Abstract: The invention relates to a probe arrangement (10g) for exchanging in a controllable way liquids with micro-sized samples of material like biological cells, especially in connection with an scanning probe microscope, said probe arrangement (10g) comprising a probe holder (11) with at least one embedded first channel (18) and a cantilever (12) with at least one embedded second channel (15) and being provided to be attached to said probe holder (11) in a way that at least one aperture (19) of the first channel (18) is connected to at least one aperture (17) of the second channel (15) in a way that permits the liquid-tight transfer of a liquid between said first and second channels (15, 18). A safe and easy use of the probe arrangement is achieved by having the cantilever (12) permanently attached to said probe holder (11) to form a prefabricated probe unit (10g).

Abstract: A switching device for switching a current between a first connection and a second connection including a series circuit of at least two JFETs (J1-Jn), with further JFETs (J2-Jn), which are connected in series to a lowest JFET (J1), and wherein a wiring network for stabilizing the gate voltages of the JFETs (J1-Jn) is connected between the second connection and the first termination. One additional circuit is connected between each gate connection (GJ2, GJ3 . . . GjN) of the further JFETs (J2-Jn) and associated cathode connections of diodes (DAV) of the wiring network. During switch-on and in the switched-on state, said additional circuit keeps the potential of the respective gate connection higher than the potential of the associated source connection.

Abstract: A mass spectrometry system based on the general principle of accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) is disclosed. An ion source (10) generates a beam (B) of ions having a negative charge state. A first mass analyzer (20) transmits only ions having a predetermined mass. The ions are passed through a stripper target (80) comprising helium and/or hydrogen as a stripping gas to change the charge state of said ions from negative to positive charge and to dissociate molecular ions by collisions. A second mass analyzer (110, 130) transmits ions in charge state 1+ having the predetermined mass, which are detected by a detector (140). By using helium and/or hydrogen gas and detecting ions in charge state 1+, it becomes possible to use kinetic energies below 200 keV without excessive transmission losses due to angular straggling. At sufficiently low energies, no additional acceleration is required after ions have been extracted from the ion source.

Abstract: A hopper having a passage through which a medicine can be passed downward is provided. A part of a lower portion of the hopper is a deformable portion having flexibility, and the deformable portion is deformable so as to open and close the passage. According to this configuration, the deformable portion that is a part of the hopper is deformed to open and close the passage. Thus, there is no portion such as an opening and closing plate on which the medicine remains, thereby preventing a gap in which the medicine remains from being formed in the hopper, and preventing the medicine from easily remaining in the hopper.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a bioanalytical device consisting of a microwell array with microwell (2) that are filled with assay components (12, 15, 36), wherein detection probes (36) used in the assay (10) are metal nanoparticles (11, 12) or fluorescent compounds, and wherein the microwell array is connected and/or connectable to a sample that is on a flat substrate (6) to quantify the amount of a ligand (35) in the sample by using a detection mechanism. The detection mechanism is based on change in the optical properties of some of the assay components (12, 15, 36) upon contact with the ligand (35). The present invention also relates further to a method for detecting and quantifying molecules using said bioanalytical device.

Abstract: The invention relates to the deposition of nanoparticles from the gas phase of the a thermal plasma of a gas discharge and the subsequent attachment of said nanoparticles to the substrate particles. The invention can be used for increasing the flowability of solid bulk material. Particularly the pharmaceutical industry utilizes numerous intermediate and final products in the form of powders which cause processing problems because of the poor flowability thereof. With fine-grained materials, undesired adhesive effects occur foremost because of Van der Waals' forces. Said effects can be reduced by applying nanoparticles to the surface of the material that is to be treated. The invention is characterized by a combined process in which the nanoparticles are produced and are attached to the substrate surface. Using a non-thermal plasma additionally makes it possible to treat temperature-sensitive materials that are often used in the pharmaceutical industry.

Abstract: A mass spectrometry system based on the general principle of accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) is disclosed. An ion source (10) generates a beam (B) of ions having a negative charge state. A first mass analyzer (20) transmits only ions having a predetermined mass. The ions are passed through a stripper target (80) comprising helium and/or hydrogen as a stripping gas to change the charge state of said ions from negative to positive charge and to dissociate molecular ions by collisions. A second mass analyzer (110, 130) transmits ions in charge state 1+ having the predetermined mass, which are detected by a detector (140). By using helium and/or hydrogen gas and detecting ions in charge state 1+, it becomes possible to use kinetic energies below 200 keV without excessive transmission losses due to angular straggling. At sufficiently low energies, no additional acceleration is required after ions have been extracted from the ion source.

Abstract: A VECSEL-type surface-emitting semiconductor laser device is manufactured by providing a first component part (10) comprising a layered first mirror (12), providing a second component part (20) comprising a layered active region (22), permanently joining the second component part to the first component part to form an integral unit, and arranging a second mirror (32) so as to form an optical cavity containing the active region. This method of manufacture enables production at lower cost and enables greater flexibility in the choice of materials for the mirrors and the active region well as for the substrates on which the first mirror and the active region are deposited, as compared to traditional monolithic epitaxy methods. Preferably, the laser device is a IV-VI-type VECSEL emitting in the mid-IR range of the electromagnetic spectrum.

Abstract: A method for monitoring a container or the contents in a volume (39, 47), including allowing at least one of a beta, gamma, neutron, and proton radiation emerging from said container or volume (39, 47), and/or secondary particles or radiation brought forth by said radiation, to pass through a measuring volume (12, 12?) of at least one radiation detector (10, 10?, 10?), said measuring volume (12, 12?) containing a noble gas and/or a noble gas isotope, or a mixture of noble gases and/or noble gas isotopes and detecting the photons generated within said measuring volume (12, 12?) by an interaction (18, W1, . . . , W4) of the radiation with the noble gas or noble gases and/or their isotopes of the measuring volume (12, 12?). The output of said photon detecting means (15, 16, 53) is then used to derive information about the container or the contents in said volume (39, 47), whereby this information is used to discriminate protons, neutrons, beta and gamma rays respectively.

Abstract: The invention relates to a probe arrangement (10g) for exchanging in a controllable way liquids with micro-sized samples of material like biological cells, especially in connection with an scanning probe microscope, said probe arrangement (10g) comprising a probe holder (11) with at least one embedded first channel (18) and a cantilever (12) with at least one embedded second channel (15) and being provided to be attached to said probe holder (11) in a way that at least one aperture (19) of the first channel (18) is connected to at least one aperture (17) of the second channel (15) in a way that permits the liquid-tight transfer of a liquid between said first and second channels (15, 18). A safe and easy use of the probe arrangement is achieved by having the cantilever (12) permanently attached to said probe holder (11) to form a prefabricated probe unit (10g).

Abstract: The invention is directed to different optical active elements (1, 20, 22) such as tunable diffraction gratings and tunable phase shifters having in general a similar setup. The optical active elements (1, 20, 22) comprise an intermediate layer (4) made out of a deformable material which is mechanically interconnected to a driving means. The driving means comprises a first and a second driving plate (2, 3) arranged in general opposite to each other on opposite sides of and at least partially covering the intermediate layer (4) such that a local compression of the intermediate layer (4) by the driving plates (2, 3) causes a local reduction of the thickness in a first direction. This reduction in a first direction causes a secondary deformation of the intermediate layer in a second direction which results in a change of the optical behavior of the optical active element.

Abstract: The present application describes a method for transmitting data through a MIMO-OFDM system which requires the computation of a function f(H(sk)), where H is the channel matrix and sk=exp(j*2*pi*k/N). The method splits function f into a first, nonpolynomial part, which is in turn a function of one or more polynomial functions in sk.

Abstract: A method for making an organic field-effect device (e.g. TFT or SC-FET device) is proposed, comprising the Steps of (a) depositing an polymeric dielectric with a repellency to detrimental molecules from Solution or from the vapor phase to form an insulating layer and (b) depositing an oligomer layer which is grown from the vapor phase, the oligomer layer being adjacent to the insulating layer in the completed device. Furthermore the correspondingly produced organic field effect devices are disclosed.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a tunable diffraction grating (1) with optically active elements (5) arranged at a distance (A) next to each other. The optically active elements (5) are displaceable relative to each other in a lateral direction (x, y) and mechanically interconnected to a layer (4), which is made out of a deformable material. A deformation of the layer (4) in a direction (z) in general perpendicular to the lateral direction (x, y) causes a change in the relative distance (A) of the optically active elements (5).

Abstract: The invention is directed to different optical active elements (1, 20, 22) such as tunable diffraction gratings and tunable phase shifters having in general a similar setup. The optical active elements (1, 20, 22) comprise an intermediate layer (4) made out of a deformable material which is mechanically interconnected to a driving means. The driving means comprises a first and a second driving plate (2, 3) arranged in general opposite to each other on opposite sides of and at least partially covering the intermediate layer (4) such that a local compression of the intermediate layer (4) by the driving plates (2, 3) causes a local reduction of the thickness in a first direction. This reduction in a first direction causes a secondary deformation of the intermediate layer in a second direction which results in a change of the optical behavior of the optical active element.

Abstract: A method for monitoring a container or the contents in a volume (39, 47), including allowing at least one of a beta, gamma, neutron, and proton radiation emerging from said container or volume (39, 47), and/or secondary particles or radiation brought forth by said radiation, to pass through a measuring volume (12, 12?) of at least one radiation detector (10, 10?, 10?), said measuring volume (12, 12?) containing a noble gas and/or a noble gas isotope, or a mixture of noble gases and/or noble gas isotopes and detecting the photons generated within said measuring volume (12, 12?) by an interaction (18, W1, . . . , W4) of the radiation with the noble gas or noble gases and/or their isotopes of the measuring volume (12, 12?). The output of said photon detecting means (15, 16, 53) is then used to derive information about the container or the contents in said volume (39, 47), whereby this information is used to discriminate protons, neutrons, beta and gamma rays respectively.

Abstract: State-of-the-art synthesis of carbon nanostructures (25) by chemical vapor deposition involve heating a catalyst material to high temperatures up 700-1000° C. in a furnace and flowing hydrocarbon gases through the reactor over a period of time. In order to enable a self assembly of nanostructures (25) on microchips (10) without damaging the microchip (10) by high temperatures the proposed manufacturing method comprises: A layer (1) contains indentations (3) on which nanostructures (25) are to be integrated and the indentations (3) are heated up by a current (I) conducted to the layer (1) via contact pads (2).

Abstract: The invention relates to the deposition of nanoparticles from the gas phase of the a thermal plasma of a gas discharge and the subsequent attachment of said nanoparticles to the substrate particles. The invention can be used for increasing the flowability of solid bulk material. Particularly the pharmaceutical industry utilizes numerous intermediate and final products in the form of powders which cause processing problems because of the poor flowability thereof. With fine-grained materials, undesired adhesive effects occur foremost because of Van der Waals'forces. Said effects can be reduced by applying nanoparticles to the surface of the material that is to be treated. The invention is characterized by a combined process in which the nanoparticles are produced and are attached to the substrate surface. Using a non-thermal plasma additionally makes it possible to treat temperature-sensitive materials that are often used in the pharmaceutical industry.

Abstract: A roll coating method for preparing a coated substrate with structured surface of the coating is described. Said method comprises application of a polymer based coating fluid to a substrate surface by means of a coating fluid application roll and then curing the applied coating, wherein the polymer based coating fluid is a fluid showing Bingham or Herschel-Bulkley flow behavior with a yield stress ?0>10 dyn cm?2, in particular a fluid having low viscosity at high shear rate, fast viscosity enhancement in the absence of shear stress and a high yield stress. Applications of such produced surfaces are release films, e.g. for pressure sensitive adhesives, controlled release adhesives and self-cleaning surfaces and friction coefficient reducing surfaces.

Abstract: A novel magnetic resonance (MR) imaging or spectroscopy method is presented, in which a main magnetic field is generated in an object by a main magnet and superimposed magnetic fields and adiofrequency fields are generated according to an MR sequence for forming images or spectra. Object signals are acquired from the object with at least one object detector during execution of the MR sequence. Further, additional data are acquired from at least one monitoring field probe positioned in the vicinity of and surrounding the object, during execution of the MR sequence. The additional data from the monitoring field probes are used for adjusting the MR sequence such as to correct for imperfections in the field response of the object detectors, and the additional data from the monitoring field probes are used in conjunction with the object signals for reconstruction of the images or spectra.