Abstract: A molecular system is provided for electric field activated switches, such as optical switches. The molecular system has an electric field induced band gap change that occurs via a molecular conformation change, based on a rotor/stator construction of the molecular system, involving a rotating portion (rotor) connected between two stationary portions (stators). Nanometer-scale reversible optical switches are thus provided that can be assembled easily to make a variety of optical devices, including optical displays.

Abstract: A digital dye having an optical change resulting from an electrochemical oxidation/reduction reaction is provided for use in a molecular system. The molecular system provides two different colors based on two different oxidation states of at least one digital dye in the molecular system. Further, an optical switch comprising the molecular system configured within an electric field generated by a pair of electrodes is provided, employing the above-described digital dye. Still further, a display device including a transparent display electrode, a counter electrode, and the molecular system disposed therebetween is provided, where the molecular system comprises at least one digital dye.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for cross-selling products based on a system for sale to a customer. One embodiment provides a method including, for each selection by a user of a product from a product information source, receiving an order representing a state of a system based on the user selections; for each order, determining whether the order qualifies for one or more cross-sell products; and if so, presenting the one or more cross-sell products to the user, wherein each of the one or more cross-sell products presented to the user is offered at a discount based on the state of the system.

Abstract: An electrochromic molecular colorant and a plurality of uses as an erasably writeable medium. Multitudinous types of substrates, such as paper, are adaptable for receiving a coating of the colorant. Electrical fringe field or through fields are used to transform targeted pixel molecules between a first, high color state and transparent state, providing information content having resolution and viewability at least equal to hard copy document print. The scope of the invention includes both the liquid coating and the combination of coating on substrate.

Abstract: Molecular systems are provided for electric field activated switches, such as optical switches. The molecular system has an electric field induced band gap change that occurs via one of the following mechanisms: (1) molecular conformation change; (2) change of extended conjugation via chemical bonding change to change the band gap; or (3) molecular folding or stretching. Nanometer-scale reversible optical switches are thus provided that can be assembled easily to make a variety of optical devices, including optical displays.

Abstract: The invention concerns a novel neuregulin related ligand (NRG3) including fragments and variants thereof, as new members of the neuregulin family of compounds. The invention also concerns methods and means for producing NRG3. The native polypeptides of the invention are characterized by containing an extracellular domain including an EGF-like domain, a transmembrane domain and a cytoplasmic domain. Isolated nucleotide sequences encoding such polypeptides, expression vectors containing the nucleotide sequences, recombinant host cells transformed with the vectors, and methods for the recombinant production for the novel NRG3s are also within the scope of the invention.

Abstract: An electrochromic molecular colorant and a plurality of uses as an erasably writeable medium. Multitudinous types of substrates, such as paper, are adaptable for receiving a coating of the colorant. Electrical fringe field or through fields are used to transform targeted pixel molecules between a first, high color state and transparent state, providing information content having resolution and viewability at least equal to hard copy document print. The scope of the invention includes both the liquid coating and the combination of coating on substrate.

Abstract: A molecular light valve mechanism is used for imaging on an adjacent pixel-patterned construct. An electrical fringe field or through field is used to transform targeted pixels by switching light valve molecules between a first non-transparent state and transparent state, providing information content on the adjacent pixel-patterned imaging layer.

Abstract: An electronic writing instrument for rewritable electronic writing surfaces. A self-powered, untethered, pencil-like instrument uses a fringe field for changing the orientation of pixels composed of molecular colorant elements. An appendix hereto describes the molecular colorant.

Abstract: This invention relates to a stable pharmaceutical composition of freeze-dried tetrodotoxin powder which contains trace amount of tetrodotoxin, substances which can stabilizes tetrodotoxin, including disaccharide(s) or polyglucose(s) or analogues thereof and solvent(s), and solvents which can help tetrodotoxin dissolve.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for packing, including single pixel data strings, and playback tracking of informative data, e.g., audio signals, associated with graphics. To maximize the signal-to-noise ratio during data recovery, a Read sensor is kept substantially on-center of each data block throughout reading. A Print-and-Read ink-jet embodiment carriage mechanism in conjunction with the paper feed mechanism keeps the Read sensor on track center as misalignment information has been determined beforehand or in real time for active track servoing. Additional functionalities are incorporated in scanning ink-jet class of printers so that they can further operate as informative data recovery or retrieval systems for digitized data on graphical data images. In another embodiment, a digital camera itself is provided with additional functionalities to operate as a recovery and playback device for prints containing informative data.

Abstract: A three-dimensional molecular assembly and method of formation are provided. The molecular assembly is formed on a substrate. The molecular assembly comprises: a first monolayer of seed molecules for initiating self-assembled molecular growth, the first monolayer formed on the substrate; a second monolayer of active molecules comprising a plurality of rotor and stator moieties, with one rotor moiety supported between two stator moieties, the second monolayer of active molecules formed on the first monolayer of seed molecules, with a one-to-one correspondence between molecules in the first monolayer and the second monolayer; a third monolayer of spacer molecules, formed on the second monolayer of active molecules, with a one-to-one correspondence between molecules in the second monolayer and the third monolayer; and a plurality of alternating second monolayers and third monolayers having the one-to-one correspondence.

Abstract: An electrochromic molecular colorant and a plurality of uses as an erasably writeable medium. Multitudinous types of substrates, such as paper, are adaptable for receiving a coating of the colorant. Electrical fringe field or through fields are used to transform targeted pixel molecules between a first, high color state and transparent state, providing information content having resolution and viewability at least equal to hard copy document print. The scope of the invention includes both the liquid coating and the combination of coating on substrate.

Abstract: A molecular system is provided for nanometer-scale reversible electronic and optical switches, specifically, electric field-activated molecular switches that have an electric field induced band gap change that occurs via rotation of rotor units connected to immobile stator units. The molecular system has two branches on one side of an immobile junction unit and one or two branches on the opposite side to thereby provide “Y” and “X” configurations, respectively. The ends of the branches opposite the junction unit are connected to, or electrically associated with, other molecular systems or substrates, such as electrodes. The rotor units each rotate between two states as a function of an externally-applied field. Both multi-stable molecular mechanical devices and electric field-activated optical switches are provided.

Abstract: An optical sensor is provided, comprising (a) a silicon nanowire of finite length having an electrical contact pad at each end thereof; and (b) a plurality of self-assembled molecules on a surface of the silicon nanowire, the molecules serving to modulate electrical conductivity of the silicon nanowire by either a reversible change in dipole moment of the molecules or by a reversible molecule-assisted electron/energy transfer from the molecules onto the silicon nanowire. Further, a method of making the optical sensor is provided. The concept of molecular self-assembly is applied in attaching functional molecules onto silicon nanowire surfaces, and the requirement of molecule modification (hydroxy group in molecules) is minimal from the point view of synthetic difficulty and compatibility. Self-assembly will produce well-ordered ultra-thin films with strong chemical bonding on a surface that cannot be easily achieved by other conventional methods.

Abstract: An electrochromic molecular colorant and a plurality of uses as an erasably writeable medium. Multitudinous types of substrates, such as paper, are adaptable for receiving a coating of the colorant. Electrical fringe field or through fields are used to transform targeted pixel molecules between a first, high color state and transparent state, providing information content having resolution and viewability at least equal to hard copy document print. The scope of the invention includes both the liquid coating and the combination of coating on substrate.

Abstract: A method is provided for printing electronic and opto-electronic circuits. The method comprises: (a) providing a substrate; (b) providing a film-forming precursor species; (c) forming a substantially uniform and continuous film of the film-forming precursor species on at least one side of the substrate, the film having a first electrical conductivity; and (d) altering portions of the film with at least one conductivity-altering species to form regions having a second electrical conductivity that is different than the first electrical conductivity, the regions thereby providing circuit elements. The method employs very simple and continuous processes, which make the time to produce a batch of circuits very short and leads to very inexpensive products, such as electronic memories (write once or rewriteable), electronically addressable displays, and generally any circuit for which organic electronics or opto-electronics are acceptable.

Abstract: An electric field activated molecular system, preferably bi-stable, configured within an electric field generated by a pair of electrodes is provided for use, e.g., as electronic ink or other visual displays. The molecular system has an electric field induced band gap change that occurs via a change (reversible or irreversible) of the extent of the electron conjugation via chemical bonding change to change the band gap, wherein in a first state, there is substantial conjugation throughout the molecular system, resulting in a relatively smaller band gap, and wherein in a second state, the substantial conjugation is destroyed, resulting in a relatively larger band gap. The changing of substantial conjugation may be accomplished in one of the following ways: (1) charge separation or recombination accompanied by increasing or decreasing electron localization in the molecule; or (2) change of substantial conjugation via charge separation or recombination and&pgr;-bond breaking or making.

Abstract: A bistable molecular switch can have a highly conjugated first state and a less conjugated second state. The bistable molecular switch can be configured such that application of an electric field reversibly switches the molecular switch from the first state to the second state. Additionally, the bistable molecular switch can include a hydrophobic moiety and a hydrophilic moiety. Such molecular switches can be incorporated into a thin film as part of a molecular switch system which can include a layer of molecular switches between a first electrode layer and a second electrode layer. The layer of molecular switches can have substantially all of the molecular switches having their hydrophilic moiety oriented in the same direction. An electric potential can then be induced between the first and second electrode layers sufficient to switch the molecular switches from the first or second state to the second or first state, respectively.

Abstract: Molecular systems are provided for electric field activated switches, such as optical switches. The molecular system has an electric field induced band gap change that occurs via one of the following mechanisms: (1) molecular conformation change; (2) change of extended conjugation via chemical bonding change to change the band gap; or (3) molecular folding or stretching. Nanometer-scale reversible optical switches are thus provided that can be assembled easily to make a variety of optical devices, including optical displays.