Abstract: The invention relates to a valve for opening and closing a channel (3) of a microfluidic system, respectively. According to the invention, the valve comprises an actuation medium (2) that undergoes a volume change with changing temperature; and a heater arrangement (5) for generating a temperature gradient in the actuation medium (2) with respect to the actuation medium's (2) distance relative to the channel (3); wherein due to an expansion or a contraction of the actuation medium (2) the channel (3) is closed or opened, respectively. When the heater arrangement (5) is activated in such a way that a higher temperature is generated in the actuation medium (2) which is nearer to the channel (3) and a lower temperature is generated in the actuation medium (2) which is further away from the channel (3) the valve can be closed and vice versa. Accordingly, such a valve for a microfluidic system is provided which can be reliably actuated during a long time of use.

Abstract: A dichroic guest-host polarizer comprises an oriented polymerized liquid crystal host and aligned therewith a dichroic guest. The dichroic ratio of the polarizer is about 15 or more. The polarizer may have a small thickness, be manufactured using a wet deposition method, optionally in accordance with a desired pattern, and be provided on the inside of a liquid crystal cell. Polymerizable liquid crystals having a highly ordered mesophase which may be suitable used to obtain highly oriented polymer films such as polarizer films are disclosed.

Abstract: The invention relates to phase-separated composite for microfluidic applications, whereby the polymerization/phase separation is performed in such a way that a top-layer of a certain ratio to the height of the composite is achieved in order to ensure the stability of the composite.

Abstract: According to the present invention, a process for treating cultured cells is provided, which comprises the steps of: a) providing planar, two-dimensional objects (“flakes”), wherein these objects comprise a material which, upon application of an extrinsic stimulus, is transferred from the planar state into a rolled state, b) providing cells on said flakes, and c) transferring the flakes from the planar state into a rolled state by application of said extrinsic stimulus.

Abstract: A medical imaging method includes energy-resolving x-ray projection data indicative of a contrast labeled scaffold seeded with biological cells for growing tissue and reconstructing the energy-resolved projection data to generate energy-resolved image data indicative of the contrast labeled scaffold.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a biotechnological device including a responsive hydrogel permeation layer with an intrinsic structural gradient.

Abstract: A display device comprising at least one substrate(1, 2), a first and a second electrode(7, 8), a display medium (12) and an optically active layer(3, 5), wherein said optically active layer comprises a polarizer (3) and is arranged between said substrate and said display medium, and wherein said substrate is made of a birefringent material.

Abstract: A method for the manufacture of a polarizer is provided. The method comprises providing a liquid crystal composition comprising a liquid crystal host and a viscosity enhancer; providing a thin film of said composition on a substrate; orienting said liquid crystal host to obtain an aligned film in a first liquid crystal mesophase, wherein the liquid crystal host is aligned planar to said substrate; gelating said viscosity enhancer to congeal said film; and obtaining a second liquid crystal state in said congealed film. By the use of a viscosity enhancer in the composition, homeotropic alignment of the liquid crystal host can be suppressed.

Abstract: A mirror device (1) which can be simultaneously used for display purposes, based on e.g. an LCD display (5) with a polarizing mirror (2) placed in front of it. When the surface area occupied by the display is smaller than the surface area of the mirror, the smaller display can be easily recognized at the front of the mirror. This is masked by introducing absorbing polarizers (30, 40).

Abstract: This invention provides a biosensor solid or hydrogel substrate comprising one or more temperature indicating agents, each of said one or more temperature indicating agents operating by changing its optical properties and being deposited in and/or at the surface of the biosensor solid or hydrogel substrate as one or more layers and/or spots

Abstract: To improve automation, especially in 2D gel electrophoresis of proteins, DNA etc., a separation device (1) has a physically activatable means for releasing surfactant, eg. SDS, into the gel fr SDS-PAGE. In one embodiment, surfactant-bound polymer is photolytically cleaved; in another, a barrier layer (30) is melted/destroyed to allow surfactant from reservoir (20) to reach the separation area (10). The barrier layer may comprise a novolac.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for use in separation, especially isoelectric focusing employing “pH sink regions”, whereby the direction of change in pH is reversed.

Abstract: A method and sensor for the detection of luminescence radiation generated by at least one luminophore is disclosed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a substrate material for analyzing fluids which has first areas with a high porosity and second areas with a lower porosity.

Abstract: The invention relates to a separation medium for chromatography which is structured in that way that the flow rate is in one preselected direction larger than perpendicular to that direction.

Abstract: A mirror device (1) which can be simultaneously used for display purposes, based on e.g. an LCD display (5) with a polarizing mirror (2) placed in front of it. When the surface area occupied by the display is smaller than the surface area of the mirror, the smaller display can be easily recognized at the front of the mirror. This is masked by introducing absorbing polarizers (30, 40).

Abstract: The invention relates to a substrate material for analyzing one or more fluid samples for the presence, amount or identity of one or more analytes in the samples, whereby the substrate material is adapted in that way that a flow of the sample or parts thereof in and/or with the substrate material is influenced and/or caused by phase transitions, preferably photoinducable phase transitions, in selected areas of the substrate material.

Abstract: The invention relates to a substrate material for analyzing one or more fluid samples for the presence, amount or identity of one or more analytes in the samples, whereby the substrate material is adapted in that way that a flow of the sample or parts thereof in and/or with the substrate material is influenced and/or caused by phase transitions, preferably temperature-inducible phase transitions, in selected areas of the substrate material.

Abstract: The invention relates to a substrate material for analyzing fluids which is elastic and allows radial lateral movement of sample within the substrate material upon application of pressure.

Abstract: A method for the manufacture of a birefringent layer with tilted optical axis, comprising providing a liquid crystal mixture comprising liquid crystal molecules and a volatile surfactant, aligning said liquid crystal mixture, and evaporate at least part of said volatile compound from the mixture to alter the tilt of the optical axis of said liquid crystal mixture.