Abstract: A method and equipment for harvesting natural gas from seabed hydrates are disclosed. The preferred equipment includes a mobile riser, a water injection nozzle, a gas collector, a gas separator, a gas compressor, a water pump, and a water boiler. A fraction of produced gas is used to heat water which is in turn injected to seafloor for dissociating gas hydrates. The preferred method of the invention comprises producing natural gas from seabed hydrates using a production ship with a moving riser installed. This method eliminates the need of drilling wells and thus cuts cost of gas production tremendously.

Abstract: Instruments used to analyze the chemical composition of samples must be calibrated to provide accurate results. Typically, standards are prepared that contain a known amount of the intended analyte to facilitate calibration of the analytical instrument. Various environmental issues are associated with use of mercury containing materials as standards for calibration of analytical instruments. Mercury and gold have very similar characteristic X-ray energies. Standards containing gold nanoparticles have been found to be a good surrogate for mercury in X-ray spectroscopy.

Abstract: Certain embodiments of the present invention are configured to facilitate analyzing computer code more efficiently. For example, by conducting a first level abstraction (e.g., symbolic interpretation and algebraic simplification) and a second level abstraction (e.g., generalization) of the computer code, the analysis may more accurately account for variations in the code that may occur as a result of register renaming, instruction reordering, choice of instructions, etc. while minimizing the cost of computations required to perform the analysis.

Abstract: Exercise is a stressor that is known to in some cases suppress antimicrobial protein levels, particularly secretory immunoglobulin type A (IgA). Athletes in the midst of in-season training often demonstrate low levels of sIgA and supplements may enhance post exercise mucosal immune function. A study was conducted where three treatments were administered (botanical spray, botanical drops, placebo) at the onset of 30 minutes of 80% V02 max cycle ergometer exercise. Secretory IgA and Human Alpha Defensin were quantified in saliva samples 30 minutes and 90 minutes post exercise. Analysis revealed a significant treatment effect at 30 min (p=0.030) with post hoc testing revealing a difference between the botanical spray and placebo (p=0.027), but by 90 minutes there was no differences by treatment (p=0.758). Based upon this study, it appears that a single dose of the tested botanical can provide enhanced mucosal immune capability for a short time post exercise.

Abstract: The method for creating integrated circuits (IC) protects the design of a manufactured IC from being copied or counterfeited. This method protects the design of an IC chip from deliberate copying and counterfeiting by reverse engineering to gain access to the critical points in the IC chip and to siphon its functions and design. The method makes the copying, counterfeiting, and controlling by addition of Trojan circuits during manufacturing almost impossible task. It also allows chip designers to outsource the final bonding of the tiers without any fears that their design may get compromised.

Abstract: This system and method provides for a plurality of satellite ground stations, distributed across some geographic region, and for these regions in turn to be scalable to cover large regions, including across the Earth or in orbit with planets or other celestial bodies using a combination of low-orbit satellites, terrestrial participant devices, and cloud-based communications. The invention in its simplest form is intended to solve the short temporal window problem inherent to the scenario where a single base or ground station is trying to track and communicate with a low-end OSAT or even a cube-satellite.

Abstract: The invention is a gas flowmeter that produces precise flow measurements at low-flowrate ranges (for example, between 0.25 mL/min to 5,000 mL/min). It uses an infrared (“IR”) beam to detect the passing of a gas bubble through a liquid within a glass column. A “broken” beam is detected by the microcontroller for each passing of a bubble. This ability to allow the IR beam to be broken exactly at the passing of a bubble is made possible by the slit-over-slit design at the sides of the glass column and the column holder.

Abstract: This inventive method provides a novel way of modeling basins in planning the drilling of crude oil and natural gas wells by accounting for thermodynamic considerations in tracking the pore pressure of a location of interest. By plotting the energy gradients, heat flux, and thermal conductivity of the location of interest, the user can more accurately identify the location of the Top of Geopressure and additional pertinent information during the well drilling planning process that can reduce costs and increase the safety of the process.

Abstract: In order to substantially reduce friction during drilling operations, specialized lubricants need to be added to drilling fluid recipes. In general, lubricants reduce friction by forming a thin film of liquid that separates the solid surfaces in contact. The primary objective of this research is to evaluate the performance of enhanced activated sludge (EAS) as a lubricant in drilling fluids. EAS is activated sludge rich in lipids. The mixed consortium of microorganism in waste water treatment facilities in grown under a high carbon/nitrogen ratio to trigger lipid accumulation. Performance of EAS as drilling fluid additive was compared with commercial lubricants in terms of lubricity and flow properties. Lubricants were evaluated using water-based drilling mud at lubricant concentrations of 1.78, 3.11, 4.43, and 6.17 pounds per barrel (ppb). Experiments were carried out in a standard lubricity meter. The lubricity meter tests the ability of the lubricant in the drilling mud to reduce friction.

Abstract: A Biorefinery System (BIOSYS) that effectively treats all human activity-derived waste (black water, grey water, and food waste streams) using biological systems and that produces as process by-products: recovered potable water, liberated free oxygen, edible protein cake (with and without lipids), soil amendments, and machinery lube oils. Additionally, the system captures and chemically binds carbon dioxide into microbial cells and associated by-products, thus producing recovered usable returned cabin air.

Abstract: In compounding pharmaceuticals at the outset, the medications are typically arrive in their mass produced form (pills, creams, syrups, etc.) and are individually packaged. Some packaging forms, particularly tubes, take an excessive amount of time to empty for the medication to be used in later compound medications. Presently in this industry, human workers will squeeze the medication out of each individual tube into large bucket containers for storage until the medication is ready for mixing. The disclosed invention provides a novel apparatus and method for emptying multiple tubes at a time with limited human interaction. The apparatus uses a roller and cap-pressing method that can empty several tubes at one time, significantly increasing efficiency. The apparatus is then connected with a novel software package which controls the operation of the device and can provide a counting mechanism for contract monitoring and predicting the lifespan of the device.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to a system and methods for testing sensitization of alloy nondestructively. More specifically, the present invention relates to a system and methods for determining the sensitization of an alloy by measuring ultrasonic parameters of the alloy using ultrasonic techniques, and correlating the measured ultrasonic parameters. In certain embodiments, the ultrasonic measuring techniques include pulse-echo and resonant ultrasound spectroscopy. Certain embodiments use ultrasonic measuring techniques to measure shear-wave velocity, compressional-wave velocity, and attenuation coefficient of compressional waves. One preferred embodiment correlates measured ultrasonic parameters including shear-wave velocity, compressional-wave velocity, and attenuation coefficient of compressional waves to determine the sensitization of alloy.

Abstract: The ability to use data from tests of maximum aerobic capacity to determine the ventilatory threshold and point of respiratory compensation (RCP) is useful for coaches, athletes, and other disciplines in the development of training schemes. Current methods for determining the RCP generally involve identifying deflections in respiratory variables when examined along minute ventilation. The present disclosure describes a novel method for crafting training programs by determining the RCP using standard scores (Z scores) for minute ventilation and oxygen consumption. This method offers further benefits as it is not reliant on visual determination of changes in slope of variables of interest, which can often lead to inaccuracy due to human error.

Abstract: Video streams, either in form of on-demand streaming or live streaming, usually have to be transcoded based on the characteristics of clients' devices. Transcoding is a computationally expensive and time-consuming operation; therefore, streaming service providers currently store numerous transcoded versions of the same video to serve different types of client devices. Due to the expense of maintaining and upgrading storage and computing infrastructures, many streaming service providers recently are becoming reliant on cloud services. However, the challenge in utilizing cloud services for video transcoding is how to deploy cloud resources in a cost-efficient manner without any major impact on the quality of video streams. To address this challenge, in this paper, the Cloud-based Video Streaming Service (CVSS) architecture is disclosed to transcode video streams in an on-demand manner.

Abstract: This system and method provides for a plurality of satellite ground stations, distributed across some geographic region, and for these regions in turn to be scalable to cover large regions or even the globe using a combination of low-orbit satellites, terrestrial participant devices, and cloud-based communications. The invention in its simplest form is intended to solve the short temporal window problem inherent to the scenario where a single base or ground station is trying to track and communicate with a low-end LEOSAT or even a cube-satellite.

Abstract: A system and method for treatment of biomass originating from wastewater treatment biosolids to obtain valuable adhesives and composite materials is described herein. Some embodiments do not require purification of a biomass product or residue to produce an adhesive. Some embodiments comprise a treatment of post extraction biomass residue configured to produce an adhesive. Use of post extraction biomass residue adds value to alternative energy produced by extracting oil from biomass.

Abstract: Video streams, either in form of on-demand streaming or live streaming, usually have to be transcoded based on the characteristics of clients' devices. Transcoding is a computationally expensive and time-consuming operation; therefore, streaming service providers currently store numerous transcoded versions of the same video to serve different types of client devices. Due to the expense of maintaining and upgrading storage and computing infrastructures, many streaming service providers recently are becoming reliant on cloud services. However, the challenge in utilizing cloud services for video transcoding is how to deploy cloud resources in a cost-efficient manner without any major impact on the quality of video streams. To address this challenge, in this paper, the Cloud-based Video Streaming Service (CVSS) architecture is disclosed to transcode video streams in an on-demand manner.

Abstract: When data is stored for a significant amount of time or is transmitted through a noisy environment, it is not uncommon for pieces of that data to be lost or degraded. The disclosed method provides users with a new way of generating and then storing data to provide for easy recovery of said data when pieces of data are lost during storage or during transmission. Unlike the present art, which requires users to store or transmit redundant data, this method does not require redundancy. By removing that redundancy, space-costs of storing data can be reduced.

Abstract: The method relates to the field of asymmetric allylic amination and comprises preparing a chiral N-substituted allylic amine compound from the corresponding allylic substrates and substituted hydroxylamines, in the presence of a catalyst, said catalyst comprising copper compounds and a chiral ligand. Examples of chiral amine compounds which can be made using the method include Vigabatrin, Ezetimibe Terbinafine, Naftifine 3-methylmorphine, Sertraline, Cinacalcet, Mefloquine hydrochloride, and Rivastigmine. There are over 20,000 known bioactive molecules with chiral N-substituted allylic amine substructure. The method may also be used to produce non-natural chiral ?-aminoacid esters, a sub-class of chiral N-substituted allylic amine compounds. Examples of ?-aminoacid ester which can be produced by the disclosed method, include, but are not limited to, N-(2-methylpent-1-en-3-yl)benzenamine and Ethyl 2-methylene-3-(phenylamino)butanoate.

Abstract: An ultra dense and ultra low power microhotplates using silica aerogel and method of making the same, comprising creating a sol-gel by impregnation of ethanol with functional colloidal alcogel particles is described. The technique further comprises forming tiny aerogel particles on the wafer and networking the particles together just by exposure to air during spin coating. The novelty of this technique is not limited to the processing of thin film and thick film silica aerogel.