Abstract: A flame retardant itaconic acid-based compound, a process for forming a flame retardant polymer, and an article of manufacture comprising a material that contains a flame retardant itaconic acid-based polymer are disclosed. The flame retardant itaconic acid-based compound has variable moieties, which include methylene bridge groups, carbonyl groups, vinyl groups, functionalized groups, phenyl-substituted flame retardant groups, and/or functionalized flame retardant groups. The process for forming the flame retardant polymer includes forming a phosphorus-based flame retardant molecule, forming an itaconic acid derivative, chemically reacting the phosphorus-based flame retardant molecule and the itaconic acid derivative to form a flame retardant itaconic acid-based compound, and incorporating the itaconic acid-based flame retardant compound into a polymer to form the flame retardant polymer.

Abstract: An exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a reactor system comprising: a reaction vessel comprising a reactant, a heat transfer fluid and a first reaction product, wherein the heat transfer fluid has a greater density than the first reaction product such that at least a portion of the first reaction product floats on a surface of the heat transfer fluid; a first outlet positioned at a surface level of the first reaction product, the first outlet configured to output a first outlet flow comprising at least a portion of the first reaction product and at least a portion of the heat transfer fluid; wherein the heat transfer fluid is configured to provide thermal energy to the reactant in the reaction vessel to form the first reaction product.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved bitumen recovery process from oil sands. The oil sands may be surface mined and transported to a treatment area or may be treated directly by means of an in situ process of oil sand deposits that are located too deep for strip mining. Specifically, the present invention involves the step of treating oil sands with an ethylene oxide capped glycol ether described by the structure: RO—(CH2CH(CH3)O)m(C2H4O)nH wherein R is a linear, branched, cyclic alkyl, phenyl, or alkyl phenyl group of greater than 5 carbons and m and n are independently 1 to 3.

Abstract: A syngas generator is disclosed as an exothermic gas generator that is configured to accommodate high combustion temperatures of a natural gas/oxygen flame. The generator consists of four sections: a heavily insulated combustion chamber, a catalyst chamber, a spray chamber, and a heat exchanger. In an example embodiment, these four sections are arranged in series and are tightly bolted together to form a gas tight system. Natural gas, oxygen and steam are supplied to a burner at the inlet end of the combustion chamber. This mixture is ignited and the resulting hot process gas is then fed into a catalyst bed where it reacts with the steam and is converted to carbon monoxide and hydrogen (syngas). The syngas is fed to a Fischer-Tropsch unit to create liquid fuel.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus that is part of a reusable fuel processing unit that allows the absorption of char contained within vapor that is leaving the reactor including a gear box, gearbox housing, support flange and seal, exhaust housing, exhaust port, connecting flange, screw top split housing, vertical steal housing, three augers with drive shafts on each auger contained within the steel housing, discharge flange, support ring, expansion cart, and cam followers.

Abstract: A zeolite fluid catalytic cracking catalyst is provided that passivates nickel and vanadium during catalytic cracking. The zeolite fluid catalytic cracking catalyst includes Y-faujasite crystallized in-situ from a metakaolin-containing calcined microsphere. The zeolite fluid catalytic cracking catalyst further includes an alumina-containing matrix obtained by calcination of a dispersible crystalline boehmite and a kaolin contained in the metakaolin-containing calcined microsphere, where the dispersible crystalline boehmite has a crystallite size of less than 500 ?. Also provided are a method of reducing contaminant coke and hydrogen yields and a method of catalytic cracking of heavy hydrocarbon feed stocks.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the catalytic cracking of a gasoline feedstock for the production of light olefins, in which said gasoline feedstock is brought into contact with a catalyst comprising at least one zeolite NU-86, alone or in a mixture with at least one other zeolite, at a temperature comprised between 500 and 700° C., at an absolute pressure comprised between 10 and 60 MPa, and with a contact time of the feedstock on said catalyst comprised between 10 milliseconds and 100 seconds.

Abstract: The systems and methods reduce the total acid number (TAN) in crude oil. The crude oil, that includes naphthenic acid, is mixed with at least a caustic solution (e.g., sodium hydroxide) to produce a mixture. After mixing, the mixture is pumped to an atomizing tank. The mixture is spray-atomized in the mixing tank to produce a condensed liquid state of the crude oil that settles at the bottom of the atomizer tank and to produce minute droplets (e.g. mist, fog or the like) of the caustic. The minute droplets interact with and neutralize the naphthenic acid in the condensed liquid state of the crude oil for a predefined period of time. As a result, the resulting crude oil in the bottom of the atomizer tank has a reduced TAN and includes salt water. Additionally, the resulting crude oil has a water concentration that does not exceed 0.5%.

Abstract: An improved contactor/separator process is presented where one or more stages of contact and separation is achieved by providing one or more shroud and disengagement device combinations within a vessel, where the disengagement device is connected to the top of the shroud that contains vertically hanging fibers. A liquid admixture of immiscible fluids is directed co-currently upward through the shroud at flooding velocity or greater, where all of the admixture exits the disengagement device through a coalescing material. Tray supports are used to stack additional shroud and disengagement combinations vertically within the vessel. Each tray allows less dense liquids exiting one disengagement device from a lower shroud and disengagement device combination to enter the bottom of a shroud of a shroud and disengagement device combination position vertically above the lower shroud and disengagement device combination.

Abstract: Methods, systems and designs are provided for removing mercury from crudes. Crude oil containing a synthetic reducing agent is heated to a temperature above 100° C. and held at that temperature for a specified period of time to convert all of the forms of mercury in the oil into the elemental mercury form. The elemental mercury is then stripped from the crude oil by e.g., flashing the hot oil and/or contacting it with a gas phase.

Abstract: Treatment of streams containing hydrogen and/or hydrocarbons, and in one non-limiting embodiment refinery distillates, with alkyl carbonates, such as dimethylcarbonate, alone or together with at least one solvent results in reduction or removal of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) that is present to give easily removed alkyl sulfides and/or mercaptans. In one non-limiting embodiment, the treatment converts the original hydrogen sulfide into alkyl sulfides and/or mercaptans that can be extracted from the stream with caustic solutions, mercaptan scavengers, solid absorbents such as clay or activated carbon or liquid absorbents such as amine-aldehyde condensates and/or aqueous aldehydes.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to scavenging hydrogen sulfide. The disclosure pertains to non-aqueous and non-volatile compositions that include a monolignol alcohol and hydrogen sulfide scavenging compound. The hydrogen sulfide scavenging compound may be hexamine in some aspects. The compositions may also include a C2-8 polyol. The compositions disclosed are stable and can be used, for example, in removing hydrogen sulfide from hot asphalt.

Abstract: A naphtha reforming reactor system comprising a first reactor comprising a first inlet and a first outlet, wherein the first reactor is configured to operate as an adiabatic reactor, and wherein the first reactor comprises a first naphtha reforming catalyst; and a second reactor comprising a second inlet and a second outlet, wherein the second inlet is in fluid communication with the first outlet of the first reactor, wherein the second reactor is configured to operate as an isothermal reactor, and wherein the second reactor comprises a plurality of tubes disposed within a reactor furnace, a heat source configured to heat the interior of the reactor furnace; and a second naphtha reforming catalyst disposed within the plurality of tubes, wherein the first naphtha reforming catalyst and the second naphtha reforming catalyst are the same or different.

Abstract: A process and catalyst is disclosed for converting heavy hydrocarbon feed into lighter hydrocarbon products using multifunctional catalysts. Multifunctional catalysts enable use of less expensive metal by substituting expensive metals for less expensive metals with no loss or superior performance in slurry hydrocracking. Less available and expensive ISM can be replaced effectively.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for modifying of bio-oil, the process including the steps where feedstock including bio-oil is allowed react with a reducing agent in at least one polar solvent, to obtain modified bio-oil. Also disclosed is the use modified bio-oil, obtainable by the process, as heating oil, as starting material in processes for producing fuels, fuel components, fine chemicals, chemical building-blocks, and solvents.

Abstract: The present application generally relates to the introduction of a renewable fuel oil as a feedstock into refinery systems or field upgrading equipment. For example, the present application is directed to methods of introducing a liquid thermally produced from biomass into a petroleum conversion unit; for example, a refinery fluid catalytic cracker (FCC), a coker, a field upgrader system, a hydrocracker, and/or hydrotreating unit; for co-processing with petroleum fractions, petroleum fraction reactants, and/or petroleum fraction feedstocks and the products, e.g., fuels, and uses and value of the products resulting therefrom.

Abstract: A fluid contains a base oil and an antioxidant, the base oil consisting of sulfur-containing polyalkylene glycol where greater than 80 weight-percent of the fluid is a sulfur-containing polyalkylene glycol and less than one weight-percent of the fluid is water, with weight percent based on total fluid weight an wherein the sulfur-containing polyalkylene glycol is free of oxygen bound directly to sulfur.

Abstract: A lubricant composition includes a perfluoropolyether as a base oil, a fluororesin as a thickener, and a polyol ester, a urea grease and a zinc dialkyldithiophosphate as additives, wherein a mass ratio of content of the perfluoropolyether to total content of the polyol ester and the urea grease ranges from 78/22 to 95/5, a mass ratio of content of the perfluoropolyether to content of the polyol ester ranges from 90/10 to 96.5/3.5, a mass ratio of content of the polyol ester to content of the urea grease ranges from 40/60 to 65/35, content of the fluororesin ranges from 15 mass % to 24 mass % based on a total amount of the lubricant composition, and content of the zinc dialkyldithiophosphate ranges from 0.5 mass % to 4 mass % based on the total amount of the lubricant composition.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for in situ synthesis of dispersion of ZnO and TiO2 nanoparticles in an oil medium, wherein the process comprises: (a) providing layered basic zinc hydroxide (LBZ) in an oil medium, containing a dispersant, (b) providing a titanium precursor in the oil medium to obtain a mixture, (c) hydrolyzing the mixture to obtain a suspension, and (d) decomposing the suspension to obtain a dispersion of mixture of ZnO and TiO2 nanoparticles. The present invention also provides an oil dispersion comprising dispersant stabilized mixture of zinc oxide and titanium dioxide nanoparticles were synthesized through this process. The dispersion contains up to 2.5 Wt % metals loading balanced with dispersant and base oil or dispersant alone. Addition of this dispersion to oil of lubricating viscosity improves the anti-wear property and resulting a low SAPS formulation.

Abstract: A comb polymer can be used for reducing a Noack evaporation loss of a lubricant composition, especially of an engine oil composition. Application of the comb polymer to the lubricant composition can bring about the desired reduction. The comb polymer can include specified amounts of macromonomer and alkyl acrylates. Resulting lubricant compositions can include the comb polymer.

Abstract: A water-soluble metal working oil agent which can be prevented from being scattered in the form of mists for a long period when used for the cutting processing, grinding processing and the like of metallic materials is provided. A method for producing the water-soluble metal working oil agent is described. The water-soluble metal working oil agent includes a polyalkylene oxide having a weight average molecular weight of 100,000 to 1,000,000 and water.

Abstract: A lubricant composition includes a base oil and melamine cyanurate. The base oil includes a perfluoropolyether oil having a straight chain structure. The lubricant composition is for one of a resin-resin sliding section and a resin-metal sliding section. A melamine cyanurate content is within a range of 1-20% by mass with respect to a sum of the base oil and melamine cyanurate.

Abstract: The invention relates to a fabric treatment composition comprising: a) from 60 to 99 wt. % of polyethylene glycol; b) from 0.1 to 5 wt. % of cationic polymer; and, c) from 0.1 to 10 wt. % of silicone.

Abstract: A series of natural soaps, both liquid and solid, and methods of making thereof, which have a synergistic effect when formulated with anti-redeposition ingredients in laundry applications both in synthetic and natural textiles and fabrics. The fatty acids and/or natural oils based series of natural soaps include both sodium and potassium soap products that interact synergistically with, preferably, known, natural anti-redeposition agents and alkaline builders creating highly effective, natural solid (bar or powdered) and liquid laundry cleaning products. Solid forms soaps are dried to an acceptable amount of moisture content for milling. Further blending is then performed with various natural anti-redeposition agents or natural products which exhibit said characteristics and/or alkaline builders. The solid forms may be formed into single dose tablets. Effervescent additives may further be included.

Abstract: An automatic dishwashing cleaning composition including a dispersant polymer and a surface-modification surface-substantive polymer.

Abstract: Detergent compositions designed to prevent aluminum discoloration while providing high cleaning performance on soils and stains are disclosed. Detergent compositions substantially free of nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA) are disclosed. Methods of using the detergent compositions are also disclosed.

Abstract: Detergent compositions comprising a water-soluble film and a shading dye. At least about 10% of the shading dye is incorporated into the water-soluble film. Methods of making such detergent compositions.

Abstract: A laundry care composition including (a) at least one laundry care ingredient and (b) a compound of Formula (XL) A method of treating a textile comprises the steps of (a) providing such a laundry care composition; (b) adding the laundry care composition to a liquid medium; (c) placing textile articles in the liquid medium; (d) optionally, rinsing the textile; and (e) drying the textile articles.

Abstract: A method of producing a solid soap containing at least one image embedded within the solid soap includes printing an image on a dissolvable substrate to form an image layer, bringing the image layer into contact with molten soap and allowing the soap to harden so as to embed the image layer within the solid soap. The dissolvable substrate can be a printable icing or frosting sheet and the image can be a high-resolution image. The soap can include a background layer against which the image is visible.

Abstract: Accelerated spirit or beverage aging methods and associated systems are provided. One aging method is to soak selected wood fibers or chips with spirits or beverages in presence of subcritical, critical, and supercritical carbon dioxide. Another aging method is to treat selected wood fibers or chips in subcritical, critical, and supercritical carbon dioxide followed by soaking with spirits and/or beverages. A system for spirit or beverage aging and/or wood treatment is also provided. The system is comprised of a carbon dioxide supply device; a subcritical, critical, and supercritical carbon dioxide performance vessel; a mesh cage device; and a carbon dioxide separation and recycle device. Wood or treated wood can be further impregnated with natural flavors, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and therapeutics in a subcritical, critical, and supercritical carbon dioxide environment.

Abstract: A composition useful for the treatment of beverages comprising xerogel particles having a pore volume of from about 0.2 to about 2.0 m2/g, a median particle size of from about 5 to about 40 microns, wherein the composition comprises less than about 30% by weight of fines.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method that has been devised to overcome the two most important limitations for sustained biological hydrogen production, namely contamination of the microbial hydrogen-producing cultures with methane-producing cultures necessitating frequent re-start-up and/or other methanogenic bacteria inactivation techniques, and the low bacterial yield of hydrogen-producers culminating in microbial washout from the system and failure. The method includes biological hydrogen production, followed by a gravity settler positioned downstream of the CSTR, which combination forms a biohydrogenator. The biomass concentration in the hydrogen reactor is kept at the desired range through biomass recirculation from the bottom of the gravity settler and/or biomass wastage from the gravity settler's underflow.

Abstract: The presently disclosed subject matter provides a microfluidic device that can simulate capillary blood flow on a fetal side of the device and pooled blood on a maternal side of the device (i.e., intervillous space). The microfluidic device can reconstitute the maternal-fetal interface, can expand the capabilities of cell culture models, and can provide an alternative to current maternal-fetal transfer models.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatuses of controlling fluid flow are disclosed. An apparatus includes a first microplate having a first open portion and defining one or more first wells therein, a second microplate having a second open portion and defining one or more second wells therein, and a pneumatic lid constructed of styrene ethylene butylene styrene (SEBS). The pneumatic lid extends over the first open portion and the second open portion and includes one or more microfluidic channels that fluidly couple the one or more first wells to the one or more second wells. The pneumatic lid provides an airtight seal over the first microplate and the second microplate.

Abstract: Described are embodiments for expanding cells in a bioreactor. In one embodiment, methods are provided that distribute cells throughout the bioreactor and attach cells to specific portions of a bioreactor to improve the expansion of the cells in the bioreactor. Embodiments may be implemented on a cell expansion system configured to load, distribute, attach and expand cells.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides instruments, modules and methods for improved detection of edited cells following nucleic acid-guided nuclease genome editing. The disclosure provides improved automated instruments that perform methods—including high throughput methods—for screening cells that have been subjected to editing and identifying cells that have been properly edited.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides instruments, modules and methods for improved detection of edited cells following nucleic acid-guided nuclease genome editing. The disclosure provides improved automated instruments that perform methods—including high throughput methods—for screening cells that have been subjected to editing and identifying cells that have been properly edited.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an algae cultivation system includes a photobioreactor adapted for immersion in growth media contained within the growth media reactor, the photobioreactor including a closed container including multiple panels that together define an interior space in which algae can be cultivated, at least one of the panels being transparent, a porous membrane filter incorporated into one of the panels that enables water, carbon dioxide, and nutrients contained within the growth media to pass into the interior space but prevents contaminants contained within the growth media from passing into the interior space, and a gas control valve incorporated into one of the panels that when open enables photosynthetic gas produced by algae growth within the container to escape but when closed prevents the photosynthetic gas from escaping so as to build pressure within the container that forces water out from the container and dewaters the algae.

Abstract: The invention is related to a new bacterium comprising a partial 16S rDNA nucleic acid sequence having more than 85% sequence identity to the sequence presented as SEQ ID NO:1, or the complement thereof and a consortium of micro-organisms improving manure or soil.

Abstract: The invention is in the field of growth of Mycobacteria. In particular, agents have been identified which enhance the growth of Mycobacterial species, which are naturally slow-growing. Such agents can therefore be used in the identification of Mycobacteria and in the diagnosis of Mycobacterial infections.

Abstract: A platelet rich plasma preparation system and devices having a whole blood centrifuge tube (100) and a plasma centrifuge tube (200) wherein fill tubes (206) and vent tubes (113) are in fixed position and guards are provided to protect the fill tubes and vent tubes during use with a centrifuge. The fixed tubes and guards (114, 210) prevent kinks in the tubes and/or blockages that render the components of the system and the samples contained therein useless.

Abstract: This invention provides disc stem cells, processes for obtaining and culturing disc stem cells, and methods for repairing damaged or diseased disc tissue comprising the use of the disc stem cells of the invention.

Abstract: The present invention provides a new method of obtaining muscle-derived mesenchymal stem cells from microbiopsies of mammalian origin. The invention provides for a minimally invasive methodology yielding high amounts of MSCs that can differentiate into different cell lineages.

Abstract: The present invention provides a technique which enables organization of bone marrow cells by a simple method in a short period of time. A method for preparing a bone marrow cell aggregate, comprising adding a liquid containing a bone marrow cell population to a medium containing a swellable material and culturing the bone marrow cell population in the presence of the swellable material. A method for reassembling a bone marrow tissue, comprising adding a liquid containing a bone marrow cell population to a medium containing a swellable material and culturing the bone marrow cell population in the presence of the swellable material. According to common knowledge in the art, it has been considered difficult to reorganize once disintegrated bone marrow tissue without changing the cell composition (that is, without adding any adherent cell or extracellular matrix which will work as a “connecting material (binder)”). Indeed, it was impossible to aggregate bone marrow cells by conventional methods.

Abstract: The invention provides for methods of differentiating pancreatic endocrine cells into pancreatic beta cells expressing PDX1, NKX6.1, MAFA, UCN3 and SLC2A. These pancreatic beta cells may be obtained by step-wise differentiation of pluripotent stem cells. The pancreatic beta cells exhibit glucose-dependent mitochondrial respiration and glucose-stimulated insulin secretion similar to islet cells.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a recombinant oncolytic virus comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL). One such oncolytic virus is oHSV. One form of TRAIL contained within the oncolytic virus is a secreted form of TRAIL. Examples of various forms of oHSV and secreted TRAIL are disclosed therein. Also disclosed are host cells and therapeutic formulations comprising the recombinant oncolytic virus. Also disclosed are methods of treating cancer in a subject by administering a therapeutic formulation comprising the recombinant oncolytic virus to the subject.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a vaccine for protecting a piglet against diseases associated with a novel pestivirus. The vaccine commonly includes a pestivirus antigen and, optionally an adjuvant. Methods for protecting pigs against diseases associated with pestivirus, including but not limited to congenital tremors and methods of producing the pestivirus vaccine are also provided.

Abstract: Reactions comprising water, sucrose, and one or more glucosyltransferase enzymes are disclosed herein. Glucosyltransferase enzymes used in these reactions comprise certain motifs allowing production of insoluble poly alpha-1,3-glucan having at least 95% alpha-1,3 glycosidic linkages.

Abstract: Chimeric polypeptides useful as immunogens for inducing protective immune responses and neutralizing antibodies against Shiga toxin (Stx) in mammals. More specifically, chimeric polypeptides having a monomer of the homopentameric B subunit of the Shiga 2 toxin fused to the N-terminus of a monomer of Brucella lumazine synthase, and to oligomeric protein complexes formed from said chimeric polypeptides. Polynucleotides and vectors encoding said chimeric polypeptides, transgenic cells having said polynucleotides and vectors, pharmaceutical compositions, such as a vaccine, having said chimeric polypeptides and chimeric polynucleotides, antibodies which bind to the chimeric polypeptides, a method for obtaining antibodies which bind specifically to the subunit B of the Shiga 2 toxin and methods of lowering the bacterial load of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli in mammals, which can be used for prevention of inter alia, hemolytic-ureic syndrome (HUS), are also provided.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to transaminase polypeptides capable of aminating a dicarbonyl substrate, and polynucleotides, vectors, host cells, and methods of making and using the transaminase polypeptides.