Abstract: Optical sensors, systems and methods of use thereof are provided. Aspects of the subject systems include a sensor having a sensing surface and a configuration that directs a first optical signal to interact with the sensing surface at a first incident angle, and directs a second optical signal to interact with the sensing surface at a second incident angle. The subject sensors, systems and methods find use, e.g., in the diagnosis of dry eye disease.

Abstract: An SPR detection apparatus has an optical system with a sensor member including a planar metallic layer, the sensor member being removably mountable to a housing. First optics direct an incident beam toward a rear side of the metallic layer at a predetermined range of angles to a normal to the sensor layer. Second optics guide at least one reflected beam, corresponding to the incident beam, from the metallic layer to the transducer. The transducer converts incoming electromagnetic radiation to an electrical signal for transmission to a signal processor disposed in the housing and operatively connected to the at least one opto-electrical transducer so as to detect a surface plasmon resonance angle. The first optics are configured so that the at least one incident beam spans at least about 20°.

Abstract: A method for tracking containers. The method includes manufacturing containers, including forming the containers and serializing them with machine-readable codes. The method further includes using the machine-readable codes to store data associated with the containers, and supplying the containers to a customer. The method still further comprises receiving from the customer, data obtained from customer-readings of the machine-readable codes; and receiving from one or more other locations in a distribution chain in which the containers travel, data obtained from readings of the machine-readable codes at those locations. The method still further comprises comparing the data from the customer-readings and other readings of the machine-readable codes across product brands, product distribution channels, and/or container types, and providing the data to the customer.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for collaborative work hypertext markup language assets. The assets may be stored on a remote server. The methods may include instantiating a portable software test framework between an application local to a user and the remote server in dependence upon a uniform resource locator associated with the HTML asset and a request to acquire the HTML asset in response to a request for an HTML asset.

Abstract: The present invention relates to enhancement of detectable emissions from carbon nanodots or variants thereof by using the techniques of MEF to further enhance carbon nanodot brightness, photostability, and thus, potentially detectability in biological imaging applications by using plasmon supporting materials, such as silver island films and positioning of the carbon nanodots an optimal distance from the plasmon supporting materials.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are processes for the production of hydrocarbon fuel products from C2-5 alkanes. Methane is converted to ethylene in a methane thermal olefination reactor operating at a temperature of at least 900° C. and a pressure of at least 150 psig, and without a dehydrogenation catalyst or steam. C2-5 alkanes are converted to olefins in a C2-5 thermal olefination reactor operating at a temperature, pressure and space velocity to convert at least 80% of the alkanes to C2-5 olefins. The ethylene and C2-5 olefins are passed through an oligomerization reactor containing a zeolite catalyst and operating at a temperature, pressure and space velocity to crack, oligomerize and cyclize the olefins. In one aspect, methane in the effluent of the oligomerization reactor is recycled through the C2-5 thermal olefination reactor. Methods for the thermal olefination of methane are also disclosed.

Abstract: A product includes a container, and a use indicator carried inside the container so that, upon removal of a closure from the container or upon removal of flowable product from within the container, a coloration of the product changes irreversibly to indicate to a user that the product has been used.

Abstract: Various systems and methods for implementing a software defined industrial system are described herein. For example, an orchestrated system of distributed nodes may run an application, including modules implemented on the distributed nodes. In response to a node failing, a module may be redeployed to a replacement node. In an example, self-descriptive control applications and software modules are provided in the context of orchestratable distributed systems. The self-descriptive control applications may be executed by an orchestrator or like control device and use a module manifest to generate a control system application. For example, an edge control node of the industrial system may include a system on a chip including a microcontroller (MCU) to convert IO data. The system on a chip includes a central processing unit (CPU) in an initial inactive state, which may be changed to an activated state in response an activation signal.

Abstract: A method for tracking containers. The method includes manufacturing containers, including forming the containers and serializing them with machine-readable codes. The method further includes using the machine-readable codes to store data associated with the containers, and supplying the containers to a customer. The method still further comprises receiving from the customer, data obtained from customer-readings of the machine-readable codes; and receiving from one or more the locations in a distribution chain in which the containers travel, data obtained from readings of the machine-readable codes at those locations. The method still further comprises comparing the data from the customer-readings and other readings or the machine-readable codes across product brands, product distribution channels, and/or container types, and providing the data to the customer.

Abstract: Creating sub-social networks based on contextual inferencing may include analyzing, using a processor, social network activity among a plurality of users that belong to a social network and determining, using the processor, an interest category according to the social network activity. A sub-social network for the interest category may be created using the processor. The sub-social network may include a subset of the plurality of users of the social network having an association with the interest category.

Abstract: Systems and methods for determining the osmolarity of a sample are provided. Aspects of the subject methods include contacting a sensing surface of a surface plasmon resonance based sensor with a sample, and generating one or more data sets at at least two wavelengths over a time interval, wherein the data sets are used to determine the osmolarity of the sample. The subject methods find use in determining the osmolarity of a sample, such as a biological sample (e.g., a tear fluid), and in the diagnosis and/or monitoring of various diseases and disorders, such as, e.g., dry eye disease.

Abstract: A product includes a use indicator carried by a container so that, upon removal of a closure from the container or upon removal of flowable product from within the container, a coloration of the product changes irreversibly to indicate to a user that the package has been used, wherein the container includes a wall recess and the use indicator is carried in the wall recess.

Abstract: Described are preferred compositions for a motor fuel. Such motor fuels may be particularly well suited for use in the motor of an aircraft. In particular, compositions of the present disclosure may comprise alicyclic alkanes, straight or branched chain alkanes, and aromatics. In a preferred embodiment, the fuel comprises cyclopentane, isooctane, and one or more aromatics selected from xylene, toluene, and trimethylbenzenes. The present disclosure describes a full spectrum of unleaded fuels with various motor octane (MON) values to address a wide range of aviation fuel needs in the global marketplace.

Abstract: A container packer system includes a transfer base, which receives a container packer adapted for movement longitudinally between retracted and extended positions with respect to the transfer base. The transfer base includes a power subsystem with a motor or engine driving a hydraulic pump for powering hydraulic piston-and-cylinder units of the system, including a container packer piston-and-cylinder unit for hydraulically extending and retracting the container packer. The container packer generally encloses an interior adapted for receiving bulk material for transfer to a transport container, which can comprise a standard shipping container, a trailer or some other bulk material receptacle. The container packer includes a push blade assembly longitudinally movably mounted in its interior and actuated by a push blade piston-and-cylinder unit.

Abstract: A handheld tool configured to procure fuel is described. Embodiments of the fuel procurement tool include a handhold having a cutting mechanism located proximate one end of the handhold. Typically, the cutting mechanism can include at least one cutter link having a depth gauge, a top plate, and a gullet formed between the depth gauge and the top plate. The fuel procurement tool can be implemented to procure kindling from a piece of wood.

Abstract: Optical sensors, systems and methods of use thereof are provided. Aspects of the subject systems include a sensor having a sensing surface and a configuration that directs a first optical signal to interact with the sensing surface at a first incident angle, and directs a second optical signal to interact with the sensing surface at a second incident angle. The subject sensors, systems and methods find use, e.g., in the diagnosis of dry eye disease.

Abstract: A fuel additive for fuel formulations comprising calcium sulfonates in an amount effective to limit or eliminate valve seat recession in engines utilizing such fuel formulations. The fuel additive may also include a detergent, particularly in an amount to enhance the VSR limiting effect of the calcium sulfonates. Also included are fuel formulations containing calcium sulfonates in a concentration effective to limit vale seat recession in engines utilizing the fuel formulations. Methods for treating VSR in piston engines are also provided.

Abstract: Systems and methods for speech recognition are provided. In some aspects, the method comprises receiving, using an input, an audio signal. The method further comprises splitting the audio signal into auditory test segments. The method further comprises extracting, from each of the auditory test segments, a set of acoustic features. The method further comprises applying the set of acoustic features to a deep neural network to produce a hypothesis for the corresponding auditory test segment. The method further comprises selectively performing one or more of: indirect adaptation of the deep neural network and direct adaptation of the deep neural network.

Abstract: An electrically-controlled eccentric camshaft phaser (10) that adjusts phase between a camshaft and a crankshaft includes a sprocket (12), configured to connect to the crankshaft and rotate about a center axis (x), having a sprocket ring gear (14); a camshaft plate (20) configured to connect to the camshaft and rotate about the center axis (x), having a camshaft ring gear (22); an eccentric shaft (28) that includes a crankshaft eccentric section (52) and a camshaft eccentric section (54); a sprocket bearing (16) that is received by the crankshaft eccentric section (52); a camshaft bearing (64), having a different diameter than the sprocket bearing (16), that is received by the camshaft eccentric section (54).