Abstract: Dual-phase magnetic components include an intermixed first region and second region formed from a single material, wherein the first region includes a magnetic ferrous composition, and wherein the second region includes a non-magnetic austenite composition and a dispersion of nitride precipitates.

Abstract: A microfluidic device performs a method of partitioning droplets from a fluid reservoir containing particles that provides a non-Poissonian distribution of dispensed droplets containing a desired number of particles. Using an electrowetting on dielectric (EWOD) device, droplets are dispensed having a Poissonian distribution of dispensed droplets containing a desired number of particles, and the droplets are interrogated to determine whether each dispensed droplet has a desired number of particles. Droplets that contain the desired number of particles are moved by EWOD operation to a reaction area on the EWOD device, and droplets that do not contain the desired number of particles are rejected and moved by EWOD operation to a holding area on the EWOD device that is different and spaced apart from the reaction area. The result is that droplets in the reaction area have a non-Poissonian distribution of droplets containing the desired number of particles.

Abstract: A method of partitioning droplets from a fluid reservoir containing particles provides a non-Poissonian distribution of dispensed droplets containing a desired number of particles.

Abstract: A method of partitioning droplets from a fluid reservoir containing particles provides a non-Poissonian distribution of dispensed droplets containing a desired number of particles.

Abstract: An electrowetting on dielectric (EWOD) device includes an EWOD device array that applies electrowetting forces and contains a non-polar fluid. A barrier droplet configuration is formed using electrowetting forces to obstruct migration of a species from a first area of the EWOD device array to a protected area of the EWOD device array. A method of operating the EWOD device includes the steps of: dispensing a source droplet into a first area of the EWOD device array, the source droplet containing a migrating species, wherein the EWOD device array includes a second area to be protected from the migrating species; and forming a barrier droplet configuration positioned between the first area and the second area of the EWOD device array that obstructs a migration pathway of the migrating species between the first area and the second area.

Abstract: A method of partitioning droplets from a fluid reservoir containing particles provides a non-Poissonian distribution of dispensed droplets containing a desired number of particles.

Abstract: An electrowetting on dielectric (EWOD) device includes an EWOD device array that applies electrowetting forces and contains a non-polar fluid. A barrier droplet configuration is formed using electrowetting forces to obstruct migration of a species from a first area of the EWOD device array to a protected area of the EWOD device array. A method of operating the EWOD device includes the steps of: dispensing a source droplet into a first area of the EWOD device array, the source droplet containing a migrating species, wherein the EWOD device array includes a second area to be protected from the migrating species; and forming a barrier droplet configuration positioned between the first area and the second area of the EWOD device array that obstructs a migration pathway of the migrating species between the first area and the second area.

Abstract: A reconfigurable parallax barrier panel comprising an electro-optic material has first and second regions. The parallax barrier panel is configured in a first mode to address the first and second electrodes on the basis of at least one received drive signal such that: the first electrodes define, in the first region of the panel, a first parallax barrier array selected from a plurality of predetermined parallax barrier arrays; and the second electrodes define, in the second region of the panel, independently of the first parallax barrier array, a second parallax barrier array selected from the plurality of predetermined parallax barrier arrays, the second parallax barrier array being different to the first parallax barrier array. To obtain a good autostereoscopic 3-D viewing zone the pitch of a parallax barrier would ideally vary over the width of the parallax barrier panel as a function of viewing distance.

Abstract: A microfluidic system includes an electro-wetting on dielectric (EWOD) device and a control system that controls actuation voltages applied to the element array of the EWOD device to perform manipulation operations as to fluid droplets. The control system applies a sequence of actuation voltages to a portion of the array elements associated with a droplet to maintain the droplet in a desired droplet state corresponding to a predetermined droplet property. The sequence of actuation voltages includes an actuation-on period in which the portion of the array elements associated with the droplet is actuated and an actuation-off period in which the portion of the array elements associated with the droplet is not actuated, and the actuation-off period is non-zero. The control system may apply a sequence of actuation voltages comprising a predetermined duty cycle, and/or the actuation voltages may be applied in accordance with a sensor based intervention.

Abstract: A microfluidic system includes an electro-wetting on dielectric (EWOD) device and a control system that controls actuation voltages applied to the element array of the EWOD device to perform manipulation operations as to fluid droplets. The control system applies a sequence of actuation voltages to a portion of the array elements associated with a droplet to maintain the droplet in a desired droplet state corresponding to a predetermined droplet property. The sequence of actuation voltages includes an actuation-on period in which the portion of the array elements associated with the droplet is actuated and an actuation-off period in which the portion of the array elements associated with the droplet is not actuated, and the actuation-off period is non-zero. The control system may apply a sequence of actuation voltages comprising a predetermined duty cycle, and/or the actuation voltages may be applied in accordance with a sensor based intervention.

Abstract: A reconfigurable parallax barrier panel comprising an electro-optic material has first and second regions. The parallax barrier panel is configured in a first mode to address the first and second electrodes on the basis of at least one received drive signal such that: the first electrodes define, in the first region of the panel, a first parallax barrier array selected from a plurality of predetermined parallax barrier arrays; and the second electrodes define, in the second region of the panel, independently of the first parallax barrier array, a second parallax barrier array selected from the plurality of predetermined parallax barrier arrays, the second parallax barrier array being different to the first parallax barrier array. To obtain a good autostereoscopic 3-D viewing zone the pitch of a parallax barrier would ideally vary over the width of the parallax barrier panel as a function of viewing distance.

Abstract: An electrowetting on dielectric device includes: (a) a first substrate comprising electrodes at a surface of the first substrate configured to effect electrowetting mediated droplet operations; (b) a second substrate spaced from the surface of the first substrate to define an interior volume between the first substrate and the second substrate; (c) a liquid droplet disposed in the interior volume; and (d) a filler fluid disposed in the interior volume and surrounding the liquid droplet, wherein one or both of the liquid droplet and filler fluid contains a surfactant, the surfactant comprising a siloxane group represented by the structural formula: where n?1.

Abstract: Two methods are described for calculating the non-periodic display pixel pattern necessary for good viewing properties of a multiple view directional display with a fixed parallax barrier pitch. These methods could also be used to calculate optimum barrier pitch parameters for a display with a re-configurable parallax optic, such as a re-configurable parallax barrier, and a fixed pixel assignment, or to calculate hybrid system parameters in a display where the parallax optic (eg a parallax barrier) and the pixel assignment are both re-configurable. The first method uses a geometrical analysis to calculate a non-integer subpixel repeat unit for interlacing. In this approach interlacing starts at a point determined by the user's head position relative to the display. The non-integer number ensures that the interlace pattern inserts extra pixels where necessary in order to compensate for the user's head position.

Abstract: A multiple view directional display has an image display panel, a parallax optic and a control unit. The control unit is configured to address the image display panel to display first and second images on respective sets of X adjacent columns of pixels or sub-pixels. The parallax optic comprises parallax elements configured to allow a first region of the image display panel having a width of Y adjacent columns of pixels or sub-pixels to be visible to a left eye of a viewer, where Y?3 and X?Y?3, and to allow a second, different region of the image display panel having a width of Y adjacent columns of pixels or sub-pixels to be visible to a right eye of the viewer. Parallax elements of the parallax optic are inclined with respect to columns of pixels or sub-pixels of the image display panel.

Abstract: An optical modulation device has an electro-optical cell in which first and second electrodes (3a, 3b) are disposed on a first substrate (1), in electrical contact with a resistive layer (2) disposed on the first substrate. A third electrode (3c) is disposed on a second substrate (5), and an electro-optic material (4) is disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate. When different voltages (V0, V1) are applied to the first and second electrodes (3a, 3b) in a first mode of operation, a voltage gradient is set up along the resistive layer (2). By applying an intermediate voltage (Vsig) to the third electrode (3c), it is possible to define at least a first region (6a) in the electro-optical cell in which the voltage applied across the electro-optical material is lower than a switching threshold voltage and a second region (6b) in the electro-optical cell in which the voltage applied across the electro-optical material is greater than the switching threshold voltage.

Abstract: A broadband communication system including an Internet Protocol Telephony Network and public switched telephone network, including apparatus and methods for placing a call on hold in a way that significantly reduces the amount of network bandwidth utilized by the call while the call is on hold. When a call is placed on hold, embodiments of the architecture of the telephony network of the present invention allows the network to essentially “forget” about the call placed on hold. In other words, a call that is on hold may require very little, or even zero, bandwidth within the telephony network. Accordingly, the total necessary bandwidth capacity of the telephony network may be smaller than it would be if calls on hold were to consume precious network bandwidth as is found in existing telephony systems.

Abstract: A broadband communication system including an Internet Protocol Telephony Network and public switched telephone network, including apparatus and methods for placing a call on hold in a way that significantly reduces the amount of network bandwidth utilized by the call while the call is on hold. When a call is placed on hold, embodiments of the architecture of the telephony network of the present invention allows the network to essentially “forget” about the call placed on hold. In other words, a call that is on hold may require very little, or even zero, bandwidth within the telephony network. Accordingly, the total necessary bandwidth capacity of the telephony network may be smaller than it would be if calls on hold were to consume precious network bandwidth as is found in existing telephony systems.

Abstract: Compounds are disclosed which have the formula (I) ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 -R.sub.2 are each independently selected from the group consisting of: (a) a hydrogen atom; and (b) a lower alkyl group, straight or branched chain, having 1 to 8 carbon atoms; or R.sub.1 -R.sub.2 and the nitrogen atom to which they are bonded may together form a heterocyclic group; R.sub.3 -R.sub.

Abstract: A synthetic insulin mimetic compound is disclosed. Small synthetic amines of disaccharides, such as 2-deoxy-2-amino-galactopyranosyl pinitol are shown to mimic the action of insulin and to modulate its action.

Abstract: A method for purifying two distinct insulin mediators to substantial homogeneity, and relative purity values above 80%, comprises adsorption on first anion exchange resin and subsequently on a chelex cation exchange resin column. The chelex resin ion exchange column substantially increases the activity of the recovered mediator. Following purification, the already treated fraction is subjected to three successive thin layer chromatography purification steps, the last giving, in the presence of ninhydrin stain, a characteristic salmon-color spot, which is indicative of the presence of the mediator. This process can also be used as a screening process, the absence of the salmon-colored spot being indicative of the diabetic state. Structure information on the insulin mediators obtained is given.