Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a substrate for performing ionization desorption on porous silicon, methods for performing such ionization desorption and methods of making substrates. One embodiment directed to a substrate for performing ionization desorption on silicon comprises a substrate having a surface having a formula of: As used above, X is H or Y, where at least at least twenty five mole percent of X is Y and Y is hydroxyl, or —O—R1, or O—SiR1, R2, R3 wherein R1, R2, and R3 are selected from the group consisting of alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aromatic, amino alkyl, amino alkenyl, amino alkynyl, pyridinyl, pyrridonyl, and carbonyl, alcohol and carboxylic acid derivatives thereof having one to twenty five atoms, and hydroxyl, amino, amide, carboxyl, ester, carbonyl, sulfhydryl, sulfonyl, phosphoral, bromo, iodo, chloro and fluoro derivatives. The letter “n” represents an integer from 1 to infinity and any vacant valences are silicon atoms, hydrogen or impurities.

Abstract: Destructible surfactants and methods of using same are provided. The invention includes anionic surfactants having a dioxolane or dioxane functional group which enables the surfactant to be broken down under acidic conditions. The invention also includes methods of making anionic surfactants and methods of using anionic surfactants in a variety of applications.

Abstract: The present invention provides a device, system, and associated methods to actively or passively sample air by directing it onto the surface of a porous light-absorbing semiconductor, for example, a desorption/ionization on porous silicon (“DIOS”) chip. Upon adsorption of an analyte, the surface may be analyzed directly by laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Because the process of laser desorption/ionization and subsequent mass detection does not require elevated temperatures, thermal degradation of analytes is avoided.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a substrate for performing ionization desorption on porous silicon, methods for performing such ionization desorption and methods of making substrates. One embodiment directed to a substrate for performing ionization desorption on silicon comprises a substrate having a surface having a formula of: As used above, X is H or Y, where at least at least twenty five mole percent of X is Y and Y is hydroxyl, or —O—R1 or O—SiR1,R2,R3 wherein R1,R2, and R3 are selected from the group consisting C1 to C6 straight, cyclic, or branched alkyl, aryl, or alkoxy group, a hydroxyl group, or a siloxane group, and R6 may be a C1 to C36 straight, cyclic, or branched alkyl (e.g.

Abstract: Methods, products and kits are provided for attaching agents to a skin surface via microparticles using endogenous or exogenous transglutaminase.

Abstract: Methods, products and kits are provided for attaching agents to body tissues using transglutaminase.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for enhancing chemical reactions of molecules, e.g., biomolecules, with destructible surfactants. The chemical reactions may involve and/or be associate with analysis, e.g., solubilizing, separating, purifying and/or characterizing the molecules. In one aspect, the anionic surfactants of the present invention may be selectively broken up at relatively low pH. The resulting breakdown products of the surfactants may be removed from the molecule/sample with relative ease. The invention has applicability in a variety of analytical techniques.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide methods and apparatus for comparing the proteome and or metabonome of an organism or culture to standard values, over time, or after a change has taken place, a pertubation, with respect to the organinsm or culture.

Abstract: Methods, products, compositions and kits are provided for attaching agents to tissue with a linking molecule in the presence of transglutaminase. The linking molecule and/or agent is a substrate of transglutaminase. The agent can be a nonprotein or an enzyme such as cholinesterase or phosphodiesterase. The transglutaminase may be exogenously added or be endogenous in tissue. In specific embodiments, the agent is not a transglutaminase substrate and the linking molecule is a substrate for transglutaminase containing at least two contiguous linked glutamines or at least three contiguous linked lysines, and may be a polymer. A conjugate of the agent and the linking molecule may be applied to tissue, and in the presence of transglutaminase covalently bonded to the tissue via the linking molecule.

Abstract: A novel Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-MS) desalting sample support plate is described. The plate comprises a sample presentation surface, wherein the sample presentation surface comprises at least one receiving surface of an absorbent layer, wherein the absorbent layer retains selected molecules on the receiving surface. Methods for making and using the sample support plate in conventional and automated MALDI-MS are also described.

Abstract: A soil penetrometer and method of using this apparatus are disclosed. The method relates to the application of a constant force to a soil penetrometer, the penetrometer capable of detecting soil moisture content by time domain reflectrometry. The use of the constant force eliminates the variable nature of this parameter conventionally encountered in the art, and therefore reduces the complexity of soil parameter calculation.