Abstract: In an aspect of the invention, an array of microprotrusions is formed by providing a mold with cavities corresponding to the negative of the microprotrusions, casting atop the mold a first solution comprising a biocompatible material and a solvent, removing the solvent, casting a second solution atop the first cast solution, removing the solvent from the second solution, and demolding the resulting array from the mold. The first solution preferably contains an active ingredient.

Abstract: Photopolymerizable compositions for forming a cosmetic nail coating or artificial nail and methods of using such compositions. The compositions include (a) at least one rheology modifier; (b) from about 15 wt % to about 80 wt % of one or more (meth)acrylate oligomers; (c) from about 5 wt % to about 60 wt % of one or more (meth)acrylate monomers; and (d) one or more photoinitiators; wherein the at least one rheology modifier is selected in an amount such that the viscosity of the composition is greater than 400,000 centipoise (cps) at 25° C. The compositions may be a liquid or a gel capable of forming an artificial nail or cosmetic nail coating in one application and without being mixed with any additional components.

Abstract: Photopolymerizable compositions for forming a cosmetic nail coating or artificial nail and methods of using such compositions. The compositions include (a) from about 15 wt % to about 45 wt % of at least one rheology modifier; (b) from about 25 wt % to about 75 wt % of one or more (meth)acrylate monomers; (c) one or more photoinitiators; and optionally (d) from about 15 wt % to about 45 wt % of one or more binding agents. The compositions may be a liquid or a gel capable of forming an artificial nail or cosmetic nail coating in one application and without being mixed with any additional components. The composition may include only inert polymers.

Abstract: A pot-stable photopolymerizable composition for forming a cosmetic coating for nails comprises a mixture of a poly(alkyl(meth)acrylate powder, (meth)acrylate oligomer, (meth)acrylate monomer, a crosslinker, and a photoinitiator. This composition exhibits high viscosity that resembles the viscosity of a workable two part system after the monomer liquid and the polymer have been mixed. This composition can be shaped to form nail coatings without any additional use of monomers liquid, followed by an exposure to UV light to photopolymerize the composition to create a hard, durable nail coating. Additional ingredients such as colorants and antioxidants may be included in the composition of the present invention.

Abstract: In an aspect of the invention, an array of microprotrusions is formed by providing a mold with cavities corresponding to the negative of the microprotrusions, casting atop the mold a first solution comprising a biocompatible material and a solvent, removing the solvent, casting a second solution atop the first cast solution, removing the solvent from the second solution, and demolding the resulting array from the mold. The first solution preferably contains an active ingredient.

Abstract: Provided herein is a method of reducing adapter dimer formation comprising contacting a sample comprising target nucleic acid sequences with 5? and 3? adapters in the presence of one or more hairpin oligonucleotides. Also provided is a method of preparing a library of nucleic acid sequences comprising contacting first adapter oligonucleotides with a sample comprising target nucleic acid sequences under conditions to form first ligation products, contacting the sample with one or more hairpin oligonucleotides that binds to the first adapter oligonucleotides, and contacting the sample with second adapter oligonucleotides under conditions to bind to the first ligation products and form second ligation products, wherein the second ligation products form the library of nucleic acid sequences.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure include a pig ramp for receiving and supporting a pig in a pig receiver includes a frame portion having an inner diameter, the inner diameter of the ring being larger than an outer diameter of a pig. The pig ramp also includes one or more ramp segments extending longitudinally away from the frame portion, the one or more ramp segments being coupled to a back side of the frame portion at a lower portion and positioned to receive and support the pig when positioned thereon to elevate the pig above a bottom of a tubular.

Abstract: The present invention provides a homogeneous process for hydrodehalogenating a halo-substituted C3-C20 heteroaryl starting material to form a non-halogenated C3-C20 heteroaryl product and/or a halo-substituted C3-C20 heteroaryl product, wherein the halo-substituted C3-C20 heteroaryl product has at least one less halogen substituents than the halo-substituted C3-C20 heteroaryl starting material, the process comprising the step of hydrogenating the halo-substituted C3-C20 heteroaryl starting material in the presence of a rhodium or ruthenium complex, molecular hydrogen, a base and a solvent, wherein the process is carried out in a monophasic solvent system and the molar ratio of base to each halogen substituent to be removed is at least 1:1.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure include a pig ramp for receiving and supporting a pig in a pig receiver includes a frame portion having an inner diameter, the inner diameter of the ring being larger than an outer diameter of a pig. The pig ramp also includes one or more ramp segments extending longitudinally away from the frame portion, the one or more ramp segments being coupled to a back side of the frame portion at a lower portion and positioned to receive and support the pig when positioned thereon to elevate the pig above a bottom of a tubular.

Abstract: In a process for the treatment of wastewater containing carbonaceous and nitrogenous contaminants, wastewater is mixed with aerobic microorganisms capable of converting carbonaceous biological oxygen demand (CBOD) into carbon dioxide, water, and biological cell mass. Oxygen is supplied to the reaction mixture for supporting reduction of the CBOD by the aerobic microorganisms in the reaction mixture. To substantially prevent nitrification of the nitrogenous contaminants in the reaction mixture and avoid the cost of downstream denitrification, the hydraulic residence time of the nitrogenous contaminants in the reaction mixture is controlled by removing partially treated water with dissolved ammonia from the reaction mixture, while retaining the biological cell mass in the reaction mixture. This separates the nitrogen load from the carbon load and enables independent treatment of these contaminants.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and techniques for improved back-end integration of third-party content and an administrative framework allowing for user experience management for a computer-based environment. Described herein, for example, are approaches to improving secure access to multiple web-based systems, integrating web-based content, and controlling timing of web interaction. The problems addressed herein relate to coordinating access and delivery of web content from and to multiple sources and multiple users in an integrated and time-controlled manner.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure include a pig ramp for receiving and supporting a pig in a pig receiver includes a frame portion having an inner diameter, the inner diameter of the ring being larger than an outer diameter of a pig. The pig ramp also includes one or more ramp segments extending longitudinally away from the frame portion, the one or more ramp segments being coupled to a back side of the frame portion at a lower portion and positioned to receive and support the pig when positioned thereon to elevate the pig above a bottom of a tubular.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure include a pig ramp for receiving and supporting a pig in a pig receiver includes a frame portion having an inner diameter, the inner diameter of the ring being larger than an outer diameter of a pig. The pig ramp also includes one or more ramp segments extending longitudinally away from the frame portion, the one or more ramp segments being coupled to a back side of the frame portion at a lower portion and positioned to receive and support the pig when positioned thereon to elevate the pig above a bottom of a tubular.

Abstract: A device, system, and method of extracting a target component from a gel. A gel processing system comprises a gel excision and fragmentation device with a cutting edge shaped to cut a sample containing a targeted component from a gel, a receptacle shaped to receive the gel sample, and a fragmentation membrane to fragment the gel sample coupled to a receiving container. The gel processing system may be used in conjunction with a centrifuge to break down gel material surrounding the targeted component cause the fragmentation as well as to facilitate additional processing.

Abstract: A photopolymerizable composition for forming a cosmetic coating for nails comprises a continuous phase and a discontinuous phase. The continuous phase comprises (meth)acrylate monomers, crosslinkers, photoinitiators, and optionally (meth)acrylate oligomers and other additives. The discontinuous phase comprises particles such as polymers, inorganic materials or a mixture thereof. The particle sizes of the components of the discontinuous phase mixture are in the range of several microns or tens of microns. This composition has good storage stability, exhibits high viscosity, and has a relatively low exotherm when used. The composition can be shaped readily by a nail technician to form nail coatings and is then exposed to actinic light to form a nail coating. The photopolymerizable composition may be kept in a container such as a tube container, a syringe container, and a foil packet.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides compositions and methods for nucleic acid amplification and analysis. In some embodiments, a nucleic acid amplification reaction mixture is formulated to minimize or eliminate the inclusion of a species that can affect activity of one or more inhibitory species in the nucleic acid amplification reaction mixture. Such reaction mixtures can permit suitable analysis of nucleic acid sample prior to their use in one or more downstream assays, including nucleic acid sequencing assays.

Abstract: The present invention is related to an UV LED curing apparatus, and more particularly, to an UV LED curing apparatus with improved housing and switch controller. The light reflective inner casing is preferably provided as an effective UV light reflector and as a supporting substrate of the UV LED light source while being capable of transmitting heat from the UV LED light source away for further heat dissipation to the ambient by the outer casing. The outer casing is detachably attached to the inner casing and allows a greater user interaction for decorative and entertainment purposes while also being a protective and heat dissipation means.

Abstract: A controlled aperture ball drop includes a ball cartridge that is mounted to a frac head or a high pressure fluid conduit. The ball cartridge houses a ball rail having a bottom end that forms an aperture with an inner periphery of the ball cartridge through which frac balls of a frac ball stack supported by the ball rail are sequentially dropped from the frac ball stack as a size of the aperture is increased by an aperture controller operatively connected to the ball rail.

Abstract: Novel liquid and powder compositions for mammalian nails, systems comprising the compositions, and methods of their use are disclosed. The novel compositions are useful, inter alia, for providing liquid/powder, “acrylic” type nail enhancements.

Abstract: A nail gel curing device can include an outer housing, a base, a dome and a detachable tray. The housing, base, dome and tray define an irradiation chamber, an opening to said chamber for inserting a hand or foot of a user, and a space between the dome and housing. The irradiation chamber suitable for curing five nails of a user's hand or foot and the dome including a plurality of light emitting diodes for curing nails positioned in the irradiation chamber, and the space being sufficient to accommodate electronic or electric circuitry to operate the plurality of light emitting diodes in the curing device. A shield can be slidably attached to the device and the shield can be capable of reducing the opening's size by sliding from an open to a more closed position, said closing diminishing a user's secondary exposure to UV light exiting the device.