dual RIPK2/ALK2 inhibitors or that preferentially inhibit RIPK2 or ALK2 could provide therapeutic benefit.

Abstract: A nanoporous gold disk (NPGD) as a novel surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) substrate. NPGD has SERS enhancement factor similar to that of gold nanoshells, but allows, for example, at least three times more benzenethiol molecules to be attached to its surface due to large surface-to-volume ratio. The high capacity enables the rapid detection of attomole-level benzenethiol molecules with relatively high detector temperatures. Additionally, a fabrication process to make NPGD with controlled size and highly reproducible SERS activities.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention generally provide compositions of crystalline zeolite materials with tailored crystal habits and the methods for forming such crystalline zeolite materials. The methods for forming the crystalline zeolite materials include binding one or more zeolite growth modifiers (ZGMs) to the surface of a zeolite crystal, which results in the modification of crystal growth rates along different crystallographic directions, leading to the formation of zeolites having a tailored crystal habit. The improved properties enabled by the tailored crystal habit include a minimized crystal thickness, a shortened internal diffusion pathlength, and a greater step density as compared to a zeolite having the native crystal habit prepared by traditional processes. The tailored crystal habit provides the crystalline zeolite materials with an aspect ratio of about 4 or greater and crystal surfaces having a step density of about 25 steps/?m2 or greater.

Abstract: A lithography-free, mold-free method of fabricating high quality optical material by curing polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) droplets in or on pre-heated substrates allows lenses with different focal lengths to be made by varying the volume and surface temperature, as well as the substrate.

Abstract: A method of using an exchange-induced remnant magnetization (EXIRM) technique for label free detection of short strands of nucleotides and cancer biomarkers, such as DNA and microRNA strands, DNA/RNA-binding biomarkers, and cancer-specific antigens, with high sensitivity, high specificity, and broad dynamic range. The method may provide a label-free approach aimed to facilitate high reliability, and to require a minimum amount of biochemical reagents.

Abstract: A flexible and stretchable fabric based electrode-polymer electrolyte battery described herein comprises at least one electrochemical cell. The electrochemical cell comprises a first stretchable electrode having a first active material coupled with a first stretchable fabric current collector, a second stretchable electrode having a second active material coupled with a second stretchable fabric current collector, a stretchable separator configured between the first and second electrodes, and at least one stretchable encapsulant material, wherein the stretchable material encapsulates the electrochemical cell and is capable of reversible bending, twisting, folding and stretching.

Abstract: A lithography-free, mold-free method of fabricating high quality optical material by curing polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) droplets in or on pre-heated substrates allows lenses with different focal lengths to be made by varying the volume and surface temperature, as well as the substrate.

Abstract: A biosensor may provide a magnetoresistive (MR) film comprising a nonmagnetic layer may be sandwiched between the two ferromagnetic layers. The MR film may be positioned on a substrate, where the edges of the MR film are in contact with leads. Additionally, the leads may be in contact with pads. The sensors may provide quasi-digital readout that enable greatly enhanced sensitivity. In some embodiments, biosensors may be arranged as array of sensors. The array of sensors may be arranged as a symmetric or asymmetric N1×N2 array, where N1 and N2 are integers, N1 represents the number of sensors linked together in series, and N2 represents the number of sensor sets in parallel, where each sensor set may comprise one or more sensors. Further, the array of sensors may be coupled to a voltmeter, which may be a single voltmeter in some cases that allows the sensors to all be probed simultaneously.

Abstract: Modified surfaces of the present disclosure include a surface or substrate material, a magnetic field, which may be generated through the use of a magnet placed at a distance beneath the surface or substrate, or placed above the surface or substrate, or through the use of a magnetic surface or substrate, and a magnetic fluid, such as quereferrofluid or ferrogel, deposited in a layer on the top of the surface or substrate. The modified surfaces may be icephobic. In addition, a droplet of liquid placed on the modified surface can be manipulated through placement of a local heat source in proximity to the droplet, without contacting the droplet.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to the fabrication and characterization of an optical fiber capable of firing light virtually from any point along its circumferential surface. The optical fiber is preferably prepared by laser micromachining. In preferred embodiments, laser radiation is focused onto a multimode optical fiber axis, forming a conical-shaped cavity (side window) in the fiber core. Because of the total internal reflection when the laser beam reaches the side window-outside medium interface, the beam is reflected to the side of the optical fiber.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to signal comparison in seismic/acoustic imaging and data processing. In particular, this disclosure relates to a new nonlinear signal comparison (NLSC) approach which obtains a uniform resolution across a frequency band. The overall resolution in NLSC can be controlled over the frequency band by an adjustable parameter.

Abstract: A method and composition for doped HTS tapes having directional flux pinning and critical current.

Abstract: A process of fabricating the waterproof coating may include selecting a substrate, utilizing a sol-gel comprising a silane or silane derivative and metal oxide precursor to coat the substrate, and optionally coating the substrate with a hydrophobic chemical agent and/or other chemical agents to create a surface with nanoscopic or microscopic features. The process may utilize an all solution process or controlled environment for fabricating self-cleaning and waterproof coating that prevent wetting or staining of a substrate, or may utilize a controlled environment.

Abstract: Provided herein are digital-implemented methods for performing simultaneous analyses on an object on the skin of an animal body, for example, a human, to classify the object as a skin cancer, an ulcer or neither. The analyses are performed simultaneously on a hand-held imaging device.