Abstract:
Systems and methods for determining the location of sensors embedded in material surrounding a well. In an example system, at least one seismic signal generator is configured to generate a seismic wave signal to communicate information that enables the determination of the sensor location to the sensor. A sensor location apparatus is provided and configured to lower the at least one seismic signal generator into the subsurface structure. A sensor location controller is provided in the sensor location apparatus and configured to actuate generation of the seismic wave signal as the at least one seismic signal generator is lowered into the well.
Abstract:
A mixed salt composition adapted for use as a sorbent for carbon dioxide removal from a gaseous stream is provided, the composition being in solid form and including magnesium oxide, an alkali metal carbonate, and an alkali metal nitrate, wherein the composition has a molar excess of magnesium characterized by a Mg:X atomic ratio of at least about 3:1, wherein X is the alkali metal. A process for preparing the mixed salt is also provided, the process including mixing a magnesium salt with a solution comprising alkali metal ions, carbonate ions, and nitrate ions to form a slurry or colloid including a solid mixed salt including magnesium carbonate; separating the solid mixed salt from the slurry or colloid to form a wet cake; drying the wet cake to form a dry cake including the solid mixed salt; and calcining the dry cake to form a mixed salt sorbent.
Abstract:
Provided herein are compounds and methods of preparation of compounds that are capable of functioning as agonists or antagonists of a nicotinic receptor. Also provided are pharmaceutical compositions comprising one or more of these compounds, which may further comprise one or more additional therapeutic agents. Further provided are methods of treatment of various conditions that may be responsive to such activity at the nicotinic receptors, such as nicotine dependence.
Abstract:
A fluoride treated ceramic material is provided, the ceramic material comprising fluorinated metal oxide on its surface. A method for the preparation of such treated ceramics is also provided, the method involving exposure of the ceramic to a fluorine-containing reagent. The ceramic materials can be further functionalized so as to bond to functional ligands and/or resins. The ceramic materials can be, for example, ceramic medical implants or particulate ceramic, which can be incorporated within dental and/or orthopedic composites.
Abstract:
Neuropeptide S receptor antagonists are provided that bind in functional assays to neuropeptide S receptors; methods are provided for use of these antagonists in treatment of conditions or disease states that are ameliorated by blocking of the neuropeptide S receptor, including substance abuse and substance abuse relapse; and for use of neuropeptide S receptor antagonists in the manufacture of therapeutics and pro-drugs for therapeutics useful in disease states and conditions sensitive to binding of the neuropeptide S receptor.
Abstract:
Integrated upconversion devices capable of upconverting incident visible to short wavelength infrared photons to visible photons are disclosed. The device may include a quantum dot-based photodiode and a light-emitting diode. The device may further include a gain element such as a thin-film transistor.
Abstract:
A thermoelectric composite and a thermoelectric device and a method of making the thermoelectric composite. The thermoelectric composite is a semiconductor material formed from mechanically-alloyed powders of elemental constituents of the semiconductor material to produce nano-particles of the semiconductor material, and compacted to have at least a bifurcated grain structure. The bifurcated grain structure has at least two different grain sizes including small size grains in a range of 2-200 nm and large size grains in a range of 0.5 to 5 microns. The semiconductor material has a figure of merit ZT, defined as a ratio of the product of square of Seebeck coefficient, S2, and electrical conductivity σ divided by the thermal conductivity k, which varies from greater than 1 at 300 K to 2.5 at temperatures of 300 to 500K.
Abstract:
A method and system for ensuring statistical disclosure limitation (SDL) of categorical or continuous micro data, while maintaining the analytical quality of the micro data. The new SDL methodology exploits the analogy between (1) taking a sample (instead of a census,) along with some adjustments, including imputation, for missing information, and (2) releasing a subset, instead of the original data set, along with some adjustments for records still at disclosure risk. Survey sampling reduces monetary cost in comparison to a census, but entails some loss of information. Similarly, releasing a subset reduces disclosure cost in comparison to the full database, but entails some loss of information. Thus, optimal survey sampling methods can be used for statistical disclosure limitation. The method includes partitioning the database into risk strata, optimal probabilistic substitution, optimal probabilistic subsampling, and optimal sampling weight calibration.