Abstract: Methods and apparatus for making and sensing ice. Also, apparatus and methods for sensing the change of phase of a substance. In one embodiment, a fringe-effect capacitor is placed proximate to a substance, such as water, which is undergoing a phase change, such as the change of phase from the liquid state to the solid state. During this change, the dielectric constant of the substance changes, and thereby changes the electrical flux between conductors of the fringe-effect capacitor. Also, apparatus and methods as described above, and using a capacitor but not a fringe-effect capacitor.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring the presence of an analyte in a fluid, including a light source adapted to shine an energetic beam of light onto a layer incorporating or in contact with fluorophore-tagged organic molecules. The fluorophore-tagged organic molecules are configured to bind with at least one predetermined analyte to produce at least one organometallic fluorescent compound having at least one characteristic fluorescent wavelength. A photodetector is positioned adjacent the layer of, or surface in contact with, fluorophore-tagged organic molecules to receive fluorescent light excited therefrom. A microprocessor is operationally connected to the light source and to the photodetector. Exposure of the fluorophore-tagged organic molecules to the analyte allows the formation of at least one organometallic fluorescent compound in the layer of fluorophore-tagged organic molecules or in contact with the surface of the layer.

Abstract: A multi-layered printed circuit board having a plurality of burried passive elements and a method for producing the circuit board wherein the passive elements can include resistors, capacitors and inductors. The method includes the steps of manufacturing individual layers of the multi-layer printed circuit board with electrical circuits thereon and subsequently screening polymer inks having resistive, dielectric or magnetic values to form the resistors, capacitors and inductors. Each layer of the circuit board is cured to dry the polymer ink and thereafter the individual layers are bonded together to form the multi-layer board.

Abstract: Metal matrix composites are manufactured in a vacuum die casting machine. Solid aggregate material is placed in a die, the die is evacuated, and molten metal is driven by a piston to infiltrate the solid aggregate material where it subsequently solidifies to form a metal matrix composite.

Abstract: Metal matrix composites are manufactured in a vacuum die casting machine. Solid aggregate material, at least 65 volume percent, is placed in a die, the die is evacuated and heated, and molten metal is driven by a piston to infiltrate the solid aggregate material where it subsequently solidifies to form a metal matrix composite.

Abstract: Single crystals consisting of various compositions from the quaternary silicate system Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 --CaO--MgO--SiO.sub.2 are grown from the melt. The physical and chemical properties of the single crystal silicates, including akermanite (Ca.sub.2 MgSi.sub.2 O.sub.7), cordierite (Mg.sub.2 Al.sub.4 Si.sub.5 O.sub.18), and mullite (Al.sub.6 Si.sub.2 O.sub.13), make the silicates useful, for example, as substrates for epitaxial semiconductor films.