Abstract: Microdialysis sampling is an essential tool for in vivo neuro-chemical monitoring. Conventional dialysis probes are over 220 ?m in diameter and have limited flexibility in design because they are made by assembly using preformed membranes. The probe size constrains spatial resolution and governs the amount of tissue damaged caused by probe insertion. To overcome these limitations, we have developed a method to microfabricate probes in Si that are 45 ?m thick 180 ?m wide. The probes contain a buried, U-shaped channel that is 30 ?m deep 60 ?m wide and terminates in ports for external connection. A 4 mm length of the probe is covered with a 5 ?m thick nanoporous membrane. The membrane was microfabricated by deep reactive ion etching through a porous aluminum oxide layer. The microfabricated probe has cross-sectional area that is 79% less than that of the smallest conventional microdialysis probes. The probes yield 2-7% relative recovery at 100 nL/min perfusion rate for a variety of small molecules.

Abstract: A portable light source unit for being coupled to an instrument is provided. The unit includes a housing having a port for receiving a light guide end tip of the instrument, a battery and LED mounted within the housing, and a pull tab that extends through the housing and electrically isolates the LED from the battery. Upon removal of the pull tab, an electrical connection is completed between the battery and the LED. The unit also includes driver circuitry for the LED ensuring that a constant level of current is provided to the LED so that the LED produces light of a constant brightness. The driver circuitry also produces a current spike for breaking an inline fuse when a remaining charge of the battery is unable to provide a voltage at the constant level of current above a pre-determined threshold level thereby de-energizing the LED.

Abstract: A method for preventing the collapse of patterned, high aspect ratio features formed in semiconductor substrates upon removal of an initial fluid of the type used to clean etch residues from the spaces between the features. In the present method, the spaces are at least partially filled with a displacement solution, such as via spin coating, to substantially displace the initial fluid. The displacement solution includes at least one solvent and at least one, or combination of, a first fill material in the form of a phenol-formaldehyde polymer and/or a second fill material in the form of a polyalkene carbonate (PAC). The solvent is then volatized to deposit the fill materials in substantially solid form within the spaces. The fill materials may be removed by known plasma etch process via a high etch rate as compared to use of current fill materials, which prevents or mitigates silicon loss.

Abstract: Content receivers may simultaneously record multiple instances of content for multiple programming channels based on content provider instructions. Systems and methods utilize the content receivers to record these multiple instances from at least a single transponder. In some instances, multiple transponders may have a common control word so that content carried on each such transponder may be simultaneously received, decoded and recorded. Further, a single demodulator may be associated with multiple tuners, so that the single demodulator processes all content received from transponders with common control words and/or other encryption mechanisms.

Abstract: A composition for planarizing a semiconductor device surface includes poly(methyl silsesquioxane) resin, at least one of a quaternary ammonium salt and an aminopropyltriethoxysilane salt, and at least one solvent. The poly(methyl silsesquioxane) resin ranges from 1 wt. % to 40 wt. % of the composition. The poly(methyl silsesquioxane) resin has a weight average molecular weight between 500 Da and 5,000 Da. The at least one of the quaternary ammonium salt and the aminopropyltriethoxysilane salt ranges from 0.01 wt. % to 0.20 wt. % of the composition. The at least one solvent comprises the balance of the composition.

Abstract: A portable light source unit for being coupled to an instrument is provided. The unit includes a housing having a port for receiving a light guide end tip of the instrument, a battery and LED mounted within the housing, and a pull tab that extends through the housing and electrically isolates the LED from the battery. Upon removal of the pull tab, an electrical connection is completed between the battery and the LED. The unit also includes driver circuitry for the LED ensuring that a constant level of current is provided to the LED so that the LED produces light of a constant brightness. The driver circuitry also produces a current spike for breaking an inline fuse when a remaining charge of the battery is unable to provide a voltage at the constant level of current above a pre-determined threshold level thereby de-energizing the LED.

Abstract: A portable light source unit for being coupled to an instrument is provided. The unit includes a housing having a port for receiving a light guide end tip of the instrument, a battery and LED mounted within the housing, and a pull tab that extends through the housing and electrically isolates the LED from the battery. Upon removal of the pull tab, an electrical connection is completed between the battery and the LED. The unit also includes driver circuitry for the LED ensuring that a constant level of current is provided to the LED so that the LED produces light of a constant brightness. The driver circuitry also produces a current spike for breaking an inline fuse when a remaining charge of the battery is unable to provide a voltage at the constant level of current above a pre-determined threshold level thereby de-energizing the LED.

Abstract: A polyimide polymer includes one or more aromatic dianhydride monomers and one or more aromatic diamine monomers as recited herein. A method for making a flexible display device includes preparing a polyimide solution including a polyimide polymer dissolved in a solvent, coating a substrate with the polyimide solution, heating the coating to evaporate the solvent and form a polyimide layer, forming a display device layer on the polyimide layer, dicing through the display device layer and through the polyimide polymer layer, and delaminating the layer from the substrate to form the flexible display device. A flexible display device can include a polyimide polymer backing layer and a display device disposed on the polyimide polymer backing layer, the polyimide polymer including one or more aromatic dianhydride monomers and one or more aromatic diamine monomers as recited herein.

Abstract: A method for preventing the collapse of patterned, high aspect ratio features formed in semiconductor substrates upon removal of an initial fluid of the type used to clean etch residues from the spaces between the features. In the present method, the spaces are at least partially filled with a displacement solution, such as via spin coating, to substantially displace the initial fluid. The displacement solution includes at least one solvent and at least one, or combination of, a first fill material in the form of a phenol-formaldehyde polymer and/or a second fill material in the form of a polyalkene carbonate (PAC). The solvent is then volatized to deposit the fill materials in substantially solid form within the spaces. The fill materials may be removed by known plasma etch process via a high etch rate as compared to use of current fill materials, which prevents or mitigates silicon loss.

Abstract: A portable light source unit for being coupled to an instrument is provided. The unit includes a housing having a port for receiving a light guide end tip of the instrument, a battery and LED mounted within the housing, and a pull tab that extends through the housing and electrically isolates the LED from the battery. Upon removal of the pull tab, an electrical connection is completed between the battery and the LED. The unit also includes driver circuitry for the LED ensuring that a constant level of current is provided to the LED so that the LED produces light of a constant brightness. The driver circuitry also produces a current spike for breaking an inline fuse when a remaining charge of the battery is unable to provide a voltage at the constant level of current above a pre-determined threshold level thereby de-energizing the LED.

Abstract: A one-dimensional linear array of liquid plugs separated by a gas phase is coalesced by (1) pumping the array through a conduit having a flow restriction of sufficient resistance or (2) a rapid and sudden increase in applied pressure (such as by increasing the flow rate). In this way, the flow of material through the conduit is restricted sufficiently to compress the gas phase into (partial or full) solubility within one or more components of the liquid phase.

Abstract: A composition for planarizing a semiconductor device surface includes poly(methyl silsesquioxane) resin, at least one of a quaternary ammonium salt and an aminopropyltriethoxysilane salt, and at least one solvent. The poly(methyl silsesquioxane) resin ranges from 1 wt. % to 40 wt. % of the composition. The poly(methyl silsesquioxane) resin has a weight average molecular weight between 500 Da and 5,000 Da. The at least one of the quaternary ammonium salt and the aminopropyltriethoxysilane salt ranges from 0.01 wt. % to 0.20 wt. % of the composition. The at least one solvent comprises the balance of the composition.

Abstract: Content receivers may simultaneously record multiple instances of content for multiple programming channels based on content provider instructions. Systems and methods utilize the content receivers to record these multiple instances from at least a single transponder. In some instances, multiple transponders may have a common control word so that content carried on each such transponder may be simultaneously received, decoded and recorded. Further, a single demodulator may be associated with multiple tuners, so that the single demodulator processes all content received from transponders with common control words and/or other encryption mechanisms.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for presenting a television program to a viewer using a mobile television receiver. The television program is received at the mobile television receiver via a first signal transmitted by a signal source having a limited range. It is determined whether the mobile receiver will exit the limited range of the signal source and, before the mobile receiver exits the limited range of the signal source, an action is facilitated to allow the viewer to continue to view the television program. Actions that may be facilitated include tuning to an alternate source of the television program, obtaining a placeshifted media stream of the television program, recording the television program on a remote video recorder, or simply notifying the viewer that he or she is about to exit the limited range of the signal source.

Abstract: Content receivers may simultaneously record multiple instances of content for multiple programming channels based on content provider instructions. Systems and methods utilize the content receivers to record these multiple instances from at least a single transponder. In some instances, multiple transponders may have a common control word so that content carried on each such transponder may be simultaneously received, decoded and recorded. Further, a single demodulator may be associated with multiple tuners, so that the single demodulator processes all content received from transponders with common control words and/or other encryption mechanisms.

Abstract: A composition comprising a carbosilane polymer formed from at least one carbosilane monomer and at least one carbonyl contributing monomer. In some embodiments, the composition is suitable as gap filling and planarizing material, and may optionally include at least one chromophore for photolithography applications.

Abstract: A method for controlling multiple devices using a virtual device that may be displayed on a screen. The method may include providing the information for the virtual device from a set-top box to the screen. The method may also include using a control device to scroll around the virtual device and make a selection fro the options provided by the virtual device. Additionally, the buttons on the control device may not correspond to the functionality associated with the virtual buttons on the virtual device.

Abstract: Various embodiments facilitate generation, distribution, and presentation of a video program on a virtual channel. In one embodiment, an electronic program guide (“EPG”) manager is provided for execution on a receiving device, such as a set-top box. The EPG manager receives from a program distributor a video stream that has plurality of video programs having program content. Each program has been preassigned for presentation on a particular channel. A virtual channel is linked to one or more users. The EPG manager tracks the types of programs that a user watches and records metadata associated with the programs that the user actually views. When sufficient data is stored in the data base, the virtual channel is provided that program that a user will likely wish to view based on this past viewing history.

Abstract: A composition includes a solvent, a catalyst, a polysiloxane including methyl and phenyl pendant groups, and a crosslinker comprising at least one of a phenylene disilyl group and para-disilyl phenylene group. Exemplary crosslinkers include bis silyl benzene, bis alkoxysilane, 1,3 bistriethoxysilyl benzene, and 1,4 bistriethoxysilyl benzene 2,6-bis(triethoxysilyl)-naphthalene, 9,10-bis(triethoxysilyl)-anthracene, and 1,6-bis(trimethoxysilyl)-pyrene.

Abstract: Acoustophoretic devices for separating particles from a non-flowing host fluid are disclosed. The devices include a substantially acoustically transparent container and a separation unit, with the container being placed within the separation unit. An ultrasonic transducer in the separation unit creates a planar or multi-dimensional acoustic standing wave within the container, trapping particles disposed within the non-flowing fluid and causing them to coalesce or agglomerate, then separate due to buoyancy or gravity forces.