Abstract: Strains of Zymomonas were engineered by introducing a chimeric xylose isomerase gene that contains a mutant promoter of the Z. mobilis glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase gene. The promoter directs increased expression of xylose isomerase, and when the strain is in addition engineered for expression of xylulokinase, transaldolase and transketolase, improved utilization of xylose is obtained.

Abstract: An optical sensor for detecting a substance includes a first waveguide and a second waveguide optically coupled via a directional coupler to the first waveguide. The sensor has a functional surface in a region of the directional coupler for accumulating or storing the substance to be detected so that an intensity of a coupling arranged by the directional coupler between the first waveguide and the second waveguide can be changed by the accumulating or storing of this substance. The first waveguide extends in a freely floating manner over a coupling path covered by the directional coupler or rests on a swellable material. The first waveguide is guided in a vicinity of the coupling path so that a spacing between the first waveguide and the second waveguide can be changed there by a deformation or movement of the first waveguide or of a carrier of the first waveguide.

Abstract: An electroless nickel plating solution for solar cell electrode, which comprises SiNx and Si patterned structure, is disclosed. The electroless plating solution of the present invention comprises: nickel ion; a reducing agent; a first chelating agent; a second chelating agent; and water. The electroless plating solution of the present invention has high selectivity between Si and SiNx and is harmless to the aluminum-based layer, therefore is suitable for being used in the fabrication of the electrodes of the solar cell.

Abstract: A dielectrophoretic display has a substrate having walls defining a cavity, the cavity having a viewing surface and a side wall inclined to the viewing surface. A fluid is contained within the cavity; and a plurality of particles are present in the fluid. There is applied to the substrate an electric field effective to cause dielectrophoretic movement of the particles so that the particles occupy only a minor proportion of the viewing surface.

Abstract: A process is provided for the synthesis of furan and related compounds by vapor phase decarbonylation of furfural and derivatives. The reaction rate, conversion, and selectivity are enhanced by adding water to the feed. The process can be run at lower temperatures than in similar processes run with essentially dry furan and related compounds.

Abstract: Disclosed is the chemical synthesis of chiral alkaloid monomers, liquid crystal compositions comprising the chiral alkaloid monomers, and polymerization of the liquid crystal compositions to provide polymer networks with useful cholesteric optical properties and stability.

Abstract: Ablated object region determining apparatuses and methods for determining an ablated object region for ablating an object of interest are provided. A user can set an orientation and position of an ablation element with respect to a geometrical representation of the object of interest, at least one energy influencing element and a spatial relationship between the object of interest and the at least one energy influencing element. A model ablation region retrieving unit retrieves a model ablation region depending on the respective set orientation and position of the ablation element from a model ablation region storing unit. An ablated object region determining unit determines at least one of a) an ablated object region of the object of interest being located within the retrieved model ablation region and b) a non-ablated object region of the object of interest being located outside the retrieved model ablation region.

Abstract: A dielectrophoretic display has a substrate having walls defining a cavity, the cavity having a viewing surface and a side wall inclined to the viewing surface. A fluid is contained within the cavity; and a plurality of particles are present in the fluid. There is applied to the substrate an electric field effective to cause dielectrophoretic movement of the particles so that the particles occupy only a minor proportion of the viewing surface.

Abstract: This invention relates to a strengthened blister pack for the packaging of solid pharmaceutical forms and/or food supplements, in particular solid pharmaceutical forms and/or food supplements that are not very hard and are highly friable.

Abstract: An antenna arrangement has an inductive transmitting antenna having a main radiating axis, an inductive receiving antenna having a main receiving axis, and an inductive compensator. The inductive receiving antenna is arranged in the main radiating axis of the transmitting antenna. The inductive compensator is electrically connected in series to the receiving antenna and is arranged in a first plane which intersects a second plane. The main receiving axis of the receiving antenna here is normal to the second plane.

Abstract: A process for the production of a MWT silicon solar cell comprising the steps: (1) providing an n-type silicon wafer with (i) holes forming vias between the front-side and the back-side of the wafer and (ii) a p-type emitter extending over the entire front-side and the inside of the holes, (2) applying a conductive metal paste to the holes of the silicon wafer to provide at least the inside of the holes with a metallization, (3) drying the applied conductive metal paste, and (4) firing the dried conductive metal paste, whereby the wafer reaches a peak temperature of 700 to 900° C., wherein the conductive metal paste has no or only poor fire-through capability and comprises (a) at least one particulate electrically conductive metal selected from the group consisting of silver, copper and nickel, (b) at least one particulate p-type dopant, and (c) an organic vehicle.

Abstract: Ink jet printing can be used in the production of electro-optic displays for (a) forming a layer of a polymer-dispersed electrophoretic medium on a substrate; (b) forming a color electro-optic layer; (c) forming a color filter; and (d) printing electrodes and/or associated conductors on a layer of electro-optic material.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel flame retardant polycarbonate resin compositions comprising at least one aromatic polycarbonate resin, at least one anti-drip agent, and at least one salt as defined herein. The present invention also provides methods for preparing articles comprising said flame retardant composition, and articles made therefrom.

Abstract: A method of providing solar cell electrode by electroless plating and an activator used therein are disclosed. The method of the present invention can be performed without silver paste, and comprises steps: (A) providing a silicon substrate; (B) contacting the silicon substrate with an activator, wherein the activator comprises: a noble metal or a noble metal compound, a thickening agent, and water; (C) washing the silicon substrate by a cleaning agent; (D) dipping the silicon substrate in an electroless nickel plating solution to perform electroless plating. The method of providing solar cell electrode by electroless plating of the present invention has high selectivity between silicon nitride and silicon, large working window, and is steady, easily to be controlled, therefore is suitable for being used in the fabrication of the electrodes of the solar cell substrate.

Abstract: The invention relates to a service machine (3) for a series of electrolysis cells (2) for the production of aluminium by igneous electrolysis, which includes: a) a bridge crane (4) capable of translation above said electrolysis cells; a tool-bearing carriage (6) on which is attached a service module including tools (10); c) a casting winch (13) connected to said bridge crane and for gripping and positioning near the cell (2) a casting assembly including a ladle (40), a casting tube (41) and a pressure reduction device; and an independent device (50, 50?) capable of generating pressurised air.

Abstract: An electro-optic display comprises a substrate (100), non-linear devices (102) disposed substantially in one plane on the substrate (100), pixel electrodes (106) connected to the non-linear devices (102), an electro-optic medium (110) and a common electrode (112) on the opposed side of the electro-optic medium (110) from the pixel electrodes (106). The moduli of the various parts of the display are arranged so that, when the display is curved, the neutral axis or neutral plane lies substantially in the plane of the non-linear devices (102).

Abstract: A nonwoven fibrous structure and process for forming it, which is an interconnecting web of polyolefin filaments having filament widths greater than about 1 micrometer which are further interconnected with webs of smaller polyolefin filaments having filament widths less than about 1 micrometer, wherein the smaller polyolefin filaments comprise a majority of all filaments.

Abstract: An apparatus for pixellated radiation configured to prevent short-circuits from adversely impacting display quality. A current limiting element connects a pixel to a power bus to minimize effects of pixel failures. Failure of a single pixel will have minimum impact on perceived display quality, thus avoiding failure of an entire row or column which would be noticeable to an observer of the display.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an aspherical LED angular optical lens for narrow distribution patterns and an LED assembly using the same. The optical lens comprises a concave surface on a source side and a convex surface on a project side. The LED assembly comprising the optical lens can accumulate light emitted from the LED die and generate a peak intensity of the narrow angular circle distribution pattern which is greater than 15° and smaller than 30°. The present invention only uses a single optical lens capable of accumulating light and forming a required distribution pattern to satisfy the requirement of a luminous flux ratio greater than 85% and the requirement of an illumination, a flash light of a cell phone or a flash light of a camera.

Abstract: A hardware device for analyzing an audio signal comprises a calculator for calculating a neural activity pattern over time resulting at nerve fibers of an ear model based on the audio signal and a processor for processing the neural activity pattern to obtain a sequence of time information as an analysis representation describing a temporal position of consecutive trajectories, wherein a trajectory includes activity impulses on different nerve fibers based on the same event in the audio signal. A two-dimensional representation of the neural activity pattern is gradually distorted over time, and it is recognized when an approximately straight line is contained in the distorted two-dimensional representation of the neural activity pattern over time. Accordingly, a time information belonging to the trajectory is provided.