Abstract: A retail point-of-sale system to provide a customized set of identification data to facilitate a retail sales point-of-sale transaction is provided. The retail point-of-sale system, for example, can include a plurality of retail sales point-of-sale terminals, one or more retail system computers, a database accessible by the one or more retail system computers, and a program product stored in the memory of the one or more retail system computers. The plurality of retail sales point-of-sale terminals can be positioned, for instance, at one or more retail locations and can be positioned to accept purchase transactions from purchasers of goods. The one or more retail system computers can be positioned, for example, to provide data to and from each of the plurality of remotely positioned retail sales point-of-sale terminals to thereby facilitate one or more point-of-sale transactions through each of the plurality of remotely positioned retail sales point-of-sale terminals.

Abstract: This invention relates to an isolated nucleic acid fragment encoding an acyltransferase, more specifically a phospholipid:diacylglycerol acyltransferase. The invention also relates to the construction of a recombinant DNA construct encoding all or a portion of the phospholipid:diacylglycerol acyltransferase, in sense or antisense orientation, wherein expression of the recombinant DNA construct results in production of altered levels of the phospholipid:diacylglycerol acyltransferase in a transformed host cell.

Abstract: An optical fiber link has a plurality of optical fiber spans joined one to the other, the plurality of optical fiber spans including at least one first unidirectionally-spun optical fiber span and at least one second unidirectionally-spun optical fiber span having mutually opposite spinning directions.

Abstract: An electro-active phoropter and a method of using the electro-active phoropter to measure a patient's vision prescription is disclosed. The electro-active phoropter includes a series of individually addressable electro-active lenses. The lenses have either a positive or negative optical power when an electrical potential is applied across the lens and a neutral optical power when no electrical potential is applied across the lens. Each lens provides an optical power that is part of a net optical power of the series of lenses when a patient views through the phoropter. The optical power of the phoropter can be incrementally adjusted by changing the distribution of the electrical potential across the different lenses of the series to provide increasing or decreasing optical power until a patient achieves a desired level of clarity and a vision prescription has been determined.

Abstract: An electro-optic display comprises a layer (130) of a solid electro-optic material, at least one electrode disposed adjacent the layer (130) of electro-optic material, and a layer (180) of a lamination adhesive interposed between the layer (130) of electro-optic material and the electrode, the lamination adhesive (180) having a higher electrical conductivity in a direction perpendicular to the layer of lamination adhesive than in the plane of the layer.

Abstract: A traction assembly includes a wheel with a wheel shaft and traction means which, when in operation, exert torque on the wheel shaft. The traction assembly further includes a first electromotor coupled to a second electromotor, housings, stators, rotors, controllers, at least one operating means connected to a controller, at least one measurement tool and at least one data communication means.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to implantable devices and systems for the differential monitoring the condition of the tissue or fluid emitted from the site in proximity to the implants. The invention may also include modifications of the implantable device to stabilize or immobilize the device in the proximity of the tissue to be monitored.

Abstract: An optical cable for communication includes at least one micromodule, wherein the micromodule is blocked with respect to the propagation of water. The at least one micromodule includes at least one optical fiber, a retaining element for housing the at least one optical fiber, and a thixotropic filling compound arranged within the retaining element. The filling compound is thixotropic, has a viscosity higher than or equal to 700 Pa·s at zero shear rate and at a first temperature of 20° C., a loss modulus G? lower than or equal to 3000 MPa at 1 Hz and at a second temperature of ?45° C., and is compatible with the retaining element.

Abstract: A locking device for a tent comprises a pole 2, a lock base 3 installed to allow hoisting/lowering of the pole, a lock hole 4 provided the pole, and a lock pin 5, provided movably within the lock base in the longitudinal direction, thus enabling the lock pin to be in a locking position to allow it enter the lock hole, to be retracted to an unlocking position, to allow the lock pin to disengage from the lock hole. An elastic body 6 pushes the lock pin towards the locking position all the time. An operating lever 7 provided on the lock base can move the lock pin to an unlocking position; a coming-off prevention and holding means 8 allows the lock pin to be placed in a safety position for preventing accidental unlocking.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the production of high tensile strength and low creep polymer yarns, wherein it comprises the following steps: (a) preparing a mixture of: (i) a first ultra high molecular weight polyolefin polymer or copolymer, (ii) a second clay nanocomposite polyolefin polymer or copolymer, and (iii) a non-polar spinning solvent, (b) feeding the resulting suspension through an extruder at a temperature of at least 180° C., causing the formation of a gel, (c) spinning the gel so obtained in a spinneret with a length to diameter ratio (L/D) of at least 15, (d) cooling the yarn to a temperature below 2° C., (e) subsequently removing the non-polar spinning solvent, and (f) drawing the yarn so obtained so as to obtain a tensile strength value of at least 18 cN/Dtex and a creep value lower than 0.

Abstract: This invention relates to a fibrillar microstructure and processes for the manufacture thereof. These processes involve micromachining and molding, and can prepare sub-micron dimensioned fibrillar microstructures of any shape from polymeric as well as other materials.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for selecting a lowest bidding vendor from a plurality of vendors of a customized good or service, including receiving a set of vendor's attributes from each of the plurality of vendors representing their respective capabilities, and receiving an invitation-for-bid data from the buyer defining a custom job for which the buyer desires price quotes or bids. The vendor attributes or the invitation-for-bid, or both, are received through a web browser. The invitation-for-bid is compared to each of the vendor's attributes according to certain standard or optional selection criteria to generate a vendor selection pool of vendors qualified to bid on the job. Each vendor in the vendor selection pool receives a vendor's invitation-for-bid. A bid is received from at least one vendor in the vendor selection pool, the lowest price bid is identified, the buyer is informed of the identity of the selected vendor, and solicited for approval of the selected vendor.

Abstract: A carpet cushion has attached thereto or thereon a layer of polymer composition comprising, consisting essentially of, consisting of, or produced from a fatty acid-modified ionomer and optionally blended or coextruded with an ethylene-containing polymer wherein the ionomer comprises, consists essentially of, consists of, or is produced from an ethylene copolymer and a fatty acid.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for exchanging heat in a vapor compression heat transfer system. In particular, it relates to use of an intermediate heat exchanger to improve performance of a vapor compression heat transfer system utilizing a working fluid comprising at least one fluoroolefin. In addition, the present disclosure relates to a vapor compression heat transfer system comprising an intermediate heat exchanger in combination with a dual-row evaporator or a dual-row condenser, or both.

Abstract: An electro-optic assembly comprises an adhesive layer and a layer of electro-optic material. The adhesive layer comprises a polymeric adhesive material and an ionic material having either its cation or its anion fixed to the polymeric adhesive material. The ionic material reduces the volume resistivity of the polymeric adhesive material and is not removed upon heating to 50° C. In a similar electro-optic assembly comprising an adhesive layer and a layer of electro-optic material, the adhesive layer comprises a polymeric adhesive material which has been subjected to dialysis or diafiltration to remove organic species having a molecular weight less than about 3,500, so that the adhesive material has a content of N-methylpyrrolidone not exceeding 500 ppm based upon the total weight of the adhesive layer and layer of electro-optic material.

Abstract: A method for auditable tracking of a shipment is described. The method includes providing instructions for execution on a server and for execution on a mobile device. The instructions for execution on the server include at least one code segment configured to: receive a request from a shipper to ship a plurality of goods, receive logistics information from a logistics company in response to the request form the shipper, receive from the shipper a bill of lading (BOL), and receive from the logistics company data identifying a quantity of the plurality of goods that was delivered. The instructions for execution on the mobile device include at least one code segment configured to: enable a user to edit the BOL responsive to an inspection by the user of the delivered plurality of goods, and provide the edited BOL to the server, the shipper, and the logistics company.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a thick film conductive composition comprising: (a) electrically conductive silver powder; (b) zinc-containing additive; (c) glass frit wherein said glass frit is lead-free; dispersed in (d) organic medium. The present invention is further directed to an electrode formed from the composition above wherein said composition has been fired to remove the organic vehicle and sinter said glass particles. Still further, the invention is directed to a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device from a structural element composed of a semiconductor having a p-n junction and an insulating film formed on a main surface of the semiconductor comprising the steps of (a) applying onto said insulating film the thick film composition detailed above; and (b) firing said semiconductor, insulating film and thick film composition to form an electrode.

Abstract: Provided are polyurethane foams containing polytrimethylene ether segments derived from polytrimethylene ether glycols.

Abstract: A light-activatable polymer composition and polymer composite includes a polymer binder selected from epoxy resins, silica filled epoxy, bismaleimide resins, bismaleimide triazines, fluoropolymers, polyesters, polyphenylene oxide/polyphenylene ether resins, polybutadiene/polyisoprene crosslinkable resins (and copolymers), liquid crystal polymers, polyamides, cyanate esters, or combinations thereof, the polymer binder being present in an amount from 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 96, or 97 weight-percent of the total weight of the polymer composition; a spinel crystal filler present in an amount from 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55 and 60 weight-percent of the total weight of the polymer composition, and methods for making same are provided.