Abstract: A method of forming a polished semiconductor structure comprises polishing a surface of a semiconductor structure by chemical mechanical polishing. Pressure applied to the surface is reduced during the polishing, or a rotation rate of a polishing surface relative to the surface is reduced during the polishing.

Abstract: A method of estimating a radiation dose deposited on a radiochromic film based on absorption measurements at least at two wavelengths as well as devices implementing the estimation method. The method includes the following steps: (a) measuring absorption values at a first wavelength and a second wavelength; (b) converting the absorption values at the two wavelengths to dose values at the corresponding wavelengths by using a calibration procedure; (c) obtaining a weighting factor curve (weighting factor vs. dose) at each wavelengths; and (d) obtaining an estimate of irradiation dose at the location on the radiochromic film by minimizing the objective function which takes the weighting factors and the dose values at both wavelengths as input.

Abstract: Methods for the treatment of tumors and cancer by exploiting the surface expression of the usually nuclear-localized protein, nucleolin.

Abstract: A method of removing a defect from a gate stack on a substrate, comprises treating the gate stack with a plasma. The plasma comprises fluorine, the gate stack comprises a gate layer and a metallic layer, and substantially no photoresist is present on the substrate.

Abstract: A method for fabricating scanning probe microscopy (SPM) probes is disclosed. The probes are fabricated by forming a structural layer on a substrate, wherein the substrate forms a cavity. A sacrificial layer is located between the substrate and the structural layer. Upon forming the structural layer, the sacrificial layer is selectively removed, and the probe is then released from the substrate. The substrate may then later be reused to form additional probes. Additionally, a contact printing method using a scanning probe microscopy probe is also disclosed.

Abstract: A colonic cleansing kit comprises an osmotic colonic evacuant, and an oral rehydration mixture. The oral rehydration mixture comprises sugar, and salt. The sugar comprises a glucose containing saccharide, and the salt comprises sodium.

Abstract: A novel biosensor comprises at least one fluorophore and at least two quenchers, and is capable of selectively and specifically detecting the presence of an ion in the presence of other ions.

Abstract: A method of forming a phosphosilicate glass, includes flowing a pre-deposition gas comprising an inert gas into a deposition chamber containing a substrate, where the temperature of the substrate is at a pre-deposition temperature of at least 400° C; continuously increasing the temperature of gas in the chamber to a deposition temperature and simultaneously continuously increasing a flow rate of phosphine and silane until a phosphine:silane deposition ratio is achieved; and depositing the phosphosilicate glass on the substrate at the deposition temperature and at the phosphine:silane deposition ratio.

Abstract: A composition comprises a protein, a polyol, and a metal. The protein is stabilized by the polyol and the metal, and is protected from denaturing when in contact with an organic solvent. The polyol may be a hydrocarbon containing two or more hydroxyl groups (—OH) bonded to carbon. The metal may be divalent.

Abstract: A method of forming particles, comprises accelerating a first stream comprising a first liquid, applying a charging voltage of at most 1.5 kV to the first stream, and vibrating the first stream, to form particles.

Abstract: A transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE) agent is inactivated by exposing the TSE agent to a thermostable proteolytic enzyme at elevated temperature and at acid or alkaline pH. Following this step, or separately, presence of TSE infectivity is detected by detection of dimers of prion protein.

Abstract: Methods of analyzing mercury containing samples for inorganic and organomercurial complexes are disclosed. The methods are highly sensitive and are especially suited to samples containing significant amounts of organic matter. Kits and devices for mercury analysis are also disclosed.

Abstract: A probe array for includes a handle, a first probe and a second probe. The first probe has a first shank, connected to the handle, and a first tip; and the second probe has a second shank, connected to the handle, and second tip. The first tip contains a different material from the second tip. The probe array may be used to write on a surface by contacting the first tip with a surface, where a first ink is on the first tip. This writing method may further include lifting the first tip from the surface and contacting the second tip with the surface.

Abstract: A method of electrolytic synthesis comprises applying a potential between a first electrode and a second electrode. The first electrode is in contact with a first fluid stream in a channel, the second electrode is in contact with a second fluid stream in the channel, and the first steam and the second stream are in parallel laminar flow in the channel.

Abstract: A method of making a semiconductor structure includes depositing a nitride layer, on a metallic layer, by PECVD. The metallic layer is on a gate layer containing silicon, and the gate layer is on a semiconductor substrate.

Abstract: A fuel cell is described that includes (a) a first electrode; (b) a second electrode; and (c) a channel contiguous with at least a portion of the first and the second electrodes. When a first liquid is contacted with the first electrode, a second liquid is contacted with the second electrode, and the first and the second liquids flow through the channel, a multistream laminar flow is established between the first and the second liquids. Electronic devices containing such electrochemical cells and methods for their use are also described.

Abstract: The activity of multiple proteins in a single living cell, portion of a cell or in a group of cells is simultaneously measured by introducing reporter molecules into the cell(s) or a portion thereof, chemically modifying the reporter(s) by the enzyme of interest, terminating the modification reactions, removing the reporter(s) and modified reporter(s), and determining the amount of enzyme activity present by measuring or comparing the amount of reporter(s) and modified reporter(s) present. By performing a series of experiments at different time points, conditions, and varieties of cell types, a database is developed for molecular cellular mechanisms in health and disease states. By exposing cells to a variety of compounds data for drug development and screening is provided.

Abstract: A method of making a semiconductor structure, comprises etching a nitride layer with a plasma to form a patterned nitride layer. The nitride layer is on a semiconductor substrate, a photoresist layer is on the nitride layer, and the plasma is prepared from a gas mixture comprising CF4 and CHF3 at a pressure of at least 10 mTorr.

Abstract: A holder for an x-ray sensing device having a first retention member and a handle. The first retention member includes a back plate, a first retention guide, and a second retention guide. The first retention guide is connected with an end of the back plate and the second retention guide connected with an opposing end of the back plate. The first retention guide faces the second retention guide. The handle is connected with the first retention member. Preferably, the first retention member includes a retention stop on a front surface of the back plate and between the retention guides.

Abstract: A fluid circuit includes a membrane having a first side, a second side opposite the first side, and a pore extending from the first side to the second side. The circuit also includes a first channel containing fluid extending along the first side of the membrane and a second channel containing fluid extending along the second side of the membrane and crossing the first channel. The circuit also includes an electrical source in electrical communication with at least one of the first fluid and second fluid for selectively developing an electrical potential between fluid in the first channel and fluid in the second channel. This causes at least one component of fluid to pass through the pore in the membrane from one of the first channel and the second channel to the other of the first channel and the second channel.