Abstract: A semiconductor structure including a semiconductor substrate, at least one first crystalline epitaxial layer on the substrate, the first layer having a surface which is planarized, and at least one second crystalline epitaxial layer on the at least one first layer. In another embodiment of the invention there is provided a semiconductor structure including a silicon substrate, and a GeSi graded region grown on the silicon substrate, compressive strain being incorporated in the graded region to offset the tensile strain that is incorporated during thermal processing. In yet another embodiment of the invention there is provided a semiconductor structure including a semiconductor substrate, a first layer having a graded region grown on the substrate, compressive strain being incorporated in the graded region to offset the tensile strain that is incorporated during thermal processing, the first layer having a surface which is planarized, and a second layer provided on the first layer.

Abstract: An electrochemical sensor system and membrane and method thereof for increased accuracy and effective life of electrochemical and enzyme sensors.

Abstract: Printing plates are mounted onto a cylinder by first establishing a temperature difference between the plate and the cylinder; in particular, the temperature of the plate exceeds the temperature of the cylinder. The plate is then wrapped around the plate cylinder, and the temperature difference causes the plate to shrink against the cylinder.

Abstract: A matrix, including epithelial basement membrane, for inducing repair of cmammalian tissue defects and in vitro cell propagation derived from epithelial tissues of a warm-blooded vertebrate.

Abstract: Systems and methods for calculating a modification of a geometrical shape by applying an inverse modification function to an array representing the shape. An array representing the geometrical shape is defined on a multi-dimensional space. A modification function is used to modify the geometrical shape. A user or a programmed computer can select the modification function. The computer applies an inverse of the modification function to the array. The computer deduces a change in the geometrical shape from the modified array. An advantage of the system and method is the ability to compute shape changes in certain situations where a direct computation is cumbersome or otherwise inconvenient.

Abstract: A full color, reflective display having superior saturation and brightness is achieved with a novel display element comprising multichromatic elements. In one embodiment a capsule includes more than three species of particles which differ visually. One embodiment of the display employs three sub-pixels, each sub-pixel comprising a capsule including three species of particles which differ visually. Another embodiment of the display employs color filters to provide different visual states to the user. The display element presents a visual display in response to the application of an electrical signal to at least one of the capsules.

Abstract: The invention features a reflective display device and a method of making a reflective display device that has reduced light loss and/or pixel cross talk due to internal reflection. The device includes a window layer, a plurality of reflective particles, a material portion disposed between the window layer and the plurality of reflective particles, and a refractive layer disposed between the window and the material portion. The plurality of reflective particles scatters light received from the ambient environment. The window layer has an index of refraction that is greater than an index of refraction of the ambient environment. The refractive layer has an index of refraction that is less than the index of refraction of the window layer and less than an index of refraction of the material portion.

Abstract: A method for displaying information includes identifying computer-readable service code at a service site, which code, when read by a client computer via a network, causes the computer to display at least one service page containing service information. At least a portion of the service-code is selected for inclusion in a service component containing at least a portion of the service information that corresponds to the selected code. A pointer is generated, indicating a location at which the service component is accessible, for inclusion of the pointer in host code accessible to the client computer from a host site, which is separate from the service site and is accessible via the network, the host code, when read by the client computer, causing the computer to display a host page containing host information. An invocation of the pointer by the client computer is received at the location when the client computer accesses the host page.

Abstract: A plant container including at least one section of flexible material having an inner and an outer surface. The inner surface is formed at least in part by a lattice of recesses, and at least some of the recesses converge toward a hole through the material. The outer surface is formed at least in part by a lattice of protuberances at the same relative positional arrangement as the recesses. Each section is formed as a parallelogram having two acute angles and two obtuse angles. Each section is arranged to form a cylinder with adjacent ends overlapping and the protuberances on the outer surface of one end nesting within the recesses of the inner surface of the adjacent end at the overlap.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure and method of processing same including a substrate, a lattice-mismatched first layer deposited on the substrate and annealed at a temperature greater than 100° C. above the deposition temperature, and a second layer deposited on the first layer with a greater lattice mismatch to the substrate than the first semiconductor layer. In another embodiment there is provided a semiconductor graded composition layer structure on a semiconductor substrate and a method of processing same including a semiconductor substrate, a first semiconductor layer having a series of lattice-mismatched semiconductor layers deposited on the substrate and annealed at a temperature greater than 100° C. above the deposition temperature, a second semiconductor layer deposited on the first semiconductor layer with a greater lattice mismatch to the substrate than the first semiconductor layer, and annealed at a temperature greater than 100° C. above the deposition temperature of the second semiconductor layer.

Abstract: A matrix, including epithelial basement membrane, for inducing repair of mammalian tissue defects and in vitro cell propagation derived from epithelial tissues of a warm-blooded vertebrate.

Abstract: A polymeric linking agent enables the manufacture of photovoltaic cells on flexible substrates, including, for example, polymeric substrates. Photovoltaic cells may be fabricated by a relatively simple continuous manufacturing process, for example, a roll-to-roll process, instead of a batch process.

Abstract: This invention provides devices and methods for adapting a motorcycle for use with an agricultural system. In a preferred embodiment, the agricultural system includes a motorcycle drive unit adapted for removable attachment to a tool assembly. In a further embodiment of the invention, power transmission from the drive unit to a tool assembly drive axle is at reduced speed and increased torque relative to the motorcycle drive unit output.

Abstract: Macrocyclic oligoesters and compositions comprising macrocyclic oligoesters are prepared from intermediate molecular weight polyesters. In one embodiment, a diol is contacted with a dicarboxylic acid or a dicarboxylate in the presence of a catalyst to produce a composition comprising a hydroxyalkyl-terminated polyester oligomer. The hydroxyalkyl-terminated polyester oligomer is heated to produce a composition comprising an intermediate molecular weight polyester which preferably has a molecular weight between about 20,000 Daltons and about 70,000 Daltons. The intermediate molecular weight polyester is heated and a solvent is added prior to or during the heating process to produce a composition comprising a macrocyclic oligoester. An optional step is to separate the macrocyclic oligoester from the composition comprising the macrocyclic oligoester.

Abstract: In one aspect, the invention is an optical fiber having a modified geometry. The optical fiber includes an optical fiber portion. The optical fiber portion can have a first fiber end face and a cylindrical fiber surface encircling the first fiber end face. The optical fiber having a modified geometry also includes a contoured surface formed from the first fiber end face. The contoured surface does not extend beyond the cylindrical fiber surface. A reflective coating disposed on the contoured surface and an optical transmission region formed from a portion of the cylindrical fiber surface are also included in the optical fiber having a modified geometry.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for compensating for polarization mode dispersion in an optical transmission system without perturbing the laser source. The present invention compensates for PMD by transferring a sufficient fraction of the light signal in an optical transmission system substantially into a single PSP of the system. As a result, each light pulse in a data stream is not substantially mixed with temporally adjacent light pulses or bit periods.

Abstract: A compact low profile fader has an elongate support and a manually settable slider mounted for linearly slidable relative to the elongate support. A drive transmission operably interconnecting the slider and a digital encoder so that movement of the slider produces a digital output signal from the digital encoder. The digital encoder has a rotatable encoder disk and is mounted so that its longitudinal direction of extent is in alignment with that of the elongate support. The drive transmission includes a drive pulley and a loop of cord which is wound around the pulley. The pulley drives the rotatable encoder and has a helical groove in its peripheral surface. The cord is engaged in the helical groove and with the slider so that movement of the latter causes the pulley, and thereby the rotatable encoder disk, to be rotated.

Abstract: The invention relates generally to a new functional protein S assay and kit that is based on the ability of endogenous protein S to prolong clotting time. In the assay procedure, a test plasma sample is diluted with protein S deficient plasma, followed by the addition of purified or recombinant tissue factor (pTF or rTF), purified natural or synthetic phospholipid (pPL or sPL) and activated protein C (APC) or protein C activator (PCA). The clotting time is then measured and compared to a standard curve or a normal control.

Abstract: The invention is an apparatus for physically exchanging a force with a user in an environment local to the user. A connection element connects to a user's body member and a linkage between the connection element and ground. The linkage includes means for powering at least three independent freedoms of the connection element relative to ground and means for maintaining at least one independent freedom of the connection element relative to ground free of power. Up to three independent freedoms of the connection element may be maintained free of power, and up to five independent freedoms may be powered. Other aspects of the invention include a two actuator counter-balance for controlling a point on a link. The invention also includes apparatus for establishing a virtual, switch, which presents to the user the force and displacement relationship of a spring switch.

Abstract: Systems and related methods are provided for modulating web tension loss at the edge of spool-hosting cavities in a cylinder by displacing the feed path and/or the exit path of the web material.