Abstract: An optical stack includes a first liquid crystal layer and a j-retarder disposed on the liquid crystal layer. The j-retarder includes a simultaneous biaxially stretched polymeric film being substantially non-absorbing and non-scattering for at least one polarization state of visible light. The j-retarder has x, y, and z orthogonal indices of refraction where at least two of the orthogonal indices of refraction are not equal, an in-plane retardance being 100 nm or less and an absolute value for an out-of-plane retardance being 55 nm or greater.

Abstract: An optical film includes a layer of simultaneous biaxially stretched polyolefin film that is substantially non-absorbing and non-scattering for at least one polarization state of visible light. The layer has x, y, and z orthogonal indices of refraction where at least two of the orthogonal indices of refraction are not equal. The layer has an in-plane retardance of 100 nm or less and an absolute value of an out-of-plane retardance being 55 nm or greater.

Abstract: A novel dual functioning excipient for metal chelate contrast agents is disclosed.

Abstract: A scanning system uses a multi-beam brush having a widely separated beams, a modulator that controls intensity of pixels in scan beams, an optical system that minimizes scan line bow at the expense of non-uniform scanning beam velocity, and a timing generator that generates a pixel clock signal having a variable period that compensates for the non-uniformity of pixel velocity. The wide separation of scan beams permits the modulator to turn beams on or off with a direction of brightening or darkening in the cross-section of the beams being opposite to the scanning direction. A novel arrangement of the beams in the brush permits a uniform indexing step size to uniformly expose an image region.

Abstract: Methods of making optical films having continuous phase/disperse phase morphology are disclosed which can control the nature of the disperse phase in such films to yield enhanced optical properties. When used in liquid crystal displays and the like, the films can increase the screen luminance beyond that achievable with known continuous phase/disperse phase optical films.

Abstract: A transportable system for separating materials in a waste stream. An arrangement of separation and grinding devices is mounted on a transportable platform. The devices are configured and arranged to produce three or more product streams from a plastic-rich feed mixture. One of the product streams is a coarse heavy stream, one stream is a ground plastic-rich product stream, and one stream is a ground light material stream. The system can be transported to a waste-goods location, operated to separate waste-goods, and relocated a new location.

Abstract: An optical film includes a layer of simultaneous biaxially stretched polyolefin film that is substantially non-absorbing and non-scattering for at least one polarization state of visible light. The layer has x, y, and z orthogonal indices of refraction where at least two of the orthogonal indices of refraction are not equal. The layer has an in-plane retardance of 100 nm or less and an out-of-plane retardance of 50 nm or greater.

Abstract: An optical stack includes a first liquid crystal layer and a j-retarder disposed on the liquid crystal layer. The j-retarder includes a simultaneous biaxally stretched polymeric film being substantially non-absorbing and non-scattering for at least one polarization state of visible light. The j-retarder has x, y, and z orthogonal indices of refraction where at least two of the orthogonal indices of refraction are not equal, an in-plane retardance being 100 nm or less and an out-of-plane retardance being 50 nm or greater.

Abstract: A process for making an optical film includes stretching a polyolefin film in a first direction and stretching the polyolefin film in a second direction different than the first direction forming a biaxially stretched polyolefin film. At least a portion of the stretching of the polyolefin film in the second direction occurs simultaneous with the stretching of the polyolefin film in the first direction. The biaxially stretched polyolefin film has a length and a width and substantially non-absorbing and non-scattering for at least one polarization state of visible light. The biaxially stretched polyolefin film has x, y, and z orthogonal indices of refraction where at least two of the orthogonal indices of refraction are not equal, an in-plane retardance being 100 nm or less and an out-of-plane retardance being 50 nm or greater.

Abstract: Echinacea dietary supplements are useful adjuvants for live anticoccidial vaccines. Feed supplementation with Echinacea preparations enhances the immune response to such vaccines. Echinacea purpurea in amounts of about 0.1% to 0.5% administered for about two weeks to day-old chicks has been found effective for providing significant weight gain compared to vaccination alone.

Abstract: A method for forming a display device including generating a face plate element by providing a first substrate with a photoactive resin thereon and exposing the photoactive resin to a light interference pattern formed by three collimated and coherent light sources, resulting in columnar features. A display device including an optical display element and a polymer face plate that receives or directs light to the optical display element. The face plate includes columnar areas where an index of refraction of the columnar areas is different from the index of refraction of a cladding area surrounding the columnar areas. The columnar areas are formed by exposure of a photoactive resin to a light interference pattern formed by three collimated and coherent light sources. A method of manufacturing a wave guide including providing a first substrate with a photoactive resin thereon and creating a wave guide channel in a wave guide template.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel methods and diagnostic kits for the objective measurement of the severity of pain or stress being experienced by a patient with a disorder, diagnosis and treatment for patients suffering from painful disorders, and monitoring the effectiveness of different pain-treatment protocols. Pain-measuring methods comprise collecting a sample from a patient and determining the presence of a pain-associated marker in the sample. Methods for alleviating pain comprise administrating a dose of a therapeutically effective amount of a composition to the patient wherein the dose is determined by the presence of a pain-associated marker in a biological sample obtained from the patient. Compositions for alleviating pain comprise substances that are pain-associated markers or agents that interfere with pain-associated markers, and block or modulate the progression of pain perceived by the patient.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring linear distances comprising a wheel to be rolled along a surface to be measured, wherein the wheel comprises a plurality of incremental line markers to facilitate measurement of selected intervals, and wherein the wheel is maintained within a housing dimensioned and configured to measure sizes and angles most often encountered during framing.

Abstract: An optical film is provided which comprises a disperse phase of polymeric particles disposed within a continuous birefringent matrix in combination with light directing materials to enable control of light emitted from a lighting fixture or display. The film is oriented, typically by stretching, in one or more directions. The size and shape of the disperse phase particles, the volume fraction of the disperse phase, the film thickness, and the amount of orientation are chosen to attain a desired degree of diffuse reflection and total transmission of electromagnetic radiation of a desired wavelength in the resulting film, and the light directing materials are chosen to control the direction of polarized light reflected from or transmitted by the optical film.

Abstract: An automatic coin machine having a redundant coin processing system with at least two coin processing mechanisms. The first or the active coin processing mechanism is initially set up to receive coins from a coin diverter which is in communication with a coin collection device. While the active coin processing mechanism is processing the coins received from the coin diverter, the inactive or the second coin processing mechanism can be serviced without affecting operation of the active coin processing mechanism. When the first coin processing mechanism becomes disabled, in need of service, or is otherwise idle, the coin diverter is switched from the first coin processing mechanism to the second coin processing mechanism, thus making the first coin processing mechanism inactive, and at the same time, making the second processing mechanism active.

Abstract: In a method of registering an image on a substrate, the substrate is placed on a substrate support and a radiation beam is directed toward the substrate. The radiation beam is reflectively diffracted to modulate the intensity of the radiation beam. The modulated radiation beam is scanned across the substrate to register an image on the substrate. In one version, the radiation beam is a laser beam which is projected onto a mask blank to form a mask.

Abstract: The present invention consists of an electrical communications device including a three-dimensional substrate and a plurality of electrical devices attached thereto. The substrate is preferably a dielectric. The electrical device is preferably of the sort needed to conduct high frequency communications, such as a microwave antenna and photonic receivers and transmitters. The electrical devices are attached to the substrate at the connection points described by the intersection of a series vias and one of the substrate surfaces. The electrical devices are attached to the substrate in numerous ways, including solder, flipped chip ball bonds, wire bonds, or a gold stud assembly. In particular, the gold stud assembly is utilized to attach the antenna to the substrate, thereby providing a predetermined air gap therebetween.

Abstract: A scanning system uses a multi-beam brush having a widely separated beams, a modulator that controls intensity of pixels in scan beams, an optical system that minimizes scan line bow at the expense of non-uniform scanning beam velocity, and a timing generator that generates a pixel clock signal having a variable period that compensates for the non-uniformity of pixel velocity. The wide separation of scan beams permits the modulator to turn beams on or off with a direction of brightening or darkening in the cross-section of the beams being opposite to the scanning direction. A novel arrangement of the beams in the brush permits a uniform indexing step size to uniformly expose an image region.

Abstract: An electron beam lithography system includes a laser for generating a laser beam, and a beam splitter for splitting the laser beam into a plurality of light beams. The intensity of the light beams is individually modulated. The light beams are of sufficient energy such that, when they impinge on a photocathode, electrons are emitted. Modulation of the light beams controls modulation of the resulting electron beams. The electron beams are provided to an electron column for focusing and scanning control. Finally, the electron beams are used to write a scanning surface, for example, using an interlaced writing strategy.

Abstract: A triggerable remote controller is disclosed which includes a trigger signal including a command, a GPS processor coupled to the trigger signal, a position signal carrying position information generated by the GPS processor in response to the trigger signal, a telemetry transmitter coupled to the position signal, a telemetry transmit signal transmitted by the telemetry transmitter, the telemetry transmit signal carrying the position information, a trigger signal controller coupled to the trigger signal, an actuator coupled to the trigger signal controller, the trigger signal controller being configured to attempt to activate the actuator depending on the command. A sensor may also be coupled to the trigger signal controller and the trigger signal controller may be configured to attempt to access the sensor. A GPS antenna embedded in a grommet-shaped housing is also disclosed.