Abstract: A pump having significantly minimized or no ullage for pumping material (fluid or aggregate).

Abstract: Disclosed are methods of enhancing plant growth, comprising treating seed at least one month prior to planting with an effective amount of a plant signal molecule, wherein upon harvesting the plant exhibits at least one of increased plant yield measured in terms of bushels/acre, increased root number, increased root length, increased root mass, increased root volume and increased leaf area, compared to plants harvested from untreated seed, or compared to plants harvested from seed treated with the signal molecule just prior to or within a week or less of planting.

Abstract: The wire grid polarizers 10 and 30 described herein, and wire grid polarizers made by methods described herein, can have high performance across a broad range of the ultraviolet spectrum and across a broad angle of incidence. These polarizers can be durable (resistant to heat, moisture, ultraviolet light, and oxidation). The polarizer can include an array of wires 15 on a substrate 11. Each wire 15 can have a silicon core 12 and a pair of silicon dioxide ribs 13. The core 12 can be sandwiched between the pair of ribs 13, with each rib 13 adjacent to a sidewall 12s of the core 12. A rib width W13 can be ?4 nm. Each wire 15 can also include a silicon dioxide cap 14. The core 12 can be encircled by a silicon dioxide ring 17.

Abstract: An optical device can comprise wires 12 on a face of a substrate 11, with channel(s) 13 between adjacent wires 12. Each wire 12 can include embedded organic moieties. Each wire 12 can include multiple ribs 31. Part or all of the wire 12, the substrate 11, or both can have a high refractive index n and a low extinction coefficient k. The optical device can have reduced separation of layers of different materials during flexing and temperature changes. The optical device can be manufactured by a method designed for improved manufacturability.

Abstract: A fluid cartridge for a plural component sprayer is configured to receive first and second component materials and purge air from the sprayer and provide the first and second component materials and purge air to a mix chamber for spraying. The fluid cartridge includes a cartridge body, material flowpaths extending from a second end to a cartridge bore, and a purge path extending from the second end to the cartridge bore. Fluid checks are disposed in the material flowpaths and purge path to prevent backflow out of the fluid cartridge. Side seals are disposed in the material paths and are pre-loaded to extend into the cartridge bore and engage a mix chamber within the cartridge bore.

Abstract: A mix chamber for a plural component sprayer is configured to receive first and second component materials and emit a spray of a resulting plural component material. The mix chamber includes a chamber body extending between a first end and a second end and including flat lateral sides. A ramp feature is disposed proximate the first end and is configured to contact and push first and second side seals, respectively, away from a body axis as the mix chamber shifts in a first direction through a cartridge bore to increase a gap between the first side seal and the second side seal such that the first side seal engages the first flat lateral side and the second side seal engages the second flat lateral side.

Abstract: A reflective wire grid polarizer (WGP) can include an array of wires 12 on a face of a substrate 11, with channels 15 between adjacent wires 12. The wires 12 can have certain characteristics for WGP performance, such as index of refraction, alternating high/low index continuous thin films, thickness of layer(s), duty cycle, reflective rib shape, a curved side of transparent ribs 21 or 32, aspect ratio, or combinations thereof.

Abstract: A wire grid polarizer (WGP) can include an array of support-ribs on a substrate. Sides of the support-ribs can be inclined to one side. A wire can be applied on an upper-side and distal end of each support-rib, each wire being separate from wires on adjacent support-ribs. The WGP can be made with reduced or no etching.

Abstract: A wire grid polarizer can have a protective-layer PL on each wire 12 sidewall SW. The protective-layer PL can protect the sidewall SW from corrosion, oxidation, or both. The protective-layer PL can be absent from or thinner at a distal-end DE of the wire 12, farther from the substrate. Polarizer performance degradation, from the protective-layer PL, can be minimized or eliminated by removing the protective-layer PL from the distal-end DE. The invention is particularly applicable to a wire grid polarizer with multiple layers UL and LL, and the upper-layer UL at the distal-end DE is more resistant to corrosion and oxidation than the embedded lower-layer LL.

Abstract: A wire grid polarizer (WGP) can include an array of support-ribs on a substrate. Sides of the support-ribs can be inclined to one side. A wire can be applied on an upper-side and distal end of each support-rib, each wire being separate from wires on adjacent support-ribs. The WGP can be made with reduced or no etching.

Abstract: Each wire of a wire grid polarizer (WGP) can include the following layers moving outwards from the substrate: a high-index-layer, a low-index-layer, and a reflective-layer. Each wire can have a distal-end, farthest from the substrate, with a convex shape. These layers and the convex shape can be combined for a more stable and improved Rs.

Abstract: A mix chamber for a plural component sprayer is configured to receive first and second component materials and emit a spray of a resulting plural component material. The mix chamber includes a chamber body extending between a first end and a second end and including flat lateral sides. A ramp feature is disposed proximate the first end and is configured to contact and push first and second side seals, respectively, away from a body axis as the mix chamber shifts in a first direction through a cartridge bore to increase a gap between the first side seal and the second side seal such that the first side seal engages the first flat lateral side and the second side seal engages the second flat lateral side.

Abstract: It would be advantageous to improve polarizer high temperature resistance, corrosion resistance, oxidation resistance, optical properties, and etchability. Composite polarizer materials can be used to achieve this. A polarizer can comprise polarization structures configured for polarization of light. The polarization structures can include a reflective rib, the reflective rib being a composite of two different elements. The polarization structures can include an absorptive rib, the absorptive rib being a composite of two different elements. The polarizer can include a transparent layer, the transparent layer being a composite of two different elements.

Abstract: It would be advantageous to improve polarizer high temperature resistance, corrosion resistance, oxidation resistance, optical properties, and etchability. Composite polarizer materials can be used to achieve this. A polarizer can comprise polarization structures configured for polarization of light. The polarization structures can include a reflective rib, the reflective rib being a composite of two different elements. The polarization structures can include an absorptive rib, the absorptive rib being a composite of two different elements. The polarizer can include a transparent layer, the transparent layer being a composite of two different elements.

Abstract: An automated packaging station is capable of being used to package objects. The automated packaging station includes a supply of web material, a surface (202), an aperture (206) therein, and a closing system. The automated packaging station is configured to form the web material into a pouch. The aperture (206) is configured such that an object can be inserted therethrough. The automated packaging station is configured to bias open the pouch beneath the surface such that the object inserted through the aperture falls into the pouch. The closing system is configured to close the pouch to form a package around the object in response to the object being inserted through the aperture. The object is capable of being shipped to a recipient in the package.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods of enhancing plant growth, comprising treating plant seed or the plant that germinates from the seed with an effective amount of at least one chitooligosaccharide, wherein upon harvesting the plant exhibits at least one of increased plant yield measured in terms of bushels/acre, increased root number, increased root length, increased root mass, increased root volume and increased leaf area, compared to untreated plants or plants harvested from untreated seed.

Abstract: A mix chamber for a plural component sprayer is configured to receive first and second component materials and emit a spray of a resulting plural component material. The mix chamber includes a chamber body extending between a first end and a second end and including flat lateral sides. A ramp feature is disposed proximate the first end and is configured to contact and push first and second side seals, respectively, away from a body axis as the mix chamber shifts in a first direction through a cartridge bore to increase a gap between the first side seal and the second side seal such that the first side seal engages the first flat lateral side and the second side seal engages the second flat lateral side.

Abstract: A method of making a polarizer can include applying a liquid with solid inorganic nanoparticles dispersed throughout a continuous phase, then forming this into a different phase including a solid, interconnecting network of the inorganic nanoparticles. This method can improve manufacturability and reducing manufacturing cost. This method can be used to provide an antireflective coating, to provide a protective coating on polarization structures, to provide thin films for optical properties, or to form the polarization structures themselves.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods of enhancing plant growth, comprising treating plant seed or the plant that germinates from the seed with an effective amount of at least one chitooligosaccharide, wherein upon harvesting the plant exhibits at least one of increased plant yield measured in terms of bushels/acre, increased root number, increased root length, increased root mass, increased root volume and increased leaf area, compared to untreated plants or plants harvested from untreated seed.