Abstract: The invention provides a process of alkaline catalytic cracking of inferior heavy oil with double reaction tubes in milliseconds and gaseous coupling, the process comprising: a high-efficiency atomizing nozzle sprays the preheated heavy oil into an upper portion of a downflow reaction tube, the produced oil mist mixes with a high temperature regenerated alkaline catalyst flowing downward from a dual-regulation return feeder, so as to heat, vaporize and crack the oil mist, the obtained stream containing a cracked oil and gas and an alkali catalyst to be generated flows rapidly and downward to the bottom of the downflow reaction tube to carry out a gas-solid separation; then the cracked oil and gas obtained from the gas-solid separation enters a fractionation column to be separated, the oil slurry obtained by separating the cracked oil and gas returns to mix with the heavy oil for recyclable use, while the other products separated from the cracked oil and gas are output as intermediate products; the alkali cata

Abstract: Nucleic acids for the treatment of diseases are described, as are cells including such nucleic acids and methods of using both nucleic acids and cells. The nucleic acids include a thioredoxin-interacting protein (TXNIP) promoter and a gene that encodes a therapeutic protein or an interfering nucleic acid sequence (e.g., interfering RNA (iRNA sequence)).

Abstract: A system for modulating a terahertz beam includes a multiferroic nanoparticle heterostructure through which a terahertz beam can be propagated, and means for applying an external direct current (DC) magnetic field to the multiferroic nanoparticle heterostructure and the terahertz beam propagating through it, wherein application of the DC magnetic field modulates one or both of an amplitude and a phase of the terahertz beam.

Abstract: A composition formed of a mixture of two compounds having similar thermal evaporation properties that are pre-mixed into an evaporation source that can be used to co-evaporate the two compounds into an emission layer in OLEDs via vacuum thermal evaporation process is disclosed. The first and second compounds can have an evaporation temperature T1 and T2, respectively, of 150 to 350° C., and the absolute value of T1-T2 can be less than 20° C. The first compound can have a concentration C1 in the mixture and a concentration C2 in a film formed by evaporating the mixture in a vacuum deposition tool at a constant pressure between 1×10?6 Torr to 1×10?9 Torr, at a 2 ?/sec deposition rate on a surface positioned at a predefined distance away from the mixture being evaporated, where the absolute value of (C1?C2)/C1 is less than 5%.

Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling an engine airpath include receiving, at a supervisory controller, an engine speed corresponding to a present engine speed, a fuel target corresponding to a request for torque from a driver and one or more state estimates generated by an estimator. The supervisory controller predicts, over a prediction horizon, a constraint violation in response to the engine speed, the fuel target, and the one or more state estimates using a prediction model, adjusts an EGR rate target to a modified value, when the constraint violation is predicted, and maintains the EGR rate target at a nominal value when the constraint violation is not predicted. A nonlinear predictive controller generates one or more actuator commands based on the EGR rate target, where the one or more actuator commands control an engine actuator such that an EGR rate of the engine airpath tracks the EGR rate target.

Abstract: Methods and systems to interface between physiological devices and a prosthetic device, including to receive a plurality of types of physiological activity signals from a user, decode a user movement intent from each of the plurality of signals types, and fuse the movement intents into a joint decision to control moveable elements of the prosthetic device.

Abstract: Cyclic nitroxide compounds including, but not limited to, compounds having the general formula I: wherein the dashed line and R1-R8 are as defined herein, are disclosed herein for use in treating diseases and disorders of the respiratory tract and/or respiratory tract remodeling.

Abstract: Disclosed are variants of ACE2, pharmaceutical compositions comprising the variants of ACE2, and treatment methods for reducing Angiotensin II (1-8) plasma levels and/or increasing Angiotensin (1-7) plasma levels in a subject in need thereof. The disclosed variants of ACE2 may include polypeptide fragments of ACE2 having ACE2 activity for converting AngII(1-8) to Ang(1-7). Suitable subjects suitable for the disclosed methods of treatment may include subjects having or at risk for developing diabetic and non-diabetic chronic kidney disease, acute renal failure and its prevention, chronic kidney disease, severe hypertension, scleroderma and its skin, pulmonary, kidney and hypertensive complications, malignant hypertension, renovascular hypertension secondary to renal artery stenosis, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, liver fibrosis such as in liver cirrhosis patients, an aortic aneurysm, cardiac fibrosis and remodeling, left ventricular hypertrophy, and an acute stroke.

Abstract: A sequential state element (SSE) is disclosed. In one embodiment, an SSE includes a differential sense flip flop (DSFF) and a completion detection circuit (CDC) operably associated with the DSFF. The DSFF is configured to generate a differential logical output. During a normal operational mode, the DSFF is synchronized by a clock signal to provide a differential logical output in a differential output state in accordance with a data input or in a precharge state based on the clock signal. The differential logical output is provided in a differential output state in accordance with a test input during a scan mode. The CDC is configured to generate a test enable input during the scan mode that indicates the scan mode once the differential logical output is in the differential output state. Accordingly, another SSE can be asynchronously triggered to operate in the scan mode without a separate scan clock.

Abstract: The presently disclosed subject matter provides methods for continuously generating uniform polyelectrolyte complex (PEC) nanoparticles comprising: flowing a first stream comprising one or more water-soluble polycationic polymers at a first variable flow rate into a confined chamber; flowing a second stream comprising one or more water-soluble polyanionic polymers at a second variable flow rate into the confined chamber; and impinging the first stream and the second stream in the confined chamber until the Reynolds number is from about 1,000 to about 20,000, thereby causing the one or more water-soluble polycationic polymers and the one or more water-soluble polyanionic polymers to undergo a polyelectrolyte complexation process that continuously generates PEC nanoparticles. Compositions produced from the presently disclosed methods and a device for producing the compositions are also disclosed.

Abstract: A Raman spectroscopic detection device comprising at least one microfluidic sample channel; at least one excitation waveguide for exciting a Raman signal and at least one collection waveguide for collecting a Raman signal. The output of the excitation waveguide and the input of the collection waveguide are positioned directly in the microfluidic sample channel.

Abstract: Peptides that generate an immune response to glioma-related H3.3 proteins and methods of their use are provided.

Abstract: A hemostatic method is performed as follows: A) An at-puncture hemostatic pressure is applied to a puncture in a blood vessel via a main geometric side, and at least one off-puncture hemostatic pressure is applied to at least one position away from the puncture via at least one auxiliary geometric side, wherein the off-puncture hemostatic pressure acts on the blood vessel either directly or indirectly. B) During the hemostatic process, an ongoing flow velocity of the blood in the blood vessel is obtained and is reduced to lower than a normal flow velocity in the blood vessel by applying the at-puncture and off-puncture hemostatic pressures simultaneously, wherein the at-puncture and off-puncture hemostatic pressures are lower than a systolic pressure in the blood vessel.

Abstract: A system and method of determining a data collection routing protocol include the steps of perceiving a broadcast beacon message from an i-th sensor node located at an i-th sensor level by one or more sensor nodes at one or more other sensor levels of a divided WSN, wherein the i-th sensor level does not include a first sensor level of a sink sensor node; resetting the respective sensor level of the one or more sensor nodes to an (i+1)th sensor level; attempting to connect the i-th sensor node at the i-th sensor level to another sensor node located at an (i?1)th sensor level; and connecting the i-th sensor node to a parent sensor node at the i-th sensor level when certain conditions are met. These conditions are determined and analyzed locally at each sensor node.

Abstract: A system for dispensing oral consumables includes a mobile device and an oral consumables dispenser attached to the device. The dispenser can include a retractable holder for storing the oral consumables. As mobile electronic devices and their associated accessories are carried by most people for lengthy periods throughout the day, the system for dispensing oral consumables can facilitate timely consumption of oral consumables.

Abstract: A racking system and components are provided in which multiple storage positions are provided for individual storage boxes and automated guided vehicles are present to carry out automated placement, relocation and retrieval of boxes from storage positions in which they are located. The racking system has horizontally extending storage layers in each of which multiple storage positions are located and alternating vertically juxtaposed transfer layers in which automated guided vehicles are movable in at least two directions that are at right angles to each other to place, relocate and retrieve boxes to and from storage positions by vertical movement of the boxes into and out of storage positions in storage layers located above or below a transfer layer. The storage positions have associated with them storage guides for guiding boxes into and out of the storage positions and support arrangements for supporting the boxes in their storage positions.

Abstract: A medical balloon for a balloon pump is disclosed. The medical balloon has a first end and a second end and a port at one of the ends for engaging a catheter for receiving an inflation fluid into the balloon. The balloon has one or more exterior walls defining, when the balloon is inflated at substantially a standard operating pressure, a taper along at least a part of the length of the balloon. The taper has two or more consecutive tapering sections, each tapering section having a different, substantially constant, angle of tapering. The balloon is substantially asymmetrical about a mid-point between the first and second ends when inflated.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides novel compounds, including compounds that bind to potassium channels, methods for their manufacture, and methods for their use, including their use to diagnose and/or assess traumatic brain injury and use to treat demyelinating diseases, and/or in vivo imaging of the central nervous system, and to diagnose and/or assess the progression of MS or other diseases.

Abstract: A method may comprise: exposing a substituted chromone dissolved in a solvent to a sample; taking a fluorescence measurement of the sample after exposure to the substituted chromone; and determining a presence or absence of one or more ions in the sample, a concentration of the one or more ions in the sample, or both based on the fluorescence measurement.

Abstract: A sensor network includes a sink and multiple sensor nodes. The sink is coupled to a substrate and configured to transmit a periodic ultrasonic pulse on the substrate. A first one of the sensor nodes is coupled to the substrate. The first sensor node is configured to (i) receive the periodic ultrasonic pulse from the substrate, (ii) synchronize an internal clock of the first sensor node to the sink based on the periodic ultrasonic pulse, (iii) selectively detect an event in a region surrounding the first sensor node, and (iv) in response to detecting the event, transmit a first ultrasonic pulse toward the sink on the substrate.