Abstract: A method and system are presented for use in characterizing properties of an article having a structure comprising a multiplicity of sites comprising different periodic patterns, where method includes providing a theoretical model of prediction indicative of optical properties of different stacks defined by geometrical and material parameters of corresponding sites, said sites being common in at least one of geometrical parameter and material parameter; performing optical measurements on at least two different stacks of the article and generating optical measured data indicative of the geometrical parameters and material composition parameters for each of the measured stacks; processing the optical measured data, said processing comprising simultaneously fitting said optical measured data for the multiple measured stacks with said theoretical model and extracting said at least one common parameter, thereby enabling to characterize the properties of the multi-layer structure within the single article.

Abstract: A process control system is provided for use with a processing tool for thin film patterning by a material removal processing system. The system includes an optical end-point detector operable within a working area defined by the processing tool when the processing tool is applied to an article, the optical end-point detector performing in-situ measurements of parameters of patterned thin film on the article. An optical integrated monitoring tool is installed with the processing tool and operable outside the working area for measuring parameters of the patterned thin film on the article. A control unit is connected to the end-point detector and to the integrated monitoring tool, and includes processing and computational intelligence responsive to data received from the end-point detector and to the measured data received from the integrated monitoring tool for analyzing data and generating a signal for terminating the patterning of the thin film on the article.

Abstract: Helical wire heating coil assemblies and methods of assembling helical heating coil assemblies are provided. In one example, a helical wire heating coil assembly includes first and second support frames that are detachably coupled together by a first plurality of insulating standoffs coupled to the first support frame, a second plurality of insulating standoffs coupled to the second support frame, and a helical wire heating coil coupled to both the first plurality of insulating standoffs and the second plurality of insulating standoffs.

Abstract: A collapsible, portable container having a roof, a base, two foldable end walls and two removable side walls. The end walls and side walls of the container are load bearing elements having a twinned wall structure made of rotomolded plastic. The container is collapsed by removing the side walls and inwardly folding the end walls to draw the roof closer to the base. The load bearing capacity of the end walls and the side walls can be increased by arched indentations formed within the twinned wall structure.

Abstract: The present invention provides a continuous process for the oxidative dehydrogenation of ethane to ethylene using a mixed oxide catalyst supported onto a ceramic membrane by supplying an oxygen containing gas (air or pure oxygen) and pure ethane to the opposite sides of the membrane, so that the paraffin and the oxygen do not directly mix in the reactor.

Abstract: A dual reactor solution process gives high density polyethylene compositions containing a first ethylene copolymer and a second ethylene copolymer and which have good processability, toughness, and environmental stress crack resistance combined with good organoleptic properties. The polyethylene compositions are suitable for compression molding or injection molding applications and are particularly useful in the manufacture of caps and closures for bottles.

Abstract: A highly active, supported phosphinimine catalyst is fed to a gas phase reactor as a slurry in a liquid hydrocarbon. Feeding the catalyst to a gas phase reactor in a viscous liquid hydrocarbon modifies catalyst initiation kinetics.

Abstract: New sensors and different embodiments of multi-channel integrated circuit are provided. The new high energy and spatial resolution sensors use both solid state and scintillator detectors. Each channel of the readout chip employs low noise charge sensitive preamplifier(s) at its input followed by other circuitry. The different embodiments of the sensors and the integrated circuit are designed to produce high energy and/or spatial resolution two-dimensional and three-dimensional imaging for widely different applications. Some of these applications may require fast data acquisition, some others may need ultra high energy resolution, and a separate portion may require very high contrast. The embodiments described herein addresses all these issues and also other issues that may be useful in two and three dimensional medical and industrial imaging.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and process for detection and/or qualitative and quantitative identification of the biological material, such as specific sequences of nucleic acids or proteins as antibodies, present in biological samples. The system is composed by one or more light sources (1) combined with one or more integrated optical photo sensors, or not, and various electronic components (4), necessary for obtaining/processing of the signal emitted by the metal nanoprobes functionalized with a solution of biological composite, as well as also a micro-controller and a microprocessor, fixed or portable. This photosensor structure is able to detect and to quantify the color variations produced by metal nanoprobes, being this preferentially gold, functionalized by oligonucleotides complementary to specific DNA/RNA sequences, proteins, as for instance antibodies and/or antigens related with certain disease, or other sample or solution of biological composite, that are to be investigated.

Abstract: A conventional polymer is grafted from a plasma polymer layer provided at a substrate surface by radical polymerisation initiated from plasma induced radicals present at or in the plasma polymer, particularly radicals provided during deposition of the plasma polymer.

Abstract: Offers for goods or services are targeted more efficiently to potential consumers by using a loyalty graph having nodes that correspond to users and edges that correspond to relationships between the users. The offers are transmitted to only superusers, corresponding to supernodes in the loyalty graph. By targeting only the superusers, the number of invitations transmitted as part of the promotion is reduced. The superusers are determined by calculating a weighted score for each node. Each weighted score corresponds to a number of directed connections between a node and its leaf nodes, with the supernodes determined as the subset of nodes having a weighted sum above a pre-determined threshold. After identifying superusers, subgraphs can be generated corresponding to each superuser. The subgraphs can be selected according to different criteria. In this way, promotions can be targeted to superusers in only selected subgraphs or to all the users in selected subgraphs.

Abstract: Alignment of layers during manufacture of a multi-layer sample is controlled by applying optical measurements to a measurement site in the sample. The measurement site includes two diffractive structures located one above the other in two different layers, respectively. The optical measurements include at least two measurements with different polarization states of incident light, each measurement including illuminating the measurement site so as to illuminate one of the diffractive structures through the other. The diffraction properties of the measurement site are indicative of a lateral shift between the diffractive structures. The diffraction properties detected are analyzed for the different polarization states of the incident light to determine an existing lateral shift between the layers.

Abstract: A new and distinct form of Acanthus plant characterized by variegated leaves and excellent vigor.

Abstract: A new and distinct Gaillardia plant named ‘Red Sun’ characterized by a very compact habit, ray florets of dark red tipped with orange, overlapping ray florets in multiple layers, and excellent vigor.

Abstract: A new and distinct Echinacea plant named ‘Secret Pride’ characterized by white ray florets, enlarged light yellow disc florets forming an anemone-type inflorescence, compact habit with multiple crowns, and excellent vigor.

Abstract: A new and distinct Echinacea plant named ‘Aloha’ characterized by large yellow orange to cream inflorescences, broad, overlapping ray florets, a strong, upright, short habit, strong, well branched stems, and excellent vigor.

Abstract: A new and distinct Echinacea plant named ‘Leilani’ characterized by large yellow inflorescences, a short habit with good branching, a narrow, upright habit, strong stems, and excellent vigor.

Abstract: A new and distinct Heuchera plant characterized by leaves which are lime green with red to dark centers in the spring, with centers lightening with age and warmer conditions, medium large, round leaves, creamy white flowers on short flowering stems, medium, mounding habit, and good vigor.

Abstract: A new and distinct Gaillardia plant named ‘TNSF’ characterized by a very compact habit, tubular ray florets of yellow orange with dark red bases, and excellent vigor.

Abstract: A new and distinct Heuchera plant substantially as shown and described, characterized by very ruffled leaves, yellow spring leaf color, lime green summer leaves, compact plant size, and short flowering stalks with small white flowers.