Patents by Inventor Ann Johnson

Ann Johnson has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20170001934
    Abstract: An improved process for the production of a higher hydrocarbon from solid biomass is provided. Solid biomass that has been digested and hydrodeoxygenated in a liquid digestive solvent in the presence of a hydrothermal hydrocatalytic catalyst is separated to an organic rich phase and an aqueous rich phase containing diols. At least a portion of the aqueous rich phase is contacted with an acidic amorphous silica alumina catalyst producing monooxygenate-containing stream comprising water, organic monooxygenates, and unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbons. At least a portion of the monooxygenate-containing stream is contacted with a solid acid condensation catalyst to produce a higher hydrocarbons stream. At least a portion of the organic rich phase is also contacted with a solid acid condensation catalyst to produce a higher hydrocarbons stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2016
    Publication date: January 5, 2017
    Inventors: Joseph Broun POWELL, Kimberly Ann JOHNSON
  • Publication number: 20170002272
    Abstract: A process for the production of a higher hydrocarbon useful as gasoline component from solid biomass is provided. The process provides for longer ZSM-5 condensation catalyst life by contacting the stable oxygenated hydrocarbon intermediate containing diols produced from digestion and hydrodoxygenation of the solid biomass to an amorphous silica alumina catalyst to reduce the diols content, and optionally removing water, prior to contacting with the ZSM-5 condensation catalyst.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2016
    Publication date: January 5, 2017
    Inventors: Kimberly Ann JOHNSON, Joseph Broun POWELL
  • Publication number: 20170001933
    Abstract: A process for the production of a higher hydrocarbon from solid biomass is provided. The process provides for ready separation of organic phase from aqueous phase which organic phase maybe recycled as a digestive solvent in a digestion and/or deoxygenation of solid biomass. By contacting the oxygenated hydrocarbon intermediate containing diols produced from the digestion and deoxygenation of solid biomass with an amorphous silica alumina catalyst reduces the diols content and product stream readily separates into organic phase and aqueous phase.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2016
    Publication date: January 5, 2017
    Inventors: Kimberly Ann JOHNSON, Joseph Broun POWELL
  • Patent number: 9526746
    Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions and methods for tissue regeneration, particularly for treating skin lesions such as wounds. In one aspect, the invention provides a wound healing composition comprising living cells such as fibroblasts within a support matrix such as fibrin, in which the cells have a wound healing phenotype, and in which the composition is single layered and has been incubated for up to about 8 days to allow development of the wound healing phenotype. The compositions and methods of the invention are useful especially for assisting the process of wound healing, particularly chronic open lesions that are slow to heal or resistant to healing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: SMITH & NEPHEW, INC.
    Inventors: Paul Kemp, Györgyi Talas, Jennifer Sutherland, Margaret Batten, Penelope Ann Johnson, Andrew Shering, Michael McWhan
  • Publication number: 20160346214
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to compositions comprising an extrudate or solid solution of a compound, or a salt thereof, of Formula I (API): Formula I, wherein “Ra” is independently H or —F, in a water-soluble polymer matrix which further comprises a disintegration system allowing a tablet made therefrom to rapidly disintegrate in the environment in which the API is to be released.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2015
    Publication date: December 1, 2016
    Applicant: Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.
    Inventors: Mary Ann Johnson, Leonardo Resende Allain, W. Mark Eickhoff, Craig B. Ikeda, Chad D. Brown, Francis J. Flanagan, JR., Rebecca Nofsinger, Melanie Marota, Lisa Lupton, Paresh B. Patel, Hanmi Xi, Wei Xu
  • Publication number: 20160346198
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to disintegration systems for solid pharmaceutical dosage forms, which allow rapid disintegration of solid dosage forms that comprise solid dispersion formulations that include pharmaceutically active agents, polymers and optionally surfactants. The present disclosure is also directed to solid pharmaceutical dosage forms, such as tablets, comprising solid dispersion formulations and the disintegration systems, to methods for preparing the disintegration systems, and to methods for preparing the solid pharmaceutical dosage forms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2015
    Publication date: December 1, 2016
    Applicant: Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.
    Inventors: Melanie J. Marota, Chad David Brown, Craig B. Ikeda, Mary Ann Johnson, Hanmi Xi, Wei Xu, Lixia Cai
  • Patent number: 9493719
    Abstract: A method comprises providing a carbohydrate; reacting the carbohydrate with hydrogen in the presence of a hydrogenolysis catalyst to produce reaction products comprising an alcohol, a polyol, and a higher polyol; recycling the higher polyol through the hydrogenolysis reaction to produce reaction products comprising an alcohol and a polyol and a higher polyol; processing at least a portion of the reaction products to form a fuel blend.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Juben Nemchand Chheda, Kimberly Ann Johnson, Joseph Broun Powell
  • Patent number: 9469822
    Abstract: A method of hydrothermal hydrocatalytic treating biomass is provided. Lignocellulosic biomass solids is provided to a hydrothermal digestion unit in the presence of a digestive solvent, and a supported hydrogenolysis catalyst containing (a) sulfur, (b) Mo or W, and (c) Co, Ni or mixture thereof, incorporated into an alumina support, which support is predominantly alpha alumina; (ii) heating the lignocellulosic biomass solids and digestive solvent in the presence of hydrogen, and supported hydrogenolysis catalyst thereby forming a product solution containing plurality of oxygenated hydrocarbons, said alumina support having a specific surface area of up to about 30 m2/g and said catalyst retaining a crush strength of at least 50% after being subjected to an aqueous phase stability test compared with before the aqueous phase stability test or a crush strength of at least 0.25 kg after being subjected to an aqueous phase stability test.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Joseph Broun Powell, Glenn Charles Komplin, John Anthony Smegal, Kimberly Ann Johnson
  • Patent number: 9447347
    Abstract: A method comprises a providing a carbohydrate; reacting the carbohydrate directly with hydrogen in the presence of a hydrogenolysis catalyst to produce a reaction product comprising a polyol; and then processing at least a portion of the reaction product to form a fuel blend.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Juben Nemchand Chheda, Kimberly Ann Johnson, Joseph Broun Powell
  • Publication number: 20160203179
    Abstract: A method for rapid data analysis comprising receiving and interpreting a query, collecting a first data sample from the first set of data shards, calculating an intermediate result to the query based on analysis of the first data sample, identifying a second set of data shards based on the intermediate result, collecting a second data sample from the second set of data shards, and calculating a final result to the query based on analysis of the second data sample.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2016
    Publication date: July 14, 2016
    Inventors: Robert Johnson, Lior Abraham, Ann Johnson, Boris Dimitrov, Don Fossgreen
  • Publication number: 20160196086
    Abstract: A system for allocation of one or more data structures used in a program across a number of processing units takes into account a memory access pattern of the data structure, and the amount of total memory available for duplication across the several processing units. Using these parameters duplication factors are determined for the one or more data structures such that the cost of remote communication is minimized when the data structures are duplicated according to the respective duplication factors while allowing parallel execution of the program.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2016
    Publication date: July 7, 2016
    Inventors: Muthu M. Baskaran, Thomas Henretty, Ann Johnson, Athanasios Konstantinidis, M. H. Langston, Janice O. McMahon, Benoit J. Meister, Paul D. Mountcastle, Aale Naqvi, Benoit Pradelle, Tahina Ramananandro, Sanket Tavarageri, Richard A. Lethin
  • Publication number: 20160196121
    Abstract: A compilation system using an energy model based on a set of generic and practical hardware and software parameters is presented. The model can represent the major trends in energy consumption spanning potential hardware configurations using only parameters available at compilation time. Experimental verification indicates that the model is nimble yet sufficiently precise, allowing efficient selection of one or more parameters of a target computing system so as to minimize power/energy consumption of a program while achieving other performance related goals. A voltage and/or frequency optimization and selection is presented which can determine an efficient dynamic hardware configuration schedule at compilation time. In various embodiments, the configuration schedule is chosen based on its predicted effect on energy consumption. A concurrency throttling technique based on the energy model can exploit the power-gating features exposed by the target computing system to increase the energy efficiency of programs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2016
    Publication date: July 7, 2016
    Inventors: Muthu M. Baskaran, Thomas Henretty, Ann Johnson, Athanasios Konstantinidis, M. H. Langston, Janice O. McMahon, Benoit J. Meister, Paul D. Mountcastle, Aale Naqvi, Benoit Pradelle, Tahina Ramananandro, Sanket Tavarageri, Richard A. Lethin
  • Publication number: 20160196122
    Abstract: A compilation system can compile a program to be executed using an event driven tasks (EDT) system that requires knowledge of dependencies between program statement instances, and generate the required dependencies efficiently when a tiling transformation is applied. To this end, the system may use pre-tiling dependencies and can derive post-tiling dependencies via an analysis of the tiling to be applied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2016
    Publication date: July 7, 2016
    Inventors: Muthu M. Baskaran, Thomas Henretty, Ann Johnson, Athanasios Konstantinidis, M. H. Langston, Janice O. McMahon, Benoit J. Meister, Paul D. Mountcastle, Aale Naqvi, Benoit Pradelle, Tahina Ramananandro, Sanket Tavarageri, Richard A. Lethin
  • Patent number: 9376355
    Abstract: Digestion of cellulosic biomass solids may be complicated by release of lignin therefrom. Methods for digesting cellulosic biomass solids may comprise: providing cellulosic biomass solids in the presence of a digestion solvent, molecular hydrogen, and a slurry catalyst capable of activating molecular hydrogen; at least partially converting the cellulosic biomass solids into a phenolics liquid phase comprising lignin, an aqueous phase comprising a glycol derived from the cellulosic biomass solids, and an optional light organics phase; wherein at least a portion of the slurry catalyst accumulates in the phenolics liquid phase as it forms; combining the glycol with the phenolics liquid phase, thereby forming a combined phase; and heating the combined phase in the presence of molecular hydrogen; wherein heating the combined phase reduces the viscosity of the phenolics liquid phase and transforms at least a portion of the glycol into a monohydric alcohol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Joseph Broun Powell, Kimberly Ann Johnson
  • Patent number: 9371488
    Abstract: A method for thermo-catalytically producing C4+ hydrocarbons from lignocellulosic biomass solids is provided by reducing the water content of the biomass feed prior to biomass hydrothermal hydrocatalytic conversion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Joseph Broun Powell, Kimberly Ann Johnson
  • Patent number: 9353031
    Abstract: Hydrothermal digestion of cellulosic biomass solids may be conducted such that a glycol reaction product is formed for subsequent processing. Processing of a glycol reaction product may include a drying operation conducted prior to condensation of the glycol reaction product into higher molecular weight compounds. Methods for digesting cellulosic biomass solids to form a glycol reaction product can comprise: providing cellulosic biomass solids and a slurry catalyst in a hydrothermal digestion unit, the slurry catalyst being capable of activating molecular hydrogen; heating the cellulosic biomass solids in the hydrothermal digestion unit in the presence of the slurry catalyst, a digestion solvent, and molecular hydrogen, thereby forming a liquor phase comprising soluble carbohydrates; and performing a first catalytic reduction reaction on the soluble carbohydrates within the hydrothermal digestion unit, thereby at least partially converting the soluble carbohydrates into a reaction product comprising a glycol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Joseph Broun Powell, Kimberly Ann Johnson
  • Patent number: 9340623
    Abstract: Digestion of cellulosic biomass solids can be enhanced in the presence of a phenolic solvent. Methods for digesting cellulosic biomass solids can comprise providing cellulosic biomass solids in a digestion medium comprising a phenolic solvent; and heating the cellulosic biomass solids and the digestion medium in a digestion unit in the presence of molecular hydrogen and a slurry catalyst capable of activating molecular hydrogen, thereby forming an alcoholic component derived from the cellulosic biomass solids and liberating lignin from the cellulosic biomass solids into the digestion medium. The methods can further comprise converting at least a portion of the lignin into a phenolic solvent and returning the phenolic solvent formed from lignin to the cellulosic biomass solids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Joseph Broun Powell, Kimberly Ann Johnson
  • Patent number: 9323809
    Abstract: A method for rapid data analysis comprising receiving and interpreting a query, collecting a first data sample from the first set of data shards, calculating an intermediate result to the query based on analysis of the first data sample, identifying a second set of data shards based on the intermediate result, collecting a second data sample from the second set of data shards, and calculating a final result to the query based on analysis of the second data sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: Interana, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Johnson, Lior Abraham, Ann Johnson, Boris Dimitrov, Don Fossgreen
  • Patent number: 9284242
    Abstract: Digestion of cellulosic biomass solids may be complicated by release of lignin therefrom. Methods for digesting cellulosic biomass solids may comprise: providing cellulosic biomass solids in a digestion solvent; at least partially converting the cellulosic biomass solids into a phenolics liquid phase comprising lignin, an aqueous phase comprising an alcoholic component derived from the cellulosic biomass solids, and an optional light organics phase; combining at least the phenolics liquid phase and the aqueous phase with one another, thereby forming a combined phase; and separating at least a portion of the alcoholic component from at least a portion of the combined phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Joseph Broun Powell, Kimberly Ann Johnson, Glenn Charles Komplin, Edward James Denton
  • Publication number: 20160040129
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods for conditionally immortalizing stem cells, including adult and embryonic stem cells, the cells produced by such methods, therapeutic and laboratory or research methods of using such cells, and methods to identify compounds related to cell differentiation and development or to treat diseases, using such cells. A mouse model of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and cells and methods related to such mouse model are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2015
    Publication date: February 11, 2016
    Inventors: John C. CAMBIER, Yosef REFAELI, Sara Ann JOHNSON, Brian Curtis Turner