Abstract: Chemical reactors and their configuration with laser systems enable the lasers to deliver unprecedented power densities into the bulk of a suitably absorbing fluid, enabling, e.g., endothermic reactions in the gas phase, into which it may be otherwise challenging to deliver heat. These laser-based chemical reactors may be used to process a broad range of feedstocks. Two such processes involve laser-based methane pyrolysis and laser-based olefin production.

Abstract: Methods are provided for sequestering a pollutant gas of carbon dioxide (CO2) gas and/or hydrogen sulfide (H2S) gas in a subterranean reservoir. In one method, a carrier gas containing pollutant-sorbent particles (e.g., nanoparticles) is pumped into the subterranean reservoir, the pollutant-sorbent particles attach to the subterranean reservoir, the pollutant gas is pumped into the subterranean reservoir, and the pollutant-sorbent particles attached to the subterranean reservoir adsorb the pollutant gas. In another method, pollutant gas is introduced into a carrier liquid containing pollutant-sorbent particles to produce a pollutant-rich carrier liquid, the pollutant-rich carrier liquid is pumped into the subterranean reservoir, and the pollutant-rich carrier liquid is allowed to remain in the subterranean reservoir.

Abstract: A method is provided for producing hydrocarbons from a subterranean reservoir. A mixture of steam and H2S-sorbent particles (e.g., nanoparticles) is injected into the subterranean reservoir. This may be performed during the steam phase of a steam injection operation, such as steam assisted gravity drainage (SAGD), steam flooding, or cyclic steam stimulation, which is performed on the reservoir. The injected steam reduces the viscosity of the hydrocarbons in the subterranean formation. The injected H2S-sorbent particles attach to the subterranean reservoir and adsorb H2S therein. The hydrocarbons are produced to the surface, without producing the H2S-sorbent particles with adsorbed H2S that remain attached to the subterranean reservoir.

Abstract: Methods are provided for sequestering a pollutant gas of carbon dioxide (CO2) gas and/or hydrogen sulfide (H2S) gas in a subterranean reservoir. In one method, a carrier gas containing pollutant-sorbent particles (e.g., nanoparticles) is pumped into the subterranean reservoir, the pollutant-sorbent particles attach to the subterranean reservoir, the pollutant gas is pumped into the subterranean reservoir, and the pollutant-sorbent particles attached to the subterranean reservoir adsorb the pollutant gas. In another method, pollutant gas is introduced into a carrier liquid containing pollutant-sorbent particles to produce a pollutant-rich carrier liquid, the pollutant-rich carrier liquid is pumped into the subterranean reservoir, and the pollutant-rich carrier liquid is allowed to remain in the subterranean reservoir.

Abstract: Methods are provided that facilitate the production of hydrocarbons from subterranean formations, involving the mobilization of an immobile heavy oil in situ by gravity displacement. In effect, heavy oil is mobilized by dense aqueous gravity displacement (DAGD), in a process that generally involves injecting a dense, heated aqueous injection fluid into the formation into an injection zone that is in fluid communication with immobile heavy oil. The injection well is operated so that the injection fluid mobilizes and displaces the immobile heavy oil, to produce an expanding upper zone of mobilized heavy oil amenable to production.

Abstract: Methods are provided that facilitate the production of hydrocarbons from subterranean formations, involving the mobilization of an immobile heavy oil in situ by gravity displacement. In effect, heavy oil is mobilized by dense aqueous gravity displacement (DAGD), in a process that generally involves injecting a dense, heated aqueous injection fluid into the formation into an injection zone that is in fluid communication with immobile heavy oil. The injection well is operated so that the injection fluid mobilizes and displaces the immobile heavy oil, to produce an expanding upper zone of mobilized heavy oil amenable to production.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a process and system for treating a feed diluent to produce a retentate product that is enriched in a heavy diluent component. The process includes: applying the feed diluent to a feed side of an organic solvent nanofiltration membrane; causing the light diluent component in the diluent to preferentially pass through the membrane in comparison to the light diluent component in the feed diluent; and producing the retentate product that is enriched in the heavy diluent component in comparison to the heavy diluent component in the feed diluent.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed at systems, methods, and apparatus for precisely inventorying items placed within a user-portable container. The system may comprise one or more interrogators configured to repeatedly send interrogation signals to detect tagged items placed within the portable container by a user. The system may also comprise one or more readers configured to detect response signals produced by the tagged items in response to the repeated interrogation signals. The system may also comprise a communication interface configured to provide information regarding the detected response signals to an adjunct processor configured to analyze the signals and determine whether they originate from items within the user-portable container, as well as to maintain an inventory of items within the portable container.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed at systems, methods, and apparatus for precisely inventorying items placed within a user-portable container. The system may comprise one or more interrogators configured to repeatedly send interrogation signals to detect tagged items placed within the portable container by a user. The system may also comprise one or more readers configured to detect response signals produced by the tagged items in response to the repeated interrogation signals. The system may also comprise a communication interface configured to provide information regarding the detected response signals to an adjunct processor configured to analyze the signals and determine whether they originate from items within the user-portable container, as well as to maintain an inventory of items within the portable container.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems and methods of device firmware update effects as seen by a computing host. In one example implementation according to aspects of the present disclosure, a method includes executing a first firmware received from a computing host, the first firmware including a first firmware revision identifier, executing a second firmware received from the computing host, and returning the first firmware revision identifier to the computing host during the execution of the second firmware and before an event occurs. The returning the first firmware revision identifier enables the computing host to continue executing without detecting an error in response to a change in a value of a returned firmware revision identifier throughout the execution of the first firmware and during execution of the second firmware.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for producing FKBP-type peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase (FkpA) polypeptides at very high levels of purity. Also provided we ultrapure FkpA and methods of using same, e.g., for use in immunoassays to show removal of FkpA from biologics produced in bacteria. In addition, the present invention provides methods of purifying polypeptides (e.g., multispecific antibodies) produced in bacteria overexpressing one or more chaperones. The methods include affinity chromatography, mixed-mode chromatography and hydrophobic interaction chromatography. in some aspects, the invention provides compositions of polypeptides (e.g., multispecific antibodies) that are essentially fee of product-specific impurities.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a process and system for treating a feed diluent to produce a retentate product that is enriched in a heavy diluent component. The process includes: applying the feed diluent to a feed side of an organic solvent nanofiltration membrane; causing the light diluent component in the diluent to preferentially pass through the membrane in comparison to the light diluent component in the feed diluent; and producing the retentate product that is enriched in the heavy diluent component in comparison to the heavy diluent component in the feed diluent.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed at systems, methods, and apparatus for precisely inventorying items placed within a user-portable container. The system may comprise one or more interrogators configured to repeatedly send interrogation signals to detect tagged items placed within the portable container by a user. The system may also comprise one or more readers configured to detect response signals produced by the tagged items in response to the repeated interrogation signals. The system may also comprise a communication interface configured to provide information regarding the detected response signals to an adjunct processor configured to analyze the signals and determine whether they originate from items within the user-portable container, as well as to maintain an inventory of items within the portable container.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems and methods of device firmware update effects as seen by a computing host. In one example implementation according to aspects of the present disclosure, a method includes executing a first firmware received from a computing host, the first firmware including a first firmware revision identifier, executing a second firmware received from the computing host, and returning the first firmware revision identifier to the computing host during the execution of the second firmware and before an event occurs. The returning the first firmware revision identifier enables the computing host to continue executing without detecting an error in response to a change in a value of a returned firmware revision identifier throughout the execution of the first firmware and during execution of the second firmware.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed at systems, methods, and apparatus for precisely inventorying items placed within a user-portable container. The system may comprise one or more interrogators configured to repeatedly send interrogation signals to detect tagged items placed within the portable container by a user. The system may also comprise one or more readers configured to detect response signals produced by the tagged items in response to the repeated interrogation signals. The system may also comprise a communication interface configured to provide information regarding the detected response signals to an adjunct processor configured to analyze the signals and determine whether they originate from items within the user-portable container, as well as to maintain an inventory of items within the portable container.

Abstract: Management of device firmware update effects as seen by a computing host enables continuously running an OS on the host across a device firmware update, e.g., via delaying visibility of at least a portion of effects of the firmware update, such as in a context where without the delay in visibility the OS would encounter an unrecoverable error and crash. For example, a device (e.g. an SSD) is coupled to a computing host running an unmodified version of Windows. Firmware on the device is updated/activated, such as by being booted. Visibility of a portion of information that would otherwise become immediately visible to the OS (upon activation of updated firmware) is delayed until a power cycle of the device. If the portion includes, e.g., a firmware revision identifier, then the delayed visibility enables continuously running the OS across the firmware update/activation without rebooting the OS.

Abstract: A process for recovering water from an emulsion produced from a hydrocarbon production operation. The process includes heating the emulsion to generate water vapor, separating the water vapor from oil in the emulsion, compressing the water vapor separated from the oil, thereby increasing pressure to provide condensate, wherein heat generated from compression of the water vapor to provide condensate is utilized to provide heat for heating the emulsion, and separating at least one of remaining oil, gas, or water from the condensate.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed at systems, methods, and apparatus for precisely inventorying items placed within a user-portable container. The system may comprise one or more interrogators configured to repeatedly send interrogation signals to detect tagged items placed within the portable container by a user. The system may also comprise one or more readers configured to detect response signals produced by the tagged items in response to the repeated interrogation signals. The system may also comprise a communication interface configured to provide information regarding the detected response signals to an adjunct processor configured to analyze the signals and determine whether they originate from items within the user-portable container, as well as to maintain an inventory of items within the portable container.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed at systems, methods, and apparatus for precisely inventorying items placed within a user-portable container. The system may comprise one or more interrogators configured to repeatedly send interrogation signals to detect tagged items placed within the portable container by a user. The system may also comprise one or more readers configured to detect response signals produced by the tagged items in response to the repeated interrogation signals. The system may also comprise a communication interface configured to provide information regarding the detected response signals to an adjunct processor configured to analyze the signals and determine whether they originate from items within the user-portable container, as well as to maintain an inventory of items within the portable container.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed at systems, methods, and apparatus for precisely inventorying items placed within a user-portable container. The system may comprise one or more interrogators configured to repeatedly send interrogation signals to detect tagged items placed within the portable container by a user. The system may also comprise one or more readers configured to detect response signals produced by the tagged items in response to the repeated interrogation signals. The system may also comprise a communication interface configured to provide information regarding the detected response signals to an adjunct processor configured to analyze the signals and determine whether they originate from items within the user-portable container, as well as to maintain an inventory of items within the portable container.