Abstract: Mixed dimer and mixed oligomer compositions are disclosed. The mixed dimer compositions comprise a monosulfonated cross-dimer or a salt thereof. The monosulfonated cross-dimer is a reaction product of (a) an alpha-olefin sulfonic acid (AOS acid); and (b) an unsulfonated olefin, an unsulfonated olefin precursor, or a functionalized olefin. The mixed oligomer compositions comprise a mono- or polysulfonated cross-oligomer or a salt thereof. The mono- or polysulfonated cross-oligomer is a reaction product of (a) an AOS acid; and (b) an unsulfonated diolefin or an unsulfonated diolefin precursor. Various methods for making the mixed dimer or oligomer compositions are described. Salts of the mixed dimer and oligomer compositions are useful surfactants for foams used in oilfield and other applications. The foams have improved high-temperature stability when compared with foams from AOS dimer acid salts.

Abstract: Methods for making efficient use of steam in a steam-assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) process for recovering heavy oils from tar sands and similar petroleum deposits are disclosed. The methods utilize a surfactant to generate steam foam in ways that maximize efficient use of steam. In some aspects, steam foam is used in water layers or gas caps that reside above steam chambers to prevent loss of steam from the steam chamber. The predominant use of relatively dry steam in SAGD processes makes it challenging to find ways to introduce surfactants and generate steam foam. However, decreasing the mobility of the steam by converting at least some of it to foam allows the wellbore and steam chambers above the injection site to be more fully developed, provides for more effective heat transfer to the heavy oil and rock, improves production, and allows recovery of the heavy oil with a minimum amount of steam usage.

Abstract: Synergistic surfactant blends are disclosed. In one aspect, the blend comprises an anionic surfactant and a metathesis-based cationic surfactant comprising a quaternized derivative. The quaternized derivative is a quaternized fatty amine, quaternized fatty amidoamine, imidazoline quat, or esteramine quat made from a metathesis-derived C10-C17 monounsaturated acid or its ester derivative. Also disclosed are synergistic surfactant blends comprising a cationic surfactant and a metathesis-based anionic surfactant comprising a sulfonated derivative. The sulfonated derivative is a fatty ester sulfonate, fatty acid sulfonate, sulfoestolide, fatty amide sulfonate, sulfonated fatty ester alkoxylate, imidazoline quat sulfonate, sulfonated amidoamine oxide, or sulfonated amidoamine betaine. The synergistic blends have a negative ? value or a reduced interfacial tension (IFT) when compared with an expected IFT value calculated from the individual surfactant components.

Abstract: This invention reveals a type of optical fiber connector assembly, comprising of a shell, an optical fiber adapter, an optical fiber connector and optical cable. The optical cable is provided with an optical cable securing device, an optical cable strengthening component being secured to the optical cable securing device, and the optical fiber within the optical cable passes through the optical cable securing device.

Abstract: Methods for improving the specificity of assays for botulinum neurotoxins are described. Reporting constructs are provided that include cleavable linker sequence with genetically modified recognition and/or cleavage sites. These linker sequences act as a substrate for a botulinum neurotoxin, with cleavage of the reporting construct providing a detectable signal. When first and second neurotoxins have activity with the same substrate protein, mutation and/or deletion of a recognition and/or cleavage site associated with the second neurotoxin improves the specificity of the detectable signal for the first neurotoxin.

Abstract: Synergistic surfactant blends are disclosed. In one aspect, the blend comprises an anionic surfactant and a metathesis-based cationic surfactant comprising a quaternized derivative. The quaternized derivative is a quaternized fatty amine, quaternized fatty amidoamine, imidazoline quat, or esteramine quat made from a metathesis-derived C10-C17 monounsaturated acid or its ester derivative. Also disclosed are synergistic surfactant blends comprising a cationic surfactant and a metathesis-based anionic surfactant comprising a sulfonated derivative. The sulfonated derivative is a fatty ester sulfonate, fatty acid sulfonate, sulfoestolide, fatty amide sulfonate, sulfonated fatty ester alkoxylate, imidazoline quat sulfonate, sulfonated amidoamine oxide, or sulfonated amidoamine betaine. The synergistic blends have a negative ? value or a reduced interfacial tension (IFT) when compared with an expected IFT value calculated from the individual surfactant components.

Abstract: A method and network node for configuring a device-to-device (D2D) pair and a cellular wireless device, the cellular wireless device configured to have a direct link with a serving network device of a network cell in which the cellular wireless device resides. The method includes receiving Channel State Information (CSI) data for the D2D pair, a cellular wireless device, and at least one neighbor interference level, determining feasibility conditions for pairing the D2D pair and the cellular wireless device transmissions, determining a power allocation for the pairing of the D2D pair and cellular wireless device transmissions, the power allocation being based on a sum rate of the D2D pair and cellular wireless device transmissions, and configuring the D2D pair and cellular wireless device based at least in part on the determined power allocation.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are modified Clostridial Botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT) polypeptides with a modified receptor binding domain of Clostridial Botulinum serotype B, comprising one or more substitution mutations at positions corresponding 1248 or 1249 in serotype B, strain 1. Specific substitution mutations include I1248F, I1248Y, I1248H, I1248W, V1249W, V1249F, V1249Y, V1249H, I1248W/V1249F, I1248W/V1249Y, I1248W/V1249H, I1248F/V1249Y, I1248F/V1249H, I1248Y/V1249H, I1248F/V1249W, I1248Y/V1249W, I1248H/V1249W, I1248Y/V1249F, I1248H/V1249F, or I1248H/V1249Y. Other substitution mutations are also disclosed. Isolated modified receptor binding domains, chimeric molecules, pharmaceutical compositions, and methods of using the same are also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are means for the detection and characterization of neurotoxins such as botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT) or tetanus neurotoxin. The present disclosure provides methods for determining potency and activity of neurotoxins in vitro and in vivo. Also disclosed are polypeptides comprising N- and C-terminal fragments of a reporter protein that are split by a linker comprising a neurotoxin cleavage site. Cleavage of the linker by a neurotoxin decreases reporter protein activity, thereby indicating activity of the neurotoxin. Compositions and kits comprising the disclosed polypeptides, nucleic acids comprising nucleotide sequences encoding such polypeptides, and cells expressing such polypeptides are also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT) polypeptides with a modified receptor binding domain of Clostridial botulinum serotype B (B-Hc), comprising one or more substitution mutations corresponding to substitution mutations in serotype B, strain 1, V1118M; Y1183M; E1191M; E11911; E1119JQ; E1191T; S1199Y; S1199F; S1199L; S1201V; or combinations thereof. Specific combination mutations include E1191M and S1199L, E1191M and S1199Y, E1191M and S1199F, E1191Q and S1199L, E1191Q and S1199Y, or E1191Q and S1199F. Other substitution mutations are also disclosed. Isolated modified receptor binding domains, chimeric molecules, pharmaceutical compositions, and methods of using the same are also disclosed.

Abstract: Surfactant compositions comprising an alkoxylate, a sulfate, or ether sulfate of a C10-C12 monounsaturated alcohol are disclosed. The alkoxylate, sulfate, or ether sulfate may derive from undecylenic acid or undecylenic alcohol. Compared with their saturated analogs, the monounsaturated alkoxylates, sulfates, and ether sulfates are less irritating, making them valuable for personal care, laundry, cleaners, and other household applications. Microscopy studies show that the alkoxylates, sulfates, and ether sulfates have favorable phase behavior over a wide range of actives levels, expanding opportunities for products with greater compaction. When combined with cationic surfactants, the alkoxylates, sulfates, and ether sulfates exhibit synergy, and they have improved solubility compared with their saturated analogs. The surfactants find value for the personal care, laundry and cleaning, emulsion polymerization, agricultural products, oilfield applications, and specialty foams industries.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT) polypeptides with a modified BoNT/B4 receptor binding domain (B4-HC) having amino acid mutations that modify the binding of the BoNT to the human SytII receptor. Specific mutations and combinations of mutations are disclosed. Isolated modified HCs, polypeptides comprising such modified HCs, chimeric molecules, pharmaceutical compositions, and methods of making and using the same are also disclosed. Methods of identifying additional such modified receptor binding domains, are further disclosed.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a method and network entity for scheduling a device-to-device (D2D) wireless device using resource blocks (RBs) of active cellular wireless devices in a wireless network. The method includes determining a power allocation for each of the RBs based on achieving a target rate for the D2D wireless device and the active cellular wireless devices, and scheduling the D2D wireless device based on the determined power allocation.

Abstract: A method of extracting a warehouse in a port from a hierarchically screened remote sensing image includes the following steps: first, recognizing a texture feature of a remote sensing image and extracting edge lines of a coast of a port; then, selecting a sample of an optional irregular texture region and forming, through a CA transformation, principal component images of different hierarchies by taking a ratio of a between-class difference to an intra-class difference being maximum as an optimization condition; sequentially, extracting a correlation relationship of the warehouse in the port, and forming a feature point set with recognized warehouses to be analyzed; and last, extracting a feature of a visually sensitive image through a scene image to obtain a feedback selection of a real scene image to extract the warehouse in the port accurately.

Abstract: Methods of making an alpha-olefin sulfonic dimer acid (AOS dimer acid) are disclosed. In one method, an alpha-olefin is sulfonated, preferably with sulfur trioxide, to produce a mixture comprising an alpha-olefin sulfonic acid (AOS acid) and sulfur dioxide. This mixture is then heated while purging sulfur dioxide and hydrogen sulfide from the reactor to produce an AOS dimer acid composition. In another method, the AOS acid mixture is treated to remove sulfur dioxide and is then heated to produce an AOS dimer acid composition. With either method, the resulting AOS dimer acid composition has at least a 30% decrease in the level of elemental sulfur when compared with that of an AOS dimer acid composition prepared by a similar process in the absence of any active removal of sulfur dioxide or hydrogen sulfide. AOS dimer acid compositions and salts of the AOS dimer acids, which are useful surfactants for oilfield and other applications, are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of extracting a warehouse in a port from a hierarchically screened remote sensing image includes the following steps: first, recognizing a texture feature of a remote sensing image and extracting edge lines of a coast of a port; then, selecting a sample of an optional irregular texture region and forming, through a CA transformation, principal component images of different hierarchies by taking a ratio of a between-class difference to an intra-class difference being maximum as an optimization condition; sequentially, extracting a correlation relationship of the warehouse in the port, and forming a feature point set with recognized warehouses to be analyzed; and last, extracting a feature of a visually sensitive image through a scene image to obtain a feedback selection of a real scene image to extract the warehouse in the port accurately.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods for the isolation and purification of a botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT) protein, or a polypeptide comprising a receptor binding domain of BoNT, from a solution. The method comprises contacting the solution containing the protein or polypeptide to a matrix which has attached thereto a non-toxic non-hemagglutinin (NTNHA) under conditions appropriate for binding, washing the matrix to thereby remove unbound materials, and eluting the protein or polypeptide with a solution that dissociates the bound protein from the NTNHA. Conditions appropriate for binding are a pH of less than 7.5 (e.g, 6). Conditions appropriate for dissociation are a pH greater than or equal to 7.5 (e.g., 8). Compositions specific to the methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: Surfactant compositions comprising an alkoxylate, a sulfate, or ether sulfate of a C10-C12 monounsaturated alcohol are disclosed. The alkoxylate, sulfate, or ether sulfate may derive from undecylenic acid or undecylenic alcohol. Compared with their saturated analogs, the monounsaturated alkoxylates, sulfates, and ether sulfates are less irritating, making them valuable for personal care, laundry, cleaners, and other household applications. Microscopy studies show that the alkoxylates, sulfates, and ether sulfates have favorable phase behavior over a wide range of actives levels, expanding opportunities for products with greater compaction. When combined with cationic surfactants, the alkoxylates, sulfates, and ether sulfates exhibit synergy, and they have improved solubility compared with their saturated analogs. The surfactants find value for the personal care, laundry and cleaning, emulsion polymerization, agricultural products, oilfield applications, and specialty foams industries.

Abstract: Provided herein are Clostridial Botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT) polypeptides of a novel serotype (BoNT/X) and methods of making and using the BoNT polypeptides, e.g., in therapeutic applications.

Abstract: A method and network device for configuring a D2D pair and a cellular wireless device. The method includes receiving a subset of complete CSI parameters for the D2D pair, the cellular wireless device, and at least one neighbor interference level, determining feasibility conditions for pairing the D2D pair and the cellular wireless device transmissions based at least on the received subset of CSI parameters, determining a power allocation for the pairing of the D2D pair the cellular wireless device transmissions, the power allocation being based on a sum rate of the D2D pair and cellular wireless device transmissions, and configuring the D2D pair and cellular wireless device based at least in part on the determined power allocation while limiting an inter-cell interference (ICI) generated in a pluarity of neighboring cells. In one embodiment, the complete set of CSI parameters is recieved, rather than a subset.