Abstract: Improved methods of forming a patterned self-assembled monolayer on a surface and derivative articles are provided. According to one method, an elastomeric stamp is deformed during and/or prior to using the stamp to print a self-assembled molecular monolayer on a surface. According to another method, during monolayer printing the surface is contacted with a liquid that is immiscible with the molecular monolayer-forming species to effect controlled reactive spreading of the monolayer on the surface. Methods of printing self-assembled molecular monolayers on nonplanar surfaces and derivative articles are provided, as are methods of etching surfaces patterned with self-assembled monolayers, including methods of etching silicon. Optical elements including flexible diffraction gratings, mirrors, and lenses are provided, as are methods for forming optical devices and other articles using lithographic molding.

Abstract: The invention includes methods and systems for providing a multi-path common mode feedback loop in an amplifier system. Embodiments include techniques for dividing a common mode feedback current path to provide a slow common mode feedback current path and a fast common mode feedback current path. The slow and fast paths are configured for controlling common mode feedback current within a small bandwidth.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing oriented slit film tapes, comprising the following steps: extruding melt polymer through a die (2); simultaneous quenching and melt-drawing of the molten polymer in the cooling device to form a film sheet (3); slitting the initial film sheet into a plurality of relatively narrow slit film tapes (4); stretching (8) at elevated temperature, by passing the slit film tapes through a heating medium (7) at a temperature just below the softening temperature of the slit film tapes; y annealing and cooling the oriented slit film tapes (10, 11); winding the slit film tapes (13); characterized in that before the stretching step, it has a stage of pre-stretching (108) made by passing the slit film tapes through one set of heated holding rollers (107) turning at a given speed and one set of cooled pre-stretch rollers (109) turning faster than the heated holding rollers, wherein at least one of the rollers of the set of holding rollers is heated and at least one of the roller

Abstract: A method for quickly providing accurate data to a user includes creating a list of at least one subject characteristic, collecting subject data corresponding to the at least one subject characteristic in a clipboard application and accessing an integrated application interface requiring selected data from the subject data and entering the selected data in the integrated application.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and systems useful for quickly and accurately sampling a switched capacitive load. Systems are disclosed in which the methods are implemented using an operational amplifier operably coupled to a pre-charge capacitor for storing an input charge. A sampling capacitor is also coupled to the operational amplifier and to the pre-charge capacitor for receiving and holding the input charge. The system is so configured for a coarse sampling phase and a fine sampling phase the to ensure that the sampling capacitor settles quickly to provides an output.

Abstract: A device is provided to clean an object by positioning the surface of the object to be cleaned in contact with a cleaning medium comprising one or more liquids having a dielectric constant of from 1 to 200 and placed in an electric field in the range of from 103 V/m to 107 V/m wherein said device is capable of generating said electric field using an alternating voltage/current source, said device comprising at least two electrodes where one of the electrodes is at a higher potential than the other and said electrodes are spatially separated by a distance of 1 micron to 2 cm by an insulating material having a dielectric breakdown strength greater than the applied electric field.

Abstract: Structures and methods for forming the same. The method includes providing design information of a design layer. The design layer includes M original design features and N original dummy features. The method further includes (i) creating a cluster of P representative dummy features, P being a positive integer less than N, (ii) performing OPC for the cluster of the P representative dummy features but not for the N original dummy features, resulting in P OPC-applied representative dummy features, and (iii) forming the mask including N mask dummy features. The N mask dummy features are identical. Each mask dummy feature of the N mask dummy features of the mask has an area which is a function of at least an area of an OPC-applied representative dummy feature of the P OPC-applied representative dummy features. The N mask dummy features have the same relative positions as the N original dummy features.

Abstract: The invention provides a device for adhering cells in a specific and predetermined position, and associated methods. The device includes a plate defining a surface and a plurality of cytophilic islands that adhere cells, isolated by cytophobic regions to which cells do not adhere, contiguous with the cytophilic islands. The islands or the regions or both may be formed of a self-assembled monolayer (SAM).

Abstract: A camera acquires a 4D light field of a scene. The camera includes a lens and sensor. A mask is arranged in a straight optical path between the lens and the sensor. The mask including an attenuation pattern to spatially modulate the 4D light field acquired of the scene by the sensor. The pattern has a low spatial frequency when the mask is arranged near the lens, and a high spatial frequency when the mask is arranged near the sensor.

Abstract: A efficient and quick method and a computer-readable medium of sending messages. The method of sending a message comprises providing a shortcut with a corresponding message and recipient address, receiving a shortcut entry, determining whether the shortcut entry matches the shortcut, and sending the corresponding message to the corresponding recipient address when the shortcut entry matches the shortcut.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for the manufacture of sachets (1) in a plurality of lanes in a form fill and seal machine, one or more edges of said sachets comprising non-linear profiles (7) over at least 10% of the length of the edge, said sachets manufactured by a process comprising: (i) sealing two films (9,10) in the longitudinal direction to form a plurality of tubes parallel to each other; (ii) sealing the tubes along one end; (iii) filling the tubes with the desired material; (iv) sealing the tubes at the second end to form a plurality of sachets (1), and (v) punching out portions (8) of the sealed edges of the sachets to define the non-linear edges (7).

Abstract: Providing a search engine with system configuration information. The system configuration information pertains to a system having a web server that provides content. For example, the content may be web pages associated with a web site, and the system may include hardware and software used to provide the content of the web site to end users. More particularly, the system can include one or more computer systems, web server software, application server software, and application programs that facilitate providing content. A search engine requests system configuration information from the web server. In response to the request, the web server provides system configuration information to the search engine. The search engine can use the system configuration information to reference portions of the content in an index. The index can be used to respond to a search query that involves content served by the web server.

Abstract: A search engine stores different taxonomies that each specifies categories and relationships between the categories. When the search engine receives a request having a search query, the search engine determines which taxonomy, if any, it should use to generate a search engine results page. The search engine bases this determination upon information provided to it in the request, in one embodiment. For example, the search engine might select a taxonomy based on the particular environment from which the search query originated. However, the search engine can select the taxonomy based on other information, such as a role of the user. Thus, a medical researcher and a financial analyst for a particular corporation could receive search engine results pages that were generated with appropriate taxonomies for each of them.

Abstract: An administrator for an environment may access an administration console to provide configuration information to tailor a search engine results page (SERP) for users in that environment. The administrator specifies which particular position on a SERP is to be reserved for environment specific information. The administrator may specify environment specific content that goes into a particular position. Rather than providing the content itself, the administrator might provide information to derive the environment specific content that goes into a particular position. The configuration information may be stored such that it is available for a search engine to user to configure a SERP with environment specific information. However, another device such as a proxy that is interposed between a client that issued the search query and the search engine may configure the SERP with environment specific information.

Abstract: There is disclosed a microarray having base cleavable succinate linkers. The microarray has a solid surface with known locations, each having reactive hydroxyl groups. The density of the known locations is greater than approximately 100 locations per square centimeter. Amino moieties are attached to the reactive hydroxyl groups. Preferably the attachment is through a phosphorous-oxygen bond between the phosphorous of amino amidite moieties and the oxygen of the hydroxyl groups. Succinate moieties are attached to the amino moieties through amide bonds to form cleavable linkers attached to the microarray. Oligomers may be synthesis in situ onto the cleavable linkers and subsequently cleaved using a cleaving base. The cleaved oligomers are recoverable and include oligonucleotides.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for client-side federated search is provided. The user subscribes to a number of information providers, wherein a list of the information providers for the user is stored at a search engine. When the user at a client device submits a search query to the search engine, the search engine responds by sending general search results to the client device, along with search instructions that instruct the client device how to automatically initiate a search at information providers in which the user is interested. Without any further input from the user, the client device uses the search instructions to initiate searches at information providers in which the user is interested. When the client receives search results from the information providers, the client device displays the general search results concurrently with the information provider search results.

Abstract: A technique to route data according to a speculative priority. At least one embodiment detects a conflict among a number of data received by the router, assigns a speculative priority to one of the data in a first clock portion and sends the speculatively prioritized data to a receiving agent in a subsequent clock portion.

Abstract: A technique is provided for highlighting specific website information in a results page of a query that is submitted by a user. A plurality of webpages is identified that each satisfies the query. A subset of the plurality of webpages is identified based on Web activity of the user or another user in a group with which the user is associated. Data, including a plurality of references and particular instructions, is sent to the user. Each reference of the plurality of references corresponds to a separate webpage of the plurality of webpages. A particular subset of the plurality of references corresponds to the subset of the plurality of webpages. The particular instructions cause each reference of the particular subset, when displayed, to be visually distinguished from references that are not in the subset.

Abstract: A method of managing a plurality of computing resources including obtaining a first load threshold and a second load threshold, obtaining a first load value and a second load value, comparing the first load threshold and the second load threshold with the first load value and the second load value, and changing an operating mode of a resource of the plurality of computing resources when both the first load threshold and the second load threshold are between the first load value and the second load value.

Abstract: A method for performance analysis of a system may include capturing data including callee stack information and persisting the callee stack information in a form that can be queried. The method may also include generating a performance analysis report in response to a query.