Abstract: A method of decomposing a cured aromatic epoxy resin uses a molten salt bath at less than about 350° C. The molten salt bath includes a plurality of alkali metal hydroxides. The cured aromatic epoxy resin can be in intimate physical contact with a metal or alloy. The cured aromatic epoxy resin can be patterned by a lithographic method. The lithographic method can be multibeam interference lithography to form a three-dimensional photonic crystal template on a conductive substrate for electrodeposition of metal. Contacting the three-dimensional photonic crystal template with the electrodeposited metal with the molten salt bath can form a metal matrix device displaying a periodic pattern that is the inverse of the periodic pattern of the decomposed three-dimensional photonic crystal template.

Abstract: A method to control the density of a three-dimensional photonic crystal template involves changing the irradiation time from at least four laser beams to yield a periodic percolating matrix of mass and voids free of condensed matter from a photoresist composition. The photoresist composition includes a photoinitiator at a concentration where the dose or irradiation is controlled by the irradiation time and is less than the irradiation time that would convert all photoinitiator to initiating species such that the density of the three-dimensional photonic crystal template differs for different irradiation times. A deposition of reflecting or absorbing particles can be patterned on the surface of the photoresist composition to form a template with varying densities above different areas of the substrate.

Abstract: A method for predicting that an individual has antiphospholipid syndrome or an increased likelihood of having antiphospholipid syndrome, includes: a) providing a test sample from an individual; b) combining the test sample with phospholipids; c) directing a light beam at the test sample and monitoring light scattering or transmittance over time so as to provide a time-dependent measurement profile; d) determining if a value or a slope at or over a particular time in the time-dependent measurement profile is beyond a corresponding predetermined value or slope threshold; and if the value or slope in the time-dependent measurement profile is beyond the predetermined threshold, then determining that the individual has antiphospholipid syndrome or an increased risk of antiphospholipid syndrome. The phospholipids can be provided as part of a coagulation reagent, or as part of a reagent where coagulation is not activated.

Abstract: An arrangement is provided for temperature regulating a fluid sample in a cuvette transported through various stations of an automated system for optically monitoring the sample in the cuvette. A track guides the cuvette through the various stations of the optical monitoring system. The sample is in heat exchange relationship with the track by way of the cuvette. A drive unit drives the cuvette along the track. A cooling unit cools a first portion of the track. A heating unit heats a second portion. A heat flow restriction device restricts heat flow between the first and second portions of the track.