Abstract: The present invention provides novel microfluidic devices and methods that are useful for performing high-throughput screening assays. In particular, the devices and methods of the invention are useful in screening large numbers of different compounds for their effects on a variety of chemical, and preferably, biochemical systems.

Abstract: The entire right, title and interest in and to this application and all subject matter disclosed and/or claimed therein, including any and all divisions, continuations, reissues, etc., thereof are, effective as of the date of execution of this application, assigned, transferred, sold and set over by the applicant(s) named herein to Deere & Company, a Delaware corporation having offices at Moline, Ill. 61265, U.S.A., together with all rights to file, and to claim priorities in connection with, corresponding patent applications in any and all foreign countries in the name of Deere & Company or otherwise.

Abstract: A method to ensure the quality of preferred communication services, a local network, a station, a local network controller and a program module therefor The invention relates to a method to ensure the quality of preferred (communications) services, especially voice services, in a local data network with different types of services, where data congestion or data collision on a shared transmission medium is treated by a collision detection method and by application of re-transmission rules after detection of data collisions, wherein depending on the type of service, the corresponding data packets are subject to different re-transmission rules and wherein the different re-transmission rules each define a set of different parameters for an algorithm to randomly calculate the backoff time, that a station has to wait after a collision detection, before it re-transmits a data packet affected by the collision, the different sets of parameters comprising each at least the mean of said backoff time, as well as to a loc

Abstract: A process for the manufacture of a tire the beads of which are without anchoring bead wires and are reinforced by complexes of layers of reinforcement elements of low angle, around which complexes the radial carcass reinforcement is anchored by winding, said process being characterized in that each complex is produced independently of the carcass reinforcement blank, the manufacture of said complex including using at least one raw blank of reinforcement elements which are oriented at a higher angle than the angle to be obtained in the vulcanized state, subjecting said ply to pre-extension before formation of a two-layer sleeve, the pitch, angle and width characteristics of which are obtained by pantograph effect upon a second extension.

Abstract: The invention concerns a polyester bearing tertiary carboxyl groups, characterised in that it consists of: (a) 8.1 to 35 moles of an aliphatic or cycloaliphatic of a polyol; (b) 9.1 to 36 moles of an aliphatic, cycloaliphatic or aromatic polycarboxylic acid; (c) 1.6 to 2.8 moles of an aliphatic, cycloaliphatic or aromatic compound comprising a tertiary carboxyl group and either a primary or secondary carboxyl group, or a primary or secondary hydroxyl group. Said polyester is prepared in several steps, the first steps consisting in the preparation of a polyester by condensation between (a) an aliphatic or cycloaliphatic polyol, and (b) an aliphatic, cycloaliphatic or aromatic polycarboxylic acid, the final step consisting in condensing said polyester with (c) an aliphatic, cycloaliphatic or aromatic compound comprising a tertiary carboxyl group and either a primary or secondary carboxyl group, or a primary or secondary hydroxyl group.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a connector for an electrical appliance, the connector comprising a housing supporting at least a pair of male pins designed to be electrically connected to conductive wires of a female socket, and a power cable. In the invention, said connector carries fixing means for fixing the power cable, which fixing means are suitable for receiving at least one of said male pins when the connector is in a storage position. Application in particular to mobile-telephone chargers.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to novel polypeptides and to nucleic acid molecules encoding those polypeptides. Also provided herein are vectors and host cells comprising those nucleic acid sequences, chimeric polypeptide molecules comprising the polypeptides of the present invention fused to heterologous polypeptide sequences, antibodies which bind to the polypeptides of the present invention and to methods for producing the polypeptides of the present invention.

Abstract: The present invention is a chemical compound of formula (I) 1

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for the preparation of a diene elastomer having a reduced amount of vinyl linkages, by anionic polymerization of one or more monomers comprising at least one conjugated diene monomer. The process for preparing the diene elastomer having a reduced amount of vinyl linkages comprises anionically polymerizing one or more monomers comprising at least one conjugated diene monomer in a polymerization medium comprising a hydrocarbon solvent, a polar agent comprising one or more heteroatoms and a monolitiated or polylithiated organolithiated initiator, wherein an organometallic complex of the formula LiAl(R)3 (R′), in which Li is a lithium atom, Al is an aluminum atom, and R and R′ are each an alkyl, cycloalkyl or aryl group, is added to the polymerization medium to produce the diene elastomer having a reduced amount of vinyl linkages.

Abstract: A interconnection circuit includes a dielectric plane having conductors fabricated from copper disposed on each side of the dielectric plane. An opening known as a via disposed through the dielectric plane includes a conductive link between the conductors disposed on either side of the dielectric plane. The conductive link includes a first layer fabricated from copper and a second layer of Nickel disposed over the copper layer to strengthen the first layer and prevent fractures known as barrel cracks in the conductive link. A third layer composed of Gold is deposited over the second layer to protect the second layer of Nickel from corrosion. In another embodiment of the subject invention the third layer is composed of an easily cleaned or removed metal and a coating of Gold is deposited in specific discrete locations to facilitate wire bonding or soldering.

Abstract: A kit provides improved use of a consumer product by including a consumer product composition and a hand-held conductivity meter calibrated to the consumer product composition. The hand-held conductivity meter has a user-perceivable indicator which is used to indicate when a consumer product solution formed with the cleaning composition has the appropriate concentration of cleaning composition. A method of use employs the hand-held conductivity meter to measure the conductivity of a consumer product solution.

Abstract: A cosmetic container comprising an extruded metal sleeve and at least one plastics part inserted in the sleeve. The plastics part may take the form of a plastics end and/or an insert to ensure smooth engagement between the parts of the container. The extruded sleeve is manufactured by forming a long extruded tube of the required diameter and then cutting it into lengths to produce a plurality of metal sleeves.

Abstract: An optical switch comprises a programmable optical polarization unit (POLCON) which receives an input optical signal and selects an output signal polarization in response to a control signal. A polarization beam splitter (PBS) splits the selected polarization signal from the POLCON into a first and second orthogonally polarized signals. A feedback circuit couples a feedback signal indicative of the optical signal strength of at least one of the orthogonally polarized signals back to the POLCON which uses it to adjust the output signal polarization. The optical switch may be used with input optical signals having fixed or varying polarizations by utilizing a single or two feedback signals, respectively. The optical switch may be used as an optical Add/Drop unit or incorporated as part of a wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) signal Add/Drop unit.

Abstract: An optical add/drop multiplexer (OADM) is provided wherein input optical channels are supplied on first and second optical fibers, e.g. via an optical splitter. Low loss interference filters, for example, coupled to the first and second optical fibers, select respective groups or bands of channels. Selected groups of channels to be dropped by the OADM may be demultiplexed with sub-demultiplexers into individual channels. Groups of express channels are supplied to associated filters or gratings to ensure that the channel groups selected from the first and second optical fibers to do not contain undesired channels. Channels to be added by the OADM are multiplexed with sub-multiplexers into channel groups corresponding to the dropped channel groups. The added channel groups and the express channel groups are combined on a single output fiber.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to novel polypeptides and to nucleic acid molecules encoding those polypeptides. Also provided herein are vectors and host cells comprising those nucleic acid sequences, chimeric polypeptide molecules comprising the polypeptides of the present invention fused to heterologous polypeptide sequences, antibodies which bind to the polypeptides of the present invention and to methods for producing the polypeptides of the present invention.

Abstract: The invention relates to plasma torch (1) comprising at least two electrodes (7, 8) separated by an insulating cylindrical case (6) delimiting an inner volume, said torch wherein the electrodes (7, 8) are separated by a sufficiently small distance (D) for an igniting arc to appear between the electrodes (7, 8) when a serviceable voltage supplied by a generator (19) is applied between them.