Rice University Research Repository
The Rice Research Repository (R-3) provides access to research produced at Rice University, including theses and dissertations, journal articles, research center publications, datasets, and academic journals. Managed by Fondren Library, R-3 is indexed by Google and Google Scholar, follows best practices for preservation, and provides DOIs to facilitate citation. Woodson Research Center collections, including Rice Images and Documents and the Task Force on Slavery, Segregation, and Racial Injustice, have moved here.
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Recent Submissions
Methods, compositions and uses thereof for reversing sarcopenia
(2025-02-04) Karsenty, Gerard; Berger, Julian; Xiao, Han; Rice University; The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York; United States Patent and Trademark Office
Exemplary methods, compositions and uses thereof can be provided for preventing, reducing and/or treating loss of muscle function. In particular, e.g., it is possible to administer to a subject a pharmaceutical composition comprising a therapeutically effective amount of an agent that enhances Interleukin-6 (IL) release during exercise, and optionally a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or excipient.
Epoxy compositions containing polyrotaxane additives having improved impact strength
(2025-02-25) Patel, Hasmukh A.; Khater, Ali Zein; Boul, Peter; Ajayan, Pulickel M.; Rahman, Muhammad M.; Rice University; Saudi Arabian Oil Company; United States Patent and Trademark Office
This document relates to epoxy compositions containing a sliding-ring polymer (polyrotaxane) additive and a thermally-curable epoxy resin. The epoxy compositions exhibit increased flexural toughness and impact resistance as compared to the same epoxy composition that does not contain the additive. This document also relates to 3D-printed epoxy compositions containing a sliding-ring polymer (polyrotaxane) additive and a thermally-curable epoxy resin.
Integrated microheater array for efficient and localized heating of magnetic nanoparticles at microwave frequencies
(2025-02-11) Fan, Yingying; Zhang, Qingbo; Zhang, Linlin; Bao, Gang; Chi, Taiyun; Rice University; United States Patent and Trademark Office
An microheater array system includes an integrated microheater array configured to generate a localized heat and having a plurality of pixels. Each pixel includes: an inductor; a stacked oscillator configured to generate a magnetic field at microwave frequencies with tunable intensity and frequency; and an electro-thermal loop. The microheater array system may further include a plurality of magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs).
Method of determining solid and liquid components in sedimentary rocks using NMR relaxation
(2025-02-18) Singer, Philip M.; Liu, Yunke; Wang, Xinglin; Hirasaki, George J.; Vinegar, Harold J.; Rice University; Vinegar Technologies LLC; United States Patent and Trademark Office
A method for separating liquid-like (T2e) from solid-like (T2G) 1H NMR transverse relaxation times in porous media uses novel pulse sequences together with a 1H NMR spectrometer optimized for geological core samples. The method is applied to obtain 1D T2 distributions and 2D T1-T2 maps in organic-rich chalks for quantification of liquid-like signal (micropore fluids, meso-macropore fluids, fluids dissolved in organic matter, and clay-bound water) and solid-like signal (kerogen, bitumen, and clay hydroxyls). The novel pulse sequences comprise a solid-echo, which detects more solid-like signal than an FID. The method is used for fluid typing in micro/meso-macro pores, clay mineral identification, determination of kerogen content, and quantification of solvent-extracted bitumen versus bitumen expelled from kerogen due to swelling from dissolved hydrocarbons. The method is used to quantify the asphaltene, resin, aromatic, and/or saturate content of bitumen in the rock.
Drama in LCTL Classrooms: Example of an Experiential Learning Project in Modern Standard Arabic
(2025) Elsherbiny, Hossam; Center for Languages and Intercultural Communication
The present article describes an experiential learning drama project in Modern Standard Arabic that took place at a large, public university in the United States, as an effective way of consolidating learners’ oral skills both productively and receptively at various sublevels of proficiency. After briefly discussing methods and benefits of employing authentic drama texts in a language classroom, the article moves on to describe how the project was structured and conducted through the various phases of play selection, reading sessions, and abridging process and its implications for the lexical and syntactic aspects of the text. Furthermore, the article discusses CALL tools that were employed with a particular focus placed on components such as pronunciation and intonation, and finally, the rehearsal phase as an opportunity for meaningful interaction between learners. The article aims to provide a detailed model of how drama can be employed in second language classrooms with particular focus on less commonly taught languages.