Abstract: An apparatus, system and method for grinding or polishing an optic is provided. The apparatus includes a shell adapted to a bending profile, torque actuators attached at an outer edge of the shell and coupled to each other, a tensioning system attached at the outer edge of the shell, and a control system for computing the bending profile and controlling the torque actuators and tensioning system. The torque actuators and tensioning system apply bending moments to the edge of the shell to adapt the shell according to the bending profile provided by the control system. A calibration system further corrects errors in a measured bending profile.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for making cylindrical glass preforms with convex, optical quality convex end surfaces is taught. A glass ball preform is placed on a heated lower platen. The temperature of the glass ball preform is raised to a temperature above the glass transition temperature of the glass ball preform. The glass ball preform is engaged with an upper platen. At least one of the upper platen and the lower platen is moved vertically to cause the gap between the upper platen and the lower platen to narrow to a predetermined dimension. Simultaneously, at least one of the upper platen and the lower platen is moved horizontally relative to the other platen to cause the glass ball preform to roll between the upper platen and the lower platen and form a cylindrical preform having a predetermined diameter, the cylindrical preform having convex, optical quality end surfaces.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for making cylindrical glass preforms with convex, optical quality convex end surfaces is taught. A glass ball preform is placed on a heated lower platen. The temperature of the glass ball preform is raised to a temperature above the glass transition temperature of the glass ball preform. The glass ball preform is engaged with an upper platen. At least one of the upper platen and the lower platen is moved vertically to cause the gap between the upper platen and the lower platen to narrow to a predetermined dimension. Simultaneously, at least one of the upper platen and the lower platen is moved horizontally relative to the other platen to cause the glass ball preform to roll between the upper platen and the lower platen and form a cylindrical preform having a predetermined diameter, the cylindrical preform having convex, optical quality end surfaces.

Abstract: Provided are methods of inhibiting bile acid uptake from the gastrointestinal system and reducing blood serum cholesterol by administering to a mammal, such as a human, an effective amount of particles comprising amphiphilic copolymers, having a crosslinked shell domain and an interior core domain.

Abstract: Compositions of exogenous chemicals, particularly phloem-mobile exogenous chemicals, are provided for treatment of plants, wherein the composition comprises the exogenous chemical and an enhancing agent consisting of an anthraquinone or substituted anthraquinone. Specific compositions contain herbicides, particularly N-phosphonomethylglycine and herbicidal derivatives thereof, i.e., glyphosate. The compositions exhibit enhanced effectiveness compared to compositions in which the enhancing agent is not present. Also provided are processes for applying an exogenous chemical with an anthraquinone or substituted anthraquinone enhancing agent to achieve enhanced biological effectiveness.

Abstract: A novel method is provided wherein plants are first treated with an exogenous chemical (e.g., glyphosate herbicide) and then sequentially treated with a liquid accession agent which provides improved biological (e.g., herbicidal) effectiveness such that plants are controlled with lower rates of the applied exogenous chemical (e.g., glyphosate herbicide). Sequential application has been demonstrated to reduce the antagonism to herbicidal effectiveness that can be exhibited when the accession agent is added to a herbicide in a tank mix or simple coformulation. Typical accession agents employed in the disclosed method include a class of surfactants known as superwetting agents, such as certain organosilicone-based and fluorocarbon-based surfactants.

Abstract: A printing apparatus having a fixed focal point for a recording medium to which the printing apparatus writes, the apparatus comprises a rotor; an intensity-modulated light source adapted to emit a light beam along an optical path; a platform having three variably positioned ball feet to which platform the light source is fixed for maintaining the positional relationship of the light source in relation to the focal point; a plate having three grooves attached to the printing apparatus which cooperatively receives the ball feet; and a housing that receives the plate and platform and cooperatively attaches to the rotatable rotor to move the light source for scanning the light beam along the recording medium, for permitting removal and replacement of the light source in a precise fashion.

Abstract: There is provided a new method of use of secondary or tertiary alcohol surfactants to enhance the efficacy and/or rainfastness of foliar-applied pesticidal and plant growth modifying agents. More specifically, there are provided new and useful compositions of such agents, in particular the herbicide N-phosphonomethylglycine or its salts or mixtures thereof, containing such efficacy-enhancing or rainfastness-enhancing surfactants.

Abstract: A novel herbicidal method is provided wherein plants are first treated with a glyphosate herbicide and then sequentially treated with a liquid accession agent which provides improved herbicidal effectiveness such that plants are controlled with lower rates of the applied herbicide. Sequential application has been demonstrated to reduce the antagonism to herbicidal effectiveness that may be exhibited when the accession agent is added to the herbicide in a tank mix or coformulation. Typical accession agents employed in the disclosed method include a class of surfactants known as superwetting agents, such as certain silicone-based and fluorocarbon-based surfactants.

Abstract: Alcohol surfactants such as ethoxylated Guerbet alcohol, are added to composition containing other surfactants to enhance the efficacy and/or rainfastness of herbicidal compositions containing glyphosate or its salts. They compositions of the invention may be in the form of concentrated compositions that are storage stable and water soluble or diluted solutions that can be directly applied to foliage.