Agilent Technologies

About: Agilent Technologies is a company organization based out in Santa Clara, California, United States. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Signal & Mass spectrometry. The organization has 7398 authors who have published 11518 publications receiving 262410 citations. The organization is also known as: Agilent Technologies, Inc..

Integrated circuit compatible planar inductors with increased Q

Abstract: A planar inductor structure with improved Q compatible with typical integrated circuit fabrication. The structure includes a spiral inductor with a conductive plane between the resistive substrate of the integrated circuit and the spiral inductor which reduces the power loss of the inductor. A pattern of segments may be formed in the conductive material of conductive plane to prevent eddy currents from flowing through the conductive plane and reducing the inductance of the spiral inductor. The Q of the inductor can be enhanced by optimizing the pattern in which the segmented conductive plane is formed. The segmented conductive plane may be fabricated out of metal, polysilicon or a heavily-doped region of the substrate.

Piezoelectrically actuated liquid metal switch

Abstract: The present invention uses a piezoelectric method to actuate a liquid metal relay. The method described here uses the piezoelectric element in an extension mode to cause the switch actuator to insert into a cavity in the static (i.e. nonmoving) switch contact structure. The cavity has sides and a pad on its end that are wettable by the liquid metal. The cavity is filled with liquid metal. Insertion of the switch actuator into the cavity causes the liquid metal to be displaced outward and come in contact with the contact pad on the switch actuator. The volume of liquid metal is chosen so that when the actuator returns to its rest position, the electrical contact is maintained by surface tension and by wetting of the contact pads on both the static switch contact structure and the actuator.

Small Deletion Variants Have Stable Breakpoints Commonly Associated with Alu Elements

Abstract: Copy number variants (CNVs) contribute significantly to human genomic variation, with over 5000 loci reported, covering more than 18% of the euchromatic human genome. Little is known, however, about the origin and stability of variants of different size and complexity. We investigated the breakpoints of 20 small, common deletions, representing a subset of those originally identified by array CGH, using Agilent microarrays, in 50 healthy French Caucasian subjects. By sequencing PCR products amplified using primers designed to span the deleted regions, we determined the exact size and genomic position of the deletions in all affected samples. For each deletion studied, all individuals carrying the deletion share identical upstream and downstream breakpoints at the sequence level, suggesting that the deletion event occurred just once and later became common in the population. This is supported by linkage disequilibrium (LD) analysis, which has revealed that most of the deletions studied are in moderate to strong LD with surrounding SNPs, and have conserved long-range haplotypes. Analysis of the sequences flanking the deletion breakpoints revealed an enrichment of microhomology at the breakpoint junctions. More significantly, we found an enrichment of Alu repeat elements, the overwhelming majority of which intersected deletion breakpoints at their poly-A tails. We found no enrichment of LINE elements or segmental duplications, in contrast to other reports. Sequence analysis revealed enrichment of a conserved motif in the sequences surrounding the deletion breakpoints, although whether this motif has any mechanistic role in the formation of some deletions has yet to be determined. Considered together with existing information on more complex inherited variant regions, and reports of de novo variants associated with autism, these data support the presence of different subgroups of CNV in the genome which may have originated through different mechanisms.

Methods and systems for detecting selections on a touch screen display

Abstract: Light beam focusing components direct light from the top surface of a touch screen display (102) to one or more imagers. The imager or imagers capture one or more images of the top surface of the touch screen display (102). A processing unit (318) analyzes the image or images to determine the position of an input device on or near the top surface of the touch screen display (102).

Cytometric analysis of protein expression and apoptosis in human primary cells with a novel microfluidic chip-based system.

Abstract: Background Work with primary cells is inherently limited by source availability and life span in culture. Flow cytometry offers extensive analytical opportunities but generally requires high cell numbers for an experiment. Methods We have developed assays on a microfluidic system, which allow flow cytometric analysis of apoptosis and protein expression with a minimum number of fluorescently stained primary cells. In this setup, the cells are moved by pressure-driven flow inside a network of microfluidic channels and are analyzed individually by two-channel fluorescence detection. For some assays the staining reactions can be performed on-chip and the analysis is done without further washing steps. Results We have successfully applied the assays to evaluate (a) activation of E-selectin (CD62E) expression by interleukin-1β in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), (b) induction of CD3 by phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate in freshly prepared human peripheral blood lymphocytes, and (c) staurosporine-induced apoptosis in HUVEC and normal human dermal fibroblasts. Conclusions Results obtained with the microfluidic system are in good correlation with data obtained using a standard flow cytometer, but demonstrate new dimensions in low reagent and cell consumption. Cytometry Part A 55A:119–125, 2003. © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.