Abstract: Various embodiments are disclosed herein that generally relate to a three-dimensional (3D) hernia plug device and a method of manufacturing thereof. In at least one embodiment, there is disclosed a three-dimensional (3D) hernia plug, comprising: a waist portion extending, along a longitudinal extension axis, between a first waist end and a second waist end; one or more first overhangs coupled to the first waist end; and one or more second overhangs coupled to the second waist end, wherein the hernia plug is configured to translate between a pre-activation state and a post-activation state.

Abstract: Systems and methods for analysis using a database to generate data for transmission to a computing device. In one approach, a method includes: receiving a current account balance for a user; receiving historical transaction data for the user; determining, based on the current account balance and the historical transaction data, historical cash balances for the user; determining forecasted transactions for the user; updating a database, the updating based on the historical cash balances and the forecasted transactions; generating, based on the database, data to display; and transmitting the data to a computing device for display in a user interface.

Abstract: The plant water Anomalous Phase sensor can determine moisture levels in plant leaves, stems and wood. The sensors described include several embodiments of the sensor, all of which estimate moisture levels by determining changes in the phase spectrum of an anomalous-phase resonator. Two embodiments include a planar transmitting antenna array with two slightly detuned patch antennas and a detector. In a first embodiment, the detector is a dipole antenna centered and out of plane with the transmitting antenna array. In a second embodiment, the detector is a singular rectangular patch antenna coplanar with the transmitting antenna array. The third embodiment is similar to the second embodiment, but is formed on a flexible substrate, so that the sensor can be wrapped about a twig, branch or other plant structure, in a non-coplanar arrangement. To compensate for temperature affects, a reference sensor may be integrated with an active sensor.

Abstract: The plant water Anomalous Phase sensor can determine moisture levels in plant leaves, stems and wood. The sensors described include several embodiments of the sensor, all of which estimate moisture levels by determining changes in the phase spectrum of an anomalous-phase resonator. Two embodiments include a planar transmitting antenna array with two slightly detuned patch antennas and a detector. In a first embodiment, the detector is a dipole antenna centered and out of plane with the transmitting antenna array. In a second embodiment, the detector is a singular rectangular patch antenna coplanar with the transmitting antenna array. The third embodiment is similar to the second embodiment, but is formed on a flexible substrate, so that the sensor can be wrapped about a twig, branch or other plant structure, in a non-coplanar arrangement. To compensate for temperature affects, a reference sensor may be integrated with an active sensor.

Abstract: There is provided a dielectric constant analyzer device adapted to determine a dielectric property associated with a substrate material by measuring transmission and reflection parameters for a transmission line connected to said substrate material over a specified frequency range; determining a transmission phase response based on the transmission and reflection parameters; determining an anomalous phase slope characterized by a double slope reversals based on the transmission phase response; determining a resonance frequency based on a centre point of the anomalous phase slope reversals, where the center point corresponds to an anomalous phase at the resonance frequency; and determining the dielectric constant based on the resonance frequency, the anomalous phase at the resonance frequency and the anomalous phase slope. There is also provided a method and a microcomputer for doing the same.

Abstract: The fuel quality sensor includes two rectangular parallepiped waveguides of equal dimensions stacked one atop the other and having a common ground. A thin wire extends through the intermediate wall(s) between the upper and lower waveguide cavities. An input connector is mounted on a sidewall of the upper waveguide, and an output connector is mounted on a sidewall of the lower waveguide cavity. A fluid conduit extends through the upper waveguide cavity adjacent the wire. A tunable microwave signal or wideband time domain pulse is applied to the input connector while fuel is flowing through the conduit. If the fuel flowing in the conduit is uncontaminated, the output signal at the second connector will show no change from the tunneling frequency, but if the fuel is contaminated, the change in the fuel's dielectric constant will result in a change in tunneling frequency and/or tan ? at the second connector.

Abstract: The fuel quality sensor includes two rectangular parallepiped waveguides of equal dimensions stacked one atop the other and having a common ground. A thin wire extends through the intermediate wall(s) between the upper and lower waveguide cavities. An input connector is mounted on a sidewall of the upper waveguide, and an output connector is mounted on a sidewall of the lower waveguide cavity. A fluid conduit extends through the upper waveguide cavity adjacent the wire. A tunable microwave signal or wideband time domain pulse is applied to the input connector while fuel is flowing through the conduit. If the fuel flowing in the conduit is uncontaminated, the output signal at the second connector will show no change from the tunneling frequency, but if the fuel is contaminated, the change in the fuel's dielectric constant will result in a change in tunneling frequency and/or tan ? at the second connector.

Abstract: The microstrip Fano resonator switch is a microstrip circuit having a varactor diode electrically connected between identical quarter-wavelength open stubs formed from two elongate planar strip elements disposed on a substrate having a permittivity of approximately 2.94 and a thickness of approximately 0.76 mm, the circuit forming a Fano resonator switch that provides approximately 50 dB of isolation.

Abstract: The microstrip circuits exhibiting electromagnetically induced transparency and Fano resonance include a microstrip transmission line and at least two identical parallel quarter-wavelength open stubs extending from the transmission line in close proximity so that mutual coupling between the electromagnetic fields at adjacent ends of the stubs induces Faro resonances and electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT). The circuits may be used for microwave buffers, or when a variable capacitance, such as a varactor, is inserted between the open ends of the stubs, the circuits may be used for active transmission phase control.

Abstract: The microstrip Fano resonator switch is a microstrip circuit having a varactor diode electrically connected between identical quarter-wavelength open stubs formed from two elongate planar strip elements disposed on a substrate having a permittivity of approximately 2.94 and a thickness of approximately 0.76 mm, the circuit forming a Fano resonator switch that provides approximately 50 dB of isolation.

Abstract: The microstrip circuits exhibiting electromagnetically induced transparency and Fano resonance include a microstrip transmission line and at least two identical parallel quarter-wavelength open stubs extending from the transmission line in close proximity so that mutual coupling between the electromagnetic fields at adjacent ends of the stubs induces Faro resonances and electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT). The circuits may be used for microwave buffers, or when a variable capacitance, such as a varactor, is inserted between the open ends of the stubs, the circuits may be used for active transmission phase control.

Abstract: There is provided a printed circuit board structure, a dielectric substrate structure and a method of manufacturing thereof using wideband microstrip lines for reducing signal reflection, resonance and radiation for maintaining signal quality. The widths of certain portions of the wideband microstrips and underlying substrate portions are tapered gradually for achieving a reduction in a signal reflection, resonance and radiation therefore resulting in maintaining signal quality.

Abstract: There is provided a printed circuit board structure, a dielectric substrate structure and a method of manufacturing thereof using wideband microstrip lines for reducing signal reflection, resonance and radiation for maintaining signal quality. The widths of certain portions of the wideband microstrips and underlying substrate portions are tapered gradually for achieving a reduction in a signal reflection, resonance and radiation therefore resulting in maintaining signal quality.

Abstract: There is provided a dielectric constant analyzer device adapted to determine a dielectric property associated with a substrate material by measuring transmission and reflection parameters for a transmission line connected to said substrate material over a specified frequency range; determining a transmission phase response based on the transmission and reflection parameters; determining an anomalous phase slope characterized by a double slope reversals based on the transmission phase response; determining a resonance frequency based on a centre point of the anomalous phase slope reversals, where the center point corresponds to an anomalous phase at the resonance frequency; and determining the dielectric constant based on the resonance frequency, the anomalous phase at the resonance frequency and the anomalous phase slope. There is also provided a method and a microcomputer for doing the same.

Abstract: A liquid crystal formulation is described. The liquid crystal formulation comprises a first oligosiloxane-modified nano-phase segregating liquid crystalline material; and at least one additional material selected from a second oligosiloxane-modified nano-phase segregating liquid crystalline material, non-liquid crystalline oligosiloxane-modified materials, organic liquid crystalline materials, or non-liquid crystalline materials, wherein the liquid crystal formulation has an I?SmA*?SmC* phase transition, with a SmC* temperature range from about 15° C. to about 35° C., a tilt angle of about 22.5°±6° or about 45°±6°, a spontaneous polarization of less than about 50 nC/cm2., and a rotational viscosity of less than about 600 cP. Devices containing liquid crystal formulations are also described.

Abstract: A liquid crystal formulation is described. The liquid crystal formulation comprises a first oligosiloxane-modified nano-phase segregating liquid crystalline material; and at least one additional material selected from a second oligosiloxane-modified nano-phase segregating liquid crystalline material, non-liquid crystalline oligosiloxane-modified materials, organic liquid crystalline materials, or organic non-liquid crystalline materials, wherein the liquid crystal formulation is nano-phase segregated in the SmC* phase, has an I?SmC* phase transition, with a SmC* temperature range from about 15° C. to about 35° C., has a tilt angle of about 22.5°±6° or about 45°±6°, and has a spontaneous polarization of less than about 50 nC/cm2, and a rotational viscosity of less than about 600 cP. Devices containing liquid crystal formulations are also described.

Abstract: A liquid crystal electro-optic device. The liquid crystal electro-optic device comprises at least one liquid crystal cell comprising: a pair of substrates having a gap therebetween; a pair of electrodes, the pair of electrodes positioned on one of the substrates or one electrode positioned on each substrate; and a ferroelectric, oligosiloxane liquid crystal material disposed in the gap between the pair of substrates, the ferroelectric, oligosiloxane liquid crystal material exhibiting an I-? SmC* phase sequence wherein the liquid crystal electro-optic device is bistable in operation. The invention also involves a method for making a liquid crystal electro-optic device.

Abstract: A liquid crystal formulation is described. The liquid crystal formulation comprises a first oligosiloxane-modified nano-phase segregating liquid crystalline material; and at least one additional material selected from a second oligosiloxane-modified nano-phase segregating liquid crystalline material, non-liquid crystalline oligosiloxane-modified materials, organic liquid crystalline materials, or organic non-liquid crystalline materials, wherein the liquid crystal formulation is nano-phase segregated in the SmC* phase, has an I?SmC* phase transition, with a SmC* temperature range from about 15° C. to about 35° C., has a tilt angle of about 22.5°±6° or about 45°±6°, and has a spontaneous polarization of less than about 50 nC/cm2, and a rotational viscosity of less than about 600 cP. Devices containing liquid crystal formulations are also described.

Abstract: A liquid crystal formulation is described. The liquid crystal formulation comprises a first oligosiloxane-modified nano-phase segregating liquid crystalline material; and at least one additional material selected from a second oligosiloxane-modified nano-phase segregating liquid crystalline material, non-liquid crystalline oligosiloxane-modified materials, organic liquid crystalline materials, or non-liquid crystalline materials, wherein the liquid crystal formulation has an I?SmA*?SmC* phase transition, with a SmC* temperature range from about 15° C. to about 35° C., a tilt angle of about 22.5°±6° or about 45°±6°, a spontaneous polarization of less than about 50 nC/cm2., and a rotational viscosity of less than about 600 cP. Devices containing liquid crystal formulations are also described.

Abstract: A system and method for a web-based services architecture providing integrated modular building blocks for creating and maintaining a web site and related transaction processing to support electronic commerce and the sales of products and services using the web site. The transaction processing may include the handling of transactions and communications related to product and service sales and fulfillment involving customers, merchants and the web site owner. The services architecture may combine software front-end, back-end, and marketing tools to assist business owners to create or expand an Internet-based business. The services architecture also may provide a warehouse of predefined products that may be integrated into a merchant's existing online inventory.