Abstract: A liquid crystal formulation is described. The liquid crystal formulation comprises a first oligosiloxane-modified nano-phase segregating liquid crystalline material; and at least one additional material selected from a second oligosiloxane-modified nano-phase segregating liquid crystalline material, non-liquid crystalline oligosiloxane-modified materials, organic liquid crystalline materials, or non-liquid crystalline materials, wherein the liquid crystal formulation has an I?SmA*?SmC* phase transition, with a SmC* temperature range from about 15° C. to about 35° C., a tilt angle of about 22.5°±6° or about 45°±6°, a spontaneous polarization of less than about 50 nC/cm2., and a rotational viscosity of less than about 600 cP. Devices containing liquid crystal formulations are also described.

Abstract: A liquid crystal formulation is described. The liquid crystal formulation comprises a first oligosiloxane-modified nano-phase segregating liquid crystalline material; and at least one additional material selected from a second oligosiloxane-modified nano-phase segregating liquid crystalline material, non-liquid crystalline oligosiloxane-modified materials, organic liquid crystalline materials, or organic non-liquid crystalline materials, wherein the liquid crystal formulation is nano-phase segregated in the SmC* phase, has an I?SmC* phase transition, with a SmC* temperature range from about 15° C. to about 35° C., has a tilt angle of about 22.5°±6° or about 45°±6°, and has a spontaneous polarization of less than about 50 nC/cm2, and a rotational viscosity of less than about 600 cP. Devices containing liquid crystal formulations are also described.

Abstract: A MEMS device comprises a membrane layer and a back-plate layer formed over the membrane layer. The membrane layer comprises an outer portion and an inner portion raised relative to the outer portion and a sidewall for connecting the inner portion and the outer portion. The sidewall is non-orthogonal to the outer portion.

Abstract: Methods and systems consistent with embodiments of the present invention provide flexible analysis of a portfolio of intellectual property (IP) assets. IP assets may include, for example, granted patents, registered trademarks, copyrights, patent applications, trademark applications, etc. Analysis consistent with the present invention may include, for example, forecasting worldwide cost estimates for a portfolio of IP assets. An IP portfolio may consist of one or more families of assets. For example, a patent family may include granted patents and related patent applications filed in countries and regional patent offices around the world. Furthermore, IP assets may be categorized into groups. For example, IP assets may be grouped by technology group, company division, patent manager, etc. In certain embodiments, an IP asset may be part of several groups.

Abstract: A liquid crystal electro-optic device. The liquid crystal electro-optic device comprises at least one liquid crystal cell comprising: a pair of substrates having a gap therebetween; a pair of electrodes, the pair of electrodes positioned on one of the substrates or one electrode positioned on each substrate; and a ferroelectric, oligosiloxane liquid crystal material disposed in the gap between the pair of substrates, the ferroelectric, oligosiloxane liquid crystal material exhibiting an I-? SmC* phase sequence wherein the liquid crystal electro-optic device is bistable in operation. The invention also involves a method for making a liquid crystal electro-optic device.

Abstract: A clock distribution mechanism for circuit emulation applications, and related method, including one or more of the following: a plurality of digitally controlled oscillators, each of the plurality of digitally controlled oscillators receiving one or more Ethernet packets and generating a recovered clock from the one or more Ethernet packets; a multiplexer for receiving the recovered clocks generated by the plurality of digitally controlled oscillators, selecting a one of the recovered clocks generated by the plurality of digitally controlled oscillators, and outputting the selected one of the recovered clocks; a normalizer that receives a frequency of the selected one of the recovered clocks and generates a normalized frequency output based on the received frequency of the selected one of the recovered clocks and outputs the normalized frequency output; a clock source selector for receiving a plurality of input clock sources, one of the input clock sources being the normalized frequency output of the normali

Abstract: A system and method for dynamic frequency adjustment for interoperability of differential clock recovery, including one or more of the following: a frequency generator for receiving a frequency reference clock signal and generating a plurality of frequency signals by operating on the frequency reference clock signal, the plurality of frequencies signals being output from the frequency generator and each having a different frequency; a flexible distributor for receiving the plurality of frequency signals from the frequency generator and selecting ones of said plurality of frequency signals and transmitting said selected ones of said plurality of frequency signals; and a plurality of differential units, each for receiving one of said selected ones of said plurality of frequency signals, each for applying a differential signal to said selected ones of said plurality of frequency signals, and each for adding time stamps to the selected ones of said plurality of frequency signals and outputting respective time sta

Abstract: A liquid crystal structure (200) comprising first and second reflective regions (214a, 214b, 214c) arranged to reflect respective first and second colours. The first and second reflective regions (214a, 214b, 214c) are disposed transversely to the direction of reflection (R). Each region includes a reflective back area and a selector (210) controllable to control light reflected from the region. Furthermore, a controllable reflector (212) is superposed over the reflective region in the direction of reflection (R) and controllable to transmit or scatter incident light.

Abstract: An auction methodology wherein individual demands are bid in lots and an aggregation of several lots is then run as an individual lot to determine if the buyer can attract a lower price offering from bidders by selecting to award the total volume of all of the individual lots to one bidder. A bidder-specific transformation factor for the aggregate lot is computed by combining selected transformed values (one for each lot) that take into account that bidder's price offerings for individual lots and the buyer-specified transformation factors for that bidder. Each bidder is then invited to bid a discount percentage for the aggregate lot. This discount percentage is then used along with the bidder-specific transformation factor to generate that bidder's transformed value for the aggregate lot. The bidder with the lowest transformed value for the aggregate lot may be selected as the winning bidder.

Abstract: An auction methodology wherein individual demands are bid in lots and an aggregation of several lots is then run as an individual lot to determine if the buyer can attract a lower price offering from bidders by selecting to award the total volume of all of the individual lots to one bidder. A bidder-specific transformation factor for the aggregate lot is computed by combining selected transformed values (one for each lot) that take into account that bidder's price offerings for individual lots and the buyer-specified transformation factors for that bidder. Each bidder is then invited to bid a discount percentage for the aggregate lot. This discount percentage is then used along with the bidder-specific transformation factor to generate that bidder's transformed value for the aggregate lot. The bidder with the lowest transformed value for the aggregate lot may be selected as the winning bidder.

Abstract: An auction is conducted by obtaining, from a buyer, information associated with a product to be purchased using an auction, where the buyer purchases the product from a winning bidder. The obtained information associated with the product is made available to at least a first bidder and a second bidder. A first bid that includes a first price and a first non-price information is received from the first bidder. A second bid that includes a second price and a second non-price information is received, from the second bidder. Non-price information is associated with (1) a description of a particular product a given bidder will provide in the event the given bidder wins the auction and/or (2) delivery of a product by the given bidder in the event the given bidder wins the auction. A first comparison value is generated based at least in part on the first price and the first non-price information. A second comparison value is generated based at least in part on the second price and the second non-price information.

Abstract: A method and system for conducting electronic auctions is described. A dynamic lot closing extension feature avoids collisions in closing times of multiple lots by dynamically extending the closing time of a subsequent lot if a preceding lot's closing time is extended to be too close to the subsequent lot's then-currently scheduled closing time. Scheduled closing times can be extended with a flexible overtime feature, in which the properties of the event triggering the extension and the duration of the overtime period(s) can be tailored to a particular auction, particular lots of products within an auction, and to the particular time within an auction process. The bidding status of a lot can be set to a “pending” status after the nominal closing time for submission of bids to allow bidders to alert the auction coordinator of technical problems in submission of bids. This allows the possibility for a lot to be return to open status for further bidding by all bidders.

Abstract: The present invention relates to transferrin-binding molecules, particularly peptides, that can (a) bind to regions of transferrin that are recognized by a bacterial transferrin binding protein, and (b) elicit antibodies specifically recognizing the transferrin binding protein. Also provides are compositions, pharmaceutical compositions, and particularly vaccines comprising the molecules, as well as antibodies against the molecules. The molecules can be used to prevent or treat bacterial infections.

Abstract: The package is closed by a lid and it is fitted with a valve fixed over an opening zone of section greater than 10 mm2, and preferably lying in the range 30 mm2 to 50 mm2, leading to the inside of the package and formed through said lid. This opening zone is either an orifice formed through a flat lid, or else a hollow chamber itself pierced by a vent orifice of small size. The valve comprises solely a flexible sheet extending over the opening zone together with a sealing compound disposed between the flexible sheet and the lid. The sealing compound is solid at ambient temperature and it passes to a non-sticky liquid state when its temperature is raised. During heat treatment, the valve opens and closes in a succession of venting sequences.

Abstract: Novel transferrin binding proteins from Pasteurella haemolytica, and nucleic acid molecules encoding the novel proteins are disclosed. Antibodies against the novel proteins are disclosed. The invention also relates to vaccines containing the novel proteins of the invention. The invention also provides methods for identifying substances which affect the binding of transferrin to the proteins and methods for screening for agonists or antagonists of the binding of the proteins and transferrin.

Abstract: A method of attaching a clamping jaw to a support element comprising a stop element having the steps of positioning a stop element within a channel formed in the clamping jaw and blocking a first end of the channel and a second end of the channel so that the stop element is trapped between the first and second ends of the channel.

Abstract: A display device includes a shutter layer of liquid-crystal material arranged in cells to shutter input light selectively, a cover layer 5 on the shutter layer, and a set of phosphors 7 on the cover layer, corresponding to the cells, to be activated by the input light and provide the display image. To prevent crosstalk the active cell areas 10 defined by the electrode overlaps are smaller than the corresponding phosphors. This prevents crosstalk between cells even when input light that is not fully collimated is used and also allows space for thicker and/or broader electrodes 12 leading to the cells, reducing resistance, and for other components such as TFTs.

Abstract: For distributing stock evenly across the face of a tube bank in a papermaking machine, the stock supply header has an increasing change in cross-sectional area per unit width traveling from the inlet end to the recirculation end of the header. The header top wall converges toward the bottom wall, while the rear wall converges toward the front wall. The change in cross-sectional area down the header from the inlet end to the recirculation end is thus closely matched to an ideally parabolic shape.