Abstract: An energy conditioner structure comprising a first electrode (120), a second electrode (80), and a shield structure (70, 110, 150) provides improved energy conditioning in electrical circuits. The structures may exist as discrete components or part of an integrated circuit. The shield structure in the energy conditioner structure does not electrically connect to any circuit element.

Abstract: The invention provides a computer network system and a method of using the system to influence consumer retail store shopping behavior by offering a consumer an incentive to shop at first retail store if data analysis indicates that the consumer is likely to shop at a store competing for the consumer's business. The invention also provides means for determining the value and conditions imposed upon the consumer receiving the incentive offered based upon data indicating the differential value to the consumer in shopping at the competing retail store instead of the first retail store and data indicating the value to the first retail store of the consumer's anticipated purchase, if that purchase is made from the first retail store.

Abstract: A microwave transmission line is provided including a class of dielectric terials known as relaxor dielectrics having very high dielectric constants of greater than 1000, low dielectric loss and large variations of the real part of the dielectric constant with varying temperature. The phase of a microwave signal passed through such a transmission line is modulated by subjecting the transmission line to light that is absorbed in the dielectric layer causing a variation in the dielectric constant and a change in the velocity of the continuous microwave signal passing through the transmission line.

Abstract: A thin diamond film is prepared by immersing a substrate in a liquid conting carbon and hydrogen and then subjecting the substrate to at least one laser pulse.

Abstract: X-rays are created from a pulsed laser using a gaseous medium by focusing a aser pulse to a focal point in a gaseous medium causing a laser induced plasma in the gas which plasma emits x-rays.