Abstract: An optical display device includes a coherent light source generating a coherent light beam in visible, ultraviolet, or infrared ranges. The coherent light beam is directed at a liquid crystal component. A plurality of liquid crystals and a plurality of nanoparticles having an average diameter of ?about 450 nm are disposed in an interior compartment. An electrical source is in electrical communication with the first and the second electrodes. When no voltage or current is applied, a filtered light beam transmitted or reflected from the liquid crystal component exhibits a first speckle contrast ?about 0.28. When voltage or current is applied, the microparticles are induced to move and the filtered light beam has a second speckle contrast that is ?about 0.2 and in certain aspects may be ?about 0.03. A method of reducing speckle in an optical device having a coherent light source is also provided.

Abstract: An optical display device includes a coherent light source generating a coherent light beam in visible, ultraviolet, or infrared ranges. The coherent light beam is directed at a liquid crystal component. A plurality of liquid crystals and a plurality of nanoparticles having an average diameter of ?about 450 nm are disposed in an interior compartment. An electrical source is in electrical communication with the first and the second electrodes. When no voltage or current is applied, a filtered light beam transmitted or reflected from the liquid crystal component exhibits a first speckle contrast ?about 0.28. When voltage or current is applied, the microparticles are induced to move and the filtered light beam has a second speckle contrast that is ?about 0.2 and in certain aspects may be ?about 0.03. A method of reducing speckle in an optical device having a coherent light source is also provided.

Abstract: An optical device (e.g., display device) includes a coherent light source generating a coherent light beam in a visible, ultraviolet, or infrared range. The coherent light beam is directed at a liquid crystal component. A plurality of liquid crystals and a plurality of microparticles having an average diameter of ?about 450 nm to ?about 20 micrometers (?m) are disposed in an interior compartment. An electrical source is in electrical communication with the first and the second electrodes. When no voltage or current is applied, a filtered light beam transmitted or reflected from the liquid crystal component exhibits a first speckle contrast ?about 0.6. When voltage or current is applied, the microparticles are induced to move and the filtered light beam has a second speckle contrast that is ?about 0.6. A method of reducing speckle in an optical device having a coherent light source is also provided.

Abstract: A security document includes a substrate, and an imaging thermal coating on at least a portion of the surface of the substrate for thermal printing on the security document. The imaging thermal coating is soluble in one or more solvents. A warning message is printed on the substrate in an ink which is substantially insoluble in the one or more solvents. An obscuring coating on the substrate covers the warning message such that the warning message is not apparent to an observer. The obscuring coating is soluble in the one or more solvents, such that the obscuring coating is removed from the substrate if the document is subjected to washing with the one or more solvents to remove printed images on the imaging thermal coating. By this arrangement, an attempt to alter the security document by washing the security document with the one or more solvents is made apparent.

Abstract: In general terms, embodiments of the present invention relate to methods and apparatuses for providing a service participation acknowledgment mechanism at a transaction machine.

Abstract: A security document includes a substrate, and an imaging thermal coating on at least a portion of the surface of the substrate for thermal printing on the security document. The imaging thermal coating is soluble in one or more solvents. A warning message is printed on the substrate in an ink which is substantially insoluble in the one or more solvents. An obscuring coating on the substrate covers the warning message such that the warning message is not apparent to an observer. The obscuring coating is soluble in the one or more solvents, such that the obscuring coating is removed from the substrate if the document is subjected to washing with the one or more solvents to remove printed images on the imaging thermal coating. By this arrangement, an attempt to alter the security document by washing the security document with the one or more solvents is made apparent.

Abstract: The present invention relates to mixtures comprising, as active components ethephon and saflufenacil or cyclanilide and saflufenacil and to a method for defoliating, desiccating or ripening cultivated plants using such mixtures and to the use of ethephon and saflufenacil or of cyclanilide and saflufenacil for preparing such mixtures, and to compositions comprising these mixtures.

Abstract: In general terms, embodiments of the present invention relate to methods and apparatuses for prepaying, covering, avoiding, negating, and/or otherwise offsetting future account discrepancy assessments.

Abstract: In general terms, embodiments of the present invention relate to methods and apparatuses for prepaying, covering, avoiding, negating, and/or otherwise offsetting future overage fees. For example, in some embodiments, a method is provided that includes: (a) receiving one or more payments for offsetting one or more future overage fees, where the one or more payments are associated with an account; (b) receiving transaction information associated with a transaction, where the transaction involves the account, and where the transaction is initiated after the receiving the one or more payments; (c) determining, based at least partially on the transaction information, that the account will incur an overage as a result of the transaction; (d) determining that the one or more payments are sufficient to offset an overage fee associated with the overage; and (e) authorizing the transaction based at least partially on the determining that the one or more payments are sufficient.

Abstract: A display device includes a piezoelectric layer. First electrically conductive electrodes are disposed on both sides of the piezoelectric layer. A bistable liquid crystal layer is disposed adjacent the piezoelectric layer. Second electrically conductive electrodes are disposed on both sides of the liquid crystal layer. The liquid crystal layer can be addressed by electrically addressing the piezoelectric layer causing the piezoelectric layer to move into contact with the liquid crystal layer, changing the brightness of pixels of the liquid crystal layer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of 3-phenyluracils of formula (I) wherein the variables R1 to R7 are as defined in the description, optionally in combination with glyphosate, optionally in combination with harvest aids C for desiccating or defoliating glyphosate resistant crops.

Abstract: Novel nanoscale discotic liquid crystalline porphyrins, methods for their preparation, and device fabrication are disclosed. These compounds are capable of being used as high-efficiency photovoltaic materials, organic semiconducting materials, and organic light emitting materials.

Abstract: Novel nanoscale discotic liquid crystalline porphyrins, methods for their preparation, and device fabrication are disclosed. These compounds are capable of being used as high-efficiency photovoltaic materials, organic semiconducting materials, and organic light emitting materials.

Abstract: The present invention relates to mixtures comprising a) a compound of the formula I in which X, m, Q and a are as defined in the description and b) one or more ethylene modulators (II) selected from the group consisting of: inhibitors of ethylene biosynthesis which inhibit the conversion of S-adenosyl-L-methionine into 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC), inhibitors of ethylene biosynthesis which block the conversion of ACC into ethylene, or inhibitors of ethylene action, and also to compositions comprising them and to their use for controlling harmful fungi.