All The Claims

1. A brush comprising:
a handle having a first end and a second end;
a tuft coupled to the first end of the handle; and
a movement-mechanism affixed to the first end of the handle and substantially covering an area where the tuft is coupled to the first end of the handle, wherein the movement-mechanism is configured to travel parallel to the handle and influence one or more characteristics of the tuft.
2. The brush as recited in claim 1, further comprising a locking mechanism to selectively lock the movement-mechanism in position relative to the handle.
3. The brush as recited in claim 1, wherein the tuft further comprises a tip located distal to the first end of the handle and wherein the tuft is coupled to the first end of the handle such that when the movement-mechanism is moved toward the distal end the tuft changes shape.
4. The brush as recited in claim 3, wherein the change of shape of the tuft comprises at least one of:
an increase in density of the tip of the tuft; or
a reduction in at least one dimension of the tip of the tuft.
5. The brush as recited in claim 1, wherein the tuft is coupled to the first end of the handle such that when the movement-mechanism is moved toward the second end of the handle the tuft changes to a second shape.
6. The brush as recited in claim 5, wherein the change to the second shape of the tuft comprises at least one of:
a decrease in density of the tip of the tuft; or
an increase in at least one dimension of the tip of the tuft.
7. The brush as recited in claim 1, wherein the movement-mechanism includes at least one of:
a frictional material;
one or more detents extending from an interior portion of the movement-mechanism;
a ball-bearing system; or
a twist or reverse twist motion system.
8. The brush as recited in claim 1, wherein the movement-mechanism is further configured to travel parallel to the handle within a predetermined range.
9. The brush as recited in claim 1, wherein the one or more characteristics of the tuft influenced by the movement-mechanism comprise one or more of width, density, shape, length, density or size of the tuft.
10. A cosmetic implement comprising:
a handle;
an applicator coupled to the handle, the applicator having an application surface distal to the handle; and
an adjustable ferrule substantially covering an area where the applicator and the handle are coupled and configured to move along an axis of the handle between at least:
a first position in which the applicator has a first shape; and
a second position in which the applicator has a second shape different from the first shape.
11. The cosmetic implement as recited in claim 10, wherein the applicator is coupled to the handle such that when the adjustable ferrule is moved toward the first position the first shape of the applicator comprises at least an increased density of the application surface or a shape wherein at least one dimension of the application surface is narrower than the adjustable ferrule.
12. The cosmetic implement as recited in claim 10, wherein the applicator is coupled to the handle such that when the adjustable ferrule is moved toward the second position the second shape of the applicator comprises at least a decreased density of the application surface or a shape wherein at least one dimension of the application surface is broader than the adjustable ferrule.
13. The cosmetic implement as recited in claim 10, further comprising a frictional material disposed between the adjustable ferrule and the handle and configured restrain movement of the adjustable ferrule relative to the handle within a predetermined range.
14. The cosmetic implement as recited in claim 10, further comprising a detent mechanism with pre-set positions along a length of the handle or the adjustable ferrule that allows the adjustable ferrule to reversibly move between the pre-set positions.
15. The cosmetic implement as recited in claim 10, wherein the applicator comprises at least one of a brush, a sponge, or a flocking.
16. A cosmetic implement comprising:
a handle having a first end and a second end;
an applicator coupled to the first end of the handle; and
an adjustable ferrule coupled to the first end of the handle,
wherein movement of the adjustable ferrule in a first direction is configured to cause the applicator to narrow in at least one dimension; and
wherein movement of the adjustable ferrule in a second direction is configured to cause the applicator to widen in at least one dimension.
17. The cosmetic implement as recited in claim 16, wherein movement of the adjustable ferrule is configured to move relative to the handle and determine one or more characteristics of the applicator.
18. The cosmetic implement as recited in claim 17, wherein the handle or the adjustable ferrule further comprises a button, that when manipulated allows the adjustable ferrule to move relative to the handle.
19. The cosmetic implement as recited in claim 16, wherein the adjustable ferrule is configured to couple to the handle by at least one of:
one or more flanges extending from an interior portion of the adjustable ferrule or the first end of the handle and configured to interact with one or more corresponding notches located on the other of the adjustable ferrule or the handle;
a friction material attached to an interior portion of the adjustable ferrule or the first end of the handle and configured to provide a frictional force between the handle and adjustable ferrule such that an applied force by a user allows the adjustable ferrule to slide within a predetermined range;
a ball bearing system configured to provide a force between the handle and the adjustable ferrule such that an applied force by a user allows the adjustable ferrule to slide within a predetermined range.
20. The cosmetic implement as recited in claim 16, wherein the adjustable ferrule is configured to move relative to the handle by at least one of:
a twist or reverse twist motion configured to allow threads located on the interior portion of the adjustable ferrule or the first end of the handle to interact with corresponding threads on the other of the adjustable ferrule or the handle; or
a slide motion configured to allow the adjustable ferrule to slide along a length of the handle within a predetermined distance.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A system for expediting self-checkout at a point-of-sale station, comprising:
a mobile electronic device held and operated by each customer, the device having
a device sensor for imaging one-dimensional symbols that identify items to be purchased,
a device controller for decoding the one-dimensional symbols to form decoded data, and for combining the decoded data to form at least one two-dimensional symbol, and
a display screen on which the at least one two-dimensional symbol is displayed by the device controller; and

an electro-optical scanner at the point-of-sale station, the scanner having
a window at which the at least one displayed two-dimensional symbol on the device is presented by the customer,
a scanner sensor for imaging the at least one displayed two-dimensional symbol, and
a scanner controller for decoding the at least one displayed two-dimensional symbol to form a series of decoded data indicative of all the one-dimensional symbols, and for sending the series of decoded data to a host network.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the device is one of a cellular telephone, a smartphone, a personal digital assistant, a tablet, a computer, an e-reader, a media player, and like portable device having a built-in imaging module.
3. The system of claim 1, wherein the scanner is one of a handheld, portable scanner; a stand-mounted, stationary scanner; a vertical slot scanner; a flat-bed, horizontal slot scanner; and a bi-optical, dual window scanner.
4. The system of claim 1, wherein the device controller is operative for combining the decoded data to form a plurality of two-dimensional symbols, and for successively displaying the plurality of two-dimensional symbols on the screen when presented to the window.
5. The system of claim 4, wherein the scanner controller is operative for determining how many of the plurality of two-dimensional symbols were formed, and for sending the series of decoded data only after all the plurality of two-dimensional symbols have been decoded.
6. The system of claim 5, wherein the scanner controller is operative for indicating to the customer how many of the plurality of two-dimensional symbols were formed, and completion of the decoding and the sending.
7. The system of claim 4, wherein the device controller is operative for repetitively displaying the plurality of two-dimensional symbols on the screen until the scanner controller has decoded all the plurality of two-dimensional symbols.
8. The system of claim 1, wherein the device has a manual interface for initiating imaging of each one-dimensional symbol.
9. A method of expediting self-checkout at a point-of-sale station, comprising:
holding and operating a mobile electronic device by each customer;
imaging one-dimensional symbols that identify items to be purchased with a device sensor on the device;
decoding the one-dimensional symbols to form decoded data with a device controller on the device;
combining the decoded data to form at least one two-dimensional symbol with the device controller;
displaying the at least one two-dimensional symbol on a display screen on the device;
presenting the at least one displayed two-dimensional symbol to a window of an electro-optical scanner at the point-of-sale station;
imaging the at least one displayed two-dimensional symbol with a scanner sensor on the scanner;
decoding the at least one displayed two-dimensional symbol to form a series of decoded data indicative of all the one-dimensional symbols with a scanner controller on the scanner; and
sending the series of decoded data to a host network.
10. The method of claim 9, and configuring the device as one of a cellular telephone, a smartphone, a personal digital assistant, a tablet, a computer, an e-reader, a media player, and like portable device having a built-in imaging module.
11. The method of claim 9, and configuring the scanner as one of a handheld, portable scanner; a stand-mounted, stationary scanner; a vertical slot scanner; a flat-bed, horizontal slot scanner; and a bi-optical, dual window scanner.
12. The method of claim 9, wherein the combining is performed by combining the decoded data to form a plurality of two-dimensional symbols, and by successively displaying the plurality of two-dimensional symbols on the screen when presented to the window.
13. The method of claim 12, and determining how many of the plurality of two-dimensional symbols were formed, and sending the series of decoded data only after all the plurality of two-dimensional symbols have been decoded.
14. The method of claim 13, and indicating to the customer how many of the plurality of two-dimensional symbols were formed, and completion of the decoding and the sending.
15. The method of claim 12, and repetitively displaying the plurality of two-dimensional symbols on the screen until all the plurality of two-dimensional symbols have been decoded.
16. The method of claim 9, and initiating imaging of each one-dimensional symbol by manual interaction on the device.

1. An article comprising:
a substrate;
an interlayer comprising aluminum nitride, gallium nitride, boron nitride, indium nitride or a solid solution of aluminum nitride, gallium nitride, boron nitride andor indium nitride; the interlayer being directly disposed upon the substrate and in contact with the substrate; where the interlayer comprises a columnar film andor nanorods andor nanotubes; and
a group-III nitride layer disposed upon the interlayer; where the group-III nitride layer completely covers a surface of the interlayer that is opposed to a surface in contact with the substrate; the group-III nitride layer being free from cracks, wherein the interlayer is in direct contact with the group-III nitride layer.
2. The article of claim 1, where the substrate comprises silicon, SiC, sapphire (c-, a-, r- or m-oriented; on axis or of-cut), LiAlO2, LiGaO2, gallium arsenide, glass, alumina, titania, zirconia, germanium, a combination of germanium and silicon, aluminum nitride, indium nitride, boron nitride, gallium nitride or a solid solution of aluminum nitride, indium nitride, boron nitride andor gallium nitride, quartz and glass.
3. The article of claim 1, where the interlayer comprising a solid solution of aluminum nitride, gallium nitride, boron nitride andor indium nitride comprises aluminum indium nitride, indium boron nitride, aluminum boron nitride, gallium boron nitride, aluminum gallium nitride, gallium indium nitride, aluminum indium gallium nitride, indium gallium boron nitride, aluminum gallium boron nitride, aluminum gallium boron nitride, indium aluminum boron nitride, or aluminum gallium indium boron nitride.
4. The article of claim 1, where the interlayer comprises a chemical composition represented by the Equation (I):
AxByCzN\u2003\u2003(I)
where x+y+z=1 and x is an amount of about 0 to about 1, y is an amount of about 0 to about 1 and z is an amount of about 0 to about 1; where A, B and C can be the same or different and can be selected from amongst indium, aluminum, boron or gallium and where N is nitrogen.
5. The article of claim 1, where the columnar film comprises columns having an average column diameter of about 0.1 micrometer to about 1 micrometer.
6. The article of claim 1, where the nanorods are aligned to be substantially perpendicular to the substrate.
7. The article of claim 1, where the nanorods are randomly aligned.
8. The article of claim 1, where the substrate comprises silica, alumina or gallium nitride, the interlayer comprises indium nitride and the group-III layer comprises gallium nitride.
9. The article of claim 1, where the substrate further comprises a buffer layer.
10. The article of claim 9, where the buffer layer comprises nuclei that nucleate the nanorods.
11. The article of claim 10, where the nuclei comprise a native group-III nitride or an alloy of a native group-III nitride.
12. A method comprising:
disposing on a substrate an interlayer comprising interlayer comprising aluminum nitride, gallium nitride, boron nitride, indium nitride or a solid solution of aluminum nitride, gallium nitride, boron nitride andor indium nitride; the interlayer being directly disposed upon the substrate and in contact with the substrate; where the interlayer comprises a columnar film andor nanorods andor nanotubes; and
disposing on the interlayer a group-III nitride layer; where the group-III nitride layer is free from cracks and wherein the interlayer is in direct contact with the group-III nitride layer.
13. The method of claim 12, further comprising disposing a buffer layer on the substrate, the buffer layer comprising a native group-III nitride or an alloy of a native group-III nitride.
14. The method of claim 12, where the interlayer is disposed on the substrate at a temperature of about 400 to about 800\xb0 C.
15. The method of claim 12, where the interlayer is disposed on the substrate at a temperature of about 575 to about 700\xb0 C.
16. The method of claim 12, where the interlayer is disposed on the substrate by reacting a first reactive precursor with a halogen containing compound and a nitrogen containing compound.
17. The method of claim 16, where the first reactive precursor is selected from the group consisting of boron tribromide, trimethylaluminum, ethyldimethylindium, boron trichloride, trimethylgallium, triethylgallium, trimethylindium, triethylindium, and a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing reactive precursors.
18. The method of claim 16, wherein a ratio of the halogen containing compound to the first reactive precursor is about 1 to about 6.
19. The method of claim 16, wherein a ratio of the halogen containing compound to the first reactive precursor is about 2 to about 4.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A process for the dehydration of gases, comprising:
a. absorbing water vapor by means of a hygroscopic liquid consisting essentially of one or more C2-C8 glycols and an additive capable of forming a minimum type azeotrope with water, selected from the group consisting of:
aliphatic alcohols with a number of carbon atoms ranging from 5 to 8, or mixtures thereof; and
cumene (isopropylbenzene)

\u2003with a glycolwater vapor molar ratio of from 6.5 to 65,
\u2003wherein the additive is used in concentrations of from 2 to 20% by weight, with respect to the glycol;
b. distilling the glycolwateradditive mixture to obtain a top product consisting essentially of the azeotropic mixture (additive+water) and a bottom product consisting essentially of glycol and additive;
c. recycling the distillation bottom product (hygroscopic absorption liquid) to the absorption stage; and
d. separating, in an at least two phase separator, the distillation top product which separates into one phase consisting essentially of the additive, to be recycled to distillation, and one phase consisting essentially of water, to be discharged outside the plant.
2. The process according to claim 1, wherein the additive is selected from cumene or an aliphatic alcohol with a number of carbon atoms of 6 or 7, or a mixture thereof.
3. The process according to claim 2, wherein the additive is 1-hexanol or 1-heptanol or a mixture thereof.
4. The process according to claim 1, wherein the absorption takes place at a temperature of from 10 to 50\xb0 C.
5. The process according to claim 1, wherein the gas is natural gas.
6. The process according to claim 1, wherein the additive is cumene.
7. The process according to claim 1, wherein additive is an aliphatic alcohol having 6 or 7 carbon atoms.
8. The process according to claim 1, wherein the distilling the glycolwateradditive mixture is conducted at a temperature of 150 to 225\xb0 C.
9. A process for the dehydration of gases, comprising:
a. absorbing water vapor from a gas with a hygroscopic liquid consisting essentially of (1) one or more C2-C8 glycols and (2) an additive capable of forming a minimum type azeotrope with water and selected from the group consisting of:
aliphatic alcohols with a number of carbon atoms ranging from 5 to 8, or mixtures thereof and
cumene,

\u2003with a glycolwater vapor molar ratio of from 6.5 to 65,
\u2003wherein the additive is used in an amount of from 2 to 20% by weight, with respect to the glycol;
b. distilling the glycolwateradditive mixture to obtain a top product consisting essentially of the additive and water as an azeotropic mixture and a bottom product consisting essentially of glycol and additive;
c. recycling the bottom product to (a); and
d. separating, in an at least two phase separator, the top product which separates into one phase consisting essentially of the additive and one phase consisting essentially of water.
10. The process according to claim 9, wherein the gas is natural gas.
11. The process according to claim 9, wherein the additive is an aliphatic alcohol having 6 or 7 carbon atoms.
12. The process according to claim 9, wherein the additive is 1-hexanol or 1-heptanol or a mixture thereof.
13. The process according to claim 9, wherein the additive is cumene.
14. The process according to claim 9, wherein the absorption is conducted at a temperature of from 10 to 50\xb0 C.
15. The process according to claim 9, wherein the distilling the glycolwateradditive mixture is conducted at a temperature of 150 to 225\xb0 C.
16. The process according to claim 9, further comprising recycling the one phase consisting essentially of the additive to the distillation.
17. The process according to claim 9, further comprising discharging the one phase consisting essentially of water.