Abstract: A bottle assembly has a bottle and a removable cap. The cap includes a nozzle and a vent arrangement. The vent arrangement can include a vent conduit that extends into an air cavity present at the bottom of the bottle assembly when the bottle assembly is inverted. The vent arrangement allows for pressure equalization within the bottom assembly in response to liquid being dispensed from the bottle assembly to permit high flow rates of the dispensed liquid without squeezing of the bottle.

Abstract: A wheel fastener alarm assembly is provided having a fastener body with a first portion defining a wrenching surface and a cavity, and a second portion with a threaded portion to attach and detach from a wheel of a vehicle. A sensor array is disposed in the cavity of fastener body to detect an attribute of the fastener body and generate an output signal based on the attribute of the fastener body. An antenna connected to the sensor array to transmit the signal to a remote location. A cap is secured to the first portion of the fastener body and covers the wrenching surface and the cavity opening to define a capped fastener body.

Abstract: An apparatus for authenticating an optical key and an apparatus for generating a random number from an optical key are provided. The optical key is used for reliable authenticatability and the random number is stable when or after the optical key is exposed to an external influence such as, but not limited to, a physical or chemical stimulus including a different ambient condition, a mechanical stress, or chemical contact.

Abstract: Athermal glasses and athermal systems for infrared optical components and systems are disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus for authenticating an optical key and an apparatus for generating a random number from an optical key are provided. The optical key is used for reliable authenticatability and the random number is stable when or after the optical key is exposed to an external influence such as, but not limited to, a physical or chemical stimulus including a different ambient condition, a mechanical stress, or chemical contact.

Abstract: The invention relates to an optical scattering element suitable for dispersing or scattering light transmitted by optical device by Mie scattering. The optical scattering element comprises a phase-separated or porous borosilicate glass having dispersed phase particles with a particle size of 200 to 500 nanometers or pores with a size of 200 to 500 nanometers, at a number density of 108 to 1012 mm?3. The optical scattering element can be prepared by subjecting a borosilicate glass to a controlled heat treatment to induce phase separation, and then optionally leaching out one of the phases with an acid leach. The optical scattering element can be, for example, attached to an end of an optical fiber or bundle of optical fibers. The invention also relates to a method of dispersing or scattering light by transmitting the light through the optical scattering element.

Abstract: The invention relates to an optical fiber comprising a core and a cladding, wherein the core is made of a glass composition having a near-zero electrostrictive coefficient M11, to reduce the effect of stimulated Brillouin Scattering (SBS). The invention further relates to a compensation fiber segment for connection to a silica optical fiber, the compensation fiber segment being made of a glass composition having an electrostrictive coefficient that opposes that of the silica optical fiber so that an acoustic wave transmitted to compensation fiber segment from the silica optical fiber will generate an acoustic wave within the compensation fiber segment that is about 180 degrees out of phase with the that acoustic wave transmitted from the silica optical fiber, thereby minimizing the effect of stimulated Brillouin Scattering.

Abstract: The invention relates to an optical fiber comprising a core and a cladding, wherein the core is made of a glass composition having a near-zero electrostrictive coefficient M11, to reduce the effect of stimulated Brillouin Scattering (SBS). The invention further relates to a compensation fiber segment for connection to a silica optical fiber, the compensation fiber segment being made of a glass composition having an electrostrictive coefficient that opposes that of the silica optical fiber so that an acoustic wave transmitted to compensation fiber segment from the silica optical fiber will generate an acoustic wave within the compensation fiber segment that is about 180 degrees out of phase with the that acoustic wave transmitted from the silica optical fiber, thereby minimizing the effect of stimulated Brillouin Scattering.

Abstract: A piezoelectric glass ceramic represented by the formula (M1Ox)-(M2Oy)—SiO2 wherein M1 is one or more metals and/or metalloids, M2 is one or more metals and/or metalloids, x is a value equal to the valence of M1, and y is a value equal to the valence of M2. The piezoelectric glass ceramic has a total alkali metal concentration of less than about 1000 parts per million by weight (ppmw). A process of preparing a piezoelectric glass ceramic and a piezoelectric glass ceramic body prepared therefrom.

Abstract: A piezoelectric glass ceramic represented by the formula (M1Ox)-(M2Oy)—SiO2 wherein M1 is one or more metals and/or metalloids, M2 is one or more metals and/or metalloids, x is a value equal to the valence of M1, and y is a value equal to the valence of M2. The piezoelectric glass ceramic has a total alkali metal concentration of less than about 1000 parts per million by weight (ppmw). A process of preparing a piezoelectric glass ceramic and a piezoelectric glass ceramic body prepared therefrom.

Abstract: An enzyme detection product for detecting the presence of an enzyme in a sample. The product includes: a reaction zone for receiving the sample; a visualization zone for presenting a signal in response to the detection of the activity of the enzyme; and a membrane. The membrane is interposable between the reaction zone and the visualization zone and prevents passage from the reaction zone to the visualization zone the components having a size greater than a threshold size. The reaction zone includes a reactant capable of reacting with the enzyme in order to generate a reaction product having a size less than a threshold size.

Abstract: The invention relates to an optical scattering element suitable for dispersing or scattering light transmitted by optical device by Mie scattering. The optical scattering element comprises a phase-separated or porous borosilicate glass having dispersed phase particles with a particle size of 200 to 500 nanometers or pores with a size of 200 to 500 nanometers, at a number density of 108 to 1012 mm?3. The optical scattering element can be prepared by subjecting a borosilicate glass to a controlled heat treatment to induce phase separation, and then optionally leaching out one of the phases with an acid leach. The optical scattering element can be, for example, attached to an end of an optical fiber or bundle of optical fibers. The invention also relates to a method of dispersing or scattering light by transmitting the light through the optical scattering element.

Abstract: Disclosed are processes for preparing conductive glass-ceramic membranes and methods of using them in hydrogen or proton separation.

Abstract: The process of making the glass-ceramic includes ceramicizing a starting glass at a heating or cooling rate during the ceramicization of at least 10 K/min, so that the glass-ceramic contains at least 50% by volume of ferroelectric crystallites with a maximum diameter of from 20 to 100 nm and not more than 10% by volume of nonferroelectric crystallitesis. The glass ceramic produced by the process contains no pores or not more than 0.01% by volume of the pores and a value of e?·V2max of the glass-ceramic is at least 20 (MV/cm)2, wherein e? is the dielectric constant at 1 kHz and Vmax is the breakdown voltage per unit thickness. The ferroelectric crystallites preferably have a perovskite structure and are composed of substantially pure or doped BaTiO3 and/or BaTi2O5.

Abstract: A translucent piezoelectric glass ceramic is disclosed. The glass ceramic is prepared from a precursor glass by a ceraming process, using a temperature gradient to effect the precipitation of non-ferroelectric piezo-active crystallites from the precursor glass with a preferred direction of orientation and having an average crystal size of less than 1 micrometer. Alternatively, a translucent piezoelectric glass ceramic comprising ferroelectric crystallites may be prepared by poling. In this case the crystal size is controlled to be smaller than 90 nanometers but preferably larger than 10 nanometers.

Abstract: The process of making the glass-ceramic includes ceramicizing a starting glass at a heating or cooling rate during the ceramicization of at least 10 K/min, so that the glass-ceramic contains at least 50% by volume of ferroelectric crystallites with a maximum diameter of from 20 to 100 nm and not more than 10% by volume of nonferroelectric crystallitesis. The glass ceramic produced by the process contains no pores or not more than 0.01% by volume of the pores and a value of e?·V2max of the glass-ceramic is at least 20 (MV/cm)2, wherein e? is the dielectric constant at 1 kHz and Vmax is the breakdown voltage per unit thickness. The ferroelectric crystallites preferably have a perovskite structure and are composed of substantially pure or doped BaTiO3 and/or BaTi2O5.

Abstract: Disclosed are processes for preparing conductive glass-ceramic membranes.

Abstract: A method for determining the thermal expansion coefficient of a substance comprises, determining at each of two or more temperatures the absolute position of more than one resonant interference peaks of a Fabry-Perot etalon whose optical path is defined by said substance and calculating said coefficient from observed difference(s) in wavelength or frequency of said positions at said two or more temperatures.

Abstract: A method for determining the thermal expansion coefficient of a substance comprises, determining at each of two or more temperatures the absolute position of more than one resonant interference peaks of a Fabry-Perot etalon whose optical path is defined by said substance and calculating said coefficient from observed difference(s) in wavelength or frequency of said positions at said two or more temperatures.