Abstract: An ink contains an admixture of a copper nanoparticle, a copper precursor molecule (e.g. a copper-aminediol complex), and a polymeric binder, the polymeric binder containing a polyester, polyimide, polyether imide or any mixture thereof having surface 5 functional groups that render the polymeric binder compatible with and/or soluble in a diol. The ink may be deposited on a substrate providing a trace that is conductive and directly solderable and has better mechanical strength than copper inks containing other types of polymeric binders.

Abstract: An ink contains an admixture of a copper nanoparticle, a copper precursor molecule (e.g. a copper-aminediol complex), and a polymeric binder, the polymeric binder containing a polyester, polyimide, polyether imide or any mixture thereof having surface 5 functional groups that render the polymeric binder compatible with and/or soluble in a diol. The ink may be deposited on a substrate providing a trace that is conductive and directly solderable and has better mechanical strength than copper inks containing other types of polymeric binders.

Abstract: Light-reflective materials and methods for their preparation and use are described. The materials can have multiple particles or voids arranged in a crystal structure. The materials can reflect various types of light such as visible light, ultraviolet light, or infrared light.

Abstract: The invention provides an enhanced silk fiber rivaling spider silk in mechanical performance, in combination with a very low-cost method for producing it from the usual silkworms. The method provides for the simple application of an electric field which results in an enhancement of over (?) 40% in the strength, and of 200% in the breaking energy with respect to ordinary silkworm silk. The critical elasticity is enhanced to the level of the dragline spider silk. The provided enhanced silk protein material has the same protein primary structure, fiber diameter and length of the customary silk. The method of formation offers the following advantages in comparison to other methods available in the prior art. Industrial scale production can be readily and cost-effectively achieved, given the wide-range availability of silkworms. The provided method relies largely on the present standard production processes of silkworm silk, and hence a low level of investment is required.

Abstract: Light-reflective materials and methods for their preparation and use are described. The materials can have multiple particles or voids arranged in a crystal structure. The materials can reflect various types of light such as visible light, ultraviolet light, or infrared light.

Abstract: This present invention proposes a method of producing intrinsically colored, luminescent silk fibroin by feeding silkworms with feed comprising the luminescent dyes as well as the appropriate degumming process to remove sericin while retaining the dyes in silk fibroin are also described. Luminescent and functional molecular organic dyes with balanced hydrophobic/hydrophobic properties that can be effectively absorbed into silk glands of the silkworm are also described.

Abstract: The invention provides an enhanced silk fiber rivaling spider silk in mechanical performance, in combination with a very low-cost method for producing it from the usual silkworms. The method provides for the simple application of an electric field which results in an enhancement of over (?) 40% in the strength, and of 200% in the breaking energy with respect to ordinary silkworm silk. The critical elasticity is enhanced to the level of the dragline spider silk. The provided enhanced silk protein material has the same protein primary structure, fiber diameter and length of the customary silk. The method of formation offers the following advantages in comparison to other methods available in the prior art. Industrial scale production can be readily and cost-effectively achieved, given the wide-range availability of silkworms. The provided method relies largely on the present standard production processes of silkworm silk, and hence a low level of investment is required.

Abstract: A method de novo is provided for predicting crystallization conditions and for crystallizing biomacromolecules, in particular proteins. The method provides a simple, quick and precise approach in determining the biomacromolecule solubility in different solutions, as well as the boundary between crystallization and aggregation. Because the method relies only on monitoring the assembly behavior of the biomacromolecule at the surface of a solution, it has general applicability and requires a relatively short amount of time to provide results that are reliable. Because there is no need to first crystallize the biomacromolecule, small amounts of protein are sufficient. Because the method works by measuring the surface tension or pressure of the surface of the biomacromolecule solution, it is easy, precise and quick. Furthermore it is cost-effective in requiring simple and inexpensive equipment.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer-usable medium for firewall query processing. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a firewall query manager receives a firewall query and a firewall expressed as a sequence of rules. The firewall query manager first constructs a firewall decision tree from the given sequence of rules. Then the firewall query manager marks all the paths in said firewall decision tree as unprocessed. In response to selecting an unprocessed path for comparison, the firewall query manager computes a partial result by comparing the unprocessed path and the firewall query. In response to determining no more paths among all the paths in said firewall decision tree are to be processed, the firewall query manager computes a final result from at least one partial result.

Abstract: A system, computer-implementable method, and computer-usable medium for resolving discrepancies between diverse firewall designs. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a firewall design manager receives at least two designs for a rule-based system and computing at least one functional discrepancy between the at least two designs utilizing decision diagrams.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer-usable medium for removing redundancy from packet classifiers. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a packet classifier is implemented as a sequence of rules. A redundancy manager marks at least one upward redundant rule and at least one downward redundant rule. The redundancy manager removes at least one rule marked as upward redundant and at least one rule marked as downward redundant.

Abstract: A system, method and computer-usable medium for designing a firewall to protect a data processing system. A user first specifies a firewall decision diagram. The firewall decision diagram is then reduced and marked. Finally, a firewall is generated from the marked firewall decision diagram.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for the preparation of a small molecule gel, the process comprising heating a mixture of a gelling agent and a solvent to dissolve the gelling agent in the solvent; cooling the mixture to form a gel; and adding a branching additive to the mixture either before, during or after the heating, but prior to cooling. The invention also relates to a gel comprising a small molecule gelling agent, a solvent and a branching additive.