Abstract: The present invention includes a context-free grammar (CFG) engine which communicates through an exposed interface with a speech recognition engine. The context-free grammar engine, in one illustrative embodiment, handles loading and unloading of grammars, as well as maintaining a desired activation state of the grammars which are loaded. Further, the CFG engine represents all loaded grammars, and their corresponding activation states, as a single grammar to the speech recognition engine.

Abstract: A process for making solid sugar surfactants involving: (a) providing a glycose component; (b) acetalizing the glycose component with a fatty alcohol to form a technical mixture containing excess fatty alcohol and alkyl and/or alkenyl oligoglycoside; and (c) contacting the technical mixture with an extractant to form a solid phase containing the extractant, a predominant part of alkyl and/or alkenyl oligoglycoside and a small amount of fatty alcohol, and a liquid phase containing a predominant part of the fatty alcohol.

Abstract: The present invention provides an application-independent and engine-independent middleware layer between applications and engines. The middleware provides speech-related services to both applications and engines, thereby making it far easier for application vendors and engine vendors to bring their technology to consumers.

Abstract: A microfluidic device for applying a liquid to a surface comprises a chamber for carrying the liquid, an aperture in the chamber for communicating liquid from the chamber to the surface via a conduit having outer sides of limited wettability to the liquid. This device provides a solution for confining liquids to defined areas of a surface without involving physical seals and additionally permits moving the device and confined liquid on the surface.

Abstract: A process for making an alkyl and/or alkenyl oligoglycoside preparation having a magnesium salt concentration of less than about 10 ppm involving the steps of: (a) providing an alkyl and/or alkenyl oligoglycoside preparation having an active substance content of from about 10 to 70% by weight, based on the weight of the preparation; (b) providing an acid component; (c) adjusting the pH of the alkyl and/or alkenyl oligoglycoside preparation to from about 4 to 9.5 by combining the acid component with the alkyl and/or alkenyl oligoglycoside preparation to form a pH-modified alkyl and/or alkenyl oligoglycoside preparation; (d) providing a column charged with an ion exchange resin; and (e) purifying the pH-modified alkyl and/or alkenyl oligoglycoside preparation by passing it through the column of step (d) at a viscosity of from about 20 to 6,000 mPas, and at a temperature of from about 20 to 90° C.

Abstract: A method for transferring a pattern from an elastic stamp to a substrate in the presence of a third medium is described. A proximity contact is achieved between the stamp and the substrate. A layer of the third medium between the stamp and the substrate is controlled to a predetermined thickness. Stamps for carrying out this method are also described.

Abstract: A wet etching system for selectively patterning substrates having regions covered with self-assembled monolayers (SAM) thereby controlling the etch profile. The system contains a) a liquid etching solution; and b) at least one additive to the liquid etching solution having a higher affinity to the regions of the substrate covered with the SAMs than to the other regions of the substrate. Also provided is a method of selectively patterning substrates having regions covered with self-assembled monolayers (SAMs), thereby controlling the etch profile, the method consisting of the steps of a) providing a liquid etching solution; b) adding at least one additive to said etching solution having a higher affinity to the regions of the substrate covered with the SAMs than to the other regions of the substrate; and c) etching said substrate with said liquid etching solution containing at least one additive.

Abstract: A device for flowing a liquid on a surface comprises: a flow path. A first port supplies the liquid to one end of the flow path and applies a first port pressure for retaining the liquid when the flow path is remote from the surface. A second port receives the liquid from the other end of the flow path and applies a second port pressure such that the difference between the first and second negative port pressures is oriented to promote flow of the liquid from the first port to the second port via the flow path in response to the flow path being located proximal to the surface and the liquid in the device contacting the surface. The first and second port pressures are such that the liquid is drawn towards at least the second port in response to withdrawal of the flow path from the surface. Such devices may employ microfluidic technology and find application in surface patterning.

Abstract: Cosmetic preparations which contain (a) an ester of a hydroxycarboxylic acid and an alk(en)yl oligoglycoside, and (b) a silicone compound; are described. The esters correspond to the general formula (I): wherein X represents a hydrogen or a —CH2COOR3 substituent, Y represents a hydrogen or a hydroxyl substituent, R1, R2 and R3 each independently represents a substituent selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, ammonium, alkyl ammoniums, hydroxyalkyl ammoniums, glucammonium, and residues of alk(en)yl oligoglycosides; wherein at least one of R1, R2 and R3 represents a residue of an alk(en)yl oligoglycoside, and with the proviso that, where X represents a —CH2COOR3 group, Y is hydrogen.

Abstract: A particle measurement configuration measures the particle concentration in a liquid or gaseous medium by way of a particle measuring instrument. In order to avoid erroneous measurements or damage to the particle measuring instrument, a measuring cell is provided which measures temperature or pressure or pH of the medium. A system controller shuts off a valve if threshold values are exceeded and it prevents the particle measuring instrument from being operated outside a predefined specification.

Abstract: A stamp device for printing a pattern on a surface of a substrate having a two-sided rigid carrier layer providing on its first side a patterned layer made of a first material and being combined on its second side with a soft layer made of a softer material than that of the first material.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a device for applying a fluid to a surface, the device comprising a first conduit for directing a flow of a first fluid towards the surface and a second conduit for directing a flow of a second fluid away from the surface, the first conduit being arranged relative to the second conduit such that in operation of the device the second fluid comprises substantially the first fluid, and wherein said first conduit comprises a first aperture and the second conduit comprises a second aperture, the first aperture arranged at a distance from the second aperture.

Abstract: The present invention includes a context-free grammar (CFG) engine which communicates through an exposed interface with a speech recognition engine. The context-free grammar engine, in one illustrative embodiment, handles loading and unloading of grammars, as well as maintaining a desired activation state of the grammars which are loaded. Further, the CFG engine represents all loaded grammars, and their corresponding activation states, as a single grammar to the speech recognition engine.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system and method of notifying a speech related application of events generated by a speech related engine. A middleware layer receives a notification selection from the application. The notification selection is indicative of a selected notification mechanism for notifying the application of the events. The middleware component receives an event indication from the engine. The event indication is indicative of an event generated by the engine. The event indication is transferred to the application according to the selected notification mechanism.

Abstract: A process for making granular solids involving: (a) providing a substantially anhydrous preparation, which is solid at room temperature and contain at least one cosmetic feed material; (b) liquifying the substantially anhydrous preparation to form a melt; (c) providing a vibrating casting plate used for droplet formation; (d) introducing the melt onto the vibrating casting plate to form melt droplets thereon; (e) providing a cooling medium; and (f) contacting the melt droplets with the cooling medium which is passed countercurrently to the melt droplets, thus forming the granular solids, and wherein the granular solids have a monodisperse particle size distribution and are substantially free of particles having a diameter of less than 0.3 mm.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of forming a chemical gradient on a substrate (12) comprising the steps of: providing a printing device (10) comprising a body for holding at least one active molecular ink within a body volume of the body, wherein the body comprises a contact surface (18) and the dimension of the body volume transverse to the contact surface (18) is variable; and contacting the printing device (10) with the substrate (12). The present invention also provides an apparatus for forming a chemical gradient.

Abstract: Hydroxy mixed ethers of the general formula (I): R1O[CH2CH2O]xCH2CH(OH)R2??(I) wherein R1 represents a linear or branched, alkyl or alkenyl group having from 4 to 22 carbon atoms; R2 represents a linear or branched, alkyl or alkenyl group having from 2 to 22 carbon atoms; and x represents a number of from 40 to 80, are described along with compositions containing such hydroxy mixed ethers in conjunction with other surfactants. Also described are various anti-foaming uses for such ethers and compositions containing the same.

Abstract: A low-foaming surfactant composition comprising: (a) a hydroxy mixed ether corresponding to formula I: R1O[CH2CH(CH3)O]x(CH2CHR2O)y[CH2CH(OH)R3]z,??(I) wherein R1 is an alkyl and/or alkylene group containing from 4 to 18 carbon atoms, R2 is hydrogen, R3 is an alkyl group having from 2 to 22 carbon atoms, x is 0, y is a number from 1 to 30, and z is a number from 1 to 3; and (b) a low-foaming nonionic surfactant selected from the group consisting of an optionally end-capped fatty alcohol polyethylene glycol/polypropylene glycol ether corresponding to formula II: R4O(CH2CH2O)n[CH2(CH3)CHO]mR5??(II) wherein R4 is an alkyl and/or alkylene group containing from 8 to 22 carbon atoms, R5 is hydrogen or an alkyl group containing from 1 to 8 carbon atoms, n is a number from 1 to 15 and m is a number up to 10, an optionally end-capped fatty alcohol polypropylene glycol/polyethylene glycol ether corresponding to formula II: R6O[CH2(CH3)CHO]p(CH2CH2O)qR7??(III) wherein R6 is an alkyl and/or alkylene group having

Abstract: Surfactant granules are made by the process comprising the steps of (1) mixing an aqueous nonionic surfactant paste and an aqueous solution of an organic polymeric carrier; (2) simultaneously granulating and drying the mixture from step (1) in a fluidized bed to form a granulated nonionic surfactant. The surfactant granules are dust-free, flowable, storage-stable, show no tendency toward clumping and are readily soluble in cold water.

Abstract: A highly concentrated flowable pearlizing concentrate is comprised of: (a) from about 25 to about 45% by weight of a pearlizing wax; (b) from about 25 to about 40% by weight of nonionic, amphoteric, zwitterionic and/or cationic emulsifier and; (c) from about 0.5 to about 15% by weight of a polyol ester and the remainder water. The sum of components (a), (b) and (c) is at least 55% by weight. The concentrates are useful cosmetic applications such as in hair shampoos and shower gels.