Abstract: The present invention provides microfluidic devices and methods for using the same. In particular, microfluidic devices of the present invention are useful in conducting a variety of assays and high throughput screening. Microfluidic devices of the present invention include elastomeric components and comprise a main flow channel; a plurality of branch flow channels; a plurality of control channels; and a plurality of valves. Preferably, each of the valves comprises one of the control channels and an elastomeric segment that is deflectable into or retractable from the main or branch flow channel upon which the valve operates in response to an actuation force applied to the control channel.

Abstract: The present invention provides high capacity and high voltage Li-ion batteries that have a carbonaceous cathode and a nonaqueous electrolyte solution comprising LiF salt and an anion receptor that binds the fluoride ion. The batteries can comprise dual intercalating electrode Li ion batteries. Methods of the present invention use a cathode and electrode pair, wherein each of the electrodes reversibly intercalate ions provided by a LiF salt to make a high voltage and high specific capacity dual intercalating electrode Li-ion battery. The present methods and systems provide high-capacity batteries particularly useful in powering devices where minimizing battery mass is important.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a generic approach to the design of single-path, switchless multi-resonant, multi-band power amplifiers. In the preferred embodiments, the amplifier includes one or more amplification stages, a switchless, multi-resonant, input impedance network, a switchless, multi-resonant, output impedance network, and if multi-stage, a switchless, multi-resonant, interstage impedance network between each amplification stage. Multi-band amplification is accomplished without the need for externally-applied, frequency-indicating control signals. Moreover, the amplifier may be designed to provide concurrent multi-band amplification or non-concurrent amplification.

Abstract: The invention is a method of introducing porous membranes into MEMS elements by supporting the membranes by frames to form an heterostructure. This is achieved by attaching to a structured or porous substrate one or more monolithically fabricated frames and membranes. Having membranes disposed on frames enables them to be batch processed and facilitates separation, handling and mounting within MEMS or nanofluidic systems. Applications include, but are not limited to, filters for gases or liquids, electron transmissive windows and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) accessible arrays of nanotest tubes containing liquid phases and other sample states. The invention includes the apparatus made by the method.

Abstract: This invention relates in general to a method for molecular fingerprinting. The method can be used for forensic identification (e.g. DNA fingerprinting, especially by VNTR), bacterial typing, and human/animal pathogen diagnosis. More particularly, molecules such as polynucleotides (e.g. DNA) can be assessed or sorted by size in a microfabricated device that analyzes the polynucleotides according to restriction fragment length polymorphism. In a microfabricated device according to the invention, DNA fragments or other molecules can be rapidly and accurately typed using relatively small samples, by measuring for example the signal of an optically-detectable (e.g., fluorescent) reporter associated with the polynucleotide fragments.

Abstract: The present invention provides for the selective covalent modification of nucleic acids with redox active moieties such as transition metal complexes. Electron donor and electron acceptor moieties are covalently bound to the ribose-phosphate backbone of a nucleic acid at predetermined positions. The resulting complexes represent a series of new derivatives that are bimolecular templates capable of transferring electrons over very large distances at extremely fast rates. These complexes possess unique structural features which enable the use of an entirely new class of bioconductors and photoactive probes.

Abstract: A method using quartz resonators probes dynamically the mechanical characteristics of thin films. This method probes the film properties at the anti-resonance frequency where the vibrational amplitude is smallest, minimizing nonlinear contributions in the dependence of the film mechanical characteristics on the resonator electrical characteristics. Determination of the mechanical characteristics involves impedance analysis, transformation of .vertline.Y.vertline. and .theta. data into a linear form so that the conductance and susceptance at the frequency of minimum absolute admittance can be accurately determined, and use of a two-dimensional Newton-Raphson numerical method to determine the values of the storage modulus G', loss modulus G", as well as various other film and resonator properties.