Abstract: An ionic liquid piezoelectric gas sensor for the detection of polar and nonpolar organic vapors. The gas sensor can operate at high temperatures with a fast linear response which is also reversible. At high temperatures, the frequency change (?f) versus concentration (C) curve mirrors the Henry's gas law, such that the concentration of a gas sample in liquid solvent is proportional to the concentration or partial pressure of the sample in gas phase. The gas sensor can be used for quantitative analysis of gas vapors and determination of Henry constants.

Abstract: Methods of binding and detecting a microorganism on a solid substrate. The microorganism is bound on a solid substrate covalently bound to a capture agent having a saccharide moiety. A lectin capable of binding to the microorganism and the saccharide moiety of the capture agent is added to the sample to bind the microorganism on the solid substrate. Further provided are biosensor devices, such as a quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) device or a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) device, that incorporate the solid substrate for the detection of microorganisms.

Abstract: An apparatus and methods for binding an analyte of interest in a sample are provided. The apparatus comprises a substrate with an exposed surface with an compound, that is electrostatically charged or capable of forming hydrogen bonds, provided bound to the solid substrate. A recombinant single chain antibody (scFv) molecule specific for the analyte of interest, having one or more amino acids with charged or hydrogen-bond forming sidechains in a linker polypeptide portion, is bound to the layer on the solid substrate. When the analyte of interest is present in the sample the scFv binds the analyte to the solid substrate. The apparatus can be used with an immunoglobulin layer to detect Fc receptors, so as to detect microorganisms such as Staphylococcus aureus having protein A or protein G.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising one or more piezoelectric mass sensors for use in diagnostic and analytic processes, in particular for immunochemical detection of diagnostically relevant analytes in real time, is described. Each piezoelectric mass sensor comprises a piezoelectric crystal with a receptor surface which has immobilized thereon a lawn of recombinant antibodies comprising single VH chain or single-chain Fv (scFv) polypeptides specific for a particular antigen. Binding of antigen to the recombinant antibodies results in a change in mass on the receptor surface which is detected as a change in resonant frequency. In a preferred embodiment, the receptor layer is a precious metal such as gold which facilitates self-assembly of the recombinant antibodies into a lawn on the receptor surface via a cysteine residue at the carboxy terminus of the attachment polypeptide.

Abstract: An ionic liquid bound on an exposed surface of a device such as for detecting organic chemicals, preferably a gas sensor is described. The gas sensor can operate at high temperatures with a fast linear response which is also reversible. At high temperatures, the frequency change (?f) versus concentration (C) curve mirrors the Henry's gas law, such that the concentration of a gas sample in liquid solvent is proportional to the concentration or partial pressure of the sample in gas phase. A single gas sensor, or an array of sensors, can be used for the detection and quantitative analysis of gas vapors.

Abstract: A fluidic switching device is particularly for use in chromatography is described. The device allows a rapid switching between chromatographic columns; particularly, in gas chromatography.

Abstract: An improved magnetoelectric composite which incorporates LaSrMn or LaCaMn oxides as a magnetostrictive composition are described. The magnetostrictive composition preferably has the formula La0.7Sr0.3MnO3 or La0.7Ca0.3MnO3. The composites preferably have a magnetostrictive layer joined to a piezoelectric layer. The composites are useful for sensors, read-heads, storage media and high frequency transducer devices.

Abstract: Magnetoelectric multilayer composites comprising alternate layers of a bimetal ferrite wherein one of the metals is zinc and a piezoelectric material for facilitating conversion of an electric field into a magnetic field or vice versa. The preferred composites include cobalt, nickel, or lithium zinc ferrite and PZT films which are arranged in a bilayer or in alternating layers, laminated, and sintered at high temperature. The composites are useful in sensors for detection of magnetic fields (10); sensors for measuring rotation speed, linear speed, or acceleration; read-heads in storage devices by converting bits in magnetic storage devices to electrical signals; magnetoelectric media for storing information; and high frequency devices for electric field control of magnetic devices or magnetic field control of electric devices.

Abstract: An ionic liquid piezoelectric gas sensor for the detection of polar and nonpolar organic vapors. The gas sensor can operate at high temperatures with a fast linear response which is also reversible. At high temperatures, the frequency change (?f) versus concentration (C) curve mirrors the Henry's gas law, such that the concentration of a gas sample in liquid solvent is proportional to the concentration or partial pressure of the sample in gas phase. The gas sensor can be used for quantitative analysis of gas vapors and determination of Henry constants.

Abstract: Factors which are secreted by mouse embryonic fibroblasts which promote maintenance and support the growth of human embryonic stem (hES) cells are provided. The factors can be isolated by chromatographic techniques. The genes, cDNA and amino acid sequences for the factors are disclosed herein and identified. The cDNA of one factor encodes a deduced nitroreductase family containing protein with 285 amino acids and a mass of approximately 33 kD. This factor is identified as iodotyrosine dehalogenase. A second factor supporting undifferentiated hES cell growth is a 453 amino acid encoded by an aldehyde dehydrogenase gene. The use of recombinant factors can eliminate the need for an MEF feeder layer for growing hES cells without differentiation.

Abstract: A system and method detects a crash of a motor vehicle. A parameter of the motor vehicle is sensed and a continuous signal is responsively generated. A crash is detected as a function of the continuous signal and a hidden Markov model operating in a continuous mode.

Abstract: Magnetoelectric multilayer composites comprising alternate layers of a bimetal ferrite wherein one of the metals is zinc and a piezoelectric material for facilitating conversion of an electric field into a magnetic field or vice versa. The preferred composites include cobalt, nickel, or lithium zinc ferrite and PZT films which are arranged in a bilayer or in alternating layers, laminated, and sintered at high temperature. The composites are useful in sensors for detection of magnetic fields (10); sensors for measuring rotation speed, linear speed, or acceleration; read-heads in storage devices by converting bits in magnetic storage devices to electrical signals; magnetoelectric media for storing information; and high frequency devices for electric field control of magnetic devices or magnetic field control of electric devices.

Abstract: A system and method detects a crash of a motor vehicle. A parameter of the motor vehicle is sensed and a continuous signal is responsively generated. A crash is detected as a function of the continuous signal and a hidden Markov model operating in a continuous mode.

Abstract: Magnetoelectric multilayer composites comprising alternate layers of a bimetal ferrite wherein one of the metals is zinc and a piezoelectric material for facilitating conversion of an electric field into a magnetic field or vice versa. The preferred composites include cobalt, nickel, or lithium zinc ferrite and PZT films which are arranged in a bilayer or in alternating layers, laminated, and sintered at high temperature. The composites are useful in sensors for detection of magnetic fields; sensors for measuring rotation speed, linear speed, or acceleration; read-heads in storage devices by converting bits in magnetic storage devices to electrical signals; magnetoelectric media for storing information; and high frequency devices for electric field control of magnetic devices or magnetic field control of electric devices.

Abstract: A fluidic switching device is particularly for use in chromatography is described. The device allows a rapid switching between chromatographic columns; particularly, in gas chromatography.

Abstract: An improved magnetoelectric composite which incorporates LaSrMn or LaCaMn oxides as a magnetostrictive composition are described. The magnetostrictive composition preferably has the formula La0.7Sr0.3MnO3 or La0.7Ca0.3MnO3. The composites preferably have a magnetostrictive layer joined to a piezoelectric layer. The composites are useful for sensors, read-heads, storage media and high frequency transducer devices.

Abstract: Magnetoelectric multilayer composites comprising alternate layers of a bimetal ferrite wherein one of the metals is zinc and a piezoelectric material for facilitating conversion of an electric field into a magnetic field or vice versa. The preferred composites include cobalt, nickel, or lithium zinc ferrite and PZT films which are arranged in a bilayer or in alternating layers, laminated, and sintered at high temperature. The composites are useful in sensors for detection of magnetic fields (10); sensors for measuring rotation speed, linear speed, or acceleration; read-heads in storage devices by converting bits in magnetic storage devices to electrical signals; magnetoelectric media for storing information; and high frequency devices for electric field control of magnetic devices or magnetic field control of electric devices.

Abstract: A two-dimensional gas chromatograph with a primary column (14) and dual secondary columns (26, 28) is described. Flow rates in the primary column are less than those in the secondary columns due to an accumulation valve (16). Typically the ratio of second and third column flow capacities combined to primary column flow capacities between about 10 to 1 and 30 to 1. Volatile organic compounds are detected in environmental samples of air water, soil and in body fluids of animals and humans.

Abstract: A two-dimensional gas chromatograph with a primary column (14) and dual secondary columns (26, 28) is described. Flow rates in the primary column are less than those in the secondary columns due to an accumulation valve (16). Typically the ratio of second and third column flow capacities combined to primary column flow capacities between about 10 to 1 and 30 to 1. Volatile organic compounds are detected in environmental samples of air water, soil and in body fluids of animals and humans.