Abstract: Disclosed are polymerizable compositions, methods, and articles and coatings related to multi-polymer networks wherein at least one of the polymer networks is based on particles. In an embodiment, the polymerizable compositions comprise at least two parts: 1) a polymer forming part comprising one or more compounds comprising a polymerizable group, wherein a composition consisting of the polymer forming part, if 90% or more polymerized, has a Tg of less than 25° C. and a prescribed volume average cross-link density at 100° C.; and 2) swellable particles comprising cross-links and having a Tg of less than 25° C. and a prescribed cross-link density. The swellable particles swell to a prescribed swelling ratio by mass from their non-swollen state if the swellable particles are swollen to equilibrium in a mixture consisting of the polymer forming part and the swellable particles.

Abstract: DNA-coated colloids are introduced that can rearrange and anneal using single-stranded DNA coatings with thicknesses that are smaller than the colloidal particles, and with areal densities 5—than previously achieved. Micrometer-sized colloidal particles, such as poly(styrene), poly(methylmethacrylate) (PMMA), silica and titania, and 3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl methacrylate (TPM), are coated with DNA by strain-promoted alkyne-azide cycloaddition. This enables growth of large colloidal crystals from a wide range of micrometer-sized DNA-coated colloids. When quenched from above to below the melting temperature, the rate of crystal formation exhibits the familiar maximum for intermediate temperature quenches observed in metallic alloys, but over a temperature range smaller by two orders of magnitude, owing to the highly temperature-sensitive diffusion between aggregated DNA-coated colloids.

Abstract: An analog-to-digital converting apparatus includes an analog controllable gain amplifier (A.sub.1) connected to an input of an analog-to-digital converter A/N. A gain control signal of the amplifier (A.sub.1) is obtained from at least one comparator (D16, D240, D224) for making a binary comparison between an output level of the analog-to-digital converter (A/N) and at least one predetermined threshold, and circuitry (SEL2, S.sub.2, I.sub.2) for controlling with respect to time the gain of the amplifier (A.sub.1) as a function of the result of the comparison.